A/N 8/9/10 - Thanks to each of you that continues to be interested in this story and so graciously takes the time to comment. I started writing the chapter earlier this week, but, honestly, all I'm hearing about S7 is not making me very enthused, so did not pick it up again till today. Sorry to put a damper on expectations for S7, but, if all is true and there is a time jump, however slight, we've had post it, no wedding, Cristina knowing about the baby on screen, but probably not Derek, and then a miscarriage, hence, I don't expect much from the season to come and it's making it really hard to write. Hope you're not disappointing in the direction this chapter took, the conversations that take place just happened …and it felt right, for the way I would like to see the relationships develop, but certain they never will on Grey's. Warm regards, Jasmin.

The Time Has Come Today – Episode 3.1 -Meredith Voice Over:

"15 minutes. 15 hours. Inside the O.R. the best surgeons make time fly.

Outside the O.R. however, time takes pleasure in kicking our asses. For even the strongest of us, it seems to play tricks. Slowing down, hovering …until it freezes …leaving us stuck in a moment unable to move in one direction or the other.

Time waits for no heals all wounds. All any of us wants is more time. Time to stand up. Time to grow to let go. Time."

Obliterated Hopes – Chapter 10

Unbeknownst to them, the conversation between Kathleen and Nancy, and Meredith's actions in the hours and days that followed would become the foundation of a lifetime of mutual respect and support amongst the three women, a foundation of familial ties and bonds that would lead them to think of each other as sisters.

Meredith continued to hover over Derek, his hand in hers anytime she got up and went to check on his vitals, to make sure he was breathing properly, and then she'd return to the chair, forced by the physical side effects of their loss; while the emotional repercussions allowed his family to witness the ebb and flow of tears she did nothing, or perhaps more appropriately, even if she'd tried, she could do nothing to hide.

"Nancy," Carolyn Shepherd left the chair by his bedside and spoke to her daughters, barely a few feet away, while Meredith was away from the room. "Kathleen…Derek asked me to speak with Meredith before Amy gets here…"

"Mom," Kathleen interrupted, "we don't even know how she's going to deal with it."

"He made it clear," Carolyn said, "that he wanted Meredith to be aware of the situation."

"Mom," Kathleen commented, "don't you find it odd, that he hasn't told Meredith already? I mean, ever since Nancy came out here, he's been better about communicating with us, and you'd think he'd mention it, since he and Amy have yet to…"

Meredith walked up to them, and all three women noticed the dark circles under her eyes; the puffiness revealing undisputed traces of crying, but most of all, the sadness reflected in the depth of the almost crystal clear eyes. "I've…there's an on-call room…with two beds, I've changed the sheets…Carolyn, I think you should get some rest…and there's probably another one…not many people around here right now…so all three of you can get some sleep."

"Girls," Carolyn addressed her daughters, "Derek's going to be sleeping for several hours. You should get some sleep. "

"Mom," Kathleen told her. "You're the one that needs to get some rest, and Meredith was thoughtful enough to take the time to find a room and get it ready."

The cramping she'd been experiencing, forcing her to leave his bedside every hour, now made Meredith flinch involuntarily as her features paled.

"Meredith, sweetheart," Carolyn Shepherd noticed her pallor right away, "are you all right?"

"Meredith," Nancy said, "you've become very pale," while Kathleen forced her to sit.

"Meredith," Kathleen insisted, "are you in pain? You looked as if you were…were you hurt too? Were you injured during this ordeal as well?"

Nancy had instinctively taken over, and had reached for her wrist, taking her pulse, "you're pulse is racing, Meredith, do you feel faint? Nauseous?"

Meredith remained quiet, her thoughts screaming silently, racing at even a faster rate than her pulse, was she injured too, yes she wanted to shout out in anger. I've lost a part of us…a tiny baby he knew nothing about…a precious life he'd have wanted to celebrate, but instead her body was methodically ridding itself of what would have been a dream come true…for him…and in the hours she'd know about their baby's existence…she'd dared to dreamed of a baby that would surely have his hair, and as her hand rested on her abdomen she closed her eyes, understanding that soon there would be no traces left of the life they'd created, and then a voice unfamiliar to herself answered, and left three women more worried than ever before, "I'm fine…"

Carolyn observed her carefully, without missing any of her gestures, trying to make sense of what else was upsetting her; what else was responsible for the sadness in her eyes.

"You, are no more fine than any of us…or Derek is," Kathleen told her, "if you are not physically hurt, than we have all been through hell emotionally at the very best."

"Meredith," Nancy insisted, "you looked like you're in pain…and you've been crying, every time you leave the room and return, there's no hiding it."

"I almost lost him to…" she stopped herself; almost said too. "Derek…I almost lost him to a crazed man's bullet…I can't get that image out of my mind…his blood…" her voice cracked, "I'm sorry…I should get back to him."

"Derek is sleeping," Carolyn Shepherd said. "He is not likely to wake up for another few hours, and my daughters have been hounding me, and they are actually right. I'm getting old, and I should lie down. I may have even forgotten my medication today," she said and met their gazes, daring her daughters to contradict her.

"Mom," Nancy said, "you know you can't do that…blood pressure medication is not something you can forget to take…and all we need is for you to have another incident…"

"Nancy is right," Kathleen agreed, "it won't do Derek a lot of good for him to have to be told you've landed yourself in the hospital…"

"That's not going to happen," Carolyn Shepherd told them. "Meredith…will you show me, where that room is?"

"I…it's…maybe the two of you should go…I've been gone too long…I need to be with Derek…"

"Meredith," Nancy said, "right now, I doubt we would get very far with all the vigilance around here, it will be better if you take Mom."

"I can't leave him…" Meredith wouldn't budge.

"Meredith," Carolyn said, "he is not going to wake up for several hours. Your friend Cristina said they were only waiting for him to speak with you, before they increased his sedative. His sisters can stay with him for a few minutes," she had no intention of telling her she was going to make sure she rested, preferably she would sleep. "Indulge an old woman…he wanted me to talk to you, before his sisters get here tomorrow. It will give me a chance to do so, since I can't do it in his room, it would only upset him if he were to wake. He doesn't need to deal with that right now."

Meredith would do anything to spare him any further distress, and given what she'd learned the last few minutes; his mother already had some sort of incident related to her blood pressure condition, she needed to take medication and she certainly needed to rest.

"I…first…let me check on him," Meredith said, and walked in his room, and his family watched as she looked at the digital evidence of his vital signs, and then she leaned in carefully to place a kiss on his forehead. "I love you Derek…"

"Nancy," Kathleen said, "you're right, something's wrong and she's trying so hard not to let her guard down."

"I'm going to get her to rest," Carolyn said, "she's gone through hell today, and this…" she remembered how she'd felt the day she lost her husband, "it's not easy to deal with."

"Mom," Nancy said, "she's not going to be very happy with you…"

"I know dear," Carolyn said, "but even Derek agreed. You should be more like me."

"Carolyn," Meredith interrupted them, "he's resting peacefully. I'll show you the way."

"Meredith," Carolyn said as her daughter in law opened the door to an examining room, "you said you found an on-call room…"

"First," Meredith told her, "we should take your blood pressure."

"I'm fine dear," Carolyn paused, "the girls make too much of things…and I looked in my bag, I did take them earlier."

"I'd feel better," Meredith said, "if we made sure…"

"I'm tired, Meredith, that's all," she said, "a little rest will take care of that," and she linked her arm through her daughter in law's, and allowed herself to be led.

"Do you need anything? There's water here," she indicated the pitcher on the flat surface, "and extra blankets," and before she realized it, Carolyn Shepherd had her sitting on the narrow bed.

"I need for you to lie down and get some sleep," Carolyn said as she sat next to her, "you look exhausted and you will not be any good to Derek if you don't take care of yourself."

"I'm ok…really I am…" Meredith told her, her tone unconvincing, the slight involuntary flinching once again betraying her.

"You're a strong woman," Carolyn met her gaze, "as I am…but, the day I found out my husband was shot…I fell apart…very much like I've wanted to do all day today," her voice quivered. "I told my girls…it was all a façade…for you and Derek…but really, it is for them too, they lost their father…and saw me fall apart, I can't do that to them again."

Meredith sat quietly, her hands on her lap, uncharacteristically still, and then she felt the warmth of the smaller fuller hand on hers as their gazes remained locked and their tears began to fall.

"He…" Meredith said, taking a deep breath, "he…I saw him…" that moment could never be erased from her mind, and the images refused to be shut out, as her breathing became labored and she took some broken breaths, as somewhat dormant memories rushed in.

Her kitchen floor stained by her mother's blood blended with Derek's blood on the hospital floor. Twice…she'd been forced to watch those she loved in a pool of blood; the first time she was five years old; fears evoked could hardly comprehend what the loss could mean while she'd sat patiently in the growing pool of her mother's blood waiting till she passed out. This time, she'd rushed to him, uncaring of any danger to herself, knowing she had to help stop the flow seeping rapidly from his body, calling and yelling for help; begging him to stay awake, not to leave her, because this time, the loss would be much more profound; this time, the loss meant she'd lose the only person she had ever loved, unconditionally, and she knew that she was the love of his life, as he was hers. This time, losing Derek meant her heart and soul would not survive and the dreams of an extraordinary life would be forever lost without him.

"Sweetheart," Carolyn soothed, though she'd allowed her the time to deal with her fears, as she'd seen the rising panic in her eyes and held Meredith's hands in the warmth of hers, "he's ok…he survived."

"All…" Meredith mumbled, "all the blood," and Carolyn understood the depth of her pain, what it meant to know you were on the verge of losing the man you loved, and did what she'd always done best.

"Oh…Meredith," Carolyn's tears flowed as she wrapped her arms around the young woman next to her. "He's strong and he loves you and he promised you he wouldn't leave you."

"He shot him…" Meredith's breathing was difficult, "without any regard for his life…he shot him…and I…there was nothing I could do…"

"There was," Carolyn soothed again, still holding her, though her voice cracked as she spoke "and you did…you were there with him," she had to pause a couple of times, "every single moment…he knew you were there…and he promised you he wouldn't die…and he's alive."

"I'm sorry," Meredith said, "I'm sorry…I shouldn't do this…you need to rest…Kathleen and Nancy said you'd had an incident because of your blood pressure and you don't need any more stress…please, get some rest…"

"Did they say that?"

"They did," Meredith answered, "both of them. They wanted you to rest and Carolyn, high blood pressure is not something to take lightly and you need to be more careful at your age…"

"You've just called me old," Carolyn said, though Meredith did not recognize the light teasing. "I don't believe I've ever had a daughter in law say that…only my children are disrespectful."

"I didn't mean it like that…I didn't…it's just…"

"Meredith," Carolyn said in a gentle tone. "I don't have any problems with high blood pressure, but I'm certainly no spring chicken."

"You don't…it's controlled then, with your medication…"

"Sweetheart I don't take any medications."

"But…they said," Meredith was incredulous, as comprehension dawned, "you said…you lied."

"I lied."

"Why..." Meredith said, and immediately tried to get up, but was held back.

"Meredith," Carolyn said, "I'm concerned about you. Since we've been here, during the last several hours, it's obvious you don't feel well. Is there something wrong?"

"No," she said, "nothing's wrong," she averted her gaze.

"I don't believe you."

"You're not in a very good position to tell me that," Meredith challenged his mother.

"No." Carolyn agreed, and smiled at her. "But, you're not in any position to turn away from what I do best."

"I'm not understanding…" she had voiced similar thoughts at Derek's initial attempts for her to build on her relationship with Lexie.

"Being a mother, sweetheart," she said, and tenderly placed a kiss on her forehead, "and you need a dose of that right now, and I'm going to make sure you get it…and take care of you," her palm rested on Meredith's cheek. "Something is wrong, and when you decide if you can trust me…with whatever it is, I'll be here, just like I've been there for my children. Because, now…there's nothing I can do for my son, but I can take care of his wife…because I see that you are as vulnerable and fragile as he his," and before she knew it, Meredith allowed herself to be engulfed in Carolyn Shepherd's motherly embrace, and gave in to the comfort of a mother's arms, a loving mother's embrace, and knew the sincerity of this woman's words and began to believe, that perhaps, she too was worthy of a mother's tender loving care.

"Carolyn," Meredith spoke quietly, "I can't…I'm not ready to talk about it…"

"I know," Carolyn hugged her, "but you need to get some sleep, and I think you agree."

"I do," Meredith finally admitted, and gave in to the gentle ministrations of his mother.

"It's barely a couple hours till morning," Carolyn told her, persuading Meredith to lay back on the bed by continuing to assure her that her son was sleeping and his sisters would not leave his side, and that if he woke, they would come looking for them both.

"Carolyn," Meredith closed her eyes briefly before she spoke. "I'm sorry if I'm responsible for you having to remember…for bringing back memories of the day your husband…"

"Meredith," Carolyn sat on the edge of the bed, facing her, and reached for her hand, "there isn't a day I don't remember. But, time has helped to heal...but, he's in my thoughts and in my heart…" her voice broke, "every single day."

"Do you want to talk about it," Meredith asked, unsure where the words and emotions were coming from.

"I think," Carolyn answered, melancholy reflected in her tone, in her eyes. "I need to…today of all days…I may have no choice."

"You don't have to…I don't want you to be more upset…"

"Meredith," Carolyn took a deep breath, "if we're lucky…very lucky…we're given the chance to find that special person…our soul mate…and I did," and she began to speak, and as time passed, both women found themselves wiping the tears away as Meredith learned of the love between Derek's parent, up until the moment he died, and Carolyn changed subjects, "and then…I came out here …too nosy…" she smiled at Meredith, "to stay away any longer…I was determined to meet you, and booked a cruise out of Seattle."

"Derek," Meredith smiled at her, "says I'm bossy, but it doesn't bother him. I can see why…he had you and at least two sisters that were the same."

"He certainly did," Carolyn chuckled.

"You know," Meredith said more seriously, "what I told you, when we met…it was true."

"What's that?"

"I'm not the girl mother's like…"

"You're the girl…the woman that makes my son happy. You are his soul mate," Carolyn pursed her lips and nodded, "that makes it fairly certain…I'm going to love you."

"Oh…God…" Meredith's eyes filled with tears, and Carolyn gently squeezed her hand.

"I knew…you were the one for him…the right one…the woman he needed to share his life with…and after seeing you together then and now…I was right, so very right."

"Thank you…" Meredith said with deep emotion, "for raising him…to be the man he is…he is my soul mate…the love of my life…"

"I have no doubts," Carolyn smiled, "as he is yours."

"Carolyn," Meredith said after a few quiet moments, "you haven't told me…what Derek wanted me to know…is it about Amy?"

"Yes," she said, observing Meredith's attempt to hide her obvious physical discomfort. "I need a few minutes… alone," Carolyn hoped she was giving Meredith the time she needed as well.

"I'll be right back," Meredith said, and somehow it seemed his mother understood, which was impossible, but she helped her sit up and watched as Meredith walked out the door.

"I don't know what's wrong…" Carolyn spoke in silent prayer. "But you have to make things ok for them, you can't let me down now, that sadness she carries…please…look after them…make things all right for them…you took the time away from me…don't do that to them…once is enough for my lifetime…" Carolyn thought she'd earned the right to speak to God in that fashion, especially as the years had made the ache in her soul heal, and accepted that theirs was but a temporary separation, until they would be together for eternity. That was the only way she had coped with her heartbreaking loss.

Meredith returned with two cups of hot chocolate and tears that refused to be disguised. "I stopped to see Derek…he wasn't woken, Nancy and Kathleen said all his vitals have been good."

"The day," Carolyn said, as they both sat on the bed, "my husband died…when I heard…the moment I heard…I knew my life was about to change…at the hospital…I knew I'd kissed him already for the last time…that I would never feel the warmth of his lips again."

"Carolyn," Meredith said, now her turn to comfort, "you don't have to…if it's too much…we can talk about it another time."

"No," Carolyn said, and continued to talk without pause. "It's time…for me to talk…for you to understand. I never imagined years later, my son would be shot…as his father had been, that he would have to go through that…but, Meredith…I prayed in desperation that my husband would survive, and knew he wasn't going to…but with Derek…even as my heart and every fiber of my being was scared for him…as my soul was crying out in anguish, I knew…just knew he would make it…that's the difference…my son survived."

"I never prayed…" Meredith said, "maybe as a child…but my mother didn't believe in anything…but, as I sat waiting outside the OR while Cristina operated on him…I prayed, and begged and bargained…that God would hear me…even if He doesn't know me…that He would answer my prayers and keep Derek safe."

"He knows you," Carolyn nodded, "your one of His children, a lovely compassionate woman…that loves deeply…He knows you…and he'll answer your prayers."

"He answered," Meredith said and silently thought, even when I didn't realize I had to pray for our baby as well, and her hand rested on her abdomen, and again the simple action did not go unnoticed by Carolyn.

"We have a friend," Carolyn said, "a priest, that insists God knows all we need, and we don't even have to ask…Kathleen tends to agree that a prayer need only be said once…Nancy and Maggie on the other hand, wear out the rosary beads."

"Carolyn," Meredith said, "what do you do? What do you believe?"

"I have faith," Carolyn told her, "that God hears me and answer my prayers…as many or as few as I'm in the mood to make."

"I think that makes sense," Meredith observed, before she asked. "What of Amy?"

"Amy…" Carolyn sighed, her voice weary. "Amelia…as she insists we call her now."

"Carolyn," Meredith said, "I think you should know that I don't know too much about what happened…Derek only told me his father was shot…robbed of the watch you gave him…"

"Yes…robbed of his watch, how I wish I'd never given him that…years of regret…and yes the irony and the real loss was of the time… the time we were supposed to spend together…the two of us…and with his children…time stolen from him and our family."

"I didn't ask questions," Meredith said, "when he told me…I should have asked."

"I'll answer them now," Carolyn said, "if you have any questions…after I tell you about that day," and she began, and then, "Derek," she paused, getting hold of her emotions, "and Amy…they were there…they were there…" and then she broke down, "my babies were there…saw their father shot…"

"Oh my God," Meredith's quiet sob matched Carolyn's, "he was there…Derek…oh God…"

Meredith's reaction was the catalyst that allowed Carolyn to give in to the heartbreaking fears she'd faced from the moment she'd heard Meredith's message, when she'd immediately known something was wrong; while Meredith for the first time in her life, without any emotional resistance extended a daughter's comfort, as both she and Carolyn realized how very close they'd come to sharing the same fate about the men they'd chosen to love, and Meredith's embrace comforted his mother, as her heart wrenching sobs gave rise to the bond and affection that would last throughout their lifetime.

A/N 8/10/10 - Thanks so much for your comments and enthusiastic support of this story.

Since I posted this chapter, there are new spoilers that came to light yesterday and today and inspire me a bit, as they address Derek's reaction to the miscarriage; the time frame when he finds out, and his reaction to being Chief. I'm pleased that at least on these 3 things...they are the same as my vision for this story in the chapters that will ollow. The rest, in regard to other characters, not at all what I'd have done...but, at least, what you will read as my vision for Derek will follow what appears to be the storyline on Grey's season premiere. If you want to read more, these spoilers are found in an article in TVGuide, and Patrick makes the comments.