Author's Note: Okay, so yeah, I hope it doesn't feel like this story has been dragging. It does pick up some here, because I know the whole "Will Mer stay" thing has been getting old. Anyway, I hope you enjoy. There are a few scenes in here that I have wanted to bring in since the beginning. That, and the fact that I managed to actually sit down and write this chapter out...on paper. A lot of interesting things happen or start to in this chapter...which is why I like it. (If you haven't noticed, I'm critical of my own work). Oh, and like I said a few chapters back, I'm bringing the letters/notes back...Read and Review, please!


Meredith stood numb, never moving from the spot where she stood. Her fingers moved up to her mouth, tracing her lips. Derek kissed her. And it wasn't just an ordinary kiss. It was one that meant something, that had feeling behind it.

The sound of giggling was heard before Derek reappeared with Elizabeth in his arms. "If you're expecting me to apoligize...I can't."

"I know."She said, not looking at him.

"Meredith?"Derek said, walking closer to her. "All I'm asking you to do is think about it."

"You're pressuring me to stay."

"Because I love you."

"Even after everything I've done? After everything I've said to you? Derek, you aren't making this any easier."Meredith admitted.

Derek nodded, knowing that he was getting to her. "Right. Mer? I never stopped. I know how pathetic that sounds. But I can't apoligize. And I can't let you leave not knowing the whole story."

"You mean to tell me that this whole time you've never really moved on? That you've what-been pining after me for two years? You realize how bad that sounds, right?"Meredith asked, watching Elizabeth stare up into Derek's eyes. They had already grown attached, she could tell.

"I tried, Meredith. It wasn't easy."Derek admitted.

Meredith sighed, shaking her head. "So You think it was for me? I had to finish my internship known as the one who got knocked up. For a few months afterward people were afraid to even come near me. And when they did...I smelled like baby food and powder. I didn't exactly have it easy, Derek. I'm sorry if you see it that way."

Derek nodded, shifting Elizabeth. "Do you really want this? Do you really want to go back to Los Angeles?"

"I don't know, Derek. I just know that right now the fact that I'm here in the first place should say something."

"What should it say? That you're stubborn? That you can't manage to make up your mind even after all this time?"Derek asked, his eyes shining.

"I'm not gonna argue with you in front of her, Derek. So please...can we just call it a night?"

Derek laughed, shaking his head. "You do have a habit for leaving things unfinished, don't you?"

"Izzie will be in the hospital for the next few days. I'll be here that time, so we have a few days to sort things out."

"Meredith."Derek said, his voice stopping her. His eyes darted back and forth between mother and daughter. He didn't understand why he had been kept from her, but he now understood that Meredith was now more dedicated than she had ever been. "Can you...I mean, I'm not saying that you have to but-Just stay here? For tonight? It'll give Elizabeth the chance to get used to the place, and you'd feel more comfortable. I'll sleep on the couch."

"You don't have to."

"Meredith?"

Things weren't the same. Meredith knew that. But seeing the look in Derek's eyes, seeing how much he wanted to make things right, Meredith couldn't refuse. "Fine. But we're not making a habit out of this."

"Of course."Derek said, grinning after she had turned around. The wheel was turning, now all he had to do was push it. The trick was, Derek had to be careful to not push it too far.


Meredith awoke the next morning, a smile evident on her face. The sunlight strewn its way across the room, and for a moment, she let the memories of waking up where she was surround her. But only for a moment. She looked over at Elizabeth, who had just started to squirm. "Hey there, bug. Morning."She whispered.

Elizabeth stayed asleep for a few more minutes, Meredith lost in holding her hand and staring at her. She felt a guilt-an ache almost, at the fact that Derek had missed so much of her life, and that she was the cause of it. Pushing the thoughts away, Meredith smiled as Elizabeth began to wake up. "Hey there, sweetie. Elizabeth..."She said, her fingers combing through Elizabeth's black hair. It wasn't until then, but she realized how much Elizabeth really did look like her father. But it was the blue eyes that continued to haunt her.

Meredith quietly picked her up, deciding to get something to eat. "You know, Elizabeth...you can walk. I've seen you do it. A little. Yeah, you fall...but your dad isn't gonna believe me without seeing it himself."

She simply giggled, watching Meredith move into the kitchen.

Upon walking into the kitchen, Meredith spotted a note written in Derek's scrawl on the counter.

Mer-

Morning. So, I don't know how long you guys plan to stay. You can stay as long as you want, but if you get hungry, there's some eggs in the fridge. I set up the coffee pot...you know where the mugs are. There should be some juice for Elizabeth in the fridge, too-but if not, I left some money on top of the dresser. You still look like an angel when you sleep. I'll try and call when I can.

Love, Derek

Setting the note back down, Meredith smile at the aroma of the coffee currently greeting her. She trudged over to the fridge, opening it. She pulled out the eggs, placing them on the counter. "Hmm-how are we gonna do this?"She asked, looking at Elizabeth. Grabbing a sippy-like cup for Elizabeth, she poured her some juice, setting her on the counter for a brief second. "See..."Meredith said. "Dad's house isn't that bad, huh?"


Derek sighed, rounding the counter. He was on his way to a meeting with the family of one of the patients after discussing news with said patient, and seemed shocked when he ran into Addison. "Hi."

"Hi."She said, fiddling with the files in her arms.

"So...is there something you wanted to speak about?"Derek asked.

"Right."Addison said, smiling. "Um-I have a case. I need a consult, and you're the best...so..."

"What's wrong?"Derek asked, concerned.

Addison nodded. "My patient has been experiencing sever headaches, almost to the point of being excrutiating...She says sometimes her vision blurs as well. I know that there are side effects to medicines, as well as the side effects to something such as a pregnancy. But the thing is, she had her baby several days ago. So, anyway, I was just...I was hoping that you could schedule a consult with her sometime within the near future."

Derek shifted his weight, thankful that the matter wasn't personal. "Sure. I have a meeting with a family at the moment, but I'll get back to you today."

"Thank you, Derek."

"Anything else?"He asked.

"Mark and I-we're...we're having a dinner for some friends in a week or two. For his birthday. You and Meredith could come if you wanted."

"Meredith and I aren't-"

"Oh."Addison replied, blushing a little. "I just, I assumed-"

"Oh, no, it's okay. I understand. Okay, so uh...I'll catch you later?"

She nodded, stepping around him. "Rachel Henry."

"What's that?"He asked, turning to face her.

"The patient. Her name is Rachel Henry."


"Just get those labs...soon. I shouldn't be down here begging for this, people."Miranda complained, turning to seeing Burke. "Chief Burke...and how are you?"

"Just fine, Doctor Bailey. The lab is backed up today, I see?"

"Yes. But that's nothing new. So-"She said, catching up with him. "Have you heard from Meredith?"

"Meredith Grey?"

"Well, yeah-she hasn't spoken with you?"Miranda asked, curious.

"No. I had heard she was back, but I haven't had the oppurtunity to speah with her. I wasn't aware that she was seeking the oppurtunity to come back to Seattle Grace."Chief Burfke replied.

She nodded, catching something in the hallway. "Uh-huh. I'll have to catch you later, Chief."She said, walking further down the hallway. "Izzie Stevens...what are you doing out of bed?"

Izzie clutched her I.V. pole, trying to stand still. "I'm fine. I needed to get up. I can't sit still in that bed."

"Did it ever occur to you that you could have called a nurse-or maybe waited until someone comes to bring you your meds? Come on, get back in there."

"Doctor Bailey. With all due respect...I can't. It's-It's horrible. There's no window. It's stuffy and...I really have to pee."Izzie complained.

"Yeah? And there's a bathroom in your room. If you wanted air, you could have asked for a wheelchair. Izzie, I can't have you breaking any stitches."

Izzie sighed, staring down at the linoleum. "Fine. Have you seen Alex?"

"No. I think he's in the O.R., though. Anyway, back...now."Miranda said, helping Izzie get back in bed.

"Fine. But they rounded on me. They rounded on me, and the intern who presented...he didn't-I mean, he messed up. Seriously. And I just...Doctor Bailey..."

"I. Don't. Want. To. Hear. It."She pronounced, pulling the sheet over her. "Now. You are going to lay down...and you are going to sleep. If you choose not to sleep-"She said, turning on the TV. "Watch something. General Hospital, Full House reruns..whatever. And Stevens? It's okay to feel antsy. But you gotta give yourself time to heal."


Meredith stayed at the trailer for the remainder of the morning, but figured she should at least try and get things organized at the hotel. She was sitting there, looking at old pictures, thinking of how much things had changed with it clicked. It was something undefinable, something that probably should have been ignored, but by her couldn't be. Meredith reached for her cell phone, dialing a number that, for some reason, had managed to linger in her mind.

The rest of the afternoon, Meredith prepared herself. It was stupid. It should make sense. She was going over in her mind the conersation she would be having, with the man she would be having it with. She fed Elizabeth lunch and watched as her daughter proudly stuffed chunks of banana into her mouth afterward.

Staring at the door, she waited for permission to walk in. Shaking hands with the man behind the desk, Meredith sighed.

"Please, Doctor Grey...sit down."Burke insisted.

"Thank you Doctor...Chief..Burke."Meredith corrected.

"It's fine. So, I understand you have a little one now. Where is she?"

"In the daycare. For..for a little while. Listen-I just...I know how awkward and time consuming it is to do something like this. But I want to. And I'm ready."Meredith said, staring into his eyes. She wanted Burke to know that she was confident, that she felt it was the right decision. "But the ultimate decision is yours as chief. Congratulations, by the way. I know it's been a while, but-"

"I understand. Thank you."Burke said, studying her. "So, what you're asking is..."

"I want to come back. I need to come back. Elizabeth...my daughter-and me. I feel that it's time. But of course, if you're over-staffed...or if you have no interest..."Meredith stopped, taking a breath. "Then i'll understand."

Burke nodded, forming his words carefully. "So you want to come back? Are you sure, Doctor Grey? You aren't entering this under pressure from your peers, I presume?"

"They've said things. It's just...my mother was here. It was where she died...it was where I spent my internship. Sometimes...things keep coming back."

He nodded in understanding, extending his hand to hers. "It's settled then. I have to admit, I was a little jealous in the first place...L.A. Genereal stealing one of the finest doctors in our field."

Meredith smiled, shaking his hand. 'Thank you, sir. I-I want this. I do."

"Of course. Now, you do understand that there's a process you go through, correct? It could take a while."

"I understand. It'll give me time. Bring my stuff back up...get reaquainted."

Burke laughed, standing. "I understand, Doctor Grey. I'll be in touch with L.A. General tomorrow. You could be back at Seattle Grace within the week."


Meredith leaned back against the cool of the elevator, she stared at the ceiling, hearing the doors open. "Ah...Doctor Grey."She heard Addison say.

"Doctor Montgomery."

"Actually-"She said, smiling. "Well, technically, it's Sloan. But...we never really got around to the whole name change. At the hospital, anyway."

"Right."Meredith said.

"So...do you plan on coming back?"Addison asked, genuinely curious.

"I hope to. Maybe. Maybe...not. But it's Seattle..."Meredith replied, hearing the doors open. "Noone plans on liking it in the beginning."


Avoiding Derek seemed hard to believe, and running in with Addison was less awkward the second time around. She settled Elizabeth in and turned the car on. Staring at her phone, she saw that she had a missed message. Dialing the number, she decided to check it.

"Mer..hey, it's me, Scott. Listen- haven't heard from you. Mrs.Mays from across the street caught someone tryin' to get into the house...had to call me. Anyway, you're supposed to be back by now. But...you're friend is sick...I understand. Well hey, I'm gonna let you go. The plane's leaving soon. I'll uh...I'll see you soon."

Meredith hung up the phone, feeling her stomach dip. She put the phone back, closing her eyes. The happiness she had been feeling slowly started to fade. She was determined though that, this time, the fading wouldn't last.