A/N: I apologise for any mundaneness of this chapter. It's just a fill in chapter; the wheels start turning again next chapter. Bear with me, but review anyway!

Disclaimer: Thankfully, I do not own Richard Webber. Or any other Grey Matter that is not mine.

Chapter 8: Or Make The Face Til It Stuck

"Dr Grey? Dr Grey. Meredith!"

Meredith jerked awake, the stiffness of the wooden chairs hitting her muscles hard. The woman shaking her awake was the woman who handled admissions into the spelling bees. Meredith had only been asleep for about ten minutes, but the building was silent, and all contestants and their families had left. Off to their hotels before they made their way home; home to their lives, which Meredith thought were probably a heck of a lot less stressful than hers.

"Go home, honey, you look exhausted," said the woman who Meredith remembered as Ruthann.

"Ruthann," said Meredith, looking into her eyes. Ruthann was a robust woman who wore brightly coloured blouse and skirt combinations. Tonight's was lavender. She was, however, a woman who looked as though she'd hugged many children throughout her life. "Ruthann, it's not fair."

She sat down beside Meredith. "Honey. Second place is good. It's real good. Seriously, be proud of that kid. She's only eight, after all." Meredith's eyes welled with tears, then in true Meredith style, she let them flow. They accompanied her quick and unsettled puffs of air which sounded like she was laughing. Then she leaned and placed her head on Ruthann's shoulder.

"It's not Cassy," sobbed Meredith. "I wish it was. It's…it's…it's Emerson," she continued to sob.

"Emerson? The kid who came third?"

"No it's her mom. It's…It's why does it have to be so freaking complicated! All the time. He proposed Ruthann. I think, anyway. Did he propose? I can't remember. But if he did, why didn't I say yes? Or did I?"

Ruthann rubbed Meredith's shoulder comfortingly. "Get up, girl. Get in a cab and take yourself to him and your girl. Say yes. Have sex. I don't know. But don't beat yourself up, okay?"

Meredith nodded, and wiped her eyes. "Ruthann, did she say she was going to Seattle?" Ruthann shook her head despairingly, and watched as Meredith left the building to hail a cab.

- - -

Cassy was asleep. The table was covered in Chinese take away containers, and Derek sat in a chair. The really uncomfortable, tiny upholstered token chair every hotel room is unfortunate enough to possess. He looked tired; exhausted even, but he sat up when he heard the door open and looked at Meredith.

"You were gone a while," he said.

"I fell asleep in the changing rooms," she said, sitting on the couch opposite Derek.

"Seriously?" he looked at her, and leant forward to take her hands. "Seriously?"

"Seriously," she said. "I met Emerson. But I didn't speak to…"

"Meredith," said Derek. "I asked you a question. You didn't answer me. Can you answer me now?" Derek kissed Meredith's cheek gently. "Please. We can do it. We'll be in it together."

"Addison is coming to Seattle tomorrow. I heard her tell Emerson."

"So? Marry me, Mer. I never thought it would take this much asking," he laughed slightly.

"So you've thought of asking me before?" she smiled sadly.

"Everyday." Derek sat himself on the couch beside Meredith, and she positioned herself so their bodies moulded together perfectly. She loved that. She loved how well her body fit into his. Where she had curves, he had grooves, and where he had curves, she had grooves. He took her hands, and they intertwined their fingers. You couldn't tell whose were whose.

"Okay," she said, finally, after a few moments of silence. "Yes." Derek's heart stopped. 'Yes.' He'd been fearing, and anticipating that word for the past three hours.

- - -

The plane bumped to landing, and they disembarked; it was an early flight, because Meredith and Derek had to work. And Cassy, as eager as ever, was going to go to school.

Seattle Grace Hospital was, as usual, all a flurry, but Meredith and Derek didn't bat an eyelid. Instead, they made their way up to the Chief's office, feeling obliged to inform him of their recent engagement.

"You sure you didn't just ask me because you freaked out?" said Meredith, looking nervously at Derek.

"Seriously? You think I'd ask you because I 'freaked out'? Seriously, Dr. Grey?"

"Okay, Dr Shepherd," she said, pushing herself into the groove his arm and torso made. They arrived outside the big glass room that was Chief Webber's office, but the door was shut. Derek peered into the glass panel, and saw Chief Webber sitting at his desk talking too Addison – and Emerson.

Webber saw him, and Derek and Meredith quickly retreated.

"Wait! Shepherd, come here," said Webber. "Come on, don't be shy."

"What? Richard, what's this about? Meredith and I…we're engaged. I'm committed. I can't take anymore of your…"

"Well, Dr. Shepherd, by all means, bring your fiancé too. But we need a serious chat."

"What's she doing here?" asked Derek. "Did you invite her?"

"No, he did not invite her," said Addison. "God Derek, can you be even slightly civil?"

Derek gestured for Meredith to enter the office as well, and she did with some trepidation. "Hello, Dr. Grey, how are you?" Addison extended a hand, which Meredith accepted nervously.

"Fine, thankyou Dr. Shep…Dr…"

"Montgomery," smiled Addison. "Derek, you know I wouldn't have come if it weren't important. I know you think I'm Satan, but this is not about me. Or you. It's about…"

"Emerson," said Meredith, noticing the little girl, who was sitting on the floor reading a book. She looked up at the sound of her name.

"Hey, you're Cassy's mom. The weird lady who covered her eyes outside the change room," said Emerson. "You're a doctor?"

"Uh-huh," said Meredith. "I'm a surgeon, actually." Emerson nodded, and then went back to her book. She was a sweet kid, whose hair was as red as Addison's. She was tall as well; She would have dwarfed Cassy, Meredith thought. Her eyes were a piercing blue – like Derek's – thought Meredith, her heart skipping a beat. But unlike Addison, or Derek, Emerson's cheeks were not flushed; they weren't the rosy tinge characteristic of the hectic schedule her mom had, they were tinged, ever so slightly, with yellow.