Disclaimer: I don't own GA in any way… Seriously!

Chapter 20: Louder Than Words

VO: People use words to express their emotions. But what if you couldn't speak? How would you express yourself? I personally think talking is the best way to communicate; it's far most, the only way I know.

It has been a week since Christmas. Sara was ready to go to school again and Adrienne still hadn't said a word. Derek was getting concerned, but Meredith still had hope…

"Mum, are you coming? I don't want to be late, again." Sara screamed towards the stairs.

"Yeah Mere" Derek said with a smirk.

"I'm coming." Meredith ran down the stairs. "Where is Adrienne?"

Adrienne appeared from behind Derek.

"Okay, then we can go"

They were all bringing Sara to school because Meredith and Derek went straight to work and Adrienne would be picked up by Emily at the hospital to do something fun.

Twenty minutes later, Meredith and Derek were waving at Adrienne as she walked away with Emily.

"Well, time for the eight hour shift I guess." Meredith turned.

"I guess" Derek turned and followed Meredith to the elevator.

"At least I don't have interns today" Meredith said as the doors of the elevator closed. Meredith and Derek were alone. So she wrapped her arms around him and kissed him on his mouth.

"Wow, kissing in elevators, haven't done that in a long time" He said as the kiss broke apart.

"Uhuh"

"I love you"

"Love you too"

"See you at lunch?" Derek said as the elevator doors opened.

"See you at lunch" They both went their separate ways.

It was lunch time and Meredith was happy that se could finally relax for a few minutes. She saw Derek already sitting at the cafeteria, waiting for her. She sat down across him.

"Hey"

"Hey, any good patients today?" Derek asked.

"Not really"

"Yeah, me neither, I guess I can pick up Sara from school"

"Good" Meredith smiled. "I'm glad Emily could take Adrienne for the day"

"Yes, it's good for Adrienne. I hope she starts talking soon."

"Yeah" Meredith was deep in her thoughts. "Some day she has to go to school."

"Yes" Derek sighed. "But she can't go like this, I mean, she doesn't talk"

Meredith nodded. "I think we need professional help with this."

"How do you mean?"

"I mean even if she starts talking she still went through a lot, she has to process it."

"Yes, should we put her into therapy or something?"

"I guess"

"She's not going to like that" Derek said, taking another bite out of his sandwich.

"No she's not" Meredith leaned back to the chair. "But she'll have to, she can't miss this much at school"

"Addison said that this was her first year at junior high."

"Seriously? That sucks"

"Well, she's young, so it's not a disaster if she has to do this year over"

"Yeah, but we can still try to get her on school this year."

"We can try"

"Yep" Meredith stood up and kissed Derek on his cheek. "Got to go, see you later."

"Don't forget that meeting we have this afternoon" Derek called after her.

"Yeah, yeah."

When Meredith came home she started to dress up. They had a meeting with the adoption agency that afternoon, for Adrienne.

Derek was already home, he came straight home after picking up Sara, although he didn't needed to, because Sara was sleeping over at Katie's. Adrienne was still with Emily and would come home later that night.

Meredith was just fixing her hair when Derek walked in. She felt his arms around her waist and turned around. "Hello Dr Shepard"

"Hello Dr Grey"

"You look… formal."

"Yeah, you too."

"Thanks, if it was a compliment."

"It was."

Meredith smiled. "So, we have the night to ourselves. I mean without Sara well Adrienne would probably be home by the time we are"

"I guess we do"

"But first…"

"Yeah first…" She walked out of the room and down the stairs, Derek followed.

"Are you ready?"

"Yeah" she said nervous. "I totally am"

"Good" He walked to the door and opened it for Meredith. "Ladies first."

"How polite, it fits with the suit" Meredith said with a smile.

"I know" Derek followed her outside and closed the door behind him.

They walked to the car and stepped inside. Before Derek turned the engine on he turned to Meredith. "I'm sorry"

"Sorry?" She fastened her seatbelt. "For what?"

"For everything, I mean we didn't even had time to talk about our engagement and the wedding."

"Yeah, it's not your fault."

"But I really do want to marry"

"I know, me too but first we have to deal with this, it's to much to do it all at once."

"Okay" He started the engine. "Let's deal with this first."

Their meeting went great, the adoption would need more meetings and a few visits at their house for safety for the child, just as it went with Sara.

Meredith was glad she could go home, Sara was at a sleep over so it would be very quiet. As they walked through the door they could hear the exciting voice of Emily.

"Okay, she's home" Meredith said.

"I guess" Derek answered.

They walked into the living room and saw Emily talking to Izzie.

"I can help you decorate." They heard Izzie say.

"Oh thanks" Emily said.

"What can you help decorate?" Meredith asked with a smile.

"Mere, you are not going to believe this but I found an apartment."

"Seriously?"

"Seriously."

Meredith walked over Emily and hugged her. "Oh, I'm so happy for you. I'm going to miss you though"

"I'm going to miss you too"

"So, where is it?"

"Not very far from here, near the Centrum"

"Seriously? Those places are nice."

"I know"

"I want to see it"

"We can visit it tomorrow if you want?"

"Yeah, I would love too"

"I'm so excited."

"Me too" She pulled Emily in a hug again.

In the meantime Derek was already sitting next to Adrienne on the couch watching the Gilmore Girls, again. Adrienne was watching intensely. After a few minutes Emily, Izzie and Meredith joined them. Derek was laughing hysterically about Lorelai's explanation of her dream. Yep, that would be something Meredith would be listening to for weeks.

Once it was finished Derek put a DVD in the DVD player. "I'm sorry but once I start watching I can't stop." Derek said with a smile.

"It's like his drugs" Meredith said to Izzie.

"Hey, we have a child here." Derek said. "And she likes Gilmore girls too"

After half an episode Derek went upstairs to take a shower. Izzie went to the hospital and Emily went to bed, she had an early morning. Meredith looked at the clock on the wall. 10 o clock. She needed to go to bed soon too such as Adrienne.

Meredith stood up and walked to the kitchen, she returned with a glass of water. "Adrienne, are you coming? You have to go to bed.

"Can I watch the rest of this?"

"Of course" Meredith turned but after less then a second she turned back. "You said something" She said stuttering her eyes grew wide.

Adrienne smiled.

Meredith hurried over her and pulled her into a hug. "Oh, my god, you said something."

Adrienne was still smiling and over Meredith's shoulder she watched the end of the episode. After that Meredith brought her to bed and went to bed herself. Derek was already lying their bed, a sleep, and she hurried over him.

"She said something"

"Who now?" He said with his eyes still closed.

"Adrienne"

He opened his eyes. "Seriously?" He asked pulling himself in a sitting position.

"Yes"

"Oh my god"

"I know"

"This is big"

"I know" She lay down next to him and turned her sight to the ceiling. "I know she would speak eventually but I wasn't prepared, at all"

"I know" He sighed. "I wish I could have heard."

"Yeah"

"But she will do it again, will she?"

"I hope"

"I think so"

"I hope she does it quick."

"Me too" He sighed again. "It's so hard to get to know her, she is so distant especially with the no talking thing."

"Yes" Meredith was still looking at the ceiling, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I didn't know it would be this emotional, I mean it are just a few words, still I can't stop crying."

Derek pulled her into a hug and rocked her softly a few tears were streaming down his cheeks too. "I know I can't either, in a very manly way though"

Meredith laughed. "Would you just hold me?"

"I will"

That way they fell a sleep, still in each others arms. Suddenly the door opened a little and Adrienne stepped in the room.

Meredith heard the door and opened her eyes, she saw Adrienne standing there, she looked uncomfortable. "What's wrong honey?"

Adrienne looked at the floor.

"You couldn't sleep?" Meredith asked, with that Derek woke up too.

Adrienne nodded.

"Do you want to sleep with us?" Meredith shifted more to the left and patted her hand on the space between her and Derek.

Adrienne slowly walked towards them and lay down between them. She snuggled against the sheets and closed her eyes.

"Sweet dreams" Derek muttered.

Adrienne returned the comment with a kiss on his cheek and Meredith's, just her way to say goodnight.

VO: Sometimes though, body language is a good way to read someone's emotions. But a simple kiss can also be a good way to say thanks or return a gesture.

Not very long… okay, short. I don't really like this chapter too. But it is an update…