Gala

Chapter 3

'My mom said it was a 45 minute drive not a 20 minute drive' Meredith thought to herself she left at 7:10 and got there a whole 30 minutes early but she shouldn't turn away now because she was already walking in.
She walks in to meet a pair of ocean blue eyes. She didn't realize he was approaching her until she heard him speak "Derek Shepherd, and you are?"
He said politely taking her hand and placing it on his lips "oh uhm Meredith Grey" she said biting her bottom lip. "Well Meredith Grey your early were you eager to get here?" He teased her "oh actually my mother told me that this was 45 minutes away from my house turns out it was only 20" She said her cheeks turning pink just from his gaze.

"So Meredith what brings you here?" Derek asked "oh actually my mother kind of forced me to come I honestly didn't want to" she said "well that brakes my heart" he pouted making her smile "why'd she want you to come?" He asked her "to be honest- they whole money thing because shes sick and I told her we didn't need the money because I'm saving up and I still don't think we need it.." she rambled. The whole money thing made him frown a bit but when she said she doesn't really want it it made him slightly smile again.

"Well I'm glad you came" he said "how? I mean you don't even know me" she laughed a bit "maybe not but I could get to know you" he said "you must definitely could get to know me but how do I know this isnt just an act and you say this to every girl you meet?" She teased "hm let me think I definitely do not talk to other girls like this because every other girl I have met want my money" he said "oh I'm sorry" she said slightly feeling bad "don't be come on leg me introduce you to my family" he said holding his hand out for her to take.

"Meredith these are my parents Christopher Shepherd and Carolyn Shepherd, ma dad this is Meredith Grey" he said "nice to meet you" Meredith said smiling. "Its a pleasure to meet you too" Carolyn said bringing Meredith in for a hug. "Grey as in Ellis Grey?" Christopher asked "uh yeah my mother do you know her?" Meredith asked "Ellis and I were close friends we found back to highschool did she ever end up with Richard?" He asked "uhm no I'm not quite sure who he is my dad well I'm not sure who he is either my mother said I was a suprise but she was on her own the whole time" Meredith explained "oh that's too bad her and Richard were like soulmates I wonder what happened to them" He said shaking his head.

"And these are my sisters and their families" Derek said bringing her over to his sisters. "Hi I'm Kathleen also I'm Derek's favorite sister and this is my husband David and my little girl Lilly" Kathleen said.

"I'm Ameila and if you couldn't tell o have no kids or a husband so that's that" Amelia laughed.

"Hey I'm Liz and this is my husband Aaren and my children Elliot, Ryker, and Brianna" she smiled

"Nancy, this is my husband Matt and our three children Anastasia, Faris, and Reese" Nancy said trying her best not to sound snobby.

"It's nice to meet you all I'm Meredith" She said "Uncle Derbear is that your girlfriend?" Lilly asked Derek tended up a bit then picked up Lilly after giving Meredith a glance. "No Lilly pad Meredith is not my girlfriend I just met her a couple minutes ago" he exclaimed trying to get her to understand "why? Mer'dith is pwetty so why not girlfriend" she asked "just because Meredith is very pretty that dosen't mean she is my girlfriend Lilly" he laughed a bit looking at Meredith smiling softly at him and Lilly.

"I mean Uncle Derek she is very pretty" Anastasia said with a grin "Uncle Derek if you don't claim her I will" Elliot whispered in his ear. "You are funny Elliot but also your only 10" Derek chuckled "what did he say?" Liz asked "nothing Liz don't worry about it" Derek said.

Lilly went by Meredith to get her to pick her up "Mer'dith" Lilly said pulling on her dress a bit "yes Lilly?" Meredith asked "up" Lilly said throwing her hands up "okay up we go" Meredith said picking the girl up.

"Looks like you made a friend" Derek said from behind Meredith "looks like I did" Meredith giggled turning around to meet his gaze and smiled.

"Uncle Derek are you going to kiss her" Ryker said "huh what no I'm not going to kiss her" Derek said breaking the gaze to look at Ryker. Meredith was embarrassed she doesn't even know the guy but he makes her feel safe. "Are you sure Uncle Derek because it looked like you were going to kiss her" Elliot added "I'm sure I wasn't going to kiss her" Derek assured them "I think Uncle Derek is lyinggg" Anastasia said in a teasing tone "you kids are crazy" Derek chuckled. "Mer'dith you like Uncle Derbear?" Lilly asked "well Lilly I think your Uncle Derek is a very nice man but I don't really know him at all" she giggled. "Exactly Meredith and I don't even know eachother" Derek said.

"That doesn't mean anything you could get to know her" Anastasia argued "fine you know Meredith and I will get to know eachother if you leave us alone" Derek groaned "you guys have the same additudes as your mothers" he said shaking his head.

He held out his hand for Meredith to take. She put Lilly down and gladly accepted his hand.

He led her away from his family before his sisters started talking. "Sorry about them" he said "It's fine they are adorable I really like Lilly" she giggled, her giggle makes him melt. "She is she was very excited to show me her dress tonight" he said.
"Well it is a very pretty dress" she smiled "it is pretty, very much like yours" he said "navy blue one of my favorite colors" he added with a smile.
"Well I'm suprised I even have this dress my went out and got it" she said running her hands over the dress.

Meredith and Derek were taking for a good 20 minutes getting to know eachother Derek's hand was resting on top of Meredith's. "Well you Meredith Grey are very interesting" Derek said smiling at her "so are you" Meredith giggled. "Oh more guests are arriving" Derek frowned "it's okay you can go greet them I'll be here all night anyway so it's not like I'm going anywhere" Meredith said. "Okay I will see you in a bit" Derek said giving her hand a squeeze before walking off.

"My brother seems to like you" Meredith heard from behind "Kathleen oh you scared me" Meredith said "oh yeah sorry about that I was just saying that Derek seems to like you he has a look in his eyes when he talks to you" Kathleen told her "really?" Meredith asked "yes he has never looked at a girl like that not even Rose" Kathleen said "Rose?" Meredith asked "oh Derek's ex fiance they dated for a year and were engaged for 6 months but he found out that she just wanted his money and was dating some man named Finn Dandridge for most of their relationship" Kathleen said. "Finn Dandridge.." Meredith said a bit taken back "yeah, are you okay you look a little pale" Kathleen said a bit concerned "no no I'm not uh Finn was my boyfriend for 2 years but I caught him cheating on my with some girl so I'm assuming that's Rose" Meredith said with her breath speeding up.

"Oh Meredith I'm sorry" Kathleen said "Don't be it was a toxic relationship anyway" Meredith said. Kathleen was rubbing Meredith's back trying to get her to calm down when they heard Derek yell "WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?"