Author's Note: I do not, obviously, own the characters of Grey's Anatomy.

This story begins as a replacement for the last scene of "As We Know It"

"Meredith, there's someone at the door for you."

As Meredith rounded the corner to the living room, she saw him. He was pacing, running his hands through his hair. Nervously. Brow furrowed, squinting as he focused on the patterned rug below him. He looked up at her, eyes glistening, his expression tender.

"Hey," she said softly.

"Hey." The gentleness of his tone made her heart leap.

"You almost died today."

A brief pause.

"I almost died today."

His eyes shining, he regarded her affectionately for a moment. Abruptly he turned toward the door, but stopped. He quickly turned to face her again.

"I almost lost you today, Mere."

She stood quietly, unsure of what to say. She had a lot that she wanted to say; but she had nothing. Her head was spinning. At this point, she was too tired to be angry; too tired to be sad or lonely. She was too tired to even be exhausted with this man.

"I need some time, Meredith."

"Time for what?"

"Time to make amends. Time to put my marriage to rest." He raked his fingers through his hair, pacing again, eyes downward as he made his appeal.
"I've tried—well, not really tried. I've tried to care. I've tried to be involved. I've tried to remember what it was that made what Addison and I had so special in the first place. And I can't. I can't engage myself. I can't be passionate about making what's left of our marriage work."
"I can't do this anymore. I respect my wife too much to do this. It's over."
"I need time to find a way—to find the words to tell her. That I love her, or I used to love her, or that I want to still love her but I can't. That it's over…" His voice softened as his words tapered off. He looked up at her, eyes sparkling once again. He tipped his head, slightly.

"I just wanted to see you. I had to see you, Meredith." He stepped toward her, closing the distance between them.

"Derek…"

He tenderly drew her into his embrace, treating her as precious and fragile in his arms. His hand pulled her face next to his, cheek-to-cheek, savoring the moment of closeness.

"I know that I've made so many mistakes, and have so much to make up to you…I just want to show you. I want a chance. I need to show you just how much I care about you."

She absorbed what he'd just said, and what he hadn't said. But she didn't want to analyze it now. Tears of relief had been trickling down her cheeks as she rested in his warmth. Safe. At home. She didn't die today. And he was here with her now.