Derek was sound asleep, eyes closed whirling through time and space not knowing where he was, not knowing how he got there, "come on lazy bum wake up." Derek heard the voice Ally cat he thought to himself and he said, "Ally i'll be up in a second."

"Whose Ally?"

"Who" Derek opened his eyes and saw a vision of white and a little girl standing over him with long reddish hair. Derek blinked and looked at the little girl's face, it was a face that Derek thought looked familiar to him, "who are you?"

The girl frowned, "don't you have any manners?"

"Um" Derek said rubbing his head to clear the cobwebs.

"Saying who are you when you meet someone is rude, your supposed to say my name is blah and then ask me my name."

"Okay" Derek slowly sat up, "my name is Derek, its nice to meet you miss?"

"Amber, my name is Amber."

"Amber right" Derek looked at Amber and blinked, "its rude to stare to you know" Amber said shaking her head as she extended her hand, "come on shake my hand."

"Just something is, oh."

"What's oh?"

"Ah nothing" Derek said as he shook the little girl's hand feeling amusement, "but you know calling someone lazy bum when you first meet them is bad manners to you know."

"Not if you kick them three times and they don't wake up."

"And also kicking someone three times when they're asleep or in general is also considered bad manners."

"So is snoring when you first meet them" Amber replied.

Derek chuckled, "well your a cheeky thing, i'll give you that much."

"And proud of it" Amber said with a big grin as she crossed her arms.

"So miss cheeky thing, where are we?"

Amber looked around her "I think this is heaven, it doesn't have a sign saying its heaven but i've been here a long time and its pretty so it must be heaven."

"Yeah" Derek said as he looked at the left seeing rivers, mountains merging with clouds and then he looked to the right and saw a far green field as far as the eye could see. Derek felt emotion pouring through his veins, "yeah I guess that's where we are."

"I don't get a lot of visitors, most of them are kids who play with me before they go and find their family and don't come back."

Derek felt sympathy, "isn't anyone here with you?"

Amber patted Derek's knee, "your with me silly."

"I mean is there anyone here who you can see every day?"

"Nope, just me."

"Well i'm here now and I will stay with you as long as I can."

Amber nodded, "I can't find my daddy, he went to heaven with me and mommy hasn't gone to heaven yet."

"Well why don't I help you find your dad, i'm sure he's around here."

"Thanks mister" Amber said excitedly, "um, what was your name again?"

"I'm Derek."

"Okay, oops forgetting my manners i'm Amber."

"Amber, nice to meet you."

"You've already met me" Amber said with a amused smile.

"Yeah, so why don't we look for your dad."

"Come on lets go" Amber said grabbing Derek's hand and starting to pull on it, Derek smirked and lifted Amber up with his hand as she giggled widely.

Meredith was sitting on a hospital chair in a state of shock, her finance, the man who was the the love of her life was in intensive care struggling to survive and Meredith could barely think about anything else other than Derek. Noah was sleeping in a hospital bed, unaware of what had happened to Derek. Amelia was crying in a room by herself and Meredith with her eyes closed was wishing with all her heart that Derek would live. The door opened and Meredith not even wanting to look up heard a voice, "how he is?"

Meredith looked up and saw Derek's mum Caroline standing by the entrance, "he's, I don't know, I don't know what will happen."

Derek's mum walked over to put her arm around Meredith, "what happened dear?"

"I don't know, I got a phone call that he had been shot and was in hospital and I came straight here. He went looking for our foster child, the police said he found two girls in the woods leaning over him sobbing and a man with a gun that had been knocked down. I think he tried to save their lives."

"He's always been a little hero. He once rescued my Amelia from bees when he was ten years old by taking her hand and pulling her to safety when she was scared stiff."

"He's the most amazing man i've ever known. I wish I had told him this before."

"Don't worry love, you'll be able to tell him that when he wakes up. He's going to make it."

"How can you be so sure." The moment the words came out of Meredith's mouth she deeply regretted them, she stared apologetically at Caroline who just nodded, "because he's faced many trials in his life and he's always come out better."

"And because you believe in him."

Caroline nodded, "you really do love him don't you."

Meredith let out a sob, "I have never felt this way about anyone in my life not even my ex husband."

"You can tell him this when he wakes up."

Meredith nodded and felt fresh tears coming to her eyes as Caroline whispered, "come here." Meredith cried openly as Caroline embraced her. Meredith felt emotion pouring through her, she felt she was losing the love of her life and at the same time she found herself having what she had craved for a very long time being hugged by a mother figure. It was to much to process all at once and she couldn't say a word, she just put her arms around Caroline and hugged her tight wishing that all the pain would go away and in her heart she knew her pain would only go away if and when Derek awoke.

Amber skipped along with Derek humming a tune to herself until she stopped and grinned at Derek, "I know a secret, a secret about you."

"Oh yeah what is that?"

"Its a secret you know."

"I know but I think your wanting to tell me what it is."

Amber smirked, "I know that your kissing my mommy."

"You do do you?"

"Of course I do, I can see things you know, things that you and mommy do."

"Oh really, well that's a amazing power. Almost like a superpower."

"Uh huh and I have a question."

"Sure what is it?"

"Why do you and mommy wrestle each other in the nuddy."

"Um" Derek breathed out feeling very bashful and trying to figure out for the life of him how to answer the question in a child appropriate way, "ah well that was just a uh, it was game that we were playing, your mommy and I."

"How do you play" Amber said with a curious tilt of the head.

"Ah well, its a grown up game that grownups play and kids are not old enough to play it."

Amber frowned, "why do grownups get to play it and kids don't?"

"Well um, look its a game that you only enjoy when your a grown up and that's why it is a grown up game you understand?"

"No, that makes no sense."

"Well um you'll understand when your a grownup."

"But kids don't become grownups when they're in heaven."

"Hmmm did someone tell you that?"

"Nope" Amber said shaking her head.

"Okay, why do you think that you won't become a grownup?"

"I haven't grown at all since I got here."

"Well that's because" Derek clapped his hands together, "we haven't got a measuring dinosaur here do we, so we can't measure how big your getting."

"Do you think i'm growing?"

"I've think you've grown since we've met."

"We met ten minutes ago" Amber grinned, "no one grows that fast."

"Well" Derek reciprocated the smile, "I bet if we had a measuring dinosaur we could see that you have grown half a centimetre just like that."

Amber giggled, "your funny."

"So they say when I am back on earth."

Meredith had finally stopped crying, she had gotten herself a cup of coffee and way trying to gather herself together when she heard a quiet "Meredith." Meredith turned around and Chloe walked up slowly and with deep breaths looked Meredith in the eye, "Meredith" she said today.

"Chloe" Meredith stood up in response.

"Its my fault."

"No no" Meredith dashed to close the distance between them and put a gentile hand on her arm, "its not your fault sweetie."

"It is" Chloe cried, "I texted Derek and told him where we were and he came after us. Mia was about to get shot and Derek jumped in front of her, he got shot because of me."

"Chloe it is not your fault my husband to be is such a crazy person who dives in to save the day without thinking."

"He nearly died because of me."

"No he didn't, he nearly died because that's the man he is. When he sees someone in trouble he goes running in and tries to help, that's just the man that he is."

Chloe wiped her eyes, "don't blame yourself sweetie, Derek is going to be alright."

"How do you know."

"Because I know" Meredith smiled and Chloe nodded, "sorry."

"Its alright." Chloe nodded and Meredith smiled warmly before her smile faded, "honey where is Mia?"

"At the station talking to the police."

"Right."

"I've texted her to come here when she's finished, she said that she will."

Meredith trying not to think about having to make a choice between going to the station to be with Mia or staying in hospital to be with Derek said, "how did you find Mia anyway in New York?"

"I lo jacked her, I tricked her into accepting a bracelet which was actually a pet tracker."

"Clever girl" Meredith's thumb brushed her shoulder.

"It still wasn't good enough, I should have told you this earlier you could have told her not to run away."

"Maybe you should have told me earlier but you were also not wanting to lie to your friend. You were wanting to be a good friend."

"Are you going to marry my mommy?"

"Well I want to, how do you feel about that?"

"Hmmm" Amber said as she put a finger to her chin, "well my daddy is better but your nice enough for my mommy."

"Good to know" Derek said then he saw the look on Amber's face and he bent down, "hey, hey what's the matter."

"I miss my mommy, when am I going to see her." Derek's heart started to ache and he tired to think of the right thing to say, "you'll see her someday, someday she will go to heaven to and you can see her all the time."

"My daddy isn't here, I know why."

"Why do you think that is" Derek said bending down "because he did something bad to mommy that's why he's not here."

"What did he do?"

"He had another girlfriend and that's not allowed."

"Well yeah it wasn't the right to do but" Derek took Amber's little hand in his big one, "listen we all make mistakes and we all do bad things sometimes. So what we always got to remember and focus on is the good things that we do not the bad."

"The good things?"

"That's right all the good things we do like you coming to find me when I was lost here that was a very good thing for you to do and as for your daddy i'm sure your daddy is here you just need to find him."

"How do you know Mr Derek?"

"Because nice people are here and it takes a nice daddy to raise a nice kid like yourself."

Amber gave a small smile, "you'll come back to heaven to someday won't you?"

"I hope so, I mean I know I will come back to heaven someday, me and your mom will."

"Ok but if you are going to marry mommy be nice to mommy don't kiss other ladies like daddy did."

"I won't, well" Derek grinned, "as long as your mommy is ok with it."

"Mr Derek" Amber said in a loud voice.

"Its okay" Derek chuckled, "i'm only kidding i'll play by the rules, you know you and my daughter would be good friends."

"Will she come to heaven to?"

"She will someday and you can meet her" Derek said with a grin, "she's cheeky just like you."

"Then we will be friends" Amber replied with a smirk before she looked up at Derek, "what are you looking for?"

"I'm looking for my way back to earth."

"There's a door mr Derek."

"You can see it?"

"Its over there" Amber said pointing at a light door that suddenly appeared and Derek whistled, "that's the door."

"I can't go through it because I died in a accident but you can go through."

"Yeah" Derek put his hand on his head as the little girl's words set in then he saw Amber looking down, "hey what's wrong?"

Amber took Derek's hand, "I don't want you to go."

Derek bent down to her eye level as Amber rubbed her eyes with her fingers, "i'm all alone here."

"Keep looking for your dad, he's here somewhere looking for you and you'll find him, follow your heart and you'll see him."

"Okay."

"You'll find him honey don't worry."

Amber wiped her eyes, "I think its time for me to go, handshake?"

Amber took Derek's hand in a shake, "goodbye Mr Derek."

"Bye bye Amber" Derek said with a kind smile, Amber sniffed and gave Derek a hug, "we'll see you again someday, me and your mom."

Derek patted the girl's back before he got up and walked into the door of light, he turned around waved at Amber who waved back and watched Amber turn around and cry out "daddy" and run to a man emerging into the field as Derek closed his eyes and heard the sound of beeping. Derek wearily opened his eyes and looked around a white room, "i'm home."

Meredith heard the sound of beeps, she looked up and saw nurses rushing and she looked up with dread burning in her heart, "Derek, Derek."

"Its ok" a nurse called out, "he's coming round."

Meredith breathed heavy and all the dread was replaced with relief, "i'll get out of your way" she whispered to herself before she ran into the waiting room, "he's alright, Derek's ok he's awake."

Caroline sniffled, Chloe let out a sob and smiled widely before she ran into Meredith's arms, Meredith gave her a warm gentile hug, "see he's ok."

"Mommy" Noah said coming down the hallway, "where's Derek, why is everyone crying."

"He's ok baby" Meredith said "and we're all crying happy tears."

"He's ok?"

"Derek saved me" Chloe said as she wiped her eyes, "he's a hero Noah."

Noah grinned, "I knew he was a hero."

"And you were right" Caroline said as she gave him a hug.

"Where is he mom?"

"He's resting now, he'll be awake soon and you can see him then."

A day passed and Derek waking up again waited for a long time looking at the roof thinking back to what he had experienced. He eventually heard familiar voices and he looked at the glass waiting for Meredith to come in and sure enough when the door opened it was Meredith who had come through the door with a face that showed she had been through a world of worry fear and pain and it went away as soon as she saw him.

"Derek."

"Hey honey."

"Oh Derek" Meredith dashed to her side sobbing as she put her hands on his shoulders and face on his cheek kissing it deeply.

"Hey" Derek whispered putting a big strong hand on the back of her head.

Meredith gave Derek a deep long kiss and a follow up kiss, "I thought I had lost you."

Derek wrapped his fingers around Meredith's fingers, "you can't lose me that easily."

Meredith kissed his knuckles, "I could say the same thing to you right about now."

"Well no matter what we go through, we always either end up doing it together or we always come back to each other."

"Just the way I like it. Derek what you did out there for the girls was..."

"Stupid" Derek muttered and Meredith laughed and shook her head, "heroic, amazing, incredibly amazing."

"Hey" Derek said with a bashful smile, "anyone would have done the same."

Meredith put her face down, "i'm so sorry I called you a..."

"Useless bastard?" Derek said as he smiled warmly and put his hand over Meredith's knuckles.

"That wasn't true" Meredith whispered, "your the most amazing man I have ever known."

"Well you bring out the amazing quality in me. You give me the power to be amazing."

Meredith gave a combination chuckle and sob and kissed Derek again, "I probably taste like tears."

"You taste like you and that's the taste that I like."

"Derek" Noah cried out as he came into the room and ran to the bed.

"Hey mate, whoa whoa wait wait you can't jump on me right now buddy."

"Right your sick" Noah said cautiously putting his hands out as Derek chuckled, "i'm okay little dude, hey i'm ok."

Noah nodded quickly as Derek pulled him in with his arm for a hug as Noah giggled widely. Caroline came through next followed by Chloe, "wow i'm a lucky guy, I have a big audience."

"I would you prefer you being at my funeral before I attend yours dear."

"That's a lovely image mom" Derek replied with a grin, "you alright kid?"

Chloe nodded, "thanks for saving me you know."

"Its ok."

"No its not.'

"Honey" Meredith said, "stop feeling guilty."

"It was my choice after all to come after you" Derek added.

"Mia's right you guys are nuts" Chloe muttered as she left the room. Derek chuckled with Meredith, "would it be alright if I talked to your mom for a bit?"

"Come on dear" Caroline held out her hand to Noah, "let's go and get a hot chocolate."

"Ok, bye bye" Noah waved and left as Derek looked at Meredith with a question expression, "where's?"

"The criminals that came after the girls, they ratted out Mia's parents. They're due to appear in court, the police are confident they're going to be locked away for a long time."

"That's good, how is Mia feeling?"

Meredith felt a deep pit in her stomach, "Mia's gone."

"Gone, what do you mean gone?"

"After you got shot she broke down she wouldn't stop crying, Chloe stayed with her and when she finally recovered they went to the police station. The police talked to Mia first and then they asked Chloe to come to the station, they interviewed the girls together. Mia was telling the police over and over that it was her fault, that she had committed a crime and she should be locked away forever. Chloe defended her and told them the truth, Mia was being forced to commit a crime because her family were threatening to kill us and the police had already spoken to the family inside the house they backed Chloe's claims up. Mia was seen as a real hero, then Mia took off running. Chloe ran after her and lost her, we don't know where she is now. Its been more than a day since she disappeared."

"You didn't see her at all?"

"I was here" Meredith whispered closing her eyes, "wishing you would wake up."

"Meredith" Derek said with worried eyes.

"I know Derek" Meredith's eyes welled with tears, "I should have gone to the station and talked with her, I should have made sure she didn't bolt out into nowhere, I should of known you were going to be fine."

"You didn't know though that I would pull through and i'm grateful you were here. You had a very tough decision having to choose between two people you love."

"I just wish both of you were here right now."

"Its alright, the police are still looking for her."

"I don't know if they will keep looking for her. The police will look for a small child and they were looking for Mia as long as Noah was with her, Mia on the other hand."

"Yeah, old enough to look after herself. The police won't look for her unless she commits a crime."

Meredith nodded then took a deep breath, "your right what you said before, Mia can take care of herself."

"Your starting to have more faith in her."

"She was given a choice to do the wrong thing when she was with that family, when the criminals were telling her what to do and she choose to try and get out of it. Mia is not going to go down the road of being a criminal."

"I just wish she was here so we could talk to her."

Meredith a while later came out of Derek's room and Noah seeing his mum ran over to her, "what are we doing now?"

"Well honey when Derek comes out of hospital we're all going to go home."

Noah's face quickly became a look of distraught, "we can't go home without Mia."

"Sweetheart, we don't know where Mia is and we can't find her in a place as big as New York. Mia might not even be in New York."

Noah started to cry and Meredith hugged him, "I know how you feel" Meredith looked up Chloe just stared back sobbing "but don't worry we're going to see her again someday."

Hours later Derek's eyes faded as he suddenly woke up in pain she looked in the shadow and saw someone then she felt a kiss on his forehead and the figure walking out, Derek tried to focus but his strength left after him. The very next morning Derek opened his eyes and feeling a memory coming back from last night he rolled over and he saw a card, Derek strained his arm to reach it and opened it up.

Derek Meredith

I am so glad your ok Derek

I'm leaving New York, please don't look for me. Your better off without me.

Love Mia xx

Derek read the message one more time and screwed up his eyes feeling more pain than he felt when he was shot.