Six Months Later: Christmas Day

"Connor! Give your sister her doll back!" Kathleen yelled as her youngest two children disappeared up the stairs of Carolyn's New York home. Sighing loudly, she walked through the living room only to dodge her older children playing with their cousins. She walked into the kitchen and collapsed onto a stool snatching the glass of wine from Lauren's hand finishing off what was left in the glass.

"Ah Christmas in the Shepherd house" Lauren laughed and snatched her now empty glass back "And you say Amelia's the one who has the problem"

"No I swear we say that about Nancy" Amelia laughed nudging Lauren playfully. The five Shepherd girls including Meredith were doing their best to help their Mom cook Christmas dinner but sometimes they were just getting in the way. Derek, Alex, Mark, Nancy's husband Eric and Kathleen's husband Michael were smart and steered clear of the kitchen til it was time for dinner. They thought they'd be good and shovel the snow from the driveway and path as an extra little Christmas gift for Carolyn.

"Says the ex-drug addict neurosurgeon" Nancy snapped bitterly. She was never in a good mood at Christmas especially when she'd had a glass of wine or two.

"Says the woman who puts her hands in other women where no hands should go" Amelia shot back "Unless..."

"Amy please don't finish that sentence. For all our sakes" Lauren sighed with a laugh

"Agreed"

"Everything is almost ready so why don't you girls go round up all the kids and send Alex in here. I want to talk to him for a second" Carolyn insisted almost physically pushing the five girls out of the kitchen. Amelia quickly grabbed the bottle of wine on her way and followed her sisters out into the living room.

"You're in trouble..." Amelia sung as Lauren pulled on her coat and gloves. Glaring at her little sister, she silently told her to keep quiet.

"Uh Alex?" Lauren chuckled as she pulled her coat tight around her body and stood at the top of the porch stairs. Resting his shovel against her car, he walked up to where Lauren stood and rubbed her arms to keep her warm. "My Mom wants to see you. I think she knows"

"She doesn't know because you took the ring off before we walked in the house this morning. You didn't want to lose it while you cooked" he smirked paying her out for her lame excuse she came up with that morning. It's not that she was ashamed; she just didn't know how to tell her family that she was engaged. This Christmas was to celebrate their Mom beating cancer not anything else.

"She must know because she wants to talk to you in the kitchen alone"

"Will you please calm down?"

"Stay away from the stove"

"Relax. She likes me remember?" he chuckled and kissed her quickly before going inside. Staying outside, Lauren sat down on the top step almost fearing what her Mom was saying to Alex.

Mark noticed Lauren sitting there and joined her laying his shovel against the banister "Are you ok? Shouldn't you be inside? Staying warm while we suffer out here?" he chuckled

"I'm ok" she smiled weakly and pulled off her gloves. Reaching to behind her neck, she unclasped her necklace and set it down in her lap. Pulling off her engagement ring, she slipped it onto her finger before putting her necklace back on "I'm getting married by the way"

"You're getting married? Lauren that's great. Congratulations"

"Thanks. Sorry you lost your shot with me. I guess you'll just have to settle with four out of six Shepherd women if you count Addison when she was married to Derek"

"Um ouch" Mark laughed and pushed Lauren gently "I will just be forever pining over you and Meredith. The two that got away..."

"Oh I think you'll survive" she chuckled

"Are you happy Lauren? Y'know with Alex?"

"Yeah I am and you will be too one day. Just try and stick to one woman though. More just gets a little messy" Lauren laughed and kissed Mark on the cheek before standing up "You're gonna be a great husband and a great dad too"

"Yeah right..."

"Just have a little faith Mark"

"Faith huh?"

"Trust me"

Thoughts?

The End!

What did you guys think of the story? I loved writing it and reading all your amazing reviews. I'd love to write another story but am so stumped for ideas. If you want a sequel definitely let me know what you'd like in it. You guys were great readers and reviewers. Thankyou all

xx

Maxcs