He was a neurosurgeon, one of the the best. She was just starting off. He had been married with children before his wife left him before one day he received divorce papers in the mail. They had been alone ever since.
It had been a year since Meredith's accident and she was back on her feet again and working as usual.
Their lives had gone back to normal once Meredith was cleared to do everything she could before.
They no longer had to argue about what she was and wasn't allowed to do and she felt free again.
Derek had proposed not long ago since everything felt perfect and the timing felt right. The kids were happy and doing well.
Madeleine no longer despised Meredith And they were all happy.
He did it after the kids went to bed and as the sun was starting to set. They were sat outside on the large swing in front of the house.
Everything was quiet and they were in their own little world. He felt it was the right time so he dropped on one knee and pulled out the little black velvet box and asked the question.
She of course said yes and they spent the night enjoying each other's bodies as they always had, but that night felt different.
They felt closer, more in love if that was even possible. It was a new stage in their life and they felt more in love then ever.
They hadn't told the kids yet since they were still asleep when he proposed and the next morning it kind of slipped their mind.
Of course, they remember they were now engaged but it slipped their mind to tell the kids. They also hadn't told anyone else like his parents or sisters.
She had the ring on her finger but she didn't think any of the kids noticed the next morning while they were getting ready.
Madeleine always got ready on her own and Derek was helping Michael get ready while Meredith helped Violet get ready.
Derek noticed how much quicker they got out of the house now that Meredith lived with them. The kids had gotten used to having Meredith around when she was recovering from the accident so he decided to ask the question and she said she would be fine with it as long as the kids didn't mind.
He would always have to help Michael and Violet get ready at the same time and they were always at least an hour late, thankfully School didn't start an hour after the kids got there but they always had to get a late slip from the office.
But with Meredith living with them now the kids were now on time instead of always being late. Today Derek had to work later than he usually did due to there being a huge accident. He called Meredith and she was already on her way to pick up the kids.
Their lives had been much better and much easier since Meredith came into their lives. he got more sleep, they were on time, they were happier and more.
It had now been a few days since Derek proposed and they had kept it on the down low. It was easier for her at work since she took the ring off at work, especially during surgery.
Derek's family was going to be visiting again except this time all his sisters were coming as well. Meredith had never met any of Derek's family other than just his parents.
Derek had mentioned that his sisters loved Addison and were very upset with what went down between Derek and Addison.
Of course, they were upset that Addison had left in the middle of the night but they still believed that Derek wasn't totally blameless. Everyone knew they weren't in love but they had never been on good terms.
They had always pretended to get along for the kids but once they went to bed or at work they were at each other's throats, even at family gatherings and get-togethers they were always arguing, they couldn't even sit next to each other during dinner and Amelia was happy to trade seats with Addison so she wasn't sitting next to Nancy who Addison got along with very well.
Everyone knew they weren't happy but no one expected she would leave the way she did and never come back. but they did believe Derek could have tried more as she had tried in the beginning but he made no effort to make it more than just an agreement.
He had always figured the relationship would go downhill eventually but he never thought she would leave and have no contact with the children.
Addison used to call Madeleine every month but she no longer did. Madeleine had started ignoring her calls when she accepted Meredith into her life which meant Addison no longer got fill-ins on what was going on in Derek's life, more importantly, his dating life.
So Instead she called Nancy who knew about Derek's life from Carolyn and Christopher. but no one knew about the engagement so Nancy couldn't tell her that.
Today was the Derek wanted to tell the kids about the engagement. He wanted to tell them before his family got here so if they were upset it would have passed by the time everyone arrived.
He was waiting for Meredith to get out of the shower as it was still early in the morning and the kids had just finished with breakfast, they had eaten earlier before the kids woke up.
Michael and Violet played on the floor while Madeleine leaned against Derek's side with his arm around her as she started to slowly fall back to sleep.
"Did you guys remember Meredith and I have something to tell you?" he asked as he rubbed Madeleine's arm in an attempt to wake her up.
"Hmm," Madeleine hummed as she stirred awake. "Yes," Michael and Violet both replied.
The bedroom door opened and Meredith came into the room, her hair still damp and dressed in her red robe.
"We might have to tell them quickly before Madeleine falls asleep again, he said. He wanted to tell them sooner than later. They had kept it a secret for so long and he was too happy to keep it in for much longer.
"Were not telling them while Im still in my robe, I dont want to flash them by accident," she said as she went into the laundry to get some clean clothes.
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