Happy Shmappy

At the end of the day Addison was tired. Tired of avoiding the happy couple.

Bleech, she thought.

Happy Shmappy.

She wanted desperately to go home and sink into bed and sleep the bad day off.

She signed her last chart and headed towards the door.

Looking up she was caught off guard by Parker, hoping out of a taxi.

She smiled.

He turned and grinned at her.

"I missed you" He shrugged his shoulders.

Addison started to cry.

"Hey, hey, hey… not the reaction I was going for" parker was quick to embrace her.

"I'm sorry… It's just, everything" She sobbed into his chest.

"My ex is getting remarried… and I shouldn't care…" She couldn't bring herself to say it.

"But you do… I get that," Parker said, surprising Addie with his understanding. They stood quietly for a moment, Parker rubbing her arms as she regained her composure.

When she looked up at him, some of her pain disappeared.

"It is good to see you," She said.

"I have plans for you, are you up for it… I understand if you're not," He said, but his face was hopeful and as tired and defeated as she felt Addie couldn't disappoint him.

"Sure I'm up for it," She said and he leant down and gave her a quick kiss before leading her towards the parking lot.

"Where are we?" Addie asked, being lead into a darkened restaurant she had never seen before.

"One of my producers, has a cousin that owns this restaurant" Parker said, turning on the light, Addison looked around at the room.

Parker had filled it with what appeared to be Australian Memorabilia, posters of AC/DC, INXS and more, the Australian Flag hung from the roof, and large cut-outs of Australian film stars, including Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe, stood staring back at her.

"I thought I'd show you a little bit of me" He said, wrapping his arms around her from behind, she took in the massive effort he had gone too.

"How did you do all of this?" She asked.

"Friends in high places" He replied as he grabbed a small bouquet of unusual flowers from a nearby table.

"Now this was the hardest, all Australian Native flowers… but it had to be Australian… and you are worth the extra effort" He smiled handing them to her. Addison looked at the flowers overwhelmed at the effort Parker had gone to.

"This is too much" She said.

"I'm not worth it"

"That's why this is not enough, because you're more than worth it" He said softly, placing a hand under her chin to lift her head so she would look at him.

"I know you've been let down Addie… but you are worth it, believe me," He added, leaning in to kiss her.

"Now the menu, strictly Australian… entrée is Australian Crown Lamb, Main is Shrimp on the Barbie… I swear" He added as she laughed a little.

"All washed down with Australian wines... or beer if you like… then dessert is mixed, lamingtons, pavlova and Anzac biccies, I swear you are going to want to move to Australia when I'm done" He lead her to the table.

"I think I already do" She smiled as she sat.

"And while we wait some delicious chocolate bars" He held open a box filled with violet crumbles, Polly waffles and other Cadburys chocolates.

"I have no idea where to start, what are they?"
"Close your eyes and pick one," He said.

"You'll never look back".

So she did just that… and as she enjoyed her violet crumble, watching Parker as he selected music by Delta Goodrem she realised he was right, it was time to not look back.

First Impressions

"Do you want a drink?" Derek asked, seated on the aisle of the plane to New York.

Meredith shook her head.

"You're knocking back liquor?" He teased.

"Do you think it's a good idea I meet your family, half drunk" Meredith looked at him seriously.

He reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze.

"You've met my Mom… that should be the hard one… the mother in law" He smiled reassuringly.

"I'm not worried about your Mom… it's your 3 older sisters…"

"Don't listen to everything Lily said, it's difficult for her because she's their baby sister… half of it's in her head anyway" Derek tried to comfort her.

Meredith tried to smile.

"Seriously, Mer… when they see how happy I am they'll be fine" He said, only half sure. He didn't want to scare Meredith but his sisters were daunting at times. He usually just laughed at them, but he could imagine for an outsider all three of then together would be very overwhelming.

"Get some sleep, you worked all night," He said as she closed her eyes and rested her head on his shoulder.

"We'll be there before you know it," He added, lightly brushing her leg with his hand.

Derek held Meredith's hand as they exited the plan. In the terminal they both looked around, Meredith spotted Derek's mother first, standing next to a tell dark headed lady, she presumed to be one of "The sisters" on a cell phone.

Rose came towards them, her warm smile easing Meredith's tension slightly.

She embraced Meredith first.

"Good to see you Meredith" She said.

"You to Rose" Meredith returned the hug.

"And my boy" She stood back and smiled at Derek before he wrapped his arms around you.

"Hey Ma" He said.

Derek looked over to where his sister stood.

"What's with her?" He asked watching her arguing on the phone.

"Lucy is having a small problem at work… malpractice" Rose whispered the last word.

Derek looked alarmed.

"Oh not her… one of her doctors… You know Lucy got a promotion, she's head of Paediatrics now" Rose said proudly, looping her arm through Derek and Meredith's arm she guided them towards Lucy, who was finishing her call.

"Hey Little Brother" She said.

And they hugged.

Standing back she looked at Meredith.

"You must be Meredith" She said, and gave her a quick smile.

"It's been ages" She looked back to Derek before Meredith could reply.

"What's so good about Seattle?"

"Meredith of course" Rose said, trying to shosh her daughter.

"The kids all miss you" Lucy said referring to Derek's nieces and nephews.

"And Aunt Addie" Lucy added. Meredith felt uncomfortable.

"Well when they're all a little older, we'll sit them down and explain how Uncle Derek caught Aunt Addie in bed with another Man, shall we Lucy" Derek shot back, in an effort to defend Meredith more than put Addison down.

"I was just saying" Lucy said.

"Well don't" Derek shot back quickly.

"Let's go get our bags" Derek reached his hand over to Meredith and leg her away.

"Good idea" Rose followed quickly with Lucy taking up the rear.

Meredith put her suitcase down in the room Rose had led them too. She looked around and admired the decorating. The Shepherd's apartment was certainly very plush.

Derek walked to her and took her in an embrace.

"Is she the hardest?" Meredith asked, looking up at him.

"Lucy? I'd like to say yes… but I'd be lying, Audrey is the eldest and she's probably the worst… honestly Mer, they will all be great; they're just hard to warm too. They're more like my father"

"Oh great so your father is going to be hard" She sighed, defeated.

Derek gave her a sympathetic smile.

"You have my Mom on your side, trust me she is the boss of this family, you'll be fine" He winked.

"And in the end, we go back to Seattle on Monday"
"Oh about that… I made some plans, spoke to Richard, we're staying till Wednesday, I booked a flight to New Hampshire… I want to visit Dartmouth" She looked at him.

"Okay" He smiled.

"I'd like that"

"See you're not the only one who can plan surprises, we'll go Monday and fly back here late Tuesday… ready to go home on Wednesday"

"Sounds well planned"

"We all have helpers" Meredith smiled secretively, referring to Lily.

"You ready? We should really go meet the others"

"As I'll ever be," She said, grabbing his hand, as if it was a lifeline and she was drowning.

"You'll be fine, and whatever happens, I'm on your side," He whispered in her ear as they made their way to the living area.

And three nannies

As they both entered the living room, Meredith stood back to take in the scene. Derek went and embraced a woman who Meredith assumed to be another sister, while Meredith looked at 7 children sprawled across the living area floor, two talking, 3 watching TV and 2 playing a board game.

"Mer" Derek called to her, snapping her out of it.

She walked over to him.

"Meredith, this is my sister Ava, and her husband Paul" Meredith extended her hand and greeted them both.

"You're a surgical intern?" Ava asked, her voice was soft and sweet.

Meredith nodded.

"I don't miss those days" Paul said and shook his head as if in sympathy.

"Paul is a Urologist, at Dads hospital, Ava..." Derek started.

"… Can speak for herself" She cut in on her brother.

"I'm a G.P. but I only work part time at my practise these days, those are our four, Samuel, Thomas, Paul Junior, and Ella" Ava pointed to the four children that belonged to her, all of them engrossed in their own activities.

"The other three are Lucy's, she's in the kitchen, but I hear you've already had the pleasure of meeting her" Ava teased, and her husband laughed in his drink.

"I have" Meredith said, ignoring their sarcasm.

"Please don't scare her off" Derek said.

"I just got this ring on her finger… there's another one to come and I don't want you 3 getting together and scaring her" He held Meredith's hand up to show his sister the ring.

"It's lovely Derek, I'm so pleased for you" She leant in and kissed her brothers cheek.

"And I'm not the one you need to lecture… it's Lucy and Audrey… but I suppose Lily has warned you about us all" Ava turned to Meredith again.

"She said a few things" Meredith smiled.

"That's our Lily… always thinks the world is against her" Ava shook her head, with a bit of sadness.

"Couldn't be further from the truth," She added.

"Where's Dad?" Derek looked around.

"He and Audrey are still at the hospital… I'm not certain they'll make it, you can imagine Mom is not pleased" Ava said as Rose entered the room.

"That's right, your mother is not pleased," She grumbled joining them.

"His only son brings his betrothed home and he can't put his scalpel down for five minutes…as for Audrey, I'm not sure what's keeping her" She huffed.

"Bit overwhelming for you?" She asked Meredith looking around the room.

"A little, I'm an only child"

"And there's still some missing… Audrey has five children…"

"… And three nannies" Paul popped in mockingly and Ava shushed him.

"Yes, they're home with their nanny, Her husband, David is in Spain on work, he's a Chemist…" Rose struggled to think.

"Lucy's husband Stephen is in the other room trying to program my TIVO… he's been working on it for the last few weeks"

"As a technician he makes a great cardiologist" Paul added in and Ava laughed a little at that joke.

"An only child, you're parents never wanted more" Ava asked Meredith.

"They separated when I was young"

"I'm sorry," She said and Meredith gave her a small smile.

"Meredith's mother is a renowned surgeon," Rose said.

Ava and Paul both looked at her with interest. Meredith looked to Derek for help, not wanting to discuss her mother. He shrugged slightly not knowing how to defuse the situation.

"My mother was… I mean is Ellis Grey"

"The Ellis Grey" Paul asked, obviously impressed.

"The Ellis Grey" Meredith nodded.

Paul and Ava began to discuss Ellis's work, Derek pulled Meredith aside.

"It's no big deal," He whispered. Meredith hated that everything came back to her mother.

He hugged her in support.

"The dinner was lovely Rose, thankyou" Meredith said as she helped collect the plates.

"You don't have to do that, you should get some sleep love" Rose said.

"You must be tired, Derek told me you worked over night lat night"

"I'm fine… your family is… they're all wonderful, you must be proud"

"Oh I am, it's a shame Tom didn't get home to meet you" Rose said looking at the clock which read 10.15pm

"I would have liked to meet him, he still works full time"

"Surgeons never die love, I'm not sure how anyone convince your mother to retire" Rose said, as she ran the taps to wash the plates.

Meredith was silent a moment.

"My mother isn't retired… well she is, but only because she's ill" Rose turned off the tap and locked at Meredith.

"She's in a home, she has Alzheimer's" Meredith said softly, Rose reached out her hand and touched Meredith's.

"I'm sorry, that must be hard" She said and turned back to the sink.

"It is… for her too, it's hard to watch her like that," Meredith said, helping with the drying.

And as if sensing Meredith's desire to not talk about it anymore, they cleaned the rest of the dinner plates in silence.

Derek opened the door to his parent's apartment, and Meredith walked in. They had spent the day touring New York. Meredith had been there many times before, but Derek was keen to show her his Manhattan, taking her to all his favourite spots.

"Tired?" He asked.

She nodded.

"But it was funny, how great is that pizza" She smiled.

"It is, isn't it" He replied walking around looking through doorways looking for his mother.

"I think we're alone" He looked at her and it was obvious what he had in mind.

He walked to the couch and they both sat down, he leant in and kissed her.

The front door opened.

"Derek, Meredith" Rose called.

Derek rolled his eyes.

"In here Mom" He called.

"How was your day?" She asked when she came in.

"It was fun" Meredith replied.

"I've just come from the hospital and your father has promised me he will be here tonight" Rose smiled as she sat down across form them.

"He got in late last night" Derek said.

"And left early… he had a patient with major complications… they paged him at 6… but he cannot wait to meet you Meredith, or to see you Derek" She added.

"I'll start dinner" Rose stood up and headed to the kitchen.

"Can I help you?" Meredith asked.

"No, no, continue what ever it was you were doing" Rose said naively.

Meredith and Derek just laughed.

The big meet

Meredith had changed before dinner that night, wanting to impress Derek's father. She stood in front of the mirror and looked at herself. She was wearing a sundress, unusual for her. Her hair was straightened and she wandered if she would make the right impression. She wasn't sure why but Tom Shepherd was the one she was most daunted by… and the one at the same time, she most wanted to meet.

Derek came back in the room.

"Dad's home, Mom is making him change… Audrey's here too… plus her eldest Daughter Chelsea, the rest are…"

"With the nanny" Meredith finished.

Derek came up behind her and rested his head on her shoulder and admired her reflection.

"You look lovely, why all the effort"

"I want your father to like me… and Audrey"

Derek pulled her around to look at him.

"They'll love you… because I love you" He kissed her neck and she giggled as a chill ran up her spine.

"You keep saying that, but I don't think Lucy was to impressed with me"

"She was fine, you're just nervous, Ava loved you," He said.

"Derek" Roses voice drifted through the door.

"We'd better go, hey I just thought of another thing I like about this dress"

What's that?" She asked starting for the door"

"Easy access under the dining room table" he said, lifting the skirt of the dress.

"Don't you dare," She laughed, slapping his hands away.

Meredith quietly ate her meal, trying hard not to spill anything on her dress. Derek, Audrey and Tom were involved in a conversation about the hospital where Derek had worked previously, and Tom and Audrey still practised at.

Rose gave Meredith an empathetic smile.

"Chelsea just started learning the clarinet, didn't you Chels?" She told Meredith.

Meredith looked at Chelsea who nodded.

"If you're finished your meal, you can go watch TV" She said and Chelsea scurried off, thankful to not be stuck with the adults any longer.

"She's a lovely kid… a tad quiet" Rose whispered the last bit, making eyes at Audrey.

Meredith acknowledged her with a small nod.

"...And they miss Addison terribly" Audrey added.

"They simply can not find a neo natal surgeon of her excellence" Audrey said.

Meredith looked at them, she felt uncomfortable, how could she measure up to Addison.

"Mum said you had complications with a kidney removal this week, went from laparoscopic to opening him up" Derek tried to ignore Audrey by addressing his father.

""Dr. Rogers, was so disappointed when Addie rang and said she was moving to Seattle, he…"

"Audrey, that's enough" Tom said firmly.

Audrey looked at him surprised.

"Less talk of Addison… and the hospital, we have a guest, a very important guest who would she be getting to know" Tom said, giving Meredith a warm smile.

"That's right" Rose said.

Derek put his hand on Meredith's leg under the table.

"What speciality are you considering Meredith?" Tom asked. Rose let out a small laugh.

"Always about the medicine" She shook her head, but it wasn't in anger. It was simply because she knew her husband so well.

"I'm really not sure Dr Shepherd," She said.

"Call me Tom"

"Well Tom, A few areas interest me…"

"She could go anyway, she's very talented" Derek injected proudly.

"I am partial to Neuro" She looked at Derek.

"Another brain surgeon" Tom gave her a grin.

"Perhaps" Meredith dabbed at her mouth with a napkin and returned his smile.

"Well you have time to decide… you could always consider Urology" He winked at her, and Meredith's worry of impressing him disappeared.

The group had moved to the sitting room where they were enjoying a coffee with some cake.

"I miss your chocolate cake Ma" Derek said, now on his fourth piece. She smiled at him.

"Well you should come home more often" Audrey said dryly.

"You mean come to New York more often"

"That's what I said"

"No you said home… my home is in Seattle," He said looking defiantly at his sister.

"You're going to split hairs with a psychiatrist?" She said, equally defiant.

"You won't psycho babble me sis, have I been away that long that you think you can" He looked at her.

"You're looking for me to slip in some way so you can pounce and say I belong in New York… or worse still I made a mistake not working things out with Addison" His voice was rising and Meredith felt more and more uncomfortable again.

"Or maybe you're just thinking that way" Audrey shot back and Derek laughed at her.

"That's enough you two" Tom stepped in, and the siblings just stared at each other.

"I apologise for these two" Tom said politely.

"You know Meredith, you seem awfully familiar, it must be your lovely smile," He said standing to pour a scotch.

"Perhaps you met her mother at a convention once" Rose suggested.

Tom turned to look at Meredith.

"You're mother is a surgeon?"
"She was… she's retired and travelling" Rose offered and gave Meredith a smile.

"What's her name?" Tom carried two drinks over and placed one in front of Derek.

"Ellis Grey" Meredith said and instantly Toms faced was filled with recognition.

"Of course"

"The Ellis Grey?" Audrey too, seemed impressed for the first time this evening.

Meredith nodded.

"I worked with her when I was advising on a case in Boston, she practically invented the abdominal laparotomy". He seemed to be telling Derek the last part and Derek nodded.

"You know my mother" Meredith asked surprised looking at Derek. He shrugged his shoulders letting her know he was unaware.

"Who doesn't… she was incredibly gifted, I didn't know her well personally, from memory I was amazed at her skills, but she was a very tough lady" Tom looked as if he was remembering her.

"She was a very tough mother" Meredith added, a little quieter.

Audrey looked at her interested.

"But she obviously had an influence on you" She said to Meredith.

"Don't analyse her" Derek jumped in.

"Why are you so defensive Derek, you sound like Lily assuming everything I say has a motive"?

"It usually does… and listen to you, critical of Lily when she's not even here" He defended his sister.

"Oh I'd forgotten, Lily's constant saviour and defender" Audrey rolled her eyes.

"I think it's time for me to take Chelsea home" She stood up and left the room.

"Derek" Rose looked at him harshly, and followed her daughter out.

"Don't upset your mother" Tom said, sipping his scotch.

Derek just shook his head and Meredith sat uneasily.

Hanover

Derek stood looking at the incoming, outgoing flights on the airport board. They were waiting for their flight to Hanover, for the impromptu trip to Dartmouth Meredith had planned.

"I just need to make a call," Meredith said.

"I need to go to bathroom, I'll be right back" Derek kissed her forehead lightly before walking away.

She smiled as she watched him away.

She quickly dialled Lily's number.

"Hi Meredith" Lily answered.

"Hi"

"You nervous yet?" Lily asked.

"I have butterflies"

"Well it's all fine at my end" Lily replied.

"Thanks again, for everything" Meredith said.

"My pleasure… I'll see you tomorrow" Lily hung up.

Meredith looked at her hand for a moment playing with her ring.

"That's our flight" Derek came up behind her as their flight was called over the PA.

"Let's go," She said extending her hand.

"What a day" Derek sat back on a chair on the balcony of their hotel room. He was exhausted. This time it had been Meredith's turn to take him around Hanover and the Dartmouth campus.

They had gone ice-skating, lunched overlooking the Connecticut River, visited the Hood Museum of Art and had Dinner at one of Meredith's favourite Bars from her College days.

"I just want to take you to the Orozco Murals in Baker's Library tomorrow morning" Meredith said, sipping at a glass of champagne.

"Can we sleep in?" He asked her, yawning.

"Nope, we have lunch plans" Meredith replied quickly.

"Hmmm, then we should get to bed" He gave her a naughty wink.

"Good idea" She agreed, and the two with renewed energy raced to the bedroom.

Meredith and Derek walked down the stairs of the Baker's Library.

"…During his visit, Orozco recognised that the blank walls in the Library's reserve book room were the perfect canvas for the "greatest work of his career", an impressive vision of civilization on the American continent. He proceeded to paint the walls with a series of twenty-four panels depicting American civilization from the Aztecs to the arrival of the white man." Derek read from a tourist book as they reached the floor.

He stood looking around the room.

"It's fascinating," He said.

"I used to come here to just be quiet… you know just think, people are so awe struck when they come in that it's just… quiet, silent even" Meredith walked around the room again, finally standing still she closed her eyes, shivering almost when Derek came up behind her and enveloped her in his embrace.

"I get that, College life certainly requires moments of silence sometimes" He said.

She turned to look up at him.

"I bought you here Derek because in my life there have been two important moments… the first when I realised Medicine was my calling… not just my mother's plan" She looked at him intensely.

"And I realised that here… at Dartmouth in my moments of silence". He smiled at her.

"The other moment was when I first met you… at Joes… but I didn't think a smoky bar would be all that appropriate" She gave him a cheeky grin and he looked back at her confused.

"I bought you here to ask you to marry me," She said softly.

His eyes widened and he shook his head slightly.

"What? Have you been asleep these past two weeks, I'm pretty sure I already asked you that and you said yes," He laughed a little as he spoke.

"No" she said.

"You said no" He was confused and he reached for her hand.

"You said yes," He said, feeling her ring.

"That's not what I meant, of course I said yes… I mean I bought you here to ask you to marry me today, here… outside in fact, I don't want to wait anymore, I've felt peace in two places in my life Derek… here…" She motioned to the room around them.

"And in your arms, I don't want to wait to be your wife".

"I'm confused," he said, hearing her but not fully understanding her.

"Lily helped me plan it all, she's here… so is your family, well your sisters, your Mom… and even your Dad got the time off… so your family's here, mine is too, well part of them..." Derek tilted his head to look at her.

"Lily is amazing she pulled all sorts of strings and Izzie and Christina are here… but only for like four hours, so I don't want to rush you… but I want to be your wife today… if you'll have me?" He looked at her as if she were insane.

"Are you kidding?" Meredith's heart began to beat faster.

"I will have you… I will marry you, in a heartbeat" He said pulling her into a deep, passionate kiss.

"I need to get ready" she pulled back.

"It's a simple dress, but I wanted to dress up, Lily has something for you too, did I tell you she's amazing" Meredith was racing her words, she couldn't contain her excitement.
"She is, isn't she" Derek agreed.

"Well, what next?" He asked.

"I'll meet you in an hour, on the lawns out front… Lily should call you any minute now with information" Meredith started to race away up the stairs.

Half way up she turned to look at him.

"See you at the alter Dr. Shepherd" She called back to him.

"See you at the alter Meredith Grey" He said and he grinned as he watched her run the rest of the stairs.

His phone rang.

"Perfect timing," He said as he held it to his ear.

"Meet me upstairs brother dearest, I have everything waiting for you" Lily said and hung up.

Derek, never happier raced up the stairs to get ready.

Vows

Derek stood at the front of the aisle that had been made by the chairs.

He was dressed in a simple white shirt, unbuttoned casually, with black pants. A small white Lillie in his pinhole.

His mother stood next to him, straightening his shirt.

"I can not believe you're here," he said.

"We wouldn't have missed it" Rose said.

"You look so handsome" She stood back and admired her son, and sniffed a little trying not to cry.

"Rose stop crying, it's a happy time" Tom said, handing his wife a handkerchief and putting his arm around her.

"I didn't take a day of work to watch you cry," He said, but he was only teasing her.

"Son, you make me very proud, she's a lovely girl" He said guiding Rose to her chair.

Derek looked over at Audrey and Lucy. They each gave him a half forced smile.

He laughed a little, amused.

"I had to invite them, didn't I?" Lily joined her brother, with Ava close by.

"Yes you did... You did real good Mush" He took her shoulders.

"She did, didn't she?" Ava agreed.

"I better go keep those two in line" Ava looked over to Audrey and Lucy.

"Derek, I'm so happy your heart is whole again" Ava rubber her brothers chest lightly. Before kissing his cheek.

"You need a best man?" Lily asked.

Derek smiled.

"You'll stand beside me?" Derek looked at his sister.

"As always" She said, through her tears.

"Where's George?" Derek asked her.

"Couldn't get Cristina, Izzie and him here… and I figured the sisters would be in fine mode with Meredith so I'd spare him" She joked.

The Celebrant coughed a little.

"Apparently the bride is ready and has requested we get this show on the road."

He pressed play on a CD.

The melodic sounds of "It's your love" filled the open air and from behind a wall, Meredith appeared with Izzie and Christina at her side.

Meredith was dressed in an ivory A-line, off the shoulder dress, her hair had light curls cascading around her face and over her shoulders and behind her ear was a white lillie.

She locked eyes with Derek and surprisingly overcome with emotion tears formed in her eyes.

"You're kidding right?" Christina whispered.

"You're going to cry," She muttered, but the emotion was overwhelming for her too as she rubbed at her eyes.

Better than I was, more than I am
And all of this happen by taking your hand
And who I am now is who I wanted to be
And now that we're together
I'm stronger than ever I'm happy and free

The three girls made their way up the aisle. As if guided Derek began to walk towards her, meeting her half way he extended his arm to her.

Meredith kissed Izzie and Christina lightly on the cheek before taking Derek's hand, they walked the rest of the aisle together.

"Welcome to the wedding of Derek and Meredith" The celebrant began.

"… And now to read a piece of her own writing, Derek's best person… and youngest sister Lily Shepherd" The Celebrants voice boomed.

Lily turned to face everyone, including a growing crowd of on lookers. She smiled at her mother, who gave her a warm grin filled with pride.

"I want to say firstly, Derek I am so immensely happy to be here, watching you begin your life again, I am so happy you have found Meredith… found love. And Meredith, I know you know this, I know you realise, but he is a true gem… and you, for making him so happy have me on your side for life." Lily took a shallow breath in as well.

She coughed a little.

"Love is merely a guide. An anchor to hold on too. A point to return to when you are lost. I have learnt this in my life" She read from a piece of paper.

"Love is a blessing, a moment in time when all can be frozen and you are simply able to experience joy… experience peace". She closed her eyes for a second, before looking down at the paper again.

"Finding someone to love, someone to journey through life with is life's great challenge. It is the reason we exist and when we do, it is the reason to exist" She folded the paper. And leant in and kissed them both on the cheek.

"And now, because Derek has been surprised, Meredith will say her vows first, allowing Derek a little time to prepare" The crowd laughed a little.

Meredith took a deep breath. She tried to stop her hands from shaking and Derek leant over and grabbed her hand in support.

"I thought I knew what I would say. I thought I would tell you I love you and I need you, and that would be enough" Her voice to was shaking with the emotion of the moment.

"But as I stand here, I realise it doesn't come close" She took a deep breath in again, looking around at their family.

"I have loved you from the first moment I saw you… I have believed in you from the first day I saw you working, I've been in awe of your skills, your compassion, the lengths you will go for your patients… for your friends, for your family… for me."

She rubbed his hands a little as he spoke.

"I love you Derek, I have never felt more at peace, more loved than I do right now" She said and Derek wanted to kiss her then and there.

"Are you ready?" The Celebrant asked Derek.

He too needed to take a deep breath, but he nodded.

"Meredith" He said, he looked at her and suddenly the emotion was overwhelming. Tears filled his eyes and he coughed a little. He regained his composure.

"I love you" He looked at her.

"I have loved you for what seems like forever, because I feel like my life began that night at Joe's. I went in there to drown my sorrows, and from no where my life was turned around" He squeezed her hand.

"You have been my friend when I went in the wrong direction, my supporter when I needed lifting and my lover… you have… and continue to be it all for me. Today is the beginning of our next stage… I will make my home in your heart… and you in mine" He said, lifting her hand to his chest.

Derek pushed the ring on her finger.

"… This I pledge" he said.

Meredith grabbed Derek's ring from Lily.

"With this ring I thee wed, I will love, honour, support and cherish you, this I pledge" She pushed the ring on his wedding finger.

"Well by the power vested in me by the State of New Hampshire I now pronounce you man and wife" He said, and before the words were out Derek and Meredith were kissing.

The crowd began to clap wildly.

"Okay Shepherd… Derek" Christina said, standing with Izzie and the happy couple who were holding hands. They were all enjoying champagne before heading to a lunch at a nearby Restaurant.

"Derek, I need to meet you father… I mean NEED," She said.

"That was the bargaining chip for me to give up my shift, that got me to where this dress… the promise of meeting Tom Shepherd top surgeon, where's that sister of yours, she promised" Christina said seriously looking around.

"I'm here, I'm here" Lily came up.

"I said you'd meet him and you will, let's go" Lily said, rolling her eyes at Derek over Christina's shoulders.

He laughed.

"She is seriously crazy" Derek said.

"Seriously" Izzie nodded.

"And you two, seriously…. God it's so…. Eeeeeeee" She squealed, embracing them both.

Meredith and Derek laughed.

"Dr. Shepherd" Derek said, Meredith smiled and Izzie squealed again.

"Should we get to this reception?" He asked.

"I think we should Dr. Shepherd" She looped her arm through his, kissing him softly.