Keeping Promises

Meredith was having a bad day.

A very bad day.

She'd been forced to work in the pith today, missed a very interesting surgery because of that, and like it wasn't all bad enough yet the person who stepped into the elevator after her, of all people, was Derek.

'I thought you took the stairs now?', she asked him as she waited till the doors closed, silently hoping someone else would get in so there wouldn't be an awkward silence. No one came.

'I have just as much right to be in this elevator as you do, Meredith.', McDreamy replied.

'Of course, Dr. Shepherd.', Meredith said. She wanted to show him that she would remain professional. At least she could keep her work and her private life separate... All right, that was a lie, she really couldn't do that, but who cared? Izzie and Alex didn't keep things separate when he had cheated on her, Cristina and Burke didn't either. So why should she? Of course.. Because she was always trying to be the best. To prove herself. But to whom? To her mother? She wouldn't get any of it. To Derek, maybe? Why would she want to prove herself to him? He had made his choice, he was going to stay with Addison, so besides work they would have nothing to do with each other. Not anymore.

Meredith didn't have to prove herself to any of her friends.. So to herself maybe?

Derek also sensed the awkwardness between them. He wasn't blind for that, obviously. Sometimes he missed Meredith, but he had made his choice indeed. Besides, he was married. He could still hear the minister say it' Till death do you part'. And that was the way it should be. He had to try everything to make his marriage work, because after all he and Addison were meant to be. He was going to have to forget Meredith... And he wanted to. But sometimes... sometimes he had this nagging feeling that he was with the wrong woman. He'd been so happy when he was with Meredith. So very happy. But on his wedding day, he had made a promise. A promise to keep. And so he would. Or at least do his utmost best. Yet when he was close to Meredith, alone with her, he had trouble controlling himself.

'Meredith.. ', he started.

'Don't.', she replied, trying to prevent anything bad from happening here. One of them had to be the wise one , after all.

'Would you...'. Derek didn't get a chance to finish his sentence because the doors of the elevator opened on the floor Meredith had to be.

She walked out and turned around to him one more time. 'No.', she replied, and walked away.

Derek sighed. Somewhere inside he was glad she had stopped him. After all, he had a promise to keep.