Disclaimer: I own nothing. Grey's Anatomy belongs to Shonda Rhimes.
Author's note: Hi!! So here it is, the final chapter. Thanks to everyone who read/reviewed my story. To those who read the beggining but didn't like it, thanks for at least giving my story a try. You all made it so much fun to write this! I will be back with another story in maybe two weeks. I don't think there will be a sequel, but who knows? :-). As always, enjoy and dont forget to review! :)
Three month later...
The courtroom was packed with journalists and photographers. In the front row were sitting Derek, Meredith and their family from the hospital.
Derek flinched, his forearm being attacked by Meredith's nails.
"Meredith, ouch.", he whispered in her ears with an amused tone. She gasped and quickly released him from her strong hold.
"I'm sorry", she breathed while attempting to smooth away the dent marks on his skin. "I don't know why I'm so nervous, I just want this day to be over."
"Don't worry, it'll be over soon.", he replied, planting a kiss on her head.
"May the accused rise.", the judge ordered.
Finn Dandridge stood on his feet, anxiously waiting for his sentence. The room, who was previously filled with whispers was now in complete silence.
"Today is the day you will receive your sentence, . I'd like to commend Dr. Grey and Dr. Sheperd for being so strong and so patient throughout this process."
Meredith and Derek both nodded thank you. He enlanced his fingers with hers and squeezed. She squezeed back.
"What I am giving you today, is an examplanary sentencing. In the last few years, too many domestic violence crimes have been reported. It needs to stop. By doing what I am doing today, I am showing that no one is above the law. You are sentenced to 20 years, without parole."
"Oh my God, Derek!", Meredith exclaimed, putting her hands around his neck. He opened his arms and put them around her waist.
"It's all over now.", he said in her hair. "Everything's okay now."
"Officer, take into custody."
-------------------------------------------------------
After the trial, the whole gang decided to celebrate the event at Joe's. All ten of them were seated around a big table, with a drink.
Izzie stood up, her drink in hand and a big ear-to-ear smile plastered on her face.
"I'd like to propose a toast", she announced, quieting the table. "Derek, ever since she met you, Meredith has changed. She's glowing."
Meredith, who was next to Derek, blushed, not expecting the speech her sister-in-law had prepared.
I'm not gonna cry, I won't cry.
Her internal coaching did not seem to work because tears were threatening to cover her cheeks.
"So, Derek, you're part of our family now and I know that you and Meredith will be happy for a very long time. Maybe in a couple of years you can give Alex and me a little niece or nephew", she joked with a wink.
"I'm so not baysitting!", Crsitina exclaimed.
The whole table erupted in laughter.
"To Derek and Meredith", Izzie said, rasing her glass.
"To Derek and Meredith", the others repeated before drinking a sip from their drink.
"Thanks guys.", Derek said.
"Yeah, thank you everyone.", Meredith replied, drying her tears with her sleeve.
"Are you okay, Mer?", Derek asked, seeing her cry.
"Of course. I'm just really happy to be here, right now with you."
"Me too", he smiled.
He approached her face and softly pressed his lips against hers.
"Awwww", everyone exclaimed.
Seven years later...
"He would beat me for the smallest things, he'd talked down to me like I was 5 years old. I always felt like his child and not his equal.", the brunette said to the group."I've never felt so helpless and....ummm...can I sit down now?"
"Of course, Sydney. ", Meredith answered with a comforting smile.
Meredith looked at the short brunette.
It's crazy how much she reminds me of myself, right after I left Finn. Scared, shy, insecure.
"I know it's hard to tell your story the first time but this group is filled with 9 other women who have been through the same thing. You are in the last place where people would judge you so please, don't be afraid to speak up, okay?"
"Okay", Sidney shyly replied.
"So this concludes this week's session. Remember your assignment for next week: come back with three reasons why you decided to leave your abusive relationship. See you next monday. "
While everybody placed their chair back to where they belonged, Meredith approached Sidney.
"Hey, the first time is always hard."
"Yeah, that's what everybody says.", Sidney nervously replied.
"Do you have somebody to talk to about this, outside of the group?"
"Umm..not really. The people around me just feel sorry for me. I can't stand it.", the young woman replied with a shrug.
Meredith smiled emphatically and took out her buisness card from her jacket pocket.
"Here's my card. I wrote down my cellphone number and my email. Reach me whenever you need to talk. I meant it.", she said , looking straight into her eyes. Sydney seemed genuinely touched, she took the card and put in in her purse.
"Thank you so much for this, Dr, Sheperd."
"Please, call me Meredith"
"Okay, Meredith. See you next week!"
"Okay, bye", Meredith said. She felt proud to know she might've helped one more person into the right direction.
After everyone said their goodbyes and left, Meredith turned off the lights, locked the room and made her way home.
----------------------------------------------------
"I'm home!", Meredith annouced as she closed the front door of their two-story house.
Derek walked towards her and planted a kiss on his wife's lips.
"Hey beautiful. How was the group?"
"It was good, I feel like they're all making progress", she said with a huge smile.
"I thin it's great what you're doing with these women. Turning what happened with Finn into something positive. I'm so proud of you.", he said, taking her hand in his.
"Thank you.", she replied. "Now, where is my big guy?"
Right at this moment, footsteps were heard coming down the stairs. The black-haired six year-old quickly ran to the front door to give his mom a tight hug. Meredith bent down to embrace her son.
"Mommy!"
"Hey, David! How was your day?", she said, running her hand though his unruly curls.
"Yeah, Dave, tell mommy what happened today" Derek said with pride.
"What happened? Tell me!", Meredith laughed.
"So today I was playing with Macy and we was having fun."
"You mean «we were having fun»?", Meredith corrected.
"Yeah. And then, Max came and he tried to take Macy's toy!"
"Really?!", Meredith exclaimed with fake shock
"Yeah, mommy really! She wouldn't give him the toy so Max hit Macy on the arm!", David exclaimed.
"Now, tell mommy what you did", Derek said. Meredith looked at him with an amused expression.
"I-I got in his face and I told him that boys don't ever ever ever hit girls and I told him to say sorry.", the boy said.
"You did? Did he say sorry?", Meredith asked with a bright smile.
"Yes."
"The teacher heard what he said and when I went to pick him up earlier, she said we were raising him to become a respectable young man.", Derek added.
"Aww, I'm so proud of you baby.", Meredith gushed, while giving her son another hug. "Now, go wash up for dinner."
"Okay mommy.", David said before going up the stairs.
"I'm so grateful to have such a great family", Meredith said as she put her arms around his neck.
"Me too.", Derek replied, smaking his arms around her waist.
"I love you"
"I love you more."