Meredith sighed as she walked Derek walk out of the bathroom two weeks later, smiling as he reached for the bottle of champagne that sat chilling beside the balcony doors. He was completely naked, and she couldn't help but smile at the sight of his lean, tanned body as he popped the top on the champagne and offered her a wide, happy smile as he poured two glasses.

"What are you looking at?" he asked as he settled onto the bed, handing her a glass of champagne.

"You," she smiled as she clinked her glass against his and leaned her head against his chest.

"Like what you see?" Derek smirked.

"Definitely," Meredith smiled, setting her glass on the night table and snuggling back into him. "We go home tomorrow."

"We do," Derek sighed, wrapping an arm around her. "It's been a wonderful honeymoon."

"Best one I've ever been on," Meredith murmured.

"Well that's good," Derek laughed. "Because you're never going on another one. Unless we go again."

Meredith smiled as she reached for his hand, running her hand over his wedding ring. "Will you always wear this?" she whispered.

"Except for when I'm in surgery," Derek nodded. "But I'll keep it in my pocket. I don't like taking it off."

"Good," Meredith nodded. "It looks good."

"I love it," Derek laughed.

"I love mine too," she whispered.

"I'm glad," Derek whispered, pressing a kiss to her left hand, smiling at the cool metal of her rings.

"You know Liz thinks I'm going to be pregnant before Christmas," Meredith whispered, looking closely at him.

"Well…Shepherds like babies," Derek laughed. "But you won't be. We need a house before we have a baby."

"This is why I love you," Meredith said. She was quiet for a moment before she asked, "How many do you want?"

"A few," Derek said. "Two or three. I definitely want a boy, so we're not stopping until we get one."

"That's funny," Meredith said. "Because I'm capping it at four. After that you're going to have to get creative."

"You're giving me permission to sleep with other women?" Derek raised a eyebrow. "I don't like that."

"No," she frowned. "That's where the creative part comes in. And well…you're an idiot."

"I see," Derek laughed, pressing a kiss to her lips. "No one else. Ever. I promise you, Mer."

"No one else," Meredith shook her head.

After a moment, Derek whispered, "You said four." His voice was soft as he stroked his fingers through her hair.

"Hmmm?" she asked.

"You said you want four kids," Derek murmured into her hair, his heart pounding in anticipation.

"Yeah, well…I was so lonely growing up," Meredith shrugged. "And I don't want our kids to be lonely. Your family likes kids so I figured you'd want a big family too, but if that's too many…"

"It's not," Derek said quickly, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "It's perfect."

"What do you think they'll look like?" Meredith whispered.

"Hmmm," Derek sighed. "We'll have little girls with your smile. And your nose. My hair."

"And your eyes."

"Your giggle."

"Our son is going to be a clone of you, isn't he?" Meredith sighed.

"Yes," Derek laughed. "You'll love it."

"Maybe we should wait to have kids until we can choose to have girls and only girls."

"I don't like you."

"You love me," she giggled. "I just gave you sex for two weeks straight. And agreed to be with you forever."

"Well…if you don't give me a son I may overlook that."

"You're mean," Meredith sighed. "And to think that I was going to go skinny dipping with you in the ocean tonight."

Derek laughed as he leaned in to kiss her. "You know I'm kidding," he said. "I'll love you forever."

"Me too," she whispered, settling down on his chest. "You're going back to work on Monday."

"I am," Derek sighed. "I'll miss you."

"That's kind of sad."

Derek laughed. "I'm going to have interns," he said.

"You'll be a great teacher," Meredith assured him.

"I may come to you for pointers," Derek teased, twirling a strand of hair around his fingers.

"I'll be there," she sighed. "All summer…"

"School doesn't start for another month," Derek said knowingly. "You're going to be bored."

"No," she shrugged. "I'll pack up the apartment and move stuff to the trailer, watch the house go up."

"Come visit me at the hospital…"

Meredith giggled. "I think I might have time to check in once or twice," she said.

"It will be much appreciated," Derek laughed.

"Hmmm," Meredith sighed, snuggling closer into his chest. "I know it's the last night of our honeymoon, and you probably want sex…"

"Mer, we've been having sex multiple times a day for two weeks," he laughed. "I'm pretty sure we broke our own record today. It's okay if you're tired."

"Really?" she asked, turning her head to look up at him.

"Really," Derek laughed. "I am."

"Good," she sighed. "We can…mile high club."

"Oh, that was fun."

"Remember when we came back from Europe?" Meredith giggled.

"Of course I remember," Derek laughed. "That was probably the most embarrassing thing I've ever experienced."

"The flight attendant was obviously very concerned about your frequent trips to the restroom," Meredith giggled.

"It was a long flight," Derek protested. "It's not like there was anything better to do."

"I know," she smiled, patting his hand gently.

They were quiet for a moment, and Derek pulled is arms tighter around Meredith, burying his face in her hair. "Mer?"

"Hmmm?"

"Are you ever scared?"

"Of what?" she asked, running her hands over the soft hair on his chest.

"Losing this," Derek whispered.

Meredith pushed herself off of his chest to look at him, fear filling her eyes as she searched his eyes frantically. "What are you talking about?" she demanded. "Derek, you promised that we would always make time for each other. You promised that we'd never lose this, that we won't be with anyone besides each other. You promised, Derek, we can't lose this."

"That's not what I meant," Derek shook his head, reaching out to run a hand through her hair to comfort her. "I know that I'm never going to do anything to mess this up. And I trust that you won't either. I just… my parents were so completely in love. And now my mom's alone."

"Oh," Meredith whispered, relaxing slightly before she looked closely at him. "Derek… you can't live in constant fear of that. We can't."

"I know," he sighed, reaching in to pull her closer. "I just…God, Mer, I love you so incredibly much. And I have no idea what I would do if I lost you. Tomorrow or fifty years from now…I honestly have no idea what I would do."

"You'd be okay," Meredith whispered. "It would be hard and knowing you, you would probably spend a lot of time drunk at the lake, but…you'd be okay. Because you're you. And you're strong enough to move on. You did it when your dad died."

"Because I had you," Derek whispered.

Meredith frowned as she reached out to run a hand through his hair, her fingers burying themselves in the thickness. He leaned into her touch, taking the comfort she was offering. "Derek," she breathed. "Where is this coming from?"

"I don't know," he said honestly. "I guess…I was just thinking about our future and how many amazing things we have to look forward to. The house, our kids, their graduations and weddings, becoming grandparents. And then I just thought that we might not get to have that. Or one of us might have to do it alone."

"It is scary," Meredith whispered. "But…that's what makes it worth it."

"What are you talking about?" Derek frowned.

"We don't know what will happen tomorrow," she sighed. "There could…be a bomb in the hospital. Or there could be someone with a gun come into the school. We don't know. But that's why we have to make every day count."

"You're right," he sighed. "I know you are."

"I wish I could do something to help."

"You're doing it."

"Good," Meredith smiled, leaning forward to press a kiss to his forehead.

"Will you promise me something?" he asked as she rested her forehead against his.

"Anything."

"Promise that we'll always tell each other we love each other before bed," Derek whispered. "I mean, I'll say it more than that and I hope you will too, but even if we're mad at each other…I want you to promise that you'll say it. Because I never want to wonder when the last time we said it was."

"Okay," Meredith nodded. "I promise."

"Thank you."

"No need to thank me," Meredith whispered.

"I like that I can talk to you about this," Derek sighed. "I don't usually let people see me vulnerable like this."

"I know," she smiled softly, shifting to pull his head into her lap, stroking his hair gently as she smiled down at him. "I love that you let me in."

"You're the only one," he whispered.

"You can always talk to me, Derek," she promised.

"You are very easy to talk to," Derek smiled. "And you can talk to me too."

"I know," she nodded. "I do."

"Hmmm," Derek sighed as he looked up at her. "Are you excited to go home?"

"I am," she nodded. "But…I'll miss the beach. And the nakedness."

"We can be naked at home," Derek promised. "I can arrange for lots of naked at home."

Meredith giggled. "Good," she said. "You've set a pretty high bar for yourself, husband."

"Oh, I can top it," Derek nodded. "I think I've figured out a way to get some in the shower at the trailer."

"I told you, it's impossible," Meredith rolled her eyes. "The last time we tried I ended up on the floor outside the shower."

"Well, now I know that the door is not stable enough to take that much force," Derek shrugged.

"Impossible," Meredith said.

"You'll see," Derek said with a smirk.

"How far do you think the house is?" Meredith changed the subject.

"Well, they were supposed to have most of the walls up in the first floor by now," Derek sighed. "So…we're lucky if the foundation is poured."

"Derek," she rolled her eyes.

"It's true," he laughed.

"We have to start thinking about things," she said.

"Things?" Derek asked.

"Paint colors, furniture, carpets…things," she nodded.

"Well, that will give you something to do for the rest of the summer," Derek laughed.

"Derek, it's your house too," she said. "I want your opinion."

"Well…anything that I disagree with you on, you'll just change the order so you can get what you want."

"That's not true," she frowned.

"Oh really?" Derek raised his eyebrows. "What about the kitchen table?"

"That was…different," Meredith said. "The one you wanted was ugly."

"My point exactly," Derek nodded.

"Fine," Meredith sighed. "I'll just do it all by myself."

"I trust you, Mer," Derek said. "But I'm helping to pick out our bed."

She giggled as she leaned down to kiss him. "We do need to test that out together," she nodded.

"I doubt we'll be allowed to test them the way I want to," Derek said, wrapping his arms around her waist.

"Definitely not," Meredith sighed. "But we'll make sure that it's comfortable."

"We'll try every mattress in the store."

"Hmm," Meredith sighed. "Derek, we'll be happy, won't we? Even with the jobs and life and mothers who don't care about my wedding…we'll be happy? No matter what happens?"

"We will," Derek nodded, sitting up to press a firm kiss to her lips. "I promise, Meredith Shepherd. We will be happy."