(Shattered...) Dreams Fulfilled

Love conquered all

The rising sun and ultimately its rays reflected directly above them on the bed, their warmth further enveloping the once estranged, but now married lovers committed to each other for a lifetime. Time did help to heal wounds, though life changing moments were never forgotten, but the sadness and heartbreak associated with those memories, the couple had learned in almost three months of marriage that the key was love, and it did make all the difference, for love had indeed conquered all.

Meredith and Derek snuggled closer in each other's embrace, secure in the boundless depth of the love they had always felt, but now openly, often, and lovingly expressed, as well as their doubts, fears, joys and pleasures to each other; that was their commitment, that was the true measure of a love of legends.

It was a Sunday morning, and Derek basked in the pleasure of being in her arms, hoping to enjoy this dream as long as he could, Meredith, he smiled, had much more vivid and detailed dreams than he did, and often she'd tell him about them, and then heard a groan, a satisfied groan he realized was his own, and thoughts of boring dreams would never be the same again, as he opened his eyes and before long cried out in pleasure, as his wife continued to play his body in perfect tune and harmony, and then he decided to take control and play one of her favorite tunes, well, it was more an aching need to get her to respond with one of his favorite tunes. He always delighted in the sound of her voice, her laugh, her giggles, but this morning, he'd most love to hear her moan.

"Quite a wake up call, Mrs. Shepherd," he said, a completely satisfied smile on his lips.

"I wasn't quite sure if I'd lost my touch," she taunted, "after all you fell asleep on me."

"I fell asleep on you," he said, and when he looked at her and their eyes met, both erupted in laughter. "At three o'clock in the morning," he laughed again, "after you'd taken advantage of me, lots of advantage."

"I'd taken advantage," she played along with him, "I recall, clearly, you are the one that thought drinking a second bottle of champagne at midnight was romantic and a perfect way to celebrate our last few days alone together."

"Mer," he teased, "you have to admit, it was really great champagne." He was referring to the case of an exquisite vintage champagne that John Mulligan's parents had surprised them with as a belated wedding present, one night a couple weeks ago, when they were invited for dinner to meet Kelly's maternal and paternal grandparents, both eager to thank the doctor that had saved their granddaughter's life, and his wife, now one of Kelly's favorite people.

"I'll admit..." she smiled, "that taking advantage," she emphasized, "of each other...was..."

"Yes..."

"Amazing," she smiled upon his lips.

"Amazing," he agreed, before his mouth captured hers, and later, both a bit breathless, he said, "but Mer..."

"But..." she frowned in mock concern, "Derek...we don't do well with buts..."

"But," he chuckled, "I think it's not considered taking advantage...when there's mutual consent."

"But," she giggled, "think it's considered taking advantage, if it's at midnight...after your wife's been at the hospital for twelve hours straight, and then you suggest a second bottle of champagne."

"I was working too," he defended.

"That was a voluntary choice," she teased.

"Voluntary you say," he argued, "when I was trying to appease the all knowing chief resident that wanted to kick my ass for daring to suggest my wife get a full weekend off."

"I love you Derek," she said and wrapped her arms around him.

His laughter echoed through the trailer, "works every time," he said, "diversion."

"Learned from the best," she smiled, as she kissed him. "Except, I really really love you."

"Mer..."

"I know...mushy...sappy...sentimental..."

"Whom I adore..."

"Oh Derek," she sighed softly, "what would I do without you."

"You're never going to find out," he told her, and cupped her face. "Ever."

"Neither are you," she said, as she leaned in to meet his lips, and then the kiss that begun tenderly, first teased and enticed and then led to their inevitable passion.

"Meredith," he said hoarsely, "in case I forget to tell you..."

"Uhmm..." she responded, her lips trailing kisses down his chest.

"You've definitely not lost your touch," he said and sucked in his breath as her mouth trailed lower.

"That's good to hear," she said, "don't want you pining for Dr. Grey."

"Dr. Who?" he said, his smile amusing her.

"Ok..." Meredith giggled, "she wasn't that unforgettable...I do know that much," and he quickly reached for her and brought her body to lie on top of his.

"Can I tell you a secret," he smiled, "and you won't get jealous."

"Shepherd," she said, "that doesn't sound too good..."

"Dr. Grey..." he smiled, biting her lip playfully, "she's the only other woman...other than my wife...that is unforgettable."

"Derek..." she gave in to his playfulness, and their now standing joke. "I'm glad...I'm your wife...and that..."

"Yes..."

"That, I'm the only woman that's unforgettable."

"Dr. Grey," he said seriously, as he shifted their bodies, lying side by side, their naked bodies intimately pressed together, "I'm completely...irrevocably...in love with you, have been in love with you forever...and each day ...love you...more and more...my beautiful...enchanting...wife, and I want you so much...Meredith...I want you so much."

"Derek," she whispered followed by quiet moans, as his lips found spots that were left tingling with pleasure and desire, "have me...I'm yours, exclusively...and totally yours," she said seconds before he joined their bodies.

Two hours later Meredith and Derek were on the ferry, on their way to Seattle.

"What are you smiling about," Meredith asked him, feeling his body pressed against her, the scent of him intoxicating as she recalled their evening and morning hours together.

"My wife," he continued smiling, both leaning on the ferry railing, "the mind reader."

"You're not smiling," she questioned, fully convinced of the answer, her hand resting on his arm, lightly caressing him.

"From ear to ear," he admitted, his chin resting on the crook of her neck, and turned his face to let his lips linger on her skin.

"About what..."

"Remembering...being on here...with you, telling you I bought your ring and the morning before we left for Italy..."

"You mean teasing me with another non-proposal..."

"Would you have wanted it different...a proposal on the ferry boat?"

"Absolutely not...your proposal was perfect...beautifully...poignantly perfect."

"What are you smiling about?" he asked her.

"Every moment we've spent together...since that night on the ferry boat...waiting for your proposal...each moment has meant we've grown as a couple, even the moments I've given in to sadness...but we've made progress Derek...so much...and therapy...and we talk, we're not pushing each other away...and this morning..." her smile lingered.

"We're getting really good...at morning wake up calls..."

"Really good," she said, pretending to be offended, "are you kidding...they weren't good before?"

"They've always been great," he smiled, as his lips trailed lingering kisses from her shoulders to her check, "but now, my wife cooks breakfast," he said and their laughter brought joy to their hearts.

"Derek," she said, wrapping his arms closer around her, "our ferryboat memories," they both knew she was referring to the night driving to the trailer when he'd admitted to less than enjoying the previous love of ferryboats since her accident, "they outweigh the sad ones."

"They do," he said softly, and hugged her, "they do," he whispered again, as they remained content in each other's arms, recalling each memory together related to ferry boats, a new and unforeseen one, about to unfold in the minutes that followed.

"Mommy, Mommy, look it's Dr. Shep and Dr. Mewedith," an unmistakable child's voice grew closer to them, and as they turned around and before they had a chance to react, the little girl was racing toward them and Derek instinctively lifted her into his arms.

"Kelly Margaret Mulligan," Colleen scolded as she pushed Sean's stroller, "what have we told you about running on deck, you are in serious trouble young lady."

"I'm sorry, Mommy," the little girl said truly repentant. "I saw Dr. Shep and Dr. Mewedith and I was so excited, I'm sorry mommy," she said again and reached out for her mother to hold her, and buried her head in the crook of Colleen's neck.

"Kelly, sweetie, you know better, it's dangerous to run on the deck, and Mommy and Daddy just don't want you to ever get hurt."

"I know Mommy, I forgots," the little girl said and wrapping her arms around her mother's neck squeezed tightly, "I love you Mommy."

"I love you too baby...and I don't want anything to happen to you. Can you imagine what I would do without my little girl?"

"Mommy..." Kelly whispered, "but Dr. Shep was there and he catched me."

"I know sweetie, but he won't always be there to catch you, and Mommy and Daddy can't always be there, so you have to be a big girl and pay attention to what we tell you, so you don't get hurt."

"I'm a big girl Mommy...and I pwomise...I won't forgot no more and I won't run on the deck," and Colleen set her down again, and Kelly immediately walked to Derek and he lifted her, and hugged her.

"Your Mommy's right princess, you can't run on deck, if you slip and fall you can get hurt." Derek told her, as the little girl hugged him.

"I pwomised Mommy I won't forgot no more, cause I could slide right off the boat into the water," Kelly said, and his thoughts immediately imagined the child sliding off into the water, and Meredith saw the familiar terror in his face and thus encouraged the child.

"That's good Kelly," Meredith said smiling, "I know you won't forget anymore."

"Dr. Mewedith," Kelly smiled brightly, "I didn't give you a hug," and Meredith smiled reaching out for her, "and I missed you...cause it's been a long long time since I saw you, lots of days since you went to grandma's."

"You didn't," Meredith said, "and I really love your hugs," she smiled as the little girl hugged her tightly and held her until Sean made his presence known, and very insistently called out for his sister's attention.

"Colleen, this is a nice surprise, I'd have expected you to sleep in on weekend mornings," Meredith teased her, immediately and effectively lightening the mood.

"Not on Sundays," Colleen laughed. "Spring and Summer John bikes with a group of friends every Sunday and then we meet up at my parents or his for brunch."

"Dr. Shep," the little girl smiled, "I get to cuddle with Mommy on Sunday cause Daddy's gone...and the door's not locked, even Sean snuggles," and the baby upon hearing his name, smiled and said hi to no one in particular, but after being ignored, he wanted attention.

"Hi," Sean said again, and when Meredith heard him she crouched down in front of him.

"Hi," she said, "you learned a new word, Sean," and the baby grabbed her hair and pulled, "and getting stronger," she laughed, as he said "hi," again.

"Colleen, I get the feeling hi has several meanings," Meredith smiled, as the little boy lifted his arms signaling his determination to get out of the stroller.

"This particular repetition of that word apparently means I'm a prisoner," Colleen told her attempting not to mention getting out of the stroller.

"Mommy..." Kelly said, "that's so silly, Sean just wants to be out of the stroller."

"Out of the mouth of babes," Derek chuckled, "so much for code words."

"Yes, sweetie, he does, but you know when Daddy's not here, he has to stay in the stroller, since I can't hold you both if I need to."

"But there's Dr. Mewedith, she can hold him," she said, and Derek glanced over at her, looking for signs as the time she panicked at the idea of holding Tuck.

"I can Colleen," Meredith said, "if it's ok."

"He'll love you forever," Colleen told her, "just be ready for that each time he sees you."

"What do you say," Derek said, as he took him out of the stroller, "you come with me," and Sean, grinned, and said "hi," as he grabbed a fistful of Derek's hair.

"Dr. Shep, he loves you," Kelly said, "he only pulls your hair if he loves you."

"Is that so," Derek said, as the baby drooled all over him.

"Derek, I'm sorry," Colleen immediately rushed to get a burp cloth and wipe his mouth.

"Fourteen nieces and nephews Colleen, drooling is a piece of cake," he said.

"Hi," Sean said and giggled, and smiled at Meredith and held out his arms to her.

"He loves Dr. Mewedith too," Kelly said, "cause he wants her to hold him...just like at Grandma's...remember Dr. Mewedith...he likes to fall asleep with you...and at the twailer, but he's not going to sleep now, but he likes your hair," she continued her monologue as her baby brother indeed had got a hold of Meredith's hair and then reached for the shiny bracelet on her hand as she tried to release her hair from his grasp.

"Sean," Meredith smiled at him, "what do you say you give me back my hair, and we go sit over at that bench," she spoke as she walked to sit down and Kelly followed her and climbed next to her, with Derek sitting on the other side of her, and Sean lost interest and wanted his mom.

"Dr. Mewedith," Kelly said, "are you going to a special dinner?"

"I'm going to very special dinner tonight," Meredith smiled as the child played with her bracelet.

"That's why you have your bwacelet and your rings...just like Mommy," she said, as she pointed to Meredith's engagement ring, "and when you come to grandma's for dinner."

"Well, I told you," Meredith explained patiently, as again Sean fussed and now was passed over from his Mom to Meredith and over to Derek, "when I'm at the hospital, I can only wear my wedding ring because I have to wear gloves..."

"When you have surgys," Kelly interrupted her, "and take care of sick people."

"That's right, and I can't wear my engagement ring because of the gloves," she said softly, "or any kind of jewelry."

"But, you put it on for special 'cassions'," Kelly said, "like dinner at Grandma's."

"Meredith," Colleen laughed, "she'll remind you of that often, and by the way, it's last minute, but we'd love to have you join us at my parent's for brunch, it's very informal and loud with my sisters and kids, but they'd love to see you again."

"Thanks Colleen," she said and continued talking and giving an explanation, "but you know what Kelly, we have a very special occasion today, because Dr. Shep's Mom and his sister are arriving in about an hour and are going to visit us for the next week."

"I forgot about that," Colleen said, "your spa day's coming up."

"Mommy what's spa day?"

"That's when you don't have to go to work, and sleep late, and you get breakfast in bed and pampered ..."

"Like you and Daddy...when you lock the door cause Daddy needs to sleep late and you get pampered...and lots of kisses, right Mommy...cause I saw you and daddy kissing when the door was open."

"Muzzles, Meredith...muzzles... remember those words," Colleen said.

"For the kids..." Derek chuckled, "or Mommy and Daddy?"

"Both Derek...both..." Colleen laughed, "though Meredith's shared part of the foot in mouth syndrome solution."

"She has," Derek said, "has she?"

"I love you," Meredith leaned over to him and brushed his lips.

"Mommy..." Kelly giggled, "look...Dr. Mewedith is kissing Dr. Shep, just like you and Daddy...is that a spa day?"

"No sweetie," Colleen laughed, "the spa is a place you go, like when Mommy goes to get her hair done or a manicure, you remember what that means?"

"Yes," Kelly said, "cause Daddy says it's sexy...when you paint your toes red."

Meredith and Derek both laughed, as Colleen shook her head, and Sean who was now back in Meredith's arms, laid his head down on her shoulder and sucked his thumb.

"Do you mind, if I walk with her for a bit," Colleen said, "figure out what else she's thinking before we get to my parent's, though God knows they're used to it."

"Go ahead," Meredith smiled, and softly caressed the baby's back and put her head on Derek's shoulder, as he whispered, "I love you Meredith," and she reached for his hand, and whispered softly, "one day...Derek...one day...we'll have this."

"Chatty babies," he said as he kissed her temple, "that we need muzzles for."

"Chatty babies and all..." she smiled, "just like their daddy."

"Let's not forget rambling mommy..." he said, and their gazes locked, and the emotions they felt needed no further words, for their dreams were now one, and their commitment to their life together was indeed helping them conquer all fears and doubts and embrace the possibilities of what the future held in store for them. Meredith and Derek, each certain their love for each other would be their strength, as it has been in the weeks since their marriage, already could affirm without any doubt that love as theirs, indeed conquered all.