"And now is the time that we are truly released into this world. We go today, with our degrees and the friends we have made for life, into the real world where we can truly make the difference this world needs…"

Derek half listened to the speeches given at the graduation ceremony, his eyes instead fixed on the girl five rows ahead of him. Even in the sea of black gowns and graduation caps, he could still pick out Meredith's form from everyone else, and he had spent most of the ceremony watching her, smiling as she shifted her legs, crossing one leg over the other and then switching, fidgeting slightly as she adjust the robe.

They were graduating college today, and soon the next big event in his life would be his wedding. He still couldn't believe he was getting married, and he couldn't wait.

"And now we would like the graduates to stand to receive their diplomas…"

Derek sighed as he stood with the rest of the class, moving towards the stage. He stood still for several minutes, waiting as the first half of the alphabet was called onto stage to collect their diplomas. He smiled softly as he heard Meredith's name called and she walked timidly across the stage. He could practically see her telling herself not to trip, and he flashed her a grin as she sought out his face in the crowd.

"Man, this blows," Mark sighed from behind him. "I can't believe we have to sit through this while every damn name is called.

"It will be over soon enough," Derek sighed, smiling as Addison walked across the stage.

"And then we can have some fun," Mark nodded.

"Shut up, Mark," Derek said, almost automatically, taking a deep breath as the S's began to be called to the stage. "Derek Christopher Shepherd."

Mark laughed as he shoved Derek up the stage to the stairs, following himself as his own name was called moments later.

After they had received their diplomas, and the ceremony had come to a conclusion, Derek immediately set out in search of Meredith. She must have been doing the same thing, because less than a minute later, she had thrown herself into his arms.

"I didn't trip," she giggled as she pulled back to press her lips against his. "Did you see me not trip?"

"I did," Derek laughed. "You were amazing."

"We graduated," Meredith laughed.

"We're officially med school students now," Derek said, squeezing her tightly before he let her go.

"And the next thing we're going to do is get married," Meredith giggled.

"Hmm, I can't wait," Derek nodded, leaning down to kiss her again.

Meredith kissed him back, only pulling away when she heard Mark's laughter and a flash went off in front of them.

"Hey!" Derek cried, frowning at Liz as she lowered the camera, the rest of his family already gathered around them.

"Sorry, Derbear," Liz giggled. "You were too cute to let me pass that up."

"Derek," Emma smiled widely as she pushed her daughter aside. "I'm so proud of you."

"Thanks, Mom," Derek said, hugging her tightly.

"Your father's proud of you too," Emma whispered in his ear. "He's here, Derek."

"I know," Derek nodded, swallowing hard.

Meredith squeezed his hand, and he smiled down at her. "Alright, let's get some pictures taken," she said. "It's going to rain soon and I so don't want to be out here for that."

Emma laughed. "Yes, let's get pictures," she said. "I'll add all four of you to the stairwell."

Mark laughed. "You mean the brag wall?" he asked.

"It's not a brag wall," Emma insisted. "It's all of my children's graduation photos. Now, I want one of all four of you, one of Derek and Meredith, each of you by yourselves, the boys together…"

"Basically every possible picture," Liz said. "We know, Mom. We just went through this at my high school graduation last year."

"Very funny," Emma rolled her eyes. "Now, let's take some pictures."

XXXX

Meredith sighed happily as she turned slowly in Derek's arms later that night. They had already given up their apartment and had decided to get a hotel room near the school that night instead of going back to New York right away. Now they were in the restaurant, the rest of the Shepherd family mulling over desert as Derek and Meredith danced slowly in the middle of the dance floor.

"I like dancing with you," Meredith whispered into his shoulder.

"I like dancing with you too," Derek smiling, leaning down to breathe in the scent of her hair. He ran his hands up and down her spine, his fingertips brushing against the bare skin that was exposed through the straps that crossed along the back of her black cocktail dress. "You look beautiful tonight."

"Thanks," Meredith whispered. "You don't look half bad yourself."

"Hmm," Derek sighed. "I can't wait to get that dress off of you."

"Derek," she blushed. "Your mother is right over there."

"I'm not going to take it off now, Mer," he laughed. "Soon."

She sighed as she settled back into his arms. "We're getting married a week from Saturday."

"We are," Derek nodded. "I can't wait."

They danced quietly for a moment before Kathleen called to them, "Hey you two, how about you come talk to your family?"

Derek sighed as he pulled back from Meredith, kissing her forehead before taking her hand and leading her back to the table. "Sorry," he said as they sat down again. "We got caught up in each other."

"Obviously," Nancy said with a smirk.

"Hey, we're getting married soon," Derek said. "And then you will no longer be the Shepherd newlywed."

"Please, you two have always acted like newlyweds," Chris said. "I don't think you'll ever change."

"It will when he gets her knocked up," Kathleen rolled her eyes as she rubbed her stomach. "I'm still mad at you for that."

Chris rolled his eyes. "Of course," he placated his wife.

"No kids for us," Meredith said firmly. "Ten years."

"Ten years?" Emma asked, eyebrows raised. "That's a long time for me to wait."

Derek laughed as he rested his arm on the back of Meredith's chair. "Med school, Mom," he said. "And internship and residency. We don't really have a choice but to wait."

Emma sighed. "I understand," she said. "It's just important to me to have grandchildren."

"Um…hello?" Kathleen asked, pointing to her stomach. "Who do you think is in here?"

"Of course I'm excited for my first granddaughter," Emma said with a warm smile. "But Derek's children will carry on the Shepherd name."

"I always knew she liked you best," Caitlin sighed from Derek's side.

"Not my fault I'm the best kid," Derek smiled.

"You're an idiot," Meredith giggled from his other side.

"You," he said, leaning closer to her. "Are supposed to be on my side."

"Says who?"

"Me."

"Do I ever listen to you?"

"She has a point there, Shep," Mark laughed from across the table.

"Shut up," Derek sighed, knowing that Meredith was right. He was lucky if she even heard what he said, never mind actually doing something he told her to.

Meredith sighed deeply from her spot beside Derek, and he looked down at her curiously, trying not to laugh at the adorable expression of careful thought that had taken over her face. "What's wrong, Mer?" he asked.

"We're going to have kids," she stated.

Derek frowned. "We've talked about that, Mer," he said. "Of course we're going to have kids."

"And your mother is going to be their only grandparent."

"Oh," Derek said, suddenly realizing what was bothering her. He ran through the past few weeks in his head, wondering when the last time she had gone to see her mother was. "Mer…we should go see your mom in the morning."

"No," Meredith said immediately. "She won't even know me, Derek, and last time I was there all she talked about was the dirty dirty affair she had during her residency, and…I can't handle that again."

"Maybe you'll catch her on a good day," Derek said softly. "You should see her, Mer. You're getting married and starting med school. Maybe she'll know you."

Meredith sighed, knowing he was right. "I really hate it when you're right," she whispered.

Derek smiled softly. "You're going to go?"

"Will you come with me?" she asked softly.

He leaned forward to press a kiss to the top of her head. "Of course I will," he smiled.

"Thanks," she breathed.

"Alright, I think it's time that I head off to bed," Emma sighed as she stood. She made her way around the table, congratulating Mark and Addison softly before she turned to Derek and Meredith. "Meredith, dear," she whispered, pulling the younger woman into her arms. "I am so very proud of you."

"Oh," Meredith breathed, inhaling sharply. She couldn't ever remember anyone besides Derek telling her that she had made them proud before and Emma, her future mother in law, was telling her that now, and she couldn't help the tears from sliding down her cheeks. She had a mother, one that loved her and was proud of her. "Thank you, Emma."

Emma pulled back and smiled softly at her son's fiancé. "You're going to marry my son in a month, Meredith," she said, reaching out to wipe away Meredith's tears. "I've considered you my daughter for years now, I think it's acceptable for you to call me Mom."

Meredith blinked in surprise. She hadn't been expecting that, especially since Chris and Matt, Nancy's husband of a year and a half, both called her Emma. But they both had moms who cared about them and knew they existed, and she…she wanted a mom. "Okay," she whispered. "Mom."

Emma squeezed Meredith's hands tightly, pressing a soft kiss to her cheek before turning to Derek. "And you, my one and only son…I can't even put into words how proud you have made me. Me and your father."

"Mom," Derek shook his head slightly, not wanting to break down in the middle of the restaurant.

"Derek, you are a wonderful man," Emma smiled, reaching up to brush his cheek with her hand. "And you're going to be an amazing doctor, and an extraordinary husband and father, just like your own father."

Derek swallowed hard as he nodded, not trusting himself to speak in that moment. He leaned forward to hug her tightly. "I love you, Mom."

"I love you too," Emma whispered, kissing his cheek gently before she turned to leave the restaurant.

"You okay?" Meredith asked Derek softly, squeezing his hand.

"Yeah," he whispered. "I'll…I'll tell you later."

"Okay," Meredith smiled, leaning her head against his shoulder.

"Alright, baby brother," Nancy said with a smile as she stood as well. "I think we're all ready to call it a night."

Derek smiled as he hugged his sisters good night, turning to Meredith as they were the only two left in the room. "And then there were two," he said, reaching out to lace her fingers through his.

"We should probably leave too," Meredith giggled. "I think the staff here hates the Shepherds. And…I may have a surprise for you waiting under this dress."

"Let's go," Derek said, tugging her towards the door.

"In a hurry?" Meredith asked with a giggle as he shoved her into the empty elevator.

"Hmmm," Derek nodded, pushing her against the wall as he kissed her firmly.

"I love you," Meredith whispered against his lips, threading her fingers through his hair.

"Me too," Derek replied, moving his lips to her neck.

"No, Derek," Meredith whispered, pulling back to look him in the eye. "I mean I really love you, Derek. More than I've ever loved anyone. And…I'm so glad that I get to share this with you because even though I've never been able to share anything important in my life with anyone…I'm glad that you're here. Because I can't imagine being here and being happy and being….me if you weren't here too. So, Derek, I love you. More than you will ever know."

"Oh, Meredith," Derek whispered, leaning forward to rest his forehead against hers. "I love you too. So incredibly much. And I promise that you will never be alone again. I'll be here with you for everything, good and bad. I will never ever leave you. Because I love you too."