The next day, Meredith didn't go to work. She went to her sister's hotel room and knocked on the door. After a short wait, the door opened. Emily stood on the other side wearing a pair of jeans and a loose-fitted dark purple shirt with a long black jacket over top as well as a pair of black heel boots.

"Hey." Emily said quietly.

"Hey." Her eyes dropped to the ground as a small sigh escaped her lips.

Emily backed into her room leaving the door open for her sister to enter. Meredith followed her in and shut the door behind her. Sitting on the large king-sized bed was a suitcase partially filled with neatly folded clothes.

"Going somewhere?" She asked half jokingly.

"Yeah, I got a few loose ends I want to tie up. A calendar to finish, a couple photo shoots here and there."

Her face fell. She wasn't really expecting her to pick up and leave. "When will you be back in town?"

Sighing, Emily dropped down to the bed. "I don't know if I am, Mer."

"What? But…"

"Meredith, I can't just stay here and wait for the end. I need to get out there and… live."

"What about me? I thought we were going to spend some time together."

"Mer, you have to understand…"

"No, I get it. You're going to run away, like you always do." She nearly yelled.

"It's not like that." She snapped. "I don't want to sit around Seattle and do nothing wasting away and waiting for life to end. I'm dying Meredith, not dead, so I'm not going to pretend to be."

"You can stay here with me. We can do everything we wanted to like… steal mom's car and drive to Atlantic City with our boyfriends."

Emily laughed loudly fondly remembering that weekend they had planned to do that, but never got the chance to because their mom came home early. "That was a long time ago, Mer."

"We'll do something. I don't want you to go." She felt like she was young again begging her not to run away. "If you go, it'll be exactly like always."

"Don't worry, I'll come back and visit." She gave her a reassuring smile. Tears filled her eyes. When Emily noticed, she pulled her into a long hug. "I promise."

"When do you leave?" She whispered after a long silence.

"Today at four."

"Want to go get some lunch?"

"Yeah, I'd like that, Sis."

Wiping her eyes, she smiled. "I'll meet you downstairs."

"I'll be right there."

--

Lunch had been full of reminiscing and laughter as if in a few hours, Emily wouldn't be leaving. They sat across from each other laughing over memories of their mother or their childish pranks. They sat there for two hours after they finished eating. Finally, they stood up and went back to the car. A weighing silence hung between them after they got in the car. Meredith pulled in the parking lot of the parking lot and waited for her to get out. Neither of them moved though. They sat in silence for a few more moments.

"I'm going to miss you." Emily said quietly.

"I'll miss you too." Meredith admitted. "But you'll be back?"

"Yeah. After I finish this calendar, I'll come visit."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

"I'll hold you to that."

"I wouldn't expect anything less from you."

Meredith opened the door first and stood behind the car. Emily walked over as well and engulfed her in a hung. "I love you, Em."

"I love you too, Kid."