Today was a big day. Meredith had been up since four in the morning as they were preparing the house for Amelia's wedding. Amelia had spent the previous night at her house so she could help set up. Derek and Mark were outside setting the arch and things up with Lexie's instructions. It was a small wedding, just some people from the hospital and Owen's family.
"Are you nervous?" Meredith asked Amelia as she was putting the dishes away.
"Nervous is an understatement. I'm terrified, what if I mess it up Mer?" Amelia said honestly. She was putting flowers into the vases they had bought.
"You won't. I remember almost running away at my wedding. Cristina convinced me I was just freaking out for no reason. So I'll tell you what she told me. You may be broken but Owen loves you and will mend how broken you are."
"I know. We need to start getting ready," Amelia said as she looked at the time. You could tell how nervous she was by the way she spoke.
"You go upstairs, I'll get the girls," Meredith said. She went outside and told them what time it was. Her backyard had been transformed completely, chairs lined each side of the beautiful arch the guys had built. There were flowers everywhere and it looked right out of a magazine.
"Wow, you guys did great," Meredith noted.
"We put the flowers out mama, you like them?" Scarlett asked. She had her hair in rollers since the morning.
"We are almost done, Owen said he is on his way so we will start getting ready when he gets here," Derek informed her.
"Ok, girls let's go get your dresses on," Meredith said and the two followed her upstairs. April had arrived and was helping Amelia do her make-up. Scarlett and Zoe had already pulled their dresses on and Meredith started braiding Zoe's hair as Scarlett was unraveling the rollers from her hair which left them in large waves.
"Hey April, how's Jackson?" Meredith asked. She had tied the last piece of hair into a bun on Zoe's head. The girls both left the room to find Lexie.
"He's tired of being a stay-at home dad. Callie said once he is finished with his physical therapy he can return to surgery," April said. She had finished Amelia's make up and started her own.
"That's great news. I know Mark really misses him," Meredith chuckled. They called themselves the plastics posse. Meredith had pulled her hair into an updo and curled as few small pieces in her hair. She slid into her dress, glad it still fit. She felt like she was growing by the minute with the babies. Amelia's phone rang and she looked at it, getting up and walking to the bathroom. She came back and had tears in her eyes.
"What's wrong?" Meredith asked quickly.
"Ma just called to wish me luck and apologize. She said-" Amelia started before she started to cry, "she just said how beautiful I will be and how proud my dad would be."
Her cries turned into sobs. Meredith's heart broke, she never seen Amelia like that. She knew about her father and the shooting at the hospital really brought up those bad memories for her.
"I'm so sorry Amelia," Meredith couldn't help but hug her. She felt terrible and wasn't sure she could find words.
"I- I can't. I don't want to lose another man in my life," she sobbed.
"You won't, Owen will never leave," Meredith assured her. She knew how much Owen loved her.
"It's not that. I can't stop thinking about that man. He had a gun to my head. I was suppose to die. And then Derek-" she started and couldn't catch her breath, "Derek saved me again. He was going to take a bullet for me and I can't do that to anyone else."
"He what?" Meredith blinked, she wasn't sure what Amelia was saying.
"He told Mr. Clark to shoot him and save me," she sobbed. Meredith felt her blood pressure rise. She couldn't believe it, how arrogant he was. He was willing to give up everything in just a split second.
"I'll be back," Meredith said with anger in her voice. She caught him in the hallway, she pulled him into CJ's bedroom. If she was in a cartoon, you could see smoke coming from her ears.
"What's wrong?" He saw how angry she was.
"Why didn't Amelia just tell me you offered your life to a gunman?" Meredith spat. She saw his facial expression drop.
"Meredith you don't understand," she shook his head defensively.
"Why didn't you tell me!" Meredith shouted angrily. She slammed her hand on the desk that was in the room. She couldn't believe what Amelia had told her. It was 45 minutes until the ceremony began in her backyard.
"What was I suppose to say Meredith?" He replied.
"Oh I don't know. Hey Meredith, by the way, I offered my life to a gunman!" She shouted. She felt almost like she had been betrayed.
"He had a gun pointed at my sister, what was I suppose to say?" Derek furrowed his brows.
"I don't know but you don't offer your life," she spat before turning and rushing away before he could say another word. Her words twisted in her gut, unable to process that she could have lost another man that she loved so deeply. She couldn't let that ruin Amelia's big day.
"Mer! Can you please tell Amelia that everything is going to be fine," Lexie called from the master bedroom as came around the corner.
"Amelia Shepherd," Meredith started as she went into the room. Today was hectic and the ceremony hadn't even began yet. She had so much going through her mind. She was still raging from the fact the man she loved knew how terrified she was to lose someone she loved so deeply and he just went and offered to die.
"Meredith, I don't think I can do it," Amelia shook her head. She was almost in tears.
"We can run away right now," Meredith offered.
"No, I want to marry Owen. I really do, I just wish my mother or even one of my sisters cared enough to come," she began to cry.
"Hey, Carolyn loves you and you know if she was able to she would be here," Meredith didn't know what else to do but hug her. Carolyn had a knee replacement a couple months prior and wasn't cleared to fly yet.
"She has an excuse. My sister's are just bitches who only care about themselves," Amelia wiped away the tears as she breathed.
"I can't disagree," she laughed.
"I'm sorry for spilling about Derek. I thought he would have already told you," Amelia said.
"No, he didn't. And I don't want to think about that. Today is your day with Owen. No one else matter's," Meredith assured her.
"I agree. The weather is beautiful and no rain in sight so let's get this show on the road before Seattle decides to change their mind," Lexie laughed. She had finally started showing fully and her belly rounded out. She was in her third trimester now but they aren't telling anyone the gender. She said she wants it to be a surprise.
"Ok, I'm ready," Amelia said as she looked at herself in the mirror.
"You look beautiful Amelia," Meredith smiled at her.
"You ready?" Mark asked as he peaked his head through the door.
"Yeah," she smiled brightly. The three of them followed Mark to the kitchen where Scarlett, Zoe, Derek, CJ, and April. April was Owen's best man as she and him were really close.
"This is happening," Amelia breathed as she saw Owen standing at the alter from the window.
"It is, I'm going to let them know we are starting and sit down," Lexie said as she slid out the door. It was a minute before the music started playing, April and Meredith walked down the isle together, April stood next to Owen and Meredith went on the other side. The girls and CJ were the next, all three were smiling from ear to ear. The girls were so excited to be flower girls, that's all she heard about since they asked them.
The music stopped and everyone stood as the DJ started playing the tradition music. Meredith looked over at Owen, he had a tear in his eye and his smile showed no bounds. He was truly excited to marry Amelia. Meredith looked back in time to see her being escorted by Derek and Mark. She said they were both the two most important men in her life and she couldn't imagine walking down that isle with anyone but them. Derek was smiling, he looked as if he was going to cry himself. The rage still fueled in her, she couldn't just drop it. She couldn't let it go, that fact he was willing to give up everything so easily.
"Who here gives this woman to this man?" The man standing at the alter asked.
"We do," both Derek and Mark said. They each kissed her cheek and let go of her arm before going to their seats next to Lexie. Silence fell over the room as he began the ceremony.
"Dearly beloved, we are all gathered here on the glorious day in Seattle to witness the bond in holy matrimony between these two people. There is nothing greater in this world than finding the people with whom we feel safe, secure, and most ourselves. We search to find the person most accepting of our flaws; even the ones we try not to show until at least the 5th date. We search to find the person most encouraging of our dreams; even those crazy, impulsive ones that never get off the ground. But most of all, we search to find the person who loves us so unconditionally we simply can't do anything but believe it," he began, everyone looked in awe at the pair standing before them. They looked so in love, their hands connected as they breathed in each other and the words the officiant said.
"Owen and Amelia believe in their love today as do all of us who have gathered to witness their marriage. As they go forth into the next great chapter of life, they do so with confidence knowing that their search has come to a fruitful end. As they step into marriage, we ask that their families and friends continue to show their support just as you have done so by being here today. It is true, marriage is not always an easy path - but it is the most rewarding. The support of a loving community can make all the difference. So, when that first big fight comes, please pick up the phone. Offer a little guidance, and maybe some wine," he joked and a few laughed, "As Owen and Amelia exchange their vows today, they do so from a place of deep love and commitment. Although today has been lighthearted by nature, there is nothing they take more seriously than the opportunity to demonstrate their faith in the future for all of you to hear. Let's begin, Amelia you start us off."
"Owen, neither of us are perfect and neither of us will ever be perfect. But you can make you laugh at least once on a hard day, cause me to think twice of my actions, and you admit to being human and making mistakes. I promise to love you the most I can. I promise to not hurt you, change you, and I don't expect for more than you can give. I promise to Smile when you make me happy, yell when you make me mad, and miss you when you're not there. I promise to Love hard when there is love to be had. Because perfect guys don't exist, but you are perfect for me. I promise to be the best wife for you that I can be because you make me the happiest woman alive," she wiped the tears in her eyes as she spoke. She had a soft smile as she looked deeply into his eyes. He smiled, shaking his head slightly. Everyone including Meredith had tears streaming down their cheeks.
"I love you," he said to her, wiping his own tears.
"That was beautiful. Owen I understand you would like to speak now?" He asked. Owen nodded.
"I don't think I can top that but I can try," he joked, he squeezed her hands a bit and smiled as he looked at her.
"Amelia Frances Shepherd, I couldn't imagine how I could stand up here, in front of all our friends and family and just come up with some words to say to you. Because you make me speechless. Your look just make my mind blank and the only thing I can think of is you. I vow to make you happy, to make you laugh, and to always be there for you. You are the first person I want to see in the morning and the last at night. I look forward to loving the smallest moments, like your eyes lighting up when you talk about your nieces and nephews, the smile on your face after every successful surgery, and the smell of your hair when you put your arms around me and bury your face into my neck. You are my other half. You are the one that makes me laugh when I'm sad, makes me reconsider when I want to be rash, and finds me when I am lost. You are my guide, teacher, and one true love. I vow to make my life forever yours and build my dreams around you. I take you to be my wife and promise to look into your eyes just like I do now, with love and soulful amazement. I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you. I promise to be the man that I see now in your eyes, today, tomorrow, and for always," he breathed out after his long speech. Amelia now had full tears running down her cheeks as she just looked at him.
"Can I kiss him yet?" She chucked as she took a tissue that Meredith had in her hand and wiped her tears.
"Still a few more steps. That was amazing guys. I can speak for everyone when I say you two are truly beautiful and in love. Now it's time for the rings," he said as he took the rings from April and Meredith. He handed each other's rings to them as he instructed Amelia to place the ring on his finger.
"With this ring, I promise my eternal love and happiness to you," she said.
"And with this ring, I promise my eternal love and happiness to you," he smiled as he slid the ring on to her finger.
"Well there's no turning back now! By the power vested in me by the State of Washington, I now pronounce you spiritually and legally united. You may kiss!" He said and they embraced before their lips met. Everyone clapped and cheered, Meredith looked over at Derek who was looking at her. She wanted to yell and scream and cry. He looked apologetic at her but Meredith wasn't going to let it go that easily. He crossed a line, one she never imagined would exist.