Dreams On Fire

For Good

Meredith's third pregnancy was different. Her stomach got huge much faster, so by 16 weeks the entire hospital knew she was pregnant, despite trying to hide it under her scrubs. It helped that April was pregnant at the same time; technically her second pregnancy but her first viable and the two women were enjoying being pregnant together. Meredith's patients loved their pregnant doctor and watching her happily round on them with a smile on her face, her hand always resting on the swell of her stomach.

Derek loved watching her move around the hospital, knowing their baby was safe. She wasn't having any of the crazy symptoms she'd had with Bailey, and he had been out of commission for most of her pregnancy with Eliis, but he wasn't going to m

iss any of this. He was there for every appointment, every movement, every craving. When she wanted strawberry ice cream at 4 am, he ran out and got it for her, making sure he supplied her with trashy tabloids to go with her cravings.

With 16 weeks came the gender-revealing ultrasound, and dressed in their matching navy scrubs, Meredith and Derek made their way up to OB. Addison had promised to be their doctor through this and she was waiting for them in the ultrasound room, waiting for Meredith to strip down to just her scrub top and slip under the sheet for the exam and ultrasound.

"Okay, baby looks healthy, growing nicely. You're due around July 15th," she said with a smile, and Meredith grinned at Derek. It was after their birthday's and the kids birthdays, so it was like adding on another birthday.

"Do you want to know the gender?" Addison asked, positioning the wand just above Meredith's belly button. Meredith giggled, knowing that's where the baby was settled, and she looked to Derek, who nodded.

"Of course we do," she grinned, sitting up a little bit as she looked at the computer screen. The baby was showing off, and the baby was very clearly a she. Three. Three daughters and one son. Derek groaned dramatically and Meredith kissed him on the forehead.

"I think Shepherd family genes are repeating themselves," she smirked, bringing him in for a real kiss, scrunching up her nose and laughing at his reaction.

"Three chatty Shepherd girls and one chatty Shepherd boy. Mom's going to laugh," he grinned, as Addison wiped the gel off Meredith's stomach and took some notes in her chart, laughing with the couple.

"Der, your mom is going to have a field day, she has so many granddaughters she doesn't know what to do with them," she smirked, before leaning over and hugging Meredith.

"Congratulations on the daughter, guys, you know I'll be here for every appointment and the eventual delivery. As your doctor and since this is your third baby, I highly suggest a c-section considering your history, a VBAC would not be a good idea," she chided, knowing Meredith had visions of a normal birth dancing through her head. Meredith gave a deep sigh and frowned.

"I know...I had hoped for a VBAC but considering I almost died of DIC the first time and a placental abruption the second time I figured no one in their right mind would let me," she said, pulling her underwear and scrub pants back on sneakily under the sheet. She wanted a normal birth, she dreamed of it, but she knew she would never have one. Addison just shook her head.

"We can discuss your options of letting you labor naturally and see what happens, or we can schedule a c-section at a later date." Meredith climbed off the table and the two women conversed while Derek answered a page.

"I get it, you want to do what your body is set up for and you feel robbed of it. Trust me, I may not have carried my son but I feel the same way and it's only natural to feel that way. Just weigh your options, I'll be here for your 20 week scan and we can talk more about it." Meredith nodded and looked at the photos in her hand, of her daughter showing off. She snapped a photo of one and group texted her sisters and Carolyn with 'It's a girl! Baby Girl Shepherd debuts on or around July 15th' and sent it, knowing her phone would be blowing up soon.