A/N Sep 21, 2010 – Throughout this story, the epilogue is what I most looked forward to writing, and as the weeks and months went by, in many cases with dwindling reviews and interest, I knew I wanted to share it first with each of those readers that so graciously took the time, chapter after chapter, to comment, in some small way, a special thank you, and hopefully an ending they felt was worthy of the hours they spent reading this story. Each reader whose email I had received the epilogue in July when I finished it, and subsequently, each person that asked to read it received it, and I can't thank each of them enough for their enthusiastic comments on the final chapter of this story, and the vision I had for Meredith & Derek's future.
It's been two months since I first shared the epilogue, and wanted to bring the story to its conclusion on the boards before season seven begins. I hope those of you who read this will enjoy my optimistic vision for Meredith, Derek and their families. Thanks for reading and best personal regards, Jasmin
Heartbreaking Reverberations – Epilogue
"Mer," Derek smiled down at the hour old baby that had immediately taken to Meredith's breast, his wife snuggled against his back, "piglet is more fitting than duckling."
"Tell me about it," Meredith smiled softly, "good thing babies come without teeth."
The baby's mouth drooped releasing Meredith's breast, a tiny bubble of milk on the already proclaimed perfect lips. "Daddy's turn to hold you," Meredith whispered to the sleeping infant, "and burp you for the very first time," and placed the baby in Derek's arms.
"Mer," Derek said as soon as he snuggled the baby, removing the hospital issued blue, pink and white little cap, "did you ever imagine…this moment…our baby, here…healthy and beautiful…" his eyes misted, "our baby…"
"Yes," Meredith said, eyes equally filled with tears, "I did…and I knew…it would be extraordinary…"
"Like you wrote," he snuggled the baby closer to him, "the other day…"
"Like I wrote," her eyes met his, each recognizing they were looking into each other's soul, "the deepest feelings of my heart…the dreams of my soul."
"Thank you…" he said, and kissed his wife softly, both still overwhelmed with happiness over the precious infant in their arms, who chose the moment to whimper.
"What's wrong…" Derek asked, less calm than expected of a neurosurgeon with fourteen nieces and nephews, "Mer…what can be wrong?"
"Derek," Meredith smiled; surprisingly the calmer of the two, "burping duty…"
"Oh…you think…" he said, placing the baby over his shoulder, gently patting the baby's back, quickly remembering the times he'd done this with his sisters' kids, he smiled and reached for a nearby burping cloth that Meredith helped to place over the scrubs he'd chosen for comfort during the long hours of labor.
"I guess," Meredith smiled, "you do have burping practice."
"Not according to the nurse," Derek told her, "did you notice how she held the baby almost sitting," he cradled the infant tenderly, "it's ridiculous…none of my sisters burped their kids that way…Ma always had them…like this," he said, emotions impossible to get under control over the reality that it was his child, not another niece or nephew he held, and his wife brought her hand to his face and wiped a tear away.
The slight knock on the door, before it was opened interrupted them briefly, "Meredith, Derek," Mike Cameron looked in and smiled. "I've been threatened by a bunch of impatient doctors and a retired navy nurse…if I don't tell them if it's a boy or a girl."
"What…" Meredith said with a surprised look on her face. "Derek told them…I had him go out there…while they were getting the baby settled…and tell them."
"Apparently," Mike Cameron smiled, "the word perfect was heard several times, but no mention of Baby Boy or Baby Girl Shepherd."
"Derek," Meredith giggled, "you didn't tell them…"
"I told them…I did…" he repeated what he'd said. "Maybe not," he smiled, "I was too anxious and excited to get back in here."
"Dr. Cameron," Meredith smiled, "will you ask them to give us a couple of minutes."
"I'm not allowed to go home," the doctor smiled, "till I let them in here…it's really quite a sight," he chuckled, "all ready to meet this little one."
"Are you ok," Derek asked her, "to have everyone here…you're not too tired?"
"Derek…" Meredith smiled, her hand caressing his face. "I'm exhausted…but…I can't wait for our family to meet our baby…and they're going to hold Dr. Cameron hostage if they don't."
Derek placed the baby back in Meredith's arms, and winked at her, "think I need to be dressed properly to make the introductions," and his wife smiled as he searched in her bag and changed into another pair of dark blue scrubs, and opened the door. "Mike, they can come in here."
Mike Cameron decided to witness the exchange and smiled, reminding him of his own children's birth and his extended Irish family that had anxiously awaited each birth.
Meredith was, as Derek had been, enthralled with their precious bundle, and when she looked up at their family, turned to Derek and reached for his hand as her eyes watered.
Lead by the matriarch, every single one of their family was wearing blue sterile gowns.
"Derek…" Meredith sniffled as she squeezed his hand gently, "I think…it's time we introduce our baby…"
Derek only nodded, his heart filled with happiness and pride and took the baby from Meredith, all the while, several cameras or phones had snapped the look of pure joy on Meredith and Derek's face as they gazed at their baby.
"Hey," Derek whispered to the baby, "time to meet your family," and after taking the baby from Meredith once again, walked with the newborn to his mother, "first…your Granma Shepherd."
"Derek…" Carolyn smiled as her gaze was clouded by the mist of tears, and opened her arms to the baby being handed over lovingly and tenderly.
"Mom…you were right…" he smiled, as his mother snuggled the baby, "meet Victoria Carolyn Shepherd."
"Oh…Derek…Meredith," Carolyn smiled as sentimental tears continued to cloud her vision, while the rest of their family, four aunts and two uncles, had their own emotional reactions, "she's beautiful…absolutely precious and perfect…" her grandmother said, and kissed her granddaughter's forehead. "God Bless you little one…you already have so many people that love you."
"The duckling is a girl," Alex said, trying to sound unaffected.
"McDaddy," Cristina whispered as she took note of Derek's scrubs and so very uncharacteristically, reached for his hand ever so briefly, "you did well…she's beautiful."
"She recognized me," Derek smiled at her, "because of the scrubs…she knew I was her daddy," and hugged Cristina, wondering how she'd react to their news.
"Yes," Meredith said, through simultaneous smiles and tears, "she's already reading."
"She's beautiful," Nancy said, "Meredith…she has your nose…and these lashes," she looked over her mother's shoulders.
"Don't get too close," Cristina told her.
"You have us wearing scrubs," Nancy told her, "we're sterile…"
"Still," Cristina said protectively of the infant.
"I take it," Derek said, as he sat next to Meredith, his arm around her shoulders, kissing the top of her head, "you were responsible for getting everyone all dressed up."
"Lexie and I raided the supply closet hours ago," Cristina told him. "Just waiting."
"Bailey knows," Lexie said, "but couldn't be here, so she made us promise to take pictures."
"Derek," Meredith said suddenly, "pictures…you have to send a picture of the baby…to Jenna, she'll kill me…if I don't. I promised…she'd get the first photo."
"You've got immunity," Kathleen told her, "and when she sees the baby… you don't have anything to worry about. But, she is ready to kill Derek," Kathleen joked, "since she already knows all the details, except," she smiled softly looking at her niece, "that your duckling…is a girl."
"We're going to fix that," Carolyn spoke softly to the baby, "aren't we sweetheart…so your very impatient Aunt Jenna can meet you…" and she walked over to Meredith and placed the baby in her arms, and hugged her daughter in law, and said with evident emotions in her voice, "I'm so honored…thank you."
"I wasn't sure…if you'd mind…" Meredith told her.
"Mind…" Carolyn pursed her lips, trying, but failing to keep her emotions at bay, "oh…Meredith…God knew what His plans were…and they were so much better than I could have ever imagined…for my son…"
"You're not being fair," Meredith told her, "and just because I called her my duckling, doesn't mean she's going to like being covered with water…and tears…because her Mom's just like her water faucet Aunt Jenna."
"Oh sweetheart," Carolyn hugged both mother and daughter tightly; "I love you."
"Mom…" was all Meredith could utter quietly as their family watched, but didn't hear the private exchange; Derek pursed his lips much as his mother had, he was close enough to have been privy to the conversation, and needed to get his emotions in check as he watched the inevitable bonding between the three most important women in his life.
"Dude," Alex smirked, "I'm not asking…she'll bite our head off if she finds out."
"No she won't," Cristina said, "she's in all mellow mommy mode."
"Ok," Kathleen smiled, "perfect picture of the baby for Jenna, except," she said, exchanging glances with Cristina and Alex who only shrugged.
"What…do you mean except," Derek said, "she's perfect."
"Alex," Meredith said, "what are you mumbling about…"
"Ah…nothing," he told her.
"We're waiting," Lexie said, as curious as he was, "to see whose hair she got."
"Her daddy's," Meredith smiled and removed the baby's cap, to startled gasps before the corresponding oohs and ahhs…and quiet laughter followed.
"She's bald," Mark said, patting Derek on the back, "Shep…how did you manage?"
"Hey princess," Derek took her back from Meredith, "we're just going to have to change our mind, aren't we…about your godfather…he's making fun of your hair."
"I am not," Mark said, and reached to take the baby from Derek, who held back.
"I think," Derek smiled and looked at Kathleen, "this is one time…you won't mind we go in order of the oldest…" and placed the baby in her arms.
"I don't mind at all," Kathleen sniffled, "hello Victoria Carolyn, you're going to be the most spoiled little girl in the world…starting with your Granma who's just beaming with pride…her namesake…but, we're not going to keep you or your Mommy and Daddy up too long today…and you still have lots of aunts and uncles to meet," she spoke softly to the baby. "I guess…now…you get to go to your Aunt Nancy," she said, and the baby was passed on, one by one.
"Victoria," Nancy smiled, "very old fashioned name…and you've just made your great aunt very happy…because she was right on target…she guessed the day and time of your birth right down to a few minutes," she spoke of Patricia's bet, "and we'll see how your Mom feels about that vice ridden nun," she said and everyone chuckled.
"Meredith, sweetheart," Carolyn fussed over her, "are you ok? You need to get some rest, we should leave and be back tomorrow."
"I wouldn't miss this," Meredith did yawn, her exhaustion evident, "for the world."
Pictures recording each momentous occasion and introduction of the baby to each of her family members continued and eventually would all be put together in a CD to be shared with everyone.
Alex's beeper sounded, "oh crap…I have to go…"
"Watch your language," Cristina told him.
"Wait," Nancy smiled at him, "hold her…I know you've been wanting to"
"Dude," Alex smiled as he held the infant, "they gave you a very serious name…Victoria Carolyn…with that post it wedding" he smirked teasingly, but softened as he spoke to the baby, "I expected Apple Indigo Blue or Enchanted Ferryboat Sunrise," and everyone laughed, and the object of their attention slept on undisturbed.
"Really, Mer…" Cristina said, "you never mentioned the name…it's very serious …"
"It's special," Derek said, as he placed his arms over Meredith's shoulder and they both smiled at each other, they'd decided long ago what the first name would be, acknowledging the immense significance of the candle house, of the night they were finally able to have their victory dance, "to us…but, we're calling her Tory…Mer decided on that while she read a book on the way to the Bahamas."
"You did like it," Lexie said, "it was a lovely romance and love story. You never told me you'd actually read it."
"Mer seems to think," Derek teased, "it's not hard core to read a historical romance."
"It was," Meredith smiled at her sister, "you were right, it was very romantic…Lexie, and after I read the first scene…it helped settle her name."
Alex's beeper vibrated again, "gotta go…who gets her next?"
Mark took her from him, "it's time she met her godfather. Hello princess," Mark said, the baby looking tiny in his arms, "your dad and I were right," Derek beamed at the mention of dad, "and you already have your outfit for your very first game," he whispered, "we won't tell your Mommy…but, will sneak you in to the ballgame when we go home for your baptism."
"Mark," Lexie told him, "don't you dare…even try it…Mer is right, my niece is not going to be in a crowd with thousands of people…when she's so small."
Derek kissed Meredith and he knew she was getting restless, and went to take his daughter back and placed her in Meredith's arms, to be snuggled and kissed by her mother.
"Meredith," Carolyn smiled, "when does Tory get to meet her godmother?"
"Hey…princess," Meredith smiled as the baby whimpered a bit, and her mother caressed her cheek tenderly, "you've slept through all the introductions…are you waking up…so you can meet your godmothers..." she said softly, and Carolyn and Derek smiled.
"Godmothers," Nancy said, exchanged a smile with Kathleen, and walked up to her mother and whispered, "who have no idea."
"None at all," Derek answered.
"Tory," Meredith spoke softly to her daughter, "you still haven't met Mommy's sisters…your Aunt Lexie…and Cristina…but," she looked at them, "they're both so special to me…that I couldn't pick just one…and if they want…it it's ok with them…you're going to have two godmothers."
"Godmothers…" Lexie said, her eyes watering she turned to Mark, "did you know?"
"Not a clue," he said and wrapped his arms around her.
"Lexie…Cristina," Meredith said, uncertain of their reaction, she held the baby closer to her, instinctively protecting her of any rejections. "You don't have to…I mean…I just thought…"
"Not want to," Lexie walked up to her, looked down at her niece. "Mer…I'm…I don't know what to say…I expected it would be Cristina…and…that you'd pick me…"
"You're my sister Lexie," Meredith said, "I have two sisters…"
"Can…I…" Lexie smiled, "hold her…or…Cristina, do you want to hold her first?"
Cristina only shook her head, "you hold her," and Meredith carefully handed her baby girl to her sister.
"Cristina," Meredith said, admittedly her feelings a little hurt by the apparent hesitation. "It's ok…you don't have to be…she can have just one godmother."
Cristina approached the bed and spoke quietly, looking at Meredith and Derek. "I'm a godmother…you picked me…" the glimmer of emotions reflected in her eyes, she reached over and hugged Meredith. "I love you Meredith Grey," and the two women embraced, both overly emotional, though Meredith would say later as they recounted the story, at least she had tons of extra hormones to account for her tears.
Meredith smiled at her husband, they'd been right to wait…the moment had definitely been worth it as she saw the smile on Lexie's face, and then Cristina's as they each cradled their goddaughter.
"Hello baby," Cristina said, when Lexie turned to her and carefully placed the baby in her arms, "your name suits you…a beautiful princess," and in the years to come, it was one of the few moments of weakness she'd willingly admit to, the moment she first fell in love with a tiny baby in her arms, her goddaughter, "there was a princess you know, with that name and she became a Queen..."
Jenna and Maggie soon participated in the long distance introductions, the expected tears from Jenna as she loved the photos they sent, and before long Patricia was calling her sister and both women shed their own sentimental tears. Within forty five minutes, Derek held his daughter in his arms, their family of three alone once again.
"Derek," Meredith smiled, at the look on Derek's face, both mesmerized with their daughter, "we were pretty wrong about her…"
"What are you talking about," he took his eyes away from the baby, "she's perfect…and she's a girl…Mer…I told you, we'd have our princess."
"I have to admit," she said, "you were right about that…but the rest," she giggled softly.
"So she doesn't have my hair…" he smiled and brushed her lips with his.
"She doesn't have any hair…though…if you look closely," Meredith's hand was gently caressing their daughter's tiny uncovered head, "there's a few wisps…"
"Mer," he said, suddenly emotional, "you're ok…no complications…and we have a healthy, beautiful little girl," he swallowed past the lump in his throat, "I don't care about anything else."
"I've never felt better in my entire life…exhausted…but Derek…the happiness and joy is overwhelming…" she too held back tears, "our daughter…our unexpected surprise… I never imagined you could love someone so completely in just a few minutes…and nothing compares…except my love for you."
"I love you," Derek said, and cupped her face with both hands, "I have never loved you more than I do right now…and our daughter…Mer…she's…what I feel for her..."
"I love you," Meredith pressed her lips against his and their daughter protested with her first real cry.
"I don't think," Derek chuckled, and took the baby who immediately settled against her father and opened her eyes and stared at him, "she likes sharing…"
"She's going to have to get used to it," Meredith told him, leaning into him, kissing the baby's cheek. "Because…I'm not giving up on this…ever…" she kissed him again.
"Neither am I," he smiled, and noticed her exhaustion, though his daughter apparently had waited long enough; not quite two hours after she'd had her first feeding, Victoria Carolyn whimpered again. "Mer, she may be hungry…they said to feed on demand…"
"She's going to be demanding," Meredith said, as she saw her daughter's tiny mouth turn into an adorable and likely sucking reflex, and Derek placed her in her arms and the baby settled immediately but turned her head toward her mother's breast.
"Tory," Meredith smiled, "you're really going to turn into a little piglet…if you want to eat every ninety minutes," and once again began to nurse.
"Mer," Derek said, as he looked over her shoulder, having settled Meredith against him,
"can you believe they took bets…and Aunt Pat won."
"She's a psychic nun filled with vices," Meredith smiled, "of course she'd bet."
"That's like insider trading," Derek joked.
Victoria Carolyn had slept through most of her first hours of birth, but hearing her father chuckle apparently meant there was something going on, and her great-aunt Patricia would joke, she was just as nosy as the rest of her nieces. She opened her eyes and both parents would say she was trying to focus, forget that they knew her vision was rather limited, but she did stare into her mother's eyes and her mother reacted by crying, while her father wiped away the tears on his wife's face.
"Mer…" Derek joked with her, "I still think she'll have my hair…"
"You do, do you?" Meredith smiled and repeated her wishes of long ago, when they'd talked for hours about their dreams and wishes for the baby. "I still hope she'll have your eyes…and dark curls."
Burping duties went to Daddy again as his wife's eyes were involuntarily closing after almost twenty five minutes of feeding her daughter for the second time. Derek encouraged Meredith to sleep once Tory had nursed from both breasts. Reluctantly, Derek consented for Tory to be in the nursery for the night, though she was awake and demanding to be fed almost three hours later, and neither parent could be happier to hold their baby once again.
Two days after her birth on Saturday, March 27, Victoria Carolyn Shepherd went home; a sunny Monday morning in the upper forties, somewhat reasonable temperatures for the month of March; bundled up in the beautiful hand knit items her aunts had made for her; Aunt Nancy and Kathleen had changed the ribbons to pink before they went home the day after her arrival, and her father wrapped her up carefully in the blanket Granma had made for her and placed her in his wife's waiting arms.
Carolyn Shepherd and the godparents waited patiently for the newest member of the family to arrive at home, and after taking their turns holding the baby, burping and changing her diaper, the last duty left to Lexie, they all agreed Tory and Meredith should be allowed to nap, and watched as Meredith lay the sleeping baby in the bassinet next to her bed; the one her godmothers, without being aware of their very important role in the baby's life, had unexpectedly found and Meredith had loved the dainty and beautiful cover, one worthy of Derek Shepherd's little princess…and Meredith Grey's extraordinary and once unexpected tiny miracle.
Tory was a good natured baby, cried when she was hungry usually every two to three hours, was wet, or wanted attention, which was never a problem as there was always a godparent, Uncle Alex or Aunt Maggie, when she visited four days after her birth, ready to spoil her.
Meredith and Derek were exhausted due to lack of sleep, their daughter was up like clockwork; Tory was indeed a little piglet, and it was not a matter of being fed and going back to sleep, she wanted some attention and neither parent was willing to miss out on the time spent with her, even if more often than not, one or the other fell asleep during burping duty, while the other would place the sleeping infant in the nearby bassinet.
Granma was thrilled to take care of her children, and Meredith had undoubtedly become her daughter. But she especially doted on her granddaughter for twelve days after her birth, when she had to go home to welcome another granddaughter; luckily she made it home hours before Kerry Beatrice decided to give her mom a break and arrived two days early. Jenna would tell Meredith, it was the sex…lots of sex that did it, and the two sisters in law would joke about that for years, especially, as their next pregnancy, unexpectedly, coincided once again.
Meredith and Derek were amazed at their daughter's intelligence, the intensity with which she looked at them, surely was an indication of it; though they both agreed they wouldn't mind if she was a little less vocal to voice her discontent. Their princess was loud when left unattended, but when she was sleeping, she looked like an angel.
They celebrated their 11th month wedding anniversary when Tory was eighteen days old, and there was no better gift than watching over their baby. Derek swore she recognized them and was smiling when he spoke to her, Meredith was a bit more skeptical, though she was thrilled the baby held her head up a little better each day. Neither cared when they confirmed Aunt Pat won the bet as to the birth date and sex of the baby, or all of the well wishers that wanted to see the baby the day she went in for her first doctor's appointment in the first two weeks of life, and to please one of her godmothers Meredith put the little scrub cap on her head, delighting Cristina and having most members of the hospital staff snickering over the change that came over the usual serious resident, when she walked to the pediatrician's office holding and cooing to Baby Shepherd.
Their one year anniversary was approaching almost seven weeks to the day of Victoria Carolyn's birth. Derek planned a special evening out, and in preparation, the godparents had been given supervised babysitting duty, while in the presence of her parents. The night of their anniversary, Tory officially had her first sleepover, after her parents dropped her off at Mark and Lexie's at seven in the evening and would be back to get her exactly eleven hours later. Their celebration, their passion fully unleashed without fear of waking up their baby, and at Meredith's insistence at the trailer, kept them up all night as they fulfilled each other's every desire.
Neither parent could understand why their usually content baby, who had now started to sleep about six hours after her last feeding, and after being burped at night, would simply not settle down, and demanded to be held. Later, they'd discover, godparents and Owen, as well as Callie across the hall, had taken turns holding her all night, to make sure she wouldn't cry and spoiled their princess rotten. The minor disruption was quickly forgotten as that very night their baby rolled onto one side, and that milestone was worthy of her parents silent but continued anniversary celebration. The brief disruption to their routine was not repeated, though both sets of godparents, since Owen was as smitten with Tory as the rest of them, would take turns in the months that followed with baby sitting duties.
Meredith went back to work eight weeks after Tory was born, leaving the baby in the care of a nanny, though there was nothing she cherished as much as the time spent with her daughter and much to Cristina's amazement, Meredith didn't mind the shorter hours she'd been assigned. She and Derek discussed and agreed they'd probably have the baby in the hospital nursery when she was a little older, but, for now, preferred for her to be at home in the care of the retired nurse that did not mind adjusting to their schedule, as she had decided to stay home to raise her now college bound children.
Victoria Carolyn and Kerry Beatrice were baptized in the old family church by the old family priest, and at just over three months old, the babies seemed to enjoy their time together, in fact, Meredith and Jenna were amazed when they'd put them down in the same playpen and the babies fell asleep almost cuddling with each other. It was the beginning of a lifelong bond of family and friendship between the two youngest additions to the Shepherd family.
Granma gave her seal of approval to the fifty year old nanny during her visit to Seattle when Tory was five months old, and agreed with Meredith and Derek that it was best not to have the baby in daycare at the hospital all the time. The nanny, would become a trusted member of the family for years to come, encouraged by Jenna and her sisters in law, who had, as they'd become successful doctors, taken advantage of keeping the babies at home, though they did also use the daycare facilities to spend time with the babies during the days going home might not be possible.
"Derek," Meredith whispered, "wake up…"
"Tired…so tired…"
"Derek," Meredith insisted, "you have to see this…"
"So tired…Mer…lemme sleep…" his wife smiled and ignored him.
"Dada…dada…" he felt the pounding of little fists first, "dada…" then the fail proof attention getter, his daughter's sloppy kiss and when he opened his eyes, the two identical smiles that never failed to make his heart skip a beat.
"Morning princess," he said, and his little girl laughed and reached for his face with two small chubby hands and rubbed her nose with his.
"Dada," she smiled and drooled all over him, "Mama…" she turned to make sure her mother was not far away and then reached for Meredith. "Mama…"
"Tory," Meredith hugged her, "Daddy was lazy and missed what you learned today," she teased, "and didn't even get to see you playing in the snow with your Bowdoin mittens."
"You're not a good liar," he smiled at his wife's taunting.
"Mama," the baby smiled and just as with her father, put her hands on her mom's face and rubbed her nose, "Mama…" she smiled as she drooled all over her mother.
"I love you Tory," the little girl beamed as if understanding, "do I get a kiss?"
The little girl smiled, "Mama…" and threw herself back over to her father, "Dada…"
"So much for loyalty," Meredith smiled as she watch her husband and daughter, "who carried you for forty one weeks…"
"Mommy's feeling neglected," Derek smiled and settling their daughter between them, leaned over to kiss his wife, an interruption their daughter was not happy about.
"Mama…" she got herself up quickly, "Dada…" and slobbered them both with drooly kisses.
"Derek," Meredith smiled, "Merry Christmas…"
"Merry Christmas," he smiled, "I love you…"
"I love you too," she said, and Tory seemed satisfied that she was indeed their center of attention as she lay back between them and began her baby talk, "Mama…Bee…"
"She's happy," Derek smiled at Meredith, "her first Christmas…"
"She is," Meredith smiled, "until she demands to be fed…"
"Just like her mother," he teased.
"Our first Christmas," Meredith smiled, their hands reaching for the other's, fingers entwined, "as a family."
As if on cue, there was a slight knock on the door, "you and Jenna," Maggie said, as she carried her youngest niece and dumped her on the bed, "are responsible for me being up at this insanely early hour," the two little girls' delight was evident as Tory babbled away, "Bee…Bee…" and Kerry Beatrice giggled, "T…T.."
"What do we have to do," Derek asked, "with you being up this early…Mags…you don't look so hot…are you ok?"
Meredith had a knowing smile on her face, as her sister in law rushed to their bathroom, "she's blaming me… us…for feeling like crap."
"Mer…" Derek said, "she really looked sick…almost green."
"Maggie," he said again concerned when his sister walked out, and his wife went up to her and put her arm around her, "are you sick?"
"I'm pregnant," Maggie said, as Meredith made her sit down on the bed, the babies babbling at each other, "you moron…and it's all your fault, and Jenna."
"You're pregnant," Derek smiled, "that's good…right…"
"Yes…" Maggie said, "except this baby is determined to kill me…I'm as sick as a dog every morning…three boys…and never this sick…and now…"
"And," Derek said, carefully, "this is Meredith's and Jenna's fault…"
"Great," Jenna held two bottles, "she's blaming us for her lack of self control again."
"Lack of self control…" Maggie said, "it's all your fault…both of you…having these two precious babies…back to back…how the hell was I supposed to ignore all the baby feelings…"
"You're having a girl Mary Margaret," her sister sat next to her and hugged her. "Next Christmas…we'll have a new baby girl in the family."
"You think…" Maggie said wistfully.
"I know so," Jenna said, just as her daughter wanted her attention, "Mama…"
"Hi baby…you don't really want me," Jenna smiled, "but your bottle," and the baby took the bottle and lay comfortably between her godparents and next to her cousin.
"Bee," Tory grabbed her cousin's hand, and reached for her own bottle, "Bee…Mama…"
"Yes, sweetie…that's your cousin Bee…"
"Mer," Jenna smiled, "have you noticed how smart these two are…they know each other's name…Bee and T…you're going to give us lots of headaches aren't you," she said as she tickled both babies, who laughed delightedly, before going back to the business at hand, and drank their bottles.
Tory's first Christmas was Meredith's first experience with the Holiday Derek loved, and would also become her favorite as in the years to come they would gather at Carolyn's as often as possible, though they made it a point to visit at least three to four times a year.
"Mer…" Derek whispered late on Christmas night, "it's a really good thing the babies get along so well…"
"It is," Meredith smiled, "they'll sleep with Jenna and Rob tomorrow night."
"At least," Derek teased her, his lips on her neck, "we got a Christmas morning quickie."
"A very good…" Meredith turned to face him and kissed him deeply, "Christmas morning quickie…that apparently wore you out…"
"It's all the silent sex," he teased her, "it makes me tired…when I have to be…"
"Ass," Meredith giggled, "that would have to apply to me too, having to suppress all…"
"Mer," he teased, "if we suppressed any more emotions…we'd be dead," and they both shared in laughter, content their daughter would sleep through most noises.
"She was adorable," Meredith smiled as she looked at her daughter and goddaughter, sleeping soundly in the crib next to them, each one holding on to the stuffed baby sea animals Meredith had bought for them when they were both weeks old in their mother's wombs. "When I was trying to get you to wake up this morning…"
"It was barely five Mer…"
"We're up that early at home," Meredith kissed him, "you missed her sitting up babbling away to the three stuffed animals," she referred to his bear and her bunny and the sea otter, "rambling away and hugging each one before she found me looking at her…"
"And then…" Derek smiled, "she wanted her Mommy…"
"Oh yes…" Meredith smiled and her eyes misted, "Derek…thank you…"
"For what…"
"For a wonderful Christmas…for making me believe that some dreams can come true…that fairytales can happen…you made me believe in magic…and our princess…our adorable duckling…makes me believe in miracles…"
They heard a slight knock on the door, "I thought," Carolyn said, "these two could stay with me tonight…I don't think they'll wake up," she smiled, "and you can sleep in tomorrow morning. I have Meggie in bed with me too."
"We have a very smart baby," Derek smiled when he got back to the room, after settling the babies in his mother's room, and kissed his wife, "getting along with everyone, liking to spend time with Granma in the morning, have you noticed how Tory's been imitating Kerry and when they see Mom, they call her Ma…"
"I have," Meredith said, "but I think…we have an equally smart goddaughter."
"They're both smart," Derek said, "but…Tory…"
"Derek," Meredith was not going to argue with his assessment of their daughter's intelligence. "Did you notice her curls…she's getting a little bit more hair each day," and they laughed and smiled as they reminisced of the moment they'd seen their daughter's bald head, and then as the months went by, they loved that she had her eyes, and slowly, the color of her hair and the curls were becoming her daddy's.
The bonds of family and friendship between Meredith and Derek's East Coast and Seattle families would continue to strengthen as the years went by, and the location for family gatherings were often decided based on events taking place on either coast.
"Mum…mum…mum…" a red headed little boy with blue eyes rushed over to his mother with mischief clearly in his eyes, "mum…look…" he said as he held a dead lizard in his hands.
"What happened," his mother asked, "did it stop breathing?"
"Uh huh…" the twenty month old answered, "you fix?"
"Ask Daddy," his mother said, as her daughter turned to her, "mama…boo boo?
"Yes…the lizard has a boo boo," and the mother glared at the women smiling at her.
"Daddy fix…" questioned the black curly haired little girl whose twin brother had already run to find their father.
"Yes, Daddy can fix it," she grinned, let Owen take care of it. "I can't figure it out," Cristina said, "where does that kid get the mum bit."
"Perhaps," Owen's mother, who was holding her granddaughter, smiled, "it has to do with all those Scottish ancestors."
"He didn't call you Mum…."
"Actually," Mrs. Hunt smiled as she reminisced, "he did when his father was still alive, Mummy when he was little."
"That must be why I keep hearing about the bloody Brits," Cristina muttered, knowing full well her husband of over two years, yes, she'd found herself unexpectedly pregnant, and they'd decided to get married before the twins were born, "when I have to put up with rugby matches."
"Mommy," Tory who was sitting near Meredith, playing with her cousin Kerry, both with doctor play kits taking care of their multiple doll patients, looked up at her mother, "oh …oh…you need soap…like Granma…Aunt Cristina said a bad word."
"I did not," Cristina argued with her three year old goddaughter.
"Uh huh…bloody be very bad word…Uncle Owen tolds me…cause he say that bloody…" she paused trying to remember the word, "men playing with the ball…and Daddy tolds him watch your language," she held her ground. Meredith wanted to laugh, she and Derek were so proud of her and the extensive vocabulary both she and Kerry had already mastered, though neither girl was being pushed as so many children were, it came naturally to them both.
"Tory," Meredith smiled, "Aunt Cristina won't say that anymore…"
"Mommy," Tory got up and went to place a kiss on her mother's belly, "is my baby brother sleeping?"
"No," Meredith smiled, "the baby's actually awake…but honey, we don't know if it's a boy or a girl…we have to wait."
"Aunt Jenna has a baby boy in her tummy…Bee tolds me…can we look inside and find out Mommy?"
"Not for a little while," Meredith said, she and Derek had decided to wait.
"Bye baby brother," Tory ignored her, and went to continue playing with her cousins.
"Cristina," Carolyn Shepherd said as she held her youngest grandchild, Maggie's daughter asleep in her arms. "Look at your son," she chuckled, as the women all turned to look in the direction of the smaller children.
"T…" the little boy said, "you fix… Bee help…"
"We can't fix the lizard," Kerry Beatrice told the little boy, "it no breathing…"
"T…pease…you fix…"
"Ok," the determined little girl said. "We do surgy…but you wait…here," she said, and turned to her cousin and confidant who agreed with whatever she was saying and went to find her older sister.
"Meggie," Kerry hurried over to her sister, "we needs your help…to find a lizard…cause it stopped breathing and we gots to do surgy…cause T tolds Reid we can fix him."
Meghan considered the task and went to the little boy, "Reid, we're gonna fix the lizard ok…wait here…I'm chief of surgery…and Bee and T…are tendings…but you got to wait like in the hospital, in the waiting area," she sent him far away enough while their surgery took place.
"Uncle Derek," Meghan ran to him, "quick…you got to help find a lizard that looks like this, but it can't be dead."
"Why?"
"Cause this one is dead," Meghan said very matter of factly, "and Tory and Bee and me are going to fix him and give him back to Reid all fixed."
"My son," Owen said, "is going to need Mark's influence around him…these girls have him wrapped around their little finger."
"Miracle workers," Rob laughed, "breathing life into a dead lizard with surgery."
"Daddy," Meghan put the lizard in his hand, "come help Uncle Derek…" and the two men did as ordered by the bossy six year old.
"Dude the two of you are pathetic," Alex smirked, "controlled by a six year old and two three year old girls."
"Just you wait," Derek smiled at him, "you're going to be just as bad one day."
In spite of the divorce from Izzie, Alex had loved her and when the tumors and cancer spread and it was obvious she would not be among the five percent who had the five percent chance of survival, he'd spent the last month of her life caring for her; then he'd taken a leave and made peace with his family's past. His sister, with his encouragement would become a college graduate. That had been over two years ago, and his Seattle family was happy he'd finally been able to leave some of the cynicism behind and had recently started dating someone he was serious about.
"Mum," the read headed child said, "lizard fixed now?"
"I'm not sure," Cristina went along, "let's wait and see what the doctors say."
"Ok," the little boy climbed on his mother's lap, "love you mum…"
"Love you too," she hugged him, kissing the top of his head.
"Well…" Jenna laughed, as she rubbed her almost six month pregnant belly, "look what the cat dragged in…" and the women sitting scattered below the canopy of trees, offering welcome shade in the month of May on Derek and Meredith's land, turned toward the newlywed couple.
"Uncle Mak," Reid scrambled off his mother's lap and ran towards the Sloans, "you help… T and Bee doctors?"
"Another lizard bit the dust?" Mark turned to Cristina who nodded.
"What are you doing here?" Kathleen asked. "Shouldn't you be on your way?"
"Our flight got cancelled out of LA," Lexie told them, "so we'll leave tomorrow."
"You've been married one night, and you had nothing better to do," Maggie teased them, "then join us?"
"Why not?" Mark said. "You're all here. We won't see you again till Christmas…it was Lexie's idea to come out for the barbecue, we needed food."
"It was actually Mark's idea," Lexie teased him, "since I dragged him from the reception last night…he didn't get to see the kids," she put his arm around him, and he didn't disagree with her.
"Lexie dear," Patricia said to her, "do you remember Meredith's baby shower?"
"Of course," Lexie told her.
"Come sit with me," Patricia encouraged, and when she did, "unless you want to travel East for a baptism early next year…" and Lexie smiled when she'd finished talking, "he's going to be very persuasive…he wants kids…and he sees everyone having their own."
"Mum…mum," Reid came back with his miraculously revived lizard, "all fixed…"
"So it is," Cristina petted the darker color pet, "did you thank the doctors?"
"Yes," he beamed, "me kiss…Bea…me kiss T…"
"Proud of you Reid," Mark lifted him and carried him on his shoulders toward the barbecue area, where all the men had been put to work to prepare the early evening dinner, "a true ladies men."
"God help me," Cristina mumbled, "if I have a manwhore in my hands."
"Don't worry dear," Patricia said, "reformed manwhore's make the best husbands…just look at Mark."
Derek made his way over to the women, "dinner's almost ready," and sat next to Meredith who was relaxing on the comfortable teak lounge.
"Admit it Derek," Nancy laughed, "you're here to check up on Meredith."
"I don't need an excuse to see my wife," he smiled, and kissed her softly, "is duckling two behaving," he asked as his hand sought the baby's movements.
"As much as a thirty week baby, in cramped space can behave," Meredith smiled, "and kicking the heck out of me, in every direction."
"That's our future baseball player, aren't you slugger? Practicing your hitting," he spoke to the baby, Meredith rolled her eyes.
"Carolyn," Patricia said, "I do believe we'll be out here again next year."
"As long as you don't look at me," Cristina warned her. "It's always nice to see you."
"Don't worry dear," Patricia said, "I think you've got your hands full," then added very quietly, not quite certain yet, "for now."
"I heard that," Carolyn said.
"Undecided," her sister said. "But…those two…" she smiled, "Carolyn, I do believe you'll be having another Grey grandchild …"
Mark and Lexie's wedding had indeed brought the family together, one of the many times over the years the Shepherds and their extended family had gathered in the home built on the cliff for baptisms, baby showers, graduations, engagements and weddings.
This particular early evening, a post wedding family gathering, had even included Molly, her husband and children, and Thatcher.
Carolyn Shepherd lived well past ninety and was delighted to witness the baptism of her youngest great-granddaughters, Tory and Kerry's babies, at the same church all her children and grandchildren had been baptized.
The family was gathered once more in Seattle, for another poignant celebration. "Without further delay," the older and well respected doctor spoke, "let me introduce the team of doctors that we honor tonight, Reid Hunt, Kerry Beatrice O'Sullivan and Victoria Carolyn Shepherd."
Reid and Kerry spoke first, briefly explaining the research, their families beaming with pride while sentimental tears were shed. Owen and Cristina sat holding hands next to their two daughters; Jenna dabbed away the tears, as she sat next to Rob who held their granddaughter, Kerry's husband holding their infant son. The audience was filled with doctors, many of them were family members, aunts, uncles and cousins that had followed in the second generation family tradition. Mark and Lexie beamed with pride, their three children next to them, as their goddaughter and her cousins began to speak. Alex smiled as his wife held his hand, their two sons and their wives sharing in the celebration.
"Often times," Meredith's and Derek's daughter began, "we, as doctors, get so caught up in the medicine, the science, we forget to acknowledge that all we do, the gift we have been given to heal is a gift God bestowed on us; that is one of the legacies of my grandmother, Carolyn Maloney Shepherd, she taught us…all three of us…to accept the gift of faith and the need for humility. Together, we have been blessed to have found the link to Alzheimer's, the link that will help give so many a better life. Our research for this dreadful disease was in honor of my grandmother, Ellis Grey. Tonight, the three of us honor the memory of the women, our grandmothers and Aunt Patricia, whose legacy taught us to believe in ourselves, but to always remember our talents were God given. They are not with us to here tonight, but they are watching and smiling…Granma, we love you and thank you."
"Now…I have to acknowledge my true inspiration for this research. Mom…Dad, through the years, there'd be a letter in the mail, a gift first made in my name…later it included my two brothers, in memory of Ellis Grey. Watching the two of you, your love for each other and our family, I needed to make sure…our family never experienced what Mom did…what she watched her mother live through…this recognition belongs to you… you made me believe in miracles…that we can have it all…that everything is possible…you made me believe we can all be extraordinary."
There wasn't a dry eye as Victoria Carolyn Shepherd finished speaking; Derek held on to Meredith's hand, as she cradled her sleeping three year old granddaughter, and he wiped away her tears. "I love you Meredith Grey…" he whispered in her ear.
"I adore you…Derek Shepherd…you made our life…extraordinary…"
"Granma," her namesake intruded in the moment "no kissing…it yucky."
"That's right princess," Derek smiled, "it is…" and his wife rolled her eyes.
"Granpa," he still beamed hearing that name, the little girl with the exact same dark curls as her mother and grandfather said as placed both hands on his cheeks, "you forgot…that not my name."
"No sweetie…I didn't forget…you have the most beautiful name..."
"You don't forgot?" his granddaughter asked, "cause of you're old?"
Meredith laughed, the melodious sound that still made his heart skip a beat after more than thirty years of marriage. "Meredith Carolyn O'Sullivan," he told his granddaughter; yes, the inseparable cousins had married brothers, "I am not old."
"Granma…is Granpa old?"
"No sweetie," Meredith smiled, and touched Derek's face tenderly, "he's always young to me…always my knight…in shining…"
"Whatever…" Derek smiled.
"My soul mate," Meredith smiled, though sentimental tears escaped, "the love of my life."
"Granma," her namesake looked at her intently, "you gots happy tears?"
"Very happy tears," Meredith kissed her, "let's go see your Mommy," and followed her son in law, who held a sleeping baby girl in his arms and as soon as he reached her, wrapped his arms around his wife and kissed her tenderly.
"I love you Granma," the little girl said, "lots and lots…"
"I love you too baby," and she handed the little girl to Derek, who carried her as they walked hand in hand to hug their daughter, but waited till she was engulfed in hugs by both her brothers.
"I love you Dad, Mom…" Tory wrapped her arms around her parents, "I love you both so much…thank you…for loving me…for everything…"
"Victoria Carolyn," Derek said to his wife, as they exchanged an emotional and sentimental embrace, "our true victory dance...Meredith…thank you…for another chance…thank you for an extraordinary lifetime."