I sat on my perch on the bed, gazing down at Derek. I was crying, tears of pure love and excitement, but I was scared to say yes, if anyone could ever believe that. Maybe it was everything we had gone through together in the past ten or so months. Maybe it was the abandonment issues I was still dealing with from childhood, from both parents of mine. Maybe it was the fact that the one marriage I witnessed first hand as I grew up was that of my parents, which disintegrated by the time I was five years old. I was scared, even though I knew Derek would never leave me, never harm me, never stray to someone else. Can you blame me for being scared?
As I gazed into his eyes, I knew that despite all of those factors, I loved him and we were meant for each other. We were meant to grow old together in the very house we occupied. We were meant to have children together, and raise them together, just as only we could. They would be little clones of ourselves, growing up in and around the hospital, becoming familiar with the layout by the time they can walk. A wistful smile appeared on my face as I pictured myself pregnant. I wanted it. I wanted everything, and I wanted it with him.
The smile stayed on my face as I gazed down at him yet again, pressing my lips together and gazing at the ring which sat in a box in his outstretched hand. The ring was large and flashy, and yet plain and simple at the same time. A neat, three caret princess-cut diamond set in platinum – it screamed me. It wasn't too garish and decorative; it was just the diamond, and it was absolutely perfect. Of course, if there had no ring at all, I would still be crying my heart out before him. I gazed down upon it, tears running down my face, before lifting my eyes to meet his.
"Yes," I whispered, a wide grin stretching across my tearstained face. "Yes, Derek, I'll marry you. I'll be Mrs. Shepherd, Dr. Shepherd, whatever the hell you want me to be, I'll be that woman, Derek."
He took the ring from the box and slid it onto the ring finger of my outstretched hand, and I launched myself into his arms. I felt him envelop me with his strong yet gentle arms, as we held each other and let our engagement sink in with both of us. I couldn't remember the last time I had been this happy, or if I ever had been this happy before. I decided upon the latter, because at this moment, life was more perfect than I could ever imagine.
A/N: So, there you have it. Meredith's answer to Derek's burning question. It's not as climatic as the last chapter, and quite short compared to what I normally write...but oh well.
Next chapter will be about one month after this one - I won't tell you what it's about, though!