A/N- Apologies for the lack of updates in the last few days, I had so many deadlines that I barely had time to write. Last little filler before they jet off to New York. Enjoy

Meredith was thrilled when Callie signed off her wrist as being healed enough to return to work just a few days after thanksgiving. She had strict instructions to go easy on it for a while, as it gained in strength again, but she'd become fairly good at holding things with the cast on, giving her just about enough strength to hold clamps and assist in short surgeries and do a few sutures. Mark had been over to the house more than once during her recovery, making sure that her face was healing and not causing her too much pain. He too signed off the Monday after thanksgiving, and by Tuesday she was back at work ready to catch up on what she'd missed during her time away.

Never one to shy away from hard work, she'd spent the following two and a half weeks cramming in as many hours as she could to make up for her time away, quickly getting used to the lack of sleep and living for the buzz of cutting someone open. Derek found himself having to pry her away from the hospital so that she could recuperate a little at home. He knew he was hovering a little but she seemed to be enjoying it now that she was no longer the owner of a fractured wrist and cheekbone, and was once again a fully functional surgeon, saving lives on a daily basis. Her schedule was to him completely dizzying, and he had to page her from time to time just to see if she was going to be home for dinner or bed. He missed coming home to her pottering around the house in her sweats, but her sex drive had seriously improved since she'd returned to work, so he had no complaints.

They hadn't had shift patterns that allowed them to be off on the same day since she returned to the hospital, and Derek had capitalized the time to himself by slipping out to buy her Christmas presents, stashing them in his office so she didn't hunt for them at home. He was however thrilled when the chief insisted that she take a day off on Derek's scheduled day off a couple of weeks into December. Meredith had switched shifts more than once at the expense of being able to spend more than a few hours at home at any given time. Derek had had plans to take her home, whisk her out for dinner and spend the next day in bed, but two drunk drivers half an hour before his shift ended put a wrench in his plans. He sent Meredith a text and went in on a brain bleed before he was finally able to get home and see his fiancée.

"Okay, see you soon, bye." Meredith said placing the phone back in its cradle as Derek hung his coat on the hook and took his shoes off.

"Who was that?" he asked, knowing that all of Meredith's friends were at work and not being able to think of another reason why she might be making some kind of date with someone.

"Oh, just Nancy, she wasn't in when I called earlier, but she rang back when she saw our number on her phone."

"Why are you ringing Nancy?" Derek asked, knowing that Meredith and Nancy hadn't seen eye to eye when she'd visited during Meredith's intern year.

"I phoned Kath and Lizzie too." she said smiling. "I asked your mom what to get the kids for Christmas, you know being a good future aunt and all that, and she couldn't remember off the top of her head which niece wanted what so she offered to ask the girls, but I said I may as well ring them myself." she smiled as if this was normal Meredith behaviour. Derek looked at her shocked. He reached a hand to check to see if she was feverish. She giggled at him gesturing to her list. "I thought that seeing as we have some time tomorrow we can make a start on getting the things for your family, and anything we don't get then, I'll pick up whenever I'm next off." The look of shock remained on Derek's face as he digested Meredith's words. "Derek, don't look so shocked, I want to be part of your family, so I'm being cool Aunt Meredith who buys good gifts." Derek grinned, he loved it when she mentioned being part of the family, and it made his heart swell to think of her as aunt Meredith, who spoke to his sisters and played with his nieces and nephews. He couldn't wait to be married to her and have their own children. Meredith had such maternal instincts that he knew she'd be an amazing mother, as well as a 'cool aunt'. She'd spent the best part of 12 consecutive days in the hospital to help out Alex with some family stuff, and now that she finally had a day off she wanted to spend them doing things for his family. In that moment he loved Meredith Grey even more than he thought possible.

She was up early the next day, and Derek woke to the smell of burning, which could only mean Meredith was attempting to cook. He descended the stairs quickly to make sure she hadn't set the house on fire, and found her headphones on dancing around the kitchen in a tank top and some pyjama pants, smoke rising out of the toaster. Derek quickly switched it off and retrieved the charred bread from inside, tossing it straight in the trash.

"Good morning," he said as he turned to his fiancée kissing her on the lips before accepting the coffee she handed him as she slid her headphones off.

"Hi," she said back, "that was supposed to be breakfast." she scrunched her nose as she reached for the cereal instead. Derek took the box from her hand and put it in the cupboard before laying four slices of bread in the oven to toast, taking them out as they just reached a golden brown colour and slathering them in nutella for Meredith and jam for himself. "What would I do without you?" she grinned taking a big bite and kissing him with chocolate coated lips.

"Well we never have to find that out," he smiled at her, wiping the jam from his finger onto the tip of her nose. She stuck out her tongue and licked it off causing Derek to chuckle and almost choke on his mouthful. "That's quite the party trick." he praised her pulling her into his lap and kissing her again.

"If we get all the shopping done I'll show you what else my tongue can do," she teased, wiggling her eyebrows.

"Shower?" he suggested pulling her up the stairs, her flirty giggle all the answer he needed.

They got into downtown Seattle just as the shops were opening, there weren't too many people around so they were able to get a good look at the stores they needed to visit. "Okay, so who's first?" Derek asked Meredith as she pulled out her list of Derek's family members.

"Dylan," she told him. "Kathleen said he was pretty much into sports of any kind. There's a shirt he wants but if we get that we have to let her know so she doesn't get it."

"How about tickets to see a game, we could get two and he could go with his dad. Maybe the Yankees?"

"Ooh, I like that." Meredith grinned. "Giving the experience, very good, and that's two down straight off. Where do I buy Yankees tickets? I mean I know where to buy good tickets, but where do I buy your kind of tickets?"

"Meredith, the back alleys where you buy your tickets for the terrible teams that come out of Boston are somewhat different to where we buy quality New York merchandise." he teased earning himself a smack on the arm as he opened the door to a sports store. "They sell tickets in the back here." he said as she pouted.

"Ooh look," she squealed holding up an infant sized Red Sox jersey. "Maybe we should get this for our future child, so they know early what team to support." Derek didn't know whether to be excited at the fact she said their future child or disgusted by her team choice.

"Meredith, our children are New York all the way. That's non-negotiable. You don't even like watching the game."

"Can they support both?" she said sweetly, batting her eyelashes because she knew it would sway him.

"I guess" he said leaning in to kiss her, knowing that this argument was moot until there was actually a baby involved.

"Ooh Iowa" Meredith squealed, unintentionally dodging the kiss before running towards a display of Hawkeye items.

"Meredith that's worse than Boston, our kids aren't supporting Iowa."

"No," she scoffed "Alex is from Iowa, I think he knew one of the guys on the team. He's been dying to see them again since he got here. He has a few holiday days in the New Year, perhaps I can get him tickets."

Forty five minutes later. Meredith and Derek emerged with several Yankees tickets, a pair for Dylan and Ryan the others for Mark, Derek, and his brothers in law as well as a meet and greet with the Iowa team for Alex. Meredith was incredibly pleased with her start, and immediately beelined for a jewellery store for gifts for Izzie, Lexie and several of Derek's nieces as well as his sisters and Carolyn. While she was looking at a multitude of pendants and bracelets and earrings, Derek wandered off to look at the selection of charms they had on offer. Her phoenix rarely left her wrist when they weren't at work, but he felt it was time to add to the bracelet, so it could be symbolic of more than just their fresh start. He paid for his choices, and walked back towards where he had left Meredith, seeing a clerk pulling something out of a case to join the multitude of items that already littered the counter. He found a bench near the exit and sat down next to another man, occasionally glancing back towards the jewellery counter waiting for Meredith to return with her choices.

"I'm impressed," Derek laughed when he saw the huge bag Meredith had gotten from the jewellery store. "That is a lot of shiny stuff. I have some very lucky nieces."

"Well I think once you reach ten, it's less about the toys. I just got money after the age of nine, maybe some clothes and books, but that's about it. I don't think my mom picked out much after anatomy Jane."

"Anatomy Jane?"

"Super creepy doll with removable organs. The only toy that she ever actually approved of. I still have her in one of her boxes. I'll show you when we get home."

"Okay, so what do we have left to buy?"

"Well something for George, and then all the stuff for the little ones."

"So toys r us?" Derek suggested, George was rather attached to his psp, and Meredith had an almost motherly knowledge of the games he already owned, and which others could be picked up with the toys.

"Perfect," she said kissing him. "But first lunch." Derek looked around the street before settling on the restaurant with the cheesiest Christmas display and festive menu.

Derek smiled as he watched her take in the light and decorations in the restaurant. She was clearly mesmerised by the effort that had gone into everything. He knew that she'd not had a Christmas like this since before her father left, and he doubted that even before that Ellis would have stood for such frivolity. He knew that at his mother's house, she'd get to experience a family Christmas, but it made his heart ache to think of her having missed out for so many years. He was determined to make it up to her though. Starting now, she was going to love Christmas. It would be more than just a day eating microwaved food in the cafeteria, never knowing how long Ellis would be in surgery. From now on, he was pulling out all the stops, and this year would certainly be the best she'd ever had, but he was going to guarantee that they just kept getting better.

"So let's start with George," Derek said pointing to the PSP display. Meredith shuffled through the titles before picking out a game George had mentioned getting but hadn't gotten around to yet. She tossed it in the trolley checking the rest of the titles to be sure that was the one she wanted. Satisfied with her choice, she consulted her list, formulating a plan to ensure she could get as many presents as she could without needing to come back again before they left for New York.

"Boys now," Meredith announced leading Derek to the Lego aisle which both Nancy and Kathleen had suggested for their boys. Jacob, Branden and Louis.

"Meredith look, look." Derek said as Meredith read the back of one Lego box. He had a dinosaur made of the bricks which moved with the press of a button. Meredith laughed out loud at the boyish expression on his face as he played with the various sets. Derek would relish having a son in the house someday, and she silently hoped that one day she'd be able to give him one.

"Brandon would probably like that," she smiled picking up the box. "Though Kathleen said for Jacob we just have to be mindful of Madison. I mean she's nearly three, but I guess Lego might be tasty if you're that age."

I love how you care so much about my nieces and nephews." he said kissing her head. He pulled a box boasting a scale model kit of a theme park ride from the shelf. "This for Jacob, the pieces are a little bigger, but it still looks good." Meredith nodded, her eyes finding a pirate ship worthy of 8 year old Louis. "All my boys are sorted now, except for Jayden" she grinned. "Still have to find something for my man though," she giggled. She'd definitely be coming back for the dinosaur for Derek.

"Okay, girls." Meredith smiled entering the valley of pink as she glanced at the dress up clothes for Taylor and Erin. She hit the mother lode when she found tiny cardboard chests each containing a princess dress and shoes along with tiara, jewellery, wig, gloves and a story book. She picked up a purple Rapunzel, and an Ariel and put them in the trolley with the other toys. Derek looked at what the young boys section offered coming back instead with a tiny set of scrubs suitable for a new-born. Meredith couldn't contain her grin as she picked it out of his hands. "If I were pregnant that would be in our trolley right now." she smiled.

"well, if we never use it, whoever has a baby next can have it." he kissed her on the forehead, knowing that there was a strong chance they'd use it someday, but knowing Meredith needed the reassurance that if it didn't happen it didn't matter. They were years away from having a baby anyway, but nowadays, it was less if and more when. She blinked away the tears threatening to fall as she thought about how perfect it would be to have a child with Derek even if it was far from an ideal time. She cleared her throat, once again consulting her list.

"Madison, Paige and Jayden."

"2, 1 and 3?" Derek said

"4." Meredith corrected "as of last month. We sent him a gift card because his uncle forgot it was his birthday." She gave him the face that she usually reserved for her interns when they messed up. He had to admit, it was pretty terrifying even for him.

"Well then we'll pick out something good now." He pouted as they looked through an array of action figures, before Meredith spotted a particularly nice junior scalectrix set, which Derek insisted on trying out first before they put it in the trolley. They headed down the toddler aisle for Derek's youngest nieces, Meredith fawning over the baby dolls and stuffed animals, finally deciding on a Minnie mouse doll and an aqua doodle mat for Madison and a set of sturdy colourful animal blocks and a cuddly frog that Meredith had fallen in love with for one year old Paige. Once they made it through the tills and back to the car, it was only three o clock, so both Meredith and Derek hit the mall for some of each other's gifts. Derek insisted on Victoria's secrets, and Meredith obliged, having found a hole in the lace of her favourite bra, and knowing that some of her panties had seen better days. Lingerie was always fun too. Whilst Derek went off into a sea of lace armed with Meredith's sizes, Meredith looked at the lounge wear, picking out a few pairs of pants and some new vests, and a pair of pyjamas with a cute motif on. She found a jumper with a snuggly hood which was perfect for wearing around the house when it was cold. She passed her choices onto Derek and he paid for both his choices and hers before joining her at the door. Next, Derek headed into a clothing store to pick out some jeans upon Meredith's insistence that if the zipper had teeth missing then the jeans had to go. While he was choosing between two seemingly identical pairs, Meredith glanced through the sweaters finding one the exact colour of his eyes, and placing it under a pair of pyjama pants she liked for him. Derek finally made his choice and picked two pairs of jeans for Meredith to give him before she paid and the pair looked in the other shops around the mall. They both picked out odds and ends that they thought the other would love. Both had a few other ideas up their sleeve for little surprises that they'd pick up over the next week and a half, but they picked out little things that the other had hinted at, making the other close their eyes while they made final decisions on colours and styles.

They picked up a few little things for Derek's mom too, a nice scarf, a perfume Derek knew she loved but refused to buy because of the price. Meredith had found Nancy's perfume in cabinet in the jewellery store, Izzie having told her which one it was after she visited. Derek took Meredith past the many Christmas displays Seattle has to offer, marvelling at her excitement over a season he had taken for granted his entire life. When they eventually headed home. Meredith was keen to get all the presents packed so she knew how much room she'd have for clothes, plus she was hungry, and Derek had promised to feed her.

They got to bed, and Derek immediately rolled on top of her kissing her all over with all he had. "Someone's keen," she giggled, not stopping him in the slightest.

"Seeing you in aunt mode makes me incredibly hot," he said, "tomorrow, your tongue can do all the work, but tonight, I am doing all your favourite things. Meredith giggled, purring as his hand began to roam around her body. If shopping was enough to cause Derek to go all out on her body, she'd do it every day off.

Meredith had a 6-6 shift the next day, and Derek drove her in, insisting he'd do paperwork until his shift started. There was a slight dusting of snow, and the roads were a little icy, and he knew she hated driving on ice, so he drove even if it meant going early. Meredith didn't protest, she'd once spun on a busy freeway in her mother's car, totalling it as a teen one break from college, and she'd had a lucky escape, but she didn't fancy driving in the snow any longer. He held her hand all the way in so that she wouldn't fall down. They only had ten more days until they finally got to rest for a few, even if it did involve them going on two eight hour flights and spending the holiday with a lot of people running around. For Meredith, it was her first family Christmas, and as scared as she was that she was going to meet the whole of Derek's family, she was really excited that she got to be a part of it. Meredith had had a big year, and it was only going to get better.

Another week went by, and Christmas loomed ever closer, Derek's excitement totally obvious, and Meredith's beginning to show over her obvious apprehension. The hospital had gotten in the way of any chance to pack together, and Meredith seized the opportunity when she and Derek were both home earlier than usual.

"So what did I get my lovely grown up nieces and my adoring sisters?" Derek asked as Meredith began to pack her present suitcase. She pulled out the jewellery store bag and emptied the contents on the bed. "Okay, for Kathleen, and Nancy I got perfume, Nancy told me what Kathleen's favourite was, and Izzie remembered what Nancy was wearing when she came to visit. For Lizzie I got these earrings." she said opening a box to reveal a pair of hooped earrings with four tiny stones dangling from each. They're her kids' birthstones so I thought that was a nice touch. For Amy I got these," she said pulling out some silver drop earrings with similar stones to Lizzie's, but they're her own birth stone. I got a bit carried away." she giggled. "For Natalie, Jennifer and Amber I got these," she said opening one box to reveal a shiny silver N, but obviously there's a J and an A too. And for Hailey and Brooke I got bracelets like the girl in the TV show they both like, I got them different colours though and they have little things they can swap which I thought was sweet. And for Riley I found a bracelet with little princesses on. And it's in a music box and it plays a song from a Disney movie. Lizzie said she's at a bit of an awkward age, I mean she's only seven, but she's just growing out of the little girl stage, but she's nowhere near the preteen stage yet, and all the grandkids her age are boys so she's never been much of a Barbie girl, I thought it might make her feel grown up without stealing her innocence. Then there's Izzie's necklace and your mom's brooch which you've seen so yay. It's all fitting a little better than I thought actually. Once the cars went in, I played Tetris around it, I got most of yours in too. I managed to get out the other day when you were in and my surgery got cancelled so I am done at last." she smiled.

"I'm nearly done with you." He said, "but pink castles are supposed to be ordered in advance." he chuckled when he saw her shocked face, her expression melting as she realised he was joking and threw a pillow at him. Meredith had given him few clues as to what she had picked up for him to open, but to be honest he didn't care. She'd promised to stay with him forever, and there was nothing else in the world that he wanted more than that. Derek knew that this would be a special Christmas for Meredith, but, as it turned out, it was going to be pretty magical for him too. This Christmas rivalled all of those in his childhood and was certainly a contender for the best Christmas ever. She was so determined to add to the magic of the shepherd family Christmas, and he loved that. She hadn't even met his nieces or his sisters, a mere phone call with each being all the contact she'd ever had with them, but it was already as though she had been part of the family forever. He knew it would be immediately obvious to them all that he really had found his soul mate, the one that he'd spend the rest of his life with. Pink castles and children or not, it was going to be a happily ever after.

A/N- I love Aunt Meredith, I have big plans for her in the next few chapters! And I think Derek is going to be bubbling with even more excitement when he finally gets to show Meredith off. As ever let me know your thoughts for this and any future chapters. Thanks for reading