So I'm starting a new story. It takes place four years after 4x11. Meredith decieds she needs inspiration. And she finds it all right. It may have been done before, but it will defentley be different from the rest. Please review and tell me what you think, or if I should continue. I also have another story...Crazy, Stupid, Agents and I do plan on updating soon! It's finally summer for me so I have time. I hope you enjoy.

Chapter One

Meredith sighed as she down on her new couch. She was exhausted. Keeping up with a three year old, and trying to unpack was difficult. Although Stella wasn't a problem.

Stella Elizabeth Grey. Meredith loved that child more than anything in this world. She protected her with her own life. Stella grew up without her father. It was just her and Meredith. She was three years old, and looked exactly like her mother. But she had her father's eyes and personaility. And compassion for ferry boats. (Meredith just found out recently)

It had been four years ago that Meredith walked out of Seattle Grace, and Seattle itself. She needed to find herself. Herself outside of Seattle Grace Hospital. Herself away from everyone she knew. Herself period.

She didn't know she was having a child until three months later after she left. She was laying down on the bathroom floor, sicker than a dog. Stella lead her to be someone she never thought she would be.

A mother.

And a pretty good one at that. She made time for her, but still managed to be a good doctor. Meredith hated that Stella didn't have her father around. But it was best for the both of them at the time.

But now things were different.

Meredith promised Richard when she left, that she would be back to do her Fellowship at Seattle Grace. He told her that he would save her a spot, and that there would always be a spot for her. And now that time was now.

Meredith packed everything up, and her and Stella got on a plane. Now, a week later she was finishing up unpacking.

Cristina, Alex, Izzie, George, and Lexie had been a big help. From helping unpack, to keeping Stella. Stella loved her Aunts and Uncles. Meredith was glad that they could now watch her grow up, and be here for her. Cristina was most excitied about it. She had really taken a liking to Stella ever since she was born. She treated her like she was her own child and spoiled her. Meredith was kind of surprised herself.

They were all starting their fellowships in a week, besides Lexie, and she had decieded to take Stella to see Richard at the hospital tomorrow. Even though the chances of running into him were very high.

Him.

Him. Meredith's mind was running wild. Everytime she thought about him it was like that. He might have kissed someone else, and it might not have been a big deal, but it still hurt. She wished that things could just be normal for once. But she knew that when she agreed to come back to Seattle, that nothing would ever be the same. She wasn't afraid to show off Stella, or take her to the hospital. Who's to say the child was Derek's? It was a give away when you looked her in the eyes though. They were as blue as the Seattle Sea, and Meredith hated the fact, that everytime she looked into her eyes she felt a sharp pain in her stomach. Meredith knew that one day the truth would come out. It was just a matter of time. But she would roll with the punches and deal with it when the time came. For now she could just play off that the father was out of the picture, and it was just her and Stella against the world. Meredith had no choice to take her to the hospital daycare. And she liked taken her there. She could see her anytime she wanted, and she could go and take her to lunch. Even if daddy dearest was there.

A part of Meredith was scared. Scared of what she would return to. Had Derek found somebody else? Was he engaged? Or married? Again? Was he in love? Did he already have kids? Meredith shed a tear, but quickly whipped it off. She would not show that she was heartbroken, or fearful. She had a little one to think about, and to take care of. She was excitied to back, and to be here with everyone. So that was what she would give off.

GAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGA

Meredith held Stella in her arms and she walked through the hospital doors. She recieved looks from everyone, and some occasinal waves. Meredith just held her own, and smiled. She walked straight to Richard's office.

"Are you sure you don't want to walk Stell?" Meredith asked her daughter.

"No Mama." Stella said, resting her head on her mother's shoulder. "I like to hold you."

Meredith laughed. That meant she liked to be held, but Meredith couldn't make her understand.

Stella giggled. "What's so funny Mama?"

"Oh nothing." She smiled. "Ready to see Grandpa?"

"Yay!" The little girl exclaimed. "I'm going to give him a big bear hug. I missed him Mama. Did you miss him?"

"Oh I missed him." Meredith smiled. By that time they had reached the his office. Meredith knocked on his office door.

"Come in." She heard him say.

"Ready Stell?" Meredith asked.

"I'm ready." Stella grinned.

Meredith opened the office door and Stella flew in. "Grandpa!"

Richard stood up and picked the little girl up. "I never get tired of hearing that. I missed you little girl." He said holding Stella tightly. Richard walked around his desk to Meredith. "And I missed you too dear." He gave Meredith a hug and a kiss on the head. He stepped back and took a look at her. "You cut your hair!"

"I did." Meredith said, shaking her straight, shoulder length hair. "I was ready for something different."

"You look great!" He smiled, going around to sit down in his chair. Stella went and sat in his lap.

"What about me Grandpa? Do I look pretty like Mama?"

"You look beautiful dear." He said, messing with her golden locks. "She looks just like you Meredith. And just like you mother too."

"Make me wonder where the Shepherd genes went." Meredith laughed.

"She has his eyes. For sure."

"That she does. And his love for ferry boats."

"Who's Mama?" Stella asked, turning to look at her mother. Richard looked up at Meredith.

"Oh no one honey." Meredith smiled.

"You're silly Mama." Stella laughed. She turned and looked at her Grandpa. "Mama's silly."

"She is." Richard laughed. "Are you excitied about working her again?" He asked Meredith.

Meredith sighed. "I'm so glad to be back. And a promise is a promise. I love that Stella is here with all her Uncles and Aunts, and with you of course. I'm ready to work here again. I just have a couple, issues. But that will be okay."

"That's good that you're glad to be here. I'm so glad you're here." That stopped talking and watch Stella eat the M&M's out of the jar on Richard's desk. Richard looked up at Meredith.

"Have you made any decisons?"

Meredith knew what he was talking about. "Back in California, I felt that it just being me and..." She pointed to Stella. "...would be okay. That it would always be okay. But now that I'm here...I feel bad. I feel horrible that I kept this from him. It's been the best experience. From the beginning and so on. I hate he hasn't experienced it. Well that I know of. I just don't know what to say. I don't want her to resent me the rest of her life because she never knew him or vise versa. I'm scared that I'll find out he's moved on and..." Meredith stopped and looked out the big window. "I'm here and I will make things right. For everyone in the situation. Things will be okay in time. But her whole life's about to change and she doesn't even know it." Meredith put her head in her hands, and sighed. RIchard got up from the desk and moved around to sit in front of Meredith.

"I will help you both with anything you need. Derek is still Derek. Just the way he was before you left. Besides the fact he was upset, but he's giving up on you coming back. Although there is a hint of hope. Once he sees you're here, things will change for him."

Meredith nodded. "If he sees Stella, do you think he'll know?"

"Maybe. But she looks like you so probably not Meredith. It might hit him awhile after you're here, but that's still awhile from now."

"Okay." Meredith smiled. She looked over at Stella. She was in her own world dancing around. She was spinning in circles until she hit the jar of M&M's. They all came crashing to the ground.

"Opps." Stella said, making a worried face, but then giggling. Meredith moved to help her pick them up. They finally got them all back in the jar, and she picked the little girl up.

"Say bye to Grandpa. We got some errands to run." Meredith sighed. Stella ran over to Richard.

"I'll come pick you up from daycare sometime next week, and take you to lunch." Richard promised the little girl.

"You will?" She smiled.

"I will. I love you sweet girl, and I'll see you later." Meredith grabbed the little girl from her father figure, and walked out the door, heading to the corridor.

"You missed him didn't you?" Meredith asked the little girl whipping the chocolate from the M&M's off her face.

"I did alot. I missed everyone. I'm glad that we live her now Mama." She smiled, then gave her mother a big hug. "I love you Mama." Stella planted a kiss to Meredith's cheek.

Meredith looked at her daughter. "I love you more than all the stars in the..." But then she felt a hard body collide with hers. She looked up, into what looked like Stella's eyes.

He was perfect. More perfect than she remembered. And she was screwed. So. Totally. Royally. Screwed.

"Meredith?"