-1Wednesday Meredith woke up slowly, groggily, fighting with herself to get out of bed. She trudged downstairs to find a note from Derek on the fridge.

"Missed you this morning, but you're so cute when you're asleep…And I have an early staff breakfast. I'll make dinner today so don't worry about it. Call me when you get a chance around lunch. --D"

She plucked the note off the fridge and went back upstairs to get ready. Once she was finished she grabbed her books and a coat and took off for her day.

About fifteen hours later Meredith finally pulled back into the drive. The porch light was on, but she didn't see any others. She sighed wearily as she got her bag out of the backseat and walked up the sidewalk.

First she headed to the kitchen to eat. Sure enough Derek had left a plate for her sitting in the microwave with a note. She smiled as she pulled it off the microwave door to read it while she heated up her dinner.

"I hate these days when we only talk through texts and post its. Come give me a goodnight when you do get it. And yeah there's food in there."

First she took a shower and found some of her more comfortable pajamas. Yawning, she knocked on Derek's door before slipping in. He didn't wake though, not even when she climbed into bed and under the covers. She cuddled to his body, draping an arm over her waist as she relaxed for the first time all day. She was achy and chilly from the shower and the wet head. Derek propped his head up on his elbow, sitting up enough to talk to her. Meredith brought his hand up to her cheek as she often did. His hands were so big and her face was so delicate. She loved the way it made her feel secure. Sometimes when they kissed he would hold her face and stroke her cheek with his thumb, it made her feel like everything would be alright as long as he was there with her. After a moment she kissed the palm of his hand and intertwined their fingers as she snuggled closer, fitting her head into the triangle he was making between his arm and his head.

"How was your day?" He asked.

"Long. I'm tired. And I feel yucky."

"Aww I'm sorry. Did you eat?"

"Mhmmm. Thank you. Ugh, I'm so sleepy and exhausted, but I'm freezing. I don't wanna get out of bed."

"Go to sleep. I'll get you to your bed." Derek promised.

"Tell me about your day." Meredith requested. Derek understood that his voice was relaxing for her and talked to her, stroking her hair until she was fast asleep. He waited awhile after her breathing deepened to make sure she wasn't going to wake up.

Finally he started to doze himself so he scooped her up and tucked her into her own bed. He brushed the hair out of her face and dropped a soft kiss on her cheek. He set her alarm clock and cut off the light for her before going to bed himself.

Thursday Meredith awoke to a sore throat. When she tired to get out of bed she found all her muscles ached like after a good long run. With a groan she found some slippers and walked downstairs.

She found Derek at the counter putting away dishes. She slipped her arms around him and laid her head against his back.

"Hun you alright? I heard you coughing last night."

"I don't even remember that. My throat's sore though. I guess that explains it."

"I haven't made breakfast yet. Do you have time to eat?"

"Yeah I don't have to be anywhere for a while. I was just going to clean up some around here. If you bring your laundry down I'll get some of it done today." She said softly, pressing a kiss to his back. Derek stood still for a moment, letting her hold him. After a bit he turned around and bent down for a kiss. "Don't kiss me I might have strep." She warned with a dramatic flair and a laugh. Derek took it as a challenge. He picked her up and set her on the counter, slipping a hand into her hair, behind her neck to draw her closer.

Right then she had a coughing fit, followed by a wheezy attempt to catch her breath. "Yuck, I'm not kissing you." Derek teased, dropping a few on her cheeks and lips.

"It's not funny." Meredith said with a whine. She leaned forward to rest her head on his shoulder. "I'm still sleepy. And I have a lot of work this afternoon. And I won't be home until dinner. And I don't want to do anything. And…and…" She trailed off with a pouty look. Then laughed and hopped off the counter.

That evening when Meredith walked inside she felt even worse. She had finished the laundry and gone food shopping before work. But had been going nonstop all day long. The coughing had gotten worse. No congestion, just coughing. And wheezing.

She trudged up the steps and dropped everything in the middle of her floor and peeled her clothes off pulled on a robe wrapping it tightly around her.

After her shower she found a pair of pajamas and quickly changed into them, freezing her butt off. By the time she finished getting her pajamas on she was exhausted and aching, so she laid down on her bed, not even bothering to get underneath the comforter.

"Mer, you gonna come down for dinner?" Derek yelled up the stairs a while later. "Mer?" He yelled again. When she didn't answer he went to her bedroom and found her sacked out. He touched her arm to wake her.

"What time is it?" She asked groggily.

"Dinner time. It's downstairs waiting. Princess you look like death warmed over."

"I feel like hell. Except I'm cold." She admitted. And with that she started coughing again. Derek put a hand to her forehead to check her temperature.

"You definitely have a fever. And you sound all congested." He diagnosed as she tried to catch her breath. "Are you hungry?"

"Not really, but I should eat." She said wearily. She found a sweatshirt and Derek found her slippers, bending down to put them on for her. She gave him a smile and leaned into him for a moment.

They ate quietly in the kitchen. Derek was worried. She seemed to feel pretty crappy. And she looked horrible. After they finished he took the dishes away before Meredith could try to take them. She followed him into the kitchen, sitting Indian style of the counter as he washed the dishes. She started coughing again. After that fit she couldn't stop wheezing.

"Mer what are you supposed to do about that?" Derek asked knowing she would ignore her mild asthma as long as she could.

"Nebulizer."

"Go do it!" He ordered firmly.

"Can you get it out of the top of my closet."

"Yes m'am." He replied. He went up to her room and found the machine. He cleaned out the mouthpiece while Meredith produced the albuterol she needed to put inside it. Derek plugged it up for her and pulled the covers up around her when she climbed in bed. He took his own shower while she was doing the treatment. They finished about the same time.

"Mer, you're shaking." He said slowly as he took her hand.

"It's the albuterol. That's just what it does." She explained softly. "I'm so tired though."

"You look it." He commented with a grin eliciting a weak shove from Meredith. "Well, you still have all of our strength I see." He teased. Meredith started laughing, choking herself.

"You're being mean to me." Meredith sighed.

"Scoot over." He ordered. "I wanna see how much of what you've got I can catch."

"You don't want this. I promise. Maybe I'll feel better tomorrow."

"What do you have to do tomorrow?"

"Early class. And a meeting with one of my professors about a paper I'm writing."

"We can't go puppy shopping if you're sick!"

"I know. And I was looking forward to it, but I can't help being sick."

"Sweetie. I need to start moving into the guest house. Are you going to be okay with that?"

"I pretty much have to be don't I?"

"I just don't want you to get upset about it."

"Right now I don't care about much. Except sleep." She admitted, patting the spot on the bed beside her. Derek climbed over her legs, settling his head in her lap, not bothering to get under the comforter. She ran a hand through his hair, gently grazing his scalp with her nails. Derek sighed as Meredith reached for the remote turning on her Thursday night obsession. She tugged on his hair warningly, causing him to laugh. He found a book on her nightstand and opened it to read while she watched TV.

"Der, you're vibrating." Meredith said, giving him a gentle push.

Derek pulled his phone out of his pocket and opened it up. "Hello?" He answered. He paused for a moment before sitting up. "Slow down love, I don't understand what you're saying." He settled himself against the pillows next to Meredith as he tried to calm whoever was on the phone. He listened for a few minutes making sympathetic noises.

Finally he said, "Addie hun, you have to expect rough times here and there. It's just part of a relationship." He looked over at Meredith and offered his arm. He pulled her to him dropping a kiss on her temple. "I know we had our share of rough times, remember, but we always talked through it. At least until it just wasn't worth it anymore."

Meredith kissed his neck softly, wanting his full attention. She nibbled on his earlobe for a moment. "Der." She whispered in his ear. But Derek continued to talk to Addison. Eventually the conversation began wind down and Meredith increased her antics.

At last she heard Derek say, "Alright princess goodnight. Mmhmm, love you too."

"I thought you only called me princess." She pouted, pushing him away.

"I do. It just came out because I was thinking about you." He said with a grin. Meredith wasn't sure if she believed him, but she figured she should probably give him the benefit of the doubt. After all, he was only a guy. She bit her lip as she stared at him. He laughed bending down to kiss her.

"Believe me Meredith, you're my only little princess. I don't know if the world could take another spoiled one like you." He teased between kisses.

"You're going to get sick." Meredith warned.

"Doesn't matter. I spend so much time around you anyway." He brushed her comment off as he rolled over on his back, picking her up and setting her on his stomach. She leaned back against his legs and stretched her feet out. He turned his head a pressed a kiss to her calf, pulling at her toes as he always had.

"Der?" She asked after a quiet moment.

"Hmmm?"

"Are you sure you're over Addie?" She asked tentatively, afraid he was going to get mad.

"I am."

"Promise?"

"Cross my heart and hope to die." He said proudly. "I promise you Meri-death."

"Derek?" She asked again.

"Meredith?" He echoed.

"I love you." She said finally. Derek sat up slowly and Meredith gracefully slid off of him.

He stared at her for a moment before he tucked a stray strand behind her ear. He left his hand against her cheek and brought his forehead forward to touch hers.

"I love you too." He whispered.