"Wake up, Mrs. Shepherd."
Meredith felt a warm breath in her ear and she reached up to swat at the annoying voice beside her head. Early. It was way to early.
"Meredith. Wake up."
"No," she mumbled, clutching her pillow tightly in her hands. "Awake stupid."
Derek laughed slightly, and she felt him climb into bed beside her. "Happy birthday, Mer," he whispered in her ear.
Meredith sighed dramatically as she rolled onto her back and looked up at him. "There better be presents," she said.
"How was I lucky enough to end up with such a polite wife?" Derek laughed, pulling her close to kiss her.
"You'd think you would be nice to me on my birthday."
"I'm always nice to you." He smiled as he leaned closer. "I was very nice to you last night."
Meredith giggled as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "Well, since you insisted that sleeping with a twenty four year old is so much different than sleeping with a twenty three year old...why don't we test out that theory?"
Derek smiled as he pressed his lips against hers. "We will," he nodded. "But breakfast first."
"Breakfast?" Meredith's eyes lit up as she turned to the tray Derek was reaching for on the bedside table. "You're the best husband ever."
"So I've heard," Derek laughed.
"Hmmm," Meredith groaned in appreciation as she cut into her French toast. She chewed for a moment before she said, "Mom's coming at noon. What time is it?"
"Nine thirty," Derek nodded. "Plenty of time for lots of birthday sex."
"You're assuming a lot, Shepherd," Meredith giggled. "I think I want presents before I want sex."
Derek frowned. "What if my present is sex?"
"Expect the divorce papers in a week to ten days."
"You'd divorce me because I didn't buy you presents?"
"Yes," Meredith nodded, her eyes sparkling. "That, and the fact that you kept me up until five in the morning with dirty dirty sex, then woke me up four hours later. Without presents."
Derek laughed as he reached out to steal a piece of bacon from her plate. "You know there are presents," he laughed.
"Good," Meredith nodded, looking up at him with a sweet smile on her face.
"Oh, you want them now," Derek said, laughing as he stood and walked over to the wrapped presents sitting on the dresser.
Meredith's eyes began to sparkle as he deposited the presents on the bed in front of her. "I love you."
"Two seconds ago you were divorcing me."
"I was joking," Meredith rolled her eyes. "You know I could never divorce you."
"Because then who would feed you?"
"Exactly," Meredith giggled before she leaned forward and kissed him deeply, running a hand through his hair. "Seriously, Derek, you know I'm kidding, right?"
"I do," he nodded, squeezing her hand gently. "Now presents."
"Presents," Meredith giggled as she reached for the smallest one, opening it quickly to reveal a silver charm bracelet. "Oh," she said, looking a the small chain, with only one charm on it.
"Don't get disappointed yet," Derek laughed. "It's just starting this year. I'll get you a new charm every year. I wish I'd thought of it for your first birthday that we were together, but this is your first birthday that we're married, so that works too."
Meredith smiled as she looked down at it. "It's perfect," she nodded. "A D?"
"For Derek," he rolled his eyes.
"Of course," she giggled, holding her left arm out to him. "Put it on?"
Derek smiled as he latched the bracelet around her wrist, pressing a quick kiss to the inside of her wrist as he did so. "Beautiful."
"Hmmm," Meredith smiled widely at him before she turned back to her presents. The next one she picked up was an envelope, and she smiled widely as she opened it and pulled out several pieces of paper. "Plane tickets?" she asked. "We're going to California?"
"To visit Mark and Addie," Derek smiled. "We've got spring break in a couple of weeks, and they were out here a couple months ago, so I just thought it would be fun."
"It's perfect," she smiled, leaning forward to kiss him gently. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Derek smiled as she reached for her last present. "Now this one...is as much for me as it is for you. Maybe more."
Meredith giggled as she threw the wrapping paper to the floor. "Dirty birthday presents," she smiled. "I like it."
Derek watched as she opened the box, already feeling more aroused just at the thought of what was under the tissue paper.
"Derek," Meredith breathed, holding up the tiny black negligee, a blush creeping over her features. "I...what?"
"There's more," Derek practically moaned, reaching down to stroke himself.
"Derek," Meredith hissed, the blush becoming darker as she pulled out a pair of fishnets and black high heels. "Are you...seriously."
"It's hot, Mer," he said with a shrug. "I know you don't usually like that, so if you're not comfortable with it you don't have to, but..."
Meredith smiled as she glanced down at his lap. "If I'm getting this much of a reaction when it's just in the box, I'm curious to know what will happen when it's on me. And you're in me."
"Oh god," Derek moaned, throwing his head back onto the pillows.
"Too bad I have to go out to lunch with Mom and Caitlin," Meredith giggled as she placed the lid back on the box. "This will have to wait for another time."
"Wha..." Derek frowned as he watched her put the box in her closet, then make her way towards the bathroom. "Mean, you're mean and evil."
Meredith giggled as she leaned over the bed to whisper in his ear. "You know...if you're a bad boy and don't do what I tell you to on my birthday...I might be forced to use those handcuffs I got you for your birthday to make sure you're properly punished."
Derek moaned as he stared up at her, his skin flushed as he panted heavily. "Meredith..."
"But that's tonight," she said, pushing herself off of him and moving towards the bathroom. She giggled as she started brushing her teeth, listening as Derek cursed under his breath from their bedroom. He was so much fun to tease.
XXXXX
"Thanks for lunch," Meredith said as she climbed the stairs with Emma and Caitlin. "And the shopping."
Emma smiled as she reached out to squeeze Meredith's hand. "I'm glad you had fun," she said. "I know you don't usually enjoy shopping, but I'm glad you were willing to do it."
"Baby shopping is completely different," Meredith nodded. "I can't wait to see the new ones."
"Nancy's hesitant to bring them into the city," Emma sighed. "But you'll see them soon."
"Do you want to come in?" Meredith asked as they reached the door. "Derek's taking me to dinner tonight, but we have a little time if you want some coffee or something."
"We'd love that, dear," Emma smiled.
"Good," Meredith nodded, turning the unlock the apartment, stopping short as she took in the colorful decorations and the crowd standing before her yelling surprise. "What..." she frowned as she turned to look at Emma. "Did you know about this?"
"Of course we did," Emma laughed, leaning forward to hug her. "Derek asked us to be your distraction."
"Derek..." Meredith spun back around and was met face to face with her husband. "You did this?" she asked.
"Had to make sure we celebrated somehow," he smiled, leaning forward to kiss her gently. "Happy birthday, Mer."
"I love you," she whispered, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck.
"I love you too."
"Hey Grey are you going to say hi to us, or did we fly all the way out here to watch you make out with Shep?"
Meredith broke away from Derek, smiling widely as she saw Mark and Addison standing next to them. "Oh my God," she cried. "You guys, I had no idea you were coming out here!"
"That's part of the surprise," Addison giggled. "Happy birthday Mer."
"Thanks," Meredith laughed as she hugged her tightly.
"Derek went all out for this," Addison said as Meredith looked into the room. "Even all his sisters are here."
Meredith sighed as she turned back to her husband. "You really are amazing, you know that?"
Derek shrugged as he wrapped his arms around her. "I try," he said. "I want you to enjoy your birthday, Mer."
"I will," she nodded as she kissed him quickly, then turned to Liz as she approached them. Derek smiled softly as he walked over to the bar, reaching for the tequila as he watched Meredith greet their friends and family. He loved that she was able to have fun on her birthday, especially when she had complained about it for so long for the first birthday they were together. He'd realized then that she'd never had a real birthday, and vowed to make sure every birthday she had from here on out would be wonderful.
"Is that for Meredith?" Emma asked from beside him as she pointed to the drink he was fixing.
"Her favorite," Derek nodded.
"Hmmm," Emma said. "Are you sure she should have that?"
Derek frowned as he put a straw in the drink and turned to his mother. "Why not?" he asked.
"There's alcohol in it."
"And? Mer's legal and it's her birthday," Derek said. "She can have a drink."
Emma rolled her eyes. "Have you noticed anything different about her lately?" she asked.
"Mom, what's going on?" Derek asked.
"She threw up at lunch today."
"What?" Derek frowned. "Why didn't you call me? I would have cancelled the party if I'd known she was sick..."
"She threw up because of the pickles in her tuna salad," Emma said.
"Oh," Derek said, relaxing. "Mer hates pickles."
"But does she usually throw up at the mere smell of them?"
"Mom you're talking crazy," Derek said. "Would you just tell me what's going on?"
Emma sighed as she glanced into the living room where Meredith was talking to Beth and Addison, a hand rubbing her back. "I think you're going to be a father, dear."
The glass slid out of Derek's hand and crashed onto the counter, causing everyone to look into the kitchen. Meredith frowned as she looked at Derek's shocked expression and moved towards him. "Derek?" she asked, resting a hand on his shoulder. "Are you okay?"
"You..." Derek stared at her with wide eyes as a hand reached out to touch her stomach. "Meredith..."
"Derek?" Meredith frowned, looking down at his hand on her stomach. "What's going on?"
"Are you...did we...baby?" Derek heard his words come out in one long strand of incomplete sentences, and he knew he sounded like a complete moron. But somehow, his brain was incapable of making complete sentences.
"Baby?" Meredith frowned before her eyes widened and she pushed his hand off of his stomach. "There's no baby."
"But Mom said..."
"There's no baby," Meredith insisted, but he could see the doubt in her eyes. "I...party. We're having a party. And there's no baby."
"Oh," Derek said, wondering why he felt slightly disappointed at that thought.
"I'm...party," Meredith said quickly before she turned and walked into the living room, reaching for a chocolate covered strawberry as she turned to Lexie.
Derek sank his weight against the counter, watching her carefully. He didn't know how he'd missed it so far, but she looked...different. Maybe it was his imagination playing with him or it was just wishful thinking, but her hips were a little bit wider and her hair was shining more. He sighed as he shook his head, knowing it was just his imagination. Meredith would know if she was having a baby, there was no way she could have his baby in her stomach and not be aware of it.
It was for the best. It would have been hell for both of them, to finish med school with a baby and have a toddler during their internship. They weren't having a baby now, but they would one day. And that was all that mattered. It was a long time from now, but eventually Meredith would give birth to his babies. He just had to be patient.