A/N: Okay, so the next three chapters and wholly and totally fluff filled to round off this story with an end. I never really planned out this story, if you can't tell, unlike my other stories which have full on storylines already planned out to follow. I didn't want to just abandon this story though, so I hope you all enjoy the next three chapters of happiness and fluff. Thanks for reading! Also, I have another story ready to start posting and will do this once I have finished TMA. It will be M rated so read at your own risk. :)

Meredith looked out at the expanse of water, the wind gently playing through her hair and Derek's arm securely around her waist, securing her against him.

"I almost drowned once," she murmured, leaning her had against his shoulder and feeling his body slightly tense.

"When?" He asked, keeping his voice quiet as he pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

"My intern year," she started to explain, closing her eyes as the faded memory came back to her, "The first time my mother was lucid. There was a ferry boat crash. Cristina saw me fall and when she realised I hadn't come back up she jumped in after me, dragging me out the water. I owe my life to her. And to Bailey, and countless other doctors."

"Don't you know how to swim?" He asked, slight confusion in his voice as he knew she had taken Zola swimming on countless occasions, he had even been with them a few times.

"Yeah," she breathed out, her hand reaching to grip his hand, almost for support. His arm tightened around her as he realised exactly what she meant. "Anyway, that was the last time I was ever in a serious relationship, but I guess it wasn't that serious when he accuses you of not caring about him while you're having some sort of mental breakdown," she said with a hollow laugh.

"That's his loss, and my gain," he murmured softly, moving both arms around her now to hold her against him as she buried her face against his neck.

"Hmm, you're warm," she murmured, pressing a kiss against his neck as her arms returned his hug, over his shoulders.

He chuckled softly, pressing a kiss against her hair as he kept his secure hold on her, "I love you, Meredith Grey."

"I love you too, Derek Shepherd," she looked up at him with a wide grin and pushed herself up on to her tip toes, pressing her lips against his.

He returned her kiss with a couple more kisses of his own, not even realising the words that had left his mouth until he said them, "I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Marry me."

"That didn't sound like much of a question," she whispered, slightly shocked but amused at the same time.

"It wasn't a question. I want to spend the rest of my life with you," he murmured as he pressed another kiss to her lips.

"I want to spend the rest of my life with you too," she told him, a grin taking over her face.

His hand slipped into the pocket of his coat, pulling out a small, black velvet box and placing it in her hand, "This is for you, I know you probably won't wear it all the time and that's okay. I just want you to have it."

"Thank you," she grinned softly as she opened it, studying the ring it held, "It's beautiful." She slipped the small box into her coat pocket, but kept her hand wrapped around it, afraid to possibly lose it.

He pressed a kiss against the side of her head, his arms wrapping around her again as the wind started to pick up and the ferry approached the port, "Let's get back in the car, hm?"

"Good idea," she said, snuggling against his chest a moment before they made their way back to the car.

He parked the car in the driveway and looked over at Meredith, feeling her eyes on him, "What're you thinking about?"

"Did you still want to build that house for us?" She asked, reaching her hand to his with a gentle squeeze. When he nodded, she grinned softly, "Good, because I think it's time."

"Yeah?" He grinned softly, lifting her hand to his lips with a gentle kiss, "I'll call the contractor in the morning."

With a grin still on her face, she walked into the house, only to be greeted by their daughter who really should've been asleep by now. She crouched to lift Zola into her arms with a soft laugh, "What are you doing still up, Princess?"

"Mommy, I missed you," she murmured, burying her face against Meredith's neck.

Meredith's hand rubbed Zola's back gently as she looked to Maggie, "I'm here, Zo."

"She had a nightmare, she's been awake for the past half hour," Maggie explained, leaning against the door.

"Let's get you up to bed, baby girl," she murmured softly to Zola, "Thanks for watching her, Mags."

"Anytime, she's very well behaved," Maggie said with a smile and kissed the top of Zola's head on her way past to go upstairs, "Good night, Miss Zola."

Maggie went up the stairs just as Derek came into the house, and he gave Meredith a questioning look, but she just shook her head, still holding Zola close and rubbing her back as she comforted her, hoping for her to go back to sleep. He came over and pressed a kiss to the back of Zola's head, who turned to look at him but grumbled and buried herself back against Meredith sleepily.

"Go on up, I'll follow you in a minute. Do you want a drink?" Derek asked her.

"No, it's okay," she said, before taking Zola up the stairs and into their bedroom, somehow managing to get her jacket off and step out of her shoes while keeping hold of an unusually quiet Zola before climbing on to the bed with her, pulling the blanket around them both.

Zola was still awake after five minutes of sitting with her, and Meredith ran her fingers through her hair as she spoke gently, "Whats wrong, Zo?"

"Bad dream," Zola muttered, almost as though she was fighting sleep.

"I'm here now, baby, you can sleep now," Meredith soothed, her hand rubbing against Zola's back as she pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

"No, Mommy, no sleep," Zola protested, her eyes tearing up as she looked up at Meredith.

"You're safe with Mommy, Zola. I won't let anybody hurt you, okay? And Daddy will look after you too, he's going to build us a nice big house, and you can have your room however you want it, okay?" She spoke in a soft voice as she rocked Zola side to side gently, her thumbs gently wiping away her tears.

She looked up after a moment and saw Derek stood, leaning against the door frame as he watched them together and she motioned for him to join them. He smiled at her and took his shoes and jacket off before climbing onto the bed beside her and Zola turned to look at him, "Daddy build a house?"

"Daddy will build a house for you, Zola," he grinned as he held her small hand.

"Thank you, Daddy," she murmured, sleep heavy in her eyes now as she lay against Meredith.

"Anything for you, Zola," he told her, and he moved his arm around Meredith so he could hold them both close as Zola eventually fell asleep. Derek pressed a kiss to the side of Meredith's head as he spoke softly, not wanting to wake Zola again, "Do you want me to take her to bed?"

"No, I want to stay like this a little longer," Meredith murmured, settled back against Derek's chest as she held Zola close, her hand still lazily caressing Zola's back even though she was asleep now.

"I'm so glad I found you," he murmured softly after a moment and Meredith turned her head to grin up at him.

"I'm glad I found you too," she said as he lowered his lips to hers with a gentle kiss. "I'll take her to bed, she's still clinging on to me," she said with a soft laugh, nodding to Zola's hand that clutched her blouse.

"How do you feel about a bath?" He asked as he loosened his arms so she could easily get off the bed holding Zola steady.

"Good idea," she said with a smile still on her lips before leaving the room to get Zola settled into bed.

Derek climbed off the bed himself and went through to their adjoining bathroom, getting the bath started as he pulled off his clothes, dumping them in the laundry basket. He lit a few candles that were dotted around the room and turned off the water as it had filled enough of the tub before climbing in the hot water to wait for Meredith to return.

Just as he had sat in the water, she walked into the bathroom, her clothes already removed and grinned at him softly, "Hey."

"Hey," he grinned back and held his hand out for her to join him. She took and stepped into the bath, sitting in the water in front of him. His arms wrapped around her middle and pulled her back against him so that they lay together. He pressed a kiss to the top of her head with a soft murmur, "I love you."

She tilted her head back to look at him as she spoke, "I love you too." She turned a little in his arms then, pressing her lips against his in a deep kiss, hoping to convey all the love she felt for him, and her returned it, one hand sliding into her hair.

"Let me show you just how much I love you," he murmured against her lips as they kissed harder now, ready to give themselves completely to one another.