Disclaimer: I do not own Grey's Anatomy but if I did we'd have McDreamy moments all the time.

Title: Winding Road

Summary: Meredith and Derek dated for 4 years until he began his internship at Seattle Grace. 7 years later she sees him again but there are only two problems but there are two problems. He's engaged and she's his wedding planner. AU

- -

As they continued to walk, Derek started up a conversation.

"So how's your love life been the last 7 years?" Derek asked Meredith.

"Seriously?" Meredith asked.

"Hey we're friends. Friends are allowed to ask things like that."

Meredith laughed, "You're serious about this? Aren't you?"

"Yeah, I want us to be friends. I want you to be able to talk to me about things. We can share each other's life stories over hot coco." He said with a fake English accent.

She laughed, "Fine." She paused, "I was dating someone up until a few weeks ago."

The smile from Derek's face left and began tense.

"Um…why did you break up?"

"I loved him but it wasn't the type of love you get married with. It wasn't consuming, he didn't make my heart beat faster every time that I saw him. If we stayed together and got married, I would always love him but not that way he loved me. I couldn't do that to him."

"Why could you never truly love him?" Derek asked slowly.

"I know what its like to be loved and love someone like that and I didn't want him to miss out on that. You shouldn't spend your life with someone you can live with; you spent it with the one you can't live without."

Derek nodded.

Meredith stopped walking, "We're here."

The two of them had stopped in front of a small building.

"This is it?" Derek asked.

Meredith didn't say anything but rather walked into the building. She walked up to the front desk.

"Hi. We have an appointment to see Matt Clarke."

"Yes Ms. Grey, you may go up."

"Thanks Alice." Meredith smiled and led Derek to the elevators.

- -

As soon as they stepped into the elevator, Derek started to chuckle.

"I know what you are thinking." Meredith said to him while pressing the button for the 6th floor.

"Oh really?"

"My mom never let me forget it; neither did any of her doctors she worked with."

"I don't think I've ever been so embarrassed in my life." He laughed.

- Flashback - -

Meredith and Derek had been dating for about 7 months and after hearing about him from Meredith constantly, Ellis Grey wanted to meet the man who had stolen her daughter's heart.

Since Ellis's schedule was always busy, she had asked Meredith and Derek to met her at the hospital for lunch. It's wasn't the best place to meet but it was on Ellis's terms and that gave her a bit of edge.

Meredith and Derek were in the elevator going up to her mother's floor.

"You know, elevator rides can be interesting."

"No Derek, I am drawing a line, the line has been drawn. No kissing in the elevator."

He turned to her, "So is this line imaginary, or do I need to get a marker."

She looked at him and pushed him against the wall of the elevator and pressed her lips onto his. They continued kissing and didn't realize the elevator door opening nor did they see the dozen or so of people watching them or even the person that stepped into the elevator with them.

"Son, would you mind taking your lips off my daughter so that we can get a proper meeting."

Meredith and Derek both pulled away from each other, their faces were as red as a tomato.

Derek turned to Ellis, "It's very nice to meet you Dr. Grey."

- End of Flashback - -

"Those people didn't even know you, I was more embarrassed that you. Those people that had seen us had known me since I was in diapers."

"But that was not the way I wanted to meet your mother. It was horrifying."

The elevators door opened up and they got out.

"But she loved you none the less."

He nodded. "My mom still loves you."

"Yeah, I know." Meredith said without thinking.

"You know?" He asked, surprised.

"I still talk to most of your family. Your mom calls almost every week."

"That's right, you told me that the other night."

"Yeah."

"And they've kept this from me?"

"I asked them to."

"Why? I don't care if you still talked to my family."

"I don't know, I though that it was for the best."

Derek opened his mouth to respond but was cut off by another man walking into the lobby where they had been waiting.

"Meredith!" The man said while giving her a hug, "It's so great to see you again."

"I know Matt."

"So how are things with Finn? Am I going to be seeing you come in with him to plan your own wedding soon? I heard that you two were engaged. "

Meredith looked uncomfortable and Derek listened with interest.

"Actually Finn and I broke up a few days ago."

"I'm so sorry to hear that Meredith. You two had been together for so long. How many years were you guys together?"

"Um…fours years."

Meredith looked at Derek and he looked surprised.

"So I brought a very special client for you Matt." Meredith said.

"I see that."

"Hi, I'm Derek Shepherd." Derek shook hands with Matt.

"Hi Derek, I'm Matt Clarke. What can I do for you?"

- -

"He was really nice." Derek said to Meredith after they had left the photographers.

"Yeah, it also helps that you are getting married to the daughter of the owner of Forbes Magazine."

"Yeah I guess that helps." He paused for a bit, "You didn't tell me that you were engaged."

"You didn't ask." Meredith replied.

- -

A/N

So that was chapter 7. I hope that you guys all enjoyed it and don't forget to review!!!

So I have been requests to have Finn make an appearence and I am going to try to fit it in. I can't be positive that I can do and still leave the story the way it is but I will try.

Thanks again for all the amazing reviews!!!

Next Chapter: Derek bumps into someone who has a huge dislike for Addison. Mererdith has a little McChat with her friends.