TWELVE IIIII

Motion Of The Ocean

WEDNESDAY

As Derek reversed into the parking space outside the supermarket, he smiled at his two passengers. Meredith, in the front seat next to him sat with her eyes closed, softly singing along to The Clash CD. Lucas was sat in his car seat sleeping, worn out by their day out at the zoo. Derek turned the key, cutting the power and watched Meredith open her eyes in the sudden silence. She turned her head to see an amused expression on his face.

"Thought you didn't like The Clash?"

"I don't." She replied emphatically.

"How do you know all the words then?"

"Through osmosis. It's the only CD you ever play. The words have sunk in. Against my better judgement."

Derek chuckled, as Meredith levered herself out of the car, he got out and picked up Luca from his car seat. Holding Luca in one arm he locked the car. Luca blearily opened his eyes and looked up at him

"Daddy?" he mumbled groggily "Home?"

"Hey Little Man," Derek replied gently, "We're at the store. Go to sleep Buddy."

Luca nodded, yawning widely before letting his head drop back onto Derek's shoulder.

They quickly made their way through the shop with Derek grumbling as usual about Meredith's choices.

"Fruit loops?" asked Derek watching Mer chuck a box in the trolley.

She shrugged. "It's the breakfast choice of champions." she said.

He shook his head as they reached the checkout, and passed Lucas to her so he could unload the trolley, pay and then pack the bags.

"I never used to spend this much on shopping" said Mer looking at the total on the till display.

"That's because when you went shopping you'd forget the groceries. You know fruit and vegetables. Those important staple parts of a healthy diet. You'd just get a trolley load of Ben and Jerry's." he smiled.

The cashier hid her smile by commenting "What a beautiful son. He looks so much like his father."

Derek opened his mouth to explain but Meredith cut him off "Yeah," she said smiling at Derek with a dreamy expression. "He really does." Derek smiled and continued packing.

Derek dropped Meredith back at the house, taking the shopping in first before taking Luca with him to pick up his parents from the airport.

Mer had just finished putting the cereal away in the larder when she heard a car pull up outside. She walked to the front door, and opened it. Fiona rushed out of the car and over to her flinging her arms around Meredith in a huge hug. Over Fiona's shoulder Meredith met Derek's eyes and smiled. She saw John take Luca from his car seat, the two engrossed in a conversation that they'd obviously been having on the journey home.

Later that evening Meredith and Fiona stood at the sink, Fiona washing and Meredith drying dishes whilst John and Derek took Luca to bed. Fiona steered their conversation from Luca towards the wedding.

"Excited yet?" Fiona asked the young woman.

"I'm actually at the petrified, am-I-really-getting-married-on-Friday? – stage." Meredith answered honestly, to which Fiona laughed.

"You sound just like I did on my wedding day. I was terrified."

"I just." Meredith started. "I've never done this before. Derek has. What.. what if it goes wrong?"

Fiona placed her hand on Meredith's arm and looked her in the eyes "Meredith, Derek wasn't in love with Addison the way he is with you. I mean when I speak to him on the phone he hardly ever says anything about himself, its just about how much he loves you and Luca."

"Seriously?"

"Seriously Meredith. Derek will be just as worried as you are. But you love each other you'll make it. I promise."

Upstairs the two men looked down at the sleeping 3 year old.

"Your mother and I are proud of you son." said John.

"You are?" asks Derek.

"Of course, you have a great career, you are respected by the medical community, and most importantly you have a great son and a great fiancé."

"I know. But.. I'm… Me and Mer.. what happened with Addison.. it won't happen this time will it?" Derek rambled her eyes not leaving Luca. "I'm so scared."

"Derek. Meredith isn't Addison. You love them right?"

"Of course. But what if it's not enough."

John put his hand on Derek's shoulder. "Love is always enough. If you love someone so much you can't breathe without them, then that's all you need, them and the love. What ever happens you can deal with because when it comes down to it, you love each other." Derek nodded.

"But.." Derek started before his Dad interrupted.

"Derek you aren't Mark. And Meredith isn't Addison." Derek nodded and they left the room closing the door silently behind them as not to wake Luca.

As they reached the bottom of the stairs Derek turned to his father. "Thanks Dad." John pulled him in for a manly hug, patting him on the back.

"Love her and you won't hurt her." he said. Derek nodded his understanding and they walked into the kitchen.

As Meredith and Derek led in bed, Derek's arms around her, facing each other, they looked into each others eyes.

"When I met you I felt like I was drowning. I couldn't see a future with anyone. But then I met you and Luca, and now. Now I couldn't imagine a life without you in it. I love you." he said.

"I love you too." she replied kissing him. He pulled back grinning dirtily.

"This is our last night together before we get married." he wiggled his eyebrows.

She smacked his shoulder "Derek we can't your parents are just down the hall."

"I'll just have to make sure you stay quiet then" he pressed his lips back to hers rolling on top of her careful of her large belly where their child was growing.

"You are a dirty dirty man Doctor Shepherd."

"I know. I just can't help myself." he grinned at her unashamedly, as he pulled his top off.

A/N: Ok, so one more before the wedding. God.. It's getting harder to write. I just.. I don't know. There's a suprise in the next chapter for both you and Derek. That's all I can say.

Just keep reading and reviewing thank you.

Take Care.