Ever since Owen left, everyone had changed. I guess I never realized strong of a family we all were both in our home and with all the surgeons we worked with. Derek was more overprotective of me and the kids. Zola wasn't so sunshiney anymore. She had still yet to leave her little Owen soldier plush out of her sight, and always talked about how much she misses her Uncle O. Amelia concerned me. She hardly spoke to us anymore- really to anyone. She'd talk to her patients, and to whichever surgeon she had working with her but it was only ever strictly about work. Arizona had even told me at Amy's 6 month ultrasound that she hardly even looked at the screen. One night I had gotten home late whenever everyone was in bed so I went to my bedroom surprised to see Derek still awake. He looked deeply concerned. His hair looked more shoved back than usual which I knew was from him running his fingers through his hair repeatedly.

"Derek, what's wrong?"

He sat up a little straighter and sighed.

"Go look in Amelia's room."

I dropped my scarf and purse by our dresser and waddled down there. It was practically empty. The bed was made as if no one had ever slept in there and the only remaining item was the framed picture of us at her birthday breakfast. I felt all the blood drain from my face. I made it back to our door way.

"Where did she go? Is she okay?"

"I was in surgery when she had called and my phone was in the attendings' lounge. She left me a voicemail saying she needed to get away for a few days. I guess she's going to see Addison in Los Angeles. When she comes back she'll be living in the trailer. That's what she wants apparently."

For once it wasn't just the babies kicking, my stomach was doing actual flips.

"Derek, I need to go. I have to go talk to her."

He looked at me like I had 8 heads.

"Meredith, you aren't gonna go to LA. Not by yourself and especially not to my ex-wife's house."

"Well your pregnant and very fragile sister is at your ex-wife's house. We promised Owen we would take care of her. She needs to come home Derek. Her blood pressure is already high enough, we don't need her going into labor early."

"Then it's good she's with one of the best OBGYNs in the country. Come on, you were at work all day. Let's just lay down and get some sleep."

He honestly baffled me sometimes. I went into the closet and got my suitcase, bringing it out in front of our bed.

"You looked stressed as hell when I came through the door about her and now that I want to do something, you want to play it off like it's no big deal. Zola would be very disappointed in you right now."

He furrowed his brow and I gave him a half smile.

"I'm serious Derek. If Zola knew Amelia was in California alone, she'd be very worried. When she wakes up in the morning I'll already be there. Then you can just tell her Mommy and Aunt Amy had to go on a quick trip. I'll be back with Amelia in less than 48 hours. I have to do this before I'm too pregnant to fly safely."

Derek groaned in laid flat on the bed.

"I don't want you to go."

"It's only a day or so. It'll just be like I'm on call and busy."

"It's gonna feel like weeks. And I'll have both kids?"

"Now you know exactly how I felt when you were in D.C. The kids are routined. They know what to do during the day probably better than we do."

He lifted his head again looking agitated.

"Would you please stop bringing up D.C?"

"It wasn't anything bad Derek about it, why can't we ever talk D.C? It was a big event in our life together."

"Because... There was a resident named Renee I worked with. She was brilliant- far more talented than the rest. And one night she kissed me. SHE kissed me, not the other way around. It felt so wrong. It was disgusting. Never have I wanted you with me more than I did in that second. So I told her that it was wrong... That I loved you and I needed to be with you. That's whenever I fled. I got home, you thought I was having an affair. I called post it."

His mind dump froze my body. I couldn't believe it.

"So you were having an affair."

"No. She came onto me. She kissed me. I knew it was wrong. I didn't do anything back, I just left. I needed to come home to you. I want no one other but you."

"Then if it was just her kissing you, why am I just now hearing about it?"

I stood up and leaned against our dresser. He was once again sitting straight up. Tears stung my eyes but for once I wouldn't let them fall- not now at least.

"Because I never thought it would be a big deal. That's why I couldn't be in D.C anymore."

"So you never wanted to talk about D.C because you have a guilty conscience."

"The kiss meant nothing to me which is why I made it nothing with us! I wanted you, Meredith. I wanted more with us."

"You get kissed then your whole world changes and you come home some huge family man wanting more. You remember, you chose the job over us. Over Seattle, over our marriage, and over our kids."

"You told me to go! We finally made peace in that decision together. I'm back now, so you can't pull that card. That's fighting dirty."

"Well you're freaking out about me leaving for 48 hours when I never got to freak out because you were gone for weeks. I didn't get to react like a normal wife, like how Amelia is feeling the full effect of Owen being gone, because it was me having to be both mommy and daddy and the general surgeon and the maid and cook while you were gone. I was doing everything while you were living it up on the east coast."

"Oh don't even. Amelia was here, she helped out plenty."

My jaw dropped.

"Yes she helped. She was there when I couldn't be because I was expected to be in a million places at once. Then you come back and I was happy. Don't get me wrong. I was ecstatic. I was getting my husband back, and the kids were getting Daddy back. We discussed having another baby. We had sex one time, dammit. One time then your accident happened. So even if I wasn't fully ready to have another baby, it was coming. They were coming and-"

"So you don't want the twins, that's what you're telling me?"

I felt as if I had been punched right in the gut. He had my blood boiling now.

"DON'T YOU EVER SAY I DON'T WANT OUR KIDS!"

The tears were really about to spill now. He sighed, running his fingers through his hair for the umpteenth time. I hurried throwing whatever into the suitcase so I could get the hell out of the house before I hurt him.

"Meredith, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it."

I couldn't fight anymore with him, not if I wasn't going to cry in front of him.

"I got your message loud and clear. I gotta go, and I'm going to take the kids. Zo has a three day weekend and it'll do them some good to get some sunshine. You won't have to worry about anyone but yourself for 48 hours. Congrats."

I got a small bag packed for each of them and surprisingly got both of them into the car without waking them since it was past 11 at night. My head was spinning from mine and Derek's fight. I felt so helpless. Here I was 7 months pregnant with twins, two sleeping kids in the back of my car, and my sister in law two states away going through her own issues. I drove past the exit to get off for the airport, deciding last minute to just drive there. I needed time to just think.

~Okay so a lot happened this chapter. (Don't hate me too much.) I can't remember if Derek ever told Meredith about the kiss, but I remember him calling post it. Regardless this is an AU story so even if he did, I changed it up to fit my storyline. How long do you think this storminess will last? Leave me a review with your comments and suggestions. Thanks for reading!~