Part IV:
"Lovely. Never, ever change. Keep that breathless charm. Won't you please arrange it? 'Cause I love you … just the way you look tonight."
3 Hours Ago
Charlie Shepherd had somehow managed to lead what many would call a charmed life. He had his father's looks (including full head of hair), and his mother's wry sense of humor. His intelligence, evident from an early age, was a source of mock argument, with both parents claiming sole responsibility for its origin. Cristina finally settled the dispute when she took credit for his academic prowess, attributing genius through proximity, or something like that. Mark made sure that Charlie learned how to put his talents to good use – namely in the pursuit of mischief and girls. At the tender age of 8, the boy had learned the power a dimpled grin and coaxing voice could wield with regards to members of the opposite sex. His parents were gearing up for the chaos that was to be his teenage years. So with all the attention and praised lavished upon him since birth, and with all the brilliance inherited from mother, father, and honorary parents, it was a source of great amusement to Meredith to find her son struggling with the intricacies of a bow tie.
"It's not too late to wear the clip-on," she said with a hint of laughter in her voice. "No one will ever know the difference."
"I am not going to let this thing win," he said in frustration. His last effort at producing anything close to resembling its intended form made Meredith grin. "The online instructions made it look really easy. I think there might have been a problem with the editing on the video…"
"I don't think it's the video that has the problem, Charlie." Meredith walked over to her son, standing by the mirror. "Let me see if I can fix this."
He started whining, "I'm too old to have my mommy dress me." He turned back around toward the mirror and began attempt 34.
At that instance, Derek walked into the room looking disheveled. "Meredith, there's something wrong with this bow tie. They must have sent me the wrong one."
"There's nothing wrong with it. Come here," she motioned.
"I'm a grown man. I'm perfectly capable of dressing myself," he pouted, walking over to share the mirror with Charlie.
Like father, like son. "Well, we can now definitely rule out the milkman," she said, looking from one to the other.
Who would have ever thought that the daughter of Ellis Grey would have been the one to end up with the "white picket fence" and happy ending? Since Izzie had lived out the fairytale wedding that she had been planning for Meredith and Derek, there was no longer any need for tulle and tiaras. The unorthodox couple decided to get married in the middle of the summer. The ceremony and reception were held in the place where it all began – at Joe's. It was the perfect setting for the two, complete with beer, chicken wings, and a lot of tequila. At the insistence of the chief, they had planned for a two-week honeymoon in Italy, yet after day four they couldn't handle the time off any longer and came back to work. Surgeons. They were born flawed that way.
Richard retired in the spring of 2012, and Seattle Grace found a new chief in one Derek Shepherd. It was the same year that Meredith found out she was pregnant. She freaked out in true Meredith fashion for the entire nine months, alternating from euphorically happy to complete denial. It took Cristina's continual threats of bodily harm every morning to keep her in a presentable mood to the hospital staff. But once Charlie arrived in the middle of the night, a sense of calm settled over Meredith. It wasn't that she had changed overnight into a new person. It was just that the balance of things had shifted and reprioritized. The skittish girl had a newfound confidence – it was something that she didn't expect to happen after the scars left from her own childhood experiences.
Finally, both father and son had completed their wardrobe, and both now turned to face Meredith, who was in the middle of grabbing coats, keys, and purse. "What's the rush?" asked Derek. "They're not starting without me."
"We'll miss the champagne," teased Meredith.
"Before I forget," Derek walked up to her, "have I told you how great you look?" He spun her around and started a slow dance to some imaginary music in the room. "Charlie," he said, "take notes. Uncle Mark isn't the only one who knows about wooing girls."
Charlie nodded, a little too solemnly for someone his age, but what can you expect from the son of two highly respected surgeons.