A/N: Sorry it took a while. I started high school.

***

Meredith sighed and plopped down on the couch next to her best friend. "How was Christmas with your parents?" She asked.

Cristina sighed. "Fine. My mom is upholstering the living room again. My step dad is doing well." She nodded. "How was your first Christmas with the Shepherds?"

"It was really good." She smiled brightly.

"She asked about him." Cristina said quietly.

"Who…" Meredith realized who she was talking about. "Oh. I'm…"

"It's okay. I'm good. I'm doing better."

"Cristina…"

"Really, I am."

Meredith sat and thought for a minute. Her best friend was so broken and upset. She didn't know how to talk to her about it. "Let's get away." She suggested.

"Meredith what are you talking about?"

"Let's go." Meredith said excitedly. "We'll go, just the two of us. We still have three weeks left of break. We can get on a plane and just fly somewhere warm."

"No." Cristina shook her head. "I have to study and…"

"No Cristina. You want to mope. And, I can't let you."

"Don't even try to pretend this isn't what you'd be doing if Derek left you." Cristina said loudly. "No wait, I'm sorry, you'd be at the bar drinking and having sex with inappropriate guys!" Her expression softened. "I have to go study." She said quietly, getting up from the couch and leaving the apartment. Meredith sighed and lay back on the couch. Cristina was right. She knew if Derek left her she'd be under the bar. Right now, Meredith realized, Cristina needed to mope. She hardly noticed when her phone started to ring.

"Hello?"

"Ms. Grey, Dr. Grey will be in New York City this afternoon and requires your presence at lunch." Ellis Grey's secretary, Lucile Barnes, said. "Meet her at the Four Seasons at two o'clock." Meredith opened her mouth to protest. "Good bye Ms. Grey." Lucile said and hung up the phone.

Meredith sighed and put her head back. Lunch with her mother was never a good sign. Dialing Derek's number she sighed nervously. "Hello?" He answered.

"Hey, what time are you off today?"

"Three, why?"

"Can you ask the chief if you can get off an hour and a half early?" She asked nervously.

"Why? What's going on Mer?" Derek asked, his protective side kicking in.

"My mother called. She wants to meet me for lunch at two."

"And you want me to come?"

"If you don't want to…I can go…I'll deal…"

"Mer." He interrupted. "I'll be there. I'll be home at one."

Meredith let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you." She said quietly.

"Of course Mer. I got to go talk to the chief. I'll talk to you later. "

"Bye Der."

"Bye Mer." Derek hung up the phone. Throwing the phone on the couch next to her, Meredith sighed. She wasn't looking forward to the day ahead of her.

***

"Chief!" Derek called out chasing after his superior.

The older doctor turned around to face his subordinate. "What can I do for you Dr. Shepherd?"

"I need to leave at one." He said, panting a little from his search for the doctor.

"Why?"

"Um…" Derek thought up an excuse. "Family emergency."

"What kind?"

"My mother-in-law to be Sir, she said it was urgent."

"Ellis Grey?" Dr. Steinberg asked.

"Yes." He nodded

"Oh well, go ahead. If she says it's urgent it must be."

"Thank you." Derek nodded and cantered off.

***

"Mer?" Derek called out walking into the apartment.

"Bedroom!" A faint voice called back. Walking into the bedroom, he saw Meredith holding outfits in front of her by the mirror.

Derek leaned against the door and smiled at her. "Meredith. Calm down." Stepping into the room he put his hands on her arms. "You'll be fine." He kissed the top of her head.

She sighed, got out of his grasp, took one of the outfits and proceeded to the bathroom.

***

Entering the Four Seasons at precisely two o'clock, hands intertwined, Meredith and Derek scanned the room for Ellis Grey. She sat at a table in the corner of the room. Making eye contact with Meredith, she beckoned her towards the table. Derek followed his fiancé as she led him to her mother's table. "Hello Meredith." Ellis said as they approached the table.

"Mom." She nodded.

She then turned her attention to Derek. "How are you Darrel?"

"It's Derek." Meredith said though her teeth, pulling him into a chair next to hers.

"It's okay Mer." He whispered to her. "Very well, how are you Dr. Grey?" Derek replied, keeping Meredith's hand in his.

"Fine thank you."

"Why are we here mother?" Meredith asked curtly.

"Because I'm in town for a conference."

"Excuse me." Derek said. "I'll be right back."

"Where are you going?" She, Meredith, asked desperately.

"Bathroom." He smiled and kissed her on the cheek.

Once he was out of hearing range Ellis spoke up. "Why are you with him?"

"Excuse me?" She responded.

"He's using you."

"What are you talking about?"

Ellis looked at her daughter. "Meredith. I raised you to be smarter than this. Why would a handsome talented young man such as Derek be with an ordinary college student instead of a beautiful grown woman?"

"Derek loves me." Meredith growled through clenched teeth.

Ignoring that comment, Ellis continued her tirade. "And anyways, he's your first relationship. Don't you want to explore more options?"

"Derek is the only option I am open to."

"Think is all I'm saying." Ellis whispered as Derek reproached the table.

"Hi." He said kissing her cheek and sitting beside her. They continued lunch with awkward small talk.

"Let me run to the rest room before we leave." Meredith said, excusing herself from the table.

Ellis nodded and as soon as Meredith was out of ear shot she turned to Derek. "Stay away from my daughter."

"Excuse me?" Derek asked, shocked.

"You're no good for her." She said flatly. "You're holding her back. Meredith has potential to be an excellent surgeon. Not some house wife piece of candy."

"I…I…"

"Stop stuttering. Surgeons don't stutter. Back to my point, get away. She won't be a good wife anyway. You don't want her." Ellis stood from her chair. "Tell her I say good bye." She walked towards then out the door of the restaurant. Derek sat in shock. He couldn't leave Meredith… but was it best for her? He sighed. When Meredith returned to the table she and Derek walked silently outside and made their way home with out a word.

***

Meredith woke up the next morning to an empty bed. She rolled over to see a piece of paper sitting on Derek's pillow. Opening the folds, she began to read.

Meredith,

I am sorry. I had to leave. I'm not coming back. Hopefully in the future you'll forgive me for what I've done. It was for the best.

-Derek

***

A/N: Okay, broke my own heart writing the end there but… it had to be done. They wouldn't be MerDer if they didn't break up right?