After leaving Seattle, Meredith once again had a spring in her step. For now, the dark and twisties were gone. She had a family, she had blood relations. She had a father, a step-mother, and two half sisters. She had people with her blood running through their veins that loved her and cared about her. She was stunned over how well everything had gone over, considering the fact that she had stormed over to Thatcher's and Susan's with angry, hurtful words. By the time she and Derek had to leave, she didn't want to go, but the rest of spring break was awaiting them.
They ended up in San Francisco, wanting to look at Stanford's med school while they were on the west coast, but generally they wanted a vacation in the bay area. It was beautiful and they had fun just running around being tourists until Friday, when they flew back to New York. Everyone in the Shepherd house could tell Meredith was doing better, but no one had known what had been going on with her, just that clearly things were going much better for her. She smiled brightly, waking up extra early on that Saturday morning, showering and getting dressed in tight black cashmere sweater, jeans, and her new favorite ankle boots, she went downstairs, her hair falling over her shoulders in waves and entered the kitchen, where Derek was making pancakes.
"Morning," she smiled, leaning over the counter. Only Kate was awake, studying for an exam she had Monday morning. She had been raging that her professor gave her an exam the day after break. Derek turned around and smiled at her, before handing her a plate of pancakes that she wordlessly dug into.
She, Addison, and the sisters were heading into the city for a bridal appointment. She knew the wedding was a year and a half away but she wanted her wedding gown. She had an idea of what she wanted for her bridesmaids. Baby Abigail would be her flowergirl, even if she couldn't walk yet, and there was no ring bearer. Derek turned around, a pile of pancakes warming on the stove, having turned off the burner.
"So what are you up to today?" he asked her, and she smiled slyly.
"We're going wedding gown shopping," she smirked, and she watched his smile grow, his eyes twinkling with joy. She knew he was picturing her in a gorgeous gown, walking down the aisle towards him on Thatcher's arm, pledging her undying love to him.
"I mean, we've booked the church for June 8th, we need to figure out where the reception is but I have a few ideas – and no, none of them are outdoors, I refuse to be a sweat monster in my wedding dress – and now we need dresses. It's already March, the wedding is in 15 months. That's like….that's close considering we've been engaged almost a year," she pointed out. They had gotten engaged after Freshman year and they were almost juniors now. Smiling, he dropped into a seat next to her and kissed her gently.
"And I can't wait for those 15 months to pass, it's going to be the slowest 15 months of my life," he laughed, and she shook her head as she laughed with him. His hand ran over her engagement ring, the Shepherd family heirloom that had been passed down to him. They broke apart when they heard Amelia thundering into the room in a grouchy mood.
"I love you Mer but I hate waking up this freaking early to go into the city," she whined, grabbing some pancakes and sitting down across from them. At fifteen now, she was in full fledged teenage mode, raging hormones and all. Meredith rolled her eyes and gave an exasperated sigh.
"Amelia, I have the power to kick you out of your own brothers wedding," she told her, folding her hands and looking at the girl, realizing she and Molly were the same age and made a mental note for them to meet. Before the wedding, that was. Amelia rolled her eyes with some sass and Meredith rolled them right back at her. If anyone knew sassy, irritated teenager it was Meredith. She stood up from the table and drained her coffee.
"Whoever isn't ready by 8:30 is being left behind. And you don't want to be left behind, Amelia," she smirked, before striding out of the room to do her makeup.
Thankfully everyone was ready by 8:30, and Nancy drove all six of them to the train station, none of them wanting to drive into the city today. The train was only 30 minutes, and soon they were pulling into Grand Central and Meredith was breathing in the crisp spring air. Soon she'd be living here, in just two months all of New York would be hers to explore with Derek.
Their destination for today was Vera Wang; every girls dream. Just making the appointment with Addie all those months ago had excited her to her core. As her cab made it's way to the shop on Mercer Street, she reached for Addison and squeezed her hand tightly. This was happening!
Sliding out of the car in front of the famous store, she felt like she was in a dream. Waltzing in the door and giving her name, she suddenly found herself pulled to the back as everyone else was offered champagne and cookies and such. Back in the dressing room she was fawned over, her measurements taken as she was helped into a corset and offered a mimosa. A few gowns were brought out and she was being helped into one, and she couldn't help but admire the fluff of it all. It wasn't her taste but she felt like a princess as she stepped out of the dressing room in the lace halter gown, which fit her body tightly and flared out at the bottom. Nancy and Kate took photos as she twirled around and giggled, but ultimately she decided she didn't like it and back she went into the dressing room.
This went on over and over again, until she felt she had tried on every gown in the shop. Her feet hurt from the shoes she had brought to try on with the gowns, the corset was pinching her boobs, and she was pretty sure every attendant had seen her naked. She figured she'd try on one last gown and call it a day.
The moment the gown was buttoned and zipped up, she couldn't stop staring at herself in the mirror. The top was bone-white satin, carefully cut and fit to her body, before the gown dramatically poofed out at her waist in a massive ballgown made of tulle, a la Cinderella. There were patches of lace on the tulle skirt, carefully embroidered and detailed, and the bust had satin detailing as well. She was in love and she never wanted to look away from her reflection, but she knew she had to show everyone.
Coming out of the dressing room she twirled around slowly, and there was complete silence from everyone.
"What? You can't all hate it," she pouted. She was so in love with the dress she wanted to wear it everywhere. Lizzie spoke first.
"Mere…it's perfect. It's the perfect dress for you. Der's going to love it on you." Kate made a small sound beside her.
"He's going to love taking it off of her too," she smirked, and Nancy kicked her, looking at Amelia.
"God, I'm fifteen, you act like I don't know what sex is," she rolled her eyes, before looking at Meredith. "it's perfect and if you don't get it, I'm coming to Yale and haunting your room," she grinned. All of them agreed, it was perfect and it was THE dress. One of the attendants came out with a veil, pulling Meredith's hair back and slipping it in. Meredith chewed on her lip.
"I think I want a long one," she admitted with a blush. "We're getting married at St. Patrick's Cathedral, it's only appropriate," she smiled. Soon she was getting undressed and back into her normal clothes, signing the order form and making the down payment. She closed her eyes and envisioned herself, 15 months from now, getting ready with Derek's sisters, her sisters, and Addison. She was going to be Mrs. Shepherd and she couldn't wait.
After several failed attempts at bridesmaids gowns, they finally decided on an a-line strapless gown with an overlay of tulle that gathered at the waist on the right side, in lavender of course. Meredith was pleased; she knew dresses were sometimes the hardest part.
Once they were finished up with dresses, it was time for tea at the Plaza, something Meredith was treating them all to. She wished Lexie and Molly could be there; Lexie wasn't getting back to New Haven until tonight and Molly was obviously in Seattle. The six of them sat in the Palm Court and enjoyed themselves for a few hours, spoiled by the service and the luxury of the Plaza. It was one of the places that was on Meredith's short list for reception locations; she knew how ridiculously spoiled and privileged she was and she blamed Ellis. She didn't use her name to get ahead or get her places, but she did know that money made things easier in life and she had never wanted for anything, nor would she or her and Derek's children.
Once they arrived back at the house that evening, Meredith was exhausted and went upstairs to chance into her pajamas. Derek was in his room already and Meredith smiled as she stepped in the door, yawning as she changed into one of her Yale shirts, the one with the hole in the armpit, and a pair of yoga pants.
"Hey," she smiled, falling onto her back on the bed. He rolled over on top of her with a smile, running his hands through her hair.
"Hey gorgeous, how did today go?" She smirked up at him and giggled.
"I found my wedding gown. It's absolutely perfect…and you don't get to see it for 15 months," she teased him with a kiss. He pouted and she kissed his nose before going down his jawbone, and then his neck.
"Mmm Mere, come here," he whispered, pulling her close, inching her shirt over her head. Normally she wouldn't have sex in his mothers house, but fuck it. She was sure Lizzie and Kate did it all the time and Meredith was no angel.
"I love you," she whispered, and for once she allowed herself to completely lose herself in him.
Here's your first spring break update guys! I hope you like it! I have a pic of Meredith's wedding gown if you're curious, I can post it on my twitter! Follow me merderloving and request me to post it! Also, please leave me songs you want me to do one-shot song fics for, and even just one-shot ideas! I love to write so much, when I'm depressed I'm write, when I'm anxious I write, writing is like medicine to me So please leave me ideas and requests! I wish made it easier for people to communicate! Anyway, love you guys! Read and review please!