CHAPTER 24

Derek and Meredith rode to her house in silence. Meredith too tired to talk and Derek too nervous. They made a great combination at that moment. Finally, only about a mile away from her house, Derek spoke, "so you and Christina are friends again."

"I guess we are."

"That's great Mer"

Meredith smiled, "yeah it is." Now it was Meredith's turn to ask the questions. "Where's Addison tonight."

"Probably looking for an apartment or townhouse somewhere."

"What are you talking about?"

"We broke up last night."

"Oh my god, really? Why?"

"I cant be engaged to someone I'm not in love with."

"Derek…" Meredith tried to say, just as they pulled into her driveway.

"We're here!" Derek said, cheerfully, trying to change the mood.

"Would you like to come in for some coffee? We need to talk."

He turned to face her, smiling, "I would love to come in for some coffee."

Derek went up the familiar steps to Meredith's house. "I think George and Izzie are at the hospital."

"Did they move in with you?" Derek asked as Meredith led them inside.

"Yeah. I can't afford this place on my own."

"That's nice of you. Definitely something a Seattle Meredith would do."

Meredith led them into the kitchen and turned on the coffee. "That's what I thought." She laughed, then turned to face him, her face solemn. "So… we really need to talk."

"Derek leaned against the island in the kitchen, "yeah, we do."

"I missed you Derek. The whole time I was gone. I tried to fill the void with guys and it really didn't work. I had hoped that maybe you would wait for me, but I knew that probably wouldn't. You should be with Addison and I have to get over that, and I want you to know that I am going to try."

"Meredith… I'm not with Addison anymore."

Meredith stared at him. "I know, but you should work things out… You should try to work things out."

"We broke up last night."

"Derek, please tell me that you didn't do this for me."

"I didn't. I just can't be in a relationship with someone I'm not in love with. But it did take you coming back to Seattle for me to see that. I thought that maybe I could settle with Addison, but seeing you here now, I know that I can't."

"Derek…"

"I love you Meredith."

"I've loved you forever. I never stopped. I guess that Addison was my void." Derek moved closer to her.

"So… What do we do now?" Meredith asked, also stepping closer to Derek.

Now only inches away from each other, Derek spoke, "What do you want to do now?" He whispered, lips moving dangerously close to hers.

"Wait!" Meredith said, pulling back, "Addison is like my boss. She isn't going to make me do grunt work because I'm with you is she?"

"No, she understands." Derek smiled.

"Ok then," Meredith smiled, pulling Derek towards her for their first kiss in years.

"I love you Derek." Meredith said, pulling away from their kiss, but still in the embrace Derek had wrapped her in.

"Oh baby, you have no idea." Derek said.

"You know how much I hated when you called me that."

"Just checking to see if you remembered. Maybe we should get some Chinese food."

"Ok, now you're just teasing me." She pulled him in for another kiss, slowly moving him closer to her stairs, hoping that he would get the idea and lead them the rest of the way.

Derek did get the idea and with a glint in his eye, led them the rest of the way upstairs to Meredith's bedroom, clothes left on the stairs and in the hallway.

They made love for the first time that night and the next day walked into work together. They told the chief that if Christina and Burke could be together, then they were going to be too. The Chief didn't want to lose two of his best surgeons so he let them all stay.

That night Meredith was feeling festive and decided to have everyone over for dinner. They mostly talked shop, until after dinner when Alex said, "Anyone up for a game of Texas Hold'em?"

THE END!