A/N Hey, thank you for all the comments after the last chapter!
This update is super uber long so please, be generous with your reviews…
Enjoy… Hope the flashback surprises you. :)
Derek briefly closed his eyes and tried to keep his breathing regular. He anticipated a panic attack.
This was supposed to be the happiest day of his life. That was how the happiest day of life was supposed to look like. He was in a beautifully adorned church, people crowding on both sides of the aisle awaiting the imminent nuptials. All his family was here, as well as his friends and colleagues from work. He stood before the altar in a brand new tux… But the one, most important element was missing.
He opened his eyelids scanning the gathering nervously. The majority of eyes were fixed at him. He felt as if he had fallen victim to the prank of the century. His sisters were capable of pulling a sick joke like this, he was sure of it. They didn't know he paid very dearly for what he had done to his life, for what he had done to Meredith. He was paying for his mistakes every day, every hour. He was going to pay for the rest of his miserable life. And now this, it was past his breaking point.
"Derek, relax," he heard Kathleen's soft whisper near his shoulder.
He didn't even look back at her. Relax? He snorted inwardly. It was supposed to be his wedding day. He had been broken up with the love of his life for nearly two last months. And completely out of a sudden, yesterday when he woke up in Nancy's apartment, his sisters insisted on trusting them and following their instructions. And he did, giving in with the hope of a desperate man he was.
At the moment, that hope was fading fast. He expected one of his sisters, it would probably be Amelia, to pull out a carton board saying "Laughter" and everyone in the audience start to jeer at him with no mercy.
The clock announced 4 p.m. and continued its run. The doorway remained as empty as it was for the last half hour. Meredith didn't come. Seconds flew by. Heads turned to each other in the buzzing church, whispering, talking…
Derek took a deep breath and snapped at Kathleen, "I have enough."
"But Derek-"
He didn't listen. He almost ran to the door and outside, his eyes steadily ahead of himself, not looking at anyone.
Kathleen stepped behind a column to discreetly pull out a cell phone, "Houston, we have a problem…"
A minute later she flipped it shut, assured the priest that they would resume in a couple of minutes as planned, and hurried out, casting small smiles around.
THE GEEK AND THE REBEL
His legs carried him only this far. He sank down to one of the three small steps leading to the church and loosened his collar, his breathing rugged. He hoped no one was coming after him because he felt his eyes stinging again. It was too much, too much… A quiet sob escaped his throat.
He didn't hear cautious footsteps behind him, the delicate rustle of a white dress. He was too shaken up to feel he was not alone until a lacy handkerchief slipped over his shoulder grazing his cheek.
He stilled letting out a short gasp. The distinctive scent of lavender emanated from the exquisite material. His heart hammered loudly in his chest, fearful of letting himself believe that…
He braced his palms against the stone step ready to turn around but a gentle though steady hand on his shoulder stopped him.
"They say it's unlucky to see your bride before the wedding."
He was dreaming, was he…? It must be just one big hallucination. He was surely just imagining her loving voice filling his ears. Even if it was, he wanted to stay in that dream world where he was enveloped in her scent, warmth, love…
"Meredith," her name fell from his lips like a prayer.
"Derek," she murmured. "Dry your eyes."
With a trembling hand he took the offered handkerchief to wipe the solitary salty drop that made its way down his cheek. Thankfully, the blissful weight of her hand remained on his shoulder.
"Mer…"
"I'm here," she assured softly.
"Meredith…" his voice broke as his eyes stared at the street facing the church. "I'm so sorry… I-"
"I know you are. You already told me at Nancy's."
"You were… so I didn't just imagine everything," he gasped. When he woke up on his sister's coach the day before he had problems distinguishing between the dream and reality.
"You didn't," she admitted, her fingers flexing on his shoulder. "So, you thought, how did Mom put it, that I rode off into the sunset with Evans?"
"No, not really. I mean, I knew … I know it was silly. But I was desperate… and drunk. Can you…" he swallowed, "can you ever forgive me? I love you, Meredith, I swear I do-"
"I've forgiven you already," she assured him. "Stop beating yourself up."
"You… you have? Are you sure? Because-"
"I'm sure. I should have listened to you some time ago… but I was afraid, I felt I wasn't ready. Now I know you really love me. I feel it. You finally understand what I was going through. And you're hurting because you hurt me. I don't need more proofs."
"We can… we can go past this? Forget about this?"
"No," she stated making his stomach drop again. "It was a crisis. We can go past it but we can't forget. It's a kind of mistake that we have to learn from. To make sure it doesn't happen again."
"I'd rather die than hurt you again!" he uttered in a strangled emotional voice.
"I don't want you to die," she chuckled. "I'm waiting for you to take me as your wife."
"So, are we really doing it?" asked quietly Derek, excitement timidly taking over his body.
"I want to."
"Me too, definitely," he hurried to assure her.
"Then we'll meet again in a couple of minutes," he could hear the smile in her voice, "at the altar."
"I can't wait," he whispered. "I love you."
"Don't look, count to ten and then go inside," she giggled. "Oh, and one more thing… Can you…?"
He glanced sideways at her hand. Meredith's engagement ring was lying on her outstretched palm.
"Technically, I should be your fiancé, you know," she chuckled.
He gulped. His hands shook as he took the delicate piece of silver and carefully slid it onto her finger, just like over nine years ago. His lips grazed her knuckles before she backed away her hand.
He heard a rustle of her gown, which made him crave to see her even more and a discreet sound of her heels as she walked away.
When he reached ten and stood up to reenter the church he was again all alone. She might have as well been a ghost, she vanished without a trace. Almost… There was an intangible proof she spoke to him, hope and sweet anticipation swirling in his heart.
His step was considerably lighter as he strode back the length of the church. Luke grinned at him knowingly, "Got over your wedding stress?"
"Wedding stress doesn't even begin to cover what I've been through," he chuckled, readjusting his tie. He was still in deep shock that Meredith actually took him back, a very good kind of shock, but he needed to pull himself together. "Now… Where are the wicked sisters?" he frowned taking note of the obvious absence of his siblings.
"They'll be back when the time is right," Luke smiled enigmatically, not even bothering to make Derek feel more at ease.
"You suck at being my best man," groaned the groom.
Once again he faced the crowd but this time with much less fretfulness. Suddenly, they didn't seem hostile at all. His mother was sitting in the first row on the right in the surprising company of none other than Ellis Grey. They got along astonishingly well. From what he was told, and pray the wicked sisters weren't too eager to tell him very much, Meredith's mother insisted to cover practically the entire cost of the wedding, claiming she was long overdue caring for her daughter.
Derek didn't feel like Ellis owed them anything and he was sure Meredith didn't either. They managed to survive Harvard on their own, it made them tougher, more resourceful and independent.
A couple rows further he fished out the gray head of Meredith's father. Next to him was his wife and one of the daughters. The church was pretty much full. There were a lot of his and Meredith's coworkers. Izzie Stevens, George O'Malley, Bailey, even the Chief himself to name just a few. Thank God, Mark Sloan didn't decide to gate crash. Derek's relations with him became colder than Siberia and formal to the extremes, which didn't bother him in the slightest.
Apart from the delegation of Seattle Gracers, dozens and dozens of Shepherds and Maloneys arrived to celebrate the wedding. Yes, the wedding of Carolyn and Michael's only son was a much awaited event that brought even the most distant relatives to this small church in the glorious summer day.
And every single head turned back abruptly with the first sounds of the music.
A thrill flowed through Derek's body as though an electric current at the sight of her. His eyes opened wide avidly observing her every move, taking in every inch of her…
THE GEEK AND THE REBEL
FLASHBACK
TWENTY-TWO YEARS EARLIER
A little girl skipped along the dimly lit corridor, her blond hair flying up with every jump. She was awfully pleased with herself. She once again escaped from the care of one of the young doctors her mother appointed as her babysitter of the day. There would be a huge row later. That was always funny to watch. Mom would be yelling at one of the pretty doctors in light blue clothes and calling them "incompetent idiots". And they would be making funny faces behind her back even though they trembled in fear every time she grimaced.
Not that Meredith, for that was the little girl's name, wanted to get her babysitters in trouble. They were generally quite nice to her, joking with her, trying to play with her. But she was just better off alone. They weren't her friends really, she didn't have any… They were all too big, looking down on her with a kind of sad smile, not really understanding her when she talked... It was best when she played alone.
She slowed down her pace as she got closer to one of her best hiding places, under a broken gurney. She pulled up a sheet covering it but was startled with a surprising sight. There was someone already there. A boy! Looking at her with his big blue eyes. Skinny, a mop of unruly black hair on his head.
"Who are you?" she pointed at him with an accusatory finger.
"Who are you?" he threw back. He was mad at his parents, mad at his sisters and didn't want to be found out.
"It's my bed on wheels! Shoo! Go away!" she scowled at him mimicking her mother.
He stubbornly continued to sit under the gurney, his arms around his knees. Meredith crawled beside him and hit him on the arm.
"Ouch! Girls are stupid!"
"Are not! I'm a girl! I'm not stupid! Boys are stupid!"
"You are stupid, you play with stupid dolls. All my sisters play with stupid dolls!"
"You're stupid! This is not a doll. It's Anatomy Jane!" she stuck her tongue at him and proudly showed him the doll.
"Why is she so fat?" Derek asked, couldn't help betraying his curiosity when he glanced sideways at what she was doing. All his sisters' Barbies were very slim.
"Dunno," shrugged Mer. "Asked my mom, she's a doctor. She said it's because of babies. Look," she pulled off the belly simulating pregnancy. Derek's eyes went wide as he saw a little baby underneath.
"Wow! My mom said babies came from love."
"Nope, they come from big tummies!"
"My uncle Bill is really fat," Derek said in wonder. "He'll have a baby too! Maybe it will be a boy. I hate girls… I have lots of sisters and they're mean."
"I don't have sisters so I don't know," she shrugged and offered him her hand. "I'm Meredith."
"Derek. I'm with my family. Me and my dad wanted to go fishing this morning but one of my sisters broke her leg and we had to come here," he said ruefully. "Stupid sisters. What are you doing here?"
"I live here," she shrugged.
"No one lives in the hospital," frowned Derek.
"I do," she insisted as she pulled out different organs out of her Anatomy Jane. "Since my dad went away."
"Where is he?" Derek asked curiously.
"Dunno," she shrugged again.
"Why does she have all these weird things inside?" he pointed at Anatomy Jane.
"That's her twosh," explained Meredith expertly naming all the organs. "Next to the chubbel, and that's connected to the slivvy. And it's the jelly pouch."
"Jelly pouch?"
"You want to see something cool? Like really really cool?" she whispered conspiratorially, stuffing her Anatomy Jane with her body parts haphazardly.
"What?" he whispered back.
"Come on," she giggled and crawled out, Derek at her heels. Five minutes later he was peeking over her shoulder through a crack in the door. Someone seemed to be lying on the table while a doctor was leaning over them, his gloved hands covered in blood.
"What's that?" gasped Derek with fascination.
"Dead people! They make zombies here!"
"Really? Wow…" Derek's mouth dropped wide open, his eyes glued to the scene before him.
"Meredith!" the Afro-American doctor raised his head from the table. "You ran away again?"
They quickly backed out and broke into a run laughing wildly.
"You should be my sister!" said Derek when they stopped breathlessly around the corner. "You're not stupid like Kath or Nancy."
"Derek? Is your name Derek?" a harassed looking nurse caught up with them.
He nodded dejectedly.
"Come on, Sweetie, your family is worrying about you. We've been looking for you everywhere! And you little Miss Meredith," the nurse shook her head at her, "You're coming too! Always the troublemaker."
They marched before the nurse with their heads hung down as though she was an executioner.
"I want to play with you again!" sighed Derek kicking the wall with his foot.
"Me too," she smiled at him. "You're my friend, right?"
He nodded. "I'll come to see you again."
She grinned and blushing furiously, planted a quick kiss to his cheek. He watched in shock as she ran away with her Anatomy Jane before the Nurse came back with his parents. He was her friend and they would see each other again, preferably without the kissing part, he thought as he wiped his cheek.
END OF FLASHBACK
THE GEEK AND THE REBEL
"Are the groom's jitters dealt with?" chuckled Mia as Meredith joined all the Shepherd sisters and Cristina near one of the side entrances to the church.
"He wouldn't be jittery if you had let me talk to him yesterday," she braked at her. "This was sheer torture to him."
"See, this is why you're not the maid of honor," snickered Nancy, looking with superiority at her younger sister. "You need to learn the limits in Derek bashing. Even Ma is less protective of him than Mer."
"You're not a maid of honor either, Nancypants," scowled Mia. "You're an old matron!"
"Sorry to interrupt," said sarcastically Meredith. "I'm going to get married while you can stay here and continue to argue, okay?"
She gathered her dress haughtily and trotted back to the main door. Derek must have gone inside already.
"Wait!"
"We're going!"
All the women hurried after her with a squeal, including Cristina Yang who didn't stop wearing an expression of utmost pain on her face since the moment she was forced into a dress.
Meredith halted at the doorstep, gave a little shrug to readjust her attire and took a deep breath. Her happy ending was within the reach of her hand.
"Ready?" she heard Nancy's warm whisper in her ear.
She nodded resolutely and commenced her graceful walk. The soft organ music filled the church and all the heads turned to look at her appreciatively. Her eyes were fixed on the finish line though, on her bedazzled groom who seemed to be devouring her with his gaze.
It would be an understatement to say that Meredith's appearance took his breath away. That didn't even begin to cover what was going through his heart, mind and soul. She was coming back to him, his best friend, his companion, the love of his life, the other half of his being.
And she was so beautiful, spectacular, his angel of forgiveness. Her snow white dress vaguely resembled that of his mother… It seemed more modern and bold though. It was strapless. The beading and lace embellished material closely hugged her chest only to fall loosely under her breasts. The skirt almost reached the ground at the back to rise just below her knees at the front. An almost see-through shawl was loosely draped around her shoulders and arms for decency of the church building.
She held a tiny bouquet while solitary lilies were tucked behind her ears. One could possibly complain about the pink hue of her hair but Derek wouldn't have it any other way. He was marrying his rebel, the angry punk who had threatened to have his eyes on her fork that memorable day in the cafeteria, who kicked a school jock's ass for him and who looked at him, into him, like no one had before. Loved him like no one else could.
He knew he didn't deserve that. She would be much better off with someone else, a better man than him, maybe even Dr. Evans, except… she loved him. She wouldn't be able to find happiness with any other man. That sole piece of knowledge deepened his determination to do everything in his power to prove worthy of her. He couldn't promise he would never hurt her again; anyone who lived a little on this world would call him on unfeasibility of such a declaration. He could only promise he'd do anything not to hurt her and that any misdeeds would be unintentional.
His lips stretched in a breathless smile of reverence as she got nearer. He was impatient to have her next to him. He knew he must be looking awestruck, he certainly felt that way. His sisters would surely take the Mickey of him for years on end but he couldn't care less. The sight of Meredith approaching him at the altar was something to behold. Thoughts were chasing around in his befuddled brain, some way too impure for the house of God. But it was the longest dry spell they had since the sweet night of Meredith's sixteenth birthday. Derek was close to spontaneously combusting as the thought of the wedding night fleeted through his mind.
They had to get married though first and Derek hoped the priest would do his job promptly. His mother would probably whack him over the head with her handbag if she knew what was going in his head as he was silently thanking they chose not to have a wedding with a mass. Even though she attended church for numerous occasions with the family, Meredith was not Catholic so just a simple marriage ceremony seemed the best option. And a quicker one.
The familiar scent of lavender wafted to his nostrils as Meredith reached him, her face beaming. The heart pendant glimmered from underneath her shawl.
"Meredith…" he breathed out and reached his hand for hers.
"Just a second, young man," Mia butted in unexpectedly.
He blinked , finally registering something else than Meredith. All of his sisters plus Cristina Yang were trailing behind her.
He looked at them quizzically.
"We're giving her away," explained Mia.
"Who?" he frowned.
"You're really slow today," Mia rolled her eyes. "What, are you marrying a whole freaking harem? We're giving away Meredith, of course."
The priest cleared his throat significantly so Derek hurried to nod his head and utter a quick thank you.
"Not so fast, Mr. Shepherd," said Lanie. "We're giving you the hand of our sister. We have faith in you, so don't sc- don't take it for granted this time."
"Remember, we'll be watching you," Amelia threw him a meaningful look. "There might not be another chance…"
Meredith sighed internally. Little her sisters knew, there would be another chance, and another. There would be a chance as long as their love was alive, which she was now positive was eternal.
"I'll do anything to make her the happiest woman on earth," Derek assured his sisters sincerely.
"Good," smiled Kathleen and beckoned the rest of the girls to take their places in the front rows. Only Nancy, as Meredith's matron of honor, stayed beside Luke.
With the realization of the magnitude of the moment, suddenly a bit shy, Derek gently led Meredith to where two chairs were ready for them in front of the altar.
The words of the priest barely entered their minds. There was only the overpowering knowledge that they would soon be joined in marriage, that the drama of the recent weeks would find its resolution in the exchange of their vows. They could barely contain their beaming smiles or look at something else than each other all throughout the readings and the homily. Only the Hymn To Love seemed to catch their attention, truer words had never been spoken.
Love is patient and kind;
love is not jealous or boastful;
it is not arrogant or rude.
Love does not insist on its own way;
it is not irritable or resentful;
it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right.
Love bears all things,
believes all things,
hopes all things,
endures all things.
Love never ends.
So faith,
hope,
love
abide, these three;
but the greatest of these
is love.
Love was the greatest power of all, it governed their universe. They felt like they waited forever to pledge it in the rite of marriage. At long last, it was the time to stand up and declare their intentions.
"Derek Christopher and Meredith Elizabeth, have you come here freely and without reservation to give yourselves to each other in marriage?"
"Yes," they breathed out together, joining their hands.
"Will you honor each other as man and wife for the rest of your lives?"
"Will you accept children lovingly from God, and bring them up according to the law of Christ and his Church?"
Meredith couldn't help a blush exploding on her cheeks as they answered affirmatively. When he saw her glancing at him shyly form under her eyelashes, he fell in love with her all over again.
"Since it is your intention to enter into marriage, join your right hands, and declare your consent before God and his Church."
A surge of energy passed between them, as they gazed into each other's eyes.
He almost forgot how to breathe when he opened his mouth to speak. His voice came out shaky and filled with raw emotion.
"I, Derek, take you, Meredith, for my lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part."
"I, Meredith, take you, Derek, for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part."
"What God has joined, men must not divide."
Nothing on heaven or earth would divide them, ever. Not after they came victorious from their trial.
The priest blessed their rings, and they exchanged them as a sign of love and fidelity. As soon as the sweet weight of the white gold bands was put on their fingers, they heard what Derek was anticipating from the start, "You may now exchange a kiss."
Their wide grins softened as their heartbeats sped up once again. Normally, they wouldn't have to be told twice but they hadn't kissed since they were broken up…
He took half a step forward slightly hunching his back. His eyes surveyed her rosy lips dreamily only to glance back into her green orbs as though seeking permission. Her lips parted slightly, awaiting the kiss that would ultimately brand her as his wife. Her eyelids fluttered down as she leaned up to meet him halfway.
They both sighed, joy mingled with relief at their chaste touch, gentle as breeze. They momentarily froze savoring the moment of returning home. The world was back on its axis. Thunderous applause filled the church, afternoon sun sliding through rose windows basking the interior with dozens of colors.
But the clapping of their family and friends didn't make them part. Quite the opposite, they were totally consumed with the realization how much they wanted and missed each other physically. Meredith cocked her head sideways, allowing his lips to slide against her teasingly until she felt the tip of his tongue seeking entrance to her mouth. With a little moan of appreciation, she granted him the access, hooking her hands behind his neck, vaguely remembering not to drop her bouquet.
He deepened the kiss heatedly, his tongue meeting hers in a sort of mating dance as one of his arms went around her waist to press her beautiful body closer to his. His other palm sneaked to her neck angling her head to his advantage. He had an unquenchable thirst for her, a hunger that begged to be sated and by her eager reaction, they were fully reciprocated.
Just as Derek's hand started to wander dangerously close to her chest, Meredith titled her head sideways to catch her breath. Several realizations hit her at once. She and Derek were just announced to be husband and wife. They just shared their first kiss. And now her brand new husband was necking her in public, to the eyes of the entire assembly. And he was feeling her up. AND he was beginning to harden against her hip in the middle of the church…
"Derek," she dragged his head away from her clavicle. "Later…"
He looked at her with hooded eyes, his breathing haggard. The catcalls, whistling and peals of laughter reached their ears, making them both flush furiously. They glanced at the priest apologetically but he was only amused.
His arms encircled her once again. "I love you so much… my wife…"
"I love you too," she smiled up at him, "my husband."
THE GEEK AND THE REBEL
"Finally!" Carolyn's eyes still bore traces of joyous tears she shed during the ceremony. "Finally my children are married. You have no idea how long I have been waiting to see you both so beautiful and happy."
"I think we know, Mom," chuckled Derek. "Only since I brought Mer over for the first time."
"Oh, you!" she chuckled at him and lunged to hug them both close once again.
"Let them breathe, Carolyn," Ellis sighed and eyed the crowd gathered in front of the church impatiently. Her own congratulations had been much more reserved.
"Shut up, Ellis," Carolyn talked back. "I saw you dabbing your eyes during the ceremony."
Derek and Meredith stared at the strict doctor with surprise.
"Is that true, Mom?" she giggled. "You… cried?"
"Nonsense," Ellis rolled her eyes. "I was having an allergic reaction! Really, there were too many flowers."
"Of course, there were flowers, it's a wedding!" argued Carolyn. "I hope you didn't book them a room in a cave!"
"What room?" asked Meredith.
"I booked a special suite in the best hotel in Seattle," Ellis announced proudly. "I am many things but certainly not stingy."
"Thank you, Dr. Grey," Derek smiled at her gratefully, his arm going automatically to rest on Meredith's waist.
"You're welcome," nodded Ellis. "You should also thank me for the wedding trip. Your plane to Rio takes off tomorrow afternoon."
"Seriously?"
"Wow-"
"I know, I know, I'm wonderful," said crisply Ellis. "Just so you know, I'm a little too young to become a grandmother yet."
"No, you're not!" snorted Carolyn. "It's actually a perfect time for Meri and Dearbear to start thinking about expanding the family!"
A look of understanding and commiseration passed between the bride and groom. Thankfully, the Shepherd sisters plus their kids and husbands pushed two Mamas forward in order to offer their congratulations. Cristina trailed behind them with a depressed look.
"I guess you'll be moving out then?" she grumbled uneasily. "You getting hitched and all…"
"What a sparkling enthusiasm," chuckled Derek.
"You!" Cristina pierced him with a stare, pointed at her eyes with two of her fingers and then at him. "I'll be watching you, McDreamy."
She stepped aside as the sea of family members swept Meredith and Derek like a flood.
"I bet you regret not choosing a private ceremony in the city hall," snickered Cristina at Meredith's side nearly an hour later when the congratulations phase still wasn't over.
"I do not," shrugged Meredith. "They're my family."
"They're his family. Do you even know their names?" Cristina asked skeptically.
"I do, I know their names, family connections and dirty secrets," smirked Meredith as one of Derek's uncles, a very corpulent one, made their way towards them.
"Derek, Meredith," his eyes swept over Meredith frame suspiciously. "Is another Shepherd on the way? The floaty dress would suggest that…"
Meredith forced herself to grit a sour smile.
"Uhm, no, Uncle Bill," Derek hurried to spare her the pain of answering. "But you'll certainly be one of the first to know when it's the case…"
"What was that?" laughed Cristina, holding her sides.
"Nothing," Derek quickly shook his head. "He's just… rude."
"No, he's not," Meredith shook her head with a laugh. "That was just… delayed vengeance. Supposedly on Derek…"
"Shepherds have family feuds? Unbelievable," snorted Cristina.
"It's not a family feud," went on Meredith ignoring her husband's pleading looks. "You see, Uncle Bill was always… well, this big. Apparently five-year-old Derek asked him if he was pregnant."
"No way!" Cristina burst out laughing.
"Mer," he pouted. "I thought we agreed that was one of the embarrassing stories that wouldn't ever leave the family circle. Besides, I was five years old. I thought a baby would pop out of every big belly."
"That's funny," she shrugged and pressed a little kiss to his nose. "And surprisingly, I did too."
"You sure that Uncle Bill was always that much of a whale?" went on Cristina. "It might be in genes. Your McDreamy here might end up like that. Or worse, what if you have to push a little elephant through your vagina?"
"Cristina!" both of them groaned at her snarkiness.
"Okay, okay," she shrugged. "Don't tell me later that I didn't warn you."
"Meredith, Dr. Shepherd," a nervously looking Thatcher appeared with Susan and their elder daughter.
"It's Derek," he said shaking his hand.
"Thank you for letting me come to see the wedding, it was beautiful," he breathed out.
"You're… welcome," she answered simply.
"Oh, I don't think you've met… this is my wife Susan, and our daughter-"
"Alexandra, right?"
"Just Lexie," smiled warmly the brunette. "I wanted to meet you so much since… well, since Mom and Dad told us about you."
"It's… nice to meet you too, I guess," said Meredith feeling Derek's palm rub the small of her back reassuringly.
"Molly wanted to come so much," went on Lexie. "But we couldn't risk it in her state."
"Very wisely," nodded Derek.
"So we just took a lot of pictures to show her everything," smiled Susan.
"I… you can… you can stay for the reception if you want to," offered Meredith. "I don't mind."
"Meri, are you two ready?" Carolyn ushered the newlyweds forward. "Everything's waiting in the wedding hall and it's already almost six! Come on, the car's waiting for you."
"What car?" asked Derek.
"That one," pointed proudly Carolyn. "Ellis also got you a limo."
"Wow…" Derek's mouth hung open surveying the long car to which the door was invitingly open.
"Yeah, wow," giggled Meredith and pulled him ahead. "I'm starting to wonder if my mother wasn't abducted and brainwashed by aliens instead of travelling."
"We'll see each other in half an hour tops," said Carolyn as Derek helped Meredith get into the limo, the crowd of their friends and family cheering around. "And… behave just a little longer. You need to look decent for the photos."
"You so sad," cooed Izzie elbowing Cristina as the luxurious car pulled off. "Admit it, you liked living with a friend."
"Not at all," coughed the Asian, avoiding the blonde's eyes. "I just… lost the bet."
"How come?" gasped Izzie. "You bet they'd make up before the vacation. Well, you won."
"A tiny fraction," whined Cristina. "Mamas took everything. They both banked on the wedding…"
THE GEEK AND THE REBEL
"Alone at last," breathed out Derek scooting closer to his bride on the spacious backseat.
"Not for long," she grinned at him, her fingertips tracing the curve of his jaw tenderly.
"Well, the night is… nigh…" he whispered, his lips searching hers for a swift kiss. He looked into her eyes with awe. "We're married."
"We are married," she nodded, beaming.
"This is the most beautiful day of my life… for many reasons," he confessed.
"For me too. Der, I know we probably have some things to talk over but not today. Today is about us celebrating our love. I meant it, I don't want you beating yourself up over what had happened. It's behind us, okay?" she caught his face in her palms to make him look at her.
"Okay," he whispered and lunged for another kiss. "I love you so."
"I love you too," she gasped as his lips slid from hers to the little sensitive spot below her ear. "And we have… we have… ooh, these marital things you… you promised to fulfill."
"Yes, dear," he breathed into her neck, trailing his hands over her flanks. "This dress… really floaty…"
She giggled. "This was Mom's dress."
"You look gorgeous in it. Stunning…" His palm slid to her thigh and knee. "How do I take it off?"
"Mom told you to behave," she smirked feeling his hardness with her hand.
"Correction, Mom told us both to behave," he chuckled. "And I am going to. For now. Can't promise anything about good behavior later…"
"Later," she purred lacing her arms around his neck. "For now, kiss me."
"Oh, yes, dear…" he nodded and plundered her mouth.
THE GEEK AND THE REBEL
The evening was beautiful. The summer didn't fail them and the excellent weather enabled them to hold the reception outdoors. The patio of one of the Seattle restaurants was elegantly decorated with hundreds of flowers while dozens of lanterns waited to be lit.
The wedding party was already seated and listening attentively to the best man's speech.
"I won't be speaking too long. I don't want to bore you and frankly, the newlyweds don't seem too interested anyway. They'd probably prefer to be somewhere else entirely right now…"
A wave of laughter swept over the patio, Meredith was sitting at Derek's lap and both of them seemed to be immersed in their own little world. Indeed, they preferred to be somewhere else entirely, just the two of them. The sooner all the points of the programme were over, the sooner they could get away. They grinned at Luke, encouraging him to go ahead.
"I was honored when Derek asked me to be his best man but was really stressed out about the whole speech thing, even more when I learnt that the wedding could have been cancelled altogether. Thankfully it was all smoothed over and we can all enjoy the wonderful wedding cake.
"Anyway, as I told you, I was at a little loss for what to say. Because whatever I could say would be really redundant. I mean, one look at them is enough to see how much they love each other. In this effortless way I've only seen a couple of people do.
"They could serve as an example to write a definition of two people in love. They were also an example to me and Jen, my wife. We moved in next to Mer and Derek after our wedding and we immediately became friends. And even if we were the married couple and them the ones living in sin," another peal of laughter went around, "we often looked up to them. You don't even know how many times Derek had to listened to my bitching, or Mer to Jen's. We were astounded to see their union. They knew each other inside out, understood each other without words. That's what we hoped to achieve in our marriage and I think we have. So, Meredith, Derek, I want to thank you for proving that such a love exists in the real world. I'm truly happy we could be here today to celebrate your day. To Meredith and Derek!"
THE GEEK AND THE REBEL
Another song ran its course, Derek and Meredith slowed their dance even more , just swaying lightly in the secure embrace. It was beginning to get dark; the speeches, the cake feeding, the first dances were all over.
"I think it's time," she sweetly whispered into his ear.
"Time for what?" he quipped. "Another drink?"
She lightly swatted his arm. "Watch it or little Derek will be your only company during the wedding night."
"Little Derek is… far from being little and you admitted it publicly as I recall," he grinned and pulled away to grip her hand in his, "and he can't wait to come out and make my wife happy."
"She already is… but she could be screamingly happy," she wiggled her eyebrows and tugged at his hand pulling him through the crowd on the dance floor.
"Ladies and gentlemen, can I have your attention, please?" Mia's voice strengthened by the microphone resonated in everyone's ears. "We've just got the confidential information that the newlyweds are trying to sneak out, very eager to consummate the marriage no doubt- Okay, Ma, okay, straight to the point. Anyway, we must do the justice to tradition. Meredith Shepherd, the bouquet toss! Wait, wait! I need to get in the line first!"
"Tell little Derek to wait a little bit more," she grinned at him as Izzie ran up with the little bunch of lilies. All unmarried girls and women gathered together giggling and blushing. All except Cristina who lurked behind one of the tables.
Meredith bit her lip and announced to Derek, "I'm going to trip."
"You're going to trip?" he chuckled. "You sure you didn't drink too much?"
"I'm going to trip and fall and since you're my husband for better and for worse I expect you to catch me."
"Okay," he looked at her quizzically.
"Ready?" yelled Meredith winking at him. "One, two-"
What everyone saw was that she took a swing to throw the flowers far behind her but very unfortunately tripped and would have hit the ground if it hadn't been for her husband quick reflexes. However, the bouquet slipped from her fingers and soared through the air.
Everyone looked around in frenzy. They didn't have to search for long though. It turned out the bunch fell one the table, just in front of Cristina Yang who jumped away from it as though it was a poisonous snake.
"You minx," Derek laughed out loud helping his wife to her feet.
She shrugged innocently and grabbed the crook of his arm with the intention to leave but was once again stopped by Mia sporting a wicked grin on her face. "Not so fast, sister and brother of mine! The garter toss!"
"Garter toss?" Derek glanced at Meredith with a smirk, one if his eyebrows riding high.
"I thought you might approve of that one," she giggled and let herself be led to a single chair placed in the middle of the dance floor.
"And now mission impossible for the groom!" yelped Luke coming behind Derek to blindfold him and tie his hands behind his back. "Good luck, man!" he laughed steering him to kneel in front of Meredith.
"You're enjoying this," she couldn't help laughing at his eager expression.
"How could I not?" he grinned and lowered trying to dive with his head under her dress. Luckily for him the it was cut higher at the front. His lips grazed up her leg hitching the material with his nose.
"Derek," she hissed. "Pull it down or everyone will see something that's meant for your eyes only!"
"Sorry," he mumbled and bent lower crawling forward to hide his head fully under her dress.
Clapping and laughter accompanied his efforts as he kissed a path to her knee and her thigh. Her breath hitched in her chest as she felt his tongue wandering around to her inner thigh.
"Derek!" she bit her lips. Catcalls sounded all around as he pushed himself between her legs for better access. She felt herself getting wet when his hot breath fanned her skin so close to her core. Her chest heaved covering in a crimson blush, just as her face. She stifled a little moan as Derek's teeth grazed her thigh trying to hook the garter he finally found. But instead of dragging it down her leg he nibbled teasingly around the delicate material.
"You better get a move on or it will be the closest you get to my vagina tonight!" she gritted out, unsuccessfully fighting a grin.
"Fine," she heard him let out an exaggerated sigh under her skirts and his teeth tugged at the garter.
"Just… be fast," she gasped, becoming more and more aroused due to his ministrations around her leg.
Several minutes later he successfully managed to pull it over her heel to the cheers and whistling of the crowd.
"I could leave you like that," Meredith quipped standing up to free his hands. "Tied up, blindfolded…"
"Mhm, I'd like that," he hummed and spun around to kiss her.
"Keep it over your eyes and throw it so we can finally go, she instructed him.
He scrunched his face peeking at the blue garter from under the blindfold. "Throw a part of your underwear to a crowd of men, I don't think I like that."
"I have another, just for you," she assured him with a smile as all the single men were ushered onto the dance floor.
He grinned and quickly sent the garter flying behind him. It landed straight into the hands of a tall red-headed man, one Owen Hunt Carolyn met at the veteran centre she was volunteering at.
"And now the lucky garter catcher puts it on the leg of the bouquet catcher! Cristinaaa!"
Meredith laughed imagining the torture her friend was going through but when she glanced at her, she saw Cristina peeking curiously at Owen.
She didn't have a chance to ponder on her friend's wellbeing as Derek tore off the blindfold and swept her away towards the exit, fire in his eyes.
"How did you raise them?" sighed Ellis from behind the table where she was observing the scene with Carolyn. "They didn't even say goodbye."
"Aw, missing Meri already?" smiled knowingly Carolyn.
"I'm leaving next week," sighed Ellis. "Not sure when we'll see each other."
"You can always stay…"
"I don't think she's ready for me being here full time. Maybe next time."
"And what about that man you're jerking around?"
"You know about that too?" groaned Ellis.
"Welcome to the family," quipped Carolyn.
THE GEEK AND THE REBEL
"Why is it taking so long?" Meredith groaned against Derek's neck at the backseat of the limo. "Is the hotel on the opposite coast or what?"
He moaned feeling her tongue on his pulse point. "We're… we're not going to the hotel, Mer. At least not yet…"
"We're not?" she frowned at him pulling back as though he was crazy. "Where the hell are we going? Wedding night, remember? Sex?"
"I remember," he shut her up with a deep kiss. "We're going to take our car and then go to have our wedding night… somewhere special…"
"Somewhere special?" she smiled at him. "Where?"
"Somewhere special," he smiled mysteriously.
A/N That deserves a comment, doesn't it? :)
Next chapter: wedding night…
Em