Disclaimer: Grey's Anatomy kicks so much ass again. Like seriously so much ass. With all the hilarity and the Mer/Der of it all, yes, it's back to being more than a little amazing. I could only wish to own something that amazing.

I'm sorry this took such a seriously long time. Work has been crazy busy recently and half the time I'm stuck working 40+ hours every week. So writing keeps getting pushed to the side, which yes, I know, seriously sucks. But it is here now and I have today off so I hope to get some more of this up too. Hope it was worth the wait!

Enjoy!

GAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGA

She was freaking out now.

She hadn't actually said anything but her demeanor had changed, she had changed. Her hand was still resting firmly in mine but there was a desperation there now that hadn't been there before. She was clinging to my hand as we navigated through the crowded hallways of the hospital, heading toward the cardio wing. And she was definitely freaking out in complete silence. Which probably wasn't healthy for her but right now I was grateful for it.

I was too busy freaking out silently myself to be any help to her.

"She's going to be okay," Mark nodded firmly, his voice completely void of any confidence.

"Of course she is," I heard myself responding. My voice sounded strong to my own ears but with the way Meredith frowned at me and squeezed my hand tightly I was pretty sure I had come off sounding more like Mark.

"She's fine," Meredith whispered. "She's…it's been a bit and if something had happened, someone would call. Someone would have called with an update and you would know. She's fine. And I'm going to meet her. Which is big but I'm good. Entirely good and she's definitely good. Just…be positive. Which sounds silly coming from me but yep, she's good. Or will be good."

"What was that?" Mark frowned.

"That was a ramble," I smiled lightly, before pulling Meredith into a tight hug. I had no idea who the hug was for, her or me but it felt damn good to hold her close to me. "It'll be okay."

"I know," she murmured into my neck before pulling away, her hand falling into mine again.

"Where's my hug?" Mark frowned.

"You don't get a hug," I sighed.

"What? You get a cute Hallmark moment and I don't? That doesn't seem very fair," Mark shook his head.

"You'll get over it," Meredith smiled slightly.

"Derek!" a voice interrupted whatever else Meredith was about to say as a body hurled itself against mine, wrapping her arms around me tightly. I wrapped an arm around my sister, keeping my other hand exactly where it needed to be, with Meredith. "You came…you…Kath said you were…you came!"

"I came, Sam," I laughed gently, hugging my youngest sister close. "Miss me?"

"Like crazy," she sighed. "And of course you missed me."

"Insanely."

"Good," she smiled as she pulled away. "I am…I can't believe you're here. Kath said you were coming but I didn't actually believe her because it's been a year. Derek, you haven't been home in over a year…and oh god...Meredith, you must be Meredith."

"Oh umm…I must…yeah, I must be Meredith," Meredith responded quietly, her hand tightening around mine.

"Mer…this is my youngest sister Samantha. And yes, Sam, this is my girlfriend Meredith," I smiled proudly. I shouldn't be smiling. My mom was…I still had no idea how my mom was but I was introducing my Meredith to my favourite member of my family and I couldn't help but smile proudly. Because the love of my life had been willing to come for me, to be the strong one for me and I couldn't believe she was here. Even if she was squeezing my hand maybe a little too tightly.

"Meredith!" Samantha smiled, giving Meredith a quick hug. "We didn't think you were coming. Derek said something about you not doing families so we figured you just wouldn't make the trip but wow, I'm so thrilled to meet you."

"Oh…I don't. I really don't do family but well…Der was sad and he…I wanted to….breathe for him and well…" Meredith stammered.

"Meredith wouldn't let us leave the city without her," Mark cut in. "She refused to let Derek go without her and hasn't actually let go of his hand. Well except for their sickening Hallmark moments."

"Mark?" Samantha frowned. "Derek, you brought Mark?"

"He's our brother," I shrugged. I knew this was going to be an issue. Last time I had checked no one but Nancy was actually talking to Addison or Mark. And well me. I knew bringing him was probably going to cause a head ache. But he was family. He was my family. I couldn't leave him out.

"He was our brother till he slept with your wife."

"We've gotten past that, Sammy," I sighed.

"You forgave him?"

"Why?"

"He helped me end a bad marriage," I shrugged and then held up the hand that was entwined with Meredith's. "And well…this is better. Mark inadvertently made my life better."

"There was nothing inadvertent about it," Mark groaned.

"So you two are…" Sam frowned looking between us.

"They're friends," Meredith smiled. "It's…they went fishing and they go out for drinks and stuff. They're friends."

"Oh…" Sam's frowned deepened as she studies us.

"And this is all beside the point…how's Mom?"

"She's fine," Sam shrugged.

"Fine?" I demanded. "How…she…she's just fine? You're entirely okay and you're smiling and shrugging and it's just...fine, she's fine. What do you…yes, I know I sound like Meredith but how can you…Sam…"

"Derek…" Meredith's gentle voice cut through my rambling.

"No one told you guys?" Sam frowned.

"Told us what?" Mark demanded.

"It wasn't a heart attack," Sam sighed. "It was…well no one is exactly sure what is was. They're still running tests and keeping her for observation. It was severe chest pain, which I guess is bad enough but definitely not a heart attack. She's fine and she's back to being Mom."

Relief sagged through my body as I felt Meredith's hand leave mine and her arms slip around my body. I sunk against her, letting my arms go around her waist as I pulled her tight. Last time I had felt this relived I had been told she was alive, completely alive and asking for me. And she hadn't been there to hold me like this, to ground me back to reality and be everything I needed. I kissed her quickly, entirely grateful that she was here now. That she was alive and that in a few months had become strong enough to hold me when I needed her to.

"I told you…Hallmark moments," Mark sighed.

"They're always like this?" Samantha asked, as I pulled back from Meredith, but still held her close to me.

"Yes, we're always like this," I grinned.

"It's sickening," Mark sighed.

"Can we go see Mom now?" I asked, choosing to entirely ignore Mark's comment.

"Oh yeah, sorry," Samantha giggled. "Come on."

As we followed Sam, I felt Meredith squeeze my hand tighter, her eyes entirely filled with fear. I was okay now, or better so Meredith didn't have to be strong anymore. She was my Meredith again. Entirely terrified of meeting my mother.

Not that I could blame her.

I just thought telling her that would be counterproductive.

"Derek! You came home!" my mom greeted me warmly as I walked into the room, Meredith trailing close behind me. "And you brought the slutty intern."

So it seems that Mama Shep is a little bit of a bitch. And more of that will come in the next update, but really, she's not a bitch. She's just very much a Mama Bear and Derek is her only boy but yes, definitely more of that to come. This update was mainly just filler to show that Meredith did have some nerves and so did Derek about the whole meeting thing. And that Derek was terrified about his mom who is actually okay. And to set up some issues with Markie, as they're definitely not where they are now on the show (you know...gay man love).

And yes, I'll be hopefully updating later today.

Read. Love. Review.