Meredith and Arizona sat companionably watching their children.

"I don't think Zola remembers the plane crash," murmured Meredith. "She doesn't remember Lexie. and Lexie adored her."

"Sofia doesn't remember Mark. We show her videos and photos, so she knows who he is, but she was too young."

"They were both too young. And Bailey never met Mark or Lexie."

"I like to think they're watching, along with my brother," said Arizona.

"Yes, that's comforting." Meredith nodded. She thought of meeting Denny, Doc, and her mother when she was technically dead. "They could be keeping an eye out for our children."

"It's great that Sofia and Zola are so close."

"Derek loves see them together. He sometimes says they're Shepherd-Sloan 2.0."

Meredith's phone rang. Meredith smiled, "It's Derek, finally."

"That's good."

"Hi Derek."

"Hi Meredith. Where are you?"

"I'm at the daycare, watching Shepherd-Sloan 2.0 and Bailey."

"What are they up to?"

"Zola and Sofia are playing with puppets, and Bailey's building with Legos. I've been worried about you. Where are you?"

"I'm okay, but I have something private to talk to you about. Maybe it would be a good idea to talk in my office."

Meredith got nervous. Why would be a private matter that he needed to talk to her about? "I'll go to the nearest on-call room." She looked at Arizona, and she said, "I'll be back in a few minutes."

She tried two on-call rooms, but they were occupied, so she wound up in a third on-call room. "Okay, Derek, now tell me what's up."

"Okay, as you probably realize I have some bad news. But the good news is I'm going to be okay."

"What's wrong?"

"Well, I was stabbed."

"When? Where?"

"Last night, and my lung was punctured. I'm in a hospital."

"And why didn't you call me?"

"I didn't want you to worry."

"Derek, I've been worrying about you non-stop since the White House called this morning, and let me know you hadn't shown up. I've called you dozens of times."

"Well, I've been at the hospital getting treated, and I'm going to be fine."

"Okay, but why didn't you call me immediately?"

"I didn't want to worry you. I'll be back tomorrow night."

"Who stabbed you?" Meredith felt like she had to push to get info; she was getting a bad feeling about this.

"Well, I was working on finishing my report at NIH, and a researcher stabbed me."

"Your research assistant?" Meredith asked.

"Yes, Rene Collier."

"Why did she stab you?"

"Because she is very disturbed. That's what the police officers think. I have to go to the arraignment tomorrow morning because they think she's dangerous."

"Well, she did stab you. But why did she stab you?"

"I think she has a crush on me," Derek admitted.

"Did you sleep with her?"

"No. No way." Derek responded immediately and emphatically. Meredith believed him, but she was worried that something had happened. "You remember April had a crush on me. And I never did anything to encourage her crush."

"April was a virgin then. And she knew you were married. She just worshipped you. Did something happen with this research assistant, Derek?"

He was silent. "Tell me the truth, Derek. The whole truth. For me to trust you, you need to tell me the truth."

"Nothing really happened. She had promising research, and we talked about her research. She wanted to learn about autism because she has a sister who has autism. I acted as her mentor. Her research was exciting."

"What happened, Derek?"

"Meredith, are you sure you didn't go to law school? You're really cross-examining me."

"Derek, tell me the truth. I'm your wife. I'm a big girl. I can handle the truth." Meredith shook. She wasn't sure she could handle the truth, but she needed to let Derek think she could.

"So before I came home, she made a big step with her research, we were both excited about it, and she kissed me. That's when I decided to come home. She kissed me, and I told her I loved my wife, and I went straight to the airport. I left both my keys and my phone there because I was in a rush to get home."

"She kissed you. Did you kiss her back?" Meredith asked quietly.

"Meredith, it was just a kiss."

"You kissed her back."

"Meredith, I broke off the kiss, and I told her I was married, and you were everything to me. And I immediately headed home."

"You were so freaked out you left your keys and phone behind."

"I love you, Meredith. I came home to work on our marriage. And I'm coming home tomorrow."

"Why do the police think she's dangerous?"

"She stabbed me, for one thing."

"And the other thing?"

"She had photos of you and the kids in her apartment."

"So Zola, Bailey, and I are in danger because you were flirting with your research assistant?"

"Meredith, this is not my fault. She is a disturbed woman. And she's been arrested, and I'm going to the arraignment tomorrow. I think she'll be put away for a long time."

"You let her kiss you."

"Meredith. It was just one kiss. You shouldn't freak out about one kiss."

"I don't like you kissing other women. I didn't like it when you kissed Rose, and I don't like you kissing your research assistant."

"But I immediately went home to you."

"But you didn't tell me she kissed you. You didn't tell me the truth."

"Meredith, I told you I came home to work on our marriage. I came home for you. I'll do whatever it takes to prove to you I love you."

"Stop kissing other women would be a good start."

"I'm not going to kiss any other women."

"That's what I thought after you broke up with Rose."

"Meredith, it was just one kiss. And I love you. You're everything to me."

"You have a funny way of showing it.." Meredith decided to change the topic. "I'm going to get an alarm system for our home."

"That's a good idea. I'll be home tomorrow. I love you."

"I'll see you tomorrow." Meredith ended the call. She was determined not to break down, so she went back to daycare. Arizona had left with Sofia, so she gathered Zola and Bailey to head home. She texted Amelia to let her know that she was going and that she hoped she would be joining them for dinner. She needed adult company. She didn't want to be alone with her thoughts.