Summary: After three and a half years missing in the South American jungle, presumed dead, Derek Shepherd had made a dramatic re-appearance, just as his wife Meredith had become engaged to his best friend Michael. So now Meredith had to get used to being married to Derek all over again. Could she manage it? How could she come to terms with this man who was now a primitive stranger?

Notes: I know, the title sucks. But I can't think of anything else! If you have any suggestions, please do tell.

I got the idea for this story from an old pocket book, "Strange Bedfellow." Large part of this is from the novel, but I've made a few changes with the character names and other stuff.

Hope you'll like it.

Disclaimer: I do not own Grey's Anatomy and "Strange Bedfellow."

Meredith stood in the vast library, shutting her ears to the celebrating voices in other parts of the house. She couldn't seem to think her way out of confusion. A tangle of cobwebs in her mind, she stood there, her green eyes staring out the window. Her dirty blond hair shimmered in the dim light. The house was comfortably heated, but still she felt a chill as a shudder passed through her. Maybe it was because of the weight of the precious metal on her finger.

Her solitude was broken when the door to the library opened. Meredith turned to see Michael Stanton closing the door behind him. A gentle smile on his face in spite of the puzzled gleam in his eyes, which made her feel a slight pang of guilt that she had hidden in the library.

"So this is where you've snuck out to," he said as he approached her.

"Yes," Meredith nodded, unaware of the sigh in her voice or how forced her smile looked.

He came closer and his hands settled lightly on her shoulders, his gray eyes looking into hers. Michael had fair skin, his blond hair lazily falling across his forehead. They had been good friends for a long time now. It was with Derek that Meredith met Michael. Michael was Derek's best friend. But Meredith quickly pushed those thoughts aside. Slim and athletic, Michael was much taller than her, even with her heels.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, his gaze probing.

"Nothing…..I was just thinking."

"That's not allowed. You think too much." His hands slid around her and Meredith allowed him to embrace her, stifling at first then forcing herself to relax. His chest had become a familiar resting place for her head, used often in the last three and a half years. She closed her eyes as he kissed her temple.

"You should be out there celebrating," he told her is a mock scolding voice.

"I know," she sighed, turning away from him to stare back out the window. Mark rested his hands on either side of her neck, gently massaging the tensed muscles there as he spoke. "Relax, Meredith. You're going to freak out soon if you don't."

"I can't help it," she frowned, "I just….I don't know if I'm doing the right thing."

"Of course you are." Michael moved backwards, turning her to face him, his face gentle and understanding. "Look, I know understand your hesitation about this. I was Derek's best friend, so I know what kind of man your husband was. And I'm not here to take his place. I even don't want you to take his ring from your finger. But I'm hoping that with a little more time and patience, I could find some room in your heart to care for me."

"I do care about you, Michael," Meredith stated. "You have been there all this time. I don't know how I could have survived all those months when Derek was missing, and then when we were finally notified that he's — "

Her words were silenced by his firm kiss. Then he gathered her in his arms, holding her close. His voice a comforting whisper when he spoke. "That's in the past. You should forget it. "

"I can't." She shook her head. "I keep remembering the fight I had with Derek before he left for that South African trip." She let out a sigh laced with anger and regret. "We always fought about such petty things, things that seem so stupid now."

"You have to stop living in the past, Meredith."

"I know." She gave a small smile.

Then his mouth was seeking hers again in a warm and passionate kiss. She responded in kind. Michael never demanded more from her that she was willing to give. And this only endeared him more to her.

"I wish we hadn't told them of the engagement," she sighed into his chest when they broke apart. "You know, keep it to ourselves for a while."

It's not that she didn't love Michael, she did. Just not the same crazy way she loved Derek. With Michael, she felt relaxed and unguarded. She felt safe and comfortable when he's around.

"Meredith," he laughed, "We can't keep our engagement from our family and friends. You know how they've got that sixth sense. And besides, they need time to adjust to the idea that you soon won't be Mrs. Derek Shepherd."

"I guess you're right." She offered a slight smile.

"So, c'mon, why don't we try celebrating out there?" He offered, gently urging her towards the door.

"Ok," she sighed, letting him guide her out of the room.

But before they could reach the door, it opened. And were met by Caroline Shepherd, Derek's mother.

Meredith and Caroline were living in the same house. During the disappearance of Derek, Caroline had moved to live with Meredith. She leaned unto Meredith for support and comfort, more so when the authorities finally broke the news that they found no survivors from the plane crash.

Meredith did not have the sweetest relationship with her mother-in-law, but they got together fine. Caroline didn't have any objections with the engagement. But she didn't voice an approval either.

"Oh, thank God, I finally found you. The guests have been asking where you both had gone." She stared at them with a tinge of disappointment. Caroline Shepherd was a typical high class woman; she was quite particular at how to handle guests. "Now, hurry. They're setting up for a toast."

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Meredith woke up, feeling the sun on her face. She had been too tired last night after the 'celebration' that she had immediately gotten off to sleep and forgot to close the curtains.

Unable to go back to sleep, she opened of eye to look at the time, 7:30. She grunted as she arose, it was too early to be waking up for a Saturday. She got dressed with a pair of jeans, white blouse and green cotton blazer.

She cautiously made her way down the stairs, careful not to wake the other people in the house. Caroline and Mary, the housekeeper, were still asleep. She tip toed out of the house. Closing the door, she listened for the click of the lock. When she heard it, she turned and made her way down the steps to the drive way where her white Porsche was parked.

She was about to hop in the car but she was startled by the ringing of the telephone inside the house; it was too loud in the silence of the morning. She sprinted back to the door and frantically searched her bag for the keys. But when she finally found them the ringing had already stopped. So she hurried back to the Porsche and drove off.

She drove around the quiet business streets for a while before stopping at a local café for some doughnuts and a cup of coffee. Then she headed towards the beach and watch the sun finish rising in the Rhode Island Sound. She sat there enjoying the peacefulness of the scene.

When it was 9:00, the time she usually showed up in the office, she reached for her bag and rummaged through it for her phone. Shoot, I left it in the house. So she got up and drove to the nearest payphone. She dialed the office number and waited for someone to pick up.

"Diane? This is Mrs. Shepherd." Everyone in the office still called her that. "I won't be in today but there are some notes on my desk that I want you to type."

"I've already started it," her young secretary replied.

"Ok, when you're done with it, just leave the print outs on my desk. Then you can call it a day. Alright?"

"Ok. Thank you Mrs. Shepherd." Diane Chandler was obviously pleased.

"See you on Monday." Meredith said before hanging up.

Meredith had taken over the Derek's post in the company. The Shepherds were the owner of the famous Empire Hotel chains. After the disappearance of Derek, the company began to wobble. And most of the capable executive staff resigned, abandoning the sinking ship. So it was by necessity that Meredith took over.

She learned the hard way, by trial and many errors. Michael, having been with the company for as long as Derek has, helped and supported her. Since then Meredith had spent most of her time and energy in the office.

Today was Saturday, and only a minimum of a half day's work was required of her. But she had to take care of an important matter that the family attorney had called her about at the start of the week. She headed back to the sports car and drove to the boat marina, where Derek's sailing boat was docked.

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Stepping out of the car, she smiled at the man who hadn't changed for almost four years. "Good morning, Captain Fisher." She greeted.

"Hey there, Miss Shepherd." He rose from his seat and adjusted his hat. "You here to clean out the Northstar? It was sad to hear when your attorney told me that you had it rented out."

"Yes, I know." Her smiled faded slightly. Getting rid of the boat was like closing the final chapter about Derek in her life. "But it seemed silly to keep it tied up here, unused."

"She's a fine boat," he insisted. "You never know, maybe someday you'd want it for yourself."

"Meredith laughed at that. "You know I'm not mush of a sailor. I need a bottle of motion sickness pills just to make it out of the harbor without getting seasick!"

"Then you sleep the whole time." He joined her laughter, shaking his head. "I'll never forget that time Derek came off the boat with you sound asleep in his arms. He told me afterwards that you didn't wake up till the next morning."

"And that was the last time he even suggested that I go sailing with him." She took the key he handed her, trying to push back the rush of memories that came to her. She had spent a lot of time in these docks, waiting for Derek's return from his sailing trips.

Meredith made her way to the boat. Upon entering, memories of Derek came rushing in. She cleaned out the drawers and storage boxes. She found canned goods that were probably expired by now. Derek always had a peculiar taste in food. She cleaned out the closet. Derek had always been meticulous with his clothes. His out fits were always laid back, but he made sure that they were clean and properly pressed.

Derek had been used to good things in life, a beautiful home, excellent food and vintage wines. He had been something of a playboy when Meredith had met him, with the devastating charm and dreamy smile that women surely fell for. But he was also arrogant and spoiled, brilliantly intelligent and painfully organized, he had been exciting and difficult to live with.

For the most part of the day, she was packing Derek's belongings to the Porsche. After which she went back to clean away the dusts and polishing the interior woodwork. When she was done, she took a last look, as if saying goodbye, and left. Fully exhausted, and looking forward to a warm cozy bath, she drove home.

As she came around to the street where she lived with her mother-in-law, Meredith's brows furrowed as the sight of half a dozen of cars parked in front of their driveway. She recognized the blue Ford as Michael's. She wondered if there was yet another family and friends gathering that Caroline failed to mention to her.

Stepping out of the her sports car, she slung her hand bag over her shoulder and decided that now was not a good time to bring all of the other things into the house. She quietly slipped inside, hoping to get to the shower and change without being noticed. But as she was about to run up the stairs, Michael came out from the double doors of the living room, his handsome features strained and tensed.

"Where have you been?" His low voice was laced with desperation and anxiety. If it wasn't for the celebrating voices in the living room, Meredith would have thought that something bad had happened.

"At the marina," she answered.

"The marina?" he repeated in disbelief. "Jesus, I've been calling your phone and all over to find you. Why haven't I thought of the marina?"

"Sorry, I left my phone upstairs."

"What were you doing there anyway?"

"I was cleaning out the Northstar. It has been leased." She replied.

"Of all the times –"

Meredith broke in sharply. "What's going on?" His attitude was so confusing that she couldn't take it anymore.

"Look, there's something I have to tell you but I don't know how to say it." Michael said, licking his lips nervously.

"What is it?" Meredith asked impatiently. His tension was becoming contagious.

"Meredith," he began, his hand gripping hard on her shoulders. But he was unable to continue as a low, huskily-pitched male voice interrupted.

"Michael seems to think that you're going to go into a state of shock when you find out I'm alive."

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Dun-dun-dun-dun!

So how was it? Should I continue? Please tell me what you think. Review, review, review!

Next chapter (if I get enough reviews. Lol.): How will Meredith deal with Derek's return? Especially that he seemed to have changed into a completely different person.