A/N So… first of all, I need to let off some steam … I've just watched the finale and I'm completely and absolutely devastated, and pissed like you wouldn't believe. And I thought it couldn't get worse than last season's fake marriage. If I were to meet Shonda today, I don't think we would both come out of it alive. Just as the episode ended I thought I was done with Grey's Anatomy, done. But then I realized than I can't abandon my fics because writing them and reading your comments never fail take me to a happy place, and damn, I need a happy place right now. And I don't want to disappoint you either, my amazing readers.

Now I feel better and I promise to stop bitching for a while. Thank you for your wonderful reaction to this fic, hope it won't disappoint you.

LA Calleigh, your personal story sounds so romantic! I know lots of couples who fell in love in high school who are now engaged or married.

Enjoy!

For years now, Meredith adored and, whenever in Seattle, was an active participant of Shepherd Saturdays. Derek's mother, his sisters and she always convened before a major family event to discuss division of tasks, exchange ideas and come up with something extraordinary or simply to gossip. They reunited before Thanksgiving, Christmas and many other occasions throughout the year. However, the most fun came when they were preparing a wedding. Nancy's and Kath's ceremonies were planned to the tiniest detail during Shepherd Saturdays. Now, it was time for Meredith and initially she couldn't have been happier.

She and Derek were engaged a long time. He popped the question when they were still high school sweethearts and she accepted. They already postponed the date of their wedding several times. After graduation they were busy preparing themselves for studying in pre-med and living on their own across the continent. Having done with college, they went for a wild trip around Europe only to plunge themselves into even harder work in med school. Once four years were over, came the time for the internship and their return to Seattle. Last summer, they decided to end their engagement making their relationship official in the eyes of law. They would both have a job, a stable source of income that would finally let them look for something more spacious than a tiny student apartment. They felt like an old marriage anyway, in the good sense of that expression. For years, they were exclusive to each other, always faithful, always best friends, and most importantly always crazy in love.

The family was overjoyed at the news and helped eagerly any way they could with the preparations for the ceremony that was going to take place after their internship was done. And now, the whole busy year of dress fittings, choosing the menu and sending invitations while not falling dead of exhaustion after 48-hour shifts was coming to its grand finale. In less than two months they would take their vows and part for a two-week honeymoon taking advantage of the vacation before the second year of residency.

However, in the time span between the beginning of their internship and now, something changed between them. The shift was gradual, stealthy; Meredith could never pinpoint a specific moment when things started to go awry or why. Their conversations were either surgery-oriented or completely banal, they spent more time apart than together. They stopped to confide in each other. Somehow, Mark Sloan who was Derek's childhood buddy became Derek's wingman and Meredith felt herself fading into the background. She was sure her fiancé didn't see a problem whatsoever. Unfortunately, she did and it filled her heart with worry.

"I don't know…" she sighed scrutinizing her look in the tall mirror.

"What's wrong?" asked Nancy tweaking the gown Meredith was wearing. "Does the bodice feel uncomfortable?"

"No… it's… it's good."

"I think the dress lies beautifully," complimented Derek's eldest sister.

"The dress is perfect," agreed Meredith truthfully. She loved that gown at the first sight and it made her feel like a movie star or a princess every time she tried it on. She wasn't a dress kind of girl but she figured her wedding was that special occasion to look like taken out of a fairytale.

"And what is not perfect?" Kath asked shrewdly standing between her and the mirror.

"Kath, don't go psychologist on her!" berated Lanie slapping her on the leg with a fashion magazine.

"I'm not sure we should get married this summer," shot Meredith.

"What?" gasped Amelia disbelievingly and sprang up from the settee.

"It might be too soon," shrugged Meredith avoiding their eyes.

"Too soon? Have you drunk something on the way here, Mer?" chuckled Lanie.

"I don't think anyone would call nine years since the proposal too soon," quipped Amelia.

"Why the frown, dear?" Carolyn asked gently taking her hand and giving her a squeeze. "You look a bit under the weather today."

"Probably our idiot of a brother did something stupid, didn't he?" Nancy remarked knowingly. "He's developed a bit of a God complex since last fall. Next time I see him I'll be certain to tell him to get his hair down."

"Is it true?" Lanie asked with concern. "You and Derek are having problems?"

"We had this… row," admitted Meredith. What an understatement. When Derek returned last night, way after midnight, he was still half-drunk. However, it was not an obstacle for him to reproach her for humiliating him in a bar full of their colleagues and demand explanations for her irrational behavior. Meredith, in turn, hurled right back at him for allowing other women hang around his neck. That Derek called ridiculous and the effect of her overactive imagination. The argument resembling a ping-pong match with its speed and ardor lasted good twenty minutes after which Derek retired to the bathroom to take a shower. When he was back, he lied down beside her not even trying to seek contact with her while she pretended to be fast asleep. She stayed in the same rigid position into the wee hours of the morning, long after sleep claimed him. When she woke up, he had already gone to the hospital.

"Well, a row is nothing new," Kath said cheerfully.

"Yeah, you and Derek row all the time and then you have loud traumatizing sex," joked Amelia.

A shadow of smile passed over Meredith's features and the rest of the sisters laughed heartily. It wasn't exactly true anymore either. Even the sex felt a bit mechanical, like a habit.

"You're right, I'm being silly," she waved her hand dismissively, trying to convince herself more than the girls. "I just didn't sleep very well."

"Which is why I think we should call it a day," spoke Carolyn with a finality in her voice. "We still have time for some final corrections. We'll be in touch about the catering," she nodded at her daughters as they one by one took up their personal belongings, "and I'll help you with the dress, Mer."

"Thanks, Mom," she sighed as Carolyn moved behind her.

However, instead of unfastening the little buttons, Derek's mother gently placed her hands on her shoulders and their regards crossed in the mirror.

"It wasn't just a row, was it?" Carolyn looked up at her, her eyebrows raised expectantly.

"It was… a blazing row."

"Meri, you are as dear to me as any of my children, you know that."

"I do," sighed Meredith reluctantly. She could be sure Carolyn wouldn't pick any sides in a fight but be a voice of reason.

"And you can tell me anything. Sometimes letting it off your chest helps."

"I don't… I don't know what's going on with him," Meredith confessed quietly. "Sometimes I look at him and I don't recognize him anymore."

"People change," remarked Carolyn.

"I know people change. Otherwise I would be getting married in black… or I wouldn't be getting married at all!"

Carolyn laughed mildly. "People change, grow up, people mature… and every now and then they get lost on the way, they lose themselves."

Meredith shivered involuntarily and Carolyn rubbed her shoulders to warm her up.

"It's scary. I feel like my whole life is turning upside down and I can't control it."

"You can do more than you think," stated firmly Carolyn turning her gently, a sparkle reappearing in her eyes. "You know when you introduced yourself to me, I felt, I knew you were going to change his life. And you have. Thanks to you, he's not afraid of life, he's confident-"

"That he certainly is," cut in Meredith bitterly.

"He loves you," said firmly Carolyn. "You need to spend more time together, just the two of you."

"It's going to be hard with the intern exam coming," sighed Meredith dejectedly.

"Then wait for the honeymoon," proposed Carolyn. "So, please, don't make any rash decisions. Couples have their ups and downs. A crisis isn't worth calling off the wedding, you both looked forward to it so much."

"You're right," breathed out Meredith. "What was I thinking?"

"Everything will work out," smiled Carolyn and made to help Meredith unbutton the dress.

The certainty in Carolyn's voice worked wonders for Meredith's morale. She never was a person who gave up easily, she was born a fighter. If Derek got lost at some point, she would bring him home, or take him down a peg or two. Only on the back of her mind persisted the fear that maybe it was payback time for the little innocent lie she had told all those years ago.

FLASHBACK

"Shepherd! Stay right where you are!"

With a deep tortured sigh, Derek came to a halt just a few feet from the class where they just had the biology lesson. His partner sent from hell, Meredith Grey, blocked his way scowling at him.

"Have you done your part?" she barked at him.

"No-"

"What does it mean no?" she gasped. "It's due tomorrow!"

Derek felt as he was being scolded by one of his teachers. Scratch that, Meredith Grey was stricter than any teacher he had ever come across. Who would have thought judging from her curious attire? He had initially assumed that she didn't care much for school. The one month of their cooperation showed he was wrong, so wrong. She was intelligent and hardworking, while her ambitions sky-high. He actually had to struggle to keep up with her, she needed to have everything done "for yesterday".

"I didn't have time-" he started to explain.

"Right," she snorted. "You slacker! You should have told me it was beyond your abilities, I could have done it if I had known."

"I'm not slacking," he tried to argue. He authentically didn't have time. All weekend he was doing odd jobs to earn some pocket money. Not that his family lived in poverty, but in a house with five children and only one parent more cash always came in handy. "I… I started it, I just have to finish it-"

"You better," she hissed. "If you need a reminder, my reputation is in your hands. And if it gets damaged tomorrow by your incompetence, I'll make sure your boys do too!"

With that threat, she stomped off making him chuckle imperceptibly. He learnt long time ago not to take her warnings completely seriously. She was a walking contradiction. He saw her quite a lot during the past month and concluded she was more intimidating than really violent. Proof? She never called him any names nor was ashamed to talk to him in public.

He grabbed his books from his locker and dashed out; he had a bus to catch. Once outside, he ran down the stairs stuffing his materials into his backpack. In his hurry he didn't notice a group of people appearing in front of him. He clashed into somebody's hard body, stumbling back on the impact.

"What the fuck?" he heard someone's enraged voice. He looked up. Uh-oh, he just barreled into the jocks from the football team.

Meredith left the school building pondering if she should stay up all night and prepare Derek Shepherd's part of the assignment. She didn't want any dissatisfying grades on her record, no reason for her mother to complain. It was doable, she knew the material. On the other hand, the kid never fucked up before so maybe she should just roll with it. She could watch some of her mother's surgical tapes instead.

She had barely the time to walk out when she saw the very object of her thoughts surrounded by the guys who definitely weren't his buddies. One of the bullies shoved Derek back violently , another grabbed his back pack and started to rummage through his things.

Meredith halted in her tracks with a frown observing the scene with disgust. While she was rude to people on occasion, okay a lot, it was never in the aim of hurting anyone. It was a means of protecting herself against the world.

Evidently, Derek tried to reason with the team members and plead to let him go, unsuccessfully. They didn't play too rough with him though. Having pushed him around a couple of times, jeered at him pitilessly and carrying away his backpack, the left him alone massaging his arm with a grimace. Then he spotted the yellow bus arriving, so he hastily scooped into his arms what his aggressors shook off from his backpack and scooted across the lawn.

Meredith shook her head disapprovingly. Why did anyone, why did Shepherd, let other people treat them like that? Derek wasn't stupid, his intelligence was undoubtedly higher than that of all his bullies put together. And he almost invited them to walk over him. He didn't fight for what was his, that was beyond Meredith's comprehension. She sighed as she realized that the guys from the team took his books, how was he going to finish their work?

With an irritated sigh she took a turn and energetically marched into the direction of the field. She found the culprits hanging around the benches, still incredibly amused with their little stunt, Derek's possessions making a tour around. Imbeciles.

"Give me that back," she hissed glaring at them and they looked up, smirks on their faces.

"Give back what?" drawled the tallest and the biggest one with wide forehead and short blond hair, probably the ringleader.

"All the things you stole," she spat back reaching to tear the worn backpack out of one of his cronies' hands.

"What do you care, Grey, isn't it?" snorted the giant, leering at her, scanning her from head to toes.

Meredith didn't grace him with any answer but started to throw Derek's things into the bag, the boys watching her with amusement. She was like a little fly buzzing around elephants.

"Cat got your tongue?" continued the guy as he stood up. "What, are you interested in wimpy crybabies like Shepherd? Is he your boyfriend?" he jeered and the others shook with laughter. "Don't know why else you're here?"

Meredith stopped in front of him as he was still holding the last of Derek's possessions.

"Yes, he's my boyfriend," stated Meredith challengingly holding out her hand. "That's why I want that back."

"Oooh," chortled the giant lifting the book out of her reach. She was way more than a head shorter. "Come on, Grey! Even if you look like a freak, you could still do better. Like me, for example…"

She snorted derisively. "Even if you were the last guy on earth, I would still pass!" And then she did something no one expected. Her jaw set determinately, her bony knee crashed on full speed with his crotch. The obnoxious guy doubled in pain, involuntarily allowing Meredith to pull the book from his slack fingers. Before anyone could recover from the shock, she broke into a run across the school grounds into the street.

Meredith slowly walked along the street of brownstone row houses until she came to a stop before a gray one with flowerbeds placed decoratively on bay windows. Every one of Derek's notebooks and books carried his name and address neatly scribbled on the inside cover. She thought, what the heck, she had time. A little walk would do her good. Right now she was cursing herself she was going soft. Who was Derek Shepherd to her? No one. Just a weak self-deprecating kid.

But she was here already. She shrugged her shoulders and climbed the steps leading to the house. Seconds after she rang the bell, the door opened and she couldn't help feeling surprised seeing the face of the girl she was enemies with since the first day of school.

"You!" scowled Nancy, the cheerleader. "If you're collecting money for some freak cause of yours, we're not interested!"

Meredith stack her foot forward preventing Nancy from shutting the door into her face.

"I'm here for your brother," she smirked. Vengeance was sweet.

"My brother?" frowned the girl . "You know Derek?"

"Course I do," snickered Meredith and dropped her bomb, "I'm his girlfriend!"

Nancy's eyes bulged out in shock while some other girly voice shouted from inside the house, "She's what?"

"Where are your manners, Nancy?" a middle-aged woman appeared from a room and was looking curiously at Meredith. She had a full kind face and brown hair that was starting to gray at the temples. "Come on in, dear."

Meredith passed Nancy who was still eyeing her with disbelief mingled with suspiciousness and was led into the dining room where she was met with another four curious stares, including Derek's who was all red around the face.

"Are your really Derek's girlfriend?" shot one of the three girls that were sitting next to him. She was a couple of years younger and evidently half of a twin set.

"Yup," nodded Meredith and tried to keep her face straight as she expected his face to disappear in a cloud of steam that was undoubtedly to go off his incredibly embarrassed head.

"A kissing girlfriend?" the other twin asked excitedly.

"Sit down, dear," Mrs. Shepherd reentered the room and showed her to a chair placing a plate before her. "I'm Carolyn, Derek's mom, and these are all Derek's sisters. Nancy opened the door, she's the eldest. That's Kath, Amelia and Lanie."

"I'm Meredith," she grinned and stared at the woman challengingly. The household looked very traditional and certainly, Meredith with her black clothes, pink hair and ears pierced three times each seemed oddly misplaced. "I'm Derek's girlfriend."

"It's nice to meet you, Meredith," grinned Mrs. Shepherd warmly. Mer could tell she saw right through her lie but she decided to play along. "Even the more so as Derek doesn't bring friends over very often."

"That's because Derek doesn't have friends," Nancy rolled her eyes. "Even Mark dumped him."

"Nancy!" Carolyn berated her quickly but softened looking between her son and Meredith. "So, how did you two meet?"

"We… uhm," Derek spoke up for the first time while his face still didn't cool off, "we have classes together."

"Right," smiled Meredith and decided to go all the way. She was having fun, she deserved to have a bit of fun for recuperating Derek's belongings. "I'm his work wife."

"Work wife?" asked Carolyn with interest.

"We're biology partners."

"Derek has mentioned something about a project. Why didn't you tell me you invited a friend to study over?" she reproached her son. "I would have made a pie. And you dear," she looked back at the guest, "eat up. You look like you don't eat enough."

"Appearances," Meredith shook her head. "I have a fast metabolism."

"So," Derek's sister, Amelia fixed her eyes on her. "Do you kiss Derbear or not?"

"Sure," shrugged Meredith.

"Ew," Lanie scrunched her face. "But he has zits!"

"You've gotta take the good with the bad," replied Meredith lightly.

"He has braces!" argued Amelia dramatically.

"Doesn't mean he's not a good kisser," snickered Meredith ignoring Derek's begging eyes and the fact that he hunched so much he was almost equal with his two younger sisters. "Actually," she looked at Derek meaningfully taking one of his book from her bag, "you forgot this, baby."

"Oh," he breathed out glancing nervously around his family. Obviously, no one knew about his misfortune. "We should… go study… in my room," he stood up and pleaded Meredith to follow him with his eyes.

"I'll bring you some dessert later," smiled Carolyn. "And Derek, don't close the door to your room."

"Ma!" he whined turning from red to purple.

"Well, Meredith is your girlfriend," answered Carolyn. "You know we have the same rules when Nancy and Kath bring their boyfriends over."

"Why did you tell them you're my girlfriend?" he whispered when they found themselves upstairs.

"Because I thought it was funny?" she chuckled placing herself comfortably in a chair. "Your face was priceless! And your sister, gosh, she was pissed!"

"They're never gonna let me forget it!" he moaned.

"Yeah, but at least they don't think you're such a loser if you're able to have girlfriend," she argued bringing her hands behind her head, looking around the small room curiously.

"Maybe…" he admitted cautiously gazing at her as though he just saw her for the first time. She was in his room, a girl was in his room, Meredith Grey was in his room…

"Don't even think about it," she hissed, her eyes narrowing.

"About what?" he asked innocently taking his eyes off where her arms just folded on her chest.

"The girlfriend boyfriend thing? Just a lie, don't get any ides," she stated firmly and proceeded to throw his things out of her bag.

"How… did you get this?" he asked quietly not meeting her eye.

"Had to kick some asses," she gloated at the recollection of the pain appearing on the bully's face.

"What?" he started with horror almost dropping his books back to the floor.

"What you don't know won't hurt you," fired Meredith and shook her head. "You seriously need to grow some backbone, Shepherd. Or you'll end up someone's bitch."

"Well, I already am yours," he bit back, irked that she was the witness of his humiliation.

"Funny!" she exclaimed approvingly. "Maybe you're not completely lost after all!"

"Why… why did you do it?" he asked after a minute. "I mean, thank you, but why?"

"I said don't get any ideas. He took your book, I thought you wouldn't be able to finish our homework," she explained.

"Oh," he nodded, a bit disappointed. "I thought…"

"You thought what?" she demanded, squinting at him.

"Well… I like you…" he stammered.

"You what?" she gasped.

"I mean, as a friend," he added nervously.

"As a friend," she snorted. "Well, I don't like," she hesitated seeing his face falling and changed her words mid-sentence, "anyone."

"You don't like anyone?" repeated Derek.

"Why are you so surprised? Like your empty-headed sister said, you don't have friends either," she shrugged.

"But it's not because I don't like anyone. It's because… well, no one likes me," he sighed.

"Then why do you care?" she asked impatiently. True, she had no friends. She used to hang out with her neighbor, Sadie, who was as much messed up as she was herself. However, if Meredith accompanied her to some parties, swallowed a couple of tequila shots and made out with some guys, she never followed her path of self-destruction, getting drunk every other night and sleeping around. She figured she shouldn't pay for her sorry parents' mistakes with her own life. She didn't need that. And she didn't need anyone. "I've gotta go," she muttered getting to her feet, she almost ran into Mrs. Shepherd who was carrying a tray for them.

"Meredith? You're leaving so soon? I have some cookies and cold drinks for you. Has something happened?"

"Just a lovers' quarrel," she quipped and moved down the stairs. "It was nice to meet you Mrs. S."

"Why has your girlfriend shoot out of here like a bullet?" smiled Carolyn, depositing the tray on Derek's desk.

"She's not really…" he stuttered, redness creeping back on his cheeks.

"I'm really happy you're making new friends," she ignored his last remark. "It's been a long time since I saw Mark."

Derek shrugged and looked up at her, "You like her? She looks… you now…"

"Of course, I like her," laughed Carolyn. "She's a sweet intelligent girl. And very pretty," she wiggled her eyebrows at him, "even if she has hair that would make Pink Panther envious."

"Mom…" groaned Derek, feeling his face heating up. "She is… but I'm just… me…"

"Sweetie," sighed Carolyn moving up to him to ruffle his hair and plant a small kiss on his forehead. "There's so much more to a person than physicality, I think Meredith knows that very well. You should get a page of her book. So, when do you think I can see my future daughter-in-law again?" she grinned as Derek his face under a pillow.

A/N Really hope you liked that. If you did, please let me know.

Em