Meredith raced to the hospital to meet Derek, making several rolling stops along the way and crossing intersections that were orange – not yellow lights, but nanoseconds away from being red. At least that's how she rationalized it. Fortunately she didn't need to explain that logic to any police officers along the way.

She shifted uncomfortably in her seat, still adjusting to the feeling of wearing a low cut black dress and heels. She had spent the last few hours frantically trying to pack and prepare the new apartment for Derek's first encounter. Cristina had been surprisingly generous with her time and help, running errands for Meredith and facilitating the process, but it was still a lot to get done. When Derek had finally called and told Meredith of their seven-thirty reservation at Il Bistro, a romantic Italian restaurant, she almost wished they weren't going out for the evening. But it was one of his favorite restaurants, and after hearing him describe how much he had been fantasizing about seeing her in a dress, she didn't want to disappoint him.

Meredith peeled into the parking lot and pulled up to the main entrance. Derek sat outside on a bench casually talking to Mark. Mark was still wearing his scrubs and lab coat, clearly just taking a break, but Derek…Derek looked amazing. He was sporting a navy blue suit with white shirt and light blue tie, and the colors matched his eyes perfectly. She definitely hadn't seen him wear it before, and she didn't remember seeing it in his closet either. It made her wonder if he had gone shopping recently, but she dismissed the thought quickly. It wasn't particularly shocking – he was a bit of a clothing freak – a trait he certainly must have shared with Addison.

Derek and Mark both stood up, noticing that Meredith had finally arrived. She smiled and waved at both, barely managing to take her eyes off Derek to include Mark in her line of sight. Derek said something to Mark – wish me luck, maybe – and strolled over to Meredith's vehicle. Mark grinned and waved back at Meredith, winking at her behind Derek's back. She giggled and rolled her eyes at him before turning her attention back towards Derek. She leaned across the passenger seat and opened the door for him.

"Hi," he greeted, as he slid into the vacant seat and closed the door. He smelled of shampoo and aftershave, and the scent intensified as he leaned in close to her and kissed her lips passionately.

"Hi," she sighed back, melting from the kiss. "Did you have a good day?"

"Much better now," he admitted as he fastened his seat belt. "And you? Was it a productive day off?"

"Definitely. I got a lot done, today. You'd be impressed," she smiled mischievously.

"I see. I hope that all of your productivity hasn't left you tired this evening. I have big plans," he teased.

"Not tired at all," she responded. It was a little bit of a lie – the frenzied pace of her afternoon activity was exhausting, but she was too excited to let it wear her down. "A little curious, though. What are these plans you have?" She briefly turned toward him skeptically before refocusing on driving.

"Well, it will start with dinner because I'm starving, and it will end with me making love with you. What happens in between will be up to you," he replied, winking at her. He leaned over and began sliding his hand up her thigh. "I love when you wear dresses," he growled, pushing the silky black fabric into a bunch near her hip as he caressed her leg.

"Dinner first, remember?" she teased, swatting his hand away.

"Oh. Right." He retreated and quickly withdrew his hand from her pale skin.

"Hmmmph," Meredith pouted. She pulled down the skirt of her dress, blanketing her lap as she continued driving. Derek smiled at her disgruntled reaction.

They eventually arrived at the restaurant and climbed out of the SUV. Derek came around the vehicle and grabbed Meredith's hand in his. His other hand sank into his pants pocket, and he seemed nervous – unusually nervous – particularly for a man who was never nervous. Meredith squeezed his hand in three succinct motions as if to say "I.Love.You," and Derek squeezed back. Their eyes locked and he smiled at her, settling in the comfort of her gaze. He stopped fidgeting and led her down a cobblestone alley towards the entrance of the restaurant.

The contrast between the lighting levels outside the restaurant and those inside was dramatic. While the sun was still setting outside, the bistro was lit only by candles and shaded sconces on the walls, making it even more romantic. The host ushered them through a whitewashed archway towards a secluded table near the back, far away from the noise of the crowded dining room. It was intimate and isolated and perfect.

Derek ordered a bottle of wine and mulled over the rest of the menu. He still seemed a little distracted despite his constant gazing at Meredith, and it was beginning to make Meredith feel a little nervous herself.

"What?" she finally asked, self-conscious.

"Hmmm?" he responded, as if being woken up from a dream.

"You're staring…at me…and it's not polite…" she argued.

"Sorry," he stammered. "You're stunning. I can't help it," he shrugged.

"You're forgiven," she laughed. Meredith fidgeted slightly before reaching up to play with her hair a little, coiling and uncoiling several strands around her index finger while Derek watched, mesmerized.

They ordered their dinners and sipped wine awkwardly, both half expecting the other to say something.

"So, I'm presenting some research at a conference in San Francisco in a few weeks," Derek finally said, breaking the silence. "You should come with me."

"San Francisco? I love San Francisco," Meredith beamed excitedly.

"Me too. We could make a few days of it, do the touristy thing."

"That would be awesome, but I don't know if I can get the time off," Meredith answered.

"Really? You should try asking the new chief," Derek grinned. "I bet he would let you go for a few days. It's a conference, so it could technically count as work."

"I just might have to do that," Meredith responded, a sly grin spreading across her lips. "I just wouldn't want to create the perception that he was giving special treatment to one of the residents."

"Don't worry, he can handle it," Derek winked.

They made their way through appetizers and entrees, continuing to feel an awkward tension. Meredith was dying to tell Derek about the apartment, but she wanted to wait until after dinner so she wouldn't ruin the surprise she had planned. Still, she sensed that he was holding something back as well.

They ordered coffee and tiramisu for dessert, and Derek's nervousness was palpable.

"Mere," he finally started.

She bit her lower lip nervously, scared of what he was going to say. She lifted her napkin to the table and began fidgeting with it, only to have him rest his hand gently on hers. It was warm and soothing.

"I wanted to ask you something, and it's okay if you say no…"

Oh shit. "What is it?"

"I'm…I've been talking to Richard about this for a while, and want your okay before we go ahead with this, but…how would you feel about the hospital setting up an endowment in your mother's name for Alzheimer's research?"

"Seriously?" You brought me to a romantic restaurant to ask me about that?

"Yeah, she was an important figure in the hospital's history, and I feel like we could raise a lot of money for her. I'd probably want you to help a little with that – go to a few fundraisers with me, but are you okay with that? I don't want to do it if you don't want to or think she wouldn't have wanted it," Derek insisted, still nervous.

"Derek, I think that's a great idea. I'm…touched. It's really sweet that you want to do that for her," Meredith finally responded.

"I'm not doing it for her. I'm doing it more for you, to help you honor her memory. And that's one of the reasons I was working so late with Richard last night, actually. We were planning our proposal," Derek admitted.

Meredith smiled at him, unsure what to say. It really was a sweet thing for him to do, although it was completely unexpected.

"Was that why you've been so nervous and distracted this evening? Were you nervous about asking me that?" Meredith pried.

"Yeah, I guess so. I wasn't sure how you'd react. I should have discussed it with you before talking to Richard, and I didn't want you to be upset about it," Derek explained. "I didn't want you to think that I was meddling in family things or sneaking around behind your back to set this up."

"Oh," Meredith sighed, a little disappointed.

"Why, what did you think?" he asked, surprised. "Oh…" he realized. "You thought I might propose tonight, didn't you?" Derek said. His smile reached the corners of his eyes.

"I don't know, maybe…" Meredith confessed. "We're all dressed up in a super romantic restaurant and you were nervous…You're never nervous…"

"Are you disappointed?" he asked, sliding his fingers over the soft skin on her left hand and delicately tracing the spaces an engagement ring would cover.

"No," she lied.

"Because I don't want to disappoint you," Derek said. He honestly hadn't planned to propose this evening, but he realized how easily she may have gotten that impression. And he was willing to ask her if that's what she wanted – if she was ready for that. He didn't have a ring, but he knew it was what he wanted.

"It's fine. I don't mind waiting. There's no rush. And we'd be rushing. If we got engaged now, it would be rushing. We're not rushing this time," she rambled.

"I promise I'll make the proposal worth your wait," he assured, laughing a little at her reaction. He supposed that her reaction meant that he had the go ahead signal for some point in the not-so-distant future, and the prospect was exciting.

They finished their dessert and paid the bill as Derek returned to his discussion of the endowment and the plans he had for it. Meredith tried to maintain her focus on what he was saying, but she felt herself getting nervous about the apartment. Now she was the distracted, fidgety one.

The sky was dark, but clear, once they left the restaurant. It was a rare, rain-free evening in Seattle, and even with the glow of the city lights she was able to see a few stars as they walked back toward her car. She shivered a little from the cool night air, but Derek quickly took off his jacket and placed it over her shoulders, a perfect gentleman as always.

"So…do you want to go back to the trailer?" Derek asked anxiously.

Meredith stared at him. He was giving her that look – his sex look – the one that said "I'm undressing you with my eyes and imagining you naked and I want you now."

"Actually, let's go grab a drink at Joe's first," Meredith suggested.

"Okay," Derek said, sounding a little disappointed.

She drove them to Joe's and parked in the far corner of the parking lot. They got out of the car and started walking towards the door. The place looked like it had the typical Wednesday-night crowd, but she had no intention of going in.

"Actually…it's a nice night…do you want to go for a walk first?" Meredith asked, fidgeting.

Now Derek was suspicious.

"You don't…walk. And you're wearing heels…"

"I know, but…just a few blocks…please?" she begged. So much for acting casual about it...

"Um, okay," Derek responded. What have you done with my Meredith?

She led him a few blocks, trying not to let him notice how cold and clammy her hands were becoming as they walked hand in hand. They were both quiet, and Derek really had no idea what to make of this development.

Eventually they came to the brick building housing the apartment, and Meredith stopped. She took a deep breath and withdrew her hand from his, allowing her to turn and face him.

"Derek…" she started, determined.

"Yeah?" he asked in surprise.

"These last few days have been amazing. I'm happier now than I've ever been in all the time we've been together, and…"

"I'm happy, too, Mere," he assured. He lifted his hand toward her face, cupping her jawline tenderly as he gazed at her.

"No, wait, don't. I need to get this out and you're distracting me with sex looks, and if you do that I won't be able to say what I've been planning all day to say," she stammered.

Derek pulled back in amused confusion.

"What we have now is good, great even, but it's not enough. The trailer is too small and it's far away and it won't work, Derek. And I like being with you. Sleeping with you…not just the sex, but the waking up together, too…and if this is a permanent thing – the you and me being happy thing – or if we're going to try to make it permanent, then we need something different. So, what I'm wondering is…what I'm asking you is…" she awkwardly paused and reached into her small purse, pulling out a gold key, "will you move in with me?"

Derek's eyes grew wide with confusion.

"Meredith," he gasped, trying to make sense of what she was saying. "Did Cristina move out? What about your other roommates?"

"No, I'm not asking you to move into my mother's house," she said, suddenly feeling flustered. "I got an apartment – one that's just for us…"

"You what?" he asked, completely caught off guard.

"Yeah, today. I know, I probably should have talked to you about it first and that maybe we should have looked for an apartment together, but I saw this one the other day and it seemed so perfect that I just did it. It's done. It's mine, and hopefully…ours," she rambled. She shifted her weight back and forth from left to right as she nervously awaited his response.

"I…I don't know what to say…"

"Say yes, Derek. Say you'll move in," she begged.

"Of course, I'll move in! I'm just surprised. Is it…is it here?" he asked nodding towards the brick building.

"Yes!" she shrieked, throwing her arms around him in relief.

He laughed a little at her reaction, but held her tightly nonetheless.

She kissed him quickly before leading him inside, anxious to show him the interior of their apartment.

"Ah, an elevator. Excellent start, Dr. Grey," he teased as they went inside the small space.

"I thought you'd like it. It's the little details like that that told me you'd love this place," she shot back, snuggling into him.

They reached the top floor, and she guided him towards the apartment, stepping aside while he used his new key in the lock. They smiled at each other as the door opened. The key worked.

Derek stepped inside and flicked on the lights, gasping a little as he saw the space.

She was right. It was perfect.

"Mere…" escaped his lips as he admired the hardwood floors and spacious layout. He could see the ferry boats crossing the sound through the west window, and while it was too dark to see the mountains well through the north window, he knew that they'd be visible in the morning.

Meredith rushed ahead to the bedroom area, giving him some space to inspect the flat as she finished her preparations.

"This is…ours?" he asked, still in awe.

"Yes!" she replied giddily as she lit some candles in the bathroom around the edge of the large garden tub. She turned on the water and began to prepare a bath.

Derek turned the corner and walked into the bedroom. A large air mattress flanked the floor of the room, and a few boxes lined the perimeter walls.

"We'll need a new bed," he joked.

"I know," she responded, walking back out to join him as the tub filled with bubbles and hot water. "We can go shopping for furniture on our next day off together," she assured.

"That sounds like fun," he said, wrapping his arm around her. They walked slowly towards the bathroom as Derek continued to explore the apartment.

"Do you like it?" Meredith asked, her eyes wide and sparkling with wonder.

"I love it. It's perfect," he sighed, leaning in to kiss her. Their tongues intertwined with one another longingly, leaving each person breathless when they eventually pulled away.

"And you haven't even seen the best part yet," Meredith purred, pulling him into the candlelit bathroom.

The lights around the tub flickered and danced, casting long shadows along the wall. Even though Meredith had only been a tenant for a few hours, the room already smelled like lavender. And to Derek, that meant that it smelled like home.

"We have a tub?" he gasped, raising his eyes at her seductively.

"We have a tub," she repeated. She lifted her dress off her body, leaving her wearing only a black lace bra and panties. She walked in front of him and bent over the tub, turning off the water. Her particular position gave him a great view of her lithe, curvy body, and he immediately moved towards her, desperate to touch her.

She turned back towards him and began undoing his tie while he unfastened her bra. Their eyes were locked on each other.

"I love you so much, Meredith," he whispered anxiously.

"I love you, too," she responded before kissing him gently.

They finished undressing quickly, and slid into the tub. Derek wrapped his arms and legs around Meredith's as she leaned back into him, allowing the hot bubbly water to wash away any of the doubts and insecurities that still lingered between them. They were getting another chance with a fresh start, and that was all that mattered to either one.

A/N: Thanks to all of the readers who have been so supportive of this fic! I'm both happy and sad that it's over. It's been quite the labor of love, and I learned a lot while writing it. I will certainly write more MerDer fics in the future (although it will be after a much needed break). If you enjoyed this, you might want to add me to your author alerts so you know when I start my next project. Who knows – maybe it will even be a sequel!