"That's the last box," Derek called as he dropped the box onto the floor by the front door. Standing upright he twisted his upper body back and forth several times before stretching his spine upwards.

"Great!" He heard Meredith's voice call from upstairs, where she was putting sheets on their new bed. They had gone furniture shopping on Friday evening before heading out to the trailer, and they had been lucky to have it delivered that morning. And Ron had been nice enough to meet the delivery truck, as they were both at work. It allowed them to move in right away.

Derek made his way towards the kitchen, thirsty after his ordeal of moving the majority of boxes up from the parking garage. He smiled as he glanced at the open space beside him. They had found a couch and love seat set, but that was all, and the normally large furniture pieces appeared relatively small in the empty living room. He stepped around the half wall into the kitchen, and made his way to the sink before reaching upwards and pulling a glass down from the cupboard above. He made a mental note to add dishes to their list. Meredith had left most of the dishes from her house, as they were mainly her mother's, and she was bound and determined to leave as much Ellis-infected things behind as possible. Derek had packed his trailer dishes, but they numbered very little, and would probably be taken back to the trailer once they were settled and had a chance to go shopping.

He drained the glass and placed it in the sink before turning and heading for the stairs, quickly taking the steps two at a time, he reached the landing and made his way through the door, smiling softly at the sight of Meredith smoothing out the brand new bright and shiny sheets on their brand new bright and shiny bed. Life was finally coming together, and bright and shiny seemed to actually be on the horizon. He made his way across the room and collapsed onto the bed.

"Hey!" Meredith exclaimed, taking a light swipe at him. "It was just about perfect!"

Derek laughed and sat up, quickly grabbing a loose hold on her, and pulled her back down with him. She didn't resist and settled easily in his arms, her head resting comfortably on his shoulder. "Trust me," he said. "It is perfect."

"Mmm," Meredith mumbled her agreement. "Perfect," she whispered. Then she yawned.

Derek yawned in response. They had finished packing up her room the night before and had managed to add most of the boxes and suitcases to the stuff they had packed up from the trailer that was already in the cars, before Izzy, George or Alex had gotten home from the hospital. Then they had spent most of the night saying goodbye to the house, just as they had the night before to the trailer. After a long day at work, it was already dark when they had pulled into their assigned parking spaces in the underground garage. And it had taken a little more than an hour to unload the vehicles.

It had been an exceedingly busy day at work; wet weather resulted in slippery roads, which led to an excess of minor accident victims requiring attention. Meredith had not had a chance to talk to her friends. Cristina was on call tonight, and was under strict orders not to mention anything to Izzy, George or Alex. And of course, Meredith's now former roommates, unaware of the 'former' part of their titles, would just assume she and Derek had gone out to the trailer.

Meredith yawned against his chest and shifted slightly, relaxing against him when she found a more comfortable position. Derek ran his hand up and down her back, smiling as his finger tips brushed against the thin chain around her neck; the one that she still refused to take off. Addison had always craved and 'requested' rare and expensive pieces that she only wore once or twice a year, and otherwise sat unused in a fancy wood and velvet box. And when she would wear them, she'd bring them to his attention and ask him if he remembered it. Somehow she could keep straight which piece had been for which holiday which year, but he couldn't. She had picked them all out, and he rarely got to see them anyway.

With Meredith, he knew neither one of them would ever forget the necklace currently fastened securely around her neck. Meredith definitely wasn't the flashy-jewellery-wearing woman, which he had come to accept as general to women during his marriage. Meredith was the low key cherish-and-wear-it all the time type. And he loved it. Every time his eyes caught a glimpse of the pendant, or his fingers ran over the chain as they had just done so, he was reminded of how much he loved the woman in his arms. He was reminded of how special she was, and it only served to reinforce just how important it was for him to spend not one day less than the rest of his life with her. He knew without a doubt in his mind that he would love her forever. And he was determined to make her trust him again, fully and absolutely. He would make her realize families could be good things. He would make her happy. There wasn't a doubt in his mind.

"I love you," he whispered.

She sighed happily against him. "I love you, too." She lifted her chin off his chest and smiled at him.

He smiled back, enjoying the happy sparkle in her eyes. It was rare, but he was gradually seeing more and more glimpses of it.

"You happy?" He questioned.

Her smile widened and she nodded. "I don't think I've ever been as happy as I am right now."

The utter vulnerability and honesty in her words caused tears to spring to his eyes. "Me too," he choked out.

"Oh, Derek," she said gently, her hand coming to rest on his cheek.

"I'm okay," he told her through blurry eyes. "I'm just amazed that we're here, that we're doing this." He smiled softly at her. "You're amazing."

Meredith smiled warmly at him, her hand running from his cheek, up into his hair as she pulled herself upwards along his body, pausing with her lips resting just millimetres above his. "You're not so bad yourself," she whispered, closing the space between them and kissing him deeply. He smiled into her mouth as he responded eagerly. After saying goodbye to two houses, it was time to say hello.

oooo

Meredith hesitated at the edge of the cafeteria, her fingers tightly gripping the tray as she spied on Izzy, George and Alex from a distance. She had hoped to grab a quick lunch without bumping into them, but of course her plans had been thwarted when she found the three of them just starting their lunch. She couldn't avoid them forever. She took a deep breath. It was now or never.

"Hey Mer," Izzy greeted her as she set down her tray across from the blonde. George and Alex chimed in their own greetings from either side of her.

"Hey," she responded, falling silent as she lost her nerve and found herself without any inspiration as to what to say. The mood at the table seemed quiet and strained, which didn't surprise Meredith. Things were still a little awkward between her and Alex after catching him with her sister earlier that week, and it was no secret he was still pinning over Ava. And Meredith didn't have to glance around the cafeteria to know that a significant number of its occupants were staring at their table. As much as it made her relieved to know that for once they weren't staring because of her, she was sorry for Izzy and George and the new line of talk they had inadvertently instilled in the hospital gossip line.

"How's it going?" She asked as a general question to the table, trying to assess the overall mood more accurately.

Alex made a noncommittal sound somewhere between a snort and a grunt and went back to his lunch. Her favourite intern sighed and offered her a tired smile. Izzy rolled her eyes and even laughed a little at the inability of the men at the table to verbally express themselves.

"It's going," she answered. "Letting the talk run its course..." She shrugged and motioned discreetly to the room of hospital staff not so discreetly staring their direction.

Meredith nodded. "Yeah, there's not much else you can do. I know the feeling."

Izzy snorted. "I know. You're like the expert."

George laughed and nodded his agreement. "Yeah, Mer, we really don't have anything to worry about for long," he said motioning to himself and Izzy, "It shouldn't be long before you do something that will take the spot light off us."

"Crap," Meredith muttered to herself, realizing just how right George was. She hadn't even considered the reaction of the Seattle Grace Gossip Line to her and Derek's newly shared address. Not that it would have changed her decision, but she would have had some warning.

Izzy immediately picked up on her mood change. "What?"

Meredith sighed. "I think George was right."

She laughed. "That you'll do something to take the heat off us?"

Meredith nodded.

"Well, if you could do it soon, we'd really appreciate it..." Izzy started jokingly, but trailed off as she recognized something in Meredith's expression. She leaned over the table conspiratorially, as if the extra few inches would give them privacy. And it attracted George's full attention. "You already did something, didn't you? Spill," she demanded, and her strong word caught Alex's attention. Meredith now had the full attention of her three roommates... former roommates. If it wasn't now or never before, it certainly was now.

She took a breath, and copied Izzy's move by leaning in as well. The blonde grinned broadly at the prospect of new gossip. Meredith paused and closed her eyes. "Derek and I decided to move in together," she blurted out.

Silence reigned the table for several seconds, only to be broken by a squeal from Izzy. "You what!" Izzy exclaimed.

"Shhh!" Meredith hissed, glancing towards the surrounding tables in an attempt to ascertain whether Izzy had attracted too much new attention. She sighed and shook her head as she was quickly reminded that their table was the center-point of the gossip line anyway.

"You're moving in together?" Izzy hissed.

Meredith rolled her eyes, but nodded.

"That's so exciting!"

"Shhh," Meredith repeated. "I'd like this to stay a secret for more than twenty-four hours, please."

Izzy nodded emphatically, her eyes still wide. "This is so exciting," she repeated. "When did you decide to move in? Where are you going to live? Are you going to live at the trailer? Cause it may sound romantic, but I've lived in a trailer, and let me tell you, not a lot of room..."

Meredith smiled at her friend's infectious enthusiasm. "Did you stop to breath?"

George raised an eyebrow in amusement and shook his head.

Izzy rolled her eyes. "Seriously, Meredith. Spill. When did this happen? How did this happen?"

"What do you mean how did this happen? You don't have to sound so surprised. I am capable of having a long term relationship."

Alex snorted before Izzy could respond, causing both women to glare at him. "Sorry Mer, but you don't exactly have the best track record."

Meredith narrowed her eyes as she surveyed him. He evenly met her gaze. After several seconds she sighed and gently rolled her eyes. "Fine. I'll give you that. But I'm working on changing that."

"Good luck," Alex muttered. To the untrained ear he was cold and sarcastic, but Meredith knew better.

"Thanks, Alex," she told him, appreciative of his quiet support. Alex didn't respond, simply shrugged his shoulders, but it made Meredith smile.

"Focus Meredith. I need details." Izzy commanded.

"Derek and I decided to live together."

The blonds scoffed. "Yes, you've said that. When did you decide?"

"Last week."

"Last week! And you're only telling me know! Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"I didn't realize Meredith and Derek and you were a couple," Alex spoke up.

"Shut up, Alex," Izzy muttered, waving a hand at her roommate. She turned her attention back to Meredith. "Have you found a place yet? Have you started looking? When are you moving? Does this mean you're moving out?" She paused. "That was stupid. Of course it means you're moving out. How soon are you moving?"

All possible comments about Izzy's lack of oxygen flew out of Meredith's mind at her friend's last question. She bit her lip and stayed silent as she struggled to come up with an appropriate response.

"What?" Izzy prompted.

Meredith hesitated briefly. "Well, I kind of already did..." She trailed off at Izzy's incredulous expression.

"When?"

"Last night," Meredith said meekly. "Look," she spoke up before Izzy could cut her off with more questions. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you before I moved out, but it happened really fast. We only decided to move in together last week, and then we found the apartment right away, and we signed the lease and took possession yesterday morning. So we packed up and moved in after work last night..."

"You already moved out?" Izzy asked. "Then how are we going to have a goodbye party?"

Meredith snorted before she could help herself. "Sorry, Iz. I guess it's too late for that," she joked, silently hoping Izzy would just let it go. The last thing she wanted was a party thrown for her by Izzy. The last one she had attended hadn't ended so well for her. Being caught naked with her Attending in the back seat of his car by her resident... not exactly her proudest memory. And the odds of drinking too much alcohol as a method of surviving an Izzy-thrown party, and somehow ending up back in Derek's car... well, it wasn't an impossibility.

"Can I have your room?" George spoke up, quietly accomplishing two tasks: saving Meredith from Izzy's party planning and putting first dibs on the room.

"Nope. I'm calling it," Alex spoke up quickly, his hand flying up. "I get her room. You can have your old room back," he told George.

"You can't just call it," George shot back. "I asked first, and she likes me more."

Alex shrugged. "Maybe so, but I still called it. There are rules, man."

"No there aren't. It's her choice. And I asked first," he said, glancing pointedly at Meredith. "I need somewhere to sleep that's not a sleeping bag on the floor of Izzy's room."

Alex scoffed. "You can have your old room back when I move into Meredith's room."

"Boys!" Izzy exclaimed. "Stop arguing. It's Meredith's choice, and obviously she's going to choose me." She looked expectantly at Meredith.

"Oh, well, about that..." Meredith trailed off. "I kind of already gave it away."

"What? To who?"

Meredith flinched. "Cristina."

"What! You're leaving me alone with George, Alex and Cristina!?"

"Yeah, that's a kick in the ass for you," Alex said, smirking.

"Alex, shut up!" Izzy hissed at him. She turned to Meredith. "Come on, Mer. If you're going to make me live with these crazy people, you need to at least give me the good room."

"Sorry, Iz. I already promised it to Cristina. You can bring it up with her."

Izzy paused and pursed her lips in thought. She shrugged. "I could take her."

AN: So, things are starting to look up. It seems that I won't be joining the DD club with Cristina and George any time soon. Yay for that... Anyway, hopefully I will be able to update a little more regularly now.