The next day Meredith woke up in Derek's arms. She couldn't remember the last time she slept this peaceful.

"Good morning" Derek said

"Hi" She whispered back

"Did you sleep well?"

Meredith nodded and gave him a smile before kissing him on his lips.

"Are you ready to go downstairs and grab ourselves some breakfast?" Derek asked

Meredith nodded again and stepped out of the bed

"Should we wake Mark?" Meredith whispered

"No, he will be pissed if we wake him up" Derek said while handing a sweater to Meredith

They walked downstairs where Christopher was making pancakes and French toast

"Hey guys" Christopher said when he saw the two of them walking into the kitchen

"Hi" They both said while sitting down at the counter

"Are you okay Meredith?" Christopher asked after noticing the limp Meredith had and wining in pain when she sat down

"I'm fine" She said while faking a smile

"I understand if you don't want to talk about it, but we're here for you Meredith" Christopher said while putting the plates in front of them and giving her a soft and warm smile

"Thank you" She said while looking in her lap

Derek squeezed her left leg in a try to show her affection and that she's safe with them

After breakfast they took a shower and she changed into sweats from Derek.

"Do you want me to go to your house and pick up some clothes?"

She shook her head violently. "I.. I.. need to go home anyway"

"Mer, you can stay here if you want.."

"Derek.. your parents.."

"Mer, we can talk to them. We'll start college anyway soon"

"I.. but.. Derek?"

"Mer, take a deep breath. We can talk to my parents"

She nodded "I'm scared Der"

"Mer, I'll be here for you, I won't ever let you down"

"It's just.. my parents.. I'm the mistake. Your parents will hate me, I'm not a good person Derek"

"Mer, that's not true, you know that's not true. I love you, my parents love you"

"I.. I can't leave my mom! She will never agree"

"Mer, you're an adult. Let's talk to my parents first"

"And.. and my dad.. what if he.. he finds me?"

"Mer, he'll never find you here"

"Derek, my name is everywhere. Everyone can find me"

"We'll find a solution, let's go talk to my parents first?"

"Ok.. Okay"

Derek pulled his arm around her waist and pulled her into a hug.

"Mom, Dad?" Derek said when they walked into the living room.

"Yeah guys?" Christopher said

"Can we talk to you?" Derek asked, sitting down with Mer close to him.

"Of course" Carolyn said when they sat down.

Tot other kids were all in college except for Mark and Amelia. They were still asleep

"Mom.. Well.. Mer? Do you want to tell them"

Meredith looked at Derek and he immediately noticed the fear in her eyes

"Should I tell them?"

Meredith nodded

"Mom.. Dad.. Mer uhm.. she has some issues at home. Her dad used to beat her and Ellis kicked him out of the house a few years back but he's still chasing Mer. Ellis doesn't want to fill in a report at the police." Derek said.

He already told his parents how Ellis acted to Meredith and his parents became pretty close with Meredith but they noticed she was afraid to do something wrong and she wasn't used to a parent around her.

"Meredith.. dear.. I'm so sorry" Carolyn said, a tear escaping her eye.

Christopher immediately knew what Derek wanted to ask them so he wanted to propose it himself so Meredith wouldn't feel like a burden

"Meredith.. If you want you can stay here."

"That's what I wanted to ask you dad" Derek replied

"Meredith, dear! Of course you can stay here! Well it won't be for a very long time as you guys leave soon to go to college but you already felt like a daughter to me"

Meredith smiled, she was happy the Shepherds wanted to take her in, she just wanted to escape the life she was living until today

"Meredith, we're gonna go shopping for some clothes this afternoon."

"Carolyn, that's sweet but I'm saving my money to go to college"

"Meredith, I meant we will pay, don't worry about that. And I'm sure Amelia will have some clothes for you and maybe some old clothes from the other girls."

"Thank.. Thank you so much. Are you sure I.. I can stay here? I.. I don't want to be a burden, I.. I get it if-"

"Meredith, we would love you to stay here. Here it's safe and you and Derek are old enough to live together. Don't worry about is"

"Thank you so much" Meredith said with a big smile while Derek squeezed her waist and kissing her forehead

"And I want to keep an eye on your hip and leg, you have a very bad limp" Christopher said concerned

Meredith nodded "Thank you"

Carolyn, Amelia and Meredith went to the mall that afternoon, they ate some ice cream and went shopping. They had so much fun.

Meanwhile at the big Shepherd home Derek and his dad were preparing dinner

"Dad? I want to ask you something else.."

"Go ahead, boy"

"I.. I want to propose to Meredith"

"I had a feeling" Christopher said with a wink "Your mom already wanted to give you her ring"

"Really?"

"Derek, the day you walked in with Meredith, we knew the two of you were made for each other"