A/N: Sorry I haven't updated. I've had a rough couple of days. I've also been fighting with my parents so this afternoon I went out with my mom just so we can spend some time together. We went and painted pottery!! I also had to get Halloween decorations. Why is there no new Grey's tonight? ARGH!

Chapter 55: Happy Birthday – Part 1

It was coming up on Meredith's favorite time of year. School had finished and she didn't have to deal with the stress of helping the students study for exams or making up lesson plans every night. She was now on vacation, and her birthday was in a couple of days. Of course, Derek didn't have the same luxury of a summer vacation, but she was grateful that now when he had the day off, she could spend time with him instead of being at school.

Derek asked her over and over again what she wanted to do for her birthday and what she wanted as a gift and she answered over and over again that there was nothing she specifically wanted, or wanted to do, except to be with him. After realizing that she wasn't going to cooperate, he took it upon himself to make plans to celebrate her birthday. He knew from experience that if a woman says she doesn't want anything it means she wanted something, and he knew exactly what he was going to do and what he was going to get her.

On the night before Meredith's birthday, Derek was at Meredith's house and they were just lying around watching movies. Derek was about to leave, and they were standing at the door.

"I have big plans for you tomorrow," Derek said, putting his jacket on.

"Really?" Meredith said, raising her eyebrows.

"Sure do. I'll be here in the morning. Early in the morning. So you better be ready."

"How early?"

"9 o'clock. I expect you to be dressed and ready to go."

"Ready to go where?"

"Breakfast. I'll see you tomorrow."

Derek opened the door, leaned over and gave Meredith a kiss and told her that he loved her and then left. Izzie and George were in the kitchen playing a board game. Meredith got a bottle of water from the fridge and sat down at the table with him.

"Do you have any idea what Derek's up to?"

Derek had told them exactly what was going on but had sworn them to secrecy and threatened to beat them up if they told Meredith anything. He could be very scary when he tried and he didn't want anything to ruin the surprises he had planned.

"Nope. No idea," they both answered shaking their heads.

"You are such liars. What is going on?"

"Nothing Mer. Want to play with us? We'll start a new game."

Meredith gave up her attempts to get any information out of Izzie and George and started to play Candyland with the two of them.

The next morning, Meredith's alarm clock went off at 8 so that she could be ready by the time Derek came to pick her up. She sat up in bed and rubbed her eyes and then went downstairs to see if George was awake yet. Izzie had told her that she had to be at the hospital in the morning but would be home at night to celebrate. George was sitting at the kitchen table eating a bowl of cereal and next to him was a huge vase of flowers.

"Where did those come from?" Meredith asked sleepily.

"They're for you. They were delivered like a half hour ago."

Meredith yawned and then took the card out of the flowers. They were identical to the ones that Derek had sent to her the Monday after they met at Cristina and Burke's wedding and had been delivered to her school.

Happy Birthday Meredith!!

I can't wait to spend the day with you.

I hope you enjoy everything I have planned.

I'll be there to pick you up soon.

Love, Derek

Meredith smiled after reading the note. She was a bit nervous about what Derek had in store for her but whatever it was, she was sure it would be great. She went upstairs and took a shower; blow dried her hair and got dressed. By the time she was done putting on makeup and getting ready, the doorbell rang. She went downstairs and opened the door and Derek was standing there with a bunch of Happy Birthday balloons.

"Happy Birthday," Derek said, with a huge smile.

"Thank you. Thank you for the balloons and the flowers."

Derek put the balloons down and gave her a hug and a kiss. They tied the balloons onto the banister and Meredith was about to go into the kitchen to pour herself a cup of coffee.

"Hey! Where do you think you're going?" Derek asked, pulling her back in front of him.

"Coffee. It's early. Since you made me get up at the butt crack of dawn on my birthday, I at least deserve a cup of coffee."

"Can you wait 20 minutes to get coffee at the restaurant?"

"Restaurant?"

"Yes, a restaurant. You know, the place you go and order food and they bring it to you and then you pay? We're going to go eat breakfast."

Meredith gave Derek the "Oh Please" look. He just laughed at her.

"That's a pretty cute face. Come on lets go."

Meredith just shook her head, got her purse and followed Derek out the door and got into his car. She loved that he was treating her like a princess today. When she was a little girl, she always believed that that was how she deserved to be treated by the man she loved. She didn't want to constantly spoiled, but every girl needs some pampering from time to time, and what better day than your birthday.

It took them about 20 minutes to get to the restaurant. Meredith thought it was going to be bigger and fancier, but it was a cozy little café that looked like a cottage. Everybody was so friendly and it seemed like the place was family owned.

They enjoyed their breakfast. Meredith ordered pancakes and the waitress brought it with candles in it. They finished eating and Derek paid the bill and they got up to leave the restaurant.

"Thank you for breakfast."

"The day's just getting started," he said, leading her to car, and heading off to their next activity.

BIRTHDAY DAY IS TO BE CONTINUED…

A/N: Hope you all like it. Lot's more birthday stuff to come. I'm not exactly sure when Mer's b-day is but I decided for my story now is good. More tomorrow. REVIEW!!!