Today is the day, the day Meredith and Derek finally get properly married to each other.
When all the guys arrived at Derek's hotel room for the the night Mark was sat in his tux at the table having a cup of coffee.
"How are you dressed already?"
"Derek has had me up since four, he is ready too, he should be out in a second he is gone to the toilet".
"Right well in that case let's start on the beer while we wait for him"
Owen and Ben just looked at each other as Derek came out of the bathroom.
"Uh Mark, you know its only 8 yeah? Plus, I don't think Meredith would be happy with me showing up to our wedding drunk"
"Yeah but one won't kill you, come on loosen up a little, it's not as if we are driving, the limo will be here at half 9"
"Don't forget that Meredith might kill you, we've already had problems with the minister"
"Yeah but Bailey has that covered, come on man live a little"
"Ok but only one"
Ben reached into the fridge and pulled out six beers and passed them around before opening his own and taking a sip.
"For once the man has a point"
Owen raised his beer,
"To Derek and Meredith "
"To Derek and Meredith" they all chimed in as they clinked bottles.
Back at the Derek and Meredith's house , Kepner had everyone ready a full half hour before the Limo was supposed to arrive.
"Kepner, I knew letting you organise my wedding was a good idea, I have to be the most relaxed and laid-back bride in history"
"What can I say, us Kepner's are good at organising just about anything"
"Alright as Maid of Honour it's my job to make sure you have everything, have you got your something old?" Cristina asked with worry in her voice.
"Yup"
"Something new?"
"Yeah this necklace Derek gave me on our fist anniversary"
"Something borrowed?"
"Crap"
Cristina smiled, as she handed Meredith her diamond earrings that she got as a gift from Owen
"Here take these"
"Thanks"
"Lastly, you got your something blue?"
"Yeah, I'm allowed to not share that information though"
"I've got to say, when I got ordained to marry Arizona and Callie, the last person I thought I'd be marrying is Meredith Grey. I thought you'd never come back here but Derek changed you"
"Thanks Bailey"
They could all hear the stretch limo coming up the drive.
All the women made there way out to the limo except Meredith.
"Cristina will you hang on a second?"
"Sure Mer, what's up"
"I just wanted to thank you for being there for me after all these years, I love you and I'm forever grateful that I've met you "
Cristina pulled her friend hug.
"Cristina what are you doing we don't hug"
"Just shut up Mer, today we hug, today we see little Meredith Grey grow into Meredith Grey Shepherd. I never thought I'd see the day where you get married."
They all proceeded into the Limo and made their way to the church.
When they got there everyone took their places and waited for the show to start.
"Hey Maggie will you go get your dad for me?"-Maggie is my mom and Richard's "love child" We only found out about her father recently. We always thought our mom just had a one night stand.-
"You wanted to see me Meredith ?"
"Yeah, look I know you're not my real Dad, but you are married to my mom and the dad of my sister. Now
it's okay if you say no, but I was wondering if you would walk me down the aisle?"
To say he was touched was an understatement.
"I would be honoured to Meredith"
Up at the Altar Derek was standing patiently waiting patiently with his groomsmen for his bride to arrive.
As the music started Alexa -Derek's niece- made her way up the aisle sprinkling rose petals along her path, followed by Derek's nephew carrying the rings.
One by one the bridesmaids made their way up the aisle but by the time they did Derek used up what little attention he had watching his nieces and nephew. Now all his attention was focused on looking at Meredith .
Then he saw her and his heart stopped. This was it, the moment he had been waiting for all his life.
Derek did not know what true love was until he met Meredith Grey, and he was going to make it his life mission to show her just how much she meant to him.
When Meredith made it to the top of the altar Bailey addressed everyone.
"We are gathered here today to witness the marriage of Derek Shepherd and Meredith Grey. I have known Meredith for several years, since she was my intern and even when she was gone I heard of her greatness from her best friends Cristina and Alex. I'm the one who taught her how not to kill a patient
Her step father taught her how to handle her well known name and to not let anyone think of her as just Ellis Grey's little girl. Cristina Yang and Alex Karev are the ones who showed her how to be accept love from people .
But Derek, Derek is the one that taught her how to actually love.
Now I've only known Derek for a few months but in those months I've seen how much he loves this woman and how much Meredith has grew to accept love.
.It is been my privilege to call you my friends, others might say my family.
Now it is my honour to marry the two of you. I believe you have vows prepared?"
They both nodded and Bailey nodded for Meredith to go first.
"Derek... I've made a lot of mistakes in my life. One of them being when we first met I turned you down... sorry about that by the way."
The room erupted in laughter Meredith then continued.
"But you've managed to erase them by being the closest thing I had to family for the first three years of me being in LA with every failed relationship you were there when I was crying in the night, and I want to thank you because each and every one of them has led me to you. You were there for me when ever I had a problem I remember when I first fell for you, I stopped all of the crazy dating and decided to grow up. You being you asked if I needed a consult with psych ward the truth is I wanted you so bad it hurt. I couldn't think about anyone else.
When I look into your eyes, I see our future. I see kids, I can see everything just you name it, I see it. Ask anyone I'm not the type of person to give out much love but you, you changed the way I think I love you and I never plan on stopping."
When Meredith finished her vows, Bailey nodded to Derek .
Derek had to take a breath to steady himself and wipe tears from his eyes.
"Meredith when I first met you I was blown away by you, ask Mark or my mom I wouldn't stop going on about you whether I was visiting my family in New York or grabbing a drink with Mark when he visited. I knew that you were going to be mine even with the endless line of boyfriends I knew you'd come to your senses soon enough.
What we have is... magical. Honestly when I proposed I thought you were going to hit me with your over priced high heel, I was shell shocked when you said yes 'cause that meant we shared the same amount of love for each other."
The silent room once again erupted with laughter. Derek wiped a tear from Meredith's face and continued.
"I know you giving me your love wasn't the easiest thing you've ever done but I for one think it's probably one of the best things you've done. Now on this day three years ago when you first told me you were falling for me I would've never imagined standing in a church, in front of you, the most wonderful and beautiful woman in the world I promise I'll always protect you and I'll always be there for you"
After both of them had finished their vows there was not a single dry eye around.
"Time for the rings, Mark will will you pass them up?"
Bailey asked and gave Derek and Meredith the rings.
"Derek please place the ring on the end of Meredith's finger"
"Derek Christopher Shepherd do you take Meredith Grey to be your lawfully wedded wife to love and to cherish, in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer until death do you part?"
"I do" Derek said as he moved the ring down her finger
"Meredith with you please place the ring at the end of Derek's finger"
"Meredith Grey, do you take Derek Christopher Shepherd to be your lawfully wedded husband to love and to cherish, in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer until death do you part?"
"I do" Meredith said as she moved the ring down his finger.
"Then by the power vested in me by the State of Washington and I hereby pronounce you husband and wife, you may kiss the bride.
Derek did not have to be told twice. He pulled his wife to him and kissed her like he had never kissed her before as everyone around them erupted in cheers.
After the wedding
The after party was the most magnificent view, the sound of music, friends and families laughter and most importantly the sound of clinking glasses ready for someone to make a toast.
"As most of you know I'm Derek's best man, Mark Sloan. I'm so very happy to be involved with today's event. I remember the first time Derek and I met Mer, to me Mer was just another pretty girl, but to Derek God to Derek she was so much more. I swear he fell for her the first time he laid his eyes on her, she on the other hand never realised and he, well Derek was in what most people like to call the friend zone for roughly two years."
The room erupted in fits of laughter with Meredith and Derek making eyes at each other.
"I'm just glad that Meredith finally came to her senses and dropped all the fuckboys that were hurting her, I see Derek as a older brother and now I see Meredith as my little sister. If anything happens to you Meredith Grey I will do my best to help you and Derek you know I'll always have your back. To the lovely couple Mr and Mrs Shepherd or Doctor and Doctor Shepherd"
"To Mr and Mrs Shepherd" everyone in the room repeated.
Just as the room was quieting down another toast was to be said this time by Meredith's best friend Cristina.
"Now I've known Meredith for a long time we go way back, and I've only known Derek for a few months but over these few months, I've realised just how happy Derek makes Meredith. When they're in a OR together the sparks fly they work in sync, and they think no one notices the eyes they make at each other, but we do. It's sickening how much they love each other. Congrats Meredith and Derek"
The Dj announced the bride and groom first dance and everyone cleared the dance floor. Slowly Meredith and Derek made their way to the dance floor as "can't help falling in love with you" played
Wise men say only fools rush in
But I can't help falling in love with you.
Shall I stay, would it be a sin?
If I can't help falling in love with you.
"Derek I love you so much I hope you know that"
"Of course I do love, and I love you and our little muffin in your stomach"
"Speaking of when shall we tell everyone?"
"Let's do it after this dance"
"Okay"
"Okay"
Like a river flows surely to the sea
Darling, so it goes.
Some things are meant to be.
Take my hand, take my whole life too.
For I can't help falling in love with you.
"Look at those two, they're meant to be together I'm a proud mom of my boy"
"Yeah, I hope one day I'll be like uncle Derek and aunt Meredith"
Said Derek's oldest niece
"You've still got a long time to go before you get married, what your aunt and uncle have is special, it takes time to meet the right person"
"Yeah, you're right grandma I love you"
Like a river flows surely to the sea
Darling, so it goes.
Some things are meant to be.
Take my hand, take my whole life too.
For I can't help falling in love with you.
For I can't help falling in love with you.
The cliche wedding songs played and everyone danced a long, before the party ended Meredith and Derek had a little surprise for everyone. A slide show which they weren't going to show. It had many photos of them together from when they first met, to there first surgery together, to there first date, first kiss and so on up until the a photo of the positive pregnancy test and ultrasound the photo on the last slide read "baby Shepherd, our family is already growing"
After everyone gave them there congratulations they existed the function and proceeded to go to their hotel room.