Title: A Little Something About Forever

Author: Sara and Lizzie

Rating: T for language, and sex

Disclaimer: We don't own Grey's.

Summary: Three years ago, Derek moves to New York with Addison. He finally decides to leave her upon hearing that Meredith is getting married

Author's Note: We're slaves to your opinions, and we need reviews. Ok. It's been a while. But we were in Rome, then Cannes, then the hamptons, but now that we're vacation free, at least for a week or so, we'll be updating this, "Sound and Fury" and "The Best Laid Plans". We went in a different direction for Meredith's fiancée- Finn is wonderful, but that's a little tired by now. Anyway, REVIEW or we'll kill ourselves.

"No one can find the rewind button now." – Anna Nalick

He went to Seattle Grace from her house. He marched himself right into Dr. Webber's office.

"Hey chief." He said.

Surprise flashed onto Webber's face, followed by a look of understanding. He said nothing, and Derek sensed he should be quiet too. Love, Chief Webber thought, was a precious commodity. He had a soft spot for Meredith Grey and the last thing he wanted was for her to give up something real.

If there was one final thing he could do for Ellis, it would be to make sure that her daughter had a chance at a real love. "Derek, this is a funny coincidence. I seem to be one neurosurgeon short of a full staff."

"There's my brilliant little surgeon." The voice came from a crisp, British accent.

"Paul!" Meredith exclaimed. "What are you doing here?" He walked up to her and practically lifted her in the air when he threw his arms around her.

"I've got some bad news love." He said regretfully. "I'm afraid I've got to fly back to London for a few days." She bit her lip, not sure whether she should laugh, cry or just jump out of the nearest window.

Paul's family owned a huge international banking business and he was in charge of the offices on the U.S. West Coast. He was always flying somewhere. "I know the wedding is only ten days away, Meredith, but it's completely necessary."

She was desperate now. She was getting married. To a rich, charming, British banker. So what if he wasn't McDreamy? So what if he didn't make her weak with a smile? She didn't care that he despised nicknames and never called her Mere. She'd be fine, just fine.

But she could not let him leave the country with Derek so very much back home. "I could go with you." She blurted out.

He laughed. "Darling, I won't be back until just a few days before the wedding. One of us needs to stay here and make sure everything continues to run smoothly."

She nodded numbly. "Of course." She said, forgetting that she had to fit into his ordered world at all times.

"And I want you to look at this." He said, handing her a manila envelope.

"Right, what is this again?"

"Los Angeles real estate guide. I can't stand this city much longer, doll." He said, checking his Cartier watch. "I've got to run and catch a connecting flight to LAX."

"Paul, I can't move. My job is here. My mom is here." Derek is here, sang the little voice in the back of her head.

He smiled, brushing it off. "Nonsense. We'll find you a new job. Details later. I'll call you." He kissed her and as quickly as he had come, he was gone. She plopped down in the nearest chair and opened up the envelope and started absentmindedly flipping through glossy pages of over priced houses.

She didn't notice that Christina was sitting beside her until she heard her start talking. "Oh, hell no, Meredith." Christina said, as she peered over Meredith's shoulders. "You can't go to California. It's sunny. All the time. Everyone's cheery, and there's palm trees and fake boobs in every direction."

Meredith raised her eyebrows. "You finished? I'm not going anywhere."

Christina took her turn to raise her eyebrows back. Meredith sighed. "At least not yet."

"I heard about the drama this morning?"

Meredith feigned shock. "There was drama? Was I sleeping? Oh wait, no, you couldn't be referring to the startling return of my ex boyfriend, you know, the one that almost completely killed me? Because that's not really dramatic."

"Touche." Christina remarked, deciding now was not the best time to point that she had in fact been the one to initiate the homecoming. "Maybe, you know, it's for the best he's here."

"Why would you say that? I'm getting married in ten days, and all of a sudden he's in my house. Like he's got radar or something, and he just knows that there's an opportunity for him to screw everything up for me."

"Or maybe he just loves you."

"If he loved me, he wouldn't have left me here while he went off to Park Avenue with Addison."

"I just think you're making a mistake."

"What?"

"I've wanted to tell you this for a while, but I couldn't find a good time."

Meredith smiled in spite of herself. "You're Christina. I never expect you to wait for the right time."

"So here goes. You're making a mistake. Paul, he's, pretentious and metro sexual and rude and degrading and British."

"He is not! Degrading at least."

"Not to you. At least not to your face. But he's an asshole, Mere. He's not the one for you."

Meredith stood up. "Christina, I appreciate your obviously heartfelt concern, but I think, now, three years later, it's time to give up the McDreamy façade. I'm getting married to Paul. End of story."

A long day and one emergency surgery later, Meredith was on a bench outside the hospital, face turned skyward. When she felt someone sit down next to her, she knew without looking it was Derek.

"I'm sorry." He said.

"Sorry for what? For leaving without a word? For cutting yourself off from me for three years while Addison sent me Christmas cards? Or for coming back ten days before my wedding?"

"I don't know, Meredith, I'm just sorry."

She turned to face him. "Did it really mean that little to you that you could just leave without telling me? Without saying goodbye?"

"It meant that much to me, Mere. One look at you and I would have stayed."

"Would it be that horrible if you did?"

"Yes, because I never would be able to be here today if I hadn't left. Addison would always be a huge part of my picture. But by going to New York, it's really over. God Meredith, your face was everywhere for three years."

She dug her nails into her palms, willing herself not to cry. He picked up her hands in his. "Mere, this is all I'm going to say. I love you. Ever since that first night, I have loved you. But if you can tell me now that you don't love me anymore, I'll go. I'll be on the next plane to somewhere far away and you'll never have to hear from me again."

Time stopped again for Meredith Grey. "I, Derek…"she trailed off. "I can't say that."

He stood up and looked down at her. "Then I'm staying. I can't turn back time and not go to New York, it's too late for that. I can't expect you just to forgive me either, but I have to fight for you. I can't give you up one more time Meredith Grey." He leaned down, kissed her forehead and walked away, leaving her in the wake of his declaration with nothing to cling to. There was nothing to grab to keep from drowning.