She knew it was too good to be true. A man like that does not stay single. A man like that wouldn't leave his girlfriend for her. A man like that wouldn't risk his career for the likes of Lexie Grey. Lexie had confidence and thought very highly of herself but when it comes to relationships she just never has any of the luck. She should've known it wouldn't last. She should've known he didn't want her. These are the thoughts going through her head as Lexie makes her way to the pit where Bailey is waiting for her.

She had to do the right thing and walk away. She would never break up a relationship. He needs to make that decision for himself. She only wished deep down inside that he would've chosen her right then and there. She shakes her head to clear her thoughts. She cannot become attached. She will only wind up hurt again. A lonely tear escapes her eye as she makes her way into the pit.

Izzie steps onto the elevator and takes a spot next to Meredith in the back. Izzie could tell Meredith was still bothered by the way she had left things with Derek after Cristina's wedding. "Did you talk to him yet?"

"We have the worst timing in the world. We can't seem to find time to be alone. He tried earlier but I had to be in surgery. I had finally gotten Jason scrubbed in and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to be in there with him."

"Have you made your decision yet?"

"We are the hope. We are the happy ending that everyone else needs. I thought it was Cristina and Burke but I have been thinking and it's not them at all. It's us, he and I need to be ok and then everything else in the world will be ok. I can change. I can change for him. I will change for him." Meredith looks to Izzie who is just watching her, "And you're looking at me like I am crazy but I know what I need to do. I need to tell him." The elevator doors open and she bolts out. Izzie doesn't even bother to stop her to tell her she's on the wrong floor.

Lexie spots Meredith across the pit. It seems that Meredith is just passing through but she feels like she should stop her. Yes she will stop her. It's going to need to be done eventually, might as well be now. Lexie stands in front of Meredith's patch. Meredith practically walks into her since she isn't watching where she is going. Meredith nervously smiles at Lexie, Lexie smiles back.

Meredith knows who she is. She knows Lexie is her sister. There are too many coincidences for her not to be her sister. Besides, Meredith is not that lucky for her not to be her sister. They are now standing face to face neither of them wanting to be the first to speak. What are they to say anyway?

Lexie realizes Meredith won't be talking first so she speaks up, "I know who you are." Not quite what she had expected to fly out of her mouth. It wasn't said in a nasty tone or anything, it just wasn't the words she had wanted to say. "My father…our father told me about you."

"Oh," was all Meredith could say. Of course he wouldn't tell her good things. He probably told her it was all Meredith's fault that her mother died. Meredith is sure Lexie hates her. She sighs and braces herself for the verbal beating she is sure she will be taking in any moment.

"He told me to stay away from you…that it was your fault that my mother died…"

"Lexie, I…"

Lexie doesn't let her finish her sentence, "I never did believe him. Dr. Bailey showed me the file and I am just an intern but I didn't see anything that you did wrong. So I guess what I am trying to say is I hope we could get along while we are both here. I am not expecting to be friends or anything like that but I didn't want you to think that I hate you because I don't"

"Oh thank God, I really thought you were going to let me have it," Meredith says with a big sigh of relief.

"He lets his emotions get the best of him and I just want to apologize for the way he treated you."

"Thank you," is all Meredith can get out. She is still in a bit of shock that she didn't get the beating she thought she would be getting. "I am glad we can work together without all that other stuff in the way. My best friend will be your resident so I am sure we will be seeing a lot of each other."

Lexie smiles, "I'll be looking forward to it." She looks over and sees Bailey watching her, "Well I better get back to work, Dr. Bailey is getting ready to pounce." She laughs at her own joke as she walks away. Meredith laughs too. Bailey is kind of like a tiger getting ready to pounce at all times. She had never thought of her that way before. She searches her mind for what she was even in the pit for in the first place. Oh yes, she got off on the wrong floor in search for Derek. She continues on, determined not to get distracted anymore.

Meredith had gone over it a thousand times in her heard through out the day. The perfect words to say to Derek to show him that she was still in this, she wants to blow him away. The last thing she wants is to let him go. No matter how much she doesn't say it or doesn't show it she loves him and he is it for her. She hopes the practicing on coma patients and even with Jason would pay off. She doesn't want to stutter, she doesn't want to ramble, she doesn't want to get emotional, all she wants is to tell him that she will do what ever it takes to show him that she is in this for life. She smiles as Joe places her tequila and Derek's scotch down on the bar top. Maybe Joe's wasn't the best place for her speech but it was more home than anything. It's where they first met, it's where they met again when they decided to start over, third time's the charm…it just has to be.

She feels a presence on the bar stool next to her. She turns around and sees Derek's smiling face, she smiles back. Smiling is good. Maybe he hasn't given up on them after all. He lifts the glass, "Is this for me?" She nods yes. "Thank you." He takes a sip. He doesn't know what to expect from this meeting. She didn't give him many clues, only that they needed to talk. He hopes she wants to tell him that she needs him and not that she wants to push him away.

Meredith takes a deep breath, "I have gone over this so many times in my head and I still don't know the right words to say but I am going to give it a try. I don't want to push you away anymore. I don't want you to be miserable. I definitely do not want to be the person who makes you miserable. I know that most of the time it looks like I am shutting you out and I swear it's not on purpose. It's just that I've never done this before so I am still learning and it's been one hell of a rollercoaster between finding out you're married and you choosing Addison and us starting over and then you asking me to put you out of your misery. Through all of that I have stuck by your side. I am still here. That just has to show you something." She shakes her head at herself, "I am rambling and I told myself that I shouldn't ramble."

"I love the rambling," he says as he looks at her with total admiration. She's doing it, she's conveying her feelings. That's all he ever wanted her to do.

"What I am trying to say is that I want to work on this…on us. I can be the person you want me to be, no, who you need me to be. I just ask that you be patient and if I stray off the course to show me the way. I don't need you to breathe for me but I need you to breathe with me…by my side…forever. I hope it's not too late to ask you for this one last chance."

It's everything he ever wanted to hear her say. No it's better than he could have ever imagined. She opened up and it was beautiful. While he was worrying about where he stood with her she was coming up with this wonderful speech that came straight from the heart. Of course he will give her the chance, of course he can be patient, of course he will breathe with her. Forever. She said forever. Forever is all he ever wanted and now he has it, or will have it, no he has it. He has forever and forever feels magical. "I will breathe with you, Meredith Grey, I promise." For once he was the one who didn't know what to say. She had said it all. He wanted to shout out for all to hear, YES! But he smiles at her. She smiles and they hug. It feels so right with her in his arms. He had her so many times in that same spot but this time feels different. This time feels that nothing can tear them apart, not his issues and not her issues. They will work together to be everything to the other. He is home, she is home. They have forever together.

"Did you know my half-sister Lexie is an intern?" she asks.

Shit, Lexie, boy does he ever.