Title: Fireworks

Authors: Sara And Lizzie

Rating: T for language, mild sex

Disclaimer: It would be nice to own grey's anatomy, sadly all we own are a lot of high priced shoes and handbags, and both seasons on dvd.

Summary: This starts early in season two, episode 8, when Meredith and Derek are in the elevator and she says 'I miss you'. Instead of saying that he cant do anything, Derek asks her to meet him and an affair ensues. Angsty, but we loooove it.

Author's Note: Wow. We're so glad you guys like this story, because honestly, we love it. It's probably our favorite thing we've done so far. We're following season 2, the way it could have been had there been an affair throughout. And it's going to get dark, a lot darker. Meredith's mental health is going to go downhill fast, because this is bringing out all of her underlying issues.

WOW. We suck, we know. All we can say is that we're super busy and we're really trying to update as much as possible.

Update. It's been too long again, but we're trying.

REVIEW.

All of your ways and all of your thunder,
got me in a haze running for cover,
where we gonna go from here?

"Richard." Addison said, barging into his office in the hostile manner she had adopted since Derek's confession and their divorce. "I need a neuro consult. Where might I find….?" She trailed off, as if saying the name was difficult.

"Derek?" Richard supplied.

"Yes, Derek." Addison spit out bitterly. "I need him. For a consult. And he's no where to be found."

Richard paused and folded his hands on his desk in front of him. He opened them and refolded them, before finally meeting Addison's eyes. "Derek took a leave of absence." He said.

"He took a leave of absence?" Addison repeated, the question evident in her voice. "Why? Where the hell did he go? And for how long?"

"I don't know, Addie." The chief said, not meeting her eyes.

"Don't lie to me Richard." She said. He held up two hands in a surrender position.

"I gave him my word I wouldn't say anything."

"Well that's perfect." Addison said. "I'm so glad that after all this time and everything he did, everyone is still on his side. Fabulous."

"He went to New York, Addison." Richard said finally. "He didn't say why or for how long." Addison blinked at him, dumbfounded. New York. That was not what she had been expecting.

Cristina swung the door to the locker room open and stood in the entrance, arms folded. She began to pace back and forth between a short area, as Izzie, George and Alex stared at her from a bench. "Something's going on here." She said, pointing at them, as if they were responsible. "McDreamy is missing."

"Okay, so he's gone." Izzie said. "Why is that so important?"

Cristina looked at Izzie like she was the most ignorant person Cristina had ever seen. "Because no one knew he was leaving." She snapped as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. "It wasn't a planned vacation. Or a conference. He just took off."

"He went after Mer." Alex said, swallowing a mouthful of granola. "Catch up, Yang."

"How do you know?" she challenged, even though she knew full well there was no other logical explanation.

Alex eyed her smugly. "Olivia told me." He said.

"Of course she did." Izzie muttered.

"Why the hell didn't you say something?" Cristina demanded.

"She just told me on my way in. And then I was eating."

"Which has never stopped you from talking before." George said.

"Oh shut it, Bambi. It's a good thing." Cristina whirled around from angrily rummaging in her locker to face Alex, her eyes blazing.

"A good thing? He practically killed her!"

Alex shrugged. "Doesn't change the fact that she loves him."

"That makes it okay?" Cristina asked, taking a threatening step towards him.

"It doesn't matter what he did." Alex said simply. "She screwed up too. What they did is done. It's what he does with his second chance that matters."

"Shepherd residence." She said out of years of habit, even though she was the only one who occupied the townhouse. "Hello?" She repeated, when met with silence on the other line.

"Kathryn?" cane the tentative but familiar voice.

"Addison." Kathryn Shepherd said, unsure of how to react. "Ho are you?"

"Confused." She answered. "Is everything okay? With the family?"

Kathryn's brow furrowed. "As far as I know. Why?"

Addison swallowed. "I just didn't know why Derek went to New York."

"He's in New York?" Kathryn repeated, dumbfounded. "And he didn't even tell you why?"

A short, bitter laugh escaped Addison's lips. "Why would he bother?"

"Well you're his wife." Derek's mother pointed out, feeling utterly baffled herself. Derek was in New York and she somehow knew what Addison was going to say before she said it.

"We got divorced, Kathryn." Addison paused. "He didn't tell you." It was not a question, but the mere statement that he hadn't even bothered to tell his mother that the chapter of his life that included her had come to a close. "You should call him." Addison said.

"Addie, I get the impression that you are very angry." Kathryn said carefully. "But if Derek came here unexpectedly, it must be for something very important, and I'm sure if he wants to get in touch with me-"

"Of course." Addison interrupted, the realization crashing into her like a tidal wave. "Meredith."

It was the ultimate oddity. If you had asked Meredith in all of the time she had known Derek if she would have been sitting at a dimly lit bar with Derek and the man who slept with his wife, she would not have believed them for a single second. But there she was, ordering tequila shots while a few stools, Derek and Mark had an awkward conversation that ended with a handshake that evolved into a hug.

Meredith shook her head and signaled for another shot, shooting dubious looks at Derek and Mark all the while.

"She says she won't come back." Derek told Mark. "Because Addison is in Seattle."

Mark nodded. "You can't imagine the guilt." He said quietly, sliding his thumb over the rim of his glass.

"I cheated on my wife." Derek pointed out.

"It's a whole different story from our side."

Derek sighed. "I want to go back to Seattle."

Meredith leaned over the bar. "Can you pour me one more?" she asked

"The reunion almost over? The bartender asked, jerking his head down the bar towards Mark and Derek.

She shrugged. "I don't even know how to answer that."

""Loaded question?"

Meredith smiled. "You have no idea."

"Which one is your boyfriend?" the bartender asked her.

Meredith raised her eyebrows. "That's an even more loaded question." She said, looking down the bar at Mark at Derek.

The bartender smiled at her. "I can tell one of them is your boyfriend." He said. "You look like a girl who has a boyfriend." He leaned back and appraised her. "A boyfriend. A best friend. And a couple really good friends, too."

Meredith took her shot, suddenly feeling overwhelmed with the desire to be at Joe's with her friends. She wanted Cristina to give her a look and tell her why she was being an idiot. She missed George's goofiness, his willingness to pull her out of jams. She missed Izzie's bubbling personality, her cookies. She even missed Alex walking around like he owned Seattle Grace.

She smiled at the bartender. "The dark haired one." She said. "He's my boyfriend." She said tentatively. "And I do have best friends. Back home."

"Where's home?" the bartender asked.

"Seattle." Meredith said quietly. Derek smiled and motioned for her to join them. She smiled at the bartender and slid some cash across the bar. "Thanks." She said. "What's your name?" she asked suddenly.

"Joe." He said, grinning. Meredith laughed to herself and slipped off her school to join Derek. Joe. Of course it was.