Chapter Text
Make my messes matter
Make this chaos count
Let every little fracture in me
Shatter out loud
Jupiter- Sleeping At Last
For the first time in many years, Meredith Grey was naked in a bed that was not her own. But the arms she had been enveloped in were very familiar. And the lips trailing her shoulder were even more familiar. They traveled down her neck to her shoulder.
"It's morning, we have to get up," Derek's voice brought her back from the deep sleep she had been under.
"I don't want to," she groaned as she realized the sun was up and her husband was right, "It's so warm here and it's just you and me."
"We have to get up," he kissed her shoulder again after whispering in her ear.
"The sun is barely rising," she mumbled.
They'd finally given in and had taken those 48 hours they had talked about all those years ago and had flown down to Wine Country. Sonoma, in an overly nice hotel where Derek booked a fancy suite with an outdoor firepit, a fancy outdoor shower, and a fireplace. It was private and luxurious. And the food was delicious. And the wine was exquisite. But none of that mattered, because what they looked forward to was wrapping themselves in each other's arms and staying in bed until late.
They weren't Dr. Shepherd and Dr. Grey or Mom and Dad, they had simply been Meredith and Derek. A couple on a much-deserved getaway trip.
The first night, he took her to dinner, she walked out of the bedroom in a tightly fitted black dress with the heels that hurt her but damn did she look great. He swore he'd never seen a more beautiful woman in his life. And when she saw him closing the clasp of the watch she had gotten him for Christmas she swore that he'd looked so damn sexy in his dark suit and that blue tie that brought out his eyes.
They'd spent that night flirting, drinking too much wine, and giggling too much until they ripped at each other's clothes and fell into bed. The dress and tie lay forgotten on the floor as his lips trailed her chest slowly. There was no reason to rush, no reason to hold back or to make love in whispers. It was just the two of them free to take their time. To let him kiss down her body and let her hands roam over his. To enjoy each other anywhere and everywhere, a luxury they no longer had at home with three kids who knew no boundaries.
Forty-eight hours of wine and sex. And an extra 24 just because.
They loved their children, absolutely adored them, and could not picture their lives without them. But Meredith had to admit that having Derek to herself for just a few days felt good. It was a much-needed time for themselves.
"We have to go," he pressed his lips on the constellation of freckles on her back, "we promised the kids we'd fly back to Seattle today."
She turned in his arms as she opened her legs and allowed him to settle between them. His lips traveled to her neck where he placed open-mouthed kisses. She teasingly rolled her hips against him as she gently pulled his head back to look into his eyes, "So then let's make this morning last a little longer."
Her fingers massaged the base of his curls as he leaned and kissed her deeply. Their tongues danced together until he buried himself within her and their moans filled the room.
He drove the rental car down the highway with one hand in hers.
She turned to look at him. He seemed so relaxed, so happy with no problems in mind. The California sun peered through the window and shone on his face. If this was bliss, she never wanted out.
Especially after the year they had.
"Where are we going?" she sighed exasperated, "Why did I have to be up so early, this was supposed to be a vacation."
"Three days is hardly a vacation," Derek turned and flashed a smile at her, "besides, you've asked me that so many times already. Why can't you just enjoy the ride?"
"Because you won't tell me! And you were the one who was insisting on checking out of the hotel early when we still had a few hours before our flight. Now you're driving us further away from the airport."
He didn't answer so she continued, "We would have still been in the room, under the covers.
Derek shook his head in amusement at his wife's teasing.
"We had a few hours left," she insisted, "We could've done a lot in those hours."
She could see a glimpse of his eyes through his aviators. He smiled, mischief gracing his features, "Trust me."
She did. She trusted him with her life. If anything these last six years had taught her that she could always count on him to stay by her side. It taught her that he would always take care of her. Even when it hurt him, he's be by her side.
Even in those dark years when it seemed that they were drifting and there was no road back to each other.
They had beaten the odds over and over again.
She shook her head as he raised her hand to his lips and let it go to drive with both hands. The same hand caressed the base of his neck as her fingers ran through his curls. His hair was grayer and more wrinkles had developed on his face, but his smile was the same. When he smiled, his entire face would light up. It would reach his eyes and his eyes would sparkle with joy.
She turned back to the road ahead of them and noticed that on the horizon she could make out a beach.
"We're going to the beach?" she asked as she tried to hide the excitement in her voice.
Derek chuckled, "You've never been patient, you know that?"
Meredith laughed.
"When you were sick, you kept saying you wanted to come to the beach," Derek explained as they walked down the shore. They walked arm in arm on what seemed an empty beach enjoying the final hours of their trip.
She looked up at her husband, "You remembered?"
Derek nodded, "I was so scared. I would pray that you'd wake up and I promised myself that as soon as you did, I'd bring you here."
Meredith wrapped her arm tighter around his waist as he kissed the top of her head.
This past year had brought them both more pain when Meredith had tested positive for the novel virus. They'd been in lockdown for weeks and had agreed that they'd take turns at the hospital so that the kids wouldn't be alone and Amelia wouldn't be overwhelmed with kids and her new baby. It was hard but they'd make it work until Meredith was hospitalized. Thankfully, she'd made it through the other side and the family had been united.
"Did you enjoy yourself?" he whispered as his lips were still on top of her head.
She scoffed, "I had my husband all to myself this weekend, no pages or fighting over toys - Don't get me wrong I love our kids- but we needed this."
"Yes we did," he agreed, "Although Bailey seems a little anxious for us to get home."
Meredith laughed. They'd talked to the kids earlier through FaceTime and Bailey had asked more than once when they'd be home. Being the only boy in the house without his dad could be a little overwhelming for him sometimes. Despite Bailey's insistence, Amelia had reassured them that the kids were fine.
"He misses his dad," Meredith replied.
They walked another portion of the shoreline together talking about the wine, the kids, their sisters, and the hospital. They talked about anything and everything, hand in hand. They walked and talked until the clouds seemed to start covering the sky.
"Oh no," Derek whispered, "It wasn't supposed to rain today.
Meredith looked up, "It's not raining"
Then she felt a drop. And another.
"Okay, now it's raining," Meredith looked at Derek and both began to make their way back to the car. They were used to light rain given their residence in Seattle. But now it was pouring and they had a light to catch soon.
They ran back to their car laughing with Derek opening the door of the backseat and Meredith jumping straight in. Derek followed in laughing. He closed the door behind him and glanced back to his wife who was laughing alongside him.
She smiled as she shook her head, "I don't think you had that planned out did you?"
"No I did not," He pushed his wet hair back as she leaned her head on the seat. He brought his hand to trace her jaw.
She had changed just as much as he did. A few wrinkles were on her face and wore the experiences she had gone through. Her eyes were still his favorite feature and he could read her thoughts much better than he could years ago. His eyes made their way down to her lips and then back to her eyes again.
As his thumb grazed her jaw, he slowly leaned in and kissed her. Deeply. Just like when he had kissed her all those years ago outside her house. With wild abandon like the night of the prom in the exam room. And with the same tenderness, he felt when they had just made their post-it.
Suddenly she was climbing on him and was unbuttoning his shirt as he unbuttoned hers until both her hands grabbed his face, "I love you."
She didn't say it often. She didn't say it as much as he did. Whereas he told her often, she told him in other ways. When she would tell him her deepest secrets. Her craziest dreams and scariest fears. She didn't give up on him even when he would give her enough reason to. She'd tell him how much she loved him through her actions both big and small. And he never once doubted. Even when they were broken up, he knew she loved him.
He brought her lips down back to his.
"Welcome back!"
"We weren't gone for that long!" Meredith laughed.
Maggie chuckled as she embraced her sister.
"The kids missed you," Maggie laughed, "You were missed. How was your getaway?"
"It was great," she smiled.
"Lot of sex, huh?" teased Maggie knowingly.
"I have no idea what any of the vineyards look like," Meredith winked.
Amelia walked towards them with a disgruntled look in her face with Link by her side, "You're back!"
"I'm back!" Meredith replied in amusement, "Hi Scout! Did you grow over the weekend?"
"21 pounds and 26 inches," Link announced proudly, "I'm gonna take him up to day care."
Link quickly flashed a smile at Meredith and Maggie before leaving. Amelia glared at him as he walked away.
Maggie took notice. They were close. Possibly closer than she and Meredith. Living together for many years created an inseparable bond between the two and Meredith was just a part of it as well, "What's wrong?"
"We've been at it since his wellness check," Amelia shook her head, "But the good news is this guy is at a healthy weight and growing. You're three musketeers were great by the way."
"Derek is picking them up now," Meredith nodded, "Thank you, by the way."
"Yup," Amelia answered, "It didn't help with the whole me declining marriage proposal but-"
"Amelia-" Maggie started.
"I love my nieces and I love my nephew. They're my favorites out of the other million but-,"
"They better be your favorite, you've practically helped raise them," chuckled Meredith.
"He wants more kids. He wants marriage," Amelia groaned, "I just don't see it. We were in that room arguing and I blamed him for gaslighting me and called him old-fashioned for believing that commitment only equals marriage!"
Maggie subtly raised her left hand, showing off a dazzling diamond and wedding band. Meredith raised a brow.
"Except you two," Amelia corrected, "You and Winston are great! And you and my brother disgust me but you're pretty great too."
Her sisters chuckled.
"We owe you one," Meredith patted Amy's shoulder, "I got a patient Bailey asked me to check in on before I go home. I'll see you later."
He promised he would pick her up today. Not Momma. Not Aunt Amy. Not Aunt Maggie or Uncle Winston. Not their nanny, Erin, who'd help when they needed.
Him.
And as he had told Meredith ages ago, what the princes wanted, the princess got. At that time, he was talking about Zola but it applied to Ellis too. He was wrapped around their little fingers and would please them in any way he could.
He leaned against the car staring at the crowd of children leaving their classrooms. Parents waited closer to the gate with enthusiasm. His daughter's teacher spotted him. She was kind, and sweet, and he didn't understand how she dealt with twenty kids at a time but Ellis loved her. Then again, she loved everybody. Her teacher smiled, recognizing him. She turned to the small head of blonde hair and pointed at him. Ellis spotted him and gave him a massive smile, "Daddy!"
Her little feet carried her as fast as she could. Her brown and green backpack bounced as she reached his open arms. He lifted her effortlessly as her small arms wrapped around his neck.
"You came!"
Derek laughed, "I promised, didn't I?"
He could feel Ellis nod against him, "I missed you."
"I missed you too, baby girl," he smiled back, "Want to go pick up the other two monsters?"
Ellis giggled, "They're not monsters! They're my brother and sister!"
"Oh really?," he chuckled as he helped her inside the car, "okay, let's go pick up your brother and sister."
Meredith opened the door to the house. Three loud voices greeted her, "Mommy!"
Derek watched as they ran to embrace her. Her arms wrapped around them as best as she could, "Hi! How was school today?"
"Zola aced her science test, Bailey made the soccer team again, and little miss Ellis is her usual chipper self." Derek announced as he watched Meredith remove her coat.
All three children beamed at her mother after their father's rundown, "Wow, look at you three, I'm so proud of you! Did you already start on dinner?"
"Just started," her husband smiled as she approached him, "Hi."
She stood in front of him expecting a better greeting, "Hi."
Derek glanced at the children who were taking their seats in the breakfast bar in front of them. He furrowed his brows and reached for a magazine, hiding his and their mother's faces away as he gently kissed her.
Groans and sounds of disgust followed.
"Ew, gross," muttered Bailey.
"We're in the kitchen!" Zola moaned.
Ellis only giggled.
The parents chuckled as they split apart and Derek set the magazine down. It was an expected response. One he'd garner over and over just to watch his wife laugh in amusement- and annoy his children.
"What are we missing?," Meredith asked as her laughter died down, "Put me to work."
He reached into the fridge and pulled out a bag of salad, tossing it to her with a wink, "Salad duty."
Meredith rolled her eyes, "This doesn't count! Give me a real job!"
Derek smirked, "I'm practically done."
"Dad hogs the kitchen, you know that mom," Zola chuckled.
Meredith scrunched her face at her kids earning a laugh from each of them.
"Little Grey-Shepherds, table please?" he turned to his kids. They quietly jumped off their chairs and reached for utensils and placemats.
Meredith watched them walk towards the table and glanced at her husband with a smile. He leaned over and quickly kissed her neck earning himself a gentle giggle before following the kids.
This was perfect. She was blessed. And she would probably never say it out loud because every time she'd think everything was fine, the universe would conspire to prove that indeed it wasn't.
But for once in her life, everything was exactly the way she never imagined. And it was perfect.