A/N: Thank you all so much for your amazing reviews, I'm glad you guys liked the proposal. Just a warning, the middle of this chapter gets a little porny, but this is the only one that will be like this for at least the next ten chapters, based on what I have written and outlined, so I'm going to keep the rating "T" for now. Anyway, enjoy the aftermath of the proposal, and let me know what you think!

Chapter 9

"So, who knew you were doing this?" Meredith looked up at Derek when they were about a block away from the restaurant. Derek smiled at her, but decided to answer honestly.

"Well, since you have my mom's ring, which is now yours, she knew. Cristina knew because I wanted to make sure you would like the ring and if you would even say yes. And then there's Mark and Addison, but that's it."

"Wait, you didn't think I'd say yes?" Meredith asked, and he could tell she was a little hurt.

"I hoped you would, and I thought you would," Derek answered Meredith honestly. "But I didn't want to push you into something you weren't ready for. I may be ready, but I'm also almost thirty. You're only twenty-two, and I couldn't imagine myself being married when I was your age. Then again, I didn't know you, or know anyone who I loved half as much as you, but still. I just wanted to wait until you were ready."

"I am ready Derek," Meredith said, but he could still see a trace of fear in her eyes. "But we don't have to get married right away, right? We can wait a little while?"

"We can wait as long as you want," Derek replied simply. "I just wanted to make sure I had you forever."

"Of course you have me forever," Meredith answered softly as they reached the restaurant. They made their way towards the back, where the conference room was. The doors were open, and about thirty people were milling around, mostly Derek's family with a few of Meredith's friends. Mark spotted the couple first, and made his way towards them.

"So," Mark began loudly. "Are any congratulations in order?" This grabbed the attention of the entire room, all conversation ceasing as the guests studied Meredith and Derek.

"Shut up Mark," Derek said as he rolled his eyes. Meredith on the other hand, smiled, nodding slightly as she shifted her hand that was holding Derek's, letting her ring become visible. Mark looked down, and then grinned up at Derek.

"She said yes man? Congratulations!" Mark pulled Derek into a hug as the rest of their family and friends crowded around them.

After Meredith had been hugged by just about everyone in the room, she headed over to the bar to grab a drink. Cristina and Izzie came up to her, Cristina's face expressionless while Izzie looked like she was going to faint from the excitement.

"So you said yes," Cristina stated. "I hope it wasn't a really cheesy proposal."

Meredith shook her head. "Not really. I mean, he took me to all of these spots around New York that mean something to us, which was really corny but also kind of cute. But he didn't get down on one knee, so that's good."

Cristina nodded her approval as Izzie sighed. "Aww Mer, that's so cute! Have you decided on anything yet? Have you had time? When exactly did he propose?"

"Iz," Meredith laughed. "He proposed about an hour ago, so we really haven't had time to plan anything yet."

"Oh, right," Izzie answered as she took a sip of her drink. The barman came over, and Cristina ordered three shots of tequila. She handed one to Meredith and one to Izzie.

"A celebratory drink. If anyone deserves to be drunk here, it's the future Mrs. Shepherd," Cristina said.

Meredith scrunched her nose when she heard the married name. "I think I'm going to keep my maiden name," she laughed as she knocked back the shot.

XXXXXX

An hour and a half later, Meredith and Cristina were still at the bar, both visibly drunk. They were chatting with Derek's sister Amelia, who was clearly enjoying the antics of drunk Meredith and Cristina.

"I can't believe you're marrying my brother," Amelia laughed. "I mean, you've basically been my sister for years, but I still can't believe it's actually happening. You could do so much better."

Meredith giggled at her, her eyes sparkling due to the combination of tequila and happiness. "Of course I'd marry him," she said, her voice slightly higher than usual because of the alcohol. She rolled her eyes at Amelia, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "I love him, duh. And he's been my boyfriend for three years. Plus he's practically perfect, I mean, have you seen him. He's got the hair and the eyes and the perfect words. Oh, and the sex is just fantastic! When he does the thing in the shower with the bending, he just-"

"Meredith!" Amelia shouted, interrupting Meredith. "I really don't need to hear about my brother like that. Or think about that. Ever. So please, for my sanity, keep it to yourself."

"Fine Amy," she sighed dramatically before letting out a small giggle. "But I don't think it's fair that you can tell me all about your sex life and I can't say anything about mine."

"If you had siblings, you would understand," Amelia patted Meredith on the back. "Now, I'm going to talk to Liz and her husband, I'll see you later."

"Bye Amy!" Meredith said to her retreating back before focusing on Cristina. "Do you want to hear about my amazing sex life?"

"Mer, you've already told me about McDreamy's many tricks, many times," Cristina answered, her speech a little slurred. "What I want to know is why you're still here. If I were you, I would be halfway home to have hot, dirty engagement sex. You've been here about a half hour too long."

Meredith looked thoughtful for a moment before answering. "You know what Cristina? You have a point. I'll see you tomorrow at lunch; I'm going to find Derek."

Finding Derek took a little longer than expected; she had to say goodbye to everyone she passed. By the time she stumbled to Derek, it had been a half hour. She could tell Derek was only a little less drunk than she was which meant that he would be willing to leave the party early.

"Mer!" he greeted her, sounding excited. She didn't respond, rather, she pulled his head down to hers and kissed him hard, her tongue quickly darting into his mouth before she pulled away, hearing Mark cough uncomfortably. "Take me for a ride Derek," she whispered seductively.

"Absolutely," Derek responded, pulling her to his mother so they could say goodbye quickly before exiting the restaurant and hailing a cab.

Twenty minutes later, Derek and Meredith stumbled into the apartment, their lips crashing together. She giggled as he pulled down the zipper of her dress while she kicked her shoes off, leaving them in the hall. Derek's shirt was thrown on the living room couch as they moved further into the apartment, finally reaching their room.

Derek expertly unhooked her bra, and his mouth immediately moved to her breast as his hand rubbed against her panties. She moaned pressing herself closer to him. She undid his belt and zipped up his pants, letting them pool at his feet. "Derek, please," she gasped.

"Soon," he promised as he walked them backwards and eased her onto the bed. He pulled her panties down as he moved his mouth back up to hers, kissing her hard. She gasped as he slipped his fingers inside of her, relishing in the fact that he knew just what to do to turn her on. She bucked against his fingers as the pressure built, and clenched around his fingers as pleasure flooded through her.

She felt Derek slowly kiss his way up and down her stomach, licking and sucking on her neck before finally reaching her face. He settled between her legs, and Meredith lifted her hips, signaling that she was ready for him. He pushed inside her slowly, taking his time to love her. His thrusts were slow and deep, creating an intense climax as they came together.

When they finished, Derek collapsed on top of her, burying his face in Meredith's neck as he caught his breath. Meredith was completely satisfied; she didn't think she could move, let alone speak. Derek shifted off of her a few moments later, but Meredith remained on her back, too sated and too tired to move. Derek moved to press his stomach against her side, draping his arm around her and pulling her as close to himself as she can. Meredith, having regained use of her hands, if nothing else, wraps them around his arm, her breathing slowly returning to normal as her eyes drift shut.

"Mer?" Derek whispers, his lips pressed against her hair.

"Hmm?" is the only response she can manage.

"I love you."

"Mhmmm," Meredith manages, knowing Derek gets it as he squeezes her tighter. She feels him kiss the top of her head just as she falls into a deep sleep.

XXXXXX

Meredith awoke first, shifting in Derek's arms in order to see the time. 10:30 Crap, Meredith thought. She had to meet Izzie and Cristina at noon before the two went back to Boston. She sat up, slowly moving out of bed to go shower when she felt Derek groan and move behind her.

Opening his eyes slowly, she watched Derek blink a few times before focusing on her. He gave her his best McDreamy smile before snaking one of his hands out from under the blanket, holding a lacy black bra.

"This is…" Derek began, holding it out for her and smirking

"Mine thank you," Meredith stated, grabbing it from him. "I need to go."

"Why don't you come back down here and finished where we left off?" Derek asked, cocking his head.

"Seriously I have to go," Meredith replied. "I'm going to be late, which isn't something I want to be because it's the last time I'm going to see Izzie and Cristina for at least six months."

Before Meredith knew what was going on, Derek grabbed her by the waist and pulled her down to him. She giggled loudly as Derek tickled her before he turned her around, lying on the bed facing each other. She laced their hands together as they stared at each other, lost in the other's gaze. After a moment, Derek leaned over and kissed her softly.

"We're engaged," he stated.

"We're engaged," Meredith repeated, kissing him again. "I love you."

"I love you too," Derek murmured into her mouth as he kissed her deeply. As his tongue parted her lips, Meredith moaned softly.

"Seriously Derek," she said against his lips. "I have to go."

"Seriously," Derek repeated, shifting so he was on top of her and kissing her harder. Thought had all but left Meredith's brain until she heard Mark speaking somewhere in the house.

"Mark…" she started before Derek silenced her.

"Ignore him," Derek growled, and Meredith whimpered her consent. However Mark just got louder, and she thought she had heard another voice too, but she was focused on Derek and what he was doing to her.

"So, the bathroom is right her, and to the left is the bedroom. It's a pretty decent size room-" Meredith heard Mark's booming voice as the door swung open.

Meredith shrieked in surprise, pushing Derek off of her and pulling the blanket up to her chin.

"What the hell Mark?" Derek shouted at his best friend. Meredith noticed that Mark wasn't alone; a shorter brown haired man was standing next to him, looking very uncomfortable.

"Sorry man, I didn't realize you were here. I thought you'd be apartment hunting or something," Mark said, being extra careful not to look at Meredith. Meredith knew that if he even glanced at her while she was naked, Derek would kill him.

"Why would I be apartment hunting?" Derek snapped.

"Um, I'm gonna go," the other man said awkwardly.

"Alright Weiss, I'll call you in a couple of days if you're still interested in the room," Mark answered, shaking Weiss' hand before exiting the apartment.

"Why am I apartment hunting Mark?" Derek repeated, still angry.

"Well, I thought you would be. I mean, you asked Grey to move in with you, and then you told me you planned on proposing, so I figured you were getting your own place. I probably shouldn't have assumed that you were moving out, but you never explicitly said that Meredith was going to be living with the both of us. Do you want me to call the guy and tell him you two are staying?"

Derek looked at Meredith questioningly. Meredith shrugged; she didn't really have an opinion. She had assumed she would be living with Derek and Mark when Derek asked her to move in with him, but there was something about the idea of living alone with him that made her excited, especially since they were getting married at some point.

"No," Derek sighed, looking away from Meredith. "It's fine. But you have to tell him he has to wait three weeks."

Mark smiled sheepishly. "Alright man." Mark turned to leave.

"Close the door," Derek called after him. "And learn to knock."

"Hey," Mark laughed back. "Maybe you should learn to lock it." As soon as Mark shut the door, Derek pulled Meredith into his arms, breathing her in.

"Sorry about that," he whispered into her ear. "I guess we're being evicted."

"Apparently," Meredith laughed. "Do you maybe want to start looking this afternoon? After I say goodbye to Cristina and Izzie that is."

"Sounds like a good idea," Derek replied, looking deep into her eyes. "Is this okay Mer? I mean, I figured we would live here for a little while at least, and I don't want to rush you."

"Derek, this is perfect," she said as she kissed him.