A/N: I will admit, I'm a little sad that this story is almost over. I hope you all have enjoyed the ride, and you'll enjoy the last official chapter as well. I know I left the end of the chapter kind of open, but all will be revealed in the epilogue. Once again, enjoy, and let me know what you think!

Chapter 44

"Well, don't you look adorable!" Derek said as he entered the playroom.

"Dada!" Charlotte said, looking up from her bear at her father.

"You look very pretty in your dress," Derek said, moving into the room.

"Up," Charlotte demanded, reaching her arms out.

"Alright, Daddy will carry you, but you are going to need to get used to walking," Derek laughed.

"Derek, leave her alone," Meredith scolded, walking into the playroom. "She just turned one, you can't expect her to walk miles."

"I know, but she's a very smart girl, I want to see how much she can do."

"You're an idiot," Meredith said rolling her eyes, but a smile lighting up her features.

"Mama," Charlotte said, continuing to babble as Meredith moved towards her husband and daughter.

"Hi baby girl," Meredith said, kissing her daughter on the cheek. "You look so dressed up for today; everybody is going to be looking at you." Meredith leaned in again, blowing a raspberry on her daughter's cheek and causing her to burst into giggles. Charlotte was wearing a dark green dress with white lace trim, and her blonde hair held a small green bow. The color brought out her eyes, and Meredith was always so thankful that Charlotte inherited Derek's eyes.

"Guess what we're going to do today princess?" Derek asked, bouncing Charlotte on his hip a little so she would turn to look at him. "First, we're going to go to the courthouse to finally change Mommy's name so it matches ours, and then we're going to get your picture taken with Santa, and when we finally come home, we're going to have a big party for you because it's your birthday, and you are a whole year old now!"

"Un!" Charlotte screeched with enthusiasm.

"That's right, you are one," Meredith responded. She looked down at her watch before glancing back up at Derek. "We have to get going now or we'll miss our appointment," Meredith said, reaching for her daughter.

"I can put her in the car seat Mer," Derek offered.

"No it's fine, I've got it," Meredith replied. "Plus, she makes less of a fuss when I do it."

"True," Derek chuckled, looking after his wife in awe as she left the playroom. She had been so amazing this past year. When she first went back to work after her maternity leave, she didn't want to leave Charlotte at all, and had cut back her hours significantly so she could still spend time with Charlotte. However, when she realized how behind she was in her year, she had forced herself to work long hours, but still be there for Charlotte, making frequent trips to the day care center to see her daughter. He was so proud of Meredith, even after working a forty-eight hour shift, she would still be able to muster up enough energy to play with her daughter for a few hours every day. She was excelling in the surgical field as well; she was able to become a third year only a month after her peers, and now finally caught up fully. Despite all of her fears about being a lousy mother, Meredith found the perfect balance between work and family, and he loved her more for it.

"Derek, we're going to be late!" Meredith called from the front door.

"Right, coming!" Derek shouted back, leaving the playroom and following Meredith out of the door of their home on their land, a beautiful four bedroom colonial they had built very quickly after learning that Meredith was pregnant.

"Now Char," Derek said as they pulled into the courthouse an hour later. "You need to be really well behaved for Mommy and Daddy today, alright?"

"Mama," Charlotte babbled as Derek pulled her out of her car seat.

"Yes, Mommy's right here," Meredith said, appearing at Derek's side.

"Now princess, you and Mommy and Daddy are going to go into a courtroom with a judge, and he's going to give Mommy some papers to sign, and then we'll be done. It'll take all of ten minutes, so do you think you can handle being a good little girl for those ten minutes?" Derek asked, looking down at Charlotte, who was staring at him as if she was trying hard to understand him.

"Wa!" Charlotte suddenly demanded, kicking her legs against Derek's stomach.

"Oh, do you want to walk?" Derek asked, smiling.

"Ya," Charlotte responded.

"Okay sweetie, we'll let you walk, but you have to hold Mommy and Daddy's hands okay?" Derek placed his daughter on the ground, and he and Meredith instantly reached for Charlotte's hands. The three moved at a slow pace towards the hospital, Charlotte's little legs moving as fast as they could carry her.

"Derek, maybe we're going to be late," Meredith giggled. "Maybe you should have just carried her."

"We have ten minutes Mer," Derek rolled her eyes. "If we don't get very far in the next five minutes, then I'll carry her. We won't be late."

"I'm holding you to that," Meredith said.

"Did you get everything else changed? Your license and social security cards and such?" Derek asked.

"Yes, and I had to wait two hours at the DMV to do so," Meredith snapped. "Changing the marriage license is the last thing we have to do."

"Good," Derek said, smiling.

"Mama, up!" Charlotte said, causing Meredith and Derek to look down, where Charlotte had stopped walking and was trying to let go of Derek's hand.

"Have you had enough walking for today baby?" Meredith as she bent down to pick up her daughter.

"Yesh," Charlotte said, resting her head on Meredith's shoulder.

"Well, you did a great job," Meredith said, planting a kiss on her daughter's blonde head.

The whole process was very quick. The official examined their marriage certificate and Meredith provided all of the appropriate documentation, and then she just had to sign some forms and was on her way. As they exited the room, Derek, who was now holding Charlotte, pulled Meredith towards him for a long, sensual kiss.

"I love you Mrs. Shepherd," he said softly.

"Dr. Shepherd," Meredith corrected. "But I love you too." Meredith kissed him again softly on the lips.

"Ki," Charlotte said as they pulled apart.

"Yes, Mommy gave Daddy a kiss, and now Mommy will give you one," Meredith said, leaning in to kiss her daughter's cheek.

"Alright, time to go see Santa!" Derek said to Charlotte, his voice filled with excitement. "Are you ready princess?"

"Ya!" Charlotte said, clapping her hands.

"You know she actually has no idea what you're talking about," Meredith laughed as they reached their car. "She's just excited because you seem excited."

"She might," Derek argued. "She's a very smart girl."

"She is," Meredith agreed. "I just hope meeting Santa doesn't traumatize her."

"Why would it traumatize her?" Derek frowned.

"Because babies always get scared when first faced with costumed creatures like the Easter Bunny, so I figure Santa wouldn't be any different. Besides, I have seen that baby picture of you throwing a tantrum when sitting on Santa's lap, so I'm hoping Charlotte doesn't act the same way."

"Hey, don't make fun of me!" Derek said indignantly, and Meredith just laughed as the headed towards the mall.

There was a long line for pictures with Santa at the mall today, probably because it was the middle of December. Surprisingly, Charlotte was very well behaved, fussing very little.

"Mama Dada," Charlotte said, beginning to look a little cranky.

"It's alright baby girl," Meredith said, running her hands through Charlotte's hair as she rested against Derek's chest. "It will be your turn soon. See, we're next." She pointed towards Santa, who was sitting on a large gold chair talking to a toddler.

"Ee?"

"Yes you," Derek laughed. "You're next."

Soon the toddler cleared out, and it was Charlotte's turn.

"Now Char," Derek began as they moved closer to the man in the red beard. "I know he looks scary and you don't know him. Trust me, I was very scared when I first met Santa, but he is really very nice, and he brings you presents, so there isn't any need to be scared of him, okay?"

"Alright, you just have to sit on his lap for one minute sweetie, then Mommy and Daddy will come get you, okay," Meredith said, straightening out Charlottes dress and kissing her quickly.

"Mama?" Charlotte called, looking distressed as Meredith backed away.

"Baby, I'm going to stay right here where you can see me. You're perfectly safe. Now, can you smile for the camera," Meredith said, smiling and hoping that Charlotte would smile back.

"Dada?"

"Daddy's right here," Derek chimed in. "We're right here. Can you say hi to Beary? He wants you to say hello." Derek held up Charlotte's favorite bear, and it had the desired effect. Charlotte instantly lit up, forgetting all about being on a strange man's lap. The photographer snapped a picture quickly, just in time too, because Charlotte began squirming around for her bear.

"Er, Er," she chanted as Meredith moved to pick her up, quickly thanking Santa as Derek grabbed the copies of Charlotte's picture.

"You are a genius," Meredith said as she reached Derek, and Charlotte instantly grabbed the bear out of Derek's hand.

"My parents didn't do that with me, and we saw what happened. So, they tried with Liz, and then Amelia, and it worked like a charm. My sisters have tried it with their kids to and it's very effective."

"The Shepherd Method," Meredith laughed.

"Well, the Shepherd Method for taking pictures. I fully plan on actually creating a Shepherd Method," Derek said with confidence.

"Oh, okay," Meredith said, rolling her eyes.

"I will, you wait and see," Derek retorted.

"Well, there may be a Shepherd Method one day, but I can't guarantee it will have been invented by you," Meredith replied.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Derek asked, confused.

"Well, I'm a Shepherd too now, so I could be the genius who invents this future Shepherd Method," Meredith smirked.

"Uh huh," Derek said looking down at his wife and daughter. "What do you think Char? Do you think Mommy or Daddy will invent the Shepherd Method first?"

"Ee!" Charlotte said in response.

"This is true, it could definitely be you baby girl," Meredith laughed as she bounced her daughter, eliciting a giggle from her child.

"So, what's the plan? Can we head home now?" Meredith asked.

"Yeah, Mom and the girls should be setting everything up for the party. What time did you tell your friends to come?" Derek answered.

"Cristina and Izzie said they would be here around three, but Alex doesn't get out of work until five, so he'll show up after that. I tried to invite Bailey, but I don't think she's going to come,"

"I'm sure she'll be there," Derek said as they exited the mall.

"I still can't believe your entire family came out," Meredith commented.

"Of course they would," Derek said. "It's her first birthday; they wanted to be here for it."

"Yeah, but taking fourteen kids on a transcontinental flight must be a handful."

"Well, when we fly out to New York for holidays you're going to experience that."

"Derek, I am not having fourteen kids!" Meredith exclaimed as she buckled Charlotte into her seat.

"I'm not saying that," Derek laughed. "But travelling with just two young kids is going to feel like six."

"Yeah, which is why we won't have two young kids at the same time," Meredith shot back.

"How long do you want to wait?" Derek asked curiously, the conversation suddenly turning serious.

"I don't know," Meredith said dismissively, though she did begin thinking about it.

"Come on Mer, you must have some idea," Derek pressed.

"Derek, can we not talk about this right now? Today is about Charlotte, not about mapping out the rest of our lives. We can have a serious conversation tomorrow, or later tonight if you want, but for now, let's just focus on the daughter we actually have, okay?"

"Okay," Derek said, smiling as he looked in the rearview mirror so he could see Charlotte playing with her bear. "Hey Charlotte, are you excited for your party today?"

"Ya!" Charlotte exclaimed, waving her bear around.

"Are you excited to get all knew toys?" Meredith asked, turning to face her daughter

"Toy!" Charlotte repeated eagerly, earning a smile from Meredith.

The conversation about their future children was put on hold for several hours, and Meredith didn't even think about the car ride until the ending of the party, when it was time for cake. Meredith sang "Happy Birthday" with all of her friends and family, grinning as Charlotte reveled in the attention of hearing everyone sing her name. However, as she watched her baby blow out her candle and eat a piece of cake all by herself, Meredith couldn't help but feel sad. Her baby, her beautiful, intelligent, perfect little girl that she finally received after several heartbreaks, from a miscarriage to an abortion, was growing up. And she was doing it much too quickly for Meredith's liking, and as she watched Charlotte, she couldn't help but want a baby in her house all the time, no matter how hectic it made her life.

"Do you think she enjoyed herself?" Derek asked, laughing a little as he shut the door to Charlotte's room, who had fallen asleep in Derek's arms before they even reached her room.

"Of course, she was so excited she exhausted herself," Meredith laughed.

"So, chances are she's down for the night. How do you suppose we spend our free time?" Derek said suggestively, winking at her.

"As much as I would love to do what you're thinking about right now, do you think we can talk a little first?" Meredith asked, her gaze searching.

"Of course," Derek smiled. "But do I get sex after?"

"Such a one track mind," Meredith laughed as they walked towards their room. "But yes, the night will involve sex at one point."

"Good," Derek said as he sat on the bed, propped up against the headboard. He pulled Meredith down to him, keeping an arm around her as she sat close to him. "So what's up?"

"We never settled on a definitive number of kids, right?" Meredith said, placing her head against Derek's chest.

Derek rested his chin on top of her head, running his hand through her long blonde locks. "No," he said, after thinking a moment. "I don't believe we did, we only decided on at least two."

"I don't want more than four," Meredith said quickly.

"Okay," Derek said, brushing his lips against the top of her head. "Between two and four, I can deal with that. Anything else?"

"I I just… maybe, ugh," Meredith groaned. "I just don't like the fact that we're having this conversation now, I feel like we should have done it years ago, even before we got married."

"Meredith, it's fine," Derek said, squeezing her for a moment. "Not everyone has a life planned out, or knows what they want. We promised each other forever, no matter what that contained, and that's all that matters. I'm not all that worried about the destination, the journey's the most important part."

"Why do you always have to say such romantic things when I'm trying to make a point?" Meredith snapped, but snuggled closer to Derek and kissed his chest, leaving her head in that position.

"It just comes naturally with you," Derek chuckled, the rapid rising and falling of his chest as he laughed causing Meredith to smile. "So, what else do you want to talk about?"

"Well, earlier you were wondering how long we were going to wait before we had another," Meredith began.

"Mhmm," Derek mumbled, rubbing Meredith's arm.

"I don't think we should try like right this second," Meredith said quickly. "I just don't think I could handle a baby and a toddler right now. But maybe we can think about trying in a couple of months. If we have another baby, I want them to be close enough in age so that Charlotte can play with him or her when she gets older, but I don't want them so close in age that I feel like I have two babies or toddlers still."

"That's reasonable," Derek said. "And you probably don't want to wait too long either, because it will be hard to apply for fellowships when you're pregnant."

"That is very true," Meredith agreed. "Maybe we can start trying in like three or four months."

"I'll have to check my schedule, but I think I'll be free to do some baby making," Derek joked.

"You're an ass," Meredith said, rolling on top of him and straddling him.

"Maybe," Derek said, pressing his lips against hers. "But I'm your ass."

"True," Meredith said seductively, slowly grinding her hips against his. "And I love you."

"I love you too," Derek mumbled, rolling her over and capturing her lips in a passionate kiss, effectively ending all conversation for the night.