Jade Kemp's Library

I still don't own em...

WONDERFUL TONIGHT

She placed her fork down and looked across the table. Izzies head was buried in a magazine, Cristina, sat equally engrossed in a chart, furiously eating a hot dog while trying not to smear the papers with sauce.

Meredith eyes wandered to the windows near by, perfect timing to see Derek and Addison walking past, heavily in conversation. She tried to read their body language but was unable to make it out. She shook her head; to rid herself of the lingering mix of love and sadness she felt when he was near.

“Mer, did you hear me?” Izzie had looked up to see Meredith staring at Derek and his wife.

“Best you don’t look,” She said softly, reaching over to squeeze Meredith’s arm supportively.

“Did you get that dress?” Izzie tried to change the subject to the Hospital fundraiser ball they were all attending the following night.

“I’m not going” Meredith said flatly.
”Oh you so are” Cristina looked up from her chart.
”If I’m going, you’re going” She said.

“It’s not my fault you’re boyfriend is making you go… why punish me?” Meredith looked at Cristina and tried to hide her amusement at the thought of Cristina and Burke at a formal dance.

“Oh it’s not you being punished, it’s me… apparently I did some cruel thing in a former life and now I must pay by being dragged to this ball… you Meredith, are just lucky to be along for the ride” Cristina said, placing her last fry in her mouth.

“I think it will be fun” Izzie injected.

“Fun? Fun is a triple bypass…”Cristina looked at her seriously.

“A craniotomy” Meredith added.

“A Coronary artery bypass graft .. they are fun. Fun is not dressing up and being seen as some trophy on your cardiothoracic surgeon boyfriends arm”

“You won’t be a trophy” Meredith shook her head at Cristina.

“Shut up… you get my point” Cristina stood up and looked at Izzie.

“I still think it will be fun, all of us dressed up, dancing… it’ll definitely be fun” Izzie stood as well.

“Sometimes Izzie, I think you’re simple” Cristina walked off, and Izzie laughed at her.

“You coming?” She asked Meredith who was looking over her shoulder. Izzie followed her stare. Derek, now alone stood at the counter waiting for his lunch.

Izzie looked back at Meredith.

“I’ve got to go Mer… do you think you could grab me a coke?” She fished in her pocket and placed a few coins on the table. Smiling at her, Izzie walked off too.

Meredith slowly walked over to the counter. She didn’t speak, except to place her order but as if they still shared a connection she could feel his eyes on her back.

She turned around and gave him a half smile.

“Hey” He said.

“I thought you were ignoring me” He looked at her with his McDreamy eyes and she cursed him silently.

“You going to the ball tomorrow” He asked her, his eyes remained on her the whole time.

She nodded. Reluctantly.

“You?” She managed to get the words out.

“I am… but I dance….”
”…In public” she finished and the two both smiled silently, remembering the moment he had shared that information with her.

“Yeah” He said, nodding.

“Is that cause you suck” She teased him.

“Oh I don’t suck” He said, stepping closer to her and smiling. The world around them fell silent.

“You suck,” She said to him.

“Trust me… I don’t suck… I just don’t dance in public….” He picked up his order.

“Unless I have something to dance for” He ended the sentence, smiled at her suggestively and walked off, leaving her to catch her breath and wonder what was going through his mind.

Meredith stood in the foyer, in her floor length red strapless gown, of the reception hall. She looked in the shiny tiles on the wall trying to make out her reflection. Her hair was swept up to reveal her bare shoulders.

“You look lovely Grey” Preston voice seemed to boom, and she spun around startled.

“Oh Cristina, you look…” Meredith searched for a word.

“I know I look hot,” Cristina said very seriously.

“Yes she does” Burke said.

“We should go in” He took Cristina’s arm, and she pulled away.

“We need to get something straight first… there will be no leading, there will be no parading… and please if you must show me off be sure to introduce me to everyone as Dr. Cristina Yang” She said, and Preston looked at her oddly.

“Yes Dr. Yang” he humoured her.

“May we go now Dr. Yang” Burke and Meredith shared an amused look.

“You coming Mer?” She asked, concerned for her friend.

“I just need a second” Cristina nodded her head, in quiet understanding.

Meredith stood alone for a second, counting her breathing. She knew her friends were inside but she wasn’t sure she would be able to bare seeing Derek and Addison tonight. She was certain Addison would look divine, in some designer gown and she had no doubt that Derek would look as McDreamy as ever.

“The lady in Red” Derek’s voice broke her thoughts this time and Meredith couldn’t bring herself to turn around. She hated the thought of standing alone in front of the Shepherds.

“You are ignoring me” Derek said referring to their conversation the day prior.

She shook her head, still with her back to him.

“Meredith” He said, with a slight questioning in his voice.

She closed her eyes and spun around; opening them to see Derek standing alone dressed in a black tuxedo.

“Where’s your wife?” Meredith asked abruptly.

Derek put his head down, looking at his feet.

“Long story,” He said, looking at her now.

“You going in?” He motioned with his head towards the ballroom.

“That’s what I was trying to decide” She replied.

“Come up with anything yet” He looked at her, his head slightly tilted, drinking in her beauty. He had never seen in her quite like this.

He extended his arm. Without thinking of the consequences, and not knowing why his wife was not here she took his hand.

“I think I will,” She said, allowing him to lead her inside.

“You look amazing” He leant in and whispered just as they opened the door, the music and atmosphere allowing her to not have to form a response.

Meredith sat at a table, with Izzie, who had taken off her high heels and was rubbing her feet.

“I hate heels,” She said.

“So you ready to spill yet?” Izzie asked.

“What?” Meredith asked.

“I saw you walk in with McDreamy…and I’ve seen the two of you all night staring at each other across the room… you can’t take your eyes off each other” Izzie said and Meredith squirmed a little.

“Where’s the She Doc Shepherd?” She asked and Meredith shrugged.

“He didn’t say?” She said, following him with her eyes as he talked to the Chief and his wife.

At that moment Adele looked over and Meredith tried to look away.

“Sprung” Izzie said as she noticed Adele excusing herself from the men and beginning to walk across the room.

“Don’t leave me?” Meredith leant towards Izzie.

“Meredith?” Adele said as a question, but she knew she was right.

“Richard said you look like your mother…. but I don’t see it?” She said to her.

“May I sit down?” She gestured to the empty seat next to Meredith.

Meredith nodded and Adele sat, leaning across Meredith to Izzie.

“Would you mind terribly grabbing us all a stiff drink? I think Meredith is going to need it” Izzie looked at Meredith, who shrugged, what could they say. No I begged Izzie not to leave me alone with you.

Izzie hurried off to the bar.

Adele and Meredith sat in silence for a moment watching Richard and Derek chat across the dance floor.

“You know Addison has had enough” Adele said, not shifting her gaze to Meredith. Meredith looked down at her hands in her lap. She was unsure what to say or do.

“She asked Richard to release he from her contract, she wants to go home” When she said the last part she looked at Meredith.

“I didn’t know”
”It’s hard you know, to be married to someone who’s almost there… I know” Adele added softly, then gave Meredith a small smile, which made her feel strangely relieved.

“I didn’t know” Meredith said again.

“Hmmm it’s something you don’t know unless you live it… sometimes you have to face facts and let go. You can hang on as tight as you want, for as long as you want, but sometimes you’ve got to let go. I guess Addie finally let go” Adele said as Izzie came back with drinks for them all.

Adele swallowed her champagne in two quick gulps, and then stood up.

She turned to look at Meredith.

“You’re much prettier than your mother,” She said, before walking off.

“What was that all about?” Izzie asked confused.

“Addison left” Meredith looked from Izzie over too Derek, who was now looking straight back at her, wandering what Adele had said.

As if through channelling the pair began to walk to each other. With each step Meredith was more uncertain of what she would say when she reached him.

Coming together in the middle of the dance floor Derek looked at her with concern.
”What did she say to you? You know she and Addison are friends” He began to excuse Adele. Meredith shook her head.

“She was fine… she told me what you should have told me…” Meredith’s eyes filled with tears and she looked up into his.

“I’m sorry your marriage is over” She said. And she was sincere. She had never wanted to break up a marriage.

“It’s not your fault,” He whispered, in a way, despite knowing for a long time it was over, he too was a little sorry.

“That’s why I didn’t tell you, I didn’t want you to think it was because of you…” His voice trailed off.

The pair still standing in the middle of the dance floor, fell silent, both of them looking at the floor.

The band began to play a familiar song.

It's late in the evening; she's wondering what clothes to wear.
She puts on her make-up and brushes her long blonde hair.
And then she asks me, "Do I look all right?"
And I say, "Yes, you look wonderful tonight."

Derek looked up at her and smiled.

“Would you like to dance?” He extended his hand, in a major public display of his deep feelings for her.

“You don’t dance…”
”I told you I don’t dance… unless there is a reason” She looked at his hand extended in front of her as he spoke.

“You’re my reason,” He said softly as she took his hand, he pulled her into his arms, and the world around them disappeared again.

“You’re right?” She whispered softly, melting into his embrace.

“You don’t suck” Referring to his dancing.

He looked back a little, then she nodded slightly, to his unasked question and he leant in and kissed her.

Posted by jade at 3:35 AM | Permalink | Comments

I do not own Greys Anatomy or it's characters... that honor belongs to the fabulous and almighty Shonda Rhimes (I old her up there with Joss Whedon)

May you read and enjoy :)

Derek looked down at her tiny fist. His hands rested on the humidicrib and his heart felt overjoyed as he looked at his tiny daughter. Six weeks early, but out of danger, she was just a few hours old. As a precaution she was attached to a breathing monitor, though that would likely only be for 24 hours because at 5lb 9 she was not your average premmie.

Her tiny mouth would be unable to suckle just yet so a gavage had been inserted into her nose to feed her. Derek winced as he thought about his child in pain.

“She’s pretty cute” Addison interrupted his thoughts and he looked over at her in the rocking chair nearby in the NICU.

“Looks like her Daddy” She smiled at him.

Derek looked back at the baby for a moment and a slow smile formed.

“No she’s as beautiful as her Mommy,” He said.

They were silent for a moment and the soft buzz of the machines filled the air again.

“I picked the name” He looked over at Addison.

She smiled amused.

“Annabelle” He said, and instantly Addie recognised it as his Grandmothers name.

“That suits her,” She said with a small grin.

“So” She sighed, obviously tired after a long day.

“You’re a Daddy”

Derek looked at her amazed. She had been so wonderful today he didn’t know the words to thank her.

“You should get some rest” Was all he said.

“I wanted to make sure she was alright first” Addison replied through a yawn.

“I’ll be with her,” Derek said, placing his hand through the humidicrib hole and stroking her tiny fingers lightly.

“Daddy’s here Bella” He whispered.

“And Mommy’s not far away”

He sat on the edge of her hospital bed. Looking at his sleeping wife he fell a little more in love with her in that second. Annabelle had just been cleared to be removed from the humidicrib and had been placed with her breathing monitor into a hospital crib, easily wheeled around.

Derek had reluctantly convinced his wife to sleep. She had wanted to be with Annabelle, but was exhausted from the 11 hour labour so had eventually agreed to rest a while. So as she slept he had bought their daughter to her, knowing it would be a wonderful surprise when she woke.

He stroked her face softly and thought about the day’s event. She had given him the greatest gift of all. A child, their daughter. Arriving unexpectedly 6 weeks before she was due, they had come in as a precaution thinking the contractions were only Braxton hicks.

“I can’t do it Derek” She said, her tired body draped between his legs as his sat behind her on the bed rubbing her lower back.

He hated that she was struggling.

“Yes you can, you can do it Mer,” He said as he eyed the midwife and they shared a look of concern. Both of them shifting their gaze to the babies heart rate monitor.

“A couple more pushes Meredith,” The Midwife said.

“Are you ready?”
”I don’t feel like I need to push” Meredith pleaded. She hadn’t felt the urge to push once and it seemed her strength was wasted.

“C’mon, you can do it… this contraction”.

Meredith felt the now familiar pain of a contraction coming on, and she took a deep breath. Gritting her teeth, Derek lifted her a little and she tried to push… despite not feeling the need to.

“Something’s wrong” She said as the pain subsided slightly.

Derek looked at the monitor.

“It’s too low” He said with concern.

“What?” Meredith asked, overwhelmed by the labour she was thinking as a first time mother not a doctor.

“We need an OB… page Dr. Montgomery” Derek said to the midwife who looked back at him. She had worked at the hospital long enough to know the history. But she nodded and went to page Addison.

In a few minutes Addison came flying in.

“Where are we?” She asked the midwife, who responded with the details.

“I can’t do it, I can’t push” Meredith’s exhaustion was evident and her voice was soft. Derek touched her forehead lightly with a damp cloth, kissing her cheek.

“You just need a little help Meredith” Addison said as a second midwife entered, pushing a ventoose machine.

“This baby needs a bit of coaxing that’s all” She replied.

“She’s stubborn like her mother” Derek teased rubbing Meredith’s shoulders lovingly.

“A daughter?” Addison was surprised.

“Okay well let’s get this baby girl out. Meredith this will be uncomfortable,” She said as she inserted the suction cap. Meredith winced in pain.

“No more uncomfortable than having my husbands ex wife between my legs” She managed a joke.

“Don’t get him too excited” Addison smiled at Meredith.

“Okay… next contraction you need to push Meredith, as hard as you can, one last one… any luck and she’ll be out” Addison explained the ventoose to Meredith.

“Get ready to meet your cone headed daughter” She teased referring to the shape of the head from the pressure of the suction, a side effect that would take a few days to disappear.

“She won’t stay that way” She winked at Derek.

“You ready for this” Addison said, noting the monitors attached to Meredith were beginning to peak.

Meredith nodded. She sucked it up and with all that was left she pushed. The noises disappeared and all she could hear was Derek’s voice in her ear.

“C’mon baby, push” He encouraged.

At the same time Addison pulled as if in a tug of war with the Shepherds stubborn baby girl.

In an instant she was out.

Addison placed her on Meredith’s stomach.

“She’s out Mer, she’s on you” Derek said overcome with emotion.

“I think Dad might want to cut the cord,” She said to the Pediatrician who was waiting to check the premmies vitals.

Derek’s normally steady hand was shaking as he took the scissors to cut the cord.

“Mer” he whispered.

“She’s on you” But Meredith was completely oblivious. The moment and the pain were completely overwhelming and she could hear nothing.

“Meredith” Derek said and she finally realised what he was saying beginning to place her arms around her daughter the Pedatrician whisked her away to check her vitals.

Meredith looked around. She could see Addison standing with the Peditrician.

“Is she okay?” Meredith’s voice cracked as she spoke.

“She’s just fine… she’s big for a prem Meredith… 5lb 9” Addison looked back and smiled at them as their daughter let out a soft wail.

“Did you hear that?” Meredith looked up at Derek who was beaming.

“I did baby… that’s our girl” He looked at her with love.

Addison returned to the chair.

“I’m sorry Meredith, we’re not done here… and the baby needs to go to the nursery… we’ve still got Stage 3 to go… then you need some stiches from the ventoose” Addison seemed to be apologising but Meredith knew the drill.

“Okay are you ready…?” Addison asked for the second time that day.

Meredith’s eyes flickered. She turned her head to where Derek sat next to her holding her hand.

“Hey” Her voice was croaky and Derek grabbed a glass of water and a straw for to sip.

“I bought someone to see you,” He said, stepping aside for Meredith to see their daughter in the clear crib behind him.

Meredith sat up slowly and Derek adjusted her pillows.

Then he wheeled the crib over.

“They took her out… I wish you’d woken me”.
”Only about 20 minutes ago, the nurse transferred her and I saved the first hug for you” He said kissing her forehead.

He lifted the baby girl out and placed her into Meredith’s eager embrace.

No words were spoken as Derek sat down on the bed wrapping his arm protectively around both his girls.

Meredith’s face was fixed in a huge grin.

“I can’t believe she’s here,” She said, pulling back the blanket to look at her tiny hand.

“Tiny ineffectual wrists… just like her mommy” Derek teased and kissed his wife again.

“Beautiful eyes… just like her Daddy” Meredith looked up into Derek eyes.

“I love you,” She said.

“I love you too… you were amazing” They shared a longer kiss… breaking as the baby let out a gurgle.

The new parents laughed… just as all new parents found every sound their baby made funny and amazing.

“We need to name her… I only had a boys name” Meredith looked back at their daughter.

“What do you want?”

“I’d like to name her after my mothers mother, Annabelle… it means Grace and Beauty” he said softly and Meredith passed her to him gently to hold for the first time.

“Grace and Beauty… Annabelle…. That’s perfect,” She agreed.

“She’s perfect… you’re perfect” Derek was overcome with emotion and love and he swore silently to protect them both for the rest of his life.

Derek looked at Addison amazed as she closed her eyes. She had been so wonderful today he didn’t know the words to thank her.

“You should get some rest” Was all he said.

“I wanted to make sure she was alright first” Addison replied through a yawn.

“I’ll be with her,” Derek said, placing his hand through the humidicrib hole and stroking her tiny fingers lightly.

“Daddy’s here Bella” He whispered.

“And Mommy’s not far away”

“How is Meredith?” Addison asked.

“Tired… overwhelmed… elated, she’s resting, the nurse said I should be able to take Annabelle down to her soon” Derek looked at Addie and gave her a smile. He knew this was hard for her.

“Thank you for today” he said sincerely.

“Just doing my job” Addison said modestly, but didn’t want to make a big deal of it. Derek knew her well enough to get that.

“This girl needs to see her mother” The NICU Nurse interrupted Derek and Addison.

Addison stood up and came over to Derek she leant in and brushed his cheek with a light kiss.

“Congratulations Daddy” She said turning for the door.

When she reached it she turned around to see Derek assisting as his daughter was placed in a small movable crib. She smiled as he took such care with his daughter.

“Tell her Mummy I said… well done,” She said, a little sadly, but mostly genuinely.

And she turned and left Derek to take his daughter to see her mother.

Posted by jade at 5:59 AM | Permalink | Comments

Welcome to my writing blog.
The likelihood of me ever being published is miniscule... So here I am publishing myself :)

Enjoy as I add my work from time to time.

Jade

Posted by jade at 1:10 AM | Permalink | Comments