Chapter 16: Reunited

Early that evening, Meredith got the call that she had been waiting for, there had been a cancellation on the 10 o' clock flight to Los Angeles. Meredith quickly packed the last of her stuff, and Alex and Izzie drove her to the airport. On the way, she called Cristina to say bye, but she was still stuck in surgery. There would be no way that she would be out before she boarded her plane. Once, she got to the airport, she picked up her ticket, and checked in, she still had an hour until her plane boarded. She spent 30 minutes saying bye to Alex and Izzie, which was one of the hardest things she had to do. As soon as she stepped through security, her flight was called, Meredith walked every quickly to the gate. Once boarded, she realized that she hadn't called Mr. Shepherd. She got out her cell, and found his number in the phonebook, she hit the dial button.

Back in LA, it was 1 am, when his cell phone rang, he quickly answered it.

"Derek Shepherd"

"Derek..." Mer says, feeling like the breath had been sucked out of her, it couldn't be.

"Meredith." Derek said gently, he could hear the surprise in her voice, he wanted to say more, but he knew that she'd freak out, so he kept quiet, but could feel his heart skipping a beat as he heard her voice on the phone.

"Look, I got the red eye out. Get your secretary to call me in the morning with details for lunch." Meredith says, reverting to her professionalism.

"Mer..."

"Don't" she said harshly before putting the phone down and switching it off. Meredith sat back in her seat and closed her eyes. She felt a wave of panic overcome her. She wanted to get off that plane and run, but she knew that she couldn't. This wasn't about her; it was about her client. She could do this, she got all the contracts out of her briefcase, and started working on her paperwork, still having a bit to do. She knew that has soon as she got to her hotel, she would need to phone the LA office to tell them she had arrived and try and get ahold of Serena. She spent the first hour of her flight catching up on her paperwork, before deciding to try and get some sleep. She knew that she wouldn't be catching much sleep in the morning.

Derek had put the phone down, he felt his heart leap, he knew that he needed sleep, but all he wanted was to see her. He was half tempted to go to the airport and meet her there. He didn't want to wait till lunch, but he also didn't want to scare her, he was hoping that she still felt the same way that he does, he didn't even want to consider the idea that she didn't. He decided to get up and try and focus on some work, he knew that he wouldn't go back to sleep now.

Mer's plane landed at 8 o clock California time; she had never been to Los Angeles before. She got through customs quickly and once into the terminal, she didn't notice the raven-haired man watching her, she took his breath away, she was even more beautiful than he remembers. Meredith could feel someone's eyes on her. She knew who it was, the way her heart fluttered without turning around. Meredith contemplated running, but she knew that it was best to do this now. She turned and looked straight at him, her green meeting his blue. He had missed those eyes so much, the green orbs that look straight into his soul, he couldn't read the expression of her face, but he couldn't help but walk towards her. Meredith froze as Derek approached her. He looked more gorgeous than she remembered. She couldn't help but think how his hands had felt roaming over her body, over her naked skin. It was the memories flooding to the surface, which she had long since buried, only being remembered in her dreams. His blue eyes that could see into her very soul, the eyes that she had missed so much. Before she knew it Derek was stood in front of her, his hand running through her hair. As she reached up and touched his face, he smiled at her and tilted his head, the way that always sent her weak at the knees. The mcdreamy ay has Cristina used to call it.

"Hey." he said, his eyes searching hers, all they could see in each other's eyes was the love they felt for each other, even more so after twelve years of being apart.

"Hey." she replied. Derek's lips crashed on her, she parted her lips, giving him entry, she pulled him close to her, completely forgetting that they are in a crowded airport. All she can think of in that moment is Derek is kissing her. She lets herself go and enjoy the moment of being kissed with so much love. She hadn't been kissed like that since that last morning. Derek pulls away breathlessly, keeping her close to him, afraid to let her go, he hugs her so tightly that Mer knows how much he has missed her.

"I missed you so much Mer." she can feel her heart racing when he calls her Mer. No one has called her that in such a long time. "I'm sorry I probably shouldn't have come, but I couldn't wait to see you until lunchtime." Derek said gently, stroking her cheek with his thumb, trying to hide the despair in his voice that she might want to run. Derek touching her leaves her routed to the spot, she couldn't run. She has missed his touch so much.

"I'm glad you did, it will make it easier to talk business later" she said, trying to remember exactly why she was here, she could see Derek heart sink, but she shook it off.

"Let me drive you to the hotel, Meredith. I promise I will just drop you off and that's it."

"I don't know, Derek."

"Please Meredith?"

"I can't do this."

"Meredith, you don't even have to talk. It will cost you a fortune to get to Hollywood from here."

"Okay, but no talking"

"Thank you" Derek takes her hand, sending a jolt of electricity shooting up her arm. Meredith quickly pulls her hand away, and Derek is disappointed but not surprised. Derek leads Meredith over to his Lexus, putting her bag in the back. Meredith climbs into the passenger seat, and Derek drives off. Neither of them says anything during the hour it takes them to get to Hollywood, hitting the rush hour traffic. Derek pulls up to Hollywood and Highland, and parks outside the Renaissance Hotel. The valet takes his car, and Derek escorts her inside the hotel and into the lobby. Once Meredith is checked in, they say bye, and Derek offer to pick her up later for lunch, but she tells him she will get a cab. Derek kisses her on the forehead and grabs his arms around her, Meredith rests her head on his shoulder, neither of them wants to leave each other, scared of losing that warmth. Derek pulls away from her painfully, saying bye. Derek quickly leaves the hotel even though he doesn't want to. He looks back and still see Meredith standing in the same spot, throws her a smile, and she smiles.