Derek and Meredith were enjoying a Sunday away from the hospital. The day was warm and sunny and they were having a romantic picnic at the trailer, complete with a red checkered table cloth spread out on the ground by the lake. They had packed a basket full of food that Meredith could finally eat again. Both were happy and rested and content to spend the afternoon in each other's arms. A picture perfect couple they made, with he in his tan colored khaki shorts and blue shirt and she in a simple flowing white cotton dress that nearly reached her ankles. Currently they were trying to come to a compromise on baby names.

They had picked a spot underneath the shade of an old oak tree that looked out over the water. The sound of bees buzzing and the smell of nature and flowers made Meredith nostalgic as she sat in front of Derek, who had his back against the tree, his arms wrapped around her middle protectively. She looked out over the lake and took in the shiny, crystal water as the sun beamed down around them. She could have sat there forever. It was where she wanted to be and not for the first time in the last two months, reiterated to herself that this was exactly what she had envisioned her life with Derek to be like. As long as she was with him, she thought happily, she would have everything she ever wanted.

"So, what do you think of the name Georgia?" She tipped her head back and looked up at him. He leaned down and kissed her neck.

"As in the place?" He answered, knowing full well what she meant. "It's beautiful. I've been there a few times. Very nice." He continued to nibble on her neck.

"I mean, as in the name. If we have a girl." Meredith grinned.

"Georgia?" He pretended to think about it. "I don't know. What about Montana?" He countered.

"Are you serious?"

"It's a nice name."

'So, we'll put it on the list of possibilities then?" She arched her back against him and tilted her head, giving him access to her shoulder.

"If you want to." He answered, moving his lips down to her shoulder blade, as she squirmed beneath him. He knew that the way to her heart was through her neck and she loved that he knew exactly how to touch her, how to bring on those delicious shivers that made her want him again. "I think Montana Grey sounds very classy."

She sat up, confused. "Grey?" She turned around to face him. "Montana Grey?"

"It's a great name." He said mildly. He cleared his throat. "It flows well together, don't you think?"

"No. It doesn't." She was hurt—and there was no denying it. Did he not want the child to have his name? Was it a way of him still not cementing the relationship between them? Would they never get married? Meredith's emotions changed in an instant from total contentment to sheer sadness—again, one of the endless joys of pregnancy. She couldn't put into words exactly how hurt his statement had made her. "It sucks, Derek. It really sucks!"

Taken aback by her sudden change in mood, his eyes widened. "Well, it was just a suggestion. I like the name Montana—it's nice."

"Well, Montana Grey is a stupid name."

"Okay then." He nodded his head. "Montana is off the table."

"Good." She snapped, wiping away a tear from her eye.

"What did I say?" He asked carefully. "Mer, what just happened?"

"You know what you said."

"I think that I've upset you." He said slowly. "Actually, I know I've upset you and I don't know why." He reached out to hold her but she wouldn't have it.

She stood up and placed her hands on her hips and looked down at him sadly, and he at her, in bewilderment. "Grey?" She raised her hands in the air and then slapped them down at her sides. "Grey?" She shouted childishly. "Is this a way to keep us separate from you, Derek? Another way to keep us from being a family?"

And then it made sense to him. She was upset because she thought that he didn't want the child to have his last name—and she couldn't have been more wrong. He'd been afraid to tell her that he wanted his child to carry his name, and truth be told, that he wanted her to be his wife, not his girlfriend. He wanted the three of them to have his name. Alarmed, he jumped up from the blanket. "No! Meredith you're taking it all wrong!"

"Right. You want this baby to have my last name and Addison's baby is going to have your last name—how messed up is that!"

"Mer—"

"No!" She turned on her heel. "I find that insulting, Derek! Have you even thought about how that's going to work?" She fired off as she started to walk away. "I'll have the child that was conceived out of wed-lock and your ex-wife will have the child who was conceived out of marriage!"

Now she was upset—and she was starting to take him with her..

"Wait a minute!" He yelled, trotting after her. "Meredith! Just talk to me for a minute—you have it all wrong!"

"Really? Is that why you want Montana Grey? Not Montana Shepherd!" She stopped walking but her shoulders heaved, as she started to cry. She felt stupid for being so upset, especially when she knew deep down that he hadn't said it to hurt her. She was so confused, so drained sometimes it got the better of her. "Because–" She continued, now in a broken sob. "I think—that—Montana—Shepherd—sounded—good!"

He reached her and turned her around, clamping his arms on her shoulders, almost feeling like crying himself. "Meredith, look at me."

She sniffed and shook her head, eyes shut tight. "No."

"Look at me." He chided gently, reaching up with one hand to wipe one side of her face. "I need you to look at me." There was nothing he hated more than to see a woman cry—especially a woman that he loved more than life itself.

"I feel stupid." She muttered, and then hiccuped.

"You shouldn't. You're pregnant and emotional."

"I know that."

"So, can you open your eyes?"

"I don't want to."

He drew in a deep breath. "Meredith, I want to say something to you and I would like it if you'd open your eyes and looked at me."

She opened her eyes reluctantly.

"Thank you." He said. "Now, come back to the blanket with me." He instructed, grabbing her hand and walking with her. When he had her sitting down again, he took both hands in hers and kissed them.

"Do you want this child to have my last name?" He asked softly.

"Of course I do!" She choked. "Why would you—" He put a finger over her lips, silencing her, for he had far more to say than she knew, and he needed the moment to be right.

"Okay." He said. "I want you to listen to me, Meredith." He took his finger away and eyed her. "Can I talk and you listen?"

She wiped her eyes. "Okay."

"I want this child to have my name." He began. "I want us to be a family and in my mind we already are, because wherever you are, is my home. It's your decision if you want this baby to have your name or my name but I would prefer—" He arched his eyebrows. " to have all three of us have the same name."

"What are you saying?"

He leaned forward and kissed her lips gently. "What I'm saying is that we should all have the same name, don't you think?"

"But that would mean—"

"Exactly." He finished. "That we would have to get married."

She felt her heart soar in a way that she hadn't thought possible. "You mean you want us to get married?" She asked, shocked that he'd even suggest it.

"If you'll have me." He grinned. "I've been thinking about this since the moment that we got back together. It's always been you, Meredith. I would love it if you'd marry me, be my wife and live with me forever."

"Seriously!"

"Seriously."

"I'll have to think about that." She teased, a fresh course of tears making their way down her cheeks.

"Well—" He sat back and reached into the pocket of his shirt and brought out a small velvet box and held it in front of him. "Would this help?"

Her eyes bulged as she reached out and accepted the box, fingers trembling as she opened it and gasped. Inside, nestled safely in a bed of black satin was the most beautiful two karat white gold diamond that she had ever seen.

"You're serious!" She exclaimed, looking up at him. "You're really serious!"

"Marry me?"

"In a heartbeat!"