As always (I seem to make this a habit) I'm very sorry for the time between chapters. Unfortunately I won't be able to continue writing fanfics after February as I will be starting my final year of high school which is incredibly important. One shots may come up now and then but my two multi-chap stories will be on hold indefinitely.

BUT, until then I'll try and post as much as possible. Just celebrated my birthday so that's been the reason for the lack of writing going on, therefore lack of updating! Reviews makes good birthday presents ;)

Enjoy!

Derek's life had been full of important decisions. Decisions that, at the time, seemed so important that they would affect the rest of his life. He thought he was a quick, smart thinker. He knew what he wanted to do and he did it. He had decided only days after his father's funeral that since he was the only man left in the house, he should take care of everyone else. Therefore, grieving for his father had taken a back seat and he had put all his effort into caring for his sister and his distraught mother. It was months later before his mother had stopped him, telling him that he had done enough. He had then gone through important decisions like deciding to be a surgeon, then choosing to be a neurosurgeon, and then staying in New York. The decision that should have been the most important of his young life was getting married. Yet, it wasn't at all.

At the time, Derek had thought that there was nothing that could break him and Addison. They were destined. Fated to be together. He believed in that kind of thing and when he had found that someone that he thought ticked all the correct boxes, he didn't think there needed to be a decision. It was just a general course that they should move forward in the relationship. Just a natural step. Maybe that was why it ended the way it did. The first decision he had not thought about in his life and it had been the wrong one or maybe it was because the fate he believed in so much had decided that the life he was living, wasn't for him. He needed to meet Meredith.

Now, he needed to make another important decision, but this time, he didn't know what to do.

------

He heard her footsteps before she came into his vision. Her hair was wet and sticking to her neck and she was now changed into a pair of sweatpants and a tanktop. He smiled up at her as her eyes found him on the couch and quickly came to sit next to him, allowing her head to fall onto his shoulder.

"Mmmm" she sighed, obviously comfortable.

"Using me as a pillow again" Derek playfully replied, shaking his head in mock disapproval.

"You love me" She replied easily.

"Yeah, I do" he smiled down at her and she grinned back.

"Thanks for letting me sleep" she whispered and stood up.

"That's okay. I have to talk to you about something" Derek admitted, knowing he would have to tell her eventually even though he hadn't decided on what he would be doing.

"Not now, I'm actually feeling alright."

"I really need to talk to you, Meredith" She ignored him, instead she slowly walked out of the room.

"I'm thinking I might just go upstairs, take all my clothes off, jump in bed" she had reached the stairs by now and had turned back to look at him "but if you want to talk I'm sure we could do that" she giggled as he visibly gulped.

"I'm sure it can wait" he quickly ran after her. Somewhere inside his head, he knew it wouldn't wait long, though.

-------

As Derek supported his head with his elbow and leaned over to watch Meredith sleep, the decision was still weighing heavily on his mind. He had to decide in the next couple of hours, it was obvious which one he wanted to do. He wanted to stay with his girlfriend. His face contorted into a smile when he said those words. He was meant to be here, it was his job as responsible boyfriend. She had finally stopped running, he didn't think that he could now take over that job. Yet, at the same time he knew it was an important part of his job to attend these kind of things, and he could stop over and see some of his family, especially his mother who had been hounding him lately about his lack of appearances over the last year and beyond. He wasn't running from Meredith, though. He could never do that.

He sighed, the only way he would be able to leave Meredith for a week, would be if he knew she was being well taken care of. He looked up at the time as he heard doors opening and closely in the hallway and downstairs. He slowly and quietly moved out of bed, finding a shirt to throw over his head and then a pair of sweatpants to put on and exited the room and headed downstairs. He recognised the voice of Izzie and Alex, then Cristina followed not long after. Perfect.

As he moved into the kitchen, they were all standing around a box of pizza he headed straight to get a coffee, and then decided against it and reached into the fridge to get some juice instead.

"Dr Shepherd" he heard Izzie say

"Derek" he said back as he replaced the lid on the bottle and returned it back to the fridge.

"Oh, sorry Dr Shep.. I mean Derek" she giggled and he gave her a slight smile before turning to Cristina and then Alex.

"I need you guys to do me a favour" He began and watched as they all looked at him waiting for him to continue. "I have to go to New York tomorrow, for a week. Conference thing for the hospital. Um.. I.. uh" he realised how stupid this would sound, asking them to take care of an adult. "I need you to take care of Meredith for me"

He heard Cristina snigger behind him

"Like how you take care of her, you mean?" He grimaced as her words brought back bad memories.

"Nevermind, I wont go" he snapped back and grabbed his glass and moved out of the kitchen. Someone followed behind him and he turned to see Alex standing there.

"You can go"

"It's alright, forget I said anything, I'll get one of the residents to go on my behalf, I'm sure Dr..."

"Look, mate. I don't do emotional speeches, but that girl is like my sister. Alright? You can go" the statement shocked Derek, he hadn't really considered Alex and Meredith to be very close.

"Uh... Okay" he nodded, and accepted the hand Alex offered and shook.

"We'll take care of her, Derek" Izzie promised, much more calmly than Alex, as she moved towards the lounge

"Thank you" he smiled, gratefully.

Decision made.

-------

As he slipped inside the room again he placed the juice on the bedside table and sat on the bed, carefully stroking Meredith's hair.

"Derek?" she croaked, her voice still thick with sleep.

"Who else were you expecting?" he asked playfully and watched as her body moved and then snuggled up against him, her head lying on his lap.

"Noone" she whispered, her eyes still shut tightly.

"I think you've had enough sleep for a long time"

"Mmm Sleep is good" she grinned and finally opened her eyes.

"I have to talk to you, are you awake properly yet?" he asked. His tone changing into something serious, a remarkable difference to their previous playful banter.

"We could do the talking later" she replied cheekily, moving her body up his and connecting her hands behind his neck. She was disappointed when he grabbed them both and pushed her off.

"No, I need to talk to you now"

"Fine" She stubbornly crossed her arms and moved to the other side of the bed and sat crosslegged.

"Hey, I'm sorry. Come here. It's really important, Mer" She relented and returned to his side.

"Okay, what's up?" She asked, finally taking this 'talk' seriously.

"Richard rang last night..." he began quietly. He knew what his decision was now, he didn't know how he would actually do it, but she had people to take of her, she's be alright and he really needed to see his family.

"And?" she prompted

"I'm going to New York, for a week-long conference" Her face turned to confusion.

"Okay, why is this so important now? If he only asked you last night it must be a while away"

"I'm leaving today" he eventually said and watched realisation cross over her face.

"Oh" He quickly grabbed her nearest hand and lightly kissed her knuckles.

"I wasn't going to go... but you're going to be alright. You've got some great friends, just let them help you" he was surprised to see her eyes start to get glassy and her eyes looked down almost immediately.

"I don't have to go, Mer... I can stay if you want" he reasoned, knowing that if she wanted him to he would. No questions asked, even if he had already decided. Decisions can change after all.

"No, no it's Okay. You go" she smiled up at him

"I'm not running away, I love you okay? Nothing will ever change that. You wont even realise I'm gone"

She laughed bitterly "I think I will" he watched her take a deep breath and tilted her head up so he could look at her.

"You're going to be fine, Mer" he smiled and stopped some tears with his thumb that were now falling down her cheeks.

"It's only a week, right?" She asked, looking for assurance.

"Only a week" he agreed. Pulling her into his arms. They sat there for a few minutes, holding onto each other. Derek pushed her back so he could see her face.

"Want to continue where we left off?" he asked, the playful tone in this voice was back. She shook her head, instead she returned to her spot and leant her head against his chest.

"I just want to stay like this for a while" She murmured.

"Okay" he tightened his grip on her waist and pulled her even closer to his body.

Meredith knew that she would miss him, even if it was for only a week. He had become a sort of comfort to her. What was it they called it? A rock. That was it. Derek was her rock. Her big, solid rock. Although she would be without him, she found herself feeling better than she had in a long while. There was a feeling of confidence, she would be alright. A week was only, what,168 hours? How did she even know that?! She had waited years for him to come back to her, she could last a week. He felt him kiss her forehead and she smiled against his chest.

"I love you, Mer" her smile grew even bigger.

"I love you too" as she returned those three little words she closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of comfort that only he could provide.

"Everything will be alright, I Promise" his voice was so sure, so confident that she had to believe it.

If only they knew this promise, wasn't to come true.

"If you are cold at night, let the promise of my love cover you like a warm blanket"

Amelibum xx