A/N- I'm back! I'm so sorry for the hiatus. February was total insanity when it came to uni work and I have finally emerged long enough to give you a chapter. Even with the unintentional break, I'm still getting notifications to say that more of you have found this story and love it nearly as much as I do! And I promise, now that things have calmed down a little, I'll try my utmost to get you a chapter at least once every two weeks. Thank you all or being so patient with me, and for your continued support with reviews, follows and favourites. Without further ado, here's chapter 43.

Disclaimer- I don't own TV shows.

It had been almost a week, a glorious magical week of sex, and cuddling and Derek fawning all over Meredith and her non-existent baby bump. It had been wonderful, and although she was fairly convinced that everyone would figure out she was pregnant soon just by the smile on Derek's face, she was enjoying it, their little secret, and with plans for the wedding slowly being put together, Meredith had found herself becoming totally calm and serene of a night time. For the first time since college, she didn't have to battle her overactive mind in order to sleep. She was content, and happy, and like every article she had read on early pregnancy had advised, she was able to relax. She was feeling particularly relaxed as she opened one eye to look at the clock on her nightstand, deciding that she'd take an extra hour or two in bed. It was her day off and they didn't have to leave for hours, so she was going to take full advantage of that. That is until a wave of nausea washed over her, and she ran towards the bathroom, praying she wouldn't be sick before she got there. Derek felt her rush from the bed, and concerned, he followed her, grabbing a hold of her hair as she vomited loudly into the toilet bowl.

"Okay, it's alright." He soothed, tying her hair with a tie he found on the sink and rubbing her back in slow circles. "Deep breaths Mer." Meredith whimpered slightly as she began to retch again, wiping her mouth on the back of her hand when she was finished.

"Water," she croaked, her voice cracking as she began to cry softly. Derek filled a glass, placing it in her hand, holding her as she rinsed her mouth, falling back into his arms when she was done.

"Shhh. It's all going to be fine. It's horrible, I know but it's just your body getting used to being pregnant. It's nothing to worry about. You're both fine." He pressed his lips into her hair as her cries softened. She curled into his lap, her elegant surgeons fingers clenched around a fistful of his t-shirt. He rocked her gently in his arms, letting the sound of his heartbeat soothe her.

"This sucks," she pouted as she felt Derek's lips gently press against her forehead.

"I know," he soothed, "just think about the end result, it sucks right now, but in a few weeks, it should start to ease a little, and in a few months, we'll be coming home from the hospital with our little one." Meredith cracked a smile at the sentiment, closing her eyes and breathing in Derek's sleepy scent. "Now let's get you back to bed, you can snooze until it's time to leave." He picked her up easily and laid her down on their bed, holding her in his arms until she began to snore. Satisfied that she was out for the count, he tucked the covers around her sleeping form and snuck down to his office and opened up his laptop, pulling up dozens of pregnancy websites to read their views on curing Meredith's awful morning sickness. He knew it was normal, and that she was merely unlucky in that it had appeared so early on in the pregnancy but it didn't stop him worrying anyway. There were endless suggestions on how to manage it, with no real consensus, so Derek made a list of the most normal sounding ones, hoping Meredith wouldn't wake before he returned from the store.

He filled his cart with the highly recommended Graham crackers and ginger ale combination, peppermint tea, an acupressure wristband and avocados. Chicken and broccoli were added in the hopes that she could gain the vitamins that lay within. Oatcakes followed, he knew she hated them, but he wanted to offer her any help he could give her. High zinc snacks came recommended so he found a variety of seeds that he hoped she wouldn't throw at him. Mints so that she could have some handy in case all of it didn't work and she ended up getting sick while she was at work or out somewhere. Fruit juice popsicles had been mentioned on a few sites so he made sure to get a variety in the hope that one of them would stay down if she couldn't manage water or tea. He caught the eye of one of the shop floor workers, who gave him a sympathetic smile as she eyed the items in his cart.

"Liquorice and lemons." She advised knowingly. "Four kids and it's the only thing that ever worked." Derek grinned at her, grateful for any help, any way that he might be able to rid his beautiful fiancée of the horrors of morning sickness. He couldn't do it for her, but he couldn't sit idly by and let her suffer. After finding the final two items he headed to the checkout. A look passing over the checkout assistant's face that told him she too knew why he was here so early.

"Peanut butter on dry toast." She told him as he lifted the final bag into his trolley. "Only thing I could keep down." Derek thanked her, hoping that one of his remedies would work even for a short time. Meredith had stated that no one was to know until at least their first appointment, and she was determined not to let her friends know before then. She was trying to limit her hours, but as a second year resident it was easier said than done. Avoiding long surgeries and making a conscious effort to work only during her scheduled hours were reason enough for them to be suspicious, so she was battling on like a trooper. Stuck in ortho for the week, she hadn't needed to scrub in on any major surgeries, for which she was grateful, but with needing to bank more plastics hours and to redeem herself in cardio, she needed a way of being able to stay in the OR and not fall behind her peers.

Meredith was nowhere to be seen when he arrived back with his groceries, but Izzie was there to greet him as he placed the bags on the table and got to work with putting it all away.

"Ooh, you brought groceries? I know it's my turn, but with the paeds case I've been assigned to, I just haven't had a spare minute." She gabbled, peering at his random selection.

"Oh, I just picked up a few things for dinner with Meredith. We're looking at the venues today and I thought I'd make her something nice when we get home. And she still hasn't gotten over the eating leftovers for breakfast so I brought her a few healthy snacks that she can eat on the run."

"Oh that's right. I forgot you were visiting them today." Izzie cheered, "Are you totally excited? You finally getting to see where you two are going to get married." Derek grinned and nodded slightly as he began to pull the items from the bags. Izzie glanced at her watch, groaning at the time. "Well I have to go, tell Meredith I want to know every detail, and take pictures, if you can. Those sorts of places always look different to the websites. Oh you are so lucky to have gotten both of them. It's so meant to be." Derek laughed, but he had to agree, it was incredible luck on their part, though not as lucky as the fact that he would get to call Meredith his wife, his soul mate and the mother of his soon to be baby. He heard Izzie leave, aware that Alex hadn't come home last night even though he wasn't on call. He'd argued with Izzie the previous day and was no doubt giving her space to cool off. There was such chemistry between them, but neither seemed to see it at the same time as the other, so for the time being, their relationship remained off again. He put the last of the groceries away, incredibly relieved that he'd never have to face that kind of drama again. Meredith was it for him. She was forever, and in just a few months he'd stand up and say it in front of everybody they knew. He couldn't wait. His whole life had been leading to the moment when he married his soul mate and she had his baby, and both were going to happen in just the space of a few short months. It had barely been an hour since he left, but he was so overwhelmed with love for his future bride that he had to be with her. To look at her and touch her, breathe in her scent. He needed her. She was part of him now, and he was never going to let her go.

Meredith was stretching in her sleep as he walked in to check on her, rubbing the back of her wrists against her eyes, before yawning and opening them, her green orbs locking against his blue ones.

"Morning," She greeted, looking much better than a few hours before. "How long was my snooze?"

"Just a couple hours. I kept myself busy."

"You did? How?"

"Well I looked online to see if there were any good cures for morning sickness, and I couldn't find just one so I made a list of all the different things then I went to the store to pick them all up, and you can try them over the next few days and see if any work."

"You really did that?" she asked, biting her lip, and losing a fight with the tears welling in her eyes.

"I was worried about you. And I felt helpless, I just wanted to try and make you feel better."

"You were really worried about us?"

"I was even tempted to call my mom and ask her what to do. I didn't though, don't worry." He confessed, taking in Meredith's warm smile. "Yeah, I know I'm a doctor, and this is all normal, but this is you, and this is our baby. I don't want anything to happen to either of you. I love you both so much."

"We love you too." She sniffed, reaching up to kiss him. "Even when you freak out because I have the sniffles or force me to stop eating leftovers." On advice from an article on safe foods during pregnancy, Derek had called a halt to Meredith eating leftovers of any kind. She had pouted a lot, but she reluctantly switched to cereal in the mornings, and something freshly cooked at night. It was for their baby's health, so she'd done it, the tiny life inside her uterus having already taken over her heart. "What time did we say we'd get to the hotel? I need to see the place I'm going to have my first dance with you. Even though I know you don't dance in public."

"Maybe I'll make an exception for you." He grinned pressing a few kisses to her face, his handing finding the soft skin of her stomach. "You'll be looking incredibly beautiful, and you did get me the Skansonia. I have thing for ferryboats you know."

"I remember," she chuckled, clutching her stomach as it rumbled. "I think baby's hungry. You'll have to show us what you brought, and she can judge which she likes the best."

"Girl today?" he raised an eyebrow. "It was boy yesterday." Meredith sighed and rubbed her belly.

"Hmm, definitely a girl, and she wants something sweet. Can you make chocolate chip pancakes?"

"For you my dear, anything." He said playfully. "If baby wants chocolate chip pancakes then that is what she shall have. Or he shall have." He kissed her once more, leaving her to get showered and dressed while he whipped up some famous Shepherd pancakes, praying that she could keep them down long enough to get through the morning.

"Dr. Shepherd, and Dr. Grey, right?" A young bellboy asked as they entered the doors of Pan Pacific hotel. "Here to check and confirm the wedding reception in May?"

"That's us." Meredith smiled squeezing Derek's hand as they followed the young man further into the hotel. The ornate fixtures making the place look elegant, whilst maintaining a friendly vibe.

"There's an event going on in just under an hour, but the host has said that you're welcome to look at the ballroom before it starts. It's set up for them but you can use your imaginations." He stood in front of the double doors, before swinging them open, Meredith's jaw dropping as she took in the setting. Derek looked equally awestruck as they were lead towards the centre of the room, to the dance floor. He pulled Meredith towards it, taking her in his arms and swaying gently as they took in the beauty of the natural light and glorious space.

"So, what do you think?" He whispered gently to her, holding her tightly as she looked around the room. "Think you could wear a pretty dress and eat a fancy dinner and dance the night away in here?"

"Derek, it's so wonderful. The pictures didn't do it justice at all. This is the place. This is where we're going to spend our first night as a married couple together." She reached up to kiss his lips. "This is it." She whispered.

"This is it." He echoed. He couldn't imagine a better place to celebrate his finally finding the right girl and vowing to be with her forever.

"The suites would be perfect for your sisters, and we can always get Izzie and Cristina to share with Lexie, and the guys can have a room or two to share, and your mom of course. Then if anyone else wants to stay they can. I can't believe we have a reception venue Derek, like an actual venue. A week ago we didn't even have a date, now we have half of our venues, how great is that? Wait, am I rambling?" Meredith rambled as they left the hotel having looked at the various rooms and suites that would be available on their wedding night.

"I love it when you ramble," he teased, "makes me want to sneak into one of those rooms and ravage you in the oversized tub." She giggled as he led her to the car. "I suppose I can wait though. If you promise to practise with me later."

"Well now that depends on where you're taking me for lunch."

"I thought baby decided where we go for lunch." He wrapped his arms around her waist and rubbed her stomach. "What do you want to eat little bee?"

"Bee," Meredith whispered gently, a grin plastered on her face as she rested her hands over Derek's. "I like bee." She thought for a moment, trying to decide what she'd be able to stomach without wanting to be sick. "How about the sandwich place, the one you like but won't go to because you say it's too unhealthy."

"Really? They are so bad for you. I feel like I gain five pounds every time we go. If I gain loads of weight are you still going to marry me?" he pouted slightly, melting her heart for the hundredth time that day.

"Mmmm, well I'll be all fat and pregnant so we'll match. We can always go for a walk on the land later on, if we have time. I want to see how the house is doing. And if not, I can think of a few ways to burn off some calories."

"Fine, but no mayo. I need to stay healthy if I'm going to be strong enough to carry you over the threshold in a few months."

"What are you saying that I'm heavy, or that I'm going to get fat? You made me like this remember. It was your sperm that got free. If you think I'm ugly and overweight then it's your fault." She pouted slightly, and he couldn't be sure whether or not she was really upset.

"I could never think you were ugly. You could be the fattest woman on earth and you'd still be the most beautiful. And anyway I think I'd love you even more with the extra curves." He pulled a face that she rarely saw outside the bedroom, but rather than surrender to his charm so quickly she decided to play just a little longer.

"Even if I my face got melted off? And I had no boobs?"

"Even then. I love you, not the way you look. You're hot, and that helps, but I love you. You're bossy and kind, amazing in bed, and you love me. I won't ever stop thinking you're beautiful, and nothing you do or say could make me love you any less, not ever."

"I do love you," She agreed. "Even when you call me fat."

"I didn't call you fat, I merely said…"

"Psyche!" She giggled. "I know, maybe we should get a watermelon to stick under my shirt so we can practice doing it with my belly in the way. It's about as curvy as I'm going to get for a few weeks."

"Wow, six weeks in and you've already lost your verbal filters. We'll leave the fruit for tonight though."

"Oh shush, when your hormones are this crazy then you can judge, now hurry up and feed us so we can go see where we're getting married."

After getting their sandwiches, with mayo, since he knew Meredith wouldn't eat sandwiches without it, and would inevitably steal some of his once she got through hers, they sat and watched the ferryboats come and go, before heading to the Skansonia, the view beyond it going on for miles.

They climbed aboard, following the manager up top, to where the aisle was set up with rows of seats and a small archway.

"This is generally where people choose to get married," he informed them, "I think they like the view, it's calming for a lot of people as well as quite stunning."

"It's spectacular," Derek agreed. "What do you think beautiful?" Meredith opened her mouth, shaking her head slightly in disbelief at the idea that she could have found two venues, relatively sight unseen, and have both be so perfect. "Wanna try it out?" He walked towards the archway, the manager seeing his plan and standing in the minister's place as Meredith followed their cues and headed towards the door. She turned to look at Derek grinning at her as she slowly made her way down the aisle, her eyes never leaving his. Derek felt a shiver go down his spine as she got closer, even in jeans and a coat she was beautiful. His eyes brimmed with tears of pride and awe as she finally reached him, taking both hands as he offered them to her.

"You wanna marry me here?" He asked gently.

"I do," She grinned, biting her lip. "I absolutely do."

"Well then, by the power vested in me, let's make this booking permanent." The manager joked leading them through the room where lunch would be served to his office.

"I can't believe it." Meredith said as they got into the car, taking a deep breath as she considered the magnitude of what they had just done. "I didn't think it would be so easy. Everyone always says the details like this are so hard, but we did it just like that."

"Well those are the people that get divorces. Addison agonised over all that, and it didn't work out. Now Richard, he booked what he could. He only had a few weeks but he made it work, and even with the affair, they've been together over 30 years."

"So you want to be the next Webbers?" Meredith teased.

"No," Derek grimaced, "We're going to be even better. It's like I said, we'll be together until I'm 110 and we'll die in our sleep in each other's arms. This is forever Meredith."

"Forever and a ferryboat, it's been a good day."

"It has. Now let's get home and make it even better."

"What'll it be m'lady, peppercorn, pesto, or maybe you'd like fried ice cream?" he joked as he pulled out ingredients to make a sauce for the chicken after Meredith point blank refused to eat the chicken without one.

"That's disgusting Derek, you wouldn't put ice cream with broccoli. Eggplant maybe but not broccoli. Baby wants pesto, and ketchup." She rubbed her stomach at the thought, while Derek grimaced slightly before turning to look at her.

"Okay, please tell me you mean together on your plate not together in the pan." Meredith sighed dramatically, raising her hands in mock surrender.

"If you insist. I thought you were playing along with any and all cravings in return for me eating the weird crap you brought?" she teased as she swallowed another mouthful of red liquorice.

"I'm on board with you eating it but I don't particularly want to have to eat them with you. Do you want to go lay down while I make dinner then once we're done we can call mum with the venue details and maybe order some invites online."

"Hmmm, that sounds good. Don't let me sleep for too long, or I'll never sleep tonight."

"Who said I had any intention of letting you sleep tonight?"

"Derek! That's dirty." She giggled, kissing him softly on the line of his jaw.

"Well maybe it takes a dirty guy to be with a very dirty… oh hi Alex." He said looking over Meredith's shoulder as Alex walked in, hands over his eyes just in case they were using the kitchen for reasons beyond cooking again.

"Have you seen Izzie?" He asked lowering his hands. "She was supposed to leave hours ago, said she'd meet me here."

"Not since we've been home, are you fighting again?" Meredith asked him, walking over and laying a hand on his forearm.

"All I said was that she shouldn't get too close to her patient, because she doesn't want to turn out the way it did with Denny. Then she was off screaming at me about how a child is different and she isn't in love with him, it's all compassion or some crap. And when she finally agrees to talk to me she doesn't even turn up. If this is what love is you can forget it."

"Wait, you love Izzie?" Meredith smiled, knowing her friend hadn't meant to confess that, let alone in front of Derek.

"Of course I do, it's always been Izzie." He admitted sighing and looking up at Meredith, and Derek who stood at Meredith's side.

"Then go find her," Derek told him. "I spent enough days without the woman I love to know that if you don't at least try then you will never be happy. i knew Mer was it, but I was scared, now every time I look at her, I am so thankful that I chose her before it was too late. And now we're getting married and building a house. Alex this kind of thing doesn't come along very often, so go. Go find her. And tell her that you never ever want to leave her side. Trust me, you'll never regret it."

"Okay, if she comes back, tell her I'm looking for her. Keep her here or something." Derek nodded, smiling as Alex left once more.

"You really meant that?" Meredith looked up at Derek, her eyes shining, looking beautifully vulnerable.

"Every single word. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me. I made a lot of mistakes when it came to you, and I regret the way I hurt you, but I don't regret that I did any of it, because it got us here, and there's nowhere I'd rather be than right next to you. I love you Meredith."

"I love you too. I'm glad I picked you as well. I know I got to birth a horse with Finn, but you… I got to live again, to breathe and smile and love. Don't let me go again. Promise?"

"I promise, Meredith. I will never ever let you go." He pulled her tightly into his arms, squeezing her gently and sniffing her hair before kissing her crown softly. "Now you go lay down, and I'll call you for dinner." She reached up to peck his lips, before turning towards the stairs. Derek watched her leave, wondering just what he'd done to deserve such a beautiful fiancée.

"How long was I out?" Meredith asked sleepily as she reached the kitchen. It was darker now, so she had to assume it hadn't been the thirty minutes that she had planned for. Growing a human being was way more tiring than she had expected.

"A couple hours, you seemed peaceful, so I put everything in the oven to keep warm, I'll heat it up for us."

"Thanks," she smiled. "Did Izzie come back?"

"Actually they both came back, and then left again. They seemed pretty happy, so I'm assuming that Alex made good." Meredith smiled as she fixed herself a drink, pouring a second glass for Derek.

"I'm glad, they're so good together. They deserve this, each other." She paused for a second, thinking. "You know I was thinking about selling them the house?"

"Really?" He looked at her, eyebrows raised, intrigued by the fact she didn't want to keep it for herself.

"Well yeah, they already pay rent, so if I take that as payment while we're all still residents, and when they're attendings and can pay more, we can sort out some kind of proper plan. It needs a family in it. And Alex and Izzie are a family, and they were my family before I had you. They should take it." Derek settled a plate in front of her.

"You're right. We had our time here, and now we're moving on. It's time for a new family to make memories here." He kissed her before settling down to eat. Intelligent, beautiful, kind and compassionate. He really hit the jackpot with Meredith Grey.

"Okay, let's call her." Meredith announced handing Derek the phone. "I can't wait to hear what she thinks." Derek chuckled and dialled the number as Meredith settled into his side, his arm wrapped around her.

"Hi mom, it's me, and Meredith." He announced once the line connected.

"Hi mom" Meredith echoed.

"Oh hi darlings, how are you? You know I was just thinking about you. Kath asked if I'd heard anything about the wedding yet. Please tell me you've decided something, it's about time that beautiful girl was a Shepherd."

"Actually we have, we've set a date and we have venues, so keep May 26th free, cause you'll be in Seattle with us." He grinned as he said it out loud to someone other than Meredith or her roommates.

"We went with the Skansonia ferryboat then the Pan Pacific for the reception. We saw them today mom, they're so perfect." Meredith gushed.

"Oh that's wonderful news, I'll make sure the girls save the date." Carolyn paused, clearly building up to something. "So honey when are you due?"

"What? What do you mean?" Meredith stuttered rather unconvincingly.

"Well, I've had the feeling for a few weeks now, it's not one of the girls, so I'm assuming that it's probably the two of you that are expecting, and by the stunned silence, I'm going to bet that I'm right."

"Six weeks," Meredith blurted, letting out a breath she hadn't realised she was holding. "Conceived at Christmas" Derek looked at her eyes wide, as Meredith mouthed 'sorry'.

"Oh sweethearts, really?" Carolyn gasped, thrilled at the idea of a Shepherd baby at last.

"Yes mom, number sixteen should be arriving sometime in September. We don't know for certain when until we go to the OB in a week or so." Carolyn sniffled in response.

"Are you well, Meredith, no sickness or anything yet?"

"I've been being sick for almost a week. It's usually fine after ten or fifteen minutes, but it's definitely starting to form a pattern. Derek picked me up a whole load of different things to help though."

"With Derek, it was dry toast and day old soda. But each of the girls were different too. And they all had different cures with each pregnancy. It takes a while, but you'll find something that works. The calmer you are, the easier it is to cope with."

"Thanks mom, I'll keep that in mind. And I know it's a little rude, but please don't tell anyone. We didn't want to say anything to anyone until we're out of the woods a little. So we know if things are likely to be okay or not."

"Oh, I understand sweetheart, my lips are sealed, but if you need anything, anything at all. Advice or someone to moan about Derek to then I'm here. You too Derek. Your sisters have been pregnant enough times for me to be able to tell you when not to worry."

"Thanks mom, it means a lot." He smiled, pulling Meredith close.

"I knew something magical had happened when I got home from mass, now I know. I'm so please for you both. It's going to be such a beautiful child."

"Thanks mom, we're pretty excited. Cautious but excited."

"Of course, well like I said, anything you're unsure of, I've done it five times myself and watched the girls go through it 15 times so you can't phase me."

"Oh we will, get ready for a lot of 2 am hysterical phone calls. And that'll just be Derek." Meredith joked, enticing a laugh from her future mother in law. Sighing slightly as her line beeped.

"Well my other line is going, but I'll speak to you soon, and I'll be watching that mail box, if not for the invitation then for the sonogram picture. Take care of yourselves. I love you."

"We love you too. Bye mom." Derek settled the phone back in its cradle and pulled Meredith close.

"Well that went differently to how I expected." Meredith laughed. "But I'm glad, I'm glad she knows. Ever since you mentioned it this morning, I wondered if we should just tell her. I think I'd've wanted to tell my mom if I could. It's only natural that you'd want to do the same. This is a good thing, now we have someone to talk to, someone who knows about this stuff."

"You're right," Derek agreed, "but you may not be saying that when a plethora of tiny knitwear starts arriving by the crate load."

"Can't wait," Meredith grinned. "It'll simply mean I'm a real Shepherd."

"Oh, god I love you. Just Four more months and you will be." Meredith sighed.

"Just four more months."

A/N- reviews make my day!