Carolyn Shepherd was nursing a cup of tea when her landline started ringing. She got up and answered the phone. "Hi?" She asked.

"Ma" , a voice she recognized well, said from the other line.

"Derek, it is so nice to finally hear from you, the last thing i knew was from Meredith that told me you where in the woods, what happened" she said worried.

Derek felt ashamed that her mother knew about the woods "well ma I …" he tried to explain but couldn't.

"Derek Christopher Shepherd i hope you haven't ruined anything with Meredith she seemed so worried when I called, it felt as if she was on the verge of tears" Carolyn said angry at her son.

"Well ma I almost ruined it, I'm not gonna lie, but that is not why I'm calling you" he said hoping he can cheer his mom with the news, but now knowing his mother kinda knew about the whole woods through Meredith it makes him feel more ashamed.

"What is it Derek" carolyn felt anxious

"Well ma Meredith and I are engaged" he said and couldn't help to stop the smile that was forming in his face.

"Oh my god Derek that's wonderful, I'm so happy for both of you" Carolyn said, completely happy with the news her son just gave her. "You guys need to come for Christmas, Meredith needs to meet the whole family, when is the wedding? Do you have a date? Venue? She asked worried.

"Mom calm down, we just got engaged yesterday and we haven't have time to discuss all of it, but when we do know something you'll be the first to know i promised and for Christmas im not sure ma i was planning on doing something special like a trip or something to redeem myself from what happen before when i was in the woods" he said

"Derek I'm not accepting a no for Christmas, you can leave for new years if you want but I'm putting my feet down for Christmas" Carolyn said in an authoritarian manner.

"Okay ma will see what we can do'' he said looking at the clock on his watch. "Ma i have to leave i have surgery in two hours and i still have a lot of paperwork to do"

"Okay son i love you and i'm so happy for you, send Meredith my congratulations too im so happy for both of you guys" carolyn said.

"Okay ma love you bye" Derek said.

Meredith was completing her patient's chart on the nurse station when two arms enveloped her torso.

"Mmm" she moaned when a kiss was planted on her neck.

"Hey" Derek said, smelling her hair.

"Hi" she responded, turning around in his arm and nuzzling on his neck.

They enveloped in a hug when they heard someone clearing his throat, they both end the hug and looked curiously at the chief who was watching the couple with a smile.

"I think Congratulations are in other, I'm so happy for both of you" he smiled.

"Thanks chief" they both replied.

The chief was about to leave the couple when.

"Chief" Derek said

The chief turned around waiting for shepherd to continue, while Meredith watched his fiance with curiosity.

"Can I talk to you later, we need to discuss somethings?" Derek asked and the chief nodded his head and continued his way.

"What do you have to ask the chief?" Meredith inquired to her fiancé.

"Well that's something you are going to find out after the surgery we are currently a bit late to so please doctor Grey lead the way." He said

She smiled at him and they both went to the OR hand in hand together.

….

At the scrub room Meredith was watching her engagement ring, she didn't know what to do with it.

Derek watched her, looked at the ring and then the OR.

"It's everything alright" he asked

"Yeah it's just I don't want to take it out, and what if I lose it?" She said worried now looking at him in the eyes.

"Well we must secure it then" he smiled while he took a silver chain he had on his neck, took her ring off and slid it through his chain, and now placed it around her neck, giving her a kiss at the back of her neck when it was secure.

"How does it feel, we can get you your own chain later." He said, turning her around and looking her in the eyes.

She smiled at him and kissed him leaving both of the breathless "it feels awesome its like i have a part of you also with me".

They smiled at each other and continued to rescrub.

….

The surgery went well, Derek let Meredith close and she assisted him the whole time, they are now scrubbing out.

"So…?" She asked

"So what?" He asked back not understanding where his fiancé was heading.

"Well you said after surgery i will find out about what where you gonna talk to the chief about" watching him finish scrubbing and leaning on the drain.

"Ahhh" he said in realization, he finish scrubbing and turned his body to hers "well how would you feel if we took a little trip for Christmas and new years" he said with a smile spreading on his face.

"I would love too, but Derek Christmas is in two weeks" she said worried

"Well that's why I have to talk to the chief today so i can get us both 3 weeks off" he said looking at her.

"What! 3 weeks Derek that's a lot for a trip" she said worried.

"Well that's because it's a two part trip now" he said worried she wouldn't like the idea.

"What do you mean now?" She watched him curiously.

"Well i called mum to tell her about the engagement, and now she insists on us going to spend Christmas in New York" he was prepared for the freak out his fiancé was about to have.

Meredith's face morphed into a worried expression "but…" was the only word that came out of her mouth for what Derek felt like and eternity.

"Derek i cannot do that your family will hate me" she said "some of them already do" she thought thinking back to when Nancy came and they well still in a weird limbo.

"Hey don't worry about it, ma already loves you and she is excited we are engaged" he said taking her in his arms.

"But, are you sure?" She said looking him in the eyes.

Derek saw the worry in them. "Yes I'm sure, let's make a deal. We arrived for Christmas. If you feel bad or not welcome or I see that you are uncomfortable, We will take the first plane to our next destination" he said, looking at her directly.

She dropped her eyes to the floor and murmured "okay"

He took her chin and lifted her face up, giving her a breathless kiss that made her moan, then he went to unclamped the chain out of her neck, taking the ring out of it and putting it back on her finger. "Thank you" he said while kissing the ring that was now back on her finger.

She smiled at his actions helping him with the chain. And giving him a peck. "So" she said, batting her eyelashes. "Where are you taking me on the second part of our trip?" She said.

He laughed "no that's for me to know and for you to be surprised, now let's go to the chief's office" he said taking her hand and guiding her out of the scrub room.

AN: so what you think of the story so far? Where do you think Derek is taking Meredith for the second part of the trip?You can leave suggestions in the comments.

Im stilldeciding if everything should go smooth sailing or not in NYC