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Meredith smiled softly as the light in the kitchen caught on her engagement ring. She couldn't believe that she was wearing an engagement ring, that she, Meredith Grey, was wearing Emma Shepherd's engagement ring. She'd never felt more complete in her entire life.

Derek had left early that morning, kissed her good bye while she was still half asleep and said something about an interview with Dartmouth later that morning. So she was home, dressed in Derek's sweatshirt and a pair of his boxers as she made herself some toast.

"Hey Mer," Addison's voice said from behind her, and she turned to look at her best friend.

"Hi," she said, smiling widely before she remembered the fight she and Derek had heard. "I mean, um…are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Addison sighed, sitting down on a bar stool. "I feel a little stupid but Mark… he says we'll get married one day. So that's enough for now."

"Good," Meredith smiled as she reached for a knife to spread the butter with.

"And you," Addison smiled, grabbing Meredith's hand and causing her to drop the knife. "God, this ring is beautiful. I knew I should have gone after Derek instead of Mark that first day."

"No way," Meredith giggled. "It's Emma's ring. Michael wanted Derek to give it to me."

"Oh," Addison sighed, holding a hand to her heart. "Mer, that's the most beautiful thing I've ever heard."

Meredith smiled softly as she looked down at her engagement ring. "I love it," she whispered, more to herself than Addison.

"So…not to burst the happiness bubble," Addison said. "But what are you going to do about med school?"

Meredith sighed as she reached for a glass of orange juice. "Nothing's been decided yet," she said. "Derek's little vanishing act brought him to Seattle and Stanford. He's at Dartmouth now. So we'll just coordinate our schools and see which ones we get accepted to. Maybe the choice will be decided for us."

Addison nodded. "Mark and I are going through the same thing," she said softly. "It's hard. Thinking we might be separated."

Before Meredith could respond, the buzzer rang and she moved to the front door to press the intercom. "Hello?"

"Meredith, dear, it's Emma," Derek's mother said.

"Hi Emma," Meredith said with a smile, pressing the button to let her into the building. "Come on up."

"Thank you," Emma said before releasing the intercom.

"Okay, you have to distract her," Meredith said to Addison as she moved to her room.

"Distract her?" Addison asked. "From what?"

"While I change out of her son's clothes," Meredith yelled from her room. "Just…tell her about something stupid Mark did."

Addison laughed as she moved to answer the knock at the door. "That could take up a lot of time," she said. "Hi Mrs. Shepherd," she said as she opened the door."

"Hello Addison," Emma said as she enveloped her in a hug. "How are you, dear?"

"I'm good," Addison said as she closed the door. "Um…Mer just went to change out of her pajamas and Derek's not home, but could I get you something to drink?"

"I'm quite aware of the fact that my son has disappeared," Emma sighed as she followed Addison into the kitchen. "And a glass of water would be lovely."

Addison smiled as she set a glass down in front of Emma on the counter. "Apparently he made an appearance last night," she said with a soft smile.

"Addison?" Emma asked curiously. "What do you know that I don't?"

"Hi, Emma," Meredith greeted as she entered the kitchen, now dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, her left hand hanging suspiciously behind her back.

"Hello dear," Emma said, getting off of her stool to hug Meredith tightly. "I understand Derek's back?"

"He's back," Meredith rolled her eyes. "I know you probably did the best you could with him, but the man can be a complete idiot."

Emma laughed. "He's just like his father," she said with a shake of her head. "Too moody and stubborn for his own good."

"I guess," Meredith nodded, moving around the kitchen as she tried to gather her breakfast with her right hand, keeping her left one shoved in her pocket.

"Did you hurt your hand?" Emma asked as she noticed Meredith's awkward movements.

"Oh, um…yeah I just um…sprained a couple fingers," Meredith lied. "But I'm okay, really. Just resting them for a couple days."

"Let me see them," Emma ordered, reaching for Meredith's hand.

"Oh, no," Meredith said, glancing at Addison with panic in her voice. "It's really okay, Emma."

"Nonsense," Emma shook her head. "Addison, get her some ice please. Meredith have you been to the…" her voice trailed off as she took Meredith's hand in her own and saw the ring on her finger. "Oh."

Meredith saw the mix of happiness and resentment in the older woman's eyes, and she smiled slightly. "Listen, I know you told Derek it was okay to give me the ring, but if you want it back…you can have it. Because I know how much it must mean to you, and…you can have it back. If you want it."

Emma smiled at her through tear filled eyes. "Meredith, I'm quite certain that if I took this ring back, Michael would find a way to make my life as miserable as possible. Most likely through my son. It looks beautiful on you. It's your ring now, darling."

Meredith nodded. "Thank you," she whispered. "I…Derek is at Dartmouth right now. We were going to call you, I didn't want to tell you without him…"

"Of course, dear," Emma said with a smile. "I'll make sure to act surprised when Derek tells me."

"Thanks," Meredith breathed. "And um…can I ask you something?"

"You know you can ask me anything," Emma said with a warm smile.

"I know this is the right thing," Meredith said softly. "Being with Derek, getting married. I want that more than I've wanted anything. But…how do I know how to be in a marriage? How much do I have to sacrifice? How much should he be expected to sacrifice?"

"You've both got to make decisions together," Emma said softly. "No sacrifices should be made until you've discussed options and decided what's best for the future of both of you, as a couple as well as individuals."

Meredith sighed. "So should I give up going to Seattle for med school because Derek wants to go to Columbia?" she asked.

Emma inhaled sharply, not having expected this twist. "If my son is anything like his father," she started. "Then he'll bury whatever he wants to give you whatever you want."

"But shouldn't I be doing the same for him?" Meredith asked. "Shouldn't I be doing the same thing for him? Because if he's doing that for me….he'd end up resenting me."

Emma leaned forward to squeeze Meredith's hand. "Meredith, with God willing, you and my son have another fifty or sixty years together. There are going to be lots of decisions to be made together, and lots of disagreements. If Derek goes to Seattle with you, in four years you're going to have to decide where to do an internship. And say…you want to stay in Seattle, and he wants to go to California. And when you decide to have children, you're both going to give things up. It's compromise, Meredith. That's what marriage is all about. And you and Derek…you're more suited for each other than any other two people I've ever met."

Before Meredith could respond, the door opened, and Derek burst into the room. "Mer!" he yelled. "It went great. The interviewer loved me, and…Mom!"

Emma grinned as she moved to hug her son. "Congratulations, dear," she whispered in his ear.

"She told you?" Derek asked with a frown.

"Oh, she tried quite hard to hide the ring," Emma laughed. "It's not her fault, dear. But I'm very happy for you."

"Thanks, Mom," Derek smiled, leaning down to kiss her cheek before he moved to wrap his arms around Meredith.

"This," Emma said firmly as she moved to smack Derek in the back of the head. "Is for disappearing without telling anyone where you are."

"Ow!" Derek yelled. "Mom, I just got engaged. You can't hit me."

"I most certainly can," Emma nodded. "I'm too old to have you scaring me like that."

"You are hardly old," Derek rolled his eyes. "Mer, my mom's being mean."

Meredith giggled. "Are you tattling now?" she asked.

Derek's frowned deepened. "No," he said.

"Oh, Derek, don't tell me that you don't remember how much you used to tattle on your sisters when you were younger," Emma said with a sparkle in her eyes.

"Really?" Meredith asked. "So this means that our son will be a tattle tale as well?"

"It does seem that the Shepherd men tend to be duplicates of their fathers," Emma nodded. "Of course, it's more likely that you'll have all girls. Michael was so excited to get a boy. None of his sisters ever had a boy."

"Oh, we're having a son," Derek nodded firmly. "I don't care if we're having ten girls first, we're having a son."

"You better find someone else to carry those last seven girls," Meredith warned. "I'm capping it at three."

Derek frowned. "You don't want a son?"

"Not if I'm going to be pregnant forever," Meredith replied. "I'm going to be a doctor, Derek, a doctor. I won't have time to have an army of children."

Derek let out a dejected sigh as he sat down at the table. "Fine," he sighed. "It will be awhile before we have to really think about this."

Meredith smiled softly as she leaned down to kiss him. "The interview went well?" she asked.

"Fantastic," Derek nodded. "I think it's a safe bet."

"Where were you interviewing?" Emma asked quietly.

"Dartmouth," Derek sighed. "Mom, I know you wanted me closer for med school, but…"

"Derek, you're an adult now," Emma said. "I understand that you have to do what you have to do."

Derek nodded. "Thank you," he said softly. "I know it's hard for you to watch us all grow up, but…thank you."

Meredith watched the interaction between Derek and his mother, for the first time understanding that there was probably a very good reason that Derek wanted to go to Columbia, and it had more to do with his family than it did with being one of the best schools in the country.

Emma sighed as she stood and moved to get her coat. "I should be getting home," she sighed. "I have a long drive ahead of me."

"You should stay," Meredith said. "Derek will cook dinner, and we'll sleep in the living room. You can sleep here, and go home tomorrow, after a good night's sleep."

"I'm fine, dear," Emma said softly, but Meredith could see the desire in her eyes.

Meredith thought for a moment before she said, "I'd really like your help planning the wedding. I watched you plan Kathleen's and…I know it's early, but wwew cana spend the day thinking about bigger things. Date, place, you know."

"Stay, Mom," Derek encouraged. "Please."

Emma finally relented, smiling at her son and future daughter in law. "I'd like that," she said. "Very much."

"Good," Derek nodded as he moved to press a kiss to Meredith's lips. "Let's plan a wedding."