Thanks for all of the reviews I've updated :D

I still don't know what the pairings are, but even if I did, I wouldn't say because I'm EEEVIL:D

MK

With A Little Help From My Friends

As we grow older, we learn and know less and less about ourselves. We know less and less about each other. That's why we have friends, to remind us about those parts of us we'd rather forget, and some that we want to remember. Sometimes we can use friends to help us learn.

"Well, George?"

George was in the kitchen and he turned around.

"Shepard." He must've put Madeline back in her crib.

"What can you tell me about my daughter?"

George looked into his eyes. He tried to find something that he could hate, something that was evil. He couldn't, Shepard was trying to go through with a commitment and he couldn't blame him for that. So he watched Shepard intently, and sat down at the table. Shepard followed him.

"She was born underweight, and a month later than she was supposed to. She has your hair and Mer's eyes. She's quick and never cries unless she really has to, and she never cries if Meredith is. She's bright, she's isn't talking or walking, we all think that she's been waiting for you to come, but Maddy controls everything that she does. She's always ahead of the game, she sweet and she loves everyone…is that enough Shepard?"

"Thanks George…"

George sighed tired, "It's late, you can stay in the guest room, we didn't book you a hotel room, we didn't have time."

Shepard nodded, tired, "Thanks."

"For what?"

"I know you hate me George, but…you, you're the best person and you take the high road. I admire that about you George. So thanks, for being there for Mer and Madeline…I appreciate it."

George nodded, as Shepard went up to the guest room, his room.

Derek stared at his coffee.

Izzie sat down beside him, he was about to talk when she put up a hand, "I'm in the kitchen for my coffee, not to chat."

He nodded.

Izzie sighed, he was giving her this pathetic puppy dog look, "What?"

"Nothing…"

"Shepard, just get it out damnit."

He looked at her for a second, "I loved her Izzie, but Addison…"

"What Derek?"

"A week before I left I found a pregnancy test in the trash basket. Addison was pregnant too."

"What?"

"Now do you see why I left? I had no other choices. I couldn't abandon a child…"

"But you did."

"I didn't mean to… if I'd known…you know that I'd be on the first plane back…" his voice was bitter.

"Shepard?"

"Look Izzie, you're allowed to be mad at me, I'm mad at me, but understand that I'm trying."

Izzie was quiet, "I'm trying too."

They were quiet.

"You know I always thought that you were perfect together, and that you'd have the prettiest children…and you did." She laughed sadly, "But you weren't there when she stayed up late bitching, you weren't there when she got her results, you weren't there to hold her hand, you weren't at her checkups and you didn't drive her home. You weren't there to drive her to the hospital when she went into labor and you weren't there when she gave birth. You've missed a lot Shepard, she's wanted you to come back, I can hear her sometimes wishing you would come back…but, we can't get attached that's our rule."

"Why?"

Izzie paused, trying to be sensitive, "Addison is still in New York and she isn't going to be happy to learn you have a daughter. So you have a choice. Meredith didn't want you to choose her because of Maddy, are you? What are you doing Shepard?"

"My name is Derek Izzie, I don't work at the hospital anymore, so can you all just call me Derek. I'm not going to leave, I will stay in Maddy's life until she's good and old, and I really don't care what my wife says. Especially while Meredith is in the hospital, I have to be here. So I'm not leaving, okay?"

Izzie nodded, "Okay…I believe you." She was torn in a way, and Derek didn't blame her.

"Thank you, now I'm going to visit Meredith, she's going under the knife later today. Is there anything else you want me to do?"

"Can you pick up some milk?"

Derek smiled, she hadn't asked him that for too long.

"I'd love to pick up some milk…"

Derek sauntered through the halls, catching parts of the conversations. The nurses murmured about him, and other people just made outright comments, but he didn't care. He had a woman about to go into surgery and he needed to do this.

He watched the nurses, check tubes, make sure she was okay, they would bring her out of the coma an hour before the surgery, and then she would be put under the knife.

"Well look who finally came home."

"Hmm, a voice sounds like it's coming from below, loud, bossy and sends tremors of fear down my spine…it has to be…"

Miranda Bailey, at her full height of 4 foot 9 glared at him.

"I'm glad someone's come to their senses…"

He hugged her, and she hugged him back.

"I would ask you what brings you back, but I think it's obvious…"

Derek looked back at Meredith, lying on the bed still, too still.

"How is she doing?"

Bailey was quiet, "She's going for residency soon so she better get well soon…and you better not screw her up…" more. It was left unsaid but Derek read it loud and clear.

"Are you going to scrub in?"

Bailey paused and shook her head, "I can't mix personal stuff into this you know that…"

Derek nodded, "How's William?"

"He's growing, he's smart and he's gonna start school soon…"

The Nazi softened slightly when she talked about her son, but she stopped and then looked at Derek.

"How long until the surgery?"

"They should be bringing her out soon…"

Bailey stopped, as if trying to find the words to say, "How's Addison?"

Derek was quiet.

"Derek?"

"She's fine." His mouth had pressed into a line.

"Does she know you're here."

"She knows I'm in Seattle, she doesn't know why…"

Bailey clucked her tongue slightly and shook her head, "Derek…"

"I know Miranda, I know."

"Um, Dr McD…I mean Shepard, Dr. Shepard?"

"Yes?"

"She's waking up soon, would you like to.."

"Yes, I would…"

Yes friends can help us learn, they come in many shapes and many forms. Sometimes when we're lost, they find us. When we need guidance, they give it. When we need love, they give it.