Authors Note:

"The Road Not Taken" started as a forced procrastination project, wondering 'what if?', longing for spoilers. The last episode left me feeling a bit stranded and I also thought there was something missing at the end of the episode. We didn't get any reaction at all. This story starts with Meredith and Derek being at home after Callie summoned them to the roof to tell them about her idea to save the hospital by buying it.

The title and the story are inspired by the poem "The Road Not Taken" written by Robert Frost. The story will roughly come in four parts, along the four verses of the poem. If you know the poem (you should :)) forget about the end for a bit. If you don't know it, do not look it up. You will be introduced to the poem in the course of the story. It is one of my favourite poems, and to me has an aspect of "what really is important" to it. I want MerDer to experience that aspect. What is important to them? Will they get that?

This story definitely will come with a twist and will be told from Meredith's and from Derek's POV. Think "Sliding Doors".

I hope you enjoy the ride. And please let me know what you think.

Prologue

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

Slowly the lion approach the bear, roaring 'rawr rawr'. Paws flew into the air, before they dove into the bear's unusually curly fur. Accompanied first by the giggling of a happy child, then a male chuckle, the lion cuddled the bear to the floor. "Dada, rawr! Rawr!", Zola's adorable giggle filled the living room with warmth and happiness. And for a second drew Meredith away from the phone conversation she was just having with her person. "Sorry, what did you say?", she tried to direct her attention away from her adorable daughter and husband sitting on the living room floor entertaining themselves with Zola's cuddly friends.

"I said, I think we all should sleep over this."

Meredith nodded in agreement, then realising that Cristina could not see her, "Yes, we probably should. I just though you should know, that's all."

"Thanks Mer, sorry I was not there. I guess it's a bad time all around. That's all."

It was a bad time, was it? Meredith was not really sure what to make of it, especially now that both Derek and her best friend had no definite answer either. But there was no use discussing that.

"Hey look, I gotta go. It's almost bed time for Zola and it's one of those rare nights where we are both home… we will talk tomorrow, ok?", there were indeed more important things right now.

"Yes, we will. Give a kiss to Zozo from me, will you? See you tomorrow!"

"I will. Talk soon.", they would indeed. Callie had asked them to meet again for lunch to discuss everything in more detail. She seemed very eager about her idea. Meredith on the other hand was more eager to join the family on the floor to see how many other stuffed animals the lion would chose to cuddle.

"You ok?", Derek looked up to her as she was approaching him. He hadn't said much on their way home, as much as she had. They both had been thinking about the what ifs and what nots. It was not necessarily like a surgery they could just talk about, forget about and move on. It had so many implications. Well, this whole thing already had so many implications…

"Yeah, I guess so.", Meredith nodded as she sat down opposite Derek, Zola and her stuffed friend in between them, "Lets not talk about it right now, let's just be happy we're both here with Zola…", she gave him a big warm smile, "and with the little one.", resting her right hand on her little but showing belly. Derek returned the smile, his being even bigger, picking up the bear cuddling Zola and her lion back, "We're happy Zozo, aren't we?" The little girl picked up her giggle and the lion continued his cuddling, "Rawr, rawr!" Both Meredith and Derek chimed in. They were happy, here right now. They were alive, they had their little girl, another little one on the way. They didn't have much more to ask for. However, they had asked for more a few weeks ago and now they were getting the bill to pay for it.

"I think she is finally sleeping.", Derek carefully closed the door to Zola's bedroom an hour later, almost whispering trying not to wake her up, "She was almost too happy to sleep tonight.", he looked content walking up to the big sofa where Meredith had found a cosy spot for herself already. Softly he sat down next to his wife, drawing her close into his arms, "Can we just keep this moment and re-live it in the coming few weeks?"

"I know, I wish we could…", Meredith moved even closer, she could feel his warm body so close, so safe, "I don't want to think about the misery that the potential buyers would bring us as much as I don't want to think about even considering buying a hospital." The young blonde mommy-to-be sighted, "I don't even want all that money… I just want us."

They both could not agree more that night. Back in the forest, all they wanted was to be back home. Be back with their daughter. In the forest no one had ever talked about suing anyone, about getting any compensation for what they had to endure. All they talked about were their loved ones, their passion for their work. They talked about the things they wanted to do when they got back: Telling the important people in their lives how much they loved them, cherishing every good moment they had being alive and well. Every single one of them got to know how short and fragile live really was. Experiencing death every day at the hospital was one thing, seeing your sister die trapped under half a plane was another.

They had promised each other to be more present, to enjoy the gift that was Zola every single moment. Because who knew what would happen one day. And when they had found out about expecting another child, finally after they even stopped trying, they promised each other even more of that. To be more mindful, to take a step back when needed, to put this family first. First, even before the family that was the hospital.

But now that hospital family was in danger. And while their little family would come first, they had to do something for their hospital family too. It had just been hours that Callie suggested that they should buy the hospital themselves to save themselves from an investor that would change the hospital and their practice of medicine as they knew it.

The married couple cuddled on the couch for another hour, resting in each other's arms, cherishing the company of the significant other. Not many words were exchanged, both of them drawn into their thoughts, thinking "What if?" and "What should we do?". The presence of the love of their live made it a bit easier, made each other feel safe to think, but not talk about it for a bit. Both of them knew, that no matter what they would do, they still would have each other and a loving home to go to after work.

That night, both of them fell asleep quite easily. While thoughts haunted their minds, it had been a long day. Derek had put in his earplugs pretty quickly after Meredith had curled up in his arms, giving him a long passionate kiss before dozing off. The snoring that came from her side, drove Derek nuts, but at the same time also gave him peace of mind to fall asleep too. They were fine, and they would be fine no matter what, he though before joining his wife in the land of dreams.