Title: Sound And Fury

Authors: Sara And Lizzie

Rating: T for language, mild sex

Disclaimer: we don't own grey's anatomy, or any anatomies but our own at that.

Author's Note: Ok.. Set after Derek picks Addison and Meredith sleeps with George. Review. No matter how you feel about it, review. Chapters will get longer. We tried to step it up with our grammar, but we still suck. REVIEW, PLEASE. Check out 'A Little Something Called Forever' and 'The Best Laid Plans'. We need reviews to function, so help us out.

"Give in to love or live in fear." -Rent

"You don't have to look at me like that." Addison said, shutting the door behind her. "I'm not going to kill you."

Meredith smiled weakly, not convinced in the least. She opened her mouth, wanting to apologize, justify, condemn, do anything to make it better, but Addison beat her to it.

"I asked Mark to go and find you, Meredith, not so I could usher you into an on call room and strangle you with a stethoscope, so you can breathe." She smiled a genuine smile, and Meredith felt like she was going to throw up from confusion and apprehension.

"I asked him to find you because my ex husband is in love with you. So in love with you it's consuming and passionate and it scares even me. As much as this hurts me, he saved your life, Meredith. He put my life on the line to save yours. He loves you and I can't in good conscience, let him lose that love."

Meredith cocked her head to one side, sure that she looked like the village idiot. "What are you saying?" she whispered to Addison.

Addison smiled, tears in her eyes. "I'm saying I understand why you did what you did. I understand that you are not your mother, and that you love my husband. I'm saying go. Go tell him."

Meredith stared at the doctor for a long time before she made her next move. It was Addison's turn to be bewildered as Meredith closed the gap between them and hugged her. She went for the door without saying anything, but stopped before she left the room.

"Addison?" she asked. "Mark's driving back. But he loves you. And I think if you're honest with yourself, you love him too." Before Addison could say anything, Meredith shut the door.

She practically sprinted through the hallway. He was in surgery. She didn't care. She threw on scrubs, and a mask and burst into the operating room.

"What in the name…?" Bailey asked looking up.

"I love you." Meredith said. "I've been sitting in San Francisco for the past week and half trying to ignore that, trying to think of some way that I can get out of your life, but I can't Derek. I've tried, we've tried. I need you."

He blinked at her, as if he didn't want to believe what she was saying.

She took a deep breath. "I know I ran away. I was the coward, I was the bad one. But Jesus, Derek, I love you. So much. And if you want to be mad, be mad. Just, let me be with you. While you're mad, while you're sad, while you're screaming at me. I just want to be with you."

She stopped talking, and closed her eyes, almost afraid to look at him for fear of what he might say to her in response. But it wasn't his voice that came next, it was Bailey's.

"Dr. Shepherd, we really can close him up just fine if you want to um, go."

"Right." Derek said, his eyes never leaving Meredith. "Great surgery." He walked over to her, and offered her his hand. Her gloved fingers intertwined with his, and they left the OR together.

The skyline shone brilliantly against the black night as they walked outside.

"You left." Derek said to her.

"I left." She confirmed. "And I don't know why. Everything just happened so fast that night. That and I was scared." She admitted.

"Of Addison?" he quipped. Meredith smiled in spite of herself.

"Of you." She whispered, her seriousness returning. "I'm scared of not being enough for you, Derek. I'm not a brilliant, famous surgeon; I'm just the daughter of one. I'm not gorgeous and cultured and perfectly groomed. I'm just me. And I'm scared that being me won't be anything to you, except the transition from the first great love of your life to the next."

She looked down. "Meredith, look at me." Derek said gently. Her eyes remained focused on the ground. Derek put one hand on her chin and gently guided her face upwards, so her eyes met his. "I'm an idiot." He told her, caressing her cheek with his hand.

"All this time, I was trying to make it work with Addison, and I just didn't see it," he whispered. "You are the great love of my life, Mer. You're the song, the big love, the reason. It all comes back to you, Meredith. I promise. And I want to be with you."

She laughed through a few tears that had gathered in her eyes, and kissed him. He kissed her back, and then he kissed her on the forehead, and the nose, and finally the lips again.

Meredith pushed the fear away. Maybe there were things worth giving up the fear for. Maybe if you're in love, the only way to get it to work is just to admit it, put yourself out there, and let the chips fall.

"I love you." She whispered.

He smiled into her lips. "Yea, I love you too."

"You know I'm divorced right?"

"I heard that rumor."

"From who?"

"Your wife."

"Ex- wife." Derek corrected, pulling her close to him.

"She sort of, gave me her blessing, I think." Meredith said tentatively. She smiled. "Satan has a soul." She paused. "And a plastic surgeon."

"Mark?"

"Wouldn't surprise me." Meredith said knowingly. She raised her eyebrows at Derek. "You know what else wouldn't surprise me?" she asked. "If you were to take advantage of me."

"I'd be too happy to comply, Dr. Grey."

"Take me home Derek." She whispered. "Take me home."