A Life Worth Living

AN: Hello and welcome to my new story! As I explained at the end of FTB, it's AU (but not drastically so) and loosely based on a famous book/movie. I don't want to give too much away so I'll let you get to reading it :)

Points to note: All text in normal type is set in 2057 whilst everything in italics is flashbacks so to speak with 2057 Derek telling the story…it'll make sense as you read! For the purposes of this story, Meredith and Lexie are full sisters (Ellis is their mom) and Meredith is 18 in the first flashback whilst Lexie is 17. There's a four year age gap between MerDer and so Derek and Mark start off being 22.

I'm enjoying writing this so I hope you like it :)

Disclaimer: anything recognisable is obviously not mine.

Seattle, May 2057:

Derek Shepherd ran a hand through his thick dark grey hair, trying to tame his wild curls that had been a distinguishing feature of his appearance right from childhood through to old age. At 90 years old, the years had been kind to him. His sparkly blue eyes, charming nature, and of course the hair, helped him sweet talk the nurses in the care home. They would often tease him about how he was a favourite amongst the female residents. He found it amusing but he wasn't in the slightest bit bothered because as had been the case for his entire adult life, there was and always would be only one woman in his heart. He'd had an illustrious career as a neurosurgeon and was not short of awards or accolades, but his greatest achievement was not winning a Harper Avery, or even developing pioneering new surgical treatments. No. His greatest achievement was that he had loved another with his whole heart.

Straightening the collar on his navy button down he smiled at his reflection before picking up a well worn notebook from his nightstand and making his way down the corridor, just as he did every day. He had a feeling that today would be a good day. He stopped outside a room and watched for a few moments as the woman inside spoke warily to the nurse who was trying unsuccessfully to coax her into going for a walk.

"Hello" he greeted softly, smiling as he took a few cautious steps into the room so as not to startle her.

The nurse walked over to him and smiled sympathetically. "I'm sorry, it's not a good day. I don't think she's up for anything."

Derek felt a stab of disappointment, but only for a second – he was well known for his determined nature and unyielding optimism. That optimism was rewarded when the woman contradicted the nurses opinion and cautiously returned his greeting.

"Hello"

Tilting his head he smiled what in his younger days would have been termed his 'McDreamy smile'.

"This is Shep, he's going to read to you" the nurse told the woman, pleasantly surprised at her change of mood.

"Read?"

"Mmmhmm"

The woman regarded Derek apprehensively, feeling drawn to him but not totally convinced. "No…I don't know…"

"Oh come on" the nurse encouraged kindly, "you'll like him, he's very funny."

As he smiled and nodded in agreement with the nurse, the woman regarded him closely as if trying to decide if he could be trusted.

Derek let out a breath he hadn't realised he'd been holding as she walked over to him and took his arm as he led her to the sun room.

With his hand lightly on her back he guided her over to a chair and sat down in the one next to hers. As she looked at him expectantly he smiled before opening the notebook he'd been carrying. "Alright then, where did we leave off?...Oh, yeah, yeah – it was the night of the carnival. Derek was there with his friend Mark."

"Derek?" the woman asked. The name sounded familiar to her but she couldn't quite place it.

"It was the night that they met – June 30th 1989. Mer was 18 years old."

Derek had arrived back home in Seattle yesterday, along with his childhood friend Mark after they'd spent the last four years away at Bowdoin doing pre-med. Since the age of eight they'd seemed to do everything together and now having been all through grade school and then college together they were back in their home town for the summer before beginning medical school at the prestigious University of Washington, right here in Seattle. They'd finished their final college exams less than a week ago and Derek was immensely glad to have a few months off where he could just relax and not have to think about studying or cramming for finals.

Seattle had a carnival every summer at Elliott Bay Marina and Derek along with his family and Mark had came every year when they were growing up. Him and Mark hadn't been for a couple of years due to living on the East coast and Mark had insisted they come this year for the sake of tradition. Derek had always enjoyed the carnival as it brought back fond memories of his childhood, so he'd agreed. He wasn't buying Mark's reasoning though – he was pretty sure it had something to do with Lexie, a girl Mark had met yesterday when her and her family had moved in across the street from his parents' house, having told him that she was coming here.

Derek rolled his eyes in amusement at having been right about Mark when as they leant on the gate for the bumper cars, Mark called out 'Lexie!' and winked at a smiling brown haired girl in one of the cars. He looked between the two of them and laughed at Mark's shameless attempts to attract her attention. When the car turned though he caught sight for the first time of the other occupant in the car and his breath caught in his throat. He tracked her every movement with his eyes and watched as she threw her head back in laughter, her long honey blonde hair framing her delicate face and her emerald green eyes sparkling in delight. If there was one thing he was sure of in his life, it was that he needed to know this girl.

"Who's that with Lexie?" he asked Mark without tearing his eyes from her.

"That's Meredith Grey - Lexie's sister."

'Meredith' – he smiled as he repeated her name in his head. He decided it suited her perfectly as he watched her with a look of wonder on his face.

It was only when the ride ended and Mark hurried over to meet them that Derek snapped out of his trance. He jogged over to the group where Mark was already flirting up a storm with Lexie. Taking a deep breath for courage, he stepped out from behind Mark and towards the girl who had enraptured him in the space of five minutes. "Would you like to dance with me?" As soon as he'd said the words he immediately regretted them and berated himself for his lameness and stupidity. Yes he'd love nothing more than to have Meredith in his arms, and yes there was music playing and people were slow dancing around them, but the little fact remained that he didn't dance – he couldn't dance.

Meredith regarded Derek curiously. He was undeniably attractive – very attractive, what with his ridiculously perfect raven curls, sparkling indigo eyes and toned physique. The cocky smile on his face told her he'd caught her checking him out and that he was probably used to girls falling at his feet. "No."

"Why not?" Derek shot back, refusing to be phased by her rejection. He'd never been one to give up easily.

"Because I don't want to." Meredith emphasised her point with a scowl.

Derek couldn't help but chuckle – she was adorably cute when she was annoyed.

Meredith rolled her eyes at Derek's amusement. Linking her arm through Lexie's she pulled her away from the two men as she began walking. "Come on Lexie – the Harrison's are having a party on their yacht."

Derek watched as the two sisters walked away towards the dock. He wasn't giving up – he needed to get to know Meredith Grey.

"That's Derek Shepherd – he's Mark's best friend. They're going to Washington for med school in the fall" Lexie supplied.

Meredith glanced back over her shoulder and green met blue as she found him stood in the exact same position staring right back at her.

"I think he likes you" Lexie smirked when Meredith tore her gaze away.

Meredith just rolled her eyes but a smile tugged at her lips as she pulled Lexie faster towards an impressive looking yacht with music blaring from it.

Derek followed Meredith's every step with his eyes until she boarded the yacht and then with a confidence he definitely didn't feel, he grabbed Mark and made his way over to the same yacht.

Looking up he saw Meredith and Lexie laughing and chatting with a couple of other girls up on deck. "Come on" he told Mark before climbing aboard. Never one to say no to a party, Mark didn't need any persuasion and quickly followed behind. As they wound their way through throngs of people they received some curious glances from some of the guys, obviously wandering who they were and why they were on their boat.

Derek smiled as he located Meredith right at the front of the boat. Inserting himself right in front of her, effectively cutting off her conversation with the other girls, he held out his hand and smiled at her. "I'm Derek Shepherd."

Meredith's eyebrows rose and she opened her mouth to reply but no sound came out. She was shocked at the sheer audacity of the man stood before her. "So?" she managed to get out eventually.

"So I didn't tell you earlier and I thought you should know" Derek smirked, pleased with his response.

"And why would I need to know that?" she asked, her interest piqued.

"Because I'm someone you need to get to know to love."

Meredith quirked an eyebrow. "Really? So if I know you I'll love you?"

"Oh yes" Derek smiled.

Meredith couldn't help but giggle, which caused Derek's smile to widen further. "You really like yourself huh?"

Derek joined her in laughter but then turned serious as his gaze caught hers. "Go out with me?"

"What? …No!" Meredith stuttered surprised. She didn't date guys – that wasn't how she did things.

Before Derek had a chance to reply, he was interrupted by a guy shouting at him from across the deck. "Hey! This party is invitation only!"

"Sorry – we're going!" Derek called back, holding his hand up in apology. Glancing at Meredith he smiled as he turned and climbed up and over the railings on the bow, taking his feet off the ridge so he was just holding on with his hands. It was a sizeable yacht and he gulped slightly as he looked down and saw just how big of a drop it was to the water.

"Derek, what are you doing?! Get down - you're gunna hurt yourself!" Meredith called out.

"You won't go out with me?"

"No!"

"Why not?"

"Because I don't want to!" Meredith repeated. That was a lie – she did want to, she just didn't know how. That and she wanted to wipe some of the smugness off his face.

"Oh...well then you leave me no other choice" he replied with a pout. Taking one hand off the railing he dangled precariously off the yacht, causing Lexie to gasp and even Mark looked shocked. He was a grown man of 22 and a future doctor – he was pretty sure if the admissions department at Washington could see him now they'd be questioning their decision to offer him a place, but he didn't care – he needed to get Meredith to go out with him.

"Derek!" Meredith snapped, covering her mouth with her hand.

"I'm gunna ask you one more time – will you go out with me?"

"Ah, go out with him!" Mark interjected, not having seen his best friend be this much of an idiot over a girl before so he must have it bad.

"My hand's slipping…" Derek added, looking dubiously down at the water.

"Alright, alright - I'll go out with you!" Meredith yelled.

"Don't do me any favours"

"No! I want to – I want to go out with you!"

"You do?"

"Yes!"

Derek grinned widely at her through the railings. "Say it again."

"I want to go out with you!"

Derek smirked as he easily pulled himself back up and onto the yacht. "Alright, if you insist – we'll go out."

Meredith looked in amused disbelief at the cocky man in front of her. "You think you're so smart don't you?"

Derek laughed, sensing that she wasn't as annoyed as she was trying to portray. Reaching his hand up he cupped her cheek affectionately and sent her one last smile before climbing off the boat with Mark. He had a feeling that this was the start of something big.

AN: So I'm guessing you've guessed the movie now?! ;) As I said though, it will 'loosely' follow the plot, not exactly and will have a MerDer twist! Please leave me a review and let me know what you think and if you'd like to read more - I'd love to hear your thoughts :)