A/N: Hey, how about a Canadian Thanksgiving Present! This coming Monday is Thanksgiving, up here North of the 49th Parallel. So enjoy this next installment!

Thanks everyone! Thanks to Patsy, Pat, mandyg67, Ntlpurpolia, Japa01 and CamillaGrey who all commented. Thanks everyone who also faved and followed this fic too. When you do, I get an alert, and I always check to see what people have on their profiles... It amazes me what a wide variety of fans I have. Thank you so much!

If you comment, I do respond to people who leave a review if they are signed in, if not, but your comment was specific or asking a question, I try and answer it here. You guys are as much a part of this story as the characters!

Onward!

Dec. 31 2036

Qualicum, BC

Derek

For once it wasn't raining, which was a good sign. I stared out at the morning sky, sipping my coffee. I couldn't sleep last night. I kept having a dream about a plane crash.

I saw people staggering around. I felt pain. Everywhere, but mostly in my arm. I smelled burning fuel. But one thing stood out:

Derek! Derek!

Someone had called to me, and I answered. Was my name Chris? Or Derek?

"Chris?" Megan called from the kitchen... "Want some french toast?"

My lips curved in a slight smile, "Love some."

"Benny!" she called, "Breakfast!"

"Coming, coming, I'm coming..." Benny walked on his tip toes down the hall in nothing but pajama pants. I couldn't believe he was ten years old now... time slipped by so fast... too fast.

"Hey bud," I said, greeting him.

"Hello. Hi." He said, smiling at me. He'd been working with a therapist to learn how to make eye contact, and to improve his social skills. Megan said he was doing remarkably well. I was impressed so far too. "Wanna play go fish?"

"Sure, after breakfast okay?"

"Okay," he said.

We ate in comfortable silence for awhile. It was nice just to relax and enjoy this time together, I was starting to wonder if this would be my life now. Would I ever find my true family? And if I did... would it be like this? Comfortable? Warm? Stable?

"You going out with Lynn and Charlie tonight?" Megan asked, reffering to the New Year's party at the hospital.

I shrugged, "I don't know... maybe." I didn't want to be a third wheel, although I knew quite a few people would be going... I just- "Something feels different... I feel..." Like my skin was stretching. Like I wasn't myself. I was supposed to be this Derek guy. But who was Derek? Did he do parties? Was he entertaining? Jumping on a unicycle and juggling? Or did he like the quiet of a houseboat and the swish of a line being cast into the ocean. Who was Derek? Who was Chris? Who was I?

I squeezed my fork and gritted my teeth, frustrated. And then I watched Benny who seemed far more interested in the texture of his food than actually eating it. I laughed. "C'mon Benny, get the cards," I said.

xxx

Later I did decide to go out... but not with Lynn and Charlie. I met Mark on crutches and in a fresh cast at the Dinghy Dock Pub. It was quite full of rambunctious New Year's partiers, but I didn't really mind.

"Scotch please, and whatever he's having," I called to the barkeep, who nodded at Mark.

"Just a beer, man."

The drinks slid in front us and I gripped the cool glass. "Well?" I asked.

"Another year," Mark said.

"Another year," I sipped my Scotch.

"There'll be fireworks later... you gonna watch?" He asked.

"Of course," I said smiling.

"Great! But you'll have to help me, I'm a gimp."

"Yes..." I said, looking him up and down... "Yes, you are Mark."

He shook his head, "You suck."

I mock bristiled, "Do not, you suck. We had to wait eighteen hours in the rain for rescue. On Christmas!"

"What? Can't stand a little rain, mountain man?"

"Oh, you're funny..."

"Thanks, I am."

We both turned away, laughing. When I stopped, something caught my eye...A red dress...A girl in a red dress.

I was dreaming a hot doctor came to visit me.

This hot doctor is going to a party.

Mm.

I felt my forearm ache and rubbed it unconsciously.

"Excuse me? Excuse Me?" Someone tapped my shoulder...

"Huh?" I turned around...

xxx

"TEN! NINE! EIGHT!..." The crowd in the city square chanted as they counted down the seconds, waiting for the fireworks.

Even in the roar of the crowd, I was flashing back to the last hour at the bar.

"Excuse me... Chris? Chris Robertson?"

I turned around. "Um... yeah, that's me." A young blonde woman stood in front of me in a black dress.

"Oh my God, it is you!"

"Yeah... sorry, do I know you?"

"You rescued me, remember? I fell in the water? I was drowning... you pulled me out!"

I blinked... taking another look at the woman, because seriously, at the time of her rescue... I hadn't all been there. I'd been experiencing a flashback at the same time.

She was probably in her early twenties, had long blonde hair. Her lips were full and she had dark blue eyes. And then it came rushing back to me... when I was out sailing, during a storm, I'd just... jumped out to rescue her. I did compressions... breathed for her. "Katie..." I said.

"Yeah..." she replied softly, biting her lip.

And then...

"SEVEN! SIX! FIVE!..."

She grabbed my shirt collar and pulled my head to hers. Suddenly her lips were on mine. Hot wet lips teased my own, and I gasped. There was the faint taste of some sweet cocktail. She pressed, and automatically, I returned the favor...before I came to my senses and pulled her off me.

"FOUR! THREE! TWO!..."

"I'm sorry!" Katie said as I wiped my lips and stared at her in shock."I'm drunk, and I just... well, I never got to say thank you... so-" And then one of her girlfriends grabbed her, scolding her for her impulsive actions...

But it wasn't Katie's kiss that bothered me... it was...

It caused something else to happen in my mind. I'd never been kissed like that before, not that I remembered, and as I swallowed and stared after her, my mind was doing backflips and cartwheels and all kinds of thoughts, emotions and images were dancing in my mind...

"ONE!"

BANG!

"Where is she?"

"You almost died today."

" Yeah. I almost died. I can't remember... I can't remember our last kiss... The last time we were together and happy... I wanna remember that. All I could think about was that I was gonna die today, and I can't remember."

POP! CRACK! Bursts of colorful light shocked my irises.

"It was a Thursday morning... You put your hands on my chest... your hair smelled like some kind of ... flower. And you kissed me. Soft. Quick. Like a habit. Like we'd do it every day."

"Lavender. The flower... It was lavender from my conditioner."

"Lavender..."

ZING! CRACK-A-CRACK-CRACK! The night sky was lit with fire, and so was my mind.

"I can't go out with you. You're my boss. And my teacher. And my teacher's teacher."

"I'm you're sister, I'm your daughter..."

"There are lines..."

POW! POP-POP-POP! I sucked in a breath and clutched my chest.

"So these lines... Are they imaginary? Or do I need to get you a marker?"

BOOM!

I was pushed up against the wall of an elevator as another set of hot wet lips pressed into mine. And I saw her. Felt her. Familiar lips. Passionate lips. Lips full of longing and desire... and life. Pulse racing, I returned this kiss, wanting to kiss her so hard her knees knocked. Because, in that moment, I knew... In that moment, however long ago, and in this very moment, she was...

The love of my life.

My heart squeezed. Blood seemed to stop pumping in my body as the memory surged within me. I panted and nearly spun with dizziness, no longer able to pay attention to my surroundings in the city square.

I saw her, clearly. Dirty blonde hair pulled into a messy ponytail, smooth young skin and full lips with grey green eyes that I fell into the depths of. Her presence was vulnerable but strong all at once. Needy... but I needed her too. Needed.

So what am I to you?

I was drowning... And you saved me. That's all I know.

But I also saw her cold and blue and dead... But she wasn't was she? She couldn't have died could she?

You're not my knight in shining whatever.

xxx

December 31 2036. Seattle.

Meredith.

I have a feeling.

It won't go away. The pressure. Here. On my chest. And I was so tired. I'd been tired all week.

It must be my Alzheimers. It's getting worse. I felt it when I looked into my daughter's eyes. The pale one with the Mcdreamy hair... I want to tell them that I don't feel well... but, I just... forget.

"Mom?" my son nudged me.

"Huh?" I looked up and blinked. My eyelids are heavy like garage doors that don't want to roll up.

"Uncle Alex is here... The party's starting."

I breathed in and gathered my strength. They can't know. They can't know that something is wrong... They'll put me in a home... and then I'll never... he'll never come back. "Oh, good..." I said. "Help me up?"

He reached down and I took his hand. I leaned against him as he escorted me to the living room. It's full of gold and black and silver. Balloons, streamers, glitter. A huge banner is spread over the patio window. HAPPY NEW YEAR! it says, and I smiled. New Years is a Shepherd family tradition!

December 31, 2025

"Baby I made it!" Cristina barged into the house, a bottle of champagne in hand.

"Cristina!" I called, and pushed through the crowd to hug my person.

"Holy crap Mer, did you invite the entire hospital?" She exclaimed, looking around. Webber, Bailey and Warren, Alex and Jo and Maggie as well as a dozen other friends and kids filled the house.

"Well..." I shrugged. This is just what happened.

"Hey, it's great!" she said, "Where's the munchkins?"

I looked around for my kids... "They're not so munchkin-y anymore you know..." Ellis would be turning eleven, which meant my other two were on their way to teenage mutant... teenagers. I shuddered at the thought.

"Oh right... I have to come up with a new nickname for the Mckids..."

I rolled my eyes. Before I could come up with a snarky response, I felt a familiar presence behind me and I instinctively leaned back. Derek wrapped his arms around my waist. "Hey Cristina," he said.

"Hey Mcdreamy," she said. "I am starving. Where's the food?"

"Over there." He nodded to a long table in the back.

"Awesome!" and she was off to stuff her face.

"Hey." Derek said, and I turned around in his arms to face him.

"Hi," I said softly, examining every feature of his lightly stubbled face.

He smiled slightly. "What are you doing?" he asked.

"Just looking," I said.

"Just looking?"

"I want to remember every detail..." I said as I stroked his cheek. I'd spent the last three months interviewing Alzheimers patients... and I just... I couldn't forget.

I felt Derek's belly shake as he chuckled. He looked down at me with those deep blue intense eyes, and I knew he was doing the same thing. He still had that little line off center on his forehead, and his nose still slightly crooked. There were a few more crow's feet, and a few more grayish dots in his stubble. Tiny thin lines danced around the corners of his lips.

"I can't do this much longer, you know..." he said, for his gaze landed on my lips.

"Mmm, really?" I asked, allowing my gaze to fall down to the smooth pink skin that shaped his lips.

"Really." He all but whispered, his forehead touching mine.

"Maybe just one more-" I started, but my husband's lips stopped me in a passionate squeeze.

I laughed into his mouth, and caught his lips in mine, pulling him deeper into me. My arms wrapped around his neck, bringing him closer. The world around me spun and buzzed and blurred, but I remained still with the love of my life.

"Whippersnappers?" Cristina said, holding a paper plate and chewing on a chicken wing. "McJuvies?" But I wasn't paying attention...

It was the ding of a spoon on a champagne glass that pulled us apart. "Everybody!" Miranda called out, "The ball is about to drop..." she gestured to the image on the projector screen of the New York Times Square ball drop.

"Oh!" Cristina said, "Mcbrats!"

"Ten," Derek said, kissing my forehead.

"Nine," I kissed his right cheek with a smile.

'Eight." He kissed my left.

"Seven," I kissed his nose.

"Six," he hummed into my neck.

"Do we have to keep counting?" I sighed.

"Yes..." he murmured.

"You two should get a room," Cristina mocked. Still staring at my husband, I pushed her away.

"Where were we?" I asked.

"Five..." He said, kissing my hand.

"Hm..." Pleasure erupted in me... Where to kiss next? "Four..." I kissed his chin.

"Three..." Derek pecked the inside of my elbow. I shuddered.

"Two.." I breathed into his ear, escaping into his cologne.

We pulled back for a second, once again, looking into each other.

"One..." Derek said.

Cheers. Hurrahs. HAPPY NEW YEAR shouts. Confetti. The popping of champagne bottles. Auld Lang Syne.

And one earth-shattering, mind-numbing, heart on fire kiss that exploded in my mouth.

Now. Meredith.

"Are we ready for the fireworks?" Bailey called out. I smiled and took another bite of my pizza. It wasn't raining this year... Not yet, anyway.

"Mer!"

I spun at the call of my name. "Cristina!"

My Person and her mass of curly dark hair arrived through the doorway. "Oh my God, I hate that airport!" Cristina said as she wrapped her arms around me. "Come on, let's get a glass a of bubbly."

"Okay!" I was so happy to see her.

Beside the pizza boxes and appetizer's, several flute glasses lined the table. Cristina picked one up, and I picked up two. "Where's Derek? Have you seen him?" I asked.

"Uh... Mer?" she asked.

"What? Where is he? We always have this day off..." I searched the crowd. "I'm gonna go find him."

"Meredith! Wait!" Cristina called, but I ignored her. I had to find him before the countdown... I pushed through the crowd of people, "Derek? Derek?"

Richard Webber's face came into view. "Meredith!" he called, like he hadn't seen me in ages, "There you are... how have you been doing?"

"What do you mean? I'm fine." I said. Why was he looking at me so weird? "Have you seen Derek? I have to find him before-"

"TEN!" Everyone shouted.

"Derek?" Richard asked... "Uh, I think he got called into surgery Meredith."

I shook my head... "No, no, no... He's supposed to have the day off!"

"NINE!"

Pressure. Who decided to sit on my chest? Derek- I have to find Derek. Where was he?

"EIGHT!"

I'll call him... I can just call him... he's here somewhere, I swear I just saw him. He would tell me if he got called away.

"SEVEN!"

Where's my phone? Oh here, I'll just use the landline... Okay, 206-555-7159 Out of service? What? Try again. 206-555-7159 What? Again? Phone lines must be out or something. Why is it so hot in here? My chest. It hurts.

Derek. I have to find him.

"SIX!"

God, I'm sweating... Where is he? I just saw him. Is that him?

"Mom?"

Who is this guy? Those eyes... Derek, Where is he? Why is there so many people here? What's going on? Is this some kind of surprise party or something? Oh...what's happening to me?

"FIVE!"

"Get, out! Everybody!" They didn't hear me. Where is he? We were supposed to go out for dinner... There's too much noise, there's too much...

"FOUR!"

April... There's April. "Have you seen Derek?"

"Um.. Meredith? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Where's Derek, I have to find him... I have to... he's supposed to be here... I have Alzheimers and he's supposed to be here... oh-" Why does my heart feel like it's going a mile a minute?

"THREE!"

I have to get some air. I can't breathe. There. Over there. Maybe he's on the deck. At least it's not raining...

"TWO!"

Okay... maybe a little. It's drizzling. At least I can breathe now. "Derek?" Oh, the trailer. Silly me. He's in the trailer... Duh. Oh... I'm so tired. I just want to-

"ONE!"

BANG!

The noise rattled in my skull. I clutched my chest. Suddenly a bright light flashed around me.

Oh God, the plane exploded. Oh God! Derek! "DEREK! DEREK!" I have to find him. I have to... he must be in the woods... he's there and he's hurt and I have to find him...

So dark. I can't see. "DEREK! DEREK!"

So many trees. Just a little further. I'm so tired...

POP! CRACK!

"No... No... DEREK!" All I see is trees. Everywhere. So dizzy. Can't breathe. Pressure. Who put vicegrips on my heart? "Oh... oh."

"Meredith!"

"Derek... There you are... I was, I was looking everywhere for you... I can't breathe..." He smiled at me and caressed my cheek.

"It's okay Meredith. Just sit down..."

I nodded and leaned against a tree, sliding roughly down. "Okay... Okay." I feel so weak... so tired. It hurts to speak, to breathe. My ears are ringing.

"Derek?" I croaked. "I think I'm having..." My heart...

I'm so tired. So hot. But Derek wrapped himself around me and stroked my cheek.

"Shh... it's okay. I love you Meredith."

I wanted to tell him that too, but I couldn't speak. I stared into his eyes, his very soul and I knew I didn't have to say it back. He leaned over and kissed me, his soft lips reassuring and safe.

I was safe. I found him and he's okay. He's okay. I'm fine... I'll be just...

xxx

Bailey

Although it's drizzling out, the fireworks lit up the gray sky in amazing bursts of luminesence. Each POP! and BANG! is followed by a gasp from the group of about twenty or so. Every year when we have one of these events, however, I miss dad more. As the next whizbanger lit up the sky, I offered up a prayer to wherever he may be. Dead or Alive.

CRACK!

A tap on my shoulder pulled my gaze away from the show to see Cristina. "Hey, where's Mer?" she asked.

"Uh.." I leaned over to look at the chair mom usually sits in on the deck, but it's empty. "I just saw her a minute ago..." she must be here somewhere.

"Cristina..." Dr. Kepner approached, "Is Mer okay? She looked a little-"

"You saw her?" Cristina asked.

POP! CRACKLE!

Kepner shoved a thumb behind her, "Yeah she was..." but as I looked past her I didn't see Mom anywhere.

Now I started to panic "Guys... she's been trying to wander off at night," and we turned her alarm off tonight.

CRACK-CRACK-BANG!

Mom could be anywhere. I felt a sudden onslaught of sweat and adrenaline. "We have to find her!" I said as I pushed through the crowd. "Mom! Zola! Ellis!"

"What's happening?" Ellis asked, putting down her champagne glass.

"Have you seen mom?"

She shook her head, "Not since Alex got here..."

"Dammit!"

CRACK-A-CRACK!

"Zola! We have to-" I shot a glance at my older sister, and she knows. She nodded with understanding. "Ellis, get Richard, search the house!"

"Oh... okay." And I thought I saw her shake slightly in panic. But still she ran to Richard and got his attention.

In the background, the final blast of fireworks lit up the sky, but I just can't look. I have to find Mom. I should've noticed earlier. Why didn't I notice earlier? Stupid.

CRACK! BANG!... BOOM!

The crowd gave a final gasp and murmurs of Happy New Years could be heard. But I didn't care. I weaved in and out through the group. "Mom! Mom!"

Zola took charge, standing up on a bench. "Can I have everyone's attention? Has anyone seen our mom? I think the fireworks scared her. If anyone has seen where she went, can you let me or Bailey know?"

People gasped and looked around, calls of 'Meredith? Meredith?' Filled the air, but I had a feeling, a bad feeling.

xxx

Derek?

Yeah?

I miss you.

I know.

Where did you go?

Oh... I got swept away I guess.

Will you find your way back?

I-

I need you. I thought I could... I thought I could make it without you, but-

I'm trying.

I know.

Derek?

Mm?

I'm sorry.

Why?

I lost you.

It's not your fault. I lost me too.

Will you find you?

I think so.

I hope you do...

I hope I do too.

I love you anyway.

Me too. I've loved you... forever.

xxx

Zola

After an hour of searching the property, I was about to call the police when I heard a familiar shrill voice. "Zola! Cristina! Bailey!" She called, "I found her! I found Meredith!" Of all the people looking for Meredith in the dark woods, it was April Kepner that found her.

My heart thudded with relief, untill I saw her. "Oh God."

Mom, who used to be so full of energy... so intense, was pale and limp on the ground beside Kepner.

"What happened?" I asked as I fell on my knees at her side, instantly reaching for her wrist to feel for a pulse. It was there, but everywhere. "Mom? Mom? Mommy?" I thought I could be cool and calm but my mother's pale face did not imbue any sense of confidence in me. "What's happening?" I shook her. God, she was barely breathing.

"I think she's having a heart attack!"

"Oh God!" I cried, pulling a hand to my mouth. "Mom!" This can't be happening. This wasn't supposed to happen. This wasn't in the plan!

"Zola!" Bailey and Cristina came crashing through the woods at me.

April looked sharply at Cristina. "I think she's having a heart attack. Bailey! Your sweater!"

I felt crowded as Bailey pushed beside me, throwing his jacket off and covering her with it. "Zola, Call an ambulance! Someone get some Aspirin!"

Right. Of course. Duh. I fumbled for my phone. The call to 911 was a blur. I didn't remember what I said or what they said, except I hung up after they said, "...on the way."

And then I was standing in our living room. Our living room full of doctors, as my mother lay on the couch while Cristina listened to her Person's heart with my stethoscope.

Mom just lay there, she wasn't completely unconscious, but she was unresponsive and gasping, her hand clutching at her chest, her nails tangled in the buttons of her blouse.

"Everyone back off," Bailey said to the crowd."Just give us room, please."

Someone let the paramedics in, and she was put on a stretcher, and an oxygen mask put over her mouth... and she was hooked up to all these electrodes, and then she was being carted out the door.

"Zola, come on," Cristina said.

"What?"

"She needs you... Come on!"

Numbly, I followed her out the door of our dreamhouse and into the back of the ambulance. I sat down on the bench as a paramedic administered an IV on my mother.

"She's having a Myocardial Infarction," Cristina was saying... "Nitroglycerin..." but I wasn't paying any attention to her medical mumbo jumbo. I just grabbed my mothers hand and held it while I pushed her sweaty hair out of her face.

"Please... Please be okay mom, please... we still need you."

At some point during the ride, mom blinked and shifted, and her glazed eyes looked at me.

"Mom?" I asked, squeezing her hand tighter. She squeezed back and I gasped. "Mom!" Underneath the fogged up oxygen mask I saw her lips move. Zola, she was saying. Zozo.

xxx

Ellis

It must've been the strangest sight, several doctors lining the tiny halls of a county hospital. Several, as in probably ten or eleven, as one of their own was being worked on in the trauma room.

I didn't know what to do... I thought about calling Cory... but I wanted news first. I couldn't sit. I couldn't stand, I couldn't pace. I couldn't anything. In frustration, I pounded the wall with my fist.

Ow. "OWW! FUCK!"

The entire surgical team of Grey Sloan stared at me. Crap. I probably turned the shade of a beefsteak tomato. "What the HELL are you staring at?" I asked as I clutched my wrist.

"El," Bailey said, tugging on my shoulder.

"Get off!" I pushed him away.

Why didn't I see it sooner? I should've known. I had the whole week off work... I should've noticed something...

I peered through the blinds at my mother. Cristina was there, thank the Fucking Lord. She looked a little scared though, wouldn't anybody? But she was there, barking orders at the nurses and doctors. Mom was conscious... she just seemed out of it, her head lolling side to side and her hand reaching for her chest or the mask as the doctors worked on her. There was all these machines and wires...

Was this what happened to her mom? Ellis Grey had a heart thing... So this is was what it was like huh? My world was flipping. Again.

"El?" Alex murmured behind me. I saw his reflection in the glass.

"She's gonna be okay right? She'll be okay?" I asked, staring at the window.

"Mer's a fighter. She'll be okay." He said.

"She was sleeping so much... I thought it was just her Alzheimer's." I confessed.

Alex sighed and I felt his breath on the back of my neck. "It's not your fault, okay? It's not."

"I'll try to believe you," I said as I leaned back against his chest.

"Okay," and he wrapped his arms around me.

xxx

Bailey.

Cristina came out of the room first. Her expression...hopeful?

I shot up out of my chair like a rocket. "Is she-"

Cristina held up a hand, stopping me. "She had a serious heart attack... but we're going to run some tests and see what the damage is... right now, she's out of danger."

"She's okay?"

"She's... Mer's good for now. We're monitoring her and she's not in anymore pain. She wants to see you guys."

I threw a glance at Zola behind me, and then to Ellis in front of me, and I schooled my emotions. I had to be strong for them. If they saw me calm, I'd be calm, and then mom would be calm.

"We can see her?" Ellis asked.

Cristina nodded. "For a few minutes, and then we're going to take her to Grey Sloan so we can run more tests. Hopefully, she won't need surgery."

"Surgery?" Zola squeaked.

Cristina stepped up to us and reached to bring us closer. "I just don't know at this point okay? But you have to trust me. I will do what's best for your mom. For you."

"Okay..." Zola whispered.

"Okay." I said.

"Let's go..."

The three of us followed Cristina to the now empty trauma room. Empty except for our mother, still clad in her jeans, although her blouse had been replaced by a hospital gown. The oxygen mask had been replaced by a nasal cannulae. Her eyes were closed, but when she heard us enter, she turned her head to the door and blinked up at us.

"Hey mom," I whispered, taking her cold hand.

"Hi," she said as her gaze followed Zola and Ellis who trailed in behind me. "Hi guys."

"Mom," Zola said, "We love you..."

"Yeah," my voice cracked like I was thirteen again.

"I love you too..." she whispered.

We didn't know what to say... so we all stood there awkwardly.

"I ran off, didn't I?" Mom finally said.

"Yeah... We were a little scared."

"I'm sorry," she said.

"It's okay," Zola said, and she kissed her forehead.

"I'm so tired,"

"It's okay mom," Ellis took mom's other hand, "Get some rest."

"Kay..." she said as she drifted off to sleep.

We watched her for a few more minutes... no one wanting to leave. And then I laughed, because mom started to snore. Ellis covered her mouth, trying to hide her snickering. And Zola looked like she wanted to slap us.

That's when I knew mom would be okay.

xxx

Two days later:

Meredith

"So... Doc, what's the prognosis?" I asked Cristina as she entered my room at Grey Sloan. "Please tell me I can go home... this bed is so uncomfortable."

Cristina double checked the chart. "Well, we can manage this with medication. I think that's best for now."

"I'm not dying."

"You're not dying. Your heart muscles have been weakened, but I think surgery would be riskier right now. You have good care at home, so with some diet changes and exercise, I think you'll be just fine."

"No more pizza?"

"No more pizza. Or grilled cheese."

"But Cristina, that was the plan! Death by Artery Clogging!"

"I know, I hate ruining your plans, but I'd rather have you."

"I know... me too."

"Well the Mcbrats are here... I'll go finish your discharge papers ok?"

"Okay..." I watched as she turned to leave. "Cristina!"

She stopped at the door and half turned. "Give me a hug dammit!" I demanded.

Cristina gave me that look. That I'm-your-Person-and-I-love-you-no-matter-what-but-don't ever-tell-anyone-I-hug-look.

And I won't ever tell her this, but hugging Cristina is one of the most amazing things ever. It's like being wrapped tightly in a blanket of trust. She just knows me...

A minute later, Zola knocked on the door. Cristina touched Zola on her arm before she left us alone.

Right away, I noticed something was bothering Zola. "What is it?" I asked.

"Mom...you remember what happened right? When you ran off?"

"Yeah..." I said slowly, maybe in a little while I'll forget, but right now... I remembered. The tiredness, the rain, the truck theat landed on my chest. And Derek I saw derek. He touched me. Kissed me... but it wasn't real. It was just Alzheimer's. Because if it was really him, he wouldn't leave me again. I scrunched the bedsheets under my fingers.

"Mom, I think we need to take Alex up on his offer and buy back your old house." I wanted to fight her on this... I did. I couldn't move away from the dreamhouse. I couldn't, could I?

"But what if he comes back? What if he comes home and we're not home?"

Zola glanced up at me, and I fell into her loving black eyes. I felt her warm hands wrap around my own.

"If he can't find you there, he'll know to go to your old house."

"You think so?"

"I think so."

"Okay." I said, completely trusting her. "But... Zola... I'm not selling the dreamhouse. I'm not."

"Okay," she said. "We can do that," And she squeezed my hand. "Bailey and Ellis are outside. Let's go home mom."

January 3 2037. Nanaimo.

Derek.

I lay in bed, in a cold sweat from another nightmare... when my phone beeped.

A message. From Alec Taylor?

Hey man... Remember Everett and Angie? I was telling them about you... I think you should come up to Haida Gwaii. They have something to show you...

A/N: Whew! Thanks so much for reading everyone! You can thank my manager for sending me home early from work today so I would work on this! If you have been a lurker and reading, let me know what you think!

Also... who said Mer and Der couldn't meet before 2038?

Should Old aquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind?

Should Old aquaintance be forgot and auld lane syne?

For old long since my dear, for old long since?

We'll take a cup of kindess yet for auld lane syne.

We two have run about the slope, and picked the daisies fine.

But we've wandered many a weary foot since old long since.

We two have paddled in the stream from morning sun till dine.

But seas between us have roared since auld lane syne.

For auld lane syne, my dear, for auld lane syne.

We'll take a cup of kindness yet for days of auld lane syne.

And surely you'll buy your pint cup! And surely I'll buy mine!

And we'll take a cup of kindness yet for auld lang syne.

And there's a hand my trusty friend! And give me a hand of thine!

And we'll take a right good will draught, for auld lang syne!

For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne,

We'll take a cup of kindness yet for days of auld lang syne!

For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne.

We'll take a cup of kindness yet for days of auld lang syne!