Time, curious time

Gave me no compasses, gave me no signs

Were there clues I didn't see?

And isn't it just so pretty to think

All along there was some

Invisible string

Tying you to me?

Christmas seemed to pass in a blur, and it was only a few hours until they had to leave to get Meredith to the airport on time for her plane. They lay side by side in Derek's bed back in his apartment, facing each other.

"Sometimes I'm still amazed that I convinced you to be with me," he murmured softly, his fingers caressing over her cheek as she felt herself blushing slightly.

"Convinced me, hm?" She asked with a raised eyebrow, a soft laugh escaping her lips as she turned her face to gently nip his fingertip.

"Ouch," he frowned playfully at her teasing nip, "Yes, I think it took a lot of convincing on my part."

"Maybe so, but I'm glad that I caved," she said, shuffling her body closer to his, pressing a kiss against the tip of his nose, "Even if you do live across the other side of the country."

"I'll come and see you, before boards, I promise," he said, pressing a soft kiss against her lips, "We can spend a whole week in bed, definitely studying."

"That sounds like a good idea, studying with rewards," she said with a soft grin, returning his kisses.

"I'm really going to miss you," he said, tightening his arms around her and holding her close to him, her face buried against his neck and shoulder as she played with strands of his hair.

"I'm going to miss you, too," she murmured back, pressing small kisses against his neck, "Did you think more about fellowships for next year?"

"I've been looking into a few programmes," he said in a quiet voice, playing with her hair.

It was an avoided subject, and they both knew it. They had to go with the programs that were best for each of their careers, regardless of what the other was doing.

"I have an idea," she said quietly, reaching for his hand and entwining their fingers together.

"What's that, baby?" He asked, pressing soft kisses against her fingers and the back of her hand.

"Maybe, we don't talk about it. We make our decisions without knowing where the other is going, I don't think we should factor it in to our decision," she looked up at him now, feeling a pang of guilt as he frowned down at her, "I want to be closer to you, I want it more than anything, but it's only one year. One more year and then we can apply anywhere to work, to live the rest of our lives."

"That actually makes a lot of sense," he said as he pressed a kiss against the top of her head, "We'll do that, and we can tell each other our decisions when we've finished our boards."

"There's a two week gap, between boards and starting fellowships, we could go away somewhere," Meredith suggested, pressing a kiss against the stubble on his jawline.

"We can go wherever you'd like," he said, lowering his chin to press his lips to hers in a short, soft kiss.

"I've always wanted to go to St Barts…" Meredith mused, gently squeezing his hand she still held.

"Then that's where we'll go," he said with a grin, gently pushing her on to her back and hovering over her as his lips teased over her bare collarbone.

Their joined hands pressed against the mattress above her head and her hips moved up against him with a slight moan, able to feel exactly what he was ready to do.

"Do we have time?" She murmured, her free hand running through his hair, gently gripping as he nipped against her skin.

"We definitely have time," he murmured, his free hand drifting down along the side of her body before teasing at her inner thigh, "I need to make love to you at least one more time before I let you leave."

Time, mystical time

Cuttin' me open, then healin' me fine

Were there clues I didn't see?

And isn't it just so pretty to think

All along there was some

Invisible string

Tying you to me?

They stood in the airport together, by the security gate, Derek's arms wrapped around her and holding her close, his lips pressed against the top of her head as her face buried against his neck. Neither was ready to let go. To be without each other for another few months.

"You're going to miss your flight, baby," he murmured reluctantly, looking down at her as she looked up at him.

"One more," she said with a slight pout.

He chuckled softly and pressed his lips against her, his arms tightening around her middle as she gripped the front of his jumper, moving her lips in synchronisation with his kisses. She kissed him as though he were the air she needed to breathe, like that one last breath of air before going underwater.

"I love you so much, Meredith," he whispered as their lips parted, foreheads touching.

"I love you too, Derek, with everything I have," she whispered back, feeling her eyes sting a little with tears.

"No crying," he said, pressing a kiss to her forehead before pulling her close against him again in a final embrace, "It won't be long until you see me again, the time will fly."

"I know," she said with a soft laugh, lifting her hand to wipe at her eyes, "I really have to go now."

"Okay, do you have everything?" He asked, reluctantly let her go, looking over her as though he were committing her image to his memory.

"My bag is checked in, I have my phone, a book, headphones, passport and tickets," she said with a soft grin, "and I'll call you as soon as I land."

"Good," he said, his head tilted to the side a little as he looked at her, feeling himself starting to get overwhelmed with emotion now as his eyes glanced over the ring she wore on her finger.

"No crying, Derek," she mimicked him, a soft laugh escaping her lips and she found herself fiddling with the ring unconsciously.

"One more," he said, stepping forward again and taking her face in his hands, pressing their lips together for a short moment, "I love you. Thank you, for everything. I'll see you soon. Stay safe, okay?"

"I love you too, thank you. And I'll see you soon," she repeated back to him, giving him one last kiss before stepping back, "Bye, Derek."

"See you soon, Mer," he said, a soft grin on his face as he watched her ascend the escalator in front of them.

She looked over her shoulder at him one last time as she approached the top, giving him a soft grin as she did so, but then she turned back and the grin faded. She hated this. To think they could possibly be apart for the next year and a half, she couldn't help the tears that spilled over her cheeks but she wiped them away quickly before going through security.

A string that pulled me

Out of all the wrong arms right into that dive bar

Something wrapped all of my past mistakes in barbed wire

Chains around my demons, wool to brave the seasons

One single thread of gold tied me to you

Her flight took off on time and landed on time, nothing out of the ordinary, and as soon as she'd picked up her back from the collection area, she pulled her phone out to call Derek. But it rang out. She sent him a quick message to let him know she had landed and put the phone away again.

She stepped out of the airport into the typical Seattle rain, pulling her suitcase along beside her as she located her car in the secure airport. She climbed in the car and soon found herself on the highway back to the house she shared with Cristina.

Once she'd arrived home, she pulled her phone out again to see a reply from him, Sorry, I fell asleep. Call me when you get home.

She took her luggage inside, finding herself home alone and went up to her room, sitting on the bed before using her phone to call Derek. He picked up after a few rings.

"Hey, baby," his voice sounded over the speaker, and a grin immediately took over her face.

"Hey, you tired?" She asked, a soft laugh escaping her.

"It would seem so. I've been called into the hospital so I can't talk for too long. How was your flight?" He asked, and she could hear him moving around in the background, likely getting ready to go to work.

"It was fine, normal. I think I should probably get to sleep myself, though," she said just as a yawn escaped her.

"Go to sleep, Mer, we'll speak tomorrow, okay?" He said, and she could hear him shutting the door to his apartment, heading down to his car.

"Okay, I love you," she said, climbing off the bed again as she did so.

"I love you too," he responded, before the line dropped.

She sighed softly and dropped the phone on to the bed before pulling her clothes off, feeling grimy from the flight home. She dug her phone charger out of her suitcase, plugging her phone in, and setting the engagement ring beside it, before taking a quick shower.

Once showered, she threw on some pyjamas before climbing back into bed, finding herself looking at the ring on the side table. She needed to put it somewhere safe, especially whilst she was in work. A soft sigh escaped her lips as she picked the ring up, inspecting it closely as she put it back on her finger.

She felt like the luckiest and unluckiest person in the world, even though it felt shallow to think in such a way. She'd found the guy. Against all odds, and her own reservations, she'd found the perfect guy who loved her back and wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. But, he was on the other side of the country, and it would probably be another year if not more before they would be able to start living their lives together.

Time, wondrous time

Gave me the blues and then purple pink skies

And it's cool, baby, with me

And isn't it just so pretty to think

All along there was some

Invisible string

Tying you to me?

invisible string - Taylor Swift.