Chapter 31:
February 1, 2007- Seattle, Washington

A few days had passed and Meredith had made it through them. Derek had forced the Chief to give her some time off, so she hadn't been back to the hospital. Today, Seattle had decided to open up, pouring rain down on the large group of people circled around for one general cause. Meredith was hanging on tightly to Derek. One of his arms was wrapped around her back, pulling her close to him and the other was holding an umbrella above her. Meredith couldn't make herself look. She just buried her head in Derek's chest as the hot tears rolled down her cheeks.

All of the faces and voices in the background, blended together with the rain. Meredith knew Cristina was at her side, but she wasn't really sure who the rest of the people were. As they began to lower the coffin into the ground, she forced herself to look up. She saw Dr. Webber on the other side. He was standing next to Adele with a stern look on his face. She knew this was killing him, but he kept it hidden. It was as if it was just another patient to him.

Meredith hadn't realized that she was walking once the funeral was over. She kept close to Derek, almost as if he was her life support. People continued to come by and whisper sweet words or touch her on the shoulder. She shivered every time she felt anyone other than Derek and he would give them an apologetic look for her. She hadn't been talking much at all, but he knew that she just wanted to be with him right now. Not alone, but away from everything else.

February 17, 2007- Seattle, Washington

As the days continued to pass, Meredith went back to work. Derek checked up on her and had made Bailey give Finn's case to Cristina. He was surprised when she obliged, but he began to think that Bailey understood that Meredith had too much on her plate. Derek still missed Meredith's smile, but he could tell it was coming back soon. She stayed away from tequila and only got a beer once or twice at the trailer. She still wouldn't open up to Derek, but he figured that the fact that she was staying sober was a miracle all in itself.

It was getting close to summer and the sun was shining through the glass at the overpass in the hospital. Derek saw Meredith leaning on the railing, looking out at the sky. He stopped next to her and looked at her, "I think we need a vacation."

"What?" Meredith asked, looking over at Derek.

"A vacation. We need one."

"I've only been at work for a week since my last vacation," Meredith said referring to the time she had off for her Mother's funeral.

"That wasn't a vacation. We were still in Seattle and I still had to come to work. I'm talking a real vacation. When we fly somewhere and you meet people," Derek said, letting Meredith know that he had an idea of where they were going to go.

"Meet people?"

"Yes, people. People with dark brown hair and blue eyes," Derek said making Meredith laugh a little, "My family."

Meredith stepped away from the railing and turned to face Derek, "You're family?" she asked uncomfortably.

"Yes. My family. They live in a city full of tourism. It'll be fun," Derek said, pleading Meredith to agree.

"You mean, New York?"

"No," Derek said surprising Meredith, "I move to New York for college, but I grew up a little farther down South."

"So you're a Southern boy now?" Meredith said as a smile crept upon her face.

Derek couldn't help but smile excitedly at her smile, "It's in Virginia. It really doesn't belong there. The city isn't really Southern at all. Except for the few farms left," Derek said.

"So where are we going, Dr. Shepherd?"

"We are going to Virginia Beach, Virginia. Home."