Author's Note: Hey, so yeah...hope you guys enjoy this update. Sorry it took awhile. Oh, and if you wanna review ya know, that'd be great... All reviews are welcomed, and if you have any ideas, let me know. Thanks for Reading!

The next day came quickly, and Meredith woke up, staring at her daughter still sleeping. She watched the smooth rise and fall of her stomach, and the way her face looked so peaceful. She thought back to all teh nights when she had nothing to do but lie awake wondering what their daughter would look like. Meredith would take the ultrasound pictures and stare at them intently. Of course, all you can really tell from them is whether or not the baby is healthy, and if it's a boy or girl-but still.

Softly, Meredith pressed a kiss onto her forehead, smiling. The quiet tranquility was broken by the phone ringing. Grumbling, Meredith turned over and grabbed it. "Hello?"

"Mer. Glad you're up."

"Cristina?"She said, forcing herself into a sitting position. "Is something wrong with Izzie?"

"No, No...she woke up during the night, I guess Shepherd's in performing tests now...anyway, I just-I have off today."Cristina said, seemkingly in a rush.

"Okay."Meredith replied. "And you wanna...what?"

Crisitina sighed, clearing her throat. "I dunno, Meredith...you know i'm never good with the whole emotional thing. But...well, I just thought that maybe we could ya know, go hang out or something. I would say take a look at dresses, but I seriously don't think Izzie would like me if I did."

Meredith laughed, shaking her head. "I'd have to bring Elizabeth with...so no early trips to Joe's."

"Of course. But seriously, you're gonna have to pawn her off on Derek one night after Izzie gets out. Anyway..."

"Where are we gonna go?"She asked.

The line was silent for a moment, Cristina contemplating. "Just-pick me up, okay?"

"And you're at the hospital? I thought you...oh, of course. Um...okay. I...will be there."

Derek smiled, entering Izzie's room. "Good morning, Doctor Stevens. It's a pleasure to have you with us."

Izzie forced a smile, looking around the room. "Was Meredith here?"

"Yeah. Why?"

She closed her eyes, sighing. "No reason. I just...remember something."

Derek nodded, shining a light into her face. "It's perfectly understandable. I'm sure she'll be back later. Are you comfortable?"

"Yeah. Yeah, I-I'm in pain."Izzie said, knowing she couldn't lie.

Derek frowned. "I'll have them up your meds. I could call Alex or George...someone to sit with you."

"That's fine."She said, her voice scratchy. "I'm sure they have better things to do. I'm-"She stopped, clinching his hand. "Ow...Okay, that hurt?"

"What's wrong?"He asked, suddenly worried with her reaction.

"Just...a pinch is all. Like, a twinge. I'm okay. It's Mer you have to worry about."

"What?"Derek asked, frowning. "I'm going to tell the nurse to up your pain meds."

"You know what?...Nevermind. You have sicker patients to tend to."

"That's true. If all goes well-you may be moved today."Derek said, smiling as he left the room.

Meredith took a sip from her coffee and set it back on the table. "So the ring...it's gorgeous."

"Mmm...yeah."Cristina said, taking a bite from a cinnamon bun. "So, Mer...life?"

"Life."Meredith replied, gazing at Elizabeth who was content in sitting in a high chair, playing with a stuffed rabbit. "Life is good."

"So you just happen to show up here after two years? Look, I'm...I'm sorry. I wanted to aploigize for the way I acted the other day in the waiting room. It's just...I was supposed to be your person, and you didn't even let me know."Cristina confided.

Nodding, Meredith closed her eyes. "I know. I know that what I did hurts people, but you have to understand why I did it. At the time, Derek was still with Addison. Had I stayed, had I chosen to have Elizabeth in Seattle...everything would have fallen apart. I probably could have been blacklisted from his surgeries, not to say being kickd out of the program."

"Oh, so heading to Los Angeles was the only option, right?"

"Cristina, please. I'm trying to explain."Meredith pleaded.

Cristina nodded, sighing. "Yeah. Sorry."

"I just-I couldn't stay. The Los Angeles program..it's good. I finshed my intern year there, and I'm still undergoing things, picking up for time lost but...Life's good there."

There was a pause, Cristina tracing the top of her cup with her finger. "So...you're planning on going back? Even after everything here?"

"The hospital needs me. I can stay until Izzie gets out, I'll come back for the wedding."

"And you think Derek's just gonna let you take his daughter-no questions asked?"Cristina asked, watching the look on her face change.

Meredith's eyes grew sad at the mere mention of his name. Elizabeth began to fuss at her side. Turning her attention to her daughter, she picked up the stuffed rabbit and handed it back to her. "No. I don't. I know..."

The mood was broken by her phone ringing. Sifting through her bag, she found it. "Hello?...Oh, um..sure. With

Cristina. And-Yes, she's right here. Um...Of course. We'll be there."

"Is something wrong?"

"They're moving Izzie to her room. Everything's gonna be fine."Meredith said, feeling a smile grow.

A little while later, Izzie was settled and asleep, Cristina sat next to her and Meredith stood with Derek at the door.

"So I was thinking...dinner. Me, you...Elizabeth?"

Meredith raised an eyebrow. "A date?"

"Well, if you want it to be."

"Derek-"

"I'm just saying. Whatever you want. I can wait."

She nodded, licking her lips. "I just think that we both know how it'll end. Me going back to California, and you here buried in your job."

He was silent, brooding. Gesturing towards the hall, he led her out.

"Derek?"Meredith said, trying to read him. He wasn't mad, he wasn't sad. He was-She wasn't sure.

"I want to see my daughter. I want to see you. Why is that so hard to understand?"

"It's not. I just...I need time."

Derek nodded, staring into her eyes. He saw it. The look that he used to see. But it was sadder, it was more distant. "Then I'll wait. But I'm not giving up, Mer. I can't."