I OWN NOTHING

"What are you doing here?" Meredith asked, shocked to see Derek on her front porch.

"George called me. He told me to come over here to talk to you. Apparently you didn't know," Derek said, slightly saddened by the fact that it wasn't Meredith's idea to invite him over.

"No, I didn't," Meredith said loudly enough to make George cringe and glare at Izzie.

"Thanks Izzie," George whispered to her.

"Why don't we talk outside?" Derek said.

"Yeah."

Once outside, the two sat on her front steps.

"About what happened at the prom," Derek began.

"I made my choice already Derek."

"You did?"

"Yes."

"Well…?"

"I just want to start off by saying that none of this would have happened if you would've either A: told me about your wife or B: chosen me over your wife. Addison is a wonderful person. She's become the closest thing to a friend you can get being the dirty mistress."

"You're not the dirty mistress, " Derek said.

"Maybe not before. I certainly am it now," Meredith said.

"Meredith, I made a mistake when I chose Addison over you. I love you. I told her that I loved you, too."

"You apparently don't love me that much Derek. If you did, we wouldn't be in this situation now."

"Aren't people allowed to make mistakes? I know mine was a major mistake that affected and hurt you more than I ever wanted."

"I know Derek. I know you wouldn't want to hurt me. But you did. I told you before, when I found you, I was done. I was done looking. I thought you were the one I was meant to be with. And, as it turns out, I wasn't the only one you were meant to be with. I wasn't one ever. You chose Addison long before I came along, and you still chose her when I begged you to love me."

"Meredith, I'm not sure what you're trying to say here-"

"Did you tell her?"

"About what happened? No. I was going to wait and see what you were going to do, who you were going to choose. I'm in your place this time, Mer, and you're in mine. I'm begging you to love me. I know Finn is probably a great guy, but do you think you can truly be happy with him? Without me?"

"You didn't tell her. That's what I thought would happen, but I wasn't totally sure. I gave you more credit than you deserve. I thought that the little tiny part of you that loves me would come out and force you to tell Addison that you slept with me again. Not out of spite or revenge, but out of love. You can't. You'll never be able to say good-bye to her, will you?"

"Meredith, I don't want to cause a problem if there is no need to cause one," Derek said.

"I know you don't. But I have to. I'm going to tell Finn what happened, and I'll tell him that I choose him, if he'll still take me. I want to have a chance to love someone who will love me back the same way and want to be with me. Someone who will want to be with me so badly that they will push every obstacle aside in order to be with me. Whether it's a wife, friend, family, job, or mistake. I want better for myself, Derek. I can't keep doing this to myself. I can't love you, and have you love me but stay with her. It's not good for me. And it's not good for you. But I'm done worrying about what's good for you. It's about what's good for me now."

"What if Finn can't forgive you? What will you do then?"

"I'll have to be with just me for awhile," Meredith said, as it started to rain.

"You know something Mer? I never liked the rain until I walked through it with you," Derek said, standing up and holding his hand out to her. "Can I have one last dance?"

"You may," Meredith said, standing up, allowing him to wrap his arms around her waist. She had to force herself not to fall into him.

"I can't stand the thought of you hating me. I'd rather you feel nothing for me than hate me," Derek said, as they danced without music.

"Derek, hating you is something I don't like to do. It's too hard. And I'll always love you. And no matter how hard I try, I just can't hate you anymore."

Suddenly, Meredith felt his body start to shake. He was trying not to cry. "I will never stop loving you Meredith Grey. And as much as I could tell you that you being with Finn instead of me is a colossal mistake, you're going to do it anyway."

"Just like you did with Addison," Meredith said, allowing herself to cry a few tears.

"I just hope that you'll realize it's a mistake long before I did."

"But you're still with Addison, so it couldn't have been that big of a mistake. If it was, you'd have left her by now." Meredith stopped dancing and pulled away. "Our dance is done Derek. It's time to say good-bye."

"Good-bye Meredith." Derek walked to his car and drove off, while Meredith stood in the rain.

"You slept with him at the prom?" a voice said, startling Meredith and causing her to whip around.