Meredith was discharged the next day and was taken home by Derek himself.

In the car Meredith was listening to the radio and smiling. Every chance he got Derek would look at her. Her hair was messy from sleep and her eyes were red from crying but she was still beautiful to him. Once Meredith caught him looking at her and laughed. "I know I'm a mess but it's not polite to stare." Meredith told him trying to look stern but failed miserably.

"You are not a mess. If you are you're the most beautiful mess I have ever seen." Derek told her and reached out to brush her face with his fingers.

Meredith laughed and was glad that Izzie had Lilly for the day. Izzie was taking her shopping.

"Home sweet home." Derek stated as they pulled up to her house. Going around the car he opened the door for her and picked her up. "Derek! I can walk you know." Meredith said, but Derek ignored her and carried her upstairs to her bedroom.

Gently laying her down he started to walk out of the room.

"Where are you going?" Meredith shouted after him. "Oh did you want me to stay?" Derek asked playing dumb.

"Well, actually yes." Meredith told him. She wasn't in the mood to play around.

Derek walked back in and sat at the foot of her bed.

"Derek?"

"yes."

"What did people say when I left?" Meredith asked him.

"They, meaning me?"

"Well yes, but also everyone, Christina, George, Izzie, and even Alex?" Meredith said.

"Christina was mad. She was going to jump on the next plane to Boston if she had any idea where you were. It took her about a year to calm down. Izzie, well you would find her laughing and then saying something like, "I wish Meredith was here to see this." George was worried he would always be muttering under his breath and pacing the halls. Well Alex would always be asking the Chief questions about where you were. They were worried." Derek told her.

"What about you Derek?" Meredith asked.

"I...I was a wreck Mer. My life was a mess. You could find me every break in an exam room crying my heart out. Addison was mad at me when I stopped caring about our "Mirage." I didn't care. The only thing that made me get up in the morning was a chance that you might come back. I tried to find you about a hundred times. Once Izzie and I snuck into the Chief's office to find your file. Well, we got caught but...I missed you so much Mer. You have no idea." Derek finished with tears in his eyes.

Meredith scooted down towards him ignoring the pain in her collar bone. She took his face in her hands and kissed him silently.

He looked down at her and started crying.

Meredith was surprised by this but spent no time contemplating it.

She hugged him and kissed him once more before both of them fell asleep in each others embrace.

Derek was startled awake by someone banging through the door. His vision was obscured by blonde hair. He smile when he saw Meredith still asleep in his arms. Looking up to see who came through the door he was greeted by Lilly herself.

Putting his fingers to his lips he quietly untangled himself from the sleeping Meredith. Picking up Lilly he closed the door behind them.

"Are you and Mommy in love?" Lilly asked her blue eyes twinkling in the light.

"Auntie Iz told me about love. She said it was like a fairy tale."

Derek looked down at the little girl smiling.

"Can you keep a secret" He asked.