Welcome to the enchanted wedding day! Hopefully this lives up to expectations here, after all this time. Warning – this chapter is nothing but pure sap and sweetness! Enjoy…

When Meredith woke the next morning, she blinked sleepily, missing the warm weight of Derek beside her. She had half expected him to visit her during the night sometime, but obviously he was maintaining the tradition of staying away until the wedding. Then she looked over at the other pillows, seeing a long stemmed white rosebud, still dewy, and a small velvet bag, resting there. Sitting up quickly, she glanced around the room, wondering if he was still there – she hadn't even heard him. Very stealthy, she thought with an amused smile, as she picked up the rose. And such a romantic at heart, as well.

The contents of the bag spilled into her hand, revealing a necklace and earrings, and she gasped at the brilliance of them in the soft morning light. A small note was folded into the bag as well.

Good morning my love,

On this, our wedding day, I have to tell you how happy you make me, and how much I look forward to spending the rest of my life with you. The gems here do no justice to your beauty, however, I thought you would enjoy wearing them today.

Until later,

All my love and devotion,

Derek

Tears of joy came to her eyes, and the bright jewels swam in front of her as she looked at them again. The smoky topaz and pink amethyst stones were exquisite, set in soft rose gold that sparkled warmly.

There was a soft tap at the door, before Rose peeked inside. "Good morning, m'lday," she said cheerfully, bustling into the chamber. "I'm here to get the bath ready for you." She went over to the long windows and threw open the curtains. "It's a glorious day for a wedding, if I say so myself." Sun streamed through the windows, and Meredith looked out to see brilliant blue sky, not a hint of clouds in sight.

"Good morning, Rose – it looks wonderful, doesn't it?" Meredith dabbed at her eyes, as she folded the note again and slipped it back into the bag.

"Indeed – now you just wait, and I'll have this ready for you right away." She brought over a tray with tea and biscuits. "Here, you need to keep up your strength, ma'am. 'Tis going to be a long day!"

Before long, Meredith was back at her dressing table, rosy and damp from the bath, her hair washed and dried carefully. Rose started to pin it up, tucking it with seed pearls, a soft tendril down her cheek. "Oh, you look so pretty, m'lady. His Grace will be speechless, I'm sure…" Rose murmured, fussing with the last strands. "Now, the dress…"

She picked up the gown, a confection of silk, lace and tulle, and carefully helped Meredith step into it, pulling it up slowly, and lacing up the bodice. "There we go, ma'am…let's take a look…"

Meredith turned around to the mirror again, and she smiled radiantly. The gown was off the shoulders, the bodice edged in myriads of seed pearls, showing a modest cleavage. The boned bodice and full skirt, with an underskirt of lavender lace, disguised any indication of her pregnancy. The skirt had beaded embroidery rosettes, and the long train was also beaded with pearls. Rose settled the long veil that streamed from a tiny circlet of pearls and diamonds, onto Meredith's head, completing the outfit.

"Stunning…" Rose whispered, wiping a tear from her eye.

There was a knock at the door, and Kate and Izzie peeked in, dressed and ready to go as well. "Meredith, are you ready?" Kate asked.

"I believe so, Kate." Meredith turned, inspecting the length of the train, as Isobel hurried over to scoop it up. Rose handed over the bouquet, then dropped a quick curtsey.

"I'm off, then, m'lady. Best of luck with everything today. Me and the other girls'll be watching!"

"You both look wonderful as well," Meredith said, looking at Kate, her dark hair piled high on her head, wound with small white roses, carrying their bouquets of babies breath and tiny white roses so that Izzie could carry the train.

"You will be all that anyone sees, my dear," Kate beamed, kissing her on the cheek. "But you need something…oh.. a necklace…" She put down the bouquets and went to the dressing table.

"There, that one beside the little bag… my wedding gift from Derek."

"It's gorgeous, Mer," Izzie exclaimed, helping her fasten it around her neck, and then the earrings. Meredith peeked in the mirror again, seeing her flushed face, the jewels sparkling against her skin.

"Perfect," Kate confirmed.

"Kate, were you shaking as badly as I am on your wedding day?" Meredith asked, realizing her bouquet was quivering in her hands.

"Absolutely. Don't you worry – once you get there and see Derek, you'll be fine." Kate hugged her quickly, and then Izzie joined them, all of them laughing and hugging and wiping tears that suddenly welled up.

Then another knock on the door sounded. Kate hurried to answer it, finding Hodges waiting there. "M'lady, I am told the guests are in place, and we can begin, if you and the bride are ready."

Meredith nodded tremulously, her knees suddenly shaking as well, as she moved forward to take Hodges' arm, Izzie and Kate behind her as they headed down the corridor. Servants and footmen bowed and smiled as they passed by, and Meredith felt as if she were in a dream. Heading towards the back terrace, stepping outside into the dazzling sunshine, and onto the white length of silk that covered the flagstones. She turned to look back at Izzie, who was arranging the length of train carefully, before she and Kate moved in front of Meredith. Emma and Louisa, Derek's nieces, fidgeted with their baskets of flower petals, while the twins waited along side of them, as ring bearers.

A soft sound of harps and violins began to play, and Meredith took a deep breath to steady herself. She looked up to see the cream of London society filling the benches – Eleanor had outdone herself in convincing everyone to attend. Eleanor herself waited in the front pew, Derek's sisters and their families around her, whispering together softly until a sudden hush fell over the crowd. All eyes turned towards the bridal party, as the little girls began to walk down the aisle, scattering white and lavender rose petals as they went. Then Kate, followed closely by Izzie, each of them smiling happily.

Izzie kept her eyes down, but at the last moment, she looked up, catching Marcus's warm eyes focused on her, and she nearly stumbled. He had slipped from her bed in the cool dawn, leaving her blissfully sated, her maidenhead still intact, but just barely. A small flutter of desire beat in her heart at the memory, as she took her place to the side, beside Kate, under the graceful arch of the rose arbor.

Derek, Marcus and Alexander, another friend of Derek's, all waited together. Alexander had agreed to be the other attendant, only arriving that morning. He had been out of the country, receiving the invitation late. They all looked expectantly towards Meredith, as the music swelled in the background.

Hodges stepped back and let Meredith's arm go then, with a small nod of encouragement, and she took the first step forward. The faces on either side of her became a blur, her only focus was Derek. He looked elegant and sinfully handsome as ever in his dark, fitted wedding clothes – his jacket richly patterned with gold and the brocade waistcoat impeccable, the snow white shirt and cravat setting off his black hair and intense indigo eyes. Eyes that pulled her in, warming her as always, giving her the confidence to keep going. Eyes that saw into her soul, and sent her pulses racing.

As Derek watched her walk towards him, he was enchanted by the radiant vision of her – enchanted and bewitched, just as he had been from the first moment their eyes had met that day in the storm. He welcomed her to his side, his heart full of love and passion for this tiny woman, who had changed his life forever. He gave her a loving smile as she took his hand, remembering their conversation the morning before. He lifted her hand and kissed her palm, his tongue just darting out to caress her briefly, just enough to be intimately sensual. Meredith blushed as she met his eyes, before a tiny laugh escaped her, knowing just what he was thinking. There was a collective rippling sigh from the congregation, witnessing the intimacy of the moment.

They turned to face the vicar, who waited with a patient smile on his face, holding his prayer book in his hands. He peered at them over his glasses. "Shall we begin…"

Derek nodded, squeezing Meredith's hand, as he felt her body trembling beside him. The vicar opened the book, and began to speak, in a warm melodious voice. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today, to join this man and this woman in the bonds of matrimony…"

Meredith closed her eyes for a moment, imagining she felt her mother's presence, surrounding her in calm serenity, and she relaxed. Her eyes opened to meet the vicar's gaze, as he intoned the words of the ceremony. "Now, do we have the rings?" he finally asked, looking at Derek.

Patrick and Galen stepped forward, offering the small velvet pouches with the wedding rings, which Marcus took, and passed over to the vicar to hold. Meredith passed her bouquet to Izzie, and then she took Derek's hands, while they waited for the vicar to continue.

"Do you, Lord Derek Galen Michael Shepherd, Duke of Gracewood, Viscount of Ashemont and Surrey, take Miss Meredith Ella Genevieve Grey, to be your wife, in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, for better, for worse, in sadness and in joy, to cherish and continually bestow upon her your heart's deepest devotion, forsaking all others, keeping yourself only unto her as long as you both shall live?"

"I do," Derek replied, his voice sure and deep as he gazed into Meredith's eyes intently.

The vicar repeated the same to Meredith, who kept her eyes on Derek's. "Do you, Miss Meredith Ella Genevieve Grey, take Lord Derek Galen Michael Shepherd, Duke of Gracewood, Viscount of Ashemont and Surrey, to be your husband, in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, for better, for worse, in sadness and in joy, to cherish and continually bestow upon him your heart's deepest devotion, forsaking all others, keeping yourself only unto him as long as you both shall live?"

"I do."

The vicar blessed the rings, and turned to Derek, handing the ring to him. "Derek Shepherd, in placing this ring on Meredith's finger, please state your pledge to her."

Derek slipped the band onto Meredith's finger. "Meredith, my love, where there was cold, you have brought warmth; where my life was dark, you have brought light. I give you this ring as the pledge of my love and faith for eternity, and as the symbol of our unity with this ring, I thee wed."

Meredith took the other ring from the vicar, as he said, "Meredith Grey, in placing this ring on Derek's finger, please state your pledge to him."

"Derek, my love, let us make of our two lives, one life, and let us always honor and respect each other. I give you this ring as the pledge of my love and faith for eternity, and as the symbol of our unity with this ring, I thee wed."

Their eyes never wavered from each other, caught in the special moment. Izzie blinked furiously to keep the tears from falling, listening to them, while Kate bit the inside of her cheek to do the same. In the front pew, Eleanor beamed, but dabbed her eyes with the handkerchief.

The vicar cleared his throat, breaking the spell and they turned back to him. "May you always share with each other the gifts of love – to be one in heart and in mind – may you always create a home together that puts in your hearts – love – generosity – and kindness. Before this company of friends and family you have pledged your faith, and declared your unity in the exchange of rings, and are now joined. What, therefore, God has joined, let no man put asunder.

"By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife – and may your days be good and long upon the earth.

"You may now kiss the bride…."

Derek turned to Meredith, and placed his hands on her face, giving her another long look, slowly lowering his mouth to hers, in a soft sweet kiss. Her arms crept up around his neck, pulling him closer, as their lips parted, and their tongues met in a deeper, passion-drugged kiss. As he reluctantly broke the kiss, Derek lifted Meredith off her feet, whispering in her ear. "I love you, my wife."

"I love you, my husband," she whispered back.