Meredith heard her cell phone ring from where she sat in the living room with Derek. She got up and ran into the kitchen, grabbing it off the table quickly and pressing it to her ear. "Hello?" she said.

"Hi," someone said on the other end. "Meredith?"

"Yes," Meredith answered, furrowing her brow as she tried to figure out who it was. "Who is this?"

"It's Lexie."

"Oh, Lexie, hi!" Meredith said, surprised at how glad she was that she had called. "Wait, how did you get this number?"

"It's a long story…" Lexie said. She paused. "Listen, I kind of need a favor."

"Sure," Meredith said. "What's up?"

"I kind of need you to come pick me up," Lexie said sheepishly.

Meredith frowned. "Where are you?"

"At Joe's bar, you know the one across from the hospital…"

"Yeah, I know it," Meredith said. "Are you okay?

"I'm fine." Lexie sighed and was silent for a moment. "I was kind of ditched…"

"Oh," Meredith said. "I don't mean to sound, well mean, but don't you have friends who could pick you up?"

"I literally couldn't reach anybody. It is a Friday night…most people are out…"

Meredith couldn't help but laughing. "Thanks, Lexie, that's nice."

"Oh, no! I'm sorry, I didn't mean that…" Lexie practically yelled in her embarrassment.

"No, it's fine," Meredith said, smiling. "Most pregnant women don't make it a habit of partying on Friday night." Meredith heard Lexie laugh on the other end. "Listen, it's really no problem. I'll come pick you up."

"Thank you so much," Lexie said.

"I'll see you in a little bit."

xxx

After hanging up, Meredith walked back into the living room. "Who was it?" Derek asked.

"Lexie," Meredith replied.

"How is she?" Derek asked.

"She needs me to pick her up."

"Oh," Derek said with a grin. "Party animal, huh?"

"She was ditched," Meredith said, coming around the couch and sitting next to Derek. He turned and looked at her, his brow furrowed.

"By who?"

"I don't know, she didn't say," Meredith said, pulling on her shoes.

"Huh," Derek said. "Want me to come?"

"No," Meredith said. "I'm fine."

"Okay." He leaned over and kissed her softly. "I'll miss you," he said.

She laughed at him. "You are so pathetic."

"Only when I'm with you."

"Are you saying I bring out the worst in you?" Meredith asked, standing up and glaring down at him.

Derek stared up at her, his mouth slightly agape. "Of course not…Of course you…Don't you have to go?"

Meredith laughed. "Haha," she said triumphantly. "Coward." She began to walk towards the door.

"Only when I'm with you!" Derek yelled after her.

"I love you!" Meredith called over her shoulder.

"Love you too!" Derek called back.

xxx

Meredith parked her car outside of Joes and walked inside. She scanned the room for Lexie before walking over and sitting at the bar. "Hey!" Joe greeted her. "I haven't seen you in a while. What can I get for you? Tequila?"

"No, I'm fine" Meredith said smiling. "I'm off alcohol."

"Celibate?"

"No, pregnant."

Joe stared at her, his mouth hanging open. "Really?"

"Yup."

"Huh," Joe said, eyeing her carefully. "Never would've thought."

"Thanks," Meredith said sarcastically, but she was smiling.

"Hey!" someone greeted Meredith from behind.

Meredith turned around on her bar stool and smiled at Lexie. "Hey," she greeted her.

"Do you have to leave right away?" Lexie asked. "I mean we could…you know…"

"We could…"

"Have a drink," Lexie finished. "Or you know, a soda," she added, motioning towards Meredith's stomach.

"You want to?" Meredith asked.

Lexie nodded. "Yeah, I do."

"Okay," Meredith said as Lexie sat down next to her. "Could I get a Sprite, Joe?"

"Sure," he replied. He looked at Lexie. "Anything for you?"

"Yeah, I'll have a beer," Lexie said. An awkward silence ensued and Lexie glanced nervously at Meredith.

"So what happened?" Meredith asked finally. "I mean, who ditched you."

"Oh, it's kind of embarrassing," Lexie said, glancing at her hands.

"C'mon, you can tell me," Meredith said. "I am your sister," she added carefully.

Lexie looked at her and a smile spread across her face. She nodded her head slightly. "Yeah, I guess that's true." She paused for a second. "Okay, well it all started when this friend I have, Jack, asked me for a drink. And he's my friend you know. I thought it was like friends going out for a drink. At least I thought that's what it was."

"Ah," Meredith said, taking a sip of her soda. "I see where this is going."

Lexie laughed slightly. "Yeah, so we got here and we sat down and he just stares at me. For like five minutes. I was a little freaked out."

"Well sure," Meredith said.

"So anyway, then he reaches across the table and grabs my hand and says, 'I'm in love with you'."

Meredith laughed. "Wow," she said. "This is good."

"No it wasn't!" Lexie cried. "It was painful!"

"Maybe for you," Meredith said. "I'm enjoying this." She paused for a second and then added, "That's what sisters do right? Laugh at each other's pain?"

Lexie smiled slightly and nodded. "Yeah," she said quietly. "Pretty much."

Meredith nodded and took a sip from her drink. "So anyway," she finally said. "What happened?"

"Well I tried to let him down gently, but he didn't take it very well," Lexie said, grinning. "So he ditched me."

"Jeez," Meredith said. "Cheap shot."

Lexie laughed. "I can't believe he left. I mean, if I was really the love of his life, wouldn't he at least give me a ride home?"

"One would think," Meredith said.

"Do you think that Derek is the love of your life?" Lexie asked suddenly.

Meredith turned and looked at her, caught off guard. "Yeah," she said after a moment of thought. "Yeah, I think he is."

"That must be nice," Lexie said absentmindedly, taking a sip of her beer.

Meredith looked at her carefully. "You okay?" she asked, her voice softer than she expected.

Lexie turned and looked at her and to Meredith's surprise, tears filled her eyes. "I was pregnant once," she said softly, glancing away from Meredith. "About a year ago. I had a miscarriage."

"I'm so sorry, Lexie," Meredith said gently.

"Yeah, well," Lexie said, bowing her head. She suddenly looked up at Meredith. "Don't tell my parents…they don't know."

"Of course…Of course, I won't say anything," Meredith replied.

"Thanks."

"You ready to go?" Meredith asked.

Lexie looked up at her. "Yeah."

xxx

Both Lexie and Meredith were quiet on the drive to Lexie's house. Every once in a while Meredith would glance over at Lexie who was gazing out the window with a far away look. Meredith didn't know how to feel. She was surprised at how protective she felt. It was strange to her. She blamed on her hormones. Motherly instincts and all.

They arrived at Lexie's house. "You gonna be okay?" Meredith said, before she thought not to.

Lexie looked over at her and nodded. "You should come in," she said softly. It was the first thing she had said the whole ride.

"No, it's okay," Meredith replied.

"You sure?" Lexie said.

"Yeah," Meredith said.

Lexie unbuckled her seat belt and began to get out of the car. "I'll call you, I guess," she said.

"I'd like that," Meredith said.

Lexie smiled and Meredith watched as she walked up to her front door. Thatch opened it and looked up at Meredith. She waved at him and he waved back, smiling. With that Meredith drove away.

xxx

Meredith walked into the front door and up the stairs. She found Derek sitting in bed, reading. He put his book down when he saw her walk in. She put down her purse and took off her shoes before climbing in bed beside him.

He wrapped his arm around her as she settled against his chest, sighing softly. "Hey Derek?" she asked.

"Yeah?" he said.

"You're the love of my life."

He smiled down at her and kissed her on the top of her head. "And you're the love of mine," he replied.