Author's Note: I love Grey's. I've said that, right? Anyway, we have to wait for two whole weeks for a new episode, and I have really been meaning to put this chapter up for a while now. Mer is okay is "reality"...Anyway, we know Mer's coming back to SGH, and I'm not gonna do the whole everyone reacting thing, because it should be past it already. There are so many people. Anyway, read and review Please!
Meredith sat on the cool tile of the bathroom floor, studying Izzie as she brushed her teeth. Izzie had been released a day before, but had been instructed to take the rest of the week off to recuperate. Meredith's transfer had been made official, and so far things were moving smoothly. She had yet to go back to California to gather her things, and in truth she was dreading it. At the moment, Elizabeth was sleeping soundly in Meredith's old room-where she had been staying. At the time, she thought it was too soon to move in with Derek.
"Mer?"Izzie asked, spitting her toothpaste out. "Okay, first of all, you don't have to keep an eye on me twenty four hours a day. I'm not gonna suddenly collapse. I feel fine."
Sighing, Meredith ran her fingers through her hair, slowly gathering the energy to stand. "I know. What's the second thing?"
"You're hiding."
"Hiding? From what?"Meredith asked, ignoring the fact that she knew Derek was waiting downstairs.
"Derek's downstairs. Probably having a very awkward conversation with Alex."Izzie said, rinsing her toothbrush. Turning towards Meredith, she pulled her into a hug. "Everything will be okay. I promise."
"I know. Derek wants to go with me to drop off Elizabeth at the daycare today. I know I shouldn't feel guilty, because he's her father. Plus, I'm back at the hospital. I've been back for a few days now...but she's just getting used to things changing."
Izzie smiled, the cut on her forehead exposed by her hair parting ways. "It's good to have you back."
"It's good to be back. But seriously Iz, promise me that you won't do anything crazy like baking today? You need to rest."Meredith said, hearing Derek in the hallway. "Elizabeth must have woken up."
Derek turned the ignition on, sighing. Looking over at Meredith, he smiled sadly. "She likes in here, Mer. It'll be fine."
"I know. But I feel guilty for leaving her alone."
Shaking his head, Derek's hands gripped the wheel. He ignored the thing he wanted to say then-that that wasn't the thing Meredith should be feeling guilty for. Turning down the radio, he cleared his throat. "So how do you like working at the hospital again?"He asked, hoping for some form of conversation.
Tracing the rain drops as they slowly slid down the window, Meredith glanced over at him. "It's been great."She said, licking her lips. "Derek...Addison...asked me to Mark's birthday party...get together thing."
"So?"
"So? Addison asked me, Derek."Meredith said as they stopped for the light. She felt like it meant something, like it was more than just because she was there. It wasn't an olive branch by any means as they still had a tension between them, but for the most part since Meredith had returned all evidence of their feuding had disappeared. "Are you going?"
"Maybe."He replied as they pulled into the parking lot of the hospital. Staring at the building, Derek turned off the engine, but didn't open the door. "I don't have anyone to go with. And I'm sure Mark would have something to say about that."
Nodding, Meredith remained calm. "Oh."
"Yeah."Derek said, staring over at her. "So-we should go in."
"Right."Meredith said, grabbing her jacket. Heading towards the door, she spotted Cristina talking to Burke. "So...everything good?"
"I guess. Couldn't sleep last night. You came with McDreamy? I knew you were back, I just didn't things would happen that fast..."
"Cristina-"Meredith hissed. "Nothing is 'happening'. We had to drop off Elizabeth at the daycare. He offered to drive me to work."
"What, are you in highschool? The guy's over there with Burke making goo-goo eyes at you. The guy is in love, Mer."Cristina replied, thankful that they had the elevator ride to talk.
Leaning against the wall, Meredith crossed her arms, contemplating. "Addison talked to me the other day. She wants me to go to McStea...to Mark's party. And I want to go...I feel like I should go. But everyone will be there. Derek will be there."
"Seriously? Honestly, I think you shouldn't avoid it. If it happens, let it happen. It took Burke and me a few years, but because of the whole Chief thing we're still keeping it under wraps. But I love him, Meredith. Me. No rings, get drunk, no emotion Cristina...I've been called cut throat, competitive and arrogant. But I've never been called someone's wife. How am I supposed to do that?"
Seeing the emotion in her friend's was brought back to the memories of her internship days. Smiling, Meredith looked over as the elevator doors opened. "You'll find a way."
Laughing, Cristina shook her head. "You are a ton of help, Meredith. Two years in the land of the sun, and you can't give me one piece of advice."
"Cristina? You'll be okay. He loves you..you have a future with him. Why doubt it?"
"So positive...anyway, I've got interns to tend to...Can we have lunch?"
"Sure thing. Cafeteria cuisine."
The morning droned by with nothing out of the ordinary. Meredith soon realized that Seattle Grace really hadn't changed much since she had left, but the people had. Debbie had left, and Nurse Tyler had grown out of the whole 'hanging around the station' thing. George had grown into quite the responsible surgeon, as had Cristina. Alex was still as cocky as ever, but that Meredith could at least find a resemblence of familiarity in.
Sitting in the cafeteria, Meredith watched as Derek approached. "You have lunch with Cristina. I know. But I needed to talk to you."
"I see. Is something wrong?"
"Oh. No. I uh, about this morning. I guess I wanted to apoligize if it seemed like I was cutting you off. Or the whole conversation for that matter..."
"Derek. You really don't have to apoligize. It's okay."
"Are you sure?"He asked, reaching across the table. He watched her unsure eyes, wanting to reach out and touch her. He loved her, but the weight of what had happened, the seriousness of everything that was going on. Derek didn't want to do anything to scare Meredith away. Looking into her dimly lit blue eyes, he remembered what it looked like when they were bright, when he could see their future shining in them. Before the prom. Before everything got so screwed up.
"I am. We had to get inside anyway."
Derek nodded, sinking back into the chair. He was thankful that Cristina was taking a long time, apparently just now closing on a surgery. She'd be in within a few minutes, probably before Meredith had the chance to leave. But he was thankful for their moment alone. "Go with me."
"What?"Meredith asked, her mouth hanging open. "To where?"
"You know where. It would be no fun without you. It's like little New York at their house...breakable stuff everywhere. Kinda wierd for a guy who's as...anyway, you don't have to-"
"Derek."Meredith said, causing him to stop. She saw the look on his face, surprised at how much it appeared that he was actually putting himself on the line. It was then that she felt the lump rise in her throat. Trying to breathe, to blink, to give Derek any sign that yes, she wanted to, Meredith simply made a light sound, almost short of being an exclamation. Blushing, she turned her head, watching as doctors and patients' families hurried past. Turning back to him, Meredith smiled. "I would love to go."
It felt like an eternity between the time Derek asked and the time Meredith gave her answer, but he was grateful for every second. It seemed impossible-how two years barely put a dent in what he felt for her. "Good."
"Good."
"Can I sit down, or is this table for daydreamers only?"Cristina asked, breaking them from their gaze.
"I should get going...I have patientsto check on. Cristina.."Derek said, greeting her. "Meredith. I'll stop by the house later today if you don't mind. I'll see you then."
Almost hoping for a quick kiss before he left, Meredith still felt the moment from before. Brushing her hair back, she watched as Cristina studied her. "What?"
"You love him."
"I do what?...Cristina, he wants to come by to visit with Elizabeth. Why are you acting like Izzie with the whole assuming thing?"
"Am I not allowed to be happy for once in my life?"Cristina asked, sitting back. "I am allowed to be happy. It's just not-"
"Normal? I have to go. If you want to come by later to...I dunno, remember old times or something tonight...I wouldn't mind."Meredith said, hurrying back to work.
"I can't."Cristina muttered, knowing Meredith wouldn't hear her. "I have dinner with Burke's mother."
Derek showed up earlier than expected, grocery bags in hand. "Hey...sucking up already, huh?"Alex asked as he opened the door.
"Well, I figured that Izzie would be staying home for a few days...and I seem to recall how hungry Meredith can get around midnight. So that pretty much means that the food will be disappearing quicker."He said as the two of them walked into the kitchen. "Where are the girls, anyway?"
"Upstairs in Iz's room. Do you mind if I ask you something?"Alex asked, not sure how awkward it would come across.
"Ask away."Derek replied, shrugging.
Alex nodded, putting away the carton of milk Derek brought. "If you love her, why don't you just say so? Earlier, in the cafeteria...you had this look..anyway, I'm not a chick or anything...which is probably already obvious, but-"
"It's Izzie."
"What?"
"Izzie. She's grown on you, huh?"
"I guess. I'm just saying..."
"Hey, look who's here."Izzie said, smiling as she, Meredith and Elizabeth entered the kitchen. "And he came baring food...what's all this?"
"Fruit, vegetables...some Oreos...Spaghetti. It makes it easier for you guys."Derek replied, watching as Meredith eyed him. "Could I...talk to you for a seond?"
"Sure."
They walked into the living room, Meredith cradling Elizabeth on her hip. "Derek? What did you have to say?"
He paced, turning back around to face her as his back reached the wall. "What are we doing here? Not here as in this house, or in Seattle..I'm talking about us. We can't ignore it forever when random people keep pointing it out. If we ignore it, it's not gonna go away. I love you, Meredith. So right now the choice is yours."
Her mouth hung open, slowly walking towards him. She wasn't sure of the words she would say as her barefeet met the wood of the living room floor. Suddenly, she didn't have to as Elizabeth stretched her arms towards him, smiling. "Daaaaa...ddy."
Not even trying to hide his emotions, Derek scooped her into his arms. She'd said things before to him-fragments. He'd even heard her babble small sentences. But that word...the recognition in his daughter's word confirmed the feeling the he saw echoed in Meredith's eyes. They were a family, and they were going to stay that way.