Disclaimer: Shonda is my hero . . .so I really don't want her to sue me.

This chapter is more about Meredith and her friends than it is about Meredith and Derek, but they'll be in there. They always are.

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Meredith's POV:

I sat in the car in silence, wondering exactly my home was now, and listening to Derek ramble on. He was nervous. So was I.

"Izzie moved on from the Denny thing, and started back at the hospital 6 months after you left. Her and Alex keep being on again, off again, right now they're off. George hasn't changed a bit, he's going to follow in Burke's footsteps. Cristina and Burke are still Cristina and Burke. He wants to get married, but every time he mentions it she changes the subject. Addison and Mark got married last year. Addison and I divorced shortly after you left. Bailey had another child, a daughter. And now, well the Chief, he never named who should follow him so I might just let Burke have it."

I looked at Derek. I had known him for about a year before I left, I had seen him angry, sad, happy, loving and all emotions in between. It occurred to me now I had never seen him really nervous. As I had never seen him say this much at once.

Derek continued rambling, until we pulled into the driveway of the home that I had left to my friends. We both looked at the house in silence. "I'm nervous, Derek. Scared."

"I know," Derek said reaching over and grabbing my hand. It felt good having someone to hold my hand again. "I can come in with you if you want."

"I'd like that Derek, thanks." I said, attempting my brightest smile at him. It felt like it failed somewhere around the edges.

I followed him into the house, where he gently knocked on the door and I allowed himself in. I felt my heart beat pick up, I shouldn't be this scared to see them again, but I was.

"Everyone, you'll never guess who I found sneaking around the back of the crowd!" Derek called out.

Before I had time to think they were all rushing into the entry way, and pulling my damp body into their arms, exclaiming how good it was to see me again, how happy they were that I had come home.

"Oh my god, Mer, I had no idea you were coming. You didn't say anything," George exclaimed, beaming at his old friend.

"It is so good to see you again. God, I've missed you," Izzie said gushing.

"Good to have you back Grey," Alex said.

"So now you come back? Somebody had to die. Talk about melodramatic," Cristina said, sounding cynical but looking happy.

Then the questions started … how I was, how was work, how was life, was I home to stay. It was overwhelming. I just wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear. As happy as I was to see them, I wasn't ready to share everything quite yet.

I felt a hand press against my back. Warmth seared through my body and that hole stopped looking so appealing. "Guys, she just got in. Give her room to breath," Derek said with a laugh, standing close to me. After all our time apart, he still completely understood how I felt. I smiled up to thank him as my phone rang in my pocket. I answered it and quickly hung up again.

"I have to go. I have to get to the hospital." I said in a rushed voice.

"Mer? Are you okay? Is it your mom?" Derek said looking concerned. I knew he had continued to by my mother's doctor after I had left town, and it touched me he was worried.

"No, it's not my mom." I said, taking a deep breath, about to admit to something I wasn't sure anyone was ready to hear. "It's my daughter."

Take me to a world that's filled with happy people

Take me to a land where the poor men are the rich ones

Where there are smiling faces and the lonely ain't alone

Take me to that peaceful place that I can call Home

Derek's POV:

Daughter. The word echoed in my head. Daughter. His Meredith had a daughter. She had moved on, with someone. Moved on enough to have a daughter. Daughter.

"Derek?" she asked reaching out and touching my arm. I pulled it away, not even aware that I had done it. I was just so floored by her admission.

"Right, well, right," I responded, assuming it was best to deal with the situation at hand. "My car is parked closest to the road, and I guess yours is still at the cemetery, so I'll drive. Yeah, I'll drive." Everyone looked at me worried at my response. I was worried at my response. Cool, calm Derek was cracking.

"Thanks, thanks so much. It shouldn't be too serious. She fell down the stairs. The babysitter thinks her arm may be broken, and she's worried she bumped her head pretty hard." Meredith said, tears forming in her eyes.

Izzie came up and gave her a hug. "Don't worry, Mer. She'll be fine. And call us as soon as you know anything."

"Will do," Meredith said, grabbing onto my arm. I didn't pull away this time, she needed my strength. And although she had a daughter, it felt good having her need me again.

We headed out the door and towards my car. "Mer, please try to stay calm. I'll look at her head if you want, she can have the best brain surgeon in the area examining her."

Meredith just tearfully nodded her head, holding onto my hand and staring forward.

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