Two
His cellphone vibrated silently on his hip. Picking it up he smiled as he saw the familiar name.
"Hey mom." Derek called out happily, "I'm glad you call."
"I just wanted to check see if you made any decision?" Carolyn Shepherd asked her son.
"Yes mom." Derek told her, "We've decided to go back east for the holidays."
"That's wonderful sweetheart." She said happily, "I'll look forward to meeting the intern."
"Her name is Meredith mom." Derek told her, "She's my girlfriend who I happen to be very much in love."
"Okay Meredith." Carolyn smiled at her son's change of voice, "Should I set up your old room? Or will you be staying at a hotel?"
"I don't know yet mom. I don't need to tell you to change the sheets."
"I am very happy your coming home. It's going to be a very merry Christmas."
"I'm glad to be coming home to mom. I miss you guys." He told her before hanging up the phone with a smile on his face.
-- --
They were both adults.
Meredith was certain that if they discussed their current problems rationally that they would reach a happy resolution. And then she shook her head as she remembered just exactly what she was trying to do.
Taking a deep breath she opened the residences locker room. It was thankfully empty except for the familiar dark curly hair of her best friend.
"Cristina," Meredith said as a way of greeting and pulled out the nearby chair.
"I don't need one of those emotional I'm sorry moments." She sneered looking over at her. Meredith simple nodded her head she had expected that reaction.
"Okay that's fine." Meredith told her, "I just wanted to tell you I won't be here starting tomorrow for a week."
"What McDreamy taking you on an island getaway?"
"Not quite." She laughed a little, "I'm meeting the Shepherd family."
"Didn't you get enough from his bitchy sister?"
"Derek says there not all like that." Meredith defended, "Besides isn't this what normal couples do? Meet each others family?"
"The last time I met a boyfriends family I almost walked down aisle."
"Was it really that bad?" Meredith asked her, "I mean we never talked about it but do you think you would have really hated being married to him?"
"He tried to change me Mer." Cristina answered standing up, "Have fun with at the Shepherd's. I'll see you when you get back." She said opening the door and walking out. Meredith stood up herself and walked out the door herself and in search of her boyfriend.
-- --
She had never actually met a boy-friends family. Over the years she successfully dogged that particular situation. But she suppose when the guy you were seeing was the guy you were going marry you had to meet his family. Even if she had absolutely nothing to wear.
With a look of disbelief she shook her head and called,
"Izzie!" She exclaimed calling out her roommate and the only other person currently in the house with her.
"What's happening?" Izzie questioned stopping in a halt as she looked with wide eyes at the disarray on her bed, "Is this everything you own?"
"I don't know what to pack, and of course this is everything I own." She took a deep breath, "I need help Izzie."
"It's going to be okay." Izzie promised her, "We just need a plan and a list." Izzie said reaching for a spare piece of paper, "So were going to need four categories: formal, casual, semi-casual, and lounge."
"Izzie I don't have all of that."
"Yes you do just trust me." Izzie ordered her, "Just seat down and pay attention."
Meredith followed her seating on the bed and watching in awe as Izzie pulled out and matched her clothes with ease.
"Do you and Alex have any plans for Christmas?"
"Not that I now of." She said shaking her head, and sighing deeply, "I know that you and Cristina are fighting. I do think you should try and have fun with Derek."
"Yeah well I think Derek wouldn't have it any other way." Shrugging her shoulders, "Izzie are you doing okay?"
"Of course." Izzie said suddenly, "Why would you ask something like that?"
"It's just that you've been…"
"I've been distant?" Izzie filled in for her, "But honestly I'm fine. You guys don't have to worry about a thing."
"Okay if you say so." Meredith told her standing up deciding to help with her own packing.
"I do say so." Izzie tells her, "So what did you get Derek for Christmas?"
"I don't know yet." Meredith replied honestly, "I have absolute no idea what you get the neurosurgeon who has everything?"
"Well good luck with that."
"Thanks a lot Iz."
-- --
"You know," Meredith, said later on that night as she and Derek settled in bed, "You haven't told me what you wanted for Christmas."
"I already have the best thing in the world Mer." He tells kissing her softly.
"Your such a sweet talker." She sighed laying her head on his chest. She would be able to figure something out of that she was sure. "I think Lexie and Mark are sleeping together." She said after a moment.
"What! But I…" Meredith turned to look at him. "Mark never could keep his hands to himself."
"I don't blame you. Lexie looks happy or whatever." She said, "Is it okay if I'm happy for her?"
"It's fine Mer. She's your sister you know."
"Half-sister." Meredith corrected, "Her life hasn't been all sunshine lately."
"You're a good sister Meredith." He told her.
"Not a very good friend though."
"What are you talking about? Cristina? This whole thing will brush over."
"She got the first solo surgery, and then it was taken from her. I would be mad too."
"By the time we get back in a week it will have blown over."
"I sure hope so." Meredith told him sadly.
"You haven't told me what you wanted for Christmas yet either." Derek teases her trying to get her mind off of her problems.
"You're the two million a year neurosurgeon you should be able to figure something out."
"I knew you were only with me for my money."
"Not just your money." Meredith told him as she shifted so that she was on her back and Derek was hovering above her body, "You have great hair and you do that bendy thing in the shower."
"I love you Meredith"
He said cupping her face in his hands. Brushing aside her hair so he can look at her better.
"I love you too Derek."
-- --
It was to early to get up especially when you had barely gotten any sleep the night before Mark Sloane decided as he hurried up the steps of his friends house. Who would have thought teaching could be so enjoyable? He was smiling as the door opened,
"I don't have wonder what has that smile on your face." Meredith told him standing in front of the door her arms folded across her chest.
"Grey…" He started as he watched her she was very upset.
"Don't Grey me Mark." She said, "Just try not to break her heart?"
"Derek was right about you." He said following her inside, "You're kind of scary when you get upset."
"Oh you haven't seen scary yet." Meredith told him firmly, "Close the door behind you. Izzie made some muffin's have some Derek should be down in a second." She said hurrying back upstairs.
"Is it Mark?" Derek questioned her pulling up his shoes.
"Yup." She smiled.
"Is still breathing?"
"Of course he is. I just gave him a little warning." Meredith defended herself.
"I'll just go make sure." Derek said standing up, "We have to hurry up get though security and everything."
"Yeah I know." Meredith said as he left her alone.
After making sure he was gone Meredith went into her closet and climbed on the stepladder to pull out a Derek's present. It was she realized going to be a very big surprise. She smiled as she packed it into her suitcase underneath the mountain of clothes Izzie helped her pack.
Checking her handbag she made sure she had her iPod, a book, and earplugs. Luckily she wouldn't get stuck behind a crying baby.
"Mer?" Izzie called from downstairs, "Your going to miss your flight."
"Okay I'm coming." Meredith said grabbing her handbag and her luggage. She smiled gratefully at Alex who carried the rolling bag downstairs for her, "Make sure the house is still standing."
Meredith told her roommates hugging them both goodbye.
"Don't worry about it Mer." Alex told her holding the door open for her.
"Yeah we won't let anything happen." Izzie promised her, "Just make sure you have a good time?"
"I promise." Meredith said with a wave.
With a quick look down the road to see if anyone else was coming she slid into the back seat of Mark's car.
"All set?" Derek asked her looking at her.
"Yes perfect." She said giving him a bright smile.
-- --
He really missed this place.
Derek decided as he saw the welcome sign to his small hometown. He could recall handful of happy memory's at ever stop. He was glad that it was still light out so that Meredith could see it.
"It look's so picturesque." Meredith said out loud as she saw the snow starting to fall and all the perfect little houses that filled the streets, "I bet it was a great place to grow up."
"Yes it was." Derek told her, "That's were my father had his practice." Derek pointed to medium size Victorian manor. That still read Shepherd Family Practice, "My sister Amanda still runs it and mom is a nurse there."
"Oh." Meredith sighed there was so much she had to remember, "Can we go over everything again?"
"Yeah go ahead."
"Okay so Kathleen is the oldest she's a psychologist in the City and she's married to Doug who's a chef?"
"Yes and how many kids?"
"Kathleen and Doug have two girls and a boy."
"And there names?"
"Rachel, Karen, and Michael?"
"Right good job. Next?"
"Nancy who's the OB/GYN, and she's married to Kevin the corporate lawyer. They have four kids two of each Rebecca, Lee, Anna, and Harry."
"Very good next?" He said turning onto a street.
"Next is Amanda she's the family doctor, and she's married to Cole the firefighter. They have one boy and three girls, Donna, Angelina, Nora, and William?"
"Yes and we are about to reach the house so there is one more." He said as they got to a large white house with black shutters and a red door. It looked like a typical and at the same time amazing house.
"Wow." She said, "This is a nice house."
"And will have plenty of time to look at it so…"
"Okay gosh this worse then the intern exam. Last but not least is Abigail and she is a cardiologist, and she happens to be your favorite sister, is married to Timothy a high school principle and they have two daughters and one son, Sara, Ashley and Edward. And then there is of course your mother the nurse Carolyn who is sure to hate me."
"She won't hate you Mer." Derek assured her taking her hand and kissing it gently.
"Come on we better get out of here." Meredith said pulling her hand away, "Your mom is probably waiting to get a good look at me from the window."
-- --
Author Note: The second chapter. Next chapter Meredith and Carolyn meet. It should be very interesting bringing I the rest of the family. I promise not to make Nancy too much of a McBitch.
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