Author's Note: So, to be honest, this wouldn't leave me alone. I don't really know why seeing as I'm MerDer and all, but I just had this image in my head, and it begged to be written. That, and I've done ficlets for just about every other ship I support, or show, so...here you go?
Disclaimer: I don't own Grey's. As I sit here typing this, I think that if I would, Rose wouldn't have existed. But then I think again and realize that she was only a catalyst in this whole dramedy known as the MerDer relationship. That, and she was never really given any backstory anyway, so yeah. Either way, I don't own Grey's.
She could see it in his eyes as he walked her way. Somehow, she'd known it was coming.
"Rose," Derek said, his voice sounding steady even though his eyes were betraying what he was truly feeling.
Smiling, she nodded. Part of her didn't want to hear the words, thinking that maybe she was reading him wrong. Maybe it was something entirely different. "Congratulations. You and Meredith made medical history today."
Derek nodded before running a hand through his hair. "Listen, Rose-" His tongue darted out. It wasn't supposed to be this hard, and if it was there was a good reason. He thought of Meredith standing in the field of candles. "About Meredith-"
"Derek, wait." Rose could hear it in his voice, so she had to make her stance clear. "I just-I'd like for you to know...that it's okay."
"Okay?" Derek asked. It wasn't what he'd expected. He stared at her; perplexed and relieved all at once. "We didn't plan it. It just...happened."
"Things happen, yes." Rose replied. "People change."
He thought of the changes he'd witnessed Meredith make. "Yeah. That they do."
She studied him and thought he seemed happier than all the time he'd been with her. Something just didn't seem right with them, and when she expected to feel sad, Rose realized she actually felt relieved. "She makes you happy."
"She-" Derek thought of all the things Meredith was. "She's Meredith. Listen, I'm sorry. I didn't plan for this, but it's here and it's real. So..."
"Don't apologize." Rose insisted. Above all else, she at least wanted to think he'd be happy. Realizing the growing awkwardness of the moment, she offered a smile. "I should get going." She nodded and gestured in the direction of the hospital across the street. "I'll see you in the O.R. sometime, Doctor Shepherd."
He knew she was right, because chances were that she would.
Rose turned to go when something stopped her. "Just...for what it's worth? Don't let her get away this time. It's obvious what she means to you."
Derek smiled and felt the wind begin to blow, and knew rain was coming. He thought again of Meredith waiting in the field for him at home. "Thanks," He said. "I should be going."