A/N: Hey there, quarantine buddies! I figured I could give you a little chapter to stave off boredom during these tough times. Maybe even bring you a smile.

The title of this chapter is from Conversation 16. I know it's a short chapter, but better than nothing, right?


Chapter 27 - You're The Only Thing I Ever Want Anymore


It's incredible how the stars align when they want to turn something in your favor. Usually, for Meredith it's been the other way round, but since Derek appeared in her life, and then reappeared again, it seems the stars are smiling upon her.

She can't believe that when Ellis sent them at the Columbia NeuroPanel it would happen to be on the same weekend as Carolyn's birthday. They discussed flying out for the annual barbecue, but then they were so caught up with work and Isaac that the window to get decent tickets closed and they ended up bailing on the barbecue.

Except, now all four of them are standing in front of Carolyn's front porch, suitcases and gifts in tow, smiling and excitedly waiting for someone to open it.

"Surprise!" Derek and the boys announce, as soon as the door cracks open to reveal Carolyn on the other side of it, wiping her hands off on her checkered apron.

Her eyes sparkle with delight at the sight of them, and Meredith smiles as the older woman pulls her grandchildren into her arms. It makes her feel at home, safe, in a way that is different than how she has always felt in her own home in Seattle.

Meredith always has a hard time reconciling Ellis pre-twins and after they were born, but she can't dwell much into that thought, because Carolyn's arms are squeezing her tight. The embrace smells like homemade gingersnap cookies.

"It's so good to see you. What a surprise!"

"Well, happy early birthday!" Derek grins, making his mother laugh.

"Come on in, there's Amelia, Lizzie, and her whole tribe hanging out in the basement."

"Nana, is Annabel here?" Logan asks, excitement painting his face.

"Of course!" Carolyn grins. "Go find her downstairs."

In two seconds flat the boys are scrambling downstairs, their shoes and luggage scattered in the hall.

"How are you, Mom?" Derek asks, his tone gentle.

"I'm so happy to have all my children and grandchildren here, under the same roof."

"Really? All of us?" Derek's eyes widen. "Even Mark?"

"Even Mark. He brought his fiancée."

"Wait, what?"

Meredith giggles at the surprise on Derek's face. From the way she has described Mark though, he's right to be surprised. She remembers Mark being always casual with Addison, but now it seems that even Derek's brother has settled down.

Derek has already disappeared, probably looking for Mark to get tangible proof of what his mother has said, and she's left with Carolyn, who's already busy in the kitchen.

"I'm glad you guys were able to come," Carolyn says, and Meredith blushes.

"Well, it's sort of a business trip, too."

Carolyn looks at her with a question, prompting her to say more.

"Did Derek tell you about Isaac? The spinal tumor?"

"The twenty-six-hour surgery?" Carolyn grins, shaking her head. "Of course. He sounded like a little boy all over again. Why?"

"Well, we're the key speakers at a seminar at Columbia next Tuesday."

Carolyn's eyes are wide, bright. "Oh, wow! Congratulations!" She drops her wooden spoon then walks around the kitchen island, pulling Meredith into a tight hug, again.

Meredith sags into the warmth and takes a moment to return the hug. It feels very motherly, a sharp contrast to the business-like quality of Ellis's announcement, yet, the same pride shines in their eyes.

"I'm glad we managed to be here for this, Carolyn."

The older woman grins, letting go of her but keeping her hands on her shoulders, her eyes deeply rooted to hers. "So am I. I can't believe the whole family is here. It hasn't happened in...years!"

Before Meredith can say anything else, Derek jogs into the kitchen, his eyes wide. "Oh my gosh, Mark is really engaged to Addie!"

Meredith bursts into laughter at his disbelief, and so does Carolyn.

"Well, I know you always said he's a manwhore, but he's been with Addison for three years," Carolyn says, looking at him softly.

"I know. I never thought he'd go for it." Derek shakes his head.

Meredith looks at him then, and his eyes fall on her hand. She hadn't even realized she was fidgeting with her ring. His ring. The ring he put there. For her. For their engagement.

He clears his throat.

Maybe this is a good time to spill the beans to his mother.

"What is it?" Carolyn asks, a smile on her face. "I can see you're hiding something."

Derek walks closer to Meredith, grabs her hand, touches her ring. "Mom," he says, taking a deep breath, and Meredith can feel her heart hammering in her ribcage. "Are you up for a trip to Seattle next spring?"

Carolyn frowns. "Derek, you just got here, you don't have to return the barbecue favor just yet."

"It's not for a barbecue. I mean, I don't think it will be a barbecue?" He turns to Meredith, a question in his eyes, and she giggles.

They never talked about what their wedding would be like. They didn't discuss anything more than the fact that they want to be married, they want to be a family. But actual plans? Yet, she could see a wedding, on Derek's land. She could picture it clearly. And maybe even a barbecue.

Carolyn is staring at them, still confused, until a light seems to go off in her brain, and she looks down at Meredith's hand.

"Oh!" She grins, her eyes shining. "Oh, Derek!"

"I asked Meredith to marry me, Mom." He clears his throat, his words coming out choked up. "She said yes."

Carolyn draws both of them in a hug, squeezing them tightly before she pulls away and takes her hand. She caresses the ring with reverence, a tearful smile on her lips.

"It looks good on you. Much better than on me now."

Meredith gasps. "It was your mother's?" She looks at Derek and he nods. "You didn't…"

"Meredith, I always kept this ring for the right girl for him. Clearly, Rose wasn't."

Meredith swallows. It seems a lifetime ago that he started following her like a lost puppy to get over being left at the altar and yet, even if he had been ready to marry Rose, his mother never thought she had been right for him. But she is, apparently? Her throat closes up, and she can't say anything in reply.

"Mom."

His eyes are shining. She squeezes his hand, unable to say anything in return as well.

"Derek!" They hear a booming voice before a tall, well-built man with salt and pepper hair and a hint of stubble walks into the kitchen, grinning madly, then stopping at the threshold. "What am I walking into?"

Derek chuckles, clearing his throat, schooling his features, but Meredith can see that he's trying hard not to cry. She's probably crying without even realizing it.

She is right for Derek.

In spite of all the crap they've been through, his mother is still convinced, and she can't believe it.

"Mark, not to steal your thunder, but you're not the only one engaged," Derek says, lifting up her hand to show Mark the ring.

Meredith studies Mark. She heard stories, saw pictures, but it's the first time she meets the man, and the manwhore is not there. Not one bit. Because Mark is laughing and patting Derek's back in congratulations, and the two of them look like the best buddies, even though they've been living on two separate sides of the country for a year.

A year.

She's been around Derek again for a year, and now it will be forever.

Forever. With Derek Shepherd. Mrs. Shepherd. She wrinkles her nose at that. She'll still be Grey. Maybe Grey-Shepherd. For the kids.

Wait, will the kids be Grey-Shepherds, too?

Her face flushes. They have so many things to discuss. But, there's time.

They have a lifetime.


Derek looks at Meredith mingling with his family, yelling at Ethan who's being crazy on the slide, sipping a beer comfortably in his mother's backyard, his mother's ring on her finger, catching the light of the warm afternoon.

A year ago, exactly a year ago, he had decided to move to Seattle, had Annabel break his heart, and he was ready. He thought he would be back already by now, miserable and alone, but in Seattle he found a family. His own family. He found a place to belong.

"Stop looking at her, it's creepy." Lizzie walks up to him, handing him a cool beer, grinning as she bumps his shoulder.

"I'm marrying her, Liz."

"I know! You found her again."

He sighs. "How are you and Josh?"

Lizzie's face is somber. "Better. We can be civil around the kids."

"Are you still moving to Seattle?"

"Yes. At the end of the summer."

"Alone?"

"No, with the kids. And you, apparently?"

Derek grins. "Oh, yeah, I'm definitely staying in Seattle."

Lizzie laughs. "You don't even look like the same Derek of last year. You couldn't stop moping around. Now you're beaming. Beaming!"

Derek chuckles. "She makes me better. Always has."

"I really like her, Derek. She makes you lighter."

Derek sighs, watching her roll her eyes at something Ethan says, then laughing with Amelia.

"She fits."

"She does. I'm glad you found her. And the boys."

"Me, too. I'm a dad, Liz!"

Lizzie laughs at him. "I always told you you'd be great at it."

"Well, if you leave out the part where I was AWOL for seven years…" He always tries not to wallow too much in the past, but it still stings. Yet, his sister pulls him out of his thoughts lightning fast.

"Not your fault."

"Not Meredith's either." He sighs. "She did the best she could, especially since Logan was already so sick. She did her best."

"She's great with them."

"She's amazing. You should sneak in and hear us speak at Columbia. I'll leave her all the juicy parts."

Lizzie laughs. "You're letting her steal your thunder? She's still a resident, right?"

"My Neuro resident, yes."

"Oh, wow. You really love her, then." Lizzie laughs loudly, and he has no idea if he should feel honored or offended. He goes with amused instead, and laughs with her.

One by one, the whole family shuffles by to offer him his congratulations, to praise Meredith, to tell him great things about his kids, and he feels showered with love, with appreciation, with how amazing this whole thing is.

He can't believe how much his life has changed in a year.


A/N: Was it a filler? Yep. Was if fluffy and slightly pointless? You bet. I just wanted to come full circle with the first chapter.

I still hope you enjoyed this, even if it was short. There's only one more chapter left, plus the epilogue. Yes, only two more chapters of this Slow Show before I finish this endless project. It makes me sad and happy. After that, I'll work on IWBY, as well as wrapping up the Storm trilogy with Nicole, too. Then I'm not sure if I'll retire from fanfic altogether, who knows? Take it as it comes.

Friendly reminder to stay home, stay safe, read fanfic instead of going out. There'll be time to explore the world, not now.