For the second time in two days, Meredith awoke to the sounds of small feet speeding past the door of the unfamiliar room. Although, there seemed to be more feet involved in the small stampede than the previous morning. She breathed happily as the warmth of Derek's grasp around her middle seeped into her consciousness. She smiled happily at the deep, even breathing she could feel emanating from the strong chest pressed flush against her back. He was definitely not awake before her this morning.

A glance towards the large window beside the bed showed her hints of sunlight streaming through the curtains. It was well into the morning hours. They should get up soon and join the fray of Thanksgiving preparation she had been warned about the previous evening. But she was hesitant to leave the warm and fuzzy feelings of absolute...perfection just yet. The previous few days had been a whirlwind of emotion; from extreme anxiety and terror to comfortable happiness and, for the first time in her life, a sense of belonging. He had promised her a lifetime. He had promised her a family. And he had promised her happiness.

And he had delivered.

It wasn't that she hadn't believed him. They had been working on the trust thing, and she found herself relying on him and trusting him to be there more and more with each passing month. It was amazing what some consistency in her life had finally allowed her to do. But when he had promised her a place in his family... she hadn't expected this. She had expected being accepted as Derek's girlfriend, and maybe one day more, but this was... She hadn't expected to be accepted as a person. They actually liked her. They were interested in her. They wanted her. Her. Meredith. No one had ever wanted her before. No one. Not even the people who were supposed to want her. But one fateful evening, sixteen months prior, a cocky, handsome man with a dreamy smile and a red shirt decided he wanted her for the night. And even though she had long since promised herself no more random one night stands, she had been unable to resist his charm. Just this last time, she had told herself. And the following morning, even though the obvious effects of the alcohol had worn off, the handsome man from the bar still smiled at her with the same dreamy smile from the night before.

And it turned out he hadn't just wanted her for one night. And it hadn't just been about the chase. And he hadn't wanted her as a just a friend. He wanted her as a partner. He wanted her forever. And now, his family wanted her. And not just because she was Derek's girlfriend. They actually wanted her for her.

And that was freaking amazing.

She sighed happily and revelled in the feeling of being in his arms. It was a good feeling; to be wanted. Derek shifted slightly, burying his face into the back of her neck and closing his hand around her fingers, almost as if he was unconsciously reminding her just how much he wanted her. And even though she knew there was no way he knew what she was thinking, it made her smile anyway. Because even in his sleep, he wanted her.

Derek shifted again, his legs pulling away from the backs of her knees as they stretched downward, the front of his shins brushing along the backs of her heels. He sighed against her and pushed his right leg between hers, and hooked his ankle over her foot before settling. She smiled to herself as his breathing slowly became shallow and less regular.

"Morning," he eventually muttered groggily into the back of her neck.

"Morning," she whispered back.

He tilted his head slightly, so that his chin pointed up from the base of her neck instead of right into her smooth skin. "How long have you been awake?"

"Not long."

He snorted at the role reversal, but didn't comment. "Sleep good?"

She smiled and pressed herself into his body. "Wonderfully. You?"

He groaned at her position and kissed the side of her neck. "Almost perfect."

"Almost?"

"Too much clothes. And too much pent up... stuff..." His breath was hot against her skin.

She giggled. "You know the rules."

He growled slightly. "Rules were meant to be broken." He ran his lips and teeth along the side of her neck.

Meredith gasped and closed her eyes, unable to muster the energy to counter his advances. "Derek..."

He smirked against her neck and gently pulled her over, onto her back. He kissed his way along her jaw line.

"Der..."

His hand found her hemline and expertly eased itself under the ratty old Dartmouth tee he loved so much on her. "I knew you'd break," he mumbled as his hand wandered higher.

Meredith huffed and brought her hand down over top of his, grabbing onto his fingers through the thin material. "You knew you'd break me?" She asked, an eyebrow raised.

He met her eyes and smirked. "Figure of speech."

She snorted and lifted her head to kiss him. And then pushed his hand out from under her shirt and slid out of bed.

"Whah... no. Where are you going?" Derek stared at her with wide eyes.

It was her turn to smirk. "You had your chance, and I gotta tell you, you almost pulled it off. But seriously, Derek, thanks for reminding me not to 'break'."

"Come on, Mer. I didn't mean it that way." He grumbled.

She shook her head with a smile. "Rules, Derek."

He mock glared at her. "Mer..."

"Der..." She countered.

He sighed.

She rolled her eyes. "Seriously, Derek. It's been like two days."

"Seriously, Meredith. It's been like three days. You worked before we flew out here."

She laughed at his tenacity. "Fine. Three days."

He nodded emphatically. "And I've had to spend practically the entire last two days with you."

She raised an eyebrow. "I'm sorry. You had to spend it with me?"

He laughed. "That's not what I meant." He rolled out of bed and hooked his hands around her waist. "I meant I've spent the past two days with you, around you all the time, without being able to...have you." He leaned his face in close to hers, his lips barely a hair's width from hers. "Let me show you how much you mean to me..."

Meredith felt her heart jump. The situation was quickly getting out of hand. "I think I already know how much I mean to you." She pecked him on the lips. "And I definitely know how much you mean to me." Another peck. "Which is why it's so important for me to be able to come back here again."

He grumbled and kissed her quickly. "I swear, if I didn't love you so much..." He trailed off good naturedly and kissed her one more time. "Poor sheets, though. They really thought this was their time..."

Meredith laughed out loud as he smiled down at her. "Seriously," she muttered.

"Seriously," he said with a straight face and a nod. Then a smile broke out and he kissed her one more time. "Now, if you'll excuse me, it seems I'm in need of another rather cold shower..."

000

Dressed comfortably in jeans, a tank top and a light, zip up sweater, Meredith made her way down the back stairs, through the front hall and living room to join the crowd of people in the kitchen. By the time she had blow dried her hair and dressed, Derek had already been gone. The majority of the house was unusually quiet, albeit for the hum of activity behind the swing door before her.

The previous day had been simply wonderful. The expected conflict and tension with Nancy hadn't been there. The potential awkwardness with Kathleen hadn't been there. Any possible attempts on Carol's part to distance her home or her family hadn't been there. And even though Meredith had nearly cried several times, and then completely broken down in front of the Shepherd women, she hadn't felt embarrassed afterward. If someone had told her at the airport that she would do such a thing, Meredith was pretty sure she would have taken Derek up on his offer to stay in Seattle for the holiday. But the evening had gone well. Derek had gone back downstairs and she had rejoined the dinner making effort. Carol and Nancy had even shown her how to make the hamburger patties. And even though she did everything exactly how they did and hers still turned out oddly shaped and lumpy, it hadn't mattered. Because she was being included. And dinner had gone well. The boys had been called up to barbeque and the whole family had eaten together. It was an experience unlike any she'd ever known. And the most amazing part was the complete normalcy of the situation to everyone else. Grabbing a burger and a bun and stopping by the table to apply all combinations of toppers and sauce, before wandering around the kitchen and back deck as you ate and talked, was normal for them. They got together often. And this was what they did. And it was amazing. Because she loved it. And she was confident she would be doing it again. Many times.

With only a short pause of hesitation, hoping the previous day hadn't just been a dream, Meredith pushed open the door, and joined the fray. She was greeted with a chorus of smiles and nods, 'good mornings' and 'Happy Thanksgivings.' Kathleen and Simon were standing along the counter preparing breakfast foods and coffee. Mark was bent over, staring into the oven, at what Meredith could only presume was the turkey. Derek and Nancy were leaning up against the far side of the island, and the rest of the family was seated at the table. All of the kids must have been downstairs.

"You did bring her," a familiar voice rang out and Meredith smiled as she recognized Anna at the table, looking frazzled and exhausted as she clung to a steaming mug. It had been after midnight when Meredith and Derek had gone to bed the night before, but Anna and her family still hadn't arrived.

"Of course I brought her," Derek countered. "I'll never go anywhere without her."

Anna set her mug down on the table and jumped up, striding over to Meredith in three quick steps. "It's good to see you again," she said brightly as she pulled Meredith into a hug.

Meredith smiled at the greeting method she was slowly becoming accustomed to. "You too. How late did you get here?"

Anna sighed and pulled away, stepping back and reaching for her coffee. "You mean how early did we get here?" She corrected with a wry smile.

"Oh," Meredith flinched. "That bad, huh?"

Derek's younger sister nodded. "But, that's life as a surgeon," she smiled.

Meredith nodded. "I totally understand. I worked a twenty-four hour shift, drove home, showered and then we left for the airport to come here."

Anna shook her head with an understanding smile. "Oh," she said suddenly as her eyes darted across the table. "That's my husband Spencer."

Meredith stepped over to the equally tired looking man. He stood to shake her hand, revealing he was relatively tall, but not overly built; supported by toned arms and legs. Definitely the body of a runner. He smiled welcomingly at her, despite the exhaustion. His face was warm and friendly, a hint of a smile in the corner of his eyes. "It's nice to me you," he said warmly.

"You too," she responded. "I've heard so much about you."

Spencer narrowed his eyes and glanced at his wife and then back to Meredith. "What about?"

She smiled. "I've heard you're pretty good with photoshop."

Anna snorted. "You guys told her that already?"

"Hey, it was one of my better achievements," Spencer countered. "No one else in this family has a triple doctorate..."

"No one is this family has a doctorate period, dumbass," Nancy muttered with a teasing smile. "A doctorate is not a med degree." Meredith laughed as she strolled over to Derek and leaned up beside him along the counter.

"Then why is it called a doctorate?"

Nancy shrugged. "It's a PhD; doctor of philosophy."

"That's stupid."

Nancy laughed. "Maybe so, but I didn't make it up."

"But you brought it up."

"Cause you were wrong-"

"Children!" Carol chastised with a gently smile. "Honestly, you'd think you belong downstairs with the children." She laughed and met Meredith's eyes. "They're together for minutes and suddenly they're regressing decades."

Meredith laughed.

Spencer laughed. "We're not that bad. I'm sure Meredith does the same thing."

Anna shook her head. "No, Meredith is lucky. She was an only child."

"I was an only child too, once upon a time," Spencer told her. "Until this lot corrupted me."

"Oh, you've done your fare share of corrupting," Simon stated as he slid around the counter, two mugs in hand. "Here you go, Meredith," he said as he thrust one into her hands and then stumbled over to collapse at the table.

"Th-thanks," she managed to respond through her surprise. Derek's brother-in-law had given her coffee. Just because. She dipped her nose and inhaled the addictive scent wafting up from the warm mug. Derek's hand looped around her waist and his lips found purchase right above her ear.

"Good shower?" He asked quietly.

She smiled. "Probably warmer than yours."

"That was a cheap shot," he mumbled as he pressed his lips against the side of her head, causing her to laugh slightly.

"Sorry."

He sighed and inhaled deeply, breathing the fresh scent of lavender. It was always strongest after she had just showered. "Happy Thanksgiving," he whispered.

She smiled. "Happy Thanksgiving."

"This is so much better than last year."

"Derek, it's only the morning."

"And already it's better."

She shook her head.

"I'm serious."

"Because you're not working? And you're here?"

He shrugged. "Mostly because you're here."

She smiled and reached out for his hand, which she squeezed tightly when she found. "And you're here," she whispered back. It hadn't fully hit her until now, what Derek had tried to explain at the airport. She'd hard his words, but the level of anxiety she had been feeling at the time had prevented her from processing them. The previous Thanksgiving had been horrible. They had spent it together, but not together. And she hadn't had a whole hell of a lot to be thankful for.

But all that had changed. Even though the past year had been horrible and heartbreaking and exhausting, here she was a year later, with a hell of a lot to be thankful for. And most of it was because of the man standing right beside her, holding her hand.

"So, Meredith, are you up for a game?"

Meredith's eyes shot over towards Simon, who was looking expectantly her way. "I'm sorry, what?"

"Touch football. You up for a game?"

Meredith blinked. "Football."

"Yes."

She blinked again. "Like the sport?"

Kathleen laughed. "Don't tell me you've never played."

Meredith choked back a laugh and shook her head. "That would be a definite no."

"How can that be?" Spencer asked. "Football is an institution on Thanksgiving. How can you not ever have played it?"

Meredith shrugged. "I guess I've never really celebrated Thanksgiving before."

"Well, today, that all changes," Spencer announced. "You can be on my team. We always win."

"Not true, man," Mark called from his guarding position by the oven. "We took you down in oh-three."

Spencer snorted. "You cheated."

"You do what you gotta do. And we won."

"You did not."

"We did too..."

Carol shook her head. "Spencer, you claim we corrupted you, and yet you always seemed to be involved..."

Spencer laughed. "It's not my fault. They gang up on me."

Carol smiled affectionately at her youngest son-in-law. "What ever you say, dear."

000

An hour later, Meredith found herself outside on Carol's back lawn, swathed in a green jersey, with a strip of green material hanging from her waist like a tail, actually participating in a huddle. Spencer, true to his word, had ensured she was on his team, along with Kathleen and Anna. Derek, Simon, Nancy and Dean were dressed in red, and were engaged in a similar huddle across the large stretch of grass. Meredith hadn't been outside other than during the barbeque the night before, but in the sunlight, it was beautiful. A grassy hill dropped off lightly away from the house for several hundred feet, before levelling off onto an expansive, flat area they were now playing football on. There was a foresty bit in the near distance to the right, and to the left, a path led down a hill towards a small pond. Random trees and small groupings scattered the landscape. It was breathtaking, really. She couldn't imagine having grown up here.

"Why isn't Mark playing?" She questioned, suddenly concerned Mark was being left out, or was actively uninvolving himself in fear of being left out. It's what she would have done.

Kathleen snorted. "Mark doesn't play anymore. Not since he beat Spencer."

"Allegedly," Spencer cut in.

Kathleen rolled her eyes. "Fine, Mark hasn't played since he allegedly beat Spencer. Something about remaining undefeated. Although we all kind of think he prefers tending to the turkey, and it gives him an excuse to watch the parade with the kids without being made fun of."

Meredith laughed. "Okay, so the point is to wait for you to say hut, get the ball and run past the other team?" They had gone over the rules with her in the kitchen before making their way down the hill to the field, but she just wanted to clarify things before she made an ass out of herself.

Spencer nodded. "Yes. You need to try to get open, so run past the other team and catch the ball."

Meredith shook her head. "How will you be able to throw it to me?"

"You just run and look up."

"But if I'm moving...?"

Spencer laughed. "I threw junior varsity in college. I'll get the ball to you. You just worry about catching it."

Meredith wasn't sure what he meant, but she nodded. "Oh, I am, worried that is." They had practiced a few throws, and she had managed to catch a few, but they were all stationary and slow. And no one was trying to chase her down. "And I need to take these things," she reached around to pull a sliver of material from the belt around her waist, "From the other team."

Spencer nodded. "Yes. We don't tackle, because people get hurt. And we tried just touching, but people cheat..." He glared up at the house, where Mark was busy in the kitchen. "We implemented these after the two-thousand-three disaster."

Meredith laughed.

"You got it?"

She shrugged. "Only one way to find out, though, seriously, you'll regret having me on your team."

"Not a chance."

Meredith allowed Kathleen and Anna to position her between them, facing Simon, Dean and Derek. It Nancy stood back, behind her team-mates, as did Spencer. It seemed to Meredith that you faced off individually, which meant that all she had to do was get by one person. And her person appeared to be Dean, who she was told was rather clutzy. She could do this.

There was a pause, and then Spencer said some things that sounded like complete jibberish in Meredith's head, and then he said hut and she ran... right into Dean. She felt a whoosh of air rush out of her lungs as they collided. She reacted on instinct, spun, pulled the tag off his belt and ran. Sure enough, the ball was flying seamlessly through the air towards her. She slowed and raised her hand, the red band still wrapped around her fist and watched as the ball bounced right off her fingers.

"Damn it!" She exclaimed. "So close."

Derek approached her with barely contained laughter. "Mer, honey, that was very impressive, but you're only supposed to take the other teams tags if they have the ball."

Meredith paused and looked down at the length of red fabric in her hands. She glanced back up to see the other six also laughing at her. "But..." She looked to Spencer. "But you said to take them."

Spencer laughed. "You're right. I did. I didn't realize Derek wasn't properly educating you in sports. If the other team has the ball, you take these to stop them. It ends the play."

Meredith huffed and passed the strip of fabric back to Dean. "Well, you could have told me that before."

Before she knew it, they were lined up again, in the same order. This time, however, she didn't get past Dean. And Spencer never managed to throw the ball. And somehow, by the time she turned around, it was all over, and Nancy was holding the ball with a triumphant smirk.

"Okay, so now I try to get the tags?" She questioned as she lined up again. She was now on the outside, but still facing Dean.

"Yes."

The first time the ball was thrown it hit the ground, only feet in front of Derek, who had gotten past his sister untagged.

The second time Nancy sent her team away from her, Dean pulled a similar move she had, and got past her. Meredith turned and raced after him, and successfully pulled the red fabric from his belt once again. As she slowed, she caught a flash in the air above her before something solid slammed into her torso. Reacting instinctively, she staggered backwards and was surprised find herself clutching at the ball. She blinked, and then smiled. "I caught it!" She exclaimed as she looked up to see her team-mates yelling at her. They were motioning for her to run. She blinked again and took a step forward, right as a familiar form crashed into her.

"Good catch," Derek whispered as he kissed her cheek.

"Wha-" she cut off when she felt his hands at her back, pulling the tag off of her belt.

"Derek!" Kathleen criticised with a light smack on her brother's head. "No distracting our team-mate."

Derek smirked and pulled his arms away from Meredith, triumphantly holding her green tag up in his hand.

"I don't understand..."

Kathleen rolled her eyes at her brother and snatched the fabric back from him. "Put this back on," she told Meredith, as she passed it back to her. "Derek's being an ass."

"I still don't understand."

Kathleen smiled. "You're supposed to run when you catch the ball."

Meredith nodded. "But Nancy threw it, for the other team."

"But you intercepted. That gets us the ball back. Any time you catch the ball, you run."

"Oh..." She trailed off and glared at Derek. "So you ruined my first chance to score a point?"

"It's actually seven points," he corrected.

"That's even worse."

He smirked. "Not my fault I'm better than you."

"Oh, it's on, Shepherd."

Apparently having caught the ball meant it was back to her team again. After several valid attempts, Simon managed to intercept the ball and get halfway across the field before Anna caught up and pulled the tag from his belt.

"Okay, we're really close to their end-zone," Spencer said, as they had a quick team meeting. "So we need to get the ball back."

Meredith nodded and lined up. Derek smirked at her from his position one over, facing Kathleen. Meredith glared back with sudden determination. When Dean charged her, he barely got past her before she had ripped out his tag. And Simon had gotten past Anna, but Meredith was already on her way. She managed to cut in front of his trajectory, pause and pray as the ball flew through the air towards them. Simon had obviously misjudged the distance, because he had gone too far and was backtracking now. Meredith only had to take a few steps to the right... and suddenly she was reaching up and the ball was in her hands. She only hesitated long enough for a heartbeat before she was running towards the opposite end of the field, Simon on her trail. She was pretty sure she could out run Simon long enough to reach her end-zone when Derek's hurrying form swept into her periphery. She shortened her stride, closed her eyes and ducked to the left right as she was almost at him. There was no impact. She heard an oompf behind her, but she was still on her feet, and her team-mates were screaming. She ran freely through the invisible line between the spikes marking her end-zone.

She laughed out loud as she slowed and turned in time to see Derek and Simon sprawled out on the grass together.

"Meredith!" Anna called as she ran into her. "That was awesome!"

Meredith laughed and returned the hug. Soon Kathleen joined them. And then Spencer.

"What did I tell you, Meredith? You're a natural!" Spencer exclaimed.

Kathleen was near tears. "Oh, Meredith. I wished you'd seen it." She motioned to where her husband and her brother were now still sitting on the ground, shaking their heads, as Nancy stood over then, hands on her hips, yelling. "They didn't see each other. Derek ran right into Simon. Took them both out..." She trailed off in laughter. "God, I wish we had that on tape."

Meredith, now free from her group hug, collapsed onto the grass beside Derek, smirking. "We won," she panted as she struggled to catch her breath after her exertion.

He glared at her. "You didn't win. You just got the first points."

"What? That didn't mean we win?" Spencer shook his head. "Crap," she panted. "I don't think I can do that again."

Kathleen laughed as she collapsed beside Meredith. "Come on, girl, how much cardio do you do?"

Meredith blinked. "What?" Anna and Spencer joined the movement of sitting down for a break, and were soon following by Nancy and Dean, creating a lopsided circle.

"Cardio." Kathleen prompted. "How much do you do?"

"Like... exercise?"

Derek snorted. "Are you kidding? She doesn't exercise."

"Shut up," she told him, swiping at his chest.

He laughed and caught her hand.

"You have to do something," Nancy said.

Meredith shook her head. "Not really. I tried running...once..." She shook her head. "It didn't end well."

"Then you must not eat to keep a form like that."

Derek snorted again. "Oh, she eats. She eats more than me."

"I do not!"

"Yes, you- Hey!" He exclaimed when she wrenched her hand out of his.

Kathleen rolled her eyes. "Regarding food," she glanced up at the house, and then back at her siblings, her eyes sparkling with conspiracy. "What are we going to do to Mark this year?" She turned to Meredith. "Did Derek tell you about our annual practical jokes on Mark?"

Meredith nodded. "Yeah, that you switch things; wine with cranberry juice, cranberry sauce with jam, gravy with chocolate syrup..."

"That wasn't out best idea," Anna mumbled. "Turkey and chocolate syrup..." She shook her head. "At least the kids liked it."

"Good, you're on board then," Kathleen nodded at Meredith. "So, what are we doing this year?" She glanced around.

"We could try to replace the timer again," Dean suggested.

"No, he doesn't let the thing out of his sight anymore," Anna countered.

"We could glue the cupboards shut," Spencer suggested.

"Yes, honey, cause my mother wouldn't mind at all..." Anna rolled her eyes.

"Do you have any of those child safety locks?" Meredith spoke up. All eyes were on her. She swallowed. "George, my roommate, old roommate, and I...we were going to lock the cupboards as a joke once, because our other roommate liked to bake at all hours...so we were going to trick her..."

"That's freaking brilliant," Nancy said. "There must be some around. We'll have to ask mom. What happened when you did it to your roommate?"

"Oh, well, we never... I mean, we were going to, but then...well, let's just say it was her therapy and she really needed to bake..." She knew she was getting rambly, and it was earning her a few odd looks. She took a breath, realizing she was avoiding for no reason. "Her, uh, her fiancé died. So, she really needed to be able to bake."

"That's horrible."

"Yeah, it was," Meredith agreed, suddenly realizing Derek had reclaimed her hand when he squeezed it. "He was a heart patient. And he had a transplant and was doing really well, and then had a stroke..." Memories of Izzy lying across the bathroom floor fluttered through her memory. It seemed so long ago, and yet it had been far less than a year.

"This isn't the same friend who yelled at you?" Anna asked.

"What?"

"When you two showed us your apartment, and your friend showed up and yelled because you beat her. Derek told us she had lost her fiancé, but that he'd left..."

Meredith shook her head. "No, different people."

"That's some bad luck," Spencer commented. "Any of your friend's actually get married?"

"George did," Meredith said with a shrug. "For a few months at least."

"A few months?"

"His dad died. And he was crushed. And he and his girlfriend went to Vegas and came back married. It didn't last long." Because he slept with the friend whose fiancé died, she thought wryly. She and her friends really did have confusing and intertwined love lives now that she thought about it.

"That's too bad."

"Yeah." She sighed as Derek squeezed her hand.

"Well, obviously you two will be the first with the happy ending," Anna said brightly.

Meredith bit her lip and blushed slightly as everyone smiled and Derek dropped her hand to shuffle closer and wrap his arm around her waist. "That's the plan," he said.

"Well, you got my vote, bro," Spencer spoke up. "She's one hell of a football player."

Meredith snorted. "I scored one touchdown thing."

"That's one more than anyone else. And you managed to tag one, and take out two, of the opposite team in one play. And that was freaking awesome."

"Wasn't awesome," Simon muttered. "Freaking painful is more like it."

Derek laughed. "Definitely going to hurt in the morning." He put his free hand to his ribs and winced slightly.

Meredith laughed. "You deserved it."

"Says who?"

She faced him, smirking. "Says me."

He chuckled and kissed her for several moments before she remembered that his sisters and brothers-in-law were right there. She pulled away and blushed again, but no one seemed to care.

"Meredith, I have to ask," Kathleen said, as she leaned in close, her gaze landing somewhere below Meredith's chin. "What's the pendant of?"

Meredith brought her hand unwittingly to the chain around her neck. It was long enough so that it was usually covered by her scrub top, and she rarely wore anything with low neck lines, so it was barely ever noticed. But today, with the simple tank top and zippered sweater, it was hanging in plain view. "Oh, it's, uh, a scalpel."

"A scalpel, really?" Anna crawled forward for a better look. "It is too. That's so cool. Where did you get it?"

Meredith smiled and leaned into the warmth beside her. "Derek," she said simply.

Anna sat back beside Spencer. "You got that for her?"

Derek nodded. "As a congrats for becoming a resident."

Anna's expression softened for several seconds. "That's so sweet." She turned to her husband and swiped a hand across his chest. "Why don't you ever do things like that for me?"

Spencer looked flustered. "I... do... I..." He trailed off and glared at Derek. "Thanks man, you're making me look bad." He turned back to his wife. "I give you lots of things."

She met his eyes with a mock glare.

He raised an eyebrow. "Lots of things," he continued. "Things that you really, really like..."

"Spencer!" She exclaimed as she shoved him away from her. "So inappropriate."

He smirked. "Inappropriate, maybe, but true."

Anna huffed and glared at her husband. She turned back to Meredith. "Have you chosen a specialty yet?"

Meredith shook her head, suddenly nervous. "No, not yet. I, uh, I'm trying but it's hard... to choose. Cause there's no going back. But I will... choose, that is. I will. Soon. Very soon..." She felt Derek exhale and pull her a little closer. He knew exactly why she was uneasy. Have you chosen a specialty yet? Cristina's already chosen Cardiothoracics You're waiting to be inspired? Are you freaking kidding me?

Anna laughed. "It's no rush, right? I didn't choose until the end of my second year." She shrugged, very nonchalant. Like it really wasn't a big deal.

Meredith breathed. "What did you choose?"

"General. I just really like the variety. And there's always room for improving techniques. Always new laparoscopic methods and less invasive ways. I guess I liked the challenge."

Meredith nodded. "I like general, for the same reasons, I guess. And I really like neuro," she didn't have to look at Derek to know he was smirking. She rolled her eyes. "And Mark is pushing me towards plastics..."

"Can't choose plastics over neuro," Derek stated. "Seriously."

Meredith laughed. "I just don't want to choose the wrong one for the wrong reason."

"So, you don't want to chose neuro, and have everyone assume it was because of Derek, and you don't want to not choose it just to avoid that problem."

Meredith nodded. "Exactly."

"Well, there's a simple solution, then," Anna said with a bright smile. "Choose general, then it'll give us something to talk about."

Meredith laughed. "Cause that wouldn't be for the wrong reasons..."

Anna shrugged. "It was worth a shot."

Meredith sighed. "Yeah. I like it, but I don't want people to think I was destined into it, or that I have some path to follow, just because of my mother."

"Who's your mother?"

"Ellis Grey."

Anna nearly choked. "Your mother is Ellis Grey? That is so cool. That is... wow! Ellis Grey. Wow. I..." She trailed off to collect her thoughts. Even Kathleen and Nancy looked interested; they may not be surgeons, but they knew the name. "Wow," Anna repeated. "I've read everything your mother ever wrote. She's amazing. I... I'd love to meet her..."

Meredith blinked and tried not to smile. "Well, I'd love to introduce you, but she died..." She said gently.

"Shit! Sorry. I knew that," Anna said quickly, looking apologetic. "I knew that, and I..." She sighed. "I'm sorry."

Meredith waved a hand. "It's no problem. It happens."

The conversation moved on to topics more interesting to the non surgeons of the group, who apparently held majority and were getting bored. It was well over an hour before Spencer suggested they get back to the game. Derek had peeled himself away from her and staggered to his feet before offering her a hand and pulling her up. She smiled as his hands came to her waist and she leaned into his warmth, hands automatically finding his shoulders and his hair as she kissed him. He held her tightly when she pulled back, resting his forehead against hers. Meredith closed her eyes and felt a shock of something new and unknown run through her body; not unlike the electricity bolts that normally wreaked havoc on her while she was in his arms, but stronger, and clearer, and more... familial or something. He evidently felt it to, because he tightened his grip on her and sighed. "I love you," he whispered.

Meredith didn't know what she was feeling, only that something had shifted, and she loved it. She had just spent an hour sitting on the ground, talking to his family. And now she was in his arms, as he whispered wonderful things to her. "I love you, too."

"Okay, lovebirds," Spencer's voice broke into her reverie. "We have a game to finish."

Derek laughed and glared at Spencer over her shoulder.

Spencer huffed and rolled his eyes. "Come on, Derek, let go of my little MVP."

Meredith laughed and kissed Derek once more; quick and light, like a habit. "Okay, Shepherd, I have to get back to helping kick your ass now."

"That's the spirit," Spencer said with a nod. "I'm telling you, Derek, I like this one."

"I do, too," Derek responded. "Most of the time, at least." He released her with a mock glare and she slowly slid her hands back down his chest. "You watch yourself, Grey, we won't be going easy on you anymore..."

"Is that a threat?"

He smirked. "When it's a threat, you'll know it..."

She laughed and followed Spencer to their side of the field for a quick round of strategizing.

They played uninterrupted for the better part of the next hour, Meredith going so far as to learn new plays, where she ran behind Spencer for the ball. And even managed to fake Derek out once by pretending to have the ball.

'You're a tease,' he had said when he caught up to her 'I thought that behaviour was reserved to the bedroom.'

'Derek!' she had exclaimed, even though she was sure no one had heard.

'Just speaking the truth.'

She had grumbled some form of answer, but laughed despite herself as his arms snaked around her. 'I'm having fun,' she had whispered.

He had smiled brightly towards her, going so far as to lift her in his arms and spin them half way around a circle. 'Me, too,' he whispered. 'Me, too.'

The green team was solidly in the lead when Carol and the kids wandered down the hill, which evidently signalled the end of the adult only game.

"The parade is over," Carol called as the kids divvied themselves up in a fashion Meredith couldn't fathom. She was quickly introduced to Anna and Spencer's kids Kimberly and Spencer, jr, which was apparently a family name. Kimberly was almost five and quite happy just to be out with her cousins, while Spencer was only three and sat on the hill with his grandmother watching the game. And Meredith spotted Mark wandering down the hill to sit with Carol and little Spencer.

No one specifically told her, but Meredith immediately realized that the rules of the game had changed. The point now seemed to be to pass the ball off to a child as soon as possible. The kids made many successful plays that were 'missed' by the adults, and she took part in the cheering for both sides. She watched as Kathleen's youngest, Megan, get a hold of the ball, but only make it a few feet before her older cousins intercepted. After the third or forth attempt, the poor girl looked like she was near tears, but to her surprise, when Derek next got a hold of the ball, he passed it to his young niece, scooped her up and ran towards their end-zone, Megan laughing and screaming as she was sped past her cousins.

Meredith realized they were coming right for her, so she put up an act of trying to stop him. She chased after them, and managed to catch a hold of Derek's arm. He slowed and placed Megan on the ground. "Run, Megan!" He exclaimed as he released her and she ran as fast as her six year old legs would take her. Derek locked his arm around Meredith, as if to stop her from going after the young girl, and they watched together as she made it past the goal line.

"I did it!" She yelled and made a show of spiking the football to the ground and came running back towards her uncle.

Derek left her side and met Megan half way, scooping her up high into the air as her family cheered. "Touchdown!" He exclaimed animatedly as he spun her around.

"Touchdown!" Megan repeated.

Meredith's throat was sudden dry as she watched Derek interact with his niece. She'd seen him interact with young patients before, and she'd watched him over the past two days as he'd greeted and talked to his nieces and nephews, but this was... She breathed. This was him going out of his way to set up a good memory for one of them. This was... She swallowed hard, as her eyes welled under no effort from her. This was... She had a flash. A flash of a future. A flash of something she knew he wanted; of something she was unsure of. But for a moment, for a single, perfect, moment, she forgot to be afraid. And what she saw was... astounding. They could have that. They could have the perfect moments. She breathed and blinked her eyes dry as Derek came back towards her, a beaming Megan still in his arms.

"I did it!" Megan exclaimed.

Meredith smiled brightly at the young girl. "Great job, Megan. But you watch out next time, I almost caught you..."

Megan giggled in response. Derek set her down and she went racing off to her mother, while Derek turned and went back for the ball. Meredith breathed, realizing her moment had gone completely under everyone's radar. She breathed again. And suddenly she had a new perspective. Ellis Grey had surely never played touch football with Thatcher's family on Thanksgiving. Ellis Grey never had moments. But Meredith Grey definitely did.

Derek ran back with the ball, slowing for a quick kiss as he passed her and rejoined his team. Meredith felt that new feeling again and turned back to the game, realising it hadn't even been forty-eight hours since her mini panic attack in the airport. And now she was perfectly comfortable, out in a beautiful field surrounded by people who had mostly been strangers before she had come here. And yet, forty-eight hours after she felt like she was going to fall over from the effort of getting on the plane, she knew what it was like to have a family.

AN: I'm sure I've made some mistakes, but I think I've played touch football once, a very long time ago. So, if anyone has some insight, I'm happy to hear it. Also, I'm finally beginning to work backwards and catch up with my review responses. Thanks for the patience. Oh, and I'll give a shiny gold star to whoever catches the hidden reference to Dempsey movie...