And here's the other one!

Enjoy! :)

Disclaimer: I don't own any of Grey's Anatomy. Not the characters. Not the plot. Not anything. Nor do I own anything to do with the NHL. At all. But it would be pretty cool if I did.

Today was Sunday and Meredith was nervous, she shouldn't be. She knew Derek, she loved him, and she had met half of his sisters already, as well as his mom. He really had nothing to worry about. But she had met those people by chance, now she was making the choice. Aiden had been bouncing since he had woken up, eager to meet his other 'cousins'. She hoped one day he would be an officially cousin but that was a long time away yet.

She hoped Derek couldn't tell she was nervous, but he was weirdly perceptive of literally everything, so she didn't think she'd get away with it. He had just parked outside his childhood home and she could feel his eyes on her.

"Mer?"

"Hmmm?" Her head snapped in his direction.

"Are you okay?" He murmured, rubbing her arm gently.

"Yeah, I'm fine Derek, I want to meet your family."

"I know you do, but it's okay to be nervous."

"Fine, maybe a little. But I'm honestly fine," she reassured him.

"Let's go then," he grinned, "Come on Aiden."

"Coming Derek," he hopped out of his seat, landing on the tarmac. Derek took his hand first, then wrapped an arm around her waist.

"It'll be okay Mer," he whispered into her ear.

"I know," she breathed.

"Good," he kissed her temple and opened the front door.

"Ma? Dad?"

"Derek! There you are," Carolyn strode up to the door. Derek untangled himself from her and Aiden to hug his mom.

"Hi Mom, how are you?"

"Oh I'm fine dear, don't worry about me. How are you?"

"I'm great," he smiled back at Meredith.

"Good. And how are you Meredith?"

"I'm good Carolyn, thank you for having us."

"Oh nonsense, it's nothing. The rest of Derek's sisters and Michael want to meet you. And Aiden, of course. How are you dear?" She directed the question to him.

"Awesome. Your house is so cool. Are any of your other grandkids here?"

"Aiden," Meredith chastised, "try and be polite."

"It's okay Meredith," she laughed, "Liz is already here with her kids. Hailey is 9 but I'm sure you'd get on with the twins, Lucas and Elliot. They're 6."

"They're only a year older than me! Do you know where they are?"

"I think they're upstairs playing pirates."

"Cool!" He said and scampered towards the stairs.

Carolyn chuckled, "Him and the twins together is going to interesting to say the least."

"I can think of a few more adjectives," Derek laughed.

"Derek!" Meredith giggled, "I realise it's probably true but still."

"Well I'm glad you realise I'm right," he kissed her cheek.

"Only very, very rarely."

"Yes dear."

"Hey! Don't yes dear me."

"Too late," he smirked.

"Okay you two," Carolyn laughed, "do you want to come in? Dad is in the living room with Liz and Jack."

"Yeah of course," Derek grabbed for her hand and led her towards the living room.

"Hey Dad," he leant down to hug him. "Hey Liz, Jack."

"Hi Derek," Liz got up from her chair to hug him.

"Guys, this is Meredith, my girlfriend," he grinned.

"Hi," she waved slightly.

"It's nice to meet you Meredith," Michael smiled.

"You too Mr Shepherd, I've heard so much about you from Derek."

"Please, call me Michael. And I'm sure he has, there are many embarrassing stories that I could share," he chuckled, exactly the same as Derek.

"That's our job Dad," Liz laughed, "It's great to meet you Meredith, my brother wouldn't shut up about you."

"That's what Kathleen said," she giggled.

"Hey!" Derek said indignantly, "this is abuse, you meet Meredith and all you do is insult me," he mock frowned.

"Poor Derek," she giggled, kissing him quickly.

"Well that's better," he laughed, bringing her into his arms as he sat down.

"Glad to know I could help."

Carolyn came in asking if anyone wanted drinks and brought them in a few minutes later, just as the front door flew open. "The prodigal son has arrived," Mark bellowed.

"Hello Mark," Derek rolled his eyes.

"Don't roll your eyes at me Shep, you know that Mom and Dad had to adopt me because you were a let-down," he smirked.

"If I wasn't too comfortable, I would get up and smack you over the head," Derek remarked.

"There's no need for that Derek Christopher," Mark mocked. The rest of the room laughed though she wasn't sure why.

"Mark Everett Sloan, I do not sound like that. And I love all of my children equally."

Okay, now she got it!

"Of course Ma, I apologize."

"Good, want something to drink?"

"Coffee would be great."

"Right then, sit down and talk to your family."

"Yes Ma," he laughed, sitting down, "where's Kath, Nancy Pants and Amelia?"

"Nancy and Kath have just drawn up and Amelia said she was going to be late, something about last minute paperwork."

"Or Link is too chicken to come here, he knows there's another ice hockey grandchild now. He's outnumbered." Mark smirked as the door opened again.

"Outnumbered?" Meredith asked.

"Oh god, they're not talking about that competition again are they?" she heard a female voice from the hallway.

"Yeah," Mark shouted, "We are definitely winning, we have Aiden now."

"Hockey is definitely better Uncle Mark, Kraken rules, Mariners drool," two teenage boys walked in.

"And this is why I like you Andrew, you too Liam, you aren't traitors like your cousin."

"Thanks Uncle Mark," Andrew (apparently) smiled.

"Hey everyone," Liam greeted them.

"Hey Liam, you still hoping to be captain?" Derek asked.

"Yeah," he grinned, "they said they'd choose within the week."

"That's great," he grinned. Meredith was completely lost, and not even everyone was here yet.

"That's Andrew and Liam, they're Nancy's kids," Derek whispered. "And you'll see about the competition," he smirked. Meredith was still confused but glad Derek was willing to help.

"Ok for one," another boy walked in, along with two other girls, "baseball is better. And two, why are we outnumbered?"

"That's Logan. Audrey is the older one and Ella is the younger one, they belong to Kath. But you don't have to remember all of this," Derek whispered again.

"Okay," she nodded, "I'll try anyway."

"I know you will," he chuckled.

"You are outnumbered my man, because Meredith's son, Aiden, is an ice hockey kid, hence outnumbered," Mark smirked.

"Who's Meredith?" all of the kids asked. By this time all of the adults had sat down, the kids seemed to be lingering before they disappeared somewhere. She was mentally checking off names in her head and so far, was getting them all.

"This is Meredith," Derek introduced her, "she's my girlfriend, and Aiden is upstairs somewhere."

"Hi Meredith," Andrew went first, before turning to Derek, "Uncle Derek, she's too hot for you."

Meredith giggled involuntarily as Nancy chastised her son, Logan, Liam and Audrey all grinning.

"Isn't that the truth," Mark laughed.

"Mark," Michael laughed.

"See, even Dad finds it funny."

"Thanks guys," Derek rolled his eyes.

"Don't worry Der, I still love you," she kissed his neck, still giggling.

"Well that's good at least," he laughed as she ran a hand through his curls.

"Grandma can we go upstairs now," the smaller girl, Ella, asked.

"Of course dear," Carolyn smiled, "I'll call you all down when it's ready."

"Thanks Grandma," Liam called as they thundered up the stairs, Audrey taking her own time.

"And that's the kids," Kathleen laughed.

xxxxx

With all of the pleasantries out of the way, they eventually fell into a casual conversation and Meredith felt warm just from sitting here, Derek's arm around her shoulder. She could tell that this had always been a loud, loving house and she was already in love with it. All of Derek's siblings teased and mocked each other, all of the other halves were calling Carolyn and Michael Mom and Dad and she loved it. Derek came alive here, not that he wasn't everywhere else, but he could tell that family was the most important thing in the world to him.

Just as they were sitting down to eat, Amelia rushed in with who she assumed was her husband and her daughter. She knew she couldn't say anything about her look round Seattle Grace, but she was glad there was a familiar face.

"Oh good, you haven't started yet," Amelia grinned.

"Just about to sit down. Hello dear, glad you could make it," Carolyn hugged her.

"Me too, Ma," she said pulling out a chair next to Meredith as Link was brought into a hug. Her daughter, Nat, bouncing happily on her knee.

"Oh, you guys haven't met yet," Derek said, the two of them shared a look, "Mer, this is my baby sister Amelia. Amy, this is my girlfriend Meredith."

"It's nice to meet you Meredith," Amelia made a big show of it, lunging her hand out.

"You too Amelia," she grinned, shaking her outstretched hand.

"This is my husband Link," she gestured to the blond now in the seat next to her, "and this, this is Natalia, or Nat," she cooed at the baby.

"It's nice to meet you Link," she reached over to shake his hand, then her attention was drawn to the baby.

"Well aren't you cute?" she took the baby's hand. She made some babbling sounds and Meredith had to admit, she was adorable.

After Carolyn called up the stairs, there was the sound of many pounding footsteps as they all raced down the stairs.

"God, they sound like a herd of elephants," Nancy sighed.

All of them ran through the room to the so called 'kid's table' except that of Aiden, Lucas and Elliot.

"Uncle Derek! Uncle Mark! Uncle Link!" The twins shouted.

"Yeah guys?" Derek answered.

"Aiden said he's never got to jump in a giant pile of leaves," Lucas said with wide eyes.

"Can you make a giant pile later, pleeeaaasee," Elliot begged. All three of them stood in front of him with big eyes and he grinned at the sight. Aiden was already a Shepherd.

"Sure, but after we've eaten and your stomachs are all settled," Derek advised.

"Thank you Derek!" Aiden lunged at him, putting his small arms around him.

"Now go and eat. Grandma's cooking is the best!"

"Kay. It has to be better than Mom's," he giggled, Derek joining him.

"Aiden," Mer giggled.

"But it's true Mom," he laughed, and scampered out of the room.

Derek hid his laughter behind his hand, but it wasn't missed by Meredith.

"Derek Shepherd!" she punched his shoulder.

"I'm sorry Mer, but Aiden knows it and he's 5. He just appreciates good cooking," he smirked.

"Whatever," she rolled her eyes.

"Go on, taste it. You'll see why I agree with him."

She rolled her eyes but took some of the meat from her plate that had been put in front of her. She moaned in appreciation.

"See," he smirked.

"Oh my god. Carolyn this is the best thing I've ever tasted."

"Thank you dear," she laughed.

"Just wait until you taste the chocolate cake."

"There's chocolate cake?" Her eyes widened and she stared at him with interest.

"Uh huh. Now admit it, this is better than something you could ever come up with." His mother chastised him, but he ignored it, knowing that Mer wouldn't really mind.

"Of course, I admit it. I can barely make toast without burning it to charcoal, let alone this," she pointed with her fork.

She saw his triumphant smirk and rolled her eyes, "Happy now?"

"Not quite. Does that mean that you admit that my cooking is better than yours?"

"Never Shepherd," she smirked, "although I will definitely let you cook whenever you want to. You know, save me the effort."

"Of course," he returned the smirk, and turned to his food.

They re-joined the conversation they had zoned out on to find everyone talking about hospitals in the area.

"What do you think Meredith?" Liz asked.

"About Seattle Grace? Yeah, it's an amazing hospital. All of my attendings know what they're doing and if you're good, you get surgeries. Simple as that. You get plenty of learning opportunities and there are so many trials going on right now that I'm not sure I'd even be able to name them all," she said truthfully, although it can out sounding like an advert.

"Why do you ask?"

"Well, Amelia was thinking of switching there rather than stay at Mercy West," Liz told her.

"Really?" Meredith tried to look surprised.

"It's okay Meredith," Amelia laughed. "Guys, I've been for a tour around Seattle Grace already, I just wanted to see if it would fit me. And I met Meredith here. And for the record, I didn't know she would be there," she held up her hands as if to surrender.

"Why didn't you tell us? We could have told you whether it would have been good for you or not?" Nancy asked, she was an attending there after all.

"That's exactly why Nancy," Amelia sighed, "While I want your opinion, I wanted to see for myself. And I loved it," she finished smiling.

"Do you know if you're going to move?" Kathleen enquired.

"Actually," Amelia smiled, "I already sent in my application. I start October 8th."

"Amelia Shepherd, you're switching hospitals and you only just told us?"

"In my defence, I was going to bring it up a few weeks ago but Derek wasn't here, and I wanted to do it when we were all here."

"I think it's great Amelia. You're specializing in neuro, right?"

She nodded. "Dr. Patrick is great, I've already got some cool surgeries thanks to him. You learn a lot. It'll be awesome," Meredith smiled.

"Thanks Mer," she smiled, "I'm looking forward to it."

"Oh great," Derek huffed, "you two together are gonna be the death of me." The hint of playfulness in his voice.

Amy threw some unrecognizable object at him and Mer punched him again.

"Abuse!" He called, cowering away from the attack.

"Shut up Derek!" They both said laughing.

xxxxx

They proceeded with their meal and Meredith greatly appreciated the chocolate cake and was gifted with some to take home. She chatted to Amelia about how to raise an infant with a busy schedule and was able to talk to the other sisters about various subjects without feeling too out of her depth. The husbands were nice too, although she found herself talking to Mark and Link more than the others. She could relate more she supposed. The current topic of conversation was sport medicine, and she was about to retaliate a point when the twins ran up to the huddle, Aiden in tow.

"Uncle Mark, please can we do the leaves now?" They begged, Aiden among them.

The five of them (Derek and Amelia included) couldn't help but laugh at the resemblance on their actions.

"Sure. Whoever helps the most can go first," he practically bribed them. They dashed off to the back yard to gather leaves as fast as they could.

"That's mean Mark," Amelia laughed.

"Maybe, but it's effective," he shrugged as he got up, "Come on Lincoln, Shepherd. You too Walker, Meyers, Anderson, I'm not doing this by myself."

All of them left the room, laughing and joking as they went.

"I don't want to sound idiotic, but why did Mark call Link Lincoln? I thought it was his first name?"

"Oh," Amelia chuckled, standing up to follow them, bouncing Nat on her hip, "his full name is Atticus Lincoln, but he hates it. So everyone calls him Link."

"Atticus?" Meredith laughed, keeping step with her, "I thought that was one of those made-up names that only British people used."

"So did I until I met him." They sat down on the back porch, the other kids had come out already, only the older sisters were inside, they had offered to clear the table so were doing so. Andrew, Logan, Ella and Liam were shooting hoops at the hoop screwed to the brick wall of the house, Lucas, Elliot and Aiden were desperately scrabbling for leaves with the guys and Audrey was sat with Hailey on the steps, playing some kind of game that ended with them bursting into laughter.

"Hey Audrey, hey Hailey," Amelia greeted them.

"Hey Aunt Amelia," they both smiled.

"What have you got going on over there?" she peered over.

"We're playing concentration," Hailey said by way of explanation.

"You know we don't know what that means right?"

Audrey laughed and tried to explain, "Basically, someone gives a topic, and you have to say something that links to it. Like if I said colours, then Hailey could say blue. But then I'd have to say something else because you can't repeat a word. And if you hesitate, you're out. It doesn't really work as well with 2 people though."

"You could play!" Hailey giggled.

"I'm game if you are." Meredith spoke up, she should get to know the kids if she could.

"Sure, why not?" They both crouched onto the steps and got comfortable. Audrey explained the hand action and they started.

"Concentration, 64, no repeats, or hesitation."

"You go first."

"And I'll go second."

"I'll go third."

"And I'll go forth."

"Topic is: bands."

Meredith smiled to herself, not only would she not be out of her depths with the topic (!), but she could also bond with the girls in the process. However, the game got increasingly difficult and eventually they all ran out of things to say, it got faster and faster and the whole thing collapsed, inevitably it seemed, into a fit of giggles.

xxxxx

They took a break in the game and Meredith turned her attention to the guys. Link and Mark appeared to be arguing over where to put all of the leaves while Derek was doubled over with laughter, the pointless argument between the grown men was comical to say the least. He looked over to her and she was instantly drawn to the sparkling blue eyes. Sometimes she still couldn't believe how fast she had fallen for him. Before Aiden, she had never been the person to be in a relationship, and afterwards, Aiden was the most important thing in her life, and she couldn't risk his happiness. Except Aiden loved Derek, and Meredith knew that Derek could never even think about hurting her son. And he loved Aiden too, and he loved her. He loved her. Out of all the people he could have fallen in love with it was her, and it was safe to say she had fallen in love with the most amazing man she'd ever met.

He mouthed something to her, clearly seeing what she was thinking.

"I love you too," she replied to his silent message.

He grinned wider and turned back to the other two, somehow trying to sort it out. Eventually, after squabbles about the placement of the pile, the trio got it together and the next generation of Shepherds ran towards them.

"It's ready?" Elliot asked.

"Indeed it is Elliot. All hail the Great Pit of Leaves," Mark introduced it.

"Knock yourselves out," Link grinned.

"Not literally," Derek added as they walked back to the deck, keeping an eye on them the whole time. Derek couldn't help it when his attention went to Aiden.

He took a seat next to Meredith, casually putting his arm across the back of the bench as she leant into him.

"I'm glad I came today," she sighed.

"Me too. My family love you, especially my mom," he kissed her head.

She laughed softly, "I doubt it."

"She does! You love her cooking, that gave you brownie points. And she sees how much we love each other, that's all she ever asks of her children's significant others."

"But what if she thinks I'm just in it for the money?"

"She knows. Believe me, she's good at pinpointing whether someone is good or bad for us. Motherly instinct I guess. And she knows you're a good person. And a wonderful mom to Aiden."

"Thanks," she blushed, putting her head on his shoulder so that he couldn't see. Derek let her think he couldn't and smiled softly, watching Aiden play with his honorary cousins. It felt right.