Meredith Grey lay in her bed, wondering what the hell she just got herself into. She has never been the kind of woman who depended on a man to save her, but this time, she was desperate. She mentally prepared herself for the following morning, where she and Derek had to have a short interview with one of the U.S. embassy officials...to get their stories straight.

Derek Shepherd paced back and forth in his apartment, rehearsing what he would say to his mother, his dear mother who could sense a lie before it is even concocted. Hey Mom! It's Derek, so you know the woman I rant to you about? We're getting married! No. No. He had to get his head straightened out. So apparently I'm engaged. That wouldn't work either. Derek picked up the phone and dialing his mother's phone number.

"Hello?"

"Hi Ma," Derek said and paused. He could already see his mother's forehead forming with concerns.

"What's wrong, sweetheart?"

"So," Derek took a deep breath, "I'm engaged, Ma."

His mother did not respond right away, making Derek panic even more. He could hear his heart beat louder as every second went by. Derek cleared his throat and waited for a response. He was about to say something when all of a sudden, screams and laughter filled his ears. His sisters has also joined the call.

"Derbear's engaged???" He could hear his little sister, Amelia, scream.

"Oh Dear, I'm so happy for you! I am a little upset that you kept your relationship private." His mother responded.

"I know, Ma, I'm sorry." Derek said, hating the idea of lying to his mother, for Meredith, out of all people.

"So who's the lucky lady?" His other sister, Lizzie asked.

"Meredith," Derek said, "Grey." As if his sisters and mother did not know this woman. The same woman who he talked about driving him crazy over the last couple of months. The same woman who his sisters and mother knew he hated with all his heart.

"Did I hear that right?"

"Is he kidding?"

"Derek, dear, is this a joke?"

Questions flooded his ears. He has to make this fake proposal believable, otherwise, Meredith would go back to Italy.

"I love her." Derek said. Those words coming out of his mouth felt wrong. But, whatever makes it believable, right?

"That's great, dear," His mother said, with doubt in her voice, but with sincerity otherwise, "Is she coming to New York with you?"

"Yes."

"That's great! Well, that settles it then, we'll throw you an engagement party."

Derek's eyes widened, "Oh no. No. That's not necessary."

"You don't get a say, afterall, you kept this relationship a secret. Making it seem like you hate this woman," Carolyn Shepherd said.

"You're right," Derek chuckled, "Okay, I'll let Meredith know."

"And Derek, make sure she packs warm clothes, we're going to Alaska for two weeks." Carolyn explained.

"Two weeks?" Derek asked, "Why?"

"It's been a while since we visited your grandparents place, sweetheart." Carolyn said. Derek could see her smiling on ther otherside of the line. The place they had in Alaska was filled with memories for her Mother and Father. They took endless trips there when they were little, although, it had stopped shortly after his father died.

"Okay, We'll see you soon, Ma." Derek said.

"Goodbye sweetheart, we can't wait to meet Meredith." Carolyn said.

GA

Derek picked up Meredith at her house to head to the U.S. embassy. As he drove up her house, sweat was forming on his forehead. This could easily backfire on them. Derek quickly texted Meredith that he was there. In two minutes, Meredith walked out of her house, wearing a casual, formal dress that made it look like they were out on a date.

"Didn't know we were going to dinner," Derek smiled, as Meredith entered his Porsche.

"Derek, do not try me right now. The fact that you have my phone number is enough." Meredith rolled her eyes. She huffed, making strands of her wavy, hair, frame her face.

"One more thing," Derek said, as he leaned closer to Meredith, lifting up his right hand.

"What are you doing?" Meredith said, almost in a whisper. Derek smiled, and pulled back a strand of hair behind her hair.

"You have to be nice." Derek said, as he sat back down and started his engine.

"Wishful thinking." Meredith said, forming a small smile.

When they got there, they were assigned to a man named Tom. He was one hell of a character. It just seemed like he was determined to get in the bottom of Meredith and Derek's lives.

"So you guys are engaged." Tom questioned.

"We are." Meredith and Derek said in unison.

"Right," Tom eyed both of them, "and how long have you two been together?"

"Five," Derek started.

"Six," Meredith said, "Oh right, sorry honey," Meredith looked at Derek, "Sometimes I forget that you spent a month chasing me before we were together."

Meredith turned back to Tom and smiled. She knew that, that had set Derek off. She was going to regret that later, but seeing Derek fluster was worth it. Derek could only chuckle in agreement.

"So, when's the wedding?" Tom asked.

"In four weeks, by the end of our trip." Derek said, and looked at Meredith, who was equally flustered.

"Right, right, and where is this trip happening?" Tom asked.

"In New York," interrupted Meredith, satisfied seeing Tom's disgust that she knew something about Derek.

"and in Alaska." Derek said.

"and in Alas...kaaaa?" Meredith turned to Derek, not knowing about going to the middle of nowhere.

"You two are good, but, we'll see during the surprise assessment," Tom said, "are you both sure that you did not get engaged because of Meredith's Italy deportation?"

"Yes." Meredith and Derek said once again, in unison.

"You two are dismissed." Tom said.

GA

The two walked out in the city, relieved that they did not leave in handcuffs. They both entered Derek's car once again. He began to drive, as he turned on his music.

"The Clash?" Meredith said, while raising her eyebrows, "really?"

Derek chuckled, "What? They have good music."

"Mhmm.." Meredith said, looking out the window.

"We need to get our stories straight," Derek said.

"Yeah, we do," Meredith said, and she began to realize that Derek was not driving in the right direction of her house.

"Where are we going?"

"Well, my fiancée, we're going out on a date."

"A date?" Meredith asked, confused.

"That's what I said, wasn't it?" Derek said, as he put the car on park in front of a fancy restaurant. Thankfully, they were dressed for the part. Derek walked out of the car and quickly walked towards Meredith's side, and opened the door.

Meredith walked out of the car and looked at Derek. Derek smiled and laced his arms around Meredith's waist.

"You do realize that we don't have to pretend right now, right?"

"Yes," Derek looked at Meredith, as they began to walk towards the restaurant, "but practice makes perfect."

Meredith rolled her eyes. This was the closest she and Derek had been, save for when they had to be in surgery together. This was different, however, considering that they were now fiancé and fiancée.

"It's a good thing you wore a dress, otherwise I would have taken you to cheesecake factory." Derek chuckled.

"Shut up." Meredith said, a smile forming on her face, which was odd, considering that she was with Derek.

Less than a minute of standing in the entrance, a waiter had them seated at a table for two. The two sat across each other as they examined the menu's. Meredith took note of how Derek made faces as he moved down the menu.

"Health nut," Meredith coughed.

Derek peeked over his menu, looking at Meredith smiling with amusement.

"I am not," Derek said, defensively.

"Uhuh, what are you ordering, honey?" Meredith joked.

"A caesar salad."

"See, I've proven my point."

"You've proven nothing."

"Okay, Derek, any dessert afterwards?" Meredith mocked.

Derek took a pause, and he didn't need to say anything before Meredith could giggle. Odd. He had never heard her giggle before, let alone show any sight of emotion, especially happiness. He made a mental note to remind her that she looked good smiling.

"Okay, you got me." Derek surrendered.

Throughout the night, the two had made small talk. Random little things about each other, slowly forgetting that they were doing this for an act. As their food arrived, they continued to talk to each other, also forgetting the fact that they once hated each other. They had a few drinks here and there, but Derek only a little bit knowing that he was driving.

"So you really got that scar because of a motorcycle?" Meredith asked as she leaned closer on the table.

"Yeah," Derek smiled, as he touched his forehead, "and you really had pink hair? I need to see a photo of that."

"You will." Meredith giggled once again. Derek could get used to hearing that sound.

As the two continued the small talk, they heard a voice clear their throats. Meredith and Derek both looked up, noticing the waiter in front of them.

"Ma'am, Sir, I'm sorry to break it to you, but the restaurant is closing in 30 minutes," The waiter smiled, and quickly went on their way.

"Have we really been here for this long? What time is it?" Derek asked.

"11, almost 12, Derek." Meredith said in surprise. She was a little fuzzy because the alcohol was finally catching up to her.

They had been there for almost five hours, because the interview ended at seven.

Derek insterted his card in the bill, once the card was returned, Meredith and Derek both stood up and headed to his car. Once again, Derek opened the car door for Meredith, Meredith curtsied. Derek started the engine and began to drive.

"Their pasta sucked," Meredith murmured out of the blue.

Derek laughed, "I can make better pasta."

"Really?"

"I can."

"Well, fiancé, you're gonna have to make me some sometime." Meredith said.

"I will, dear." Derek said, as he looked over at her, smiling. Their eyes both met, blue and green collided. For a second there was a moment. Derek turned his head back to the road, realizing that his tank was almost empty. He made a U-turn to the nearest gas station.

As Derek exited out of his car, as did Meredith.

"What are you doing?" Derek asked.

"Going to get some snacks."

Meredith entered the small little store and looked around for some snacks. She went up and down the chip aisle and finally settled for some doritos. She then went over to the candy aisle. Meredith then heard the bell above the door, hearing a familiar voice talking to the old man in charge of the store. Meredith could hear them talk.

"Have you seen the pretty lady walk in here sir?" Derek said.

"Candy aisle." The old man chuckled.

Ten seconds later, Derek was standing next to Meredith, who was still contemplating what type of candy she should get. She then saw two ring pops left in the box. She grabbed both of them.

"Why are you grabbing two?" Derek asked.

"Well, since we don't have our rings yet, let's settle for these." Meredith giggled, and held Derek's hand, leading him to the cashier.

The old man sitting there felt nostalgic of his moments with his wife.

"Are you two married?" The old man said.

"Almost," Meredith giggled, she was really, really tipsy, "My fiancé still hasn't given me a ring." She turned to look at Derek who was standing right behind her, smiling.

"Tell you what, I'll buy you these ringpops, Mer." He said, pulling out his wallet. The old man motioned for Derek to put his wallet back.

"I'll give them for you for free. You two reminded me of my wife and I, how in love we were." The old man chuckled.

Meredith and Derek thanked him and went back inside the car. Meredith opened the red and blue ringpops as Derek drove.

"Hey, which one do you want, fiancé?" Meredith said.

"Mer, health nut." Derek said.

Meredith pouted, "Hey, play the role remember?"

"Fine, blue."

"I like that flavor though," Meredith smiled.

Derek rolled his eyes, "Fine, red."

"Good choice, Derek."

They were at a stop light. Meredith reached for Derek's left hand and put on the red ring pop. Derek chuckled, and also inserted the blue ring pop on Meredith's left, ring finger. The two smiled at each other, before driving away in the night.

GA

Derek and Meredith arrived at her house a little past midnight. Derek once again, opened the car door for Meredith, their ring pops still on their fingers. Derek had not tasted his once, Meredith's however, was shrinking every second.

"You're getting good at this," Meredith said, as she stepped out of the car.

"It's what fiancé's do." Derek said.

"I'm gonna miss having a fiancé once this whole thing is over." Meredith said sincerely, as they walked up her steps.

Meredith and Derek stood in front of her house door, before saying goodbye.

"You're not too bad, Derek." Meredith confessed.

"And you're not bad yourself, Grey. See you tomorrow." Derek said.

Meredith stood on her tippy toes and kissed Derek on his cheek. They both smiled as Derek walked back to his car, waving his hand with the ring pop on it.

"Derek!" Meredith yelled.

"Yes?" Derek turned to face Meredith.

"Lick it once, at least, live a little, Der." Meredith giggled.

"Did you just call me, Der?" Derek said, as he leaned his back on the car.

"I did. Now eat the ringpop." Meredith ordered.

"Yes, Ma'am," Derek chuckled as he licked the sweet, candy, ring.

"Bye Derek." Meredith said, as she entered her house.

"Bye, Mer." Derek said, as he walked to his driver's seat, making a mental note to get Meredith a ring.

Even after all these years,

We just now got the feeling that we're

meeting for the first time

I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! Meredith and Derek are finally warming up to eachother. The next chapter will begin their New York and Alaska adventure, and Mer will finally meet the McShepherd Family.

Thank you for those who reviewed this story!

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