This chapter turned out a little differently - I had this idea that I wanted to use, actually had the idea from the beginning... so I thought it could unfold in flashbacks to what happened. It might not be what you were expecting... he he


Chapter 8 – Shook me All Night

Shook me all night long,

Yeah you,

Shook me all night long,

Knocked me out and then you,

Shook me all night long,

Had me shakin' then you,

Shook me all night long,

Yeah ya shook me,

Well ya took me!!

Meredith cracked open one eye, and squinted at the bedside table. Her eyes fell on the lava lamp, and she watched the oozing color for a moment, until it made her dizzy. What the hell…where was she? There was no lava lamp in her suite, that was certain. And why did her head feel ten times too big, and her mouth like a cotton ball? With a strangled moan, she put her hand out, along the smooth cotton sheets, until she encountered an arm. A muscular, hairy arm…and she felt a momentary panic, until she realized it belonged to Derek. Risking one eye again, she peeked at him. He lay on his back, eyes still closed, one hand over his head. Soft snores punctuated his deep breaths.

Meredith settled back again, trying to remember what happened to lead to this point. She remembered scattered images….playing poker, chips in little pils on the table…exchanging a dirty, sexy look with Derek as the other two players folded and disappeared. Things seemed a little fuzzy after that point…


Peeking at the cards that lay facedown, Meredith assessed her hand. It was the last round, the last play – it all came down to this. Her heart thudded in her chest, as she tried to keep calm. She knew she was leading in chips, she was so close to the win she could almost taste it. Trying to ignore Derek's knowing eyes, and keep a cool demeanor…King, Queen…Jack…unbelievable…her heart raced even faster at the impossible combination. She sat back, and adjusted her little glasses, maintaining a casual façade. Glancing over at Derek – was he hiding a good hand as well, his intense blue eyes lowered, his expression not giving away anything. He fingered the chips in front of him, leaning back almost lazily in his chair, his other hand at his temple. As lazy as a snake…Meredith thought with a smirk, as she waited for him to make his move…


Derek rolled over, capturing Meredith's waist with his arm. "Well, this is a nice way to wake up." He grinned, before wincing from a slice of pain in his temple. "Except for the killer hangover…." His head ached, and he didn't think moving was such a good idea any more. "God…what happened? And why are even my eyes aching?" he groaned, dropping his head against Meredith's shoulder, 

wishing the room would stop spinning.

"I'm not entirely sure myself," Meredith sighed. "I don't usually have this kind of blackout. Must've been a helluva party…"

"Coffee…need coffee…"

Meredith didn't move. "You call – I can't move."

"Neither can I."

Meredith attempted to shift, and felt a wave of dizziness hit her, and she fell back against the pillow. "Must've been the tequila…"

"…and the Scotch…"

"…and champagne…I remember champagne, with Danny…."

"Danny was there, you're right about that," Derek agreed, kissing her shoulder, snaking his hand around her breasts. "He was buying…"


"Drinks…my treat everyone…" Danny shouted as they congregated around the bar at Pure. The nightclub was jumping, music blaring so loud, the bass seemed to thud in their chests along with their heartbeats.

Sam raised her glass. "I'm in. I never want to deal with crazy wedding plans again. Fake weddings yes, real ones, no."

"Weddings?" Meredith asked, downing the tequila shot. "Who's getting married?"

"Wedding planners convention…" Sam muttered, intent on her own glass.

Meredith rolled her eyes, looking at Cristina beside her. "Spare me."

"Me too," Danny sighed, holding his head in his hands. "Love is fucking over-rated."

"Hellloooo? I've heard this story before," Cristina laughed. "What's your problem?"

In response, Danny jerked his head over to the other side of the club. They followed his gaze, finding Delinda huddled with a guy at a table, all over each other, drinking champagne. Delinda tossed her hair, the large silver hoop earrings glinting in the strobe lights, as if she knew damn well that she was the object of scrutiny. Which she probably did, knowing Delinda.

"That's my problem!" Danny shouted over the music. "She dumped me today…said the sex was fun, but it just wasn't worth it anymore. But we could still be friends…and she didn't waste any time finding someone new."

At that point, Derek came up behind Meredith, his hands at her hips. "I should have known Mark would meet up with Delinda. It was inevitable," he murmured in her ear. He pulled her back against him, as she bounced to the beat of the music.

"Mark?"

"My friend," Derek jerked his head in the direction of the cozy couple. "Not too smart sometimes, but I still like him. He may be in over his head this time though."

The music thundered again, and Meredith tugged at Derek's hand. "Dance with me…"

"I don't…" Derek protested, but Meredith was already pulling him along.

"C'mon, don't be an ass…" she retorted. Meredith raised her arms over her head, lifting her dress higher along her legs, as they moved into the writhing mass of bodies. She shimmied up closer to Derek, sliding along his lean body. The bass pounded in her chest, as she met his dark eyes.

Working double time,

On her seduction line,
She was one of a kind, she's just mine all mine,

Wanted no applause,

Just another course,
Made a meal out of me,

And come back for more.

AC/DC blared from the speakers, swallowing everyone in the rhythmic beat, and Derek let himself get pulled into Meredith's orbit, following her lithe body as she twisted and turned. Sexual heat flared as he caught her against him – they slid sinuously together, hips and thighs touching and rocking.


"We danced," Meredith whispered, turning to face Derek, her eyes half closed in remembrance.

"I never dance."

"You did."

Derek groaned, putting his hand along her hips. "Then I was obviously drunk."

"It's the champagne…the bubbles," Meredith sighed, as he caressed her warm skin.

"Very bad…"

"Your friend, Mark…and Delinda…" Meredith sighed, as the sensual seduction of his hands soothed her, and the nearness of his body gave off sparks of desire. Her own hands moved along his abdomen, making him shudder, despite the pounding pain behind his eyes.

"An idiot. Danny's gonna kill him…"

"Danny was drunk too – and Sam…"

Derek finally captured Meredith's lips, meeting in a slow, long kiss. "No talking right now…just lay here…"

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

I don't quite know
How to say
How I feel


Meredith tumbled the chips forward. "All in.." she murmured, confidently. She tossed her hair back then, meeting Derek's blue gaze. His brow arched as he looked back at his cards, and then back at her again. He shrugged lightly, as if he didn't care one way or another. And revealed his own…


Meredith stretched a little, and her left hand lifted over Derek's dark curls. Catching a flash of gold that was unfamiliar, Meredith flicked her hand towards her. "What…?" She held her hand up to inspect it. A wide gold band graced her ring finger, and she stared at it for a moment, a deep dread in the pit of her stomach. "Derek…what is this?" she asked him quietly.

"Well, I'm not an expert, but I believe it's a ring…" he replied, taking her hand. "Yep…a gold ring…"

"Ass…I mean, what is it doing on my hand…?"

Derek squinted, trying to remember, then looked at his own left hand, now laying on the sheets. A similar gold bank was there as well. A shiver ran along his spine as he met Meredith's wide green eyes.

"What did we do?" Meredith asked, pulling away from him slightly. "Derek…?"

"I think…" Derek said, blood pounding in his ears. "I think we may have gotten married…sweetheart…" He raked his hand over his already disheveled hair, wishing again that he could remember what happened. After all, getting married is something you should remember….

Meredith looked at him in horror, pushing her own hair out of her eyes in frustration. "Married?" she squeaked. "Us? You and me…?" Her eyes went even wider still. "No…I would never…ever…"

"Am I so hideous that you wouldn't marry me?" Derek laughed.

"No…it's just not my plan…I would never…"

"Well, I beg to differ," Derek replied, kissing her finger, where the ring rested, mocking her words. "I can't say for sure, of course, but evidence points to the obvious…"

Meredith fell backwards, pulling the pillow over her head. "Noooooo….."


Because we're goin' to the chapel
and we're gonna get married,
goin' to the chapel
and we're gonna get married,
gee, I really love you
and we're gonna get married,
goin' to the chapel of love.

"Congratulations…champagne…more Moet!" Danny shouted, a little too loudly, as Derek and Meredith exited the Chapel of Eternal Elvis Love, hand in hand, albeit a little unsteadily. "C'mon, Sam, we're the witnesses, we deserve to party. Dance with me." He grabbed her and moved around in the parking lot.

"Danny…there's no music!" she giggled, trying to keep up with him. "Stop…! You're making me dizzy…" Her eyes landed on the newlyweds, as they leaned against Danny's car, kissing and making out. "So….she's not a lesbian…"

"Nope!" Danny agreed happily. "Cristina here, well, that's another story." He winked at her, having talked to her at length in the club.

"Meredith is my person," Cristina hiccupped, leaning against Sam. "If she wants to marry this arrogant asshole, so be it. But if he hurts her, I'll kill him." Even in her drunken state, she looked entirely capable of carrying that threat out.


"Cristina is going to kill you." Meredith stated, from under the pillow. "Why didn't she stop me? Damn it…damn it…. "

Derek groaned again, finally sitting up straight, trying to stop the pain that bounced behind his eyes. He reached blindly for the phone and managed to order some coffee and aspirins. "But who won the tournament?"


"Ms Grey is all in," the dealer said quietly, waiting for Derek. "Mr. Shepherd…?"

"Fold…" He admitted defeat, giving Meredith a grin. "You won, Meredith."

"I won….ohmigod…" Meredith sagged in relief that it was over.


"I won," Meredith said in wonder. "I won, and we got married. How bizarre is that? Only in Vegas…" She sighed. "But I don't know anything about you…what was I thinking? I don't want to be married…" She turned away, her eyes searching for something to put on.

"Meredith, calm down," Derek took her arms, moving behind her. "This isn't what I expected either, honey." He kissed her neck, feeling her tremble. "But…maybe we should just take some time and think about this." His fingers brushed her hips, pulling her around to face him. "Mrs. Shepherd…should we consummate this deal?" Amusement glinted in his eyes now, and she almost smiled back. Almost.

"No!" Meredith sat up and pushed away and out of bed. "We can't…we have to annul this…right away."

Derek fell backwards with a sigh of frustration. "Right…you're absolutely right…the sooner the better…"

Song lyrics:

"You Shook me All Night Long" by ACDC

"Chasing Cars" by Snow Patrol

"Chapel of Love" Various artists