Disclaimer: I do not own Grey's anatomy, Just Riley.

AN: Okay, I suck. For some reason I have had a writer's block with story, but all my other stories (non-published.) are freakishly long now. SORRY!

Chapter 12 : It's Christmas.

Just a little background on which guy belongs to which sister:

Kathleen- Danny

Nancy-Jake

Emma-Peter

Lizzie-Nick

On with the story.

It was finally Christmas Eve. It was just after dinner and the entire family was settled in the living room watching the first showing of the 24 hour marathon of A Christmas Story. Riley was snuggled into her father's lap and dosing as the end of the movie was nearing. When the credits began rolling Carol turned on the light.

"Aw." The younger kids groaned, knowing it was time for bed.

"Okay kids, it's time to put up your stockings and got to bed." Carolyn said.

"Yeah, I though I heard Santa across the street." Nick said looking out the window.

The kids each grabbed their stockings and placed them on a row of hooks in front of the fireplace. Riley went over and sat on Meredith's lap.

"I'm not tired." Riley said.

"I have an idea. Meredith, why don't you read the kids The Night before Christmas? It's a tradition." Kathleen asked.

"Okay." Meredith said with a smile.

Jenny, Kathleen's 14 year old daughter, went over to Riley and held out her hand. Riley had taken a shining to Jenny.

"C'mon shorty, let's go get ready for bed." Jenny smiled.

Jenny and Riley headed down to the basement to get ready for bed. Once the kids were tucked in Meredith came down with the book. The older kids were seated on the couch and on the floor waiting for the story. Meredith tucked Riley in and kissed her on the forehead.

"Okay, who is ready to here The Night Before Christmas?" Meredith asked.

There were various answers of "Me" and "I am" around the basement. Meredith grabbed a small chair, sat down, and opened the book.

"T'was the night before Christmas and all through the house…" She began.

Meredith continued with the story. By the time she had finished all of the younger kids, including Riley, were fast asleep. Meredith looked around and smiled. She and the elder kids quietly made their way upstairs where the wrapping of 'Santa's' gifts had already started. The older kid's present's had already been wrapped and now there were piles of gifts for each child waiting to be wrapped.

"So what do you do if one of the kid's wakes up?" Meredith asked Derek.

"Well, Peter really sucks at wrapping gifts, so he's our look out guy." Derek said.

About three hours and countless cups of hot chocolate later, there was a mountain of gifts under and around the Christmas tree. The stockings were filled with various little toys and Christmas candies. Derek and Meredith were the last ones still downstairs. They were cuddling on the cough watching the fire die down.

"I just realized something. This is my first Christmas with a kid." Derek said.

"And its Riley's first Christmas with a dad." Meredith said.

"Tell me more about Riley. What else did I miss?" Derek asked.

"Well, my mom didn't find out I was pregnant until she was paged to L&D (labor and delivery) when I was in labor." Meredith laughed.

"That must have gone over well." Derek laughed.

"You know the story of my mom. But to her credit, I was really tiny and so was Riley when she was born." Meredith said.

"Yeah, she inherited that from you because I was nearly eight pounds when I was born." Derek said.

"Ouch." Meredith cringed at the thought. "Seriously though, my mom was so livid that I think I saw her all of two times in the two months before we left so I could go to college." Meredith said.

"Wow, they don't tell you these things about Ellis Grey in Med. School." Derek said.

"I don't care anymore. I tried to give Riley everything I didn't have. Mainly just coming home before she goes to bed." Meredith said.

"You did a great job, Mer." Derek said.

"Thanks." Meredith said. "I just wish we would have found out about all of this before."

"Well, we know now and I'm not going anywhere. That's the important thing." Derek said.

"Yeah, it is." Meredith planted a kiss on Derek's lips.

"C'mon, let's go to bed. The kid's are going to be up incredibly early." Derek said.

Derek stood up with Meredith and the two made their way up to Derek's room. Meredith changed into her ratty Dartmouth t-shit and a pair of huge grey sweatpants. Derek laughed as he pulled on his flannel pants and a shirt.

"What is so funny?" Meredith asked.

"Even though it looks like those pants swallowed you whole, you still look incredibly sexy." Derek said as they both climbed into bed.

"Shut up. I love these pants. They're comfy." Meredith said.

"They look comfy." Derek commented.

"Are you mocking me?" Meredith asked.

"Very much so." Derek laughed.

"Goodnight." Meredith said as she kissed him.

"Merry Christmas, Mer." Derek said.

He snaked his arms around her waist and Meredith leaned against his chest.

"Merry Christmas." Meredith Whispered as she drifted off to sleep.

AN: Hope you guys like it. Once I post this I am already going to start in the next chapter. I want to get the updates up quicker for you guys. I know you probably want to kill me.