Twelve

The two of them were grabbing the last four boxes. She had overseen them taking Burke's stuff down while Cristina checked the apartment for any missed objects. For the entire hour or so that had passed, Meredith had stood, hand cocked on her hip, with a cold stare. It was getting tiring. All she wanted to do was curl up on the couch with some good strawberry ice cream. Why did magic fairies that moved stuff and cut all the emotional entanglements in your life not exist? They would be so convenient.

A few minutes later, she heard the ding of the elevator. She wondered why they were back. After all everything was gone. The shelves were bare; the drawers were empty. Burke no longer had a presence or a root in this apartment. When she heard their steps coming closer to the door, she adopted that same cold, bitchy look. Might as well finish the job.

Burke walked to Cristina, who was resorting the shelves. He almost tapped her on the shoulder, but his hand froze in mid-air. It shook visibly and for a moment, just a single moment, Meredith felt pity for him. The hand dropped back to his side. He whispered her name, his voice cracked and broken. Cristina looked up, her eyes impassive. Placing the keys into her hand, Burke said a soft goodbye and gave another one of those heart-breaking intense gazes that could give Derek a run for his money.

With his shoulders bowed, he walked out the door. He did look back one last time. Meredith could tell his eyes only rested on Cristina. Derek, however, did not follow. What the hell did he want? If he thought this was the time to talk to her about their now non-existent relationship, she…she…well she did not really know what she would do, but it would be bad, mark her words. He nodded in Cristina's direction, receiving a very succinct one in return.

Derek walked toward her and then leaned in. "This thing you're doing, the best friend thing. I respect it, but you're not going to win Meredith. They belong together."

"I don't see any of your schemes working."

"I'm not done trying. They deserve to be together." No, what Cristina deserved was a man who would not force her into a wedding she did not want, and then leave her at the freaking chapel. That was what she deserved.

"He does not deserve her." Their furious whispers were ignored by Cristina who went into the bedroom.

"He loves her." Of course that was supposed to be enough in his whatever, but Derek was a romantic or so ghost/immortal spirit Denny had told her.

"Not enough. It's over, Derek. We're over. They're over. Let it go and move on. Go hang out with the person you met in the bar." Hey, she had the right to be a little bitter.

He laughed for a moment, before turning to leave. "It's never over."