Right so here is chapter 4 and it's happy because let's face it, we all like the happy (even if Shonda doesn't!). Things are going to be happy for a while but I will say this: the happy is going to be broken in a few chapters... So enjoy the happy while you can :) Thank you again to everyone that reviewed last time, you guys are why I'm writing this so it's nice to know people like my story :) And with that, bring on chapter 4!

Meredith picked up Lily and left the hospital. By the time they reached home she was fast asleep and Meredith couldn't help but smile at her. She looked so peaceful tucked up, her dark hair was mussed and her hands were curled into tiny fists, tiny ineffectual fists as Derek described them. Chuckling, Meredith carefully lifted the car seat with her dozing daughter and locked the car and walked up the drive to her home. She was so distracted fiddling with her keys and trying to balance Lily that she failed to realise that there was a car already in her drive and four people were sat on her doorstop, carrier bags resting beside them. When she did realise she stopped dead in her tracks and stared at them nonplussed. George, Izzie, Alex and Cristina stood up quickly and stepped aside for her so she could open the door. Meredith didn't say anything, just walked silently into the house and the young residents followed her into the open plan kitchen living area. Setting Lily down, she turned around and found her friends staring at her.

"What?" Meredith said defensively, breaking the awkward silence that had fallen on them. Cristina was nudged forward by Izzie who gave her a nod and George coughed. She looked up at Meredith feeling unsure of herself.

"Um…we wanted to make sure you were okay… and you are so let's go guys, she's okay! I bet she doesn't even want us here…" Cristina started to turn but was blocked. She sighed and turned around again, looking at the floor.

"And well, we wanted to say sorry. For making you leave like you did. Well me and Alex mainly. We're sorry Mer, I'm sorry…" She said quietly. She looked up at Meredith and found her smiling and she breathed a sigh of relief and ran a hair through her unruly hair.

Meredith was silent for a moment, processing the situation and then spoke quietly. "I'm sorry too… I shouldn't have run out like that, it's just I felt overwhelmed…" she paused and looked directly at Cristina, "and you were looking at me strangely…"

"S'okay Mer, we get it, she gets it," Izzie piped in, glaring at Cristina, who looked sheepishly at the floor again. "Joe's probably wasn't the best place to go for our "first" night out."

"My idea, sorry Mer, I've been a bad 'person'," Cristina offered a small smile.

"And I'm sorry I laughed Mer, not cool…" Alex said sheepishly.

"Meredith, we thought maybe we could finish the evening here?" George said nervously, "We bought snacks…" and he gestured to the grocery bags they were holding, "Well, us three brought snacks… Alex brought beer." He glared at Alex who glared back.

"It's non-alcoholic!"

"You still brought beer Alex."

"Well you guys practically bought all the crappy food in the market, I figured we'd need something to wash it all down..."

"But beer?!"

"Like I said, it's non-alcoholic!"

"Just shut up a minute!" Alex and George snapped out of their bickering and all four of them turned to Meredith, "You guys came over to check I was okay, even though I'm a hormonal mother with wet boobs AND you brought snacks?"

"Er yeah…" Cristina replied.

"Okay." Meredith grinned, "I'll just put Lily to bed then? You guys can set up down here…" And she lifted her still sleeping daughter out from her car seat and cradled her against her chest, inhaling her soft baby scent. She started to walk towards the hall but as she passed her friends, Cristina grabbed her arm and turned her towards them.

"For the record Mer," Cristina said smiling, "We don't care that you have a screaming brat or wet boobs... Plus Barbie is way worse on her period so the hormones thi- HEY!" Izzie punched Cristina hard on the shoulder and glared.

"What Cristina meant to say is that we're your friends, we don't care. Tonight was just unfortunate. But we'll move on from the unpleasantness and embrace the bright and shiny future," Izzie smiled cheesily.

"That sounds good Iz, and Cristina?"

"Yeah Mer?"

"She's not a screaming brat all the time…" Cristina laughed and Meredith left them in her living room making her way up the oak stair case to Lily's room. She flicked the light on and walked over to the changing table where she undressed Lily, her blue eyes watching Meredith with curiosity. Once she was in her sleep suit, Meredith picked her up and hugged her close, whispering softly as she walked over to the cot.

"Mummy was so happy that she got to put you to bed. Yes she was," Meredith smiled, "You're mummy's little angel aren't you? And she loves you lots and lots." She placed Lily in her cot and tucked her up. She was asleep in an instant and Meredith bent down and kissed her head softly.

"Night poppet, I'll see you soon." Meredith turned off the lights and walked back downstairs and found her friends arguing over what they should watch on TV. George sat on the sofa, his eyes switching between Alex, Cristina and Izzie as they debated the merits of "Four Weddings and a Funeral" and surgical tapes.

"Izzie, I'm not watching that." Cristina said determinedly, her hands on her hips.

"But Cristina it's a classic!"

"I don't give a damn. I am not watching you get gooey eyes over Mr I've-got-floppy-hair-but-can't-talk-in-coherent-sentences." Cristina turned to Meredith who had joined George on the sofa, "And Meredith, why do you even own this crap? I thought you were all dark and twisty, I expected Hitchcock films, I expected Psycho!"

"Um..."

"Actually, I don't think I even wanna know." She returned her attention to Izzie, "We're not watching that Izzie. Not when we have blood and guts and surgeries on tape."

"I've got to agree with Yang Iz… that film is just kinda, well," Alex scratched his head, "Bland."

"Bland?! You find the troubles of love bland Alex? People connect in this film, they get married, one of them even dies and you find that bland?!" She looked at both Cristina and Alex seriously, "You guys need to get in touch with your hearts, only a heartless person would describe this masterpiece as bland."

"You see that right there Izzie, that is exactly why we're not watching that film. You're too involved with it and it's not even started."

"But…"

"Guys seriously!" George's outburst silenced them and they turned their attention to him and Meredith, "You guys are fighting and there really isn't any point… It's Meredith's house and seeing as we're here for her," he paused frowned at them and then looked to Meredith, "I think we should let Meredith decide." Meredith smiled at him whilst the other three just nodded obediently in agreement.

"Fine."

"Whatever."

"Surgery here I come!" Cristina high fived the air and Izzie frowned at her. "What? She's clearly not gonna choose McDreamy no.2 over heart valve replacements."

"Actually Cristina…" Meredith looked guiltily at Cristina, who opened her mouth in disbelief.

"Oh you've gotta be kidding me… Hugh Grant? Seriously Mer? What is it with you and guys with floppy hair? I get Derek, he's got the eyes and the hair but he's also a surgeon! A surgeon, who handles organs. And blood!"

"I know but the film is cute…blame the hormones or something but whatever, I'm in the mood for cute." She nodded and grinned cheekily at them all, "That okay everyone?" George and Alex shrugged and Izzie clapped her hands and grabbed the DVD and went over to the TV. Cristina just sighed tiredly.

"Fine whatever. But if you start crying our friendship is over okay?" She slumped down next to Meredith and crossed her arms.

"Okay," Meredith giggled, catching George's eye, sending him into laughter as well. Izzie, having finished setting everything up deposited herself on Alex's lap, who was sat in one of the arm chairs. The opening credits started and Izzie squeaked in excitement; Cristina rolled her eyes.

"This is going to be a long evening…"

A few hours later when Derek came home at almost 1 o'clock he was surprised to find chatter coming from the living room. He walked in and was amused to find Cristina and Izzie arguing something about floppy hair and accents. Meredith, George and Alex remained silent, not daring to get involved, their faces dancing with amusement as they watched their friends discussed the pros and cons of Hugh Grant..

"His hair is not stupid Cristina, it's tasteful. Plus don't you just want to run your hands through it?"

"No Iz I don't. I much prefer shorter hair. Something a bit more masculine, a hairstyle that doesn't remind me of a stupid British actor. His hair is like Derek's and I'm sorry Mer," she paused to look at Meredith, "But his hair is pretty stup-Dr Shepherd!" Cristina was thrown when Derek walked into the room and over to the kitchen area, eyes twinkling. He bent down and kissed Meredith's forehead on the way and deposited his briefcase on the island block.

When no one said anything he smiled and said, "So Dr. Yang, who're we talking about?"

"Er no one, no one at all." She looked hastily at her watch, "Geez is that the time? I have rounds in 5 hours, we really ought to get going guys!" And she stood up hastily, left the room and they heard the front door slam. Izzie stood up off Alex and stretched and offered her hand to pull him up. Meredith and George stood up together and she walked all of them to her front door. Alex and Izzie hugged her and walked to the car, yawning and leaning against each other but George waited for a moment.

"Hey Meredith?" He said quietly, "You're okay right? I mean after what happened at Joe's and stuff…"

"I'm more than okay George," Meredith smiled, "I'm bright and shiny!" They both laughed. Then Meredith turned to him seriously and quietly said:

"I really am fine. Thanks though George, for well," she thought for a moment, "For being George."

"S'okay Mer, s'what I do best afterall," He smiled and then hugged her, briefly but he held her tight.

"See you Mer," and he walked outside, running up to the car when Cristina tooted at him. Meredith watched them pull out of the driveway and then shut the front door. She walked into the kitchen where Derek was rifling through their flavoured tea-bags. She went up to him and put her arms around his waist and rested her face on his back. He dropped the tea bags and wrapped his arms around hers.

"My friends are awesome, you know that Derek?"

"I had a feeling," he chuckled, "So things weren't so bad?"

"No, they weren't. Cristina thinks I'm weird for liking Hugh Grant but I think I can deal with that." Derek turned around and pulled her into a hug, resting his head on top of hers.

"Is my hair really stupid?"

"No!" She paused, "Well, some do refer to it as "overly-moussed," they both laughed then, "But I like it, that's all that matters right?" She grinned up at Derek who bent down and kissed her softly.

"That's all that matters. I love you Meredith," he said looking into her eyes.

"Love you too Derek, even if your hair is "overly-moussed…"

So that was chapter 4, what do you guys think? Please read and review, feedback is much appreciated (and needed!) :)