Two years later:
"Izzy, let's go!" Denny called from the bottom of the stairs. "I'm melting down here." He complained, pulling at the knot in his tie, which at the moment, he was sure was trying to strangle him.
"Just a sec." She shouted back. "I think it's in the bottom drawer."
"It's just a necklace!" He mumbled. But damn, it was hot outside and it would be the only day in the entire world that he was stuck wearing a black tuxedo—a heat magnet destined to make him sweat bullets and feel like he was going to pass out cold. Maybe he would, he thought with a half smile, then someone would have to douse him with cold water to take off the edge. Seattle had never seen a hotter day and probably never would again.
He paced around the front hallway, stopping to check his reflection in the hall-tree mirror. He was healthy looking, so healthy that no one would ever know the hell he'd gone through. But most of all he was happier than he'd ever thought he could be. And even though his wife was slower than molasses running up a hill, he loved her more now than he ever could have imagined. Married life suited him.
"Not bad." He complimented himself lightly. "Not bad at all." He checked his watch and sighed. They were definitely going to be late for the wedding. "Izzy–" He bellowed, this time louder. "Woman, you're gonna make us late for this thang!" His drawl became thicker when he was starting to get stressed—but he was a groomsman and she was a bridesmaid—and they were late! So, it was true that he'd had to drive her home to get her necklace that she claimed she couldn't go to the wedding without—and he'd promised the bride that he'd have her right back...but damn! They did not have time for this!
"I said I'm coming!" She yelled back. "Why don't you go get the car started." Hoping that he'd just shut up for five seconds while she found her matching earrings to go with the beautiful diamond necklace he'd given her.
He scoffed. "With no air conditioning! I don't think so! Just get yer gorgeous behind down those stairs!"
"There!" She appeared at the top of the stairs with the necklace on. "I told you I'd be quick!"
And even though she took his breath away in her pale blue gown, her hair done in a fancy pile on the top of her head, he shook his head and waved her down. "Come on!"
"Fine!" She huffed, jogging as quickly as her high heels allowed. He'd already swung open the front door and was eyeballing her. "Oh, wait" She stopped for a second on the last step. "I think I forgot the 'something borrowed' thing for—"
"Darlin–" He began in his thick drawl, even more pronounced. "I love ya, but I will pick you up and carry you over my shoulder if you don't hurry up!"
She sashayed by him and stuck out her tongue. "You're such a bossy man!"
"That's right." He agreed, shutting the door behind him and giving her a slap on the rear. "And you love it."
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As weddings went, it was lovely, although hot enough to fry bacon on the sidewalks, in Denny's opinion. He stood with George to his left and Derek to his right and gave Izzy, who was across from him a wink. Who ever would have thought that Preston and Cristina would have made it to the altar? But they had and today was a day for happiness and joy. He had to admit that Cristina looked beautiful in her long flowing gown the color of a pearl, her hair done up on top of her head, her eyes practically overflowing with tears. Denny had decided, after spending more time with Cristina, that she really wasn't as tough as she pretended to be. She just had a wonderfully sarcastic manner about her—even though it always his kind of humor, he'd long ago accepted her as she was—and they got along just fine.
Funny how good it made him feel as they were all standing up there together with the happy couple; Derek as best man, with a very pregnant Meredith across from him, he and Izzy, and George and Callie. Denny had never had such good friends in all his life. He'd become close with Preston especially from all of his hospital visits over those long hard months, and after he and Izzy had married he'd been surprised at just how quickly he'd been totally accepted into the group. He really had it all.
Just as Preston and Cristina had their first kiss as man and wife, a loud gasp from Meredith made them both turn around. "Meredith?" Cristina asked. "Are you okay?"
Derek rushed over to her side, noting the puddle at her feet.
"I'm sorry." Meredith stammered, looking out at the crowd and then back to the newlyweds, embarrassed and in pain. "I think it's time." She winced in pain as Derek started her down the steps of the dias, and suddenly turned to Denny and Izzy. "Can you guys—"
"Don't worry about it." Izzy finished for him. "We got it all covered."
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The dinner was wonderful and Preston and Cristina had opted to forgo the dance, as they were catching an early flight to Cancun, but they did have one dance together at the reception before they cut the cake. But as the night wore on Izzy began to get tired and feel half sick to her stomach. She put her hand on her husband's leg and leaned over and planted a kiss on his cheek.
"Let's go get Luke. He's probably exhausted."
"Ya. He's been running around here for hours." Denny agreed. "I almost forgot about him."
"Me to."
One of the younger guests, a cousin of Meredith's had been watching over him so that he didn't get lost in the din. Weddings and big events as such weren't exactly the best place for small children to get a lot of attention. The two and a half year old had outdone himself this time, Izzy noted, as she looked at him clad in his tuxedo pants and what used to be a white shirt, sprawled out across two chairs, one arm dangling over the side. His mouth was half open with a puddle of drool that had accumulated over the past hour.
"How much icecream did he have?" Izzy asked as she looked at Luke's face, which was mostly brown, even on the tip of his nose.
"A lot. He's been on a sugar high most of the day." The girl answered, standing up, probably happy to be able to join friends her own age instead of babysitting. "Do you need me anymore?" She asked.
"No." Izzy answered, handing the girl a twenty dollar bill. "Thanks for watching him today Lauren. It was a such a big help."
"Your welcome." She answered, then skipped away to join some of her friends.
Denny hefted the small brown haired boy over his shoulder and carried him to the car to buckle him into his seat.
Once home, Denny watched Izzy from the doorway of the bedroom and smiled as he watched her tuck the small boy into bed. "He's out like a light." He chuckled, as Izzy pulled up the covers around his neck and leaned down to kiss his rumpled hair.
"Ya. At least we won't have to answer any questions until the morning." She said, turning on the night light and walking toward him and taking his hand.
"You think he'll be happy when he hears what she had?" Denny asked as they walked toward their bedroom and began to get undressed.
"I'm sure he'll survive." She answered with a huge grin. "After-all he's going to be a big brother either way. He'll still get to be the boss." She slipped into one of his oversize t-shirts and got under the covers and laid her head on the pillow. "Leave the door open just in case he wakes up, Den." She said. "I don't want him to be scared.
As he climbed into bed, he had never felt so grateful in all his life—for he had everything he ever wanted and more—accept for one thing; A child–and since they hadn't talked about having a baby yet, he was hesitant, but spending so much time with Luke had made him want a son or daughter of his own.
"Babe, there's something I want to ask you." She began, rolling over and propping her head up against her hand.
"What?" He asked, as he settled back against the pillows and closing his eyes.
"Do you want to have kids?"
"Funny you should ask that." He said. "But the answer is yes. I do want to have kids."
"When?"
"Whenever you want to, I guess." He answered. "I love kids."
"Me too."
"So , why are you asking me?" He asked. "Do you want to start trying?" He asked hopefully.
"How about now?" She asked hesitantly.
"You want to try now?"
"I think we're past that stage." She said slowly.
His eyes opened and a grin spread across his face. He turned to her. "Are you saying what I think you're saying?"
She started to cry, as she nodded her head, a huge smile on her face. "You're gonna be a father and I'm going to be a mother!"
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The next morning after Izzy gave Luke a bath and fed him some breakfast, she and Denny took him to the hospital to see Derek and Meredith and the latest edition to the Shepherd household—which now stood directly on top of what used to be the trailer. Now, in it's place stood a two story colonial home, built from Meredith's dreams and Derek's reality.
The house that love built.
As they approached the maternity ward, Luke began to wiggle, demanding that Denny let him down so he could walk on his own. A very independent boy was he, having so much of his father in him. The miniature Derek Shepherd was very much like his mother in personality but had his father's looks.
As they walked down the hall, a very tired Derek stepped out of a room and came toward them, a huge smile on his face.
"Daddy!" Screamed the little boy, as he raced toward his father. "Daddy I missed you!" He flung himself into his fathers strong arms. Derek lifted him up and kissed his rosy cheek. "Hi buddy. Mommy and I missed you too."
When Denny and Izzy reached Derek, Denny reached out and shook his hand. "Congrats, man."
"Thanks." Derek grinned at Izzy, who reached over and gave him a big hug. "You did it again, doc. How 's she feeling?"
"She's doing great." He said, leading them into the room where Meredith was. Derek set Luke down so he could run over to the bed. "Mommy! Can you come home now?" He asked holding his hand up to her. She nodded at Derek, so he could hoist him up on the bed.
"Hey Mer----." Izzy began, but stopped when she saw what was in Meredith's arms. "You little rat!" She exclaimed, coming closer to the bed and giving Meredith a kiss on the cheek. "How come you never told us!" She sat down and ran her fingertip over the baby's cheek. "She's beautiful."
"Wow!" Denny laughed. "Well sir, I'd say that you've done pretty well for yourself."
"Daddy." Asked Luke. "Who's that?" He pointed to the pink bundle that Izzy was now holding.
"Well, this is your sister." Derek explained, sitting him down on the bed carefully. "Her name is Georgia."
"But who is that?" He pointed at the blue bundle that was in Meredith's arms. "I didn't want more than one."
Everyone laughed and Denny lifted Luke onto the bed so he could cuddle with his mother, who hugged him close and kissed him on the forehead.
"Buddy, that's your brother." Derek said, reaching over so Meredith could hand him the second baby. " And his name is Noah."
"You're a big brother now." Izzy said. "You get to help mommy and daddy with them because you're a big boy."
"Okay." He decided, snuggling against Meredith. "I guess they can stay."
Everyone laughed again. It had been a perfect morning.
And no one would have changed it for the world.