Seattle, 5:20 p.m.
Bailey felt her heart pounding. She was surprised to find that she was nervous. She had called herself the Nazi, aspiring to be a figure of fear for her interns, and she had succeeded at first. They were all terrified of her when they started. But now they were her friends. And she was honored to have one of her interns (now a resident) ask her to officiate at her wedding. She thought of her own wedding; she had chosen her family's long-time minister to marry her, and she was married in a church before a crowd of more than two hundred people. The minister had used the traditional ceremony, and she and Tucker had done the traditional vows. She remembered them well. She had enjoyed her wedding tremendously, but that marriage was now over. Not that the end of her marriage had anything to do with the wedding. She and Tucker had just changed in ways that neither of them could have predicted when they married.
The audience before her was tiny; there were more people in her wedding party than in this wedding. The bride and groom stood before her, the best man (Richard Webber) besides Derek, and the maid of honor (Cristina Yang) besides Meredith. There were only three people seated: Caroline Shepherd, Chrissy Shepherd, and Izzie Stevens. Alex was standing in the back with the webcam, and George was either fiddling with the music or taking still photos. She hoped that their marriage would fair better than her own marriage. And she had prayed, knowing that the best start to their marriage would be successful treatment for Chrissy. She didn't want to even contemplate the alternative.
Although Bailey knew that there were many more watching in other locations, and that the video would be recording her speaking, she decided she would just focus on the bride and groom before her. She waited for the music to stop and then she began:
"We are here today to celebrate love and happiness, and loyalty, and, in my opinion, a lot of magic, to join together two exceptional and beautiful individuals, Meredith Grey and Derek Shepherd. We have all seen them come together to care lovingly for their daughter Chrissy." When she heard her name, Chrissy jumped up and smiled. "That's me," she shouted.
Carolyn Shepherd smiled and said, "We all know that, sweetie. Now it's time to be quiet. Let's let Dr. Bailey speak."
"Meredith and Derek, it is now time for you to say your vows."
Derek began, "I've loved you since the moment I met you at Joe's bar. If there's a crisis, you don't freeze. You move forward. And you get the rest of us to move forward. You say you're dark and twisty, but it's not a flaw; it's a strength. It makes you who you are. I love you, Meredith Grey, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you."
Meredith said, "When we first met, you said that if I got to know you, I'd love you. I thought it was just a cheesy line, but I soon discovered it was true, and I've loved you ever since. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Derek."
"Now it's time for you to exchange rings," announced Bailey.
Richard gave a ring to Derek, and he placed the ring on Meredith's finger. Then Cristina gave Meredith a ring, and she placed the ring on Derek's finger.
"Now, by the power vested in me by the State of Washington, I pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss."
Derek smiled and went to give Meredith a long loving kiss. Chrissy clapped her hands as she watched her parents kiss.
"And now I'd like to give the first toast," announced Bailey. "I think we should do the toasts now, and then we can eat while letting the other guests return to their normal activities." Meredith and Derek nodded. Alex opened a bottle of champagne and poured glasses for all the adults. He gave Chrissy a glass of Perrier.
Bailey raised her glass, "To Derek and Meredith, I was initially shocked to learn that you were involved. Derek was my boss, and Meredith was my intern. I didn't approve. But since then, I learned that you love each other dearly. I wish may you have many happy and healthy years together."
New York, 8:55 p.m., (Seattle 5:55 p.m.)
"That was when you were married, Addie. I don't know why she had to go there," remarked Nancy."
Addie looked at her friend. "It was painful at the time, seeing Meredith and Derek together. Having Derek tell me that he'd fallen in love with her. But it was my fault he was in Seattle in the first place, and now it's worked out well for me. Don't worry about me, Nancy."
"I just find it hard to let it go. Derek should have been faithful to you."
"When I had cheated first?"
"I'm a Catholic. I think you should honor your wedding vows, no matter what."
"Well, you've got to let it go, Nancy. I'm very happy with my new husband," Addie said, embracing Jake. "And if Derek hadn't been the good guy, hadn't tried to make our marriage work, he would have had three more years with Chrissy. So he's lost a lot in his effort to be a good guy."
Seattle 6:00 p.m.
.
Izzie raised her glass of champagne. "I'm next. I knew Meredith loved Derek early in our internship. I realized she was fully of gooey feelings about Derek, so I gave her some gooey chocolate cake, a cake that inspired today's wedding cake. When Derek returned this year, I knew they would wind up together, although I expected it would take a bit more time. Wishing you many years of health and happiness together."
"My turn," said Richard Webber. "Meredith, I remember you at Chrissy's age running all over the hospital. I was excited when you came here as an intern. I wanted to see you focus on your medical career. So I disapproved of your relationship with Derek at first and did all I could to stop it."
Derek, Meredith and Addie silently noted the reference to Richard Webber's decision to call Addie to Seattle for a consultation.
"And then I was amazed by your strength when you decided to raise Chrissy on your own. For Chrissy's first three years, you did an amazing job of developing your career while being a single mom. And Derek came to Seattle to help Chrissy, without even knowing she was his daughter. Derek, I always knew you'd be a gifted surgeon; your abilities were remarkable even as a first year intern. But I've been even more impressed by your dedication to Meredith and Chrissy since you've returned to Seattle. I'm so glad that you've come together now, and I wish you the best."
6:15 p.m., elsewhere in Seattle
Thatcher Grey got up and left the room as soon as he saw Richard Webber stand up.
"Mom, maybe I shouldn't take a job at Seattle Grace with Richard Webber if Daddy feels that way."
"Lexie, don't worry about Dad. He'll be thrilled for you to be here in Seattle. And Seattle Grace is the best hospital in the state."
"Should I go after Dad?"
"No, let's watch the rest of the toasts. I think they'll turn the webcam off soon."
6:20 p.m. Back at Meredith's house:
Alex gave George responsibility for the webcam. "Meredith, you're like a sister to me, which makes Derek a brother to me. Meredith, you give me hope that people who have had crappy lives can manage to find happiness. I wish you and Derek much happiness together. And I'm here to help, whenever you need help."
"Now it's my turn," said George. "Wishing you both many years of happiness and good health."
Cristina stepped up and gave her toast: "I've always wanted my person to be happy, and now she has a chance. She loves you Derek." said Cristina, "And Derek, just remember that I'll use my scalpel if you hurt her."
New York, 9:30 p.m. (6:30 p.m. Seattle)
"What kind of toast is that, Addie?" asked Nancy.
"Cristina Yang and Meredith Grey are best friends. Considering the heartache, your brother has caused Meredith, her toast is only fair."
"But it's being recorded," protested Nancy.
"She's being funny," noted Lizzie. "And as long as Derek doesn't hurt Meredith, it will just be a bad joke."
Seattle, 6:35 p.m.
"Now it's my turn," said Carolyn. "Derek, I am so happy that you found true love with Meredith. I wish you and Meredith many happy years together."
New York, 9:40 p.m. (6:40 p.m. Seattle)
"I told you your mother never liked me," Addie whispered to Nancy.
"But I love you, and so do Kathy and Lizzie and Amy."
"And I love you, Addie," added Jake. "And so does my mother and my daughter."
"I know, Jake. It's fine."
Seattle, 6:45 p.m.
"Can I give a toast?" asked Chrissy.
Bailey smiled, "Sure."
Chrissy said, "Can I have a fizzy drink?"
Bailey laughed. "No, the fizzy drink is for grownups only. You can toast using your soda. I'll give you some more."
"Ok." Chrissy looked at her mom. She imitated the others and held up her glass. "In the hospital, a lady asked me if I had a special wish. I told her that I wanted my mommy and my daddy to have a wedding just like Ariel and Eric. And today I got my wish. And I got to be a flower girl. I'm so happy that I got my wish. And now I have a new wish. I want to be a big sister, with a brother and a sister. I want so much to play with my brother and sister, like Daddy played with his sisters. But I know I have to go back to the hospital for a new marrow. My mommy is a great mommy, and my daddy is a great daddy, so they need more babies, so they can still be a mommy and a daddy if I die. So my wish is for a brother and a sister."
Meredith went over to Chrissy, with tears running down her cheeks. She hugged her daughter and assured her, "You're going to be fine sweetie."
Chrissy ignored her mother's reassurance. "If I die, I can still be a big sister in heaven, just like the Lion King's father is still a daddy in heaven."
"You're not going to die, sweetie," said Meredith, still hugging her daughter.
"Then why are you crying, Mommy?"
"She's very sad that you think you might die, sweetie," said Derek softly. He had walked over to Meredith and Chrissy. "You're going to be fine. We're all going to do everything in our power to help you live."
Chrissy looked up at her father. "And will you give me a brother and a sister? That's my wish."
Derek laughed. "It's not like we can go to a store and pick out a brother and a sister."
"I know babies grow in mommies' tummies. Mommy showed me photos of her tummy when I was growing. But she never told me how the baby got there. How do babies start growing?"
"That's a good question. But we can discuss that another time. Right now, we have a wedding to celebrate." Derek smiled as he picked her up and kissed her.
"Okay," Chrissy said.
"Thank you all for joining us for the wedding, but we're going to sign off now," said Alex as he shut off the video feed.
New York, 9:55 p.m. (6:55 p.m. Seattle time)
At Kathy Shepherd's home, everyone had tears in their eyes, if not running down their cheeks, including Chrissy's Aunt Nancy.
"Do you think Meredith told Chrissy that she could die?" asked Nancy.
"No way!" exclaimed Addison. "But she's a bright girl, and I'm sure she figured out that the bone marrow transplant could be dangerous."
"Meredith must have let Chrissy spend hundreds of hours watching Disney videos. It sees like everything she knows about weddings and life and death comes from Disney movies," commented Nancy.
"Your poor niece has spent several months in cancer treatment, either in the hospital or at home, without any other kids. No wonder she's watched many hours of Disney videos," responded Addison.
"Mom, you let us watch hundreds of hours of Disney movies, too," pointed out Olivia, Nancy's oldest daughter. "You never restricted our tv or movie viewing. Why don't you like Aunt Meredith?"
"Aunt Meredith?"
"She just married Uncle Derek, so she's now Aunt Meredith, Mom. You know how it works; your uncle's wife is your aunt. You didn't answer my question. Why don't you like her? Have you ever even met her?"
"I met her once, on my visit to Seattle years ago. She was an intern. I only saw her briefly. I love your Aunt Addie, and Meredith should have left him alone. He was married."
"Nancy, you know Meredith didn't know he was married then," chided Addie.
"She did by the time that infamous prom rolled around."
"What prom, Mom?" asked Olivia.
"It's not important, Olivia," stated Addison emphatically. "I found true love with Jake, and we're having a baby. I'm happy for Derek. And Meredith's great."
"Not as great as you," said Jake. "But I'm glad that Derek has Meredith. I got lucky because you were free to be with me." He put his arm around her, and Addie kissed her husband on his cheek. She smiled and said, "I'm very lucky, too."