Okay, so this is just a filler chapter, but the good news (for you) is that I have to wait until tomorrow morning to watch what may be the most amazing episode of Grey's ever. Which means I'm going to distract myself by working on the story until the episode's up online. So...enjoy!

"Meredith, you have to stop bouncing," Derek laughed as Meredith leaned over him to look out the window.

"California, Der," Meredith replied, looking at him with sparkling eyes. "We're in California."

"I know," he said, reaching out to brush her hair away from her face. "But you're scaring people."

"I've never been to California," Meredith giggled as the seatbelt sign was turned off and the cabin burst into activity. "Come on, we've got to go."

"They're not going anywhere," Derek laughed. "The plane just landed."

"We're in L.A.," Meredith giggled as she handed him his carry on suitcase. "We're in L.A. and we're spending a week with Mark and Addison. We can't waste time on the plane."

"Okay," Derek laughed, following her down the gangway. He wasn't sure he'd ever seen her this excited, and he was happy to see it. This had been the major part of her birthday present, and he was glad she was excited.

"Addie!" Meredith giggled happily as they stepped through security and saw Mark and Addison standing on the other side of the airport. Meredith ran over to them and hugged Addison tightly, the two of them giggling loudly.

"We're in for a long week," Mark sighed as he reached out to hug Derek.

"Mer's been excited for days," Derek laughed as he pulled back from his best friend and moved to hug Addison. When they had all greeted each other, Addison looped her arm through Meredith's and smiled widely. "I'm so glad you're here," she giggled as they climbed into the car.

"Addison," Meredith breathed, stopping to pull her left hand closer to her face. "Is that..."

"We're engaged," Addison giggled widely, holding out her hand for Meredith's inspection.

"Oh my God," Meredith cried, hugging her tightly.

"It's about time," Derek said to Mark.

"Hey, just because your wife was okay with a shitty proposal doesn't mean Addison would be," Mark argued. "Have you met the woman?"

"And you're the matron of honor, of course," Addison giggled.

Meredith smiled nervously as she glanced at Derek. "Um...yeah," she said. "Of course."

Addison frowned as she glanced between Derek and Meredith. "What's going on?" she asked.

"We just...well, you won't want a pregnant matron of honor."

Mark slammed on the brakes, causing everyone to jerk forwad as Mark and Addison turned to stare at the couple in the backseat.

"Excuse me?" Addison asked after a moment.

"I'm not pregnant," Meredith said quickly. "But depending on when you get married...we might be by then."

"Seriously?" Mark asked. "You're going to be interns with babies?"

"We've got it all woeked out, Mark," Derek smiled, lacing his fingers through Meredith's.

"Oh my God," Addison giggled. "This is amazing."

"It is," Meredith smiled. "But we're not going to take away for your news. This is amazing, Addison's been expecting a proposal ever since Derek proposed to me."

"Don't remind me," Mark rolled his eyes.

"Shut up," Addison said, slapping his arm. "Okay, so we have classes this week, but we're giving you a copy of our key so you can come and go as you please. But we don't have a guest room so you're sleeping on the pull out couch."

"Which means you have to wear clothes," Mark insisted. "I don't want to start off my day seeing little Shep."

Derek frowned. "That's not..."

"Okay, you're so not having this argument again," Meredith rolled her eyes. "We'll be fine sleeping on the couch."

"And if you break it you're buying us a new one," Mark added.

"Yeah, yeah," Derek rolled his eyes.

"There's lots of stuff to see so you won't be bored," Addison said. "And we can totally hit up some of the good nightclubs."

"Nightclubs?" Derek frowned.

"Addison's determined to meet George Clooney," Mark rolled his eyes.

"I'd be okay with that," Meredith giggled, ignoring Derek's frown.

"And I know you hate shopping," Addison sighed. "But I really want to look for a wedding dress on Rodeo Drive."

"Believe it or not, Beth likes to shop more than you," Meredith smiled. "I'm getting used to it. And I'd love to help you pick out a wedding dress."

"Good," Addison said firmly as Mark pulled into a parking garage. "This is our place."

Derek sighed as he got out of the car, watching Meredith and Addison walk towards the stiars, giggling and whispering. Mark appeared at his side, looking at him closely. "Dude, what's going on with this whole baby thing?" he asked.

"We're ready, Mark," Derek sighed. "I know it's going to be hard, but...God, it's so worth it. To have a little girl running around with Meredith's smile, I can't think of anything better."

"Man, you better make sure you know what you're doing," Mark shook his head. "You'll never have sex like you do now ever again."

"You're a pig," Derek rolled his eyes. "It's not about sex. It's about having a real life with Meredith."

Mark nodded as they stepped into Mark and Addison's apartment. "If you're ready," he sighed.

Derek smiled as he looked around the apartment. "Nice place," he said.

"It'll do," Mark shrugged. "Not all of us have rich uncles who let us sublet their apartments."

"Very funny," Derek rolled his eyes, turning to Meredith and wrapping his arms around her waist. "Hi."

"Hi," she giggled, turning to look at him. "Guess what."

"What?"

"Addie wants to be an obstetrician," Meredith said. "She's been telling me all kinds of things about conceiving."

Derek smiled as he pressed a kiss to her cheek. "Good to know," he said. "At least we'll eventually have a doctor we can trust with pregnant Mer."

Meredith rolled her eyes. "You can ignore him."

"Oh, I learned how to do that a long time ago."

Derek frowned as Meredith dissolved into another fit of giggles, turning back to Addison to resume their girl talk.

XXXXX

"So, I'd like to make a toast," Mark grinned a week later, holding up his water glass as they sat in a downtown restaurant later in the week.

"Aww," Addison said, reaching for his hand as the rest of them raised their water glasses as well.

Mark thought pensively for a moment before he said, "To tying the knot and getting knocked up."

Addison rolled her eyes. "I knew I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up," she sighed.

Derek laughed as he held up his glass. "I'll drink to that."

"Thanks for a great week," Meredith smiled as she looked at Mark and Addison. "Really, it's been amazing. I love the west coast."

Addison smiled widely. "I'm glad you've had fun," she said. "And you'll be back out for the wedding."

"Next summer," Mark nodded firmly. "Apparently weddings take a year and a half to plan."

"Ours didn't," Meredith frowned.

"Well you didn't have a mother who was constantly telling you that every decision you make is wrong," Addiso rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, starting with the groom," Mark frowned.

"It'll be fine," Addison said. "I just want to factor in time to argue with her about everything. And besides that, we want to get married in the summer, and there's no way we can plan a wedding in two months."

"Good point," Meredith sighed as she bit into her steak.

"So..." Mark said, flashing Derek a smile. "When are we going to become godparents?"

Derek rolled his eyes. "There's no time frame," he said. "Whenever it happens."

"You have to call me the second it happens," Addison giggled. "So I can start buying baby clothes. Your kids are going to be so adorable."

"We know," Derek laughed.

Meredith rolled her eyes as she looked at Addison and Mark. "We're going to miss you guys when we have kids," she sighed. "I wish they could have Uncle Mark and Aunt Addison around to spoil them."

Mark laughed. "Well, if you ever have a boy Addison and I are going to have to have a boy too," he said. "We've got to carry on another generation of Shepherd and Sloan."

"Yes," Derek laughed. "Can't let that tradition fail."

"Oh my God," Addison rolled her eyes. "We may want to rethink this."

"Sadly, I've already committed," Meredith sighed. "Divorces are so expensive. You, however, have a choice."

"Yeah, but then I have to give my ring back," Addison sighed.

"I guess we're stuck," Meredith sighed.

"We'll just never have to make sure we never have sons at the same time."

"I was promised sons," Derek announced.

"No, you were promised two children," Meredith said firmly. "Don't think that you can change my mind about that."

Mark laughed. "Mer's finally aware of the Shepherd fertility?" he asked. "I wondered when she would catch on."

"I'm not falling into that," Meredith shook her head. "Two. That's it. I refuse to have a litter of children."

Derek laughed as he wrapped an arm around her. "Of course not," he placated.

"You guys are so adorable," Addison giggled as she leaned into Mark.

"I'm adorable," Meredith corrected. "Derek's just an idiot."

Derek frowned. "You're being particularly abusive tonight," he commented.

"Well, you're being particularly stupid tonight," she giggled.

"Watch it, Shep," Mark warned. "You're sending yourself into the doghouse."

Derek shook his head, leaning in to kiss Meredith's forehead. "I don't have a doghouse," he bragged. "This one can't stay mad at me for too long."

Meredith smiled as she rested her head on his shoulder. "I'm building up an immunity," she said. "I won't be able to resist the McDreamy look forever."

"McDreamy?" Mark asked.

"Oh my God," Addison giggled. "I totally forgot about that."

"Don't," Derek said, his eyes pleading with Meredith.

"Derek's nickname," she giggled. "Before we even knew you guys, Derek was McDreamy."

"What was I?" Mark asked, a grin slowly spreading across his features.

"McSteamy," Meredith replied.

"Nice," Mark laughed. "Your wife thinks I'm steamy, Shep."

Derek frowned. "Yeah, well...your fiancé think's I'm dreamy."

"Steamy trumps dreamy."

"It does not."

"It does..."

"Okay, you're not three," Meredith rolled her eyes. "Obviously I think Derek's more attractive. And Addison thinks Mark is. Whatever, there's no drama this way."

"I can't believe you guys have to go back tomorrow," Addison sighed. "This week went by so fast."

Meredith sighed as she laced her fingers through Derek's. "Yeah, we have to get back to school," she said. "And I told Liz I'd go with her to her ultrasound. Shawn's away on business, so she really needs someone there."

"Well, we'll be back out this summer," Addison nodded firmly. "And maybe by then I'll be able to help you start getting ready for a baby."

Meredith smiled as she leaned into Derek, hoping against all odds that her best friend was right. The next time she saw them, she could be pregnant.