A/N- I know you've all been waiting for this chapter as much as I have, which is why I have been going around in circles trying to make it perfect, and despite a very nasty case of real life, and a horrific few weeks of writer's block, here is the wedding part 1. I want to take the opportunity to thank every single reader up to this point, every person who has taken the time to read, and sign up for alerts, and those very special people who take the time to send me words of encouragement. There have been many reasons to give up with this story over the last 19 months but it is you who keep me here, so thank you.

Meredith's eyes fluttered open, and she glanced over at the clock on Izzie's nightstand, grinning widely. May the 26th, it was officially her wedding day. Officially the happiest day of her life so far. Right now, just five hours stood between her and the rest of her life, their life. Five hours until she stood up in front of everyone that she knew and loved and promised to love Derek always and be bound to him forever. Five hours before she could say that she was finally part of a real family. Five short hours…

Which would explain why Izzie was pounding on her door, acting out her part of bridesmaidzilla perfectly.

"Meredith, you better be up and at least halfway towards getting your butt downstairs for breakfast. You are not skimping on the most important meal of the day on the most important day of your life. Meredith are you listening to me? Meredith!"

"Cool it Iz, I'm up." Meredith giggled, never more glad that it had become habit to lock the door of her old room since she had met Derek. She got up and opened the door to her friend, who looked to be absolutely fuming, her hair already in rollers, despite the hairdressers insistence that she would do everything once she got to the house at nine.

"Finally! I've been up for two hours already making sure that everything is set up for this morning. Everyone will be here soon and you're not even showered yet. How is this day supposed to be perfect if you don't care about these things?"

"Iz, calm down." Meredith smiled. "This is my day remember, and whatever happens happens. All that matters is that I get down that aisle at twelve o clock and I get to spend the rest of my life with Derek. If I get there and my hair isn't done or I'm dressed in a garbage bag, with odd shoes on then who cares…?"

"I care!" Izzie screamed exasperatedly. "Do you know what a miracle it is that you two are even walking down the aisle at all?"

"Yes Izzie I do as it goes." Meredith began, slightly annoyed at Izzie's comment. "I've watched what we put each other through to get here. I'm the one who watched the love of my life with another woman for months. I listened to every whisper at the nurses station, every rumour about the two of us. I'm the one who turned her entire view of the world upside down and embraced the idea of actually having a marriage and a family. I can't even tell you how much it means to me that after everything we went through, I still have so many people to share that with. But it shouldn't matter what we wear or if everything goes to plan, just as long as we're both there at the right time signing that dotted line, nothing else matters. It's the marriage we care about. The happily ever after part that comes once everyone goes home and it's just the two of us. I get that this wedding is your baby, but Iz, it was always going to be perfect even without all the frivolity. To me it's already perfect, with you and Lexie and cristina and everyone else." Meredith spotted the change in Izzie's face, and knew that her words were settling in. "So for now just go sort breakfast. I'll go have a shower and the rest will come later." Izzie nodded, and took a breath before turning towards the stairs. "And Iz?" Izzie turned back to her friend. "Thank you for believing this would happen even when I didnt." Izzie wrapped her arms around her friend and Meredith returned the gesture, both pulling away with tears in their eyes.

"Now go, I have to get married today, I can't afford to be crying before we even get there." Izzie nodded, and grinned before she walked downstairs, never more certain that there wasn't anything that love couldn't fix.

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Derek looked at his alarm clock, grateful that it was finally a reasonable hour. He'd woken up a dozen times overrnight, hating that Meredith wasn't in his bed and willing the hours to go past so that he could finally do the one thing he'd wanted to since the day he met her. Even as an intern he'd never known a night to feel so long. But he'd made it. Made it to their wedding day. He was certain that Izzie would have had his bride up for hours ensuring every detail of the day was perfect. To him anything would be perfect if it ended up with him and Meredith married. Right now though he had to go and wake up his best man, who was currently passed out on his couch. Mark had decided to continue the party a while longer once they were home, insisting that Derek hadn't had a good enough send off into married life. It hadn't lasted long though, when Derek had come down for a drink of water at 2am, Mark was already asleep, just a single half drunken bottle of beer on the table next to him.

He walked quietly down the stairs and tapped his friend on the shoulder, eliciting a groan from Mark's mouth before he opened his eyes, suddenly remembering why he was on an unfamiliar couch.

"Big day!" Mark grinned, jumping up as though he hadn't just spent the night face down on Derek's couch. "How you feeling? Have you showered yet? Are you feeling invigorated?"

"I'm great." Derek told him, "I was going to jump in the shower now before the other guys get here. I just wanted to make sure you weren't too hung over to be my best man."

"I'd had way more to drink before your first wedding. I barely made it out of bed that day. That's why Addison put me at the back of all the pictures."

"Yeah, but this wedding is special. This one's right." Mark's face almost split in two at the sentiment.

"Okay man, go get showered and I'll pick you up some breakfast. Let's get you married!" Derek laughed at his friend's fist pump, the fact that Mark seemed genuinely enthusiastic about this day not lost on him. He knew that today there would be no pep talk from his best man. There would be no talking him into going to the church. They were both sure this time. They merely had to get through the next four hours.

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By the time Meredith was showered and in her sweats, the rest of her bridal party along with bailey and Carolyn were at the table too, each nursing a mug of coffee and looking particularly sorry for themselves. Izzie had opted for pancakes that morning, knowing they were a favourite of Meredith's, and filling enough that they wouldn't need to snack. She'd arranged sliced strawberries on the edge of the plate, and written 'bride' in cream on the top, the whole pile drenched in syrup. A glass of juice accompanied it, and bee definitely sensed that food was on the way, immediately kicking in anticipation.

"Happy wedding day!" Lexie greeted brightly, her age definitely a factor in how little she was feeling the effects of the night before.

"Oh congratulations sweetheart." Carolyn beamed reaching in for the first of what would inevitably be many hugs that day. Meredith's hand radiated to her bump as they pulled away, rubbing it to try and tame bee a little while she sat down.

"At least someone's wide awake." Izzie smirked, her eyes darting towards Cristina who was resting her face on the table.

"Bee is always awake when there is food involved. That's how I know he or she is really mine."

"She's awake? Can I feel?" Lexie asked excitedly, as yet the only person who hadn't been present at least once when bee had decided to start a riot inside Meredith's uterus. Meredith moved her own hand from where it was resting, replacing it with Lexie's. Lexie's eyes widened at the feeling.

"Oh my god." She breathed. "There's like an actual little person in there."

"Growing like a weed," Meredith smiled. "Moves if you talk too. Feel free to introduce yourself, so that he knows aunt Lexie isn't just someone I made up."

"Okay," Lexie said, bending in her chair so that she was in line with Meredith's bump. "Hey bee, I'm your auntie Lexie, yes I am. Oh my god she kicked."

"I know, keep going." Meredith told her, taking bites of her breakfast whilst bee was focussed on Lexie.

"Um, well today is a really special day because your mommy and daddy are getting married. It's a pretty sweet story actually, though you might be a bit young to hear the full version." Lexie frowned, making Meredith giggle, sending bee into a cascade of kicking and rolling around beneath Lexie's hands. Lexie caught onto the giggles, bee revelling in the sound of both Grey women, not stopping until Meredith had almost finished her pancakes.

"She stopped." Lexie pouted.

"She does once I've finished eating, she'll be up again once the adrenaline kicks in. she does the same thing when I'm in surgery. Derek has waking her up and calming her down to an art at the minute, but she's pretty predictable most of the time. I'm enjoying it while it lasts. Thanks Iz." She told her friend who was tidying away the plates and eyeing the clock suspiciously. "Iz she'll bring the flowers when she brings them. She knows to drop them off before she goes to decorate the ferry. I'll bet that's her now." Meredith insisted when the front door opened and closed again.

"Is everyone decent?" came Alex's voice instead.

"Alex!" Izzie scolded as her boyfriend walked through to what Izzie had dubbed 'the bridal suite' "you shouldn't be here."

"Chill, it's not like I'm the one marrying her. I just wanted to give her something." Meredith looked up from her second plate of pancakes trying to figure out what Alex had behind his back. "I was putting some stuff up in the attic about a week ago, and I found this. I heard you and Shepherd talking about it when you got home from New York, and I thought it might be important." He placed the gift bag in front of her, praying to god it was the one she mentioned having not seen in 25 years. Meredith pulled out the tissue paper and slowly pulled out the slightly worn, dusty creature from the bag. She fought back her tears, getting out of her seat and enveloping Alex in a hug, soaking his shoulder in the process.

"I know it probably needs cleaning or whatever but I thought if your mom brought it you might want it on your wedding day. I know she was like a mean old bitch who spent your childhood screwing you over but even I can see how much you loved her. I'd want something that reminded me of my folks too. Crappy parents are still parents." He shrugged, embarrassed at the audience he had to his sentimental moment with Meredith.

"It's perfect Alex. I don't even know how to tell you how much this means to me. Thank you."

"It's whatever. I have to be getting back to the house. O'Malley was wigging out over his hair when I dropped him off. I think Sloan will be about ready to kill him. Oh, and Derek says he loves you and can't wait to see you later and some crap about how you can come wearing a trash bag and you'd still be hot."

"Thanks, I think." Meredith laughed to the group. "Ooh actually, can you give something to Derek for me. I was going to give it to Mark yesterday but I don't think he was really able to do anything after that many drinks."

"Okay, as long as it's nothing porny. I spent way too many nights listening to the two of you going at it over the years and that's as involved in your sex life as I ever want to get."

"It's not, it's just something I think he'll want today. No one would should be missing today, and he should know that no one's been forgotten." She said, the look she shared with Carolyn not lost on anyone. Alex took the box she held out to him, nodding gently as though he understood the solemnity completely. "Tell him the font is off, and I'm sorry it isn't quite the same but the words are. And the man who wrote them is too." The room was silent as Alex headed out to his car, Meredith breaking the silence before anyone got too overwhelmed. "I've said it once, I'll say it again, Izzie was right about him. He's a really good guy."

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Things were in full swing back at the dream house with just three hours to go. Alex had dropped in briefly on his way to give Meredith a gift, and the buttonholes were waiting in the fridge until everyone was dressed. And Derek and George had spent a moment that was far too close for either of them, when Derek tried to fix George's hair, grateful for the first time that he had a far larger crop of hair products than anyone he knew.

"Hey," Alex greeted as the two of them re-joined the other guys in the living room. "I hope you're ready for this dude, Izzie is going full on freak show back at our place. You'd think she was the freaking bride. She has crazy in her eyes. Meredith is totally chilled though. She was shovelling in strawberries when I left."

"She is? She's not freaking out at all?"

"No, once I gave her the kangaroo I thought she might but she was super calm. Crazy excited maybe but definitely not freaking out. She wants this or whatever." Derek smiled, glad his bride wasn't the stressed out mess that Addison had been on his first wedding day.

"Wait what kangaroo?" Derek asked after a second of pondering, wracking his brain as to what Alex could have given his bride.

"I found it in the attic, based on her reaction, I'd say it was the one she thought she'd lost. Ellis probably packed it away and told her she was too old or something. She seemed pretty pleased when I gave it to her though." Derek's face lit up, and immediately he walked over to Alex and patted him on the back in an awkward half hug.

"Thanks Alex. It means a lot to me that you'd do that for her especially today. I know she's calm now but…"

"I figured she'd want her mom there. She might have hated her, but she was Meredith's family growing up. She deserves to have her there." Derek sniffed, a little overwhelmed by Alex's gesture. "Oh that reminds me. Meredith asked me to give you something, I don't know what it is, she wouldn't let me open it, she just said something about no one being missing or forgotten because they're with you forever." Slowly he lifted the lid, his jaw dropping as he took in what was inside.

"Holy Shit." Mark cursed as Derek opened the lid. "That's…"

"That's his watch." Derek confirmed. "That's the watch they shot him for."

"How did she even know?" Mark croaked out, refusing to show that he was choked up. "They don't even make them now. They went bust a few years ago."

"She had to have asked mom. No one else remembers those details." Derek decided, though it wouldn't have surprised him one bit if Meredith had noted the details down herself and simply confirmed with his mother.

"Is the inscription the same?"

"Oh yeah." Alex sprang up. "She said something about how it's not the right font and she's sorry but the words should be the same." Derek pulled the watch from its box, carefully turning it over.

"A love like ours is a once in a life time, blue moon, quiet morning kind of rare. I'm so glad I get to spend my life with you."

"What's that she's written underneath?" Mark asked, trying to get in the right light to read Meredith's words.

"This is forever. I wrote it inside her engagement ring. It sort of became our thing. This is incredible. Alex thank you. I don't even…"

"No worries. I was in the right place so she asked me to give it to you. It's all her really." He said quietly, praying that his well locked away emotions weren't about to escape.

"Right I need a drink, Shepherd, where's your scotch?" Mark boomed, snapping everyone out of their own reveries, the meaning behind Meredith's gesture more than poignant for all four of them. It seemed that between them they had made certain that not a single person would be missing out on their big day, not even death could keep them away.

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"Okay Meredith, I know you said not to, but I brought champagne!" the hairdresser announced pulling the bottle from her case as she reached the kitchen. "And some grape soda for those of you who are still recovering from the rehearsal dinner! So if you get your gorgeous pregnant booty over here, we'll have you preened for perfection in no time."

"And I'll start with the mother of the bride." The makeup artist smiled, grateful to be part of the day in exactly the same way as everyone else that Meredith and Derek had handpicked. Derek had gotten to them all, telling them exactly how much this day meant to the two of them and exactly why. It seemed that people were drawn to good old fashioned romance, and fighting for true love.

Meredith and Carolyn had been for a rehearsal at the salon earlier in the week so that Meredith could be sure that she would look exactly the way she wanted to, the soft curls cascading down her bare back causing the veil to stick out just far enough that it would almost float as she walked down the aisle. And the hairdresser had assured her that once it was sprayed into place and pinned around the combs on her veil it would be even more perfect. She thought Izzie might pass out when she told her it would take a full 45 minutes to finish leaving just over two hours to fix up four bridesmaids and two mothers and have everybody dressed and into the cars. Meredith had no doubts that it could be done, but it didn't stop Izzie from stressing anyway. After watching her pace for twenty minutes, Meredith could barely take it any longer.

"Izzie, sweetie. You're wearing out the carpet. Go check the mail or go put on your dress. Just please stop pacing, you're making me nervous. And considering that I've never been more sure of anything I've ever done, it would be awesome if you could freak out somewhere else. I am already a hormone carnival, I do not need you to convince me I have something to worry about."

"Right, mail. I can do that." Izzie replied, finally stopping, shaking herself off a little and walking towards the door.

"I can put you in make up next. I'm almost done here with Lexie." The artist smiled, smudging Lexie's lips with a soft pink stain one more time, equally grateful that Izzie had stopped pacing for a moment. There was a brief moment of calm followed quickly by the sound of Izzie squealing with excitement.

"Meredith! Meredith you won't believe what was waiting on the porch for you. I bet it's from Derek, he's the only one that would send…"

"Louboutins?" Kathleen gasped taking the box from izzie's hands. "May i?"

"Go for it. I knew he'd pull something like this. Jimmy choos on our engagement clearly weren't enough!" Kathleen drew back the paper in the box and gasped.

"God Meredith, these are gorgeous." Kathleen pulled the pearl shoe from its resting place, gasping when something dropped to the floor. She bent down quickly to pick it up, slowing on her way up when she realised what it was.

"What is it?" Meredith asked, the hairdresser stopping spraying Meredith's hair to look at what Kathleen was holding.

"I… I think it's your mom." Kathleen whispered handing the tiny ornate locket to Meredith. Clear as day was Ellis Grey's face looking intently at what could only be a baby Meredith. The grin bigger than any Meredith had ever seen from the woman. And on the other side in her mother's handwriting were the words 'I will always love you roo' Meredith choked back a sob.

"Was there a note? Anything?" she asked Kathleen, turning the attention back to the shoes. She pulled a small piece of green paper out of one of them, scanning the words before reading it to the group who were staring up at her in silent anticipation.

"Meredith," she began. "I hate to take the focus from the beautiful shoes that Derek sent for you, but I couldn't see you walk down the aisle without this. It has been in my possession for some time now and was put together for this occasion. Your mother left me an envelope when she died, Containing mostly photographs, small reminders of our relationship. But she also left this. When she walked down the aisle, she was also pregnant, and she wore a locket identical to this. When she began to realise that she would miss out on days like this one, she tried to come up with ways to be there, to remind you that you were so important to her. But when she got sicker quicker than anyone expected, she only had the lucid time to come up with this. I hope that it brings you the comfort that she felt knowing that she could share one last day with you. I cannot wait to walk you down the aisle, knowing that she got to tell you one last time just how much she loved you. All my love Richard. God Meredith." Kathleen sniffled as she ran to her almost-sister-in-law who had let the floodgates go, and had positively dissolved in her chair, the rest of the room in a similar state.

"I hate to be the one that interrupts the moment, but we really are going to be late if we sit around for much longer." Cristina told the group, as she wiped her own tears, knowing all too well how awful the prospect of a wedding day without a parent was.

"Yes. I guess now that I have my mom's blessing, I have two people to get down this aisle for." Meredith smiled through her tears. "And at least we know this make up you all have on is waterproof." She laughed.

"This is true." Bailey smiled at her, pride and joy radiating from her as she looked at her resident. "But if you think it's just two people who are rooting for you to get your happy ending then you're stupider than I thought you were." Meredith laughed.

"Got it." She nodded, taking a breath before signalling that now, she was ready for anything.

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"You're all looking very dapper." Dr. Webber greeted as he entered what Meredith had rightly dubbed her 'dream house'.

"Hey chief." Mark called from his place in front of the mirror. "Shep is just finishing his hair. He's been in there an hour, so I'm guessing he'll be done soon."

"Five minutes I was in there. I was checking my hair actually. Hey chief." Derek defended himself as he entered the room, his shirt and pants on, his bowtie still draped over his shoulders.

"I'm here for a buttonhole. Bailey called a half hour ago to say the girls are on track. Meredith wasn't in her dress but the seamstress had arrived to help her into it so she could do her portfolio pictures so they should be easily at the ferryboat by 12. Everything is perfect. Locket was already on I believe."

"Oh my god." Derek breathed, grinning like the cat who got the cream. He had half expected a panicked phone call or a frantic plea to stall the ceremony for a while. He was almost surprised that there hadn't been a crisis. Though if there were, he had no doubt that Meredith would still walk down the aisle at 12 on the dot, a smile on her face, totally calm and ready for the day. He opened the fridge, taking out the small bloom that was intended for Richard, placing it in the doctor's hand. Dr Webber took the flower from the plastic cage it was laying in, and pinned it in pride of place on his lapel. With little less than an hour to go, it would soon be time for the four gentlemen to head down to the ferry boat, and for Derek to take his rightful place at Meredith's side.

"Well good luck Shepherd, I shall see you with Ellis Grey's little girl in fifty five minutes."

"I'll see you there." Derek took a deep breath, trying to keep his tears at bay. "Let's get this show on the road."

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The bridesmaids were lined up on side of the stairs, Carolyn and bailey on the other. The hairdresser and makeup artist had both stayed behind to see the final result, and based on how beautiful the bridesmaids looked in their knee length gowns, the result would be stunning.

"Are you ready?" the seamstress asked them from the top of the stairs. "And more importantly are those cameras?" the group nodded, the excited squeals barely being held in as much as possible. A hush descended before the seamstress reached out a hand, and a porcelain like arm reached out for it. Slowly, Meredith appeared at the top of the stairs, her veil stretching over the back of her dress, the pale straps of the halterneck laying against her collar bone gently. The soft silk hugged her slightly fuller figure perfectly, the short train following her as she descended the stairs, the smile on her face one of pure elation, the thin chain around her neck all the strength she needed for now. She glided to the porch door before turning around and gesturing that the dumbstruck wedding party follow her.

"When you're all done crying. I have a wedding to get to." She giggled, breaking the silence. She quickly hugged and thanked the three women who wouldn't be attending that day, thanking them again for making her look so radient, until they heard the sound of tyres on concrete and the women piled out of the door, every second counting down to the moment they'd been waiting for since the first day of internship.

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"The place looks great." Ryan told Derek, sensing the nerves that were kicking in now that they were there, in the room that he would leave only as a married man. "You're all set. How do you feel, are you good?"

"Yeah," Derek told him. "I'm marrying Meredith today. I'm… I'm perfect."

"Good, it looks like the first few guest are coming in. I'd better get out there with Alex and George. Are you okay on your own?"

"I got him covered." Mark said, clapping his friend on the back. "That was Izzie. They're doing a drive past the hospital so people can see the cars go by then they'll be on their way. The officiator is just hanging up his coat. The girls pulled up as I got off the phone. There are kids everywhere. Let's have ourselves a wedding."

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"Okay sweetheart, I'll see you inside." Carolyn told Meredith, giving the bride one final hug before heading inside where her son in law was ready to show her to her seat. It was a little before twelve and the last of the guests had trickled in. The bridal party had managed to arrive with ten minutes to spare, and the owner of the ferry boat had led them to a dressing room until everything was ready. Meredith sat with her hands atop her bump, focussing on her breathing and watching as Izzie and Lexie grew more and more excited. A knock at the door saw Kathleen leave with Ryan, both taking their places at the top of the aisle. Alex came for Izzie next, before George came to take Lexie to her position at the front. That left just Cristina and Meredith in their final moments as two single girls.

"I'm proud of you." Cristina muttered, her face saying that it was painful for her to say it. "I'm really glad you found him, that you made it work. I'm glad you're happy. You deserve it after everything."

"Cristina, would you just say it already." Meredith scolded her with a smile.

"Say what?" Cristina frowned.

"What it is that you really want to say. Quickly before Mark turns up and hears you."

"I love you okay." Cristina told her best friend. "You're my person or my soulmate or whatever. Now get up there and marry the love of your life, and prove that girls like us can have both. I…" they were interrupted by a knock at the door, signalling that it was finally Cristina's turn to walk down the aisle. And Meredith was left alone. It was exactly a minute to twelve when Richard opened the door, an enormous grin on his face, stepping in to kiss her cheek before holding out his arm for her to grab. Something felt so right about the whole situation but neither could put a finger on it. But neither would be surprised if Ellis had a little something to do with it. The pair stood just out of sight of the aisle, waiting for their signal to start walking towards the rest of Meredith's life.

"Congratulations Meredith." Richard whispered as the music started to play. "Your mother would be so proud."

"Thanks chief." She told him, her focus switching entirely to her fiancé as she took her first step onto the red carpet, Derek's face one of absolute awe as she walked towards him, fighting the urge to run into his arms. She grinned madly as flash after flash went off, bee nudging gently in her stomach, all too aware that Meredith was a jumble of nervous energy and unbelievable excitement. She caught sight of the Shepherd's on either side of the aisle, proving Carolyn's theory that she had always been family, but nothing could distract her from the huge smile and even bigger tears that were falling down Derek's cheeks as Richard placed her hand in his, this time forever.

"We are gathered here today to join Dr. Meredith Elizabeth Grey and Dr. Derek Christopher Shepherd in holy matrimony. They have chosen you, their friends and family to join them in the celebration of their union and the start of their life together. Marriage is not for them a destination, but a journey that they are about to begin together. Marriage shall expand them as individuals, define them as a couple, and deepen their love for one another. To be successful, they will need strength, courage, patience and a really good sense of humour. Though I think all of us who've had the pleasure of knowing Derek will know these things are in no short supply. So,I say to the two of you: let your marriage be a time of waking each morning and falling in love with each other all over again. And may today be the start of a wonderful future together." Meredith squeezed derek's hands, her smile never wavering for a second. Derek retunred the gesture as more tears left his eyes, utterly elated that he had finally reached the moment he'd been waiting his whole life for. "Meredith and Derek have asked some of their friends and family to share with you a few things that mean a lot to them as a couple. We start with Mark Sloan."

"This is a poem by wordsworth that sums up the way Derek feels about Meredith pretty well it's called Perfect Woman:

She was a phantom of delight
When first she gleam'd upon my sight;
A lovely apparition, sent
To be a moment's ornament;
Her eyes as stars of twilight fair;
Like twilight's, too, her dusky hair;
But all things else about her drawn;
A dancing shape, an image gat,
To haunt, to startle, and waylay.
I saw her upon nearer view,
a spirit, yet a Woman too!
Her household motions light and free,
And steps of virgin liberty;
A countenance in which did meet
Sweets records, promises as sweet;
A creature not too bright or good
For human natures daily food;
For transient sorrows, simple wiles,
Praise, blame, love, kisses, tears, and smiles.
And now I see with eye serene
The very pulse of the machine;
A being breathing thoughtful breath,
A traveller between life and death;
The reason firm, the temperate will,
Endurance, foresight, strength, and skill;
A perfect woman, nobly plann'd,
To warn, to comfort, and command;
And yet a Spirit still, and bright
With something of angelic light.
But never doubt I love.

I love you guys." He choked as he walked back to his place, clenching his fists as he tried not to cry.

"Thank you Mark, a poem that really lets us into how Derek sees Meredith not just today but every day, the perfect woman and thus the woman he has chosen to spend the rest of his life with. Meredith may see her own flaws, things she doesn't love about herself, but the beautiful thing about marriage is that despite the insecurities of the imperfections we all possess, love prevails over all, Derek clearly loves every part of Meredith and Meredith every part of him, which I think is a fine foundation for a marriage. Meredith has asked her sister to share with us a piece that reflects the way that she feels about Derek, so now Lexie Grey will read an extract from Jane Eyre."

"I have for the first time found what I can truly love - I have found you. You are my sympathy - my better self - my good angel; I am bound to you with a strong attachment. I think you good, gifted, lovely: a fervent, a solemn passion is conceived in my heart; it leans to you, draws you to my centre and spring of life, wraps my existence about you - and, kindling in pure, powerful flame, fuses you and me in one." Lexie blinked back the tears as she stood in front of her sister and her brother in law, overwhelmed as Mark had been at the love that was radiating from the pair as they stood at the altar.

"I think this is quite a succinct way of describing exactly why the two of you are here today, and exactly what marriage means to the both of you. Thank you Mark and thank you Lexie for sharing with us today.

Our final piece chosen by the bride and groom is a poem read by both the mother of the groom and the honorary mother of the bride. And gives us a slightly more modern take on marriage."

"Yes, I'll marry you," by Pam Ayres." Carolyn began, smiling at Dr. Bailey next to her and then at the happy couple.

"Yes, I'll marry you, my dear,
And here's the reason why;
So I can push you out of bed
When the baby starts to cry,
And if we hear a knocking
And it's creepy and it's late,
I hand you the torch you see,
And you investigate." The crowd chuckled as bailey took over.

"Yes I'll marry you, my dear,
You may not apprehend it,
But when the tumble-drier goes
It's you that has to mend it,
You have to face the neighbor
Should our Labrador attack him,
And if a drunkard fondles me
It's you that has to whack him."

"Yes, I'll marry you,
you're virile and you're lean,
my house is like a pigsty
you can help to keep it clean.
That sexy little dinner
which you served by candlelight,
as I do chipolatas,
you can cook it every night!"

"It's you who has to work the drill
and put up curtain track,
And when I've got PMT it's you who gets the flak,
I do see great advantages,
But none of them for you,
And so before you see the light,"
"I do, I do, I do!" they finished the entire ferry boat chuckling, tears flowing freely in both pride and hilarity.

Carolyn and bailey both reached in to press a kiss to Meredith and Derek's cheeks, unable to hold back the tears of pride as they returned to their seats. Carolyn had seen four of her children marry, both of her siblings and countless friends through the years, yet she had never seen a love as pure and as precious as that that her son and his fiancée shared. A love that had stood the tests of time and the agony of separation and betrayal, yet still found a way to blossom and grow and envelope anyone that got close. And as she closed her eyes and felt the sun on her back she knew exactly who had ensured that the two of them find each other, and she thanked god that she had her own knight in shining armour looking down on her and her family.

"It is clear that the love they have for each other is shared by all of you, and you will see them both through both the good and bad times ahead. Now I must ask this, before we continue, if anyone has reason why these two persons cannot be married today let them speak now." Silence echoed around the two of them, and they shared a satisfied smile. The officiator nodded happily and began speaking once again. "Always a relief when that part is over, so let us move onto the vows. Both Meredith and Derek have written words that they wish to share with each other as vows on their big day, words that will resonate and teach them through the coming months and years, and remain as a personal reminder of how and why they got to here today. Derek if you'd like to begin?"

"Okay," Derek said taking a deep breath, and releasing one of his hands so he could take his vows from his pocket, before looking Meredith straight in the eyes, which were already filled with tiny perfect tears that complemented her smile beautifully. She looked radiant, and there was no denying that she had never been happier. "ready?" he whispered to her, and she nodded gently, her smile widening even more as she squeezed his hand, giving him the strength to get through the next few moments. "If my father taught me one thing growing up, it is that women are not something to be won, to be possessed and admired. They are to be loved and cherished, not used or worn down. They are to be cared for and to be equal to. Well no offence to him, but I think he might just be wrong about that bit. There is no denying that I am in love with you Meredith. You make me happy in ways I never thought possible and I have loved you more than I have ever loved another person. When I think of life without you it makes me want to rip my heart from my chest just for a moment's relief, for I am lost, I am nothing without you. My father was not correct in his statement that women are equal, for the right woman, she is superior. Meredith you have my heart and soul in the palm of your hand, and I trust that you will never hurt them, rather nurturing them, keeping them beside your own, joining them, joining us as one. I have known love, I've never been without love, but I did not know until I met you that it was possible to love a person this much. To want nothing more than to be with you forever, as your husband, and your partner. Your other half. My mother once said that I would find my soulmate, and when I did, the world would make sense. I didn't realise how wrong I was about the world until I saw your face. You are my soulmate, and my very best friend, and I will love you and cherish and protect you for the rest of our lives. This is it Meredith. This is forever. I will never stop loving you, every neurotic, dark and twisty part of you. I may not own any part of you, but every part of me is yours. And on this day the day of our wedding, I vow never to give you a reason to close your palm. I promise to love you, honour you and protect you as long as I live and forever after. I promise to be everything you need, even when you don't know you need it. I can't promise you that the road won't be filled with twists and turns and road blocks, but I promise to be by your side holding your hand through it all. I promise to spend my life loving you ad showing you every day just how much you mean to me. I love you Meredith and that will never change. I Derek Christopher Shepherd take you Meredith Elizabeth Grey to be my lawfully wedded wife. No matter what happens, I am from this moment forever yours." He slid the tiny platinum band that they'd chosen over her slender finger, almost overcome with how right it felt to see it there, as if it had been missing her entire life and he'd been the one to find it. The sniffles from beyond their bubble meant that the pair of them weren't the only ones moved by Derek's words. Meredith tried desperately to regulate her breathing and calm herself enough to deliver her own vows. She was grateful to the officiator for giving her the time to collect herself. Derek lifted their hands towards her face, wiping her tears with his thumbs. She closed her eyes and relished the feeling. It seemed that even Derek's touch had an instant calming effect on her. She looked up at the officiator, a gentle nod signal that she was ready to share hr own words with Derek.

"Now Meredith, when you're ready." She took another deep breath, closing her eyes for a second. Before looking back into the eyes that she'd fallen in love with the first time she saw them. She knew that Izzie had a copy of her vows that she could grab a hold of if she stumbled on her words, but she didn't need a prompt to be able to tell Derek what she really felt.

"Derek," she began, "I've never been one to follow my heart, probably because I knew much of the time that following what my heart wanted to do was the wrong thing, so when it battled with the logic in my head that said you'd be like every other guy I'd ever been with, for the first time I didn't listen. But when I thought about it, I'd never felt the way I did when I was with you for the first time. I'd never experienced that magic, the all-consuming love for another human being. So for the first time I followed my heart, and agreed to be yours. And even at our worst, my heart swore that I had to be with you, that if I fought I could have you forever, that I could be yours forever. And I let myself believe for the first time. You make me believe. And I'm so glad I did. You are to me the reason I wake up, the reason I have the strength to face every day, to deal with the crappy things and move forward. You're the reason I smile and laugh and dream, you are the reason I hope, and plan for the future. You are the reason I don't fear what is coming next, because I know you will be by my side, just as I am at yours. You are my first and last thought each and every day. You are the only man I've ever trusted to know me, and the only man I've ever trusted with my heart. So today I give you my everything. I give you my heart, my soul, my hopes and dreams and every little bit in between. Derek I am yours, I always have been. The way you love me never fails to knock me off my feet, and I vow to spend the rest of my life proving that I feel the exact same way. The next few months are going to be scary and crazy and wonderful, but I can't think of a single person that I'd rather share the journey with. I have never been more ready to leap into the future because with you I will always have the strength and the courage to go on. I vow to be the one that you want to be with every day. The person you can't wait to wake up for, to come home to. I promise to surprise you with the number of ways in which I love you, because you Derek are my everything. You are my family, my friend and the love of my life and the person that I want to share all my tomorrows with, however many that might be. I Meredith Elizabeth Grey take you Derek Christopher Shepherd to be my husband, my family and my forever." She slid the thick band over Derek's finger, rubbing it gently with her thumb and grinning madly.

"Both Derek and Meredith have made their vows to each other, and proven in front of you their friends and family that they are committed to each other and ready for marriage. May they lean on each other in the good and dark times ahead, and be one forever more. By the power vested in me by the state of Washington, it gives me great pleasure to pronounce you both as husband and wife. I know you've been dying to see it since you walked in, so Derek, you may now kiss the bride."

Derek didn't need to be told twice, he took hold of Meredith's waist, tipped her back and kissed her with everything he had. She returned the kiss, relishing the feeling of their tears joining and the entire ferry boat cheering. She knew she still had to sign her name and deal with the formalities, but she had finally done it, she was now and forever Dr. Meredith Grey, wife of Derek Shepherd, and as they walked back down the aisle, she felt extraordinary, because for the very first time in her life, she had it all.

A/N- I'd love to know your thoughts on the big day, so if you have some time, I'd be super grateful for a review!