DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN GREY'S ANATOMY, I wish I did.

John: So Derek, her seems nice.

Meredith: Yeah, he is.

John: So a date tomorrow. You aren't wasting anytime.

Meredith: I have a quota to meet. (laughs.)

John: Yes, you do...We should probably return to your friends. (They walk into the kitchen, everyone is looking better that they did. They all drank John's tonic.) Well, you guys look better!

Cristina: That stuff is amazing!

Alex: What is in it?

John: Can't tell, it's an old family recipe. (He smiles.) So are you guys up for breakfast? (Everyone said no, except for Meredith and George. John made them pancakes, he was an expert at flipping them out of the pan.)

Meredith: So how was the business trip?

John: As great as a business trip can be. It's in my suitcase.

Meredith: What is? (Looking innocently.)

John: Oh, come on! You know I bring you something every time I leave town. I could see you looking around for it.

Meredith: Whatever do you mean? (She cocks her head to the side.)

John: It's in my suitcase, in the office. (She runs off to his office.)

Izzie: That is so cool, you bring her a souvenir every time you go out of town.

John: Yes, I always have, she had quite the collection. (Meredith comes back into the kitchen holding a Tiffany's box.) What do you think.

Meredith: Their gorgeous! (She shows everyone the sapphire and diamond necklace.)

Izzie: Oh my gosh.

Cristina: That wasn't cheap. (Meredith shoots her a look.)

Alex: What makes you think she deserves that? (He lets out a laugh.)

John: Because, she is the love of my life. (He walks over and kisses her on the head. Everyone is surprised at how kind and loving he is to Meredith. They have never seen her to the same back.) So how are the pancakes?

George: They are great! I love them with the pecans in them! (Meredith grabs his last pancake off of his plate.) Hey!

Meredith: I'm still hungry!

Alex: Aren't you always, Machine?

Meredith: That is just not nice!

Everyone goes down and helps clean up the basement, including John. He couldn't believe what a mess they had made They are having a good time remembering they had last night.

Izzie: It was so funny when we were throwing popcorn at you and Derek:

John: Oh, so Derek stayed for awhile last night? (They all look at each other thinking that they shouldn't have said anything.)

Meredith: Yes he did. We all watched the video of the rare surgery that he will be doing tomorrow. We didn't end up watching much of it because we got in the popcorn fight. He had too much to drink, and had to take a cab home. I asked him to stay, but he wouldn't. That is when I asked him on the date, honey. (Alex was sure this was going to start a fight. Meredith was really throwing some low blows. Can you imagine a wife telling her husband that she asked out a man in their house, and they spent the night watching movies and playing around.)

John: Oh, I see. So he is your boss, huh? (Everyone could tell he was a little hurt.)

Meredith: Yes, he is. Derek is the head of Neuro. He is very good. (She smiles.)

Alex: You know, I think I really need to get going. (He was feeling uncomfortable.) John, it was nice meeting you.

The others: Yeah me too, I have to work tomorrow. (They had pretty much finished cleaning up.)

John: Thanks for taking care of my wife. Oh and puking on my tennis court. (He begins laughing.)

Meredith: Well, let me walk you guys out. (They all walk upstairs to get their stuff in silence.) Did you guys have a good time?

All: Oh yeah! It was great. (Everyone said their goodbyes and Cristina stays behind.)

Cristina: You know I am your person, right?

Meredith: Of course.

Cristina: I am not the type of person to, well, I'll just say it. Give the guy a freaking break. I mean it was so long ago, he made one mistake. He is so in love with you, you can't even appreciate that. You just nag him, and purposely hurt him. You know how he must have felt with you saying those things in front of everyone. You need to be happy with what you have, there are people who would kill to have what you do. So there. I am done, not saying anything more.

Meredith: It didn't happen to you. You don't know what you are talking about. I thought you were my friend. Just leave!

Cristina: Meredith...

Meredith: No, just go!

Cristina: Fine! (She storms out.)

Meredith: I can't believe this. What the hell. She is supposed to be my friend.

John: Is everything OK?

Meredith: No!

John: Do you want to talk about it?

Meredith: No! (She goes down to the basement. She is upset she decides to watch some surgical tapes. They always make her feel better. She sits there for a few minutes, before deciding to call Derek.) Hey Derek, It's Meredith. Are you busy?

Derek: Nope. What's going on?

Meredith: I was just wondering where we are going on our date. I assume we will leave from the hospital.

Derek: Wear something nice, elegant. It will be a surprise.

Meredith: OK. I can't wait. Talk to you later.

Derek: See you.

Monday's surgery went well, Meredith and Alex scrubbed in. They were all talking about the weekend, but no one else knew what they were talking about. They were laughing and having a good time. Cristina and Meredith were still not talking. It was getting near the time to go on the date. Meredith took a shower in the locker room, and got dressed in her dark blue evening gown, and new sapphire earrings and necklace. She looked absolutely gorgeous.

Cristina: You look nice. Have fun on your date, Miss Adulterous.

Meredith: What did you say? I'll have you know John did tell me I had to date!

Cristina: Whatever. Oh, those earrings, the ones your HUSBAND bought you. They look nice.

Meredith just walks out, ignoring her last comment. When she gets down to the main entrance Derek is working on his laptop. He looks up, she looks so beautiful.

Derek: You look amazing! Are you ready.

Meredith: As I ever will be.

Derek: Oh shoot, I have to stop home before we go. Is that OK?

Meredith: Sure.

They made small talk all the way to the trailer. As they pulled up Meredith gasped.

Derek: What?

Meredith: It's beautiful!

Derek: The trailer?

Meredith: No, the land! I can see why you bought it. I would love to have this.

Meredith and Derek go into the trailer. It is small, but it is cute. It is just like him, very simple.

Derek: So are you ready to go to the restaurant?

Meredith: No, lets just stay here. Can you cook?

Derek: I love to cook, why?

Meredith: Cook me dinner.

Derek: OK, but we have reservations, and you are all dressed up.

Meredith: I told you, I am a simple girl.

Derek begins preparing the meal. He looks out a sees Meredith sitting out on the grass looking at the stars. He makes the table out on his small porch, and puts the food out.

Derek: It's ready!

Meredith: Oh, it looks great! (She takes a bite.) It is wonderful!

Derek: You are so funny! So simple. Did you always want to be a doctor?

Meredith: Yeah, my mom always said that I wouldn't make it. So I pushed harder and harder just to prove her wrong. What about you?

Derek: I always have, the brain it just amazes me. Where did you go to college?

Meredith: Dartmouth.

Derek: So you and John, you survived a long distance relationship?

Meredith: He went there too. He could have went anywhere, but he chose to go with me. But enough about that.

They finished their dinner and went outside to sit on the grass. They both just looked at the stars.

Meredith: I have always dreamed of a place like this. A small farmhouse with a wrap around porch. Maybe some horses running in the field. So quiet, so perfect, so simple.

Derek: So John, the house, that is what he wanted?

Meredith: Yeah. He thought it was what I wanted too. He tries, ya know. It's just not enough. It's time for that chapter to end. I just want to be happy.

Derek: You deserve to be happy. (He looks into her eyes. They lean in and kiss. It felt amazing. There was a connection. Meredith pulls away.)

Meredith: It's not that I don't want to, I do, it's just not right. I like you a lot. But until the divorce is over...

Derek: You're right.

Meredith: I want to see you again, this was great! So when are you free?

Derek: Anytime this week.

Meredith: How about Thursday?

Derek: Thursday is great. Let me take you back to the hospital to get your car.

Meredith drove home feeling a little guilty about the date. She really enjoyed it, she really liked Derek. When she got home, John was in the office.

John: Did you have a good time?

Meredith: Yeah I did.

John: Where did you go?

Meredith: Derek cooked me dinner, we had a great time.

Derek: So you wore those new earrings I got you for nothing?

Meredith: No! It was a nice dinner. They went along with the gown.

John: And the grass stains. (He laughed.)

Meredith: We didn't do anything.

John: I know you didn't. I trust you.

Meredith: I know you do. I need to go to bed. Goodnight.

John: Good night.

John was feeling like he made the wrong decision, telling Meredith to date. He wasn't ready to lose her. He still loved her more than anything in the world. He would lay down and die for her. She was the reason he breathed in and out everyday. Too bad she didn't realize that.