Chapter 43: Christmas Planning and Traditions

It's twelve days until Christmas and Meredith is nervously making her way to the Chief's office. When she gets there, she notices that he is alone inside - doing paperwork. The door is open, and she takes a deep breath before knocking on the doorframe.

He looks up and puts his pen down. Nodding toward a chair he says, "Come in, have a seat."

Meredith sits down and asks, "How are you?"

Webber grins and answers, "I'm fine. Great even. What can I do for you?"

She takes another deep breath and asks, "May I have Christmas day off?"

He grins and then laughs when she frowns at him. Finally, he asks, "Is this why you've been so nervous around me the past couple of days?"

"Yes," she answers, slightly sheepish. "I know how much you dislike special requests from Residents but," she hesitates and then shrugs her shoulders. "It's my first Christmas with Derek. Well, we were together last year but just barely. So, this will be our first year celebrating together. You don't have him scheduled to teach anything that day." she adds and looks at Webber hopefully.

He studies her for a few moments. When she doesn't flinch, or say another word, he states, "You've never made special requests for time off."

"No, I haven't." she agrees.

"I even recall having to force you to take vacation a couple of times."

"Yes," she nods and smiles as she realizes he's about to agree to her request.

"I have to admit that I'm impressed with - and appreciate - the professionalism you and Derek have shown at the hospital over the past six weeks. So, to answer your request, yes you can have Christmas off. Take the twenty-fourth, as well."

Meredith grins hugely and she has to force herself not to bounce in her seat like a fifth grader. "Thank you, Sir."

"You're welcome, Meredith. I know that I have always been hard on you, but you've always been like a daughter to Adele and me. We love you." the Chief answers with a grin of his own.

"I know, I love you guys too, and thank you!" Meredith says happily.

Meredith leaves the Chief's office and immediately calls Derek at home.

"Hi beautiful!" he answers on the third ring.

"Hi," she answers with a grin and an eye roll. "I have Christmas off."

"You do?" he asks and sounds just as excited as she feels. "That's great!"

"I have Christmas Eve off, too."

"That's excellent news. I promise you'll love Christmas this year, Mer."

"I will because I'll be spending it with you," she answers. And then groans, "Oh god."

"What?"

"I'm starting to say cheesy things. Just like you."

"So?"

"Yeah," she shrugs, "so what."

"Do you want to get a Christmas tree tonight?"

"We don't have to do that, Derek. I never get a tree."

"Never?"

"Never," she confirms.

"That's just sad and now my mind is made up," he states emphatically. "We're getting a tree."

"Okay," she relents with a giggle. "If you say so."

"I say so," he chuckles. "I love you."

"I love you, too. I'll be home in a few hours."


"Derek, are you sure about this?" Meredith asks as she parks the car in the Christmas tree lot that evening.

"Yes, I'm positive," he answers and opens his door to carefully get out.

Meredith comes around to his side and slips her hand through the crook of his arm. "I don't know anything about picking out a Christmas tree."

"Just pick one that you think looks nice."

"That's it?" she grumbles. "Pick one I like the look of? That's your advice?"

"Yep," he answers with a chuckle and a nod of his head. "It's not brain surgery, Mer."

"It certainly is not," she agrees. "I know how to do that."

"Come on, let's get a tree."

They are walking through the lot together and Meredith starts to relax. She realizes it really would be hard to mess this up. A few things suddenly occur to her and she pulls on Derek's arm to get him to stop.

"What?' he asks.

"Where are we putting this tree?"

He smiles, knowing she's thinking of him. He feels a strong surge of love for her because of it. "I was thinking in the bay window of the dining room."

"Okay," she says, "we'll push the table off to the side, but it'll still be out of the way."

"Yes."

"It'll have to be kind of a big tree to look nice in that window," she says, looking around her.

"Yes," he says again.

"Umm…" she says, feeling a little awkward, but knowing she has to ask the next question.

"We'll get a lot attendant to help put it on the car," Derek says, anticipating her concern. "And we're calling Mark when we leave so he can help at home."

"You've really thought this through," Meredith says softly and leans up to kiss him, soft and quick.

"I have," Derek answers. "It's our first Christmas together, Mer. I want it to be special."

"It'll be special regardless of whether we have a tree or not, Derek."

"I know, but you've never had one - which is just wrong. For me, well… having one feels normal. It makes me happy knowing it's there."

Meredith has a lump in her throat and tears in her eyes. She blinks rapidly to keep them from falling. Then she tugs on his arm and clears her throat to say, "Stop distracting me, Derek. I'm trying to pick us a Christmas tree."

He laughs and walks around the lot with her while she gets into the fun of picking a tree. An hour later he says, "Meredith, I'm sure you've looked at every tree on the lot."

"I think so," she laughs. "I just want to be sure I pick the best one."

They end up getting a seven-foot Douglas fir. The lot attendant does indeed tie it to the top of the car. On the drive home Meredith asks, "Will we decorate it tonight?"

"Of course," Derek answers, grinning at the excitement he hears in his darling wife's voice.

"Do you have all the decorations we need? Lights and bulbs and whatever?"

"Yes," he answers, laughing again. "We can get more if you want, though."

"Maybe, let's work with what we have first."

"You're excited now," he teases.

"Yeah, yeah," she laughs and takes his hand in hers again. She is indeed happy and excited about their first Christmas together.


"It's beautiful," Meredith whispers as she stands back and looks with watery eyes at their Christmas tree.

Derek wraps his arms around her from behind and replies, "Tell me."

Placing her hands over his and cuddling into his embrace, Meredith says, "It's colorful and - as goofy as this sounds - so festive. I'm glad Mark helped me string all the lights before you kicked him out."

"He was being a pain-in-the…"

"I like that the lights are multi-colored," she interrupts and giggles. "It's pretty when they're all white but this is more cheerful. And I feel like a dork saying that."

"Why?"

"I don't know," she answers on a sigh.

"Hmmm," he nuzzles her cheek and makes her giggle again - at the feel of his whiskers tickling her. "I smell the pine. Which to me always says Christmas. That plus cinnamon sticks in hot cider."

"That sounds good," Meredith replies. "Is that something your Mom did?"

"For as long as I can remember," he answers. "Didn't you have any sort of Christmas traditions?"

"I guess if you can call opening a couple of gifts quickly over breakfast a tradition - then yeah."

"Are you serious?" he asks carefully, after a few silent moments.

"Yes."

He squeezes her tightly, then turns her around to kiss her softly, sweetly. "From now on, you'll have Christmas traditions, Mer. So will our kids. I don't care if it does seem like a Hallmark movie - it's the way it should be."

"Okay," she answers with a lump in her throat and tears in her eyes. "So, the tree," she says and continues describing it to him in vivid detail.

Afterward they sit on the couch and drink hot apple cider with the fragrant cinnamon sticks. While cuddling, talking and listening to Christmas music.

"Derek?"

"Yeah?"

"What do you think of having a family dinner here on Christmas Eve? Then having Christmas Day just for us."

"I love that idea. We'll see if Mark and Cristina want to come, too."

"Definitely," she answers with a contented smile.


"What's wrong with you?"

Meredith looks up from the chart she is perusing to give Cristina a half-smile before answering, "Nothing is wrong with me."

"I don't believe you," Cristina states stubbornly. "You've seemed off all day." she continues and crosses her arms over her chest and glares at Meredith. Practically daring her to continue claiming nothing is wrong.

Meredith glances to where Derek is a little way down the hall and then whispers to Cristina, "It's something but not a big deal. Okay?"

Cristina looks between Meredith and Derek then raises her eyebrows and asks quietly, "Trouble in paradise?"

"No," Meredith gives a small laugh. "Meet me at the coffee cart in twenty minutes and I'll tell you."

"If you're going to do girl talk, you're buying the coffee."

"Fine." Meredith answers with a roll of her eyes and walks down the hall to Derek.

"What do you want?" Meredith asks as she and Cristina step up to the coffee cart at the same time.

"A mocha latte."

"Two mocha lattes and a cranberry orange muffin. Want one?" she asks Cristina.

"Sure, but I'll have the raspberry," Cristina answers.

They get their coffee and muffins and sit in chairs nearby.

"Okay, spill it, but make it quick because I have surgery in a half-hour."

"I suggested to Derek that we have dinner at our house on Christmas Eve."

Cristina laughs and says, "Now, you want to cancel but you can't."

"No, I don't want to cancel, but I am a little bit freaked out about it. I've never done anything like this and, well, it's Christmas so I don't want to screw it up."

"All right," Cristina says after finishing her muffin. "What does Derek say?"

"I haven't told Derek. I don't want to disappoint him."

"Well, I think you should tell him how you're feeling. Chances are - you're making it a bigger deal than it need to be."

"Maybe," Meredith concedes, sipping her coffee. "You're invited, by the way."

"That was a joyful invitation," Cristina snorts.

"Sorry," Meredith giggles. "Come over at six, if you can. We're having turkey and a bunch of other stuff."

"I'll bring booze," Cristina says as she stands up.

"Good idea. And Cristina?"

"Yeah?"

"You do just fine with the girl talk."

"Whatever," Cristina answers, but smiles as she walks away.