(Shattered...) Dreams Fulfilled

Last Days of Summer

Meredith had an amused expression on her face as she scrolled through her blackberry.

"Getting Mcdreamied via text again," Cristina said as she put down a chart on the counter.

"No," Meredith continued reading, "it's Carolyn."

"Speaking of Mama Shep," Cristina said, "I have something for her when you finally get back east."

"You do," Meredith looked up from her device in surprise, "what is it?"

"Just a little something I saw and thought she'd like," Cristina said dismissively.

Meredith smiled, grateful for the relationship between her two families, "she's going to love whatever it is."

"Yeah, I know," she said, "want to grab lunch later?"

"Not sure I'm free..."

"Mer, come on, you can't have lunch with him every day," she snickered, "and you're going away, so it'd be nice to catch up, besides you've been married forever."

"Forever," Meredith laughed, "not even six months, Cristina, and I'm not going away anytime soon."

"Whatever," Cristina said, "he can join us."

"Are you feeling ok?" Meredith asked.

"Don't be a smart ass. Mer...I've told you before, leave the sarcasm to me."

Meredith laughed, "we'll meet up for lunch," she told her friend, who'd already started to walk away.

"Hey," Meredith smiled as she felt her husband's arms wrap around her waist.

"Hey," she leaned back into him, "you're here early."

"I missed you last night," he nuzzled her neck, "hate sleeping without you."

"Me too," she turned and kissed him softly, "I'll be home early tonight."

"Exhausted," he whispered, "after a twenty four hour shift."

"But," she smiled, "I'll have at least a three hour nap before you get there," and hugged him. "Join me for a quick breakfast?"

"Actually," he smiled, "I brought you breakfast."

"You did?"

"Uhmmm...in my office..."

"Derek," she smiled seductively, "I only have thirty minutes, and I'm starving."

"How do you think I feel," he gave her a quick kiss, and they missed the smiles exchanged between the two nurses approaching. They'd long ago given in to small intimate displays of affection when they were at the hospital.

"Good morning Dr. Shepherd, Dr. Grey," Lisette greeted them when she reached the nurse's station with AmyLynn.

"Good morning ladies," Derek returned the greeting. "I'm stealing my wife for breakfast, if anyone's looking for her, don't tell them," he winked at them.

"Derek," Meredith scolded, "I'm on duty."

"Not the next thirty minutes," he said as he rubbed her shoulders lightly, "finish up those charts Mer."

"Good morning ladies, and don't pay any attention to him," Meredith said. "AmyLynn, these two patients may need some additional pain medication, let me know please," she said as she handed her two charts. "Lisette, you are glowing...did you find out yesterday if it's a boy or a girl?"

"Not yet," Lisette sighed, "this one is determined to surprise us."

"I think," Meredith smiled, "I'd like to be surprised," and they spoke a few more minutes before Derek grabbed her hand and pulled her along with him to his small office.

"Grilled cheese," she smiled and turned to hug him, "you cooked for me."

"It's the least I can do," he hugged her tighter to him, "when my wife's been working all night," and then he brought his mouth to hers and they got lost in an intoxicating kiss before they pulled away from each other and went to sit on the small love seat.

"Good coffee too," she teased him.

"Starbucks," he said, "just as you like."

"I love you Derek," she leaned in to brush his lips with hers.

"Uhmmm..."

"Don't do that," she giggled upon his lips, "you know it's a turn on...and I can't be late this morning, there's a consult for one of my patients with a doctor from Mercy West."

"Why?"

"The patient was brought here, but their doctor is on staff there," she said as she reached for her grilled cheese. "Uhmm..." she savored it, "just perfect. I'll cook you breakfast tomorrow, I'm off the next two days, thank God."

"Mer," he said, "I'm not sure that's going to happen..."

"What are you talking about...I can cook breakfast..."

"I mean...being off the next two days..."

"Of course I am," she said and took another bite, "my schedule hasn't been changed."

"Well," he said sheepishly, "it may have been...slightly...but only if you agree."

"Shepherd, what have you done?"

"Mer, I haven't done anything...I swear...I only looked into the possibility, but it's your decision...if you don't want to...we won't do it, we'll wait, but it seemed like a good time and the weather's been nice...and ...but it's up to you."

Meredith looked at her husband without saying a word and then her laughter, the melodious sound he delighted in, filled the room. "Derek..." she paused, before she teased him, "that ..." a giggle, "was a Grey worthy ramble."

He chuckled, "not to mention the contagious aspect my mother and sisters seem to pick up quite easily...which speaking of Mom and my sisters..."

"Derek..."

"Meredith..." he smiled, and she knew she'd willingly agree to anything he'd ask for.

"I may have made plans for us to fly home," he waited for her reaction, "on your days off...only if you want to."

"You did what?" she raised her voice.

"We don't have to," he said, "it was just an idea."

"You couldn't tell me this..." she glared at him, "in advance...so I could plan...and are you crazy...we can't go tomorrow, do you realize how long it's been since you've been home...and you have a million relatives and kids that will be expecting gifts from their Uncle Derek...and Jenna...oh my God...Jenna...there's baby gifts and things...and we're not there for her baby shower ...but... we can't go empty handed..."

"Mer," he smiled indulgently, and reached for her, "did you breathe?"

"You moron," she swatted his hand away, "of course I breathed...I'd have passed out if I didn't," she said and both broke out in genuine laughter.

"I love you Meredith," he said and kissed her softly first then deepened the kiss.

"That's not going to work Derek," she told him, "there's no time, no time at all for this."

"Why the hell not," he said, nuzzling her neck.

"One," she pulled away from him, "because I really can't be late, and two...are you serious...you want us to go away tomorrow?"

"Actually," he said, "not tomorrow..."

"When?"

"Tonight," he told her, "the red eye."

"Are you out of your mind?" she said in her best wifely reprimanding tone she'd used all month.

"Mer, we don't have to go...I told you that already."

"Of course we'll go, but...why didn't you tell me?"

"You've been stressing out about the trip...and all those things you think you need to do when we fly home...that's why, because all we need to do is get on an airplane, well pack a few things. But," he kissed her quickly, "everything else...does not matter. They want to see you, and me I guess," he joked, "and it seemed like the perfect time."

"But, why didn't you tell me...give me a few days warning?"

"Because, you would have tried to shop for a million kids," he teased her, "and probably
Mom and my sisters...and you'd be stressed and full of travel anxiety...so I thought, we could do this, only if you want to."

"I do..." she smiled, "I do want to go, and you're right all the travel anxiety...well the family anxiety...I'd have probably managed to go all dark and twisty."

"You want to do this?" he asked.

"Yes," she smiled, "but...we can't go empty handed...especially for Jenna."

"Meredith," he hugged her close to him and kissed her temple, "you've already had things shipped to Mom's for her shower and I know," he kissed her tenderly, "you've picked out other things for when we finally visited," he said softly, and she squeezed his hand; both acknowledging and recalling the evening the week before when he'd found her crying in the den while she held some baby items in her hands, and then wrapped a gift for Lisette's baby shower. Later, she'd come to bed and sought the comfort of his embrace, as she lay her head on his chest and cried quietly, and whispered, "it's been six months," and he held her in his arms through the night.

"I can do this," she said softly, "I can..."

"We can do this," he cupped her face in his hands, and kissed her, "together."

Meredith snuggled up to him, "I love you."

"I love you too," he told her, and they remained quiet for several minutes.

"I really have to go," she told him, "but we can have lunch...in fact," she smiled, "Cristina said I should invite you to join us," and she saw his smile. "Wait...she knows something, doesn't she? Derek...you told her we were going away," she laughed and teased him, "my husband and my person are sharing secrets?"

"I may have asked her to cover for you on Thursday, so we can fly back in the morning and have the rest of the day off..."

"Is there anything else," she looked at him, "I need to know about?"

"No...just that our flight's at nine forty five this evening."

"Oh crap," she said as the realization of the trip truly dawned on her, "tonight...and packing...Derek...I have to pack...and what do I take...I have to make a good impression, it's your family...and...oh...I could kill you," she said and his lips were on hers as he silenced her.

"Meredith," he told her, "my family already loves you..."

"I haven't met Maggie...or Jenna, and are we going to see other relatives..."

"Mer," he met her gaze, "when you get home...on our bed, I may have put some things you may want to take, all you have to do is pack them..."

"You picked out my clothes," she laughed.

"No, just what I thought you'd want to take. I've already packed my jeans, sweaters; just take what you'd wear at home," he told her, "there's nobody to impress..." he kissed her again, "but me...and you've already done that. Ok?"

"Ok," she agreed. "So, you'll meet us for lunch?"

"No," he said, "already have a date."

"Derek," she warned, "Dr. Grey is off limits...today..."

He laughed, "it's a beautiful young lady...that seems to have found a way to my heart."

She smiled and kissed him, "you're seeing Kelly?"

"Her six month follow up, and then I'll see her again in two more three months intervals, and she should be fine."

"She suckered you into lunch?"

"Her check up last month," he said, "she thought it was very exciting to have lunch in the cafeteria, so that's where we'll be today, around noon."

"I do love you Derek," she said and got teary eyed and sentimental as they spoke of the little girl that had come into their lives and helped heal their hearts, hearts in deep pain over unexpected shattered dreams, "I hope you really know how much..."

"I do," he said, and kissed her softly, "Meredith, I do..."

Hours later Meredith sat in the cafeteria with Cristina, "Lexie," her friend said, "come and join us...your sister is freaking out."

"I am not," Meredith argued, "all I said was I had no idea how many more family members we were going to meet...and I can't believe you didn't tell me what Derek planned...and even this morning, Cristina...I don't keep secrets from you...and this...I could have prepared and how do I know there isn't an aunt that loved Addison and is going to hate me..."

"She knew," Cristina said.

"Who knew..." Meredith looked at her confused, "what?"

"Lexie knew," Cristina said, "we all did."

"You what?"

"Mer, keep your voice down," Cristina said. "I'm going to admit this once. Mcdreamy, he's ok, sometimes, in small doses."

"Ok," Meredith was sidetracked by that comment, "this is twice today...Cristina...you're not dying or anything...right...you'd tell me, if you were sick...I'm your person...you can't keep secrets from me..."

"Lexie," Cristina said, "take over," and continued eating.

"Mer," Lexie smiled, "Cristina's right, we kind of knew...well, not everybody just the three of us...I mean...including Mark...and we knew it would probably be best that you had as little notice as possible...and Kat ..."

"Mama Shep," Cristina said, "and Derek worked it out...they lied to Jenna, they're not telling her till you get there because she'd have changed the date to the shower and all that, so yeah...Shepherd...I get it...the Mcdreamy of it all..."

Meredith stared at both women, deeply touched by everyone's intentions to make this particular trip as easy for her as possible; she was going to be faced with the reality that she too would have been about ready to have their baby around the same time as Jenna. "Thank you," Meredith said quietly and reached out to touch both their hands.

"No sentimental crap," Cristina said, while she too felt her friend's emotions, and squeezed her hand.

"Mer," Lexie said, "Carolyn's so excited...she's cooking both yours and Derek's favorites...and she said there's one chocolate recipe you're going to love."

"So the three of you have known about this for how long?" Meredith asked as she saw Mark approach them.

"A week," both Cristina and Lexie replied.

"Grey," Mark drawled, "you all packed?"

"Cute Sloan," she glared at him, "you could have given me a heads up..."

"Derek would have killed me," he sat down and grabbed french fries from Lexie's plate and she slapped his hand away.

Meredith smiled, Carolyn and Kat were going to love to hear about this, she thought as they talked for a few more minutes before she saw her husband walk in the cafeteria with Kelly and Colleen, and it wasn't long before they joined her.

"Dr. Shep," Kelly said excitedly as Derek held her hand, ensuring she wouldn't take off and run to Meredith, "look...Dr. Mewedith is here...I've gots to see her..."

"I think she'd like to see you too," he smiled.

"Derek," Colleen told him, "you are as bad as my parents, spoiling her."

"We're celebrating Colleen," he told her, "a perfectly healthy little girl."

"I know," Colleen said and added with heartfelt sincerity, "thanks to you...you and Meredith."

Meredith left her seat and walked toward them, meeting them half way, and when Derek let go of Kelly's hand she rushed to Meredith, "Dr. Mewedith...this is the bestest supwise ever..." and Meredith picked her up and the little girl threw her arms around her neck and hugged her. "I love you Dr. Mewedith."

"I love you too sweetheart," Meredith said. "I hear you're having a special lunch..."

"With Dr. Shep," Kelly said her eyes wide, "in the doctor cafeteria."

"That's pretty special," Meredith smiled, "having lunch with all the doctors from the hospital..."

"That's special...but more special...because I'm with Dr. Shep...and he's my fwiend...and you...Dr. Mewedith...cause you're special..."

"You're very special too Kelly..." Meredith hugged her, "how about going to say hello to some other friends...hi Colleen...your daughter doesn't leave much time to talk to anyone else," she said and both women exchanged a smile.

"Dr. Shep," Kelly giggled, "all the doctors are wearing pajamas...Dr. Mark too...and Dr. Lexie...and Dr Cwistina...and remember, Dr. Mark...told me Dr. Lexie don't wear pajamas at home," she said and Mark Sloan choked on his coffee, while Cristina Yang laughed good naturedly.

"Dr. Mark," Cristina said. "Do tell us ...when little ears are out of hearing range...about Dr. Lexie's lack of pajamas."

"Cristina," Lexie said, "it's not nice to make fun..."

"Dr. Lexie is Dr. Mark your boyfriend, cause Mommy says that only Mommy's and Daddy's don't have to wear pajamas in bed."

"Oh my God," Colleen said, "how..." she shook her head, "am I going to explain that one," she said, and none were able to hold their laughter.

"Mommy," Kelly was not happy with the situation, as she did not understand what was so funny, "why's everybody laughing?"

Colleen was at a loss for words and Derek jumped in, "princess, sometimes grown ups laugh at silly things."

"Cause you mean...it's silly if Mommy and Daddy don't wear pajamas in bed," Kelly said to him.

"I tried," Derek said, trying to suppress his laughter. "I did..."

"Kelly," Cristina said, surprising them all, "you know I bet what your Mommy said, was that if Mommy and Daddy ever had to get in bed without pajamas it's because the dryer was broken...and the pajamas were still wet...so if they put them on they get sick...and be coughing and achy...so instead they got under the covers really quickly to warm up...and then in the morning when the pajamas were all dry they could put them on."

"Dr. Cwistina..." Kelly looked at her, "one time we gots a new dwyer and the man came to the house and took the other one away...cause it didn't work no more...and mommy took all the wet clothes to Nana Maggie's house..."

"You see," Cristina told her, "that's why they didn't wear pajamas..."

Kelly looked at her as though she was pondering a very important matter, "no...not that time...Mommy...did we have to gets two new dwyers?"

"Yes," Colleen had never been so happy to lie to her daughter, "sweetie, we had two broken dryer," and her eyes pleaded that no one laugh or contradict her.

"Dr. Mewedith," Kelly who was sitting on her lap put both her small hands on her face, "we have a vitation for you," she smiled.

"Invitation," Colleen translated.

"You do," Meredith smiled, "an invitation to what?"

"My baby brother's birthday...Sean's going to have a party...cause he's going to be one years old."

"He is...pretty soon..." Meredith said, "and that's a very special birthday."

"You gots to be there," Kelly said, "cause he loves you...lots and lots like me. Mommy where's the vitation?"

"Meredith," Colleen said, "we understand you may be working...so don't worry."

"Mommy," Kelly said, "she gots to be there and Dr. Shep..."

"Sweetie," Colleen said, "they have to be at the hospital...so if they can't make it..."

"Sean will be sad Mommy...we can wait...and when they get to leave the hospital we can sing happy birthday...Mommy...they gots to be there...for his special birthday, " the little girl insisted. Meredith already knew she'd be there, even before hearing Kelly's next words, it was one of those times for both of them, where sharing that day with the little boy, that had so often warmed their hearts, was meant to happen. "Mommy...even my friend Bwianna...she's going to be there." Years later, they would recall this moment and fully understand the significance of that first birthday celebration.

"When is it Colleen?" Derek asked.

"September 29, it's a Monday, and it's a just for the family," she said and handed him the invitation, "which of course it's enough people," she laughed, "but a small celebration in the late afternoon."

"We'll be there," he told her. "Kelly, what do you say we go get our lunch?"

"You mean just like the doctors...and we get to go to the line...and have a tway?"

"Yes," he smiled, "just like the doctors."

"Derek," Meredith said to him, "I want dessert."

"Mer," he leaned down and whispered, "thought we were waiting till we got home tonight."

She laughed, "cheesecake Derek...get your mind out of the gutter."

"What's gutter?" Kelly asked.

Colleen was about to laugh at Meredith's expression, "she said butter, sweetie, she wants to make sure her dessert doesn't have butter," she said and winked at Meredith as she walked behind Derek and Kelly to the cafeteria line.

Mark roared with laughter as soon as they were gone, "that is one smart little girl."

"That was priceless," Cristina said, "can you imagine her saying that in front of other people," and laughed. "Mer, when you and Mcdreamy have kids...you need to borrow her so you can be ready to practice your answers,because your kids are going to be running into lots of days when the dryer's not working," she said, "how you handle the noise situation, you're going to have to work on that one," and the four adults at the table joined in laughter.

"What was so funny," Derek asked her when they returned to the lunch table.

"Tell you later," she whispered.

"Dr. Mewedith," Kelly said, "we gots you chocolate cake...cause Mommy said the cheesecake had lots of butter."

"Colleen," Meredith smiled at her, "early diversion tactics."

"That usually fail...at the worst possible moment," she told her. "John's going to be mortified over this one, we hadn't heard it repeated before, in quite that fashion."

"Out of the mouth of babes," Derek said.

"Dr. Shep," Kelly said, "there's no babies here..."

"No Kelly, there's not."

"Mommy," the four year old moved on to the next subject, "can we go see the babies...in the nursery...please?"

"Yes, sweetie, we'll go see the babies before we go home," Colleen told her.

"Kelly," Meredith said, "I have to go back to work, but I'm so happy I had a chance to see you and I'll see you at Sean's birthday."

"But that's a long long time away," Kelly told her, "and I missed you."

"It's about a week," Meredith told he, as she ran her hand through the little girl's curls. "It will go by soon."

"That's this many days," she said holding up seven fingers.

"That's right, a week is seven days," Meredith smiled.

"Cause you get to go on an airplane," Kelly said, "Dr. Shep told Mommy."

"Yes, we are," Meredith smiled, and fervently hope when they had a daughter she'd be as precious and smart. "We're going to see his sisters and Mom, do you remember Mrs. Shepherd?"

"I like Mrs. Shep, and she tolds me, remember Dr. Shep she knew that I made the picture on the frigerator for you."

"Yes, she did know," Derek told her, "she thought it was a beautiful picture."

The others said their corresponding goodbyes and went back to work, as did Meredith, "Colleen, we'll see you when we get back."

"Have a safe trip," Colleen said, "and give my regards to Carolyn and Kathleen."

"Dr. Mewedith," Kelly said, "I need to give you a hug before you leave."

"I would love a hug," Meredith told her and embraced the little girl.

"I love you Dr. Mewedith," Kelly hugged her tight, "have fun."

"I love you too sweetie," Meredith told her. "We'll see you soon."

The next time she saw her husband was after six o'clock that evening.

"Derek," she called out to him, "is that you?"

"Who else are you expecting?" he answered as he took the stairs.

"There are other people living in this house," she told him, and gave him a quick kiss on the lips, "wanted to make sure it's just us..."

"Really," he raised an eyebrow, "what did you have in mind?"

"These suitcases need to be taken downstairs," she told him, "and..."

"They can wait," he said, "you're all packed," he looked around and saw the two bags by the door, and then noticed a bigger suitcase, "wait, why are we taking that huge case?"

"Winter coats," she replied.

"Meredith..."

"Fine, I went shopping...and let me tell you it was not an easy task. Thank God Lexie came along with me, she knew what we needed to buy for the kids, and I emailed Kathleen so by the time I got to the stores, she told me what each of the kids would like, even though she thought I was crazy to do this..."

"You went shopping..." he said incredulously, "and bought things for fourteen kids."

"Fifteen," she said, "and your Mom."

"Fifteen," he repeated, "Mer...there's only fourteen..."

"Your godchild, Derek...and your Mom better be right that she's a girl, because if not, he's going to be wearing lots of pink and dainty things."

He bridged the distance between them and gathered her in his arms, "I love you."

"You better," she said, opting to tease him, "and next time...the Christmas shopping, you're doing all of it."

"Fair enough," he said, and kissed her, leaving them both breathless and desperately wanting each other.

"Derek," she said, caressing his back, pressing herself into his body, "I missed you last night...and ...we're all packed...and don't have to be at the airport..."

Derek captured her mouth, "for another two hours..."

"Two hours," she said, and moaned softly as he cupped her breast, "that's..." she moaned again when he took off her sweater and his mouth trailed kisses to the swell of her breast, "more than a quickie..."

"Definitely," he removed her bra, and his mouth found moved lower, "more than a quickie..." and the unbridled passion between them rose to new heights of pleasure in the early evening hours of one of the last days of summer.