Notes: Finally! I get to update this story and here's the next chapter. This should have been up 3 days ago, but for some reason wouldn't allow it. Special thanks to samsolace for teaching me how to update. You rock!

Thank you very much for your reviews. It means a lot. Hope you'll enjoy.

"Michael seems to think that you're going to go into a state of shock when you find out I'm alive."

The floor rocked beneath Meredith. She slowly turned, drawn to the voice. Then her knees went weak at the sight of the owner. If it not had been Michael holding her up, she would have collapsed to the floor.

Was this some kind of a sick joke? She thought to herself. She stared at the figure by the living room door. His features resembled Derek, the carved cheek and jaw, the strong chin and slightly crooked nose. The eyes were the same piercing blue ones, but they wore a narrowed and hooded look, as if they were looking into her soul.

Then she noticed the differences. His face was burned by the sun, giving hardness to the features that in Derek had been dreamily handsome. His wavy hair was the same deep shade of brown, but it was mush longer than Derek had ever worn it. He was as the same height as Derek, but his built was more muscled. Not that Derek had been a weakling by any means, it was just his man seemed more developed without appearing heavier.

But the way Michael was acting diminished that thought that this was a cruel joke.

"It's true," Meredith breathed. It was neither a statement nor a question, her hands unconsciously clinging unto Michael's arm for support as she felt the cold weight of his engagement ring on her finger.

"It looks like Michael was right," that familiar, lazy voice drawled dryly. "My return is more of a shock to you than I though it would be," Derek observed. He shifted his gaze to Michael. "I think she needs a glass of water."

"Right," Michael agreed, and curved an arm around her waist. "C'mon, let's go find you a seat." And then to Derek, "Seeing you in the doorway was bound to have been like seeing a ghost. I told you we were all convinced you were dead."

As Meredith sat in the living room, she became aware of the presence of close family and friends, here to celebrate Derek's return. The fleeting silence told her that they had been watching the reunion between husband and wife – or rather, the lack of it. Derek come to sit in front of her.

It was then that Meredith realized that she had not so much as touched Derek, let alone joyously fallen into his arms, like everyone must have expected her to do. Her one swaying attempt had been futile as her legs seemed to have lost its strength. And Michael had been there, holding her to place. It would seem staged and fake if she did so now.

But deep inside her, she already knew that when the time comes, she would have to fake it because although the man in front of her was obviously Derek Shepherd, he did not seem like the same man she had married. He looked at her in an aloof coolness. She felt like she was looking at a total stranger.

Michael approached, automatically seating beside her and handing her a glass of water. When her hand faltered, Michael's hand was immediately there to help her bring the glass to her lips. It was then that Meredith had realized that Michael hadn't told Derek of the engagement. But his actions were telling the story. And Meredith was aware of Derek's eyes. Behind that façade of lazy interest, he was watching every damn detail.

When she finally found the strength, she raised a hesitant gaze to Derek. "How –" she began, "I mean, when – "

"I walked out of the jungle two weeks ago," he anticipated the question and answered it.

"Two weeks ago?" That was before she had agreed to marry Michael. "Why didn't you let...someone know?" Her right hand unconsciously moved to cover her left, hiding Derek's rings and Michael's engagement ring.

"I had a hard time convincing the authorities that I am who I say I am. They too, believed I was dead." He finished with a cynical smile.

"The moment they believe Derek's story," Caroline Shepherd interjected, speaking for the first time, "he took the first plane out to come home." She beamed at him, obviously just happy that her son is alive and back.

"You should have called." Meredith couldn't help saying it. She might have been better prepared for the new Derek Shepherd if she knew beforehand.

"I did." He replied plainly. And Meredith remembered the telephone ringing before she left the house.

"When Derek couldn't get hold of any of you, he called me. And I came here right away to tell you and Mrs. Shepherd." Michael supplied.

"Michael was a stunned as you were, Mer." He said, but everyone didn't seem to notice the lack of amusement in his voice. Meredith's gaze at him wavered. It has been so long since anyone had called her 'Mer,' it was only Derek who did. Everyone just referred to her as Meredith or for most of the time, Mrs. Shepherd.

"So, Derek! How did you survive in the jungle? It seems like a miracle!" Mr. Lane, Derek's godfather suddenly broke out. And with that, Derek began to tell the story about the crash and the events that followed, Meredith listening all the way.

The small chartered plane had developed an engine problem and they crashed in to the jungle. When Derek came to, He found the other four people aboard dead. With a broken leg, a few fractured ribs and a gash on the forehead, he had managed to pull free of his seat belt and got out of the plane. Meredith's gazed found the scar that had made a permanent crease on his forehead.

Sometime after that, Derek, who had always hired someone to do something if it required professional experience and skill, had set his own broken leg and began his journey through the jungle. He had fruits and whatever wild animals he could trap for food. And this was supposed to be Derek Shepherd who had considered hunting as a disgusting sport. Meredith then had realized that Derek left a civilized man and came back part primitive.

"There's something I don't understand," Mr. Lane frowned when Derek had finished telling his story. "Why did the authorities tell us you were dead after they'd found the wreckage? Surely they must have discovered there was a body missing," he added bluntly.

"Did you burry them, Derek?" his mother asked. "Is that why they didn't find any bodies?"

"No mother, I didn't burry them. It would have required a bulldozer to get the bodies out." Derek remarked plainly. "But there were a lot of scavengers in the jungle." He added. Meredith paled at this. He sounded so cold and insensitive!

The talking came to a stop when Mary, the housekeeper appeared to announce that dinner would be ready in an hour. And with that, Meredith excused herself to go freshen up before dinner.

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Meredith got out of the bathroom, wrapping a towel around her and made her way to far corner of the room to her closet. When there was a click on the door she turned surprised and saw Derek walk in. Her mouth opened to yell at the intruder, then closed. He was her husband. How could she order him out of her bedroom?

Her hands tightened their hold on her towel as Derek fixed his eyes on her, like a predator would its prey. Her palms moistening in nervousness, Meredith was aware of the implied intimacy of the room and her own nakedness underneath the towel.

The black cotton pants and red button down shirt he wore gave him a cultured look, but his eyes were sending a different message. Derek closed the door, not releasing her from his pinning gaze. Her breath was caught at her throat and her heart pounded like there was no tomorrow.

"I've gone through hell to get back to you, Meredith, but you can't seem to walk across the room to meet me." The accusation was made in a smooth, low tone laced with sarcastic amusement.

Her steps were stiff and her back rigid as she approached him. Stopping in front of him, she searched her mind for words that she could sincerely say.

"I'm glad you're back safely," were the ones she could offer that had a ring of truth.

Derek waited – for her kiss and the muscles in her stomach contracted sharply in realization. After hesitating for a second, she forced herself on tiptoes to bring her lips against his mouth in a cool kiss. His hands spanned the back of her waist, burning through the material on her naked flesh. His light touch felt foreign, almost alien.

At her attempt to break the kiss, Derek's arms held her close, his fingers raking into her dirty blond hair to force her lips to his. Her slender body was pressed onto his. Her heartbeat skittered madly in alarm. The hungry demand of his bruising mouth asked more that Meredith could give to a man who seemed more of a stranger than her husband.

Then she finally broke free. Her breathing was rugged and uneven and she avoided his eyes. "I have to get dressed." She breathed. "They're waiting downstairs." She turned and started walking back to her closet. Meredith could feel his blue eyes boring holes into her. Her knees felt like jell-o.

"You mean Michael is waiting," Derek corrected with deadly softness.

"Of course, isn't Michael there with the others?" Something in her ticked.

"I've had three and a half years of forced celibacy, Meredith. How about you?" The dry accusation in his voice spun her around, fires blazing in her green eyes. But Derek didn't give her a chance to defend herself. "How long after I disappeared before Michael moved in?" He was now standing in front of her.

"He didn't move in!" she denied.

At that he grabbed her hand, his strong grip almost crushing the slender bones of her fingers. "Don't you call it moving in when another man's ring joins the ones I put on you finger? Did you think I wouldn't notice?" he blazed, releasing her hand in a violent gesture of disgust.

"What did you want me to say? 'Honey, I'm so glad you're alive. Oh, by the way, I'm engaged to another man.' Forgive me for having more sense than that!" She spat back.

"When he proposed to me, I thought you were dead and I was free to accept."

"So are you saying that you wish I was still in the grave!?!"

"No! I don't wish that," she denied.

"Well, now you know I'm alive. You're my wife. You're still married to me." The way he said it in such cold, concise tones, made it sound like a life sentence.

"I'm aware of that, Derek." Meredith was trembling, she didn't know from what. "But this isn't the time to discuss this. Your mother is waiting downstairs and I still have to get dressed for dinner."

"Yes," he agreed after a silent pause, "now is not the time." Then he walked to the door, yanked it open and slammed it shut.

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Dinner had gone by smoothly. She sat at his left side. Derek made the appropriate comments and praises on the food. But Meredith could tell that he didn't enjoy them like he used to. He made small talk to the guests, he acted normally.

After dinner, coffee was served in the living room. Derek kept Meredith by his side the whole time. Michael stood at the far side of the room, talking to some people. As Meredith glanced his way, he looked up, excused himself from the conversation and walked towards them. As Michael approached, Meredith saw Derek's eyes narrowing as he spotted him coming.

"Just like old times, Derek," Michael began, forcing a smile, "coming over to your house and –"

"Michael," Derek interrupted calmly, "Meredith has told me about your engagement." The room grew silent.

"I'm glad you know. I –" Michael lowered his gazed searching for words.

"I don't bear ill feelings, Michael. You've always been a good friends and I'd like it to continue that way." Derek offered his hand to Michael and he shook it.

"Naturally, the engagement is off," Derek stated with a smile that contrasted the sharp seriousness in his eyes.

"Yes," Michael agreed with a slight smile of his own.

Meredith felt a rush of anger that she could be tossed aside so readily without protest. And that she hadn't been consulted about her feelings and wishes on the matter. But she immediately berated herself. It was what she wanted. Derek was alive and she was married to him. She didn't want to divorce him to marry Michael, so why was she freaking out?

After that confrontation about the engagement, the party became anticlimactic. And a few moments later, the guests had begun leaving.

"That's all of them," Derek announced as the last members of the guests went out the door.

"I'll go help your mother and Mary clean up," Meredith started to turn away.

"There's no need," Derek caught her arm but released it quickly, "I'm sure they can handle it."

Meredith didn't protest, the day had been exceptionally long. And she was physically beat as well as mentally exhausted. All she really wanted was to go to sleep, so she started for the stairs, half aware that Derek was following close behind her.

"You didn't return Michael's ring," he stated flatly.

"No…" she raised her hand and glanced at the ring, "I must have forgotten." She was too tired to care about such a small detail.

Suddenly, Derek seized her hand and stripped the ring from her finger and placed it on her palm.

"You'll return it to him tomorrow, when he comes for Sunday brunch."

Meredith didn't answer; she just turned and resumed climbing the stairs. When she reached the top, she walked towards her bedroom, the first door on the right. As she reached the door, Derek's arm reached around her to open the door. She stopped and whipped around, her expression perplexed.

"What are you doing?" She frowned.

"I'm going to bed." He raised an eyebrow as he eyed her coolly. "Where do you think I was going to sleep?"

Meredith's gaze darted madly about, as if hoping for someone to come to her rescue. "I…I didn't actually think about it." She faltered. "I had gotten used to sleeping alone…" she trailed off.

His hand was at the small of her back, firmly directing her into the room. "Surely, you don't expect that to continue?"

"I….," god, she did, Meredith realized. "I think it would be better…..for a while." She stopped at the center of the room.

"You do?" His head tilted to the right, his blue eyes meeting her wavering look.

"I do." Meredith's heart quickened as Derek took off his coat and began unbuttoning his shirt.

"Derek, it's been three and a half years," she tried to reason with him.

"Tell me about it," he inserted dryly.

"I don't know you anymore. You're like a stranger to me." Her throat tightened, making her voice small. "I can't just hop into bed with – "

"Your husband?" He finished the sentence and looked at her with burning eyes. "Who else would you choose?"

The shirt was coming off exposing his tanned chest and shoulders. Meredith's senses sprang in alarm as she felt the force of his desire. In an attempt to break the spell, she stiffly walked to her dresser, placing Michaels ring in her jewel case.

"No one. That isn't what I meant." She stood in front of the dresser, hands flat on its top.

"You've become hard, Derek, a cynic," she accused, lifting her gaze to the mirror, as he came up behind her. "I can imagine what you've gone through – "

"Can you?" he cut her off bitterly. "Can you imagine how many nights I held on my sanity by holding on to the vision of a woman with striking green eyes and dirty blond hair that smelled of lavender?" His fingers twined themselves through her hair. "And when I finally see her again, she's clinging to the arm of my best friend." All he wanted was for her lips to kiss away those horrible memories.

"Did you even miss me, Meredith?" He turned her around, yanking her towards him. "Did you even grieve?"

"When you disappeared, I was falling apart with fear. But your mother was even more of a mess. So I had to be strong and be there for her. I spent most of my time comforting her." Her eyes stung with tears that she refused to shed.

"And then the company started to fall apart and Michael insisted that I had to take over. So I was forced to go in head first into another world. In the morning I was too busy trying to save the company and in the evening, there was your mother who needed comforting and support. The only time I had for myself was in this room. And I took sleeping pills so I could get some rest and be able to get through the next day. So, the truth is, Derek, I didn't have time to grieve."

"But you had time for Michael," he accused, unmoved by her words and stared at her with dark icy eyes.

Meredith flinched at that. "It started very innocently. He was your best friend. Michael was always there. It grew from there after you were reported killed. I needed him." She explained.

"And I need you – now." He drew her inside his strong arms, flattening her against his bare chest.

Her senses rocked at the feel of his flesh beneath her hands. His warm breath hovered over her face, his musky scent enveloping her. His hand crept to her back and the zipper of her dress was undone.

"Stop it!" She struggled to keep him from sliding the dress of her shoulders.

"No!" he growled. Stopping her protests with his mouth.

Meredith pushed and twisted, trying to escape. But he was too strong for her. Cruelly, Derek ravished the softness of her lips. Beneath her straining hands, she felt the flexing of his muscles. He was slowly devouring her strength, wearing her down. She tried to pound at him, but her tiny ineffectual fists made little damage. Her efforts were futile.

When the pressure of his mouth eased, as he came up for air, she yanked and broke out of his arms. Gasping for air, she backed down from him. But her retreat was stopped short by the dresser. Derek stared her down like a cornered animal.

"Derek, don't do this," She lifted her head, her eyes pleading as she gazed into his.

In one swift motion he was again in front of her. "Stop with the mock frigidity. I remember clearly what a passionate lover you are."

Meredith paled as she remembered too. Her veins jumping like beans when he drew her to his body.

"Don't destroy our marriage," she whispered her plea, "I want to love you again, Derek."

With a muffled curse, he buried his face in her hair. "Damn you! Why didn't you say that when I came home?" he muttered in a rasping sound that suggested pain. "Why did you have to wait until now?" Effortlessly, he swung her off her feet and into his arms, "I couldn't care less now. You're mine and I want you."

The lights were turned off, darkening the entire room. Derek carried her to the bed, guided by instinct. He didn't bother to pull down the covers as he laid her down the bed.

"Derek." There was an unspoken plea in the way she spoke his name, a last attempt to make him stop.

"No," he answered, the cushion sagged under his weight. "Don't ask me to wait, Mer." His low voice commanded near hear ear, his breath stirring her hair. "It's been too long."

A series of drugging passionate kisses made Meredith's mind blank to all but the demands of her body. For a time, she glimpsed heights she had thought she would never see again. Derek sought out all the places that brought her the most pleasure, waiting until she moaned his name in final surrender.

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Phew! So that's chapter 2. And just like the MerDer we know so well, they couldn't keep their hands off of each other. Well, Meredith did protest at first but she caved in the end. Who could resist the charms of McDreamy, right? Lol.

So, I would like to hear from you. Reviews, please.

Next chapter (again, if I get enough reviews. Hehe!): What's next after all that? And conflict will rise in the office.