Secrets are the straw that can make or break the camel's back. My first grad teacher told me that. We were of course trying to find out who took Billy's model airplane, but even after we grow up we can learn that secrets are what make and break us.

"Are we telling him?"

"Well someone has too, I mean, we can't hide it."

George shook his head, "No, I'm not telling him."

Cristina rolled her eyes, "George, Mer's in a bad shape, if she doesn't make it then he needs to know…"

George kept quiet, resigned.

Izzie sighed, "Fine, but right now?"

"Not right now, we'll do it later…"

It was a lie and they all knew it. Except for one little detail, McDreamy was right behind them.

"Arrange a meet for what."

"Izzie…" George said.

"George."

"Cristina…"

Cristina rolled her eyes, "Tonight, eight be at Mer's house. No buts." She then picked up her tray and walked off, her friends following her.

Derek was there at 7:59, it was an annoying habit of his, to be at least a minute early. It appeared they were ready for him.

Izzie sat him down, awkwardly offered him something to eat or drink, which he turned down. George sat in the corner fiddling with his thumbs. Cristina appeared to be upstairs, doing what he didn't know.

Izzie cleared her throat.

"Yes?"

"Shepard…how can I say this…I can't do this, she wouldn't of wanted…"

George sighed.

"It was two years ago, a rainy day…you were close to leaving…

Flashback…

Meredith watched the rain fall down from the window. Her back and stomach had been hurting more. She saw on the toilet in her washroom, watching the raindrops fall, pretending that she wasn't in Seattle, in her washroom, but she was far far away.

"Cristina? What does it say?"

Cristina was huddled in the corner watching the plastic strip.

"You know that these aren't always accurate right?"

Meredith sighed, "It's positive isn't it…"

Cristina nodded, slightly only slightly. So slightly it was almost undetectable, but it was a nod.

"Shit."

Cristina opened her mouth and closed it, "Whose the father?"

Meredith had to think, she tapped her finger to her chin, a habit that Cristina found both endearing and unbearable.

"I was always careful with everyone…but…"

Cristina felt herself bite her lip, "Mer…oh god."

"It has to be Cristina, I mean we weren't you know…always…careful.." She blushed slightly.

Cristina slowly walked over, to stand next to her friend.

"You'll have to test it, just to be sure…"

Meredith nodded, "I've already got an appointment…"

They stayed there for the rest of the night, silent and thinking. Meredith didn't even know that she was crying.

The hospital was cold to her, it wasn't the bustling place that she worked at, but an overly sterile, cold and metal…building. She hated it.

Meredith watched as the woman took her time delivering the results… Meredith didn't open the envelope, but she walked to somewhere, a familiar place.

Her friends walked in on her in the locker room, holding the envelope, staring at it.

"You aren't going to find out by staring…" Cristina muttered.

Izzie broke the gap and sat beside her, "Mer? Are you okay?"

Meredith swallowed hard a said quietly, "Can you open it for me? I can't do it…"

"Are you sure?"

She nodded, "I've been sitting here for the last hour wondering if I really wanted to know, and I do, but I'm a chicken…" She gave a watery laugh.

Izzie nodded and slowly opened the envelope. She pulled out the sheet of paper from within and unfolded it.

"You ready."

Meredith nodded.

Izzie took in a sharp breath.

"Congrats Mer, you're going to be a mother…"

End Flashback

Derek looked at the interns.

"What are you trying to tell me, why are you telling me?"

Cristina cleared her throat, and Derek turned around.

"Shepard this is Madeline, Maddy, this is your daddy…"

The little girl had her mother's green eyes and a few of his tumbled brown curls, that fell in front of her eyes. She had her mother's full mouth and his chin, with slight dimples. She was still practically a baby, a tiny thing that Derek felt like he was crushing.

She quieted in his arms, and he rocked her slightly, holding her. She looked at him and gurgled happily.

"She's thirteen months Derek, she has to be yours…"

He nodded, "I know."

They were quiet for a moment.

"Hello Madeline, it's very nice to meet you…"

Yes secrets can be what destroy us, and secrets can slow us down with guilt. But sometimes a secret is a good thing. Sometimes a secret is something that we want, something that will make us and not break us. We're all waiting for that secret.