Derek leaned in to Meredith…hoping she felt the same way. All he wanted to do was kiss her and hold her in his arms and promise her that everything will be ok. But when he leaned towards her, she backed away. He looked at her with pain in his eyes….questioning….wanting to know what she was thinking.

"I just….Derek……I just want to know what this means. You come here and tell me you love me and always have, but that being said doesn't change the fact that you're still married."

"Not for long. It's over….we've both known it for a long time, but after seeing Mark, it just brought all those feelings back to me, and I realized that I hadn't forgiven her. I haven't been sure for a while, but now I know….I'll never be able to forgive her. But it's not just Mark….I could never forgive her….I don't think I ever really wanted to. And that's because of you."

"…. Derek…that's ridiculous…."

"….no….it's not. Every time I see you, or make eye contact with you, or smell your hair when you walk by, or see you go into a room by yourself….all I can think of is you…..and me…..and us. There have been so many times where I've caught myself watching you….with a patient, or filling out charts….or even just talking to your friends…and laughing….your laugh gets me every single time. And that's why I could never truly forgive her….because she took that privilege away from me….the privilege to touch you and hold you and look at you whenever I want to."

By now, Meredith had tears streaming down her face, so she let Derek pull her into his arms and rest his chin in her head. "Shhhh….shhhh….it's ok Mer….calm down….shhh." Meredith finally calmed down and looked up at him. Derek's eyes were calm, but worried at the same time. His eyes searched hers, for anything….any sign that he had gotten through to her. She looked down at her lap, then looked up and kissed him. And it was quick, just like that last kiss he had explained as their last. Then she pressed her forehead to his and whispered huskily to him, "I love you."

"I love you too Meredith. I love you so much." He took her face in his hands and kissed her…deeply and passionately. They kissed for a little longer then Meredith laid her head on Derek's chest. They didn't say anything because there was nothing left to say. All they needed now was exactly what they were doing. Meredith was asleep in less than a minute as Derek lightly ran his fingers through her hair. Derek was out not even five minutes later and shortly after, George padded down the stairs. He figured that Shepherd had probably left and Meredith had fallen asleep on the couch. But as he turned the corner into the living room, he noticed a head of dark curls. He slowly and quietly peeked over the end of the couch and felt his heart break a little. There was Meredith…curled onto the chest and tangled in between the legs and arms of Derek Shepherd. Her arms stretched all the way around his back and his legs criss crossed over the top of hers with one hand tangled in her hair and the other wrapped tightly around her shoulders. They looked like a human Christmas bow and he wished more than anything that he could be there…lying with Meredith, but he knew that Derek made her happy. And although it killed him to let her go, he wanted more than anything for her to be happy. Even if it wasn't with him.

Thanks for reading again guys! Hope you enjoyed it….I'll try and update in the next day or so. And thanks for all your great reviews on the first chapter. Keep 'em comin!