A/N Thank you for all your comments after the last chapter! I'm happy you liked my vision of the wedding. In this chapter, a dose of MerDer hotness and a little freak-out on Meredith's part. Enjoy!
**********************************************************************************
With peaceful smiles on their faces, they slowly reached the door of their suite, Bessie nestled on Meredith's hip, her sleeping head resting on her mommy's shoulder. Derek passed the magnetic card to open the lock but before he let his family in he turned abruptly and lifted Meredith along with Bessie up into his arms.
"Derek! What are you doing? Put me down!" giggled Meredith.
"Nope, we have to do the justice to the tradition," he grinned. "And be quiet or you'll wake our princess."
"You wouldn't want that, huh?" she teased him, blowing into his ear as he carried them over the threshold gingerly.
"Oh, I wouldn't mind tucking her in all night… just not tonight," he added with a feral glint in his eye and put Meredith to her feet.
"I'll tuck our Cherry-pie to bed," she smiled up at him.
He planted a kiss on the top of the tiny blond head and said, "Be quick."
"Why? You have some plans for tonight, Dr. Shepherd?" she asked coyly moving to the room occupied by Bessie.
"You know I do, Dr…" he trailed off uncertainly, realizing he didn't know what she decided in regard to her surname. She signed the marriage certificate after him and with all the excitement of getting married to her; he completely forgot to ask her.
She smiled at him and answered softly, "Dr. Shepherd."
"You…?" She took his breath away once again.
"Yeah," she nodded. "I kept the Grey part too, because it's a part of my dark and twisty-ness," she shrugged. "But I like Shepherd. And Bessie will be a Shepherd any day. We're a family; I see no reason why I should stand out."
He shook his head in wonder as his male pride roared inside him. Meredith carried Bessie to her room and he searched the room for some alcohol and glasses. They had wine, whisky and scotch. The occasion called for champagne but he didn't want to be disturbed; he wanted his wife on his own. He carried the flutes to their bedroom and impatient for Meredith to join him, strode to the other room.
He found his wife crouching beside Bessie's bed, smoothing her covers. He kneeled beside her and passed a hand over her back. She shivered under his touch and let him lead her out, carefully closing the door. They entered the dimly lit room and Derek handed her her glass.
"To…" he paused seeking the right words.
"The Shepherds," she finished with a smile.
"To the Shepherds," he nodded gently knocking her glass with his. They barely tasted the ruby content of their glasses when he deposited them on the nightstand, only to get back to his new wife, take her in his arms and kiss her slowly, lazily, self-assuredly. His fingers found the discreet zipper of the dress and pulled it down. He stepped away from her for an instant letting the light material slide down her slender body and pool at her feet. His eyes drank greedily her flesh, naked but for the matching lavender panties. She stepped out of her heels and pressed into him, sneaking her arms around his neck, raining sweet little kisses on his lips, his jaw to his neck. He hooked his thumbs over the band of her panties and dragged them over her hips from where they fell to the floor with ease. He grew in his pants at the feel of her bare curves stretched along his fully clothed body.
He held her in his arms and lied gently on their king-sized bed. Before he could crawl on top of her, she lifted her leg and stopped him, placing her foot on his abdomen. He inhaled sharply as her movement gave him a delicious view over her glistening core and he strained painfully. Meredith's foot still blocked his access so he hastily shed his jacket and fumbled with the knot of his tie, his fingers seemingly having lost their surgical agility. Finally freed from the offending garment, he sent his shirt and the rest of his wardrobe to the floor. Only then Meredith hooked her leg around his hip and pulled him onto her, bringing his hard length at her opening with a wanton moan.
His head stopped at the level of her heaving breasts and he took one of the enticing nipples into his mouth, licking and sucking. She whimpered and grabbed fistfuls of his hair to keep his skilful mouth on her hardened peak. He bit lightly and turned its attention to its twin. After his careful ministrations left her nothing else than a moaning and writhing mess, he entered her in one torturously slow move evoking another series of moans coming deep from her throat. He panted as they built a slow steady rhythm, in and out, in and out, every stroke pushing her a little bit further towards her release but every time not enough.
He gathered on speed and force, afraid he wouldn't be able to last long. He slipped a hand between them and massaged her swollen bundle of nerves meticulously, bringing her over the edge. Yet he continued to pound into her with abandon, putting his own orgasm on hold until her walls started to clench around him for the second time. She screamed her pleasure into the night and he let go, spilling his hot seed deep within her. They lay entangled with each other, sweaty and out of breath.
"You… were right," breathed out Meredith. "Married sex… amazing…" she said with amazement in her voice. They had all kinds of sex until their wedding night but surprisingly, never this slow and tender yet full of their unrestrained passion. "Now, let's get dressed."
"What?" his eyes flew wide open; he surely misunderstood.
"Our pajamas are in the top drawer," yawned Meredith.
"You've got to be kidding!" he cupped her face and coaxed her mouth open slipping his tongue into her moist cavern.
"Not kidding," she moaned turning her head away from him.
"It's our wedding night and you're already denying me sex?" he pouted.
Meredith giggled teasing his chest with her nipples in the process, "We're exhausted with today's events. And as much as I desire the second round… we'll fall asleep naked if we go with it."
"What's wrong with sleeping naked?" he chased her escaping lips. "I'm all for sleeping naked."
"Bessie," she reminded. "We're sleeping in an unfamiliar place. She might get scared and come looking for us later."
"I guess," he sighed burying his head into the pillow and muttered, "Cockblocked on my own honeymoon…"
"Hey, I've just given you sex," she said indignantly. "You must learn to deal with your nymphomania, I did."
She slid from the bed and dove into the drawer. Seconds later his boxers landed on the back of his head. He took them and put them on grumbling. Meredith turned off the lights, slipped under the covers already in her nightie and let Derek spoon her from behind. They tried to settle comfortably but…
"You smell like sex," muttered Derek nuzzling his face into her neck.
Meredith bit her lip but broke into light giggles. She grabbed his hand and brought it between her legs where he discovered her complete lack of underwear.
"Tease," he growled into her ear, flipping her onto her stomach and insinuating himself between her thighs. He groaned with pleasure as he freed himself from the confines of his boxers and speared her forcefully pulling her ass upwards.
**********************************************************************************
They were terrible. They were horny most of the time before anyway but it seemed that the status of newlyweds somehow sanctioned having sex in every possible time and place. If it wasn't for Bessie, they probably wouldn't even bother to dismount each other. In spite of their tiredness the previous evening, they followed with yet another round of lovemaking, then one of morning sex, shower sex and table sex when it turned out Bess was still fast asleep. They barely made it in time to hastily pack their bags before the arrival of the cab, Bessie's favourite stuffed sea otter getting lost twice in the commotion.
They said their last goodbyes to Jen and Luke's family and friends. Jen and Luke themselves left for their two-week honeymoon early in the morning. Meredith and Derek, though newlyweds as well, had to obediently go back home. The chances of them both getting time off work again were slim, to say the least.
With Bessie already safely inside the car, Meredith leaned against the open door and for the last time took in the surroundings.
"What's in your head?" whispered Derek into her ear, taking notice of her suddenly pensive mood.
"The last few days, it was like taken from someone else's life," she murmured. "It was so simple, clear…"
"And now we're going home," nodded Derek.
"Yeah," she looked at him shrewdly. "I don't want this to go away."
"It won't," he kissed her softly and pulled away reluctantly before the things heated up again. "Besides, you realize we're stuck together now, don't you?" he grinned lifting her hand with her red ring sparkling in the sun.
"So, what happens in Sonoma doesn't stay in Sonoma?" smirked Meredith.
"Exactly, Dr. Shepherd," he looked at her dreamily. "It's going to get a little confusing at the hospital."
"Oh, right," muttered Meredith getting into the cab and pulling Bess onto her knees, drawing her close.
She didn't know why it hit her right now, what made her heart flutter in panic. She had been aware of everything that assuming Derek's name entailed. That was why she also kept her maiden name, not simply because it was an inherent part of her like she told Derek. She kept it as a safety belt in case being a happy Mrs. Shepherd became too overwhelming. She knew herself too well. She knew that moment would come, the moment of fear, of doubt, of overanalyzing everything. She was genuinely happy yesterday to transform into Meredith Shepherd, she was. That happiness still wandered somewhere in the back of her heart. And that ecstatic expression on Derek's face when she told him. She didn't want to ruin his bliss for anything.
She fixed her jaws into a soft smile and prayed Derek took her quietness for fatigue and unwillingness to leave the wine country. The impassive expression was still plastered onto her face several hours later when they entered their house.
"I'm beginning to get worried that she's getting a high after a flight," smiled Derek as Bessie ran into the house, to the dining room and back to the hall.
"You're worried she might become a flight attendant?" Meredith tried to play along lightly, though she craved to throw herself into the bed and think no more. Unfortunately, that was rather impossible. It was the first day of their marriage, they just got back to Seattle as newlyweds.
"A flight attendant?" repeated Derek with disgust apparent in his voice, as he tried to push out of his mind a surreal image of his adult daughter dressed in a skimpy uniform, ogled by horny male passengers.
"She's smart enough to be a pilot but I still believe she's going to achieve greatness in medicine."
He threw the keys onto the table in the hall and pushed a button on the phone to listen to the received voice messages. There was a melodic sound and Izzie's perky tones echoed through the house. "Mer, Derek? Call me when you're back! Are you going to be back on Monday? Because I'd like to order food samples. Oh, Mer! I've found some wonderful dresses for you to try on! Anyway, call me later! Bye!"
Meredith groaned and banged the wall with the back of her head. They had to go back to work the next day and announce they… well, had practically eloped. Furthermore, they had to face Izzie and her wrath…
Derek studied her face knowingly, "Don't take your coat off, wait for me."
He ran upstairs only to be back in the hall a few seconds later. He clasped Bessie's hand and ushered his girls outside into the car.
"Derek, I'm really tired," said Meredith. "Where are we going?"
He didn't answer, just smiled mysteriously but she knew soon enough.
"We're going to your land, aren't we?" she sighed, rubbing her temples. "What for?"
"Our land," he corrected her. "And you'll see."
He pulled up, took Bessie tightly into his arms so she couldn't run off and hurt herself, and led Meredith to the place where she had built the house of candles.
He faced her and said, "I know you're freaking out, Meredith."
She looked at him terrified and opened her mouth but couldn't lie.
"I know you're freaking out," he gave her a gentle smile. "This is big, this is scary and murky. But we're in this together, don't push me away, please."
"I won't," she promised solemnly and admitted, "I am… freaking out… just a bit."
He maneuvered his free hand in his pocket and drew out a little box. He managed to get out the smaller ring.
"Give me your hand."
She lifted her slightly shaking hand and he took her surrogate red ring off, replacing it with the delicate golden band. "Meredith, with this ring, I thee wed."
She blinked at him. They were getting married, again, on his… no, on their land. He remembered.
She took the blue ring from his pinkie with a giggle, took the bigger band from the box and slipped it on his ring finger.
"Derek, with this ring, I thee wed."
"You're husband and wife!" squeaked Bessie with a look on her face that could only say "Mommy and Daddy are crazy".
They laughed wholeheartedly and Derek caressed her cheek whispering, "Now I get to kiss the bride…"
"You're not going to complain anymore, I think," she smirked when they pulled away, "getting the second wedding night in a row."
**********************************************************************************
When they got back at Meredith's old house, they put off unpacking their bags, deciding to prolong their celebration time. They were a bit cold from their trip to the woods so Derek lit up the fire in the living room and they shared a warm meal in front of the fireplace. After the last piece of mac and cheese disappeared from their plates, Derek sat on the floor with his back propped on the couch, Meredith sat propped against his chest and Bessie curled into her lap, encircling her middle with her tiny arms.
As they watched the dying embers, Cherry-pie finally drifted off to sleep; the plane flight, the first visit on their land and the first sip of wine they exceptionally allowed her, took their toll on the little girl.
"She didn't like it much, thank God," sighed Meredith putting away her glass.
"A lot of children don't," said Derek with a small smile. "I'm not even kidding myself that it will stay like that forever. I just hope she inherited your strong head."
Meredith shivered involuntarily and played with her rings nervously, "I don't want her to be anything like me, ever!" she stated firmly.
"Meredith-" he began gently.
"I hope she took after you in every respect," she said bitterly.
"Well, I don't," he countered. "You're a wonderful woman."
"Yeah, right," she snorted. "A drunken whore with trust issues."
"Meredith," he caressed the blond tresses on her head with reverence and said refusing to accept any counterargument. "You're a wonderful woman, strong, compassionate, loving-"
"Getting around," continued Meredith. "Don't deny it, Derek, you said it yourself once."
"I did," he admitted heavily. "One of the most shameful moments of my life…" he cupped her chin lightly and turned her face, careful not to stir Bessie awake. "Everyone has darkness inside, what's important is what we do not to let it overcome us. And you did beautifully, and I love you for it, amongst many other things."
"You do?" she asked with a small voice.
"Meredith, yes," he threw a dreamy smile at her, shaking his head in wonder. "I don't ever want you to think or speak this way about yourself. You need to accept yourself and your past. Because it made you the amazing woman you are."
"Okay," she inhaled deeply and leaned for a desperate kiss before she settled back comfortably against his body while he pressed her to him the closest he could and hooked an arm around her.
"You know," started Derek casually, "not that we have to do this right now… but we should probably call Ma…"
"You, Derek Shepherd," she said smugly, "are afraid your mother's gonna ream you for getting married in secret!"
"No!" he frowned. "Yes."
"Well, sorry, I guess it's my fault," sighed Meredith. "You can blame me for taking advantage of you."
"Glad we've finally settled that old argument," he chuckled. "But, please, don't apologize for marrying me. It was the most beautiful day of my life."
"And probably the most corny."
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
"Me neither," she smoothed Bessie's hair affectionately. They should finally find time to file for changing her name to Shepherd and then… maybe they could try for another mini-Shepherd. She was more than ready and Derek would certainly be game for that. And well, they weren't very conscientious with condoms now anyway.
"We could…" she began but suggested instead, "call your Mom now."
"Yeah?"
"Mhm, I think I'm a bit afraid of her too."
Derek reached gingerly for his cell, the phone in the hall was way out of reach now. He felt so good supporting the weight of his girls that he would never leave this place if he could help it. Well, okay, he guessed he wouldn't say no to a round of sex with his wife.
He held the receiver between their heads and turned up the volume so they both could hear Carolyn's voice.
"Hi, Mom," said Derek merrily.
"Sounds guilty," mouthed Meredith. "Hi, Mom, how are you?"
"Meredith, Derek!" exclaimed Carolyn. "That's a surprise! I thought you wouldn't call so fast, we spoke only last Thursday."
"We can always hang up, Ma," joked Derek.
"Don't be a daft, son," Carolyn told him off. "You know I'm always thrilled to hear from you."
"Ask her if she's alone!" whispered Meredith.
"I'm sorry, sweetheart, did you say something?" asked the older woman.
Derek cleared his throat, "Are you alone, Ma?"
"What kind of a question is that?" she laughed. "One could think you were trying to get away with yet another event in your life that you excluded your family from, like getting married for example."
Derek and Meredith exchanged stupefied glances. Did she have a sixth sense or something?
"Meredith, Derbear?" her voice sounded sweetly dangerous. "I don't like that silence."
"Silence is gold, Ma," he jested hopelessly.
"Are you trying to be smart with me, boy?"
Meredith giggled; she could easily imagine Carolyn pulling Derek's ear.
"Of course not, Ma," he gulped audibly.
"You better not," she growled. "Meredith, did you really make my son an honest man?"
Meredith burst out laughing bringing a hand over her mouth minding her sleeping princess. "I believe I did, Mom."
Carolyn sighed, "What am I going to do with you two?"
"Congratulate?" offered Derek. "I'm sorry you weren't' there, Ma. We did it kind of on the spur of the moment. It was a quiet intimate ceremony, just the two of us, Bessie, the reverend and two of our friends who stepped for witnesses."
"Did you take any pictures at least?" she inquired hopefully.
"Yeah, well, our friend recorded everything with her cell phone," winced Derek.
"With her cell phone? Are you five-year-old? Playing husband and wife and exchanging plastic rings?"
Meredith slapped her forehead in humiliation.
"Why do I hear this awful silence again? You are a pair of ungrateful, ungrateful kids!" Carolyn paused to draw some air. "I'm so happy for you, dears, so happy."
"Thanks Ma," Derek rolled his eyes.
"I wish all the happiness in the world for the three of you," she said gently. "You deserve it."
"Thank you for being so understanding, Ma," sighed Derek with obvious relief.
"Oh, no problem, dear," she assured him sweetly. "I'm calling your sisters now."
**********************************************************************************
A/N As usual, I'm waiting for your comments; they make my day!
I finished writing down the last chapters of this story and I'll post them at regular intervals when I get them proofread. It proves really hard to part with this fic; the proof – the epilogue itself, which I've just started working on, will take two or three updates.
Yours,
Em :)
