We've Got To Stop Meeting Like This

Adore You

Their time spent at Ellis' house never lost it's hint of awkwardness. Meredith just hadn't done Christmas before, and it was clear her mother hadn't either. They sat through lunch together, and the main topic of conversation seemed to just be medical research and talking about Meredith's recent research of her own that she was undertaking with the help of Dr Miller back in Seattle. Unbeknownst to Meredith, her mother had been following the trial from afar, which was surprising considering her mother had always been against her pathway into neurosurgery.

Surprisingly, neither had to mention the engagement to Ellis, because as soon as they both walked in the door she had realised something had changed and knew exactly what it was, offering both of them their congratulations. Other mothers would probably be immediately planning the wedding the second they walked in the door, but in true Ellis style it wasn't mentioned again.

They were now on their way to Derek's family home, having been given her mother's blessing to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas morning with them, and despite the fact she had already met Derek's parents, she still felt very nervous to be going.

"What's wrong?" Derek asked, his hand gently squeezing Meredith's thigh as he drove, "You haven't said a word since we left your mother's house."

"I can't shake these nerves," she said with a short laugh, "It's different meeting your parents as your girlfriend than them knowing me as Ellis' daughter."

"I know this won't help, but there's nothing to be nervous about," he leaned over to press a kiss to her cheek when he stopped at a red light.

"Or, we could hide out at your apartment for Christmas?" She said with a soft grin, capturing his lips with her own a moment before he started driving again

"As much as I'd love that, if we don't turn up a search party will be sent out," he said with a soft chuckle as he pulled up in his parent's drive.

She groaned softly as she took her seatbelt off and then climbed out of the car, Derek joining by her side and taking her hand with a gentle squeeze.

"It'll be okay," he said, kissing her cheek again, "By the way, when I propose later on pretend you don't know."

"What?" Meredith said, looking at him with slightly wide eyes, "Why?"

"Because I told my mom I was proposing to you tonight and I haven't told her I jumped the gun yesterday and did it already," he said quickly as they approached the door and he rang the doorbell. Before Meredith had a chance to respond, the door flew open as Carolyn greeted them with a grin.

"Come in, come in, out of the cold, both of you," she said, ushering them inside and closing the door behind them as they took their coats off.

"Hey, Mom," Derek greeted as he gave Carolyn a kiss on the cheek and a quick hug.

"Everyone is in the living room," Carolyn said as she led them through, and Derek's arm slid around Meredith's middle as they followed her into the room.

Apparently, the whole Shepherd family had come to Christmas this year, including all four of his sisters and their kids. The adults sat on the couches while the children played around, going in and out of the room presumably to the basement and back.

"Hey, guys," Derek said as they moved over to an empty spot on the sofa, sitting beside one another with Derek's arm still around Meredith.

"Der!" His nephew was the first one to greet him, his head popping out from behind the doorway with a wide grin.

"Hey, Noah," Derek grinned back at him with a soft chuckle which was mirrored by a few of the other adults.

"He's been asking when you'll be here all day," Nancy said with a soft laugh as Noah came into the room and Derek lifted him into a hug on his lap.