Chapter 9

Derek checked his watch for the millionth time as he threw the newspaper that he was reading onto the table in frustration. It was 5:30 and Meredith still hadn't made an appearance. Derek ordered his 2nd coffee and decided to wait a little longer. He sighed as he stared at the empty coffee cup the sat on the table.

She's not coming, a little voice in his head said.

She will come, another voice said.

Why should she come? All you've done is hurt her! the other voice replied.

She will come. She's got to.

Derek's thoughts were interrupted as the waitress asked, "an espresso?"

"Uh, yeah," Derek replied, accepting the coffee that the waitress placed on the table.

She's not coming.

"Scalpel," asked Addison, as she performed surgery on a pregnant woman's twins. She looked up at Matthew, who was assisting her in the procedure. She wished that someone else could have assisted her because his presence kept distracting her. They had been in the OR for three hours and Addison just wanted to get out of there. Her eyes kept scanning Matthew's masculine and toned body.

This is freaking ridiculous, she thought to herself.

She is so checking me out, Matthew thought, laughing to himself.

Well, i might as well go in since I'm here, thought Meredith as she parked her car outside the Café Montego. The Café Montego was a quaint little café, which was just outside the heart of the city. Meredith took in her surroundings as she cautiously walked into the café. It wasn't deserted but there were only a few people there. She scanned the café, searching for a sign of Derek.

He's not here. Oh well.

Just as she turned to leave, she spotted him out of the corner of her eye. She turned around slowly and walked over to his table.

Oh my god. She turned up! thought Derek, as he watched her walk over to his table. She placed her bag on the floor and sat down, her sandy blonde hair tied neatly in a ponytail.

"You came,"

"I did. I didn't intend to though. I was just driving around and i found myself here," Meredith replied.

"Why don't you order something?" Derek said, flagging down a waitress.

"Uh, okay. I'll just have a mocha latte, thanks," Meredith told the waitress.

"I'm glad you came,"

"Yeah, well, what did you want to tell me," Meredith said, getting straight to the point. Derek sighed. This was his only chance to explain everything and he knew he better not blow it.

Addison and Matthew walked out of the OR, happy that the surgery was successful.

"I'm glad we were successful," Addison said, reached out for the tap. However, Matthew reached out for the same tap, their hands brushing quickly.

"Sorry," apologised Matthew, turning to use the next tap.

"Its alright," sighed Addison, cleaning her hands. They finished washing up and walked out of the room.

"You know, Add… I mean Doctor Montgomery, that was a good surgery," Matthew said, his husky voice driving Addison mad.

Stop talking! Or i am going to do something i am seriously going to regret, said a voice in Addison's head.

"Don't you think?" he asked, tugging lightly on her hand. Addison looked down the deserted hallway, hoping to find a distraction. But to her dismay, there was none. She turned her attention to his hand lightly grasping her arm, before bringing her eyes to his. Suddenly she kissed him passionately, wrapping her arms around his neck and dragging him into an on-call room.

"I came here for a purpose. Not to visit family or anything. I came to see you and tell you how i feel. Ever since you left i felt as if a part of me was missing and everyday i found myself coming into the hospital, hoping you had returned. It was then i realised that i needed you in my life. You weren't a fling, Meredith. You weren't revenge. I fell in love with you and i still am. I know i made the mistake of my life by choosing Addison, but you have to understand that i did that under obligation. An obligation i am no longer obliged to. I divorced Addison just before i came out here. I divorced her because i realised i could no longer go on living a lie. I love you, Meredith. Not Addison, not anyone else. You are the one i want, need and love. Please Meredith, don't walk away from here without thinking about what i have just said. Please come back to Seattle with me,"

Meredith looked at Derek, stunned at what he had just said. He divorced Addison? He loved and still loves me? Oh my god. Suddenly common sense plummeted into her world.

"I can't Derek. I live here, in New York,"

"But your home is in Seattle. With me, with your friends, Izzie, George, Christina and even Alex,"

This is just too much. I must get out of here!

"I'm sorry, this is just too much," said Meredith getting out of her seat, grabbing her bag on the way out.

"Meredith wait! Before you leave, just answer me one question,"

"What?" Meredith asked, turning around.

"Why did you leave Seattle?"

Meredith stopped before replying," I don't have to tell you anything,"

With that, she turned and walked out the door. Derek ran after her, into the cold darkness outside.

"WHY DID YOU LEAVE," yelled Derek, finally catching up to her.

"BECAUSE!" she yelled back.

"BECAUSE WHY!" Derek asked, grabbing her wrists.

"Because, everything was getting too hard, "she replied, softening, " I couldn't deal with you and Addison being a happy couple , the George thing made me the talk of the hospital again and my father… just waltzed into my life again. I thought going away would be the easiest solution. I didn't think anyone would care. I didn't think you'd care,"

"Of course i cared! Meredith i loved you and still do. I went to the airport to catch you and tell you that, i came all the way to New York just to tell you that. If the chief hadn't told me…"

"The CHIEF TOLD YOU?" Meredith exclaimed.

"If the chief hadn't told me, you would have left; i wouldn't know where you were or what happened to you. I would learn that a few years from now that you are happily engaged to some jack ass and we would meet again at some crappy conference and you would say how happy you were. I'd lie and say that Addi and i were happy together but really i would be dying inside cause I'd be thinking that the asshole you would be with didn't deserve you because i still want you because I'm still in love with you . I'd probably have a kid, out of dumb, meaningless sex, which i had while dreaming of making love to you instead of Addison. Then our partners and we would meet playing happy families, and you would find out that Burke got chief and that i'm an alcoholic since you left,"

Suddenly he noticed that tears were falling down Meredith face.

"I did want to tell you Derek! But i couldn't! I just couldn't! You know i am no good at goodbyes!"

"You don't have to say goodbye now. We're here in New York, together. We can make this work. You can come home,"

Derek couldn't ignore his feelings for Meredith any longer. He wanted to cure her pain. He slowly raised her head with his hand so that she was looking in his eyes. Slowly, he brought his lips to hers.

Thanks for all of your awesome reviews! They were greatly appreciated. I hope you liked this chapter! Please review if you want more because i am just getting started!