Chapter 24: Happily Ever After
"I'll bet you're excited to get out of here." George asked Meredith as he handed her another discharge paper to sign.
Meredith scribbled her signature for what felt like the hundredth time that morning. "Definitely." She waited for George to put the next form down and repeated the process, before continuing. "You know, you and Callie didn't have to move out. We could have figured something out."
George quickly shook his head. "It was time. I mean… we're having a baby. It's time for us to settle and lay down some roots of our own."
Meredith nodded but still couldn't help feeling a little guilty. "I just feel bad, like I'm kicking you out. I know how close you guys have become with Alex and Izzie, and it's just…."
"Meredith stop. It's not like we're moving across town or anything. We'll be right next door. I don't want to miss one more minute of yours or Carwyn's life. This way she can come and see Uncle George whenever she feels like it. Now quit stalling and finish your paperwork so we can get you two out of here."
Meredith shut her mouth and diligently obeyed. She remarked to herself at how much George matured and grown in the last five years. He was an amazing doctor and she noticed what a loving husband he was to Callie. His boyish awkwardness was gone for the most part, only sneaking out to reveal itself when they would talk about the past and reminisce on the good times.
She also thought that she was glad Mrs. Johnson next door had agreed to sub-lease her house out while she moved across country to be with her sick daughter in Florida. Things were working out perfectly. Carwyn was being discharged at the same time and they'd get to go home together. She talked to Dr. Burke about resuming her internship at Seattle Grace and he more than happily obliged. They agreed she could start in three weeks if she passed her physical and mental exams. Her friends at the hospital pulled some strings and gotten Carwyn in at the daycare. Things seemed to be falling into place.
Her mind turned to Derek and immediately the butterflies began stirring in her stomach. Just as they did for the last two weeks since she'd woke from her coma with her memory back. She hadn't been alone with Derek since that day and their breath taking, toe curling, incredibly amazing kiss that left her satisfied and yet hungry for more. Her room was always swarming with people. Her friends constantly popping in to make sure she was all right. The one night she and Derek had finally found themselves alone, they had been interrupted by a 911 page and Derek had to hurry off to surgery. Meredith knew she was extremely lucky to have this second chance. She and Derek were starting over, and she couldn't help but feel like a teenager with a crush. Sometimes it felt so unreal to have such an amazing man doting over her and Carwyn making sure everyone was taking care of them and that they were receiving the VIP treatment.
Meredith tried to ignore the small feeling in the pit of her stomach that it couldn't be this simple. Nothing was easy for Meredith her whole life, especially where Derek was concerned. She couldn't help but feel a little nervous about what her future held. She didn't just have herself to worry about anymore. Now she had Carwyn to worry about and protect. But like she did every time the nagging feeling started to rise, she pushed it back down and put a smile on her face.
"Crap George! How many more things are there for me to sign? Am I going to have to repeat all this when I get Carwyn's discharge papers?"
George chuckled and laid down the last form. "This is it, your last one. And no, you won't have to do this for Carwyn because, umm, Dr. Shepherd is down there right now taking care of it. Anyways, she doesn't have nearly as many, she didn't have brain surgery."
Meredith could only nod. In the short time she had known Derek before, before the wife, before her pain, she always thought he'd make a good father. She couldn't believe just how right she was. Derek took to being a dad so naturally and comfortably it had left her speechless. She saw how quickly he and Carwyn bonded. Everyone could see how much they loved each other. Daddy and Daughter had filled missing pieces in each other they both never knew were there.
Tiny footsteps racing into her room snapped Meredith out of her thoughts. "Guess what Mama?! Daddy's taking us home today!" Carwyn rushed across the room and jumped up on the bed, throwing her arms around Meredith and planting a wet kiss on her mother's cheek.
Meredith laughed out loud at her youthful enthusiasm and turned just in time to watch Derek hurry in. "Carwyn, you have to stop running off like that." He crossed the room in two large steps and snatched Carwyn away from Meredith and threw her in the air, growling like a bear. Carwyn let out a loud shriek and collapsed in giggles as he sat her down on the floor and started tickling her. Meredith rolled her eyes. So much for discipline, Carwyn already had her daddy wrapped around her little finger.
"That's a pretty dress. Where'd you get it Carwyn?" Meredith asked concerned. She felt so guilty already, her friends were spoiling Carwyn with stickers, dolls, and books. She didn't want to be a charity case anymore. She felt she needed to prove to everyone that she was a capable mother and could take care of Carwyn on her own.
"Daddy got it for me! I love love love love it mama. I never had such a pretty dress before. Never." Carwyn had escaped her daddy's tickling and looked up at her mom with large blue eyes full of expression.
Meredith made eye contact with Derek for the first time since he entered the room. "You didn't have to do that." She quickly looked away from his intense stare.
"Sure, I did." He smiled and tilted his head to one side, trying to read Meredith's expression. "Carwyn looked at me with those pleading eyes and told me she's always wanted a purple dress with daisies on it. She even did the little lip thing. What choice did I have?" He continued to watch Meredith and went on carefully. "Besides," he said softly, "She's my daughter."
Meredith nodded and turned her full attention to Carwyn. Derek watched as she busied herself with one of Carwyn's ribbons. He couldn't dismiss the look of fear that had flashed across Meredith's face, a look he noticed on more than one occasion. He sighed inwardly. Derek knew he still had a lot of work to do before he completely received Meredith's trust. He understood that even though it had helped, saying I love you wasn't going to make their past disappear and fix it all.
"Hello hello little happy family!" Izzie walked in greeting the group in her usual cheerful voice. "Here ya go Meredith." She tossed a large brown paper bag at her, and Meredith slowly opened it curious to its contents.
"What's this Iz?" Meredith furrowed her brows then let a smile stretch across her face as she pulled out a worn pair of jeans and her beloved holey Dartmouth shirt.
Izzie beamed. "You asked me to bring you a change of clothes and I thought what better to make you feel more at home. I found them in an old box and washed them for you."
Meredith held the soft material up to her nose and inhaled the fresh flowery scent. "Thanks Iz." She couldn't help but laugh.
"Okay, Mer…" George spoke up. "You are now officially discharged. I know you're feeling great, better than ever, but please remember to take it easy. We can't wait to have Dr. Grey back here at work with us." George smiled at Meredith and then remembering Dr. Shepherd was watching, and he being the head neurologist on her case, George knew he didn't need to finish with the rest of the normal patient warnings. He slammed her chart shut and gathered the signed papers. "You guys have a good day. We'll see you later." He grabbed Izzie's arm and pulled her out of the room with him.
An awkward silence filled the room. Both Meredith and Derek watched as Carwyn twirled in the middle of the floor, admiring how her new dress whirled out at the bottom.
Derek clapped his hands together and was the first to speak. "Okay, well… how about… you get dressed Mer… and Carwyn and I will gather up all of the beautiful artwork off the walls and find a cart to take all this other stuff to the car." Derek gestured around the room to the numerous bouquets of flowers and plants that various people had sent.
Carwyn and Derek immediately got to work. Meredith watched only for a moment before grabbing the brown sack that held her clothes and hopping off the hospital bed, hurrying into the bathroom to change.
By the time Meredith emerged, fully dressed, and looking more beautiful than Derek could ever remember, they had gathered all the gifts on a large cart and a nurse was waiting with a wheelchair to escort them down to the lobby.
Derek immediately noticed Meredith's apprehension. "Can we have a moment?" Derek turned and asked the nurse quietly. The nurse immediately nodded and stepped outside the room, giving them their privacy.
Meredith was lost in her own thoughts and didn't look up until she noticed Derek standing right in front of her. Close enough that she could smell his intoxicating scent. She kept her eyes glued on Carwyn who stood by the gift cart smelling one of the white lilies.
"Mer." Derek said her name so tenderly it caused chills to run up and down her body. She folded her arms across her chest trying to remain guarded. Derek softly put his hand on her cheek and forced her to look up at him. "What's wrong?"
It took every ounce of Meredith's self-control to keep her tears in check. "I'm fine Derek." He kept his stare locked on her eyes and she knew he wasn't buying it. She also knew, unfortunately, that he was the one person on earth who could look into her eyes and see into her soul. It was useless trying to lie to Derek.
"Come on Meredith. I know something's wrong. Please just tell me." Derek's eyes held a gentle compassion that Meredith had never seen from anyone in her life.
"I'm scared." The tears won the small battle and slowly escaped down her cheeks.
Derek pulled her close to him and wrapped her in a protective embrace. He rested his chin carefully on the top of her head and rubbed her back. He let out a quiet breath of relief as he felt her soften in his arms and return his hug, wrapping her small arms around his waist.
"You don't have to be scared anymore Mer. I'm here and I'm never leaving."
Meredith struggled to find her voice. "How can you be so sure? How can you know Derek? It's never this easy. Something bad's going to happen, I just know it!"
"Meredith. Calm down." He pulled away a little and tilted her face up so she could look into his eyes. "This is where the happily ever after comes in. You have to have a little faith. I know that I messed up in the past, and I know that I don't deserve this chance. But Mer… please… I love you and I love Carwyn. And that's okay that you don't trust me yet. That's okay you haven't forgiven me completely. I plan to spend the rest of my life, every last day, proving to you how sorry I am … proving my love. Just give me a chance Mer. That's all I'm asking." Derek searched her eyes, begging with his own.
"It's not just me now Derek. Carwyn's involved now too and she's so little, and innocent. I will not see her hurt. It's not fair to her. It might be fun right now, here, being her hero at the hospital; but when we get home, reality's going to set in. Waking up in the middle of the night because she's had a bad dream. Cleaning up throw up out of the carpet when she gets sick. Going days on end with no sleep because she has a fever, and you don't know what's wrong with her. That's reality Derek. That's when it gets tough. And how do I know that when it does get tough, you're not going to decide this isn't what you want? That you're not going to leave? I don't think Carwyn will be able to take it. I know I won't be able to take it." Meredith's voice was barely audible by the time she finished speaking.
Derek's eyes were swimming with emotion. He cleared his throat and steadied his voice before he began. "Meredith, I am not leaving. I know you are scared, and this is unchartered territory for you. But I promise you. Through the good and the bad… I'm going to be here. I'm not going anywhere. I'm done. You're it for me." Derek's voice cracked a little and he took a moment to gain control over his emotions before continuing. "Meredith, I'm begging you. Pick me… Choose me…. Love me."
Meredith looked up at this amazing man saying these things to her. She knew they still had issues to work on, but there was no denying how much she loved him. There was no denying how much Carwyn loved him. Slowly a smile spread across her face and Derek couldn't help but mirror it on his own. He lowered his face until his mouth was only inches from hers. "I love you, Meredith Grey."
She closed the distance a little more until their warm breath mixed together. "I love you, Derek Shepherd."
He couldn't stand it any longer and he grabbed her small face in his two large hands and forcefully met her soft lips with his. Derek felt his heart skip as she moved her hands up his chest, exploring the outline of his muscles with her fingers. He forced her mouth open and hungrily searched her mouth with his tongue. He didn't know how he had lived so long without her, without her taste in his mouth. This was what life was about. Kissing the woman you loved. He knew she would want to take things slow, but he couldn't help but let his mind wander to later, later when she would completely let him back into her life and they would consummate things.
"That was quite the speech Doctor. Very original." She giggled into his mouth, and he laughed back, deepening the kiss and pulling her body even closer to his.
"Daddy! Stop eating my mommy!" Derek and Meredith jumped apart and broke out in laughter when they saw Carwyn standing right next to them, with big wide eyes.
"I'm sorry Carwyn. I wasn't eating her. I promise Princess." Derek bent down and picked up his daughter bringing her up next to him and Meredith. "Are you ready to go?" Derek looked at Meredith when he asked his next question. "Ready to live happily ever after?"
Meredith's eyes were shining, and she answered truthfully. "Yes I am. Let's go."
Derek opened the door for her and found the nurse still waiting outside patiently. He helped Meredith carefully into the wheelchair and sat Carwyn softly on her lap. He motioned for the nurse to grab the cart with the gifts, and he got in his place behind the girls and started pushing the chair, heading for the elevator.
Derek's heart soared and he felt like a little boy on Christmas morning, but this was so much better. He didn't know what, but he thought to himself that he must have done something right to deserve this second chance. This amazing incredible chance to live a life with the two most beautiful women in the world. The two women he loved more than life itself. He wasn't going to mess up this time. This was it. This was the beginning of the rest of his life.
The End! The sequel, "Keep Holding On" is coming soon