Thanks to everyone who supported me during my copycat issue. I had different plans for this chapter originally, except Meredith and Derek decided to change it for me. Again, I cannot thank you guys enough for all of your support and your help on this matter. More importantly, thanks for still continuing to read!

Derek had searched the entire hospital, but found no trace of Meredith. He'd checked the stairwells and the on-call rooms, but it was as though she disappeared. This made no sense to him because he knew she had told him she was staying over night in the hospital. So he'd decided to wait outside Richard's room until she showed up to check on their patient. Imagine his surprise when Cristina showed up. He looked at her questioningly.

" I told Meredith I'd cover for her tonight, because it's my fault you two are fighting. Except she doesn't know that, " Cristina told him lowly.

" How is it your fault?"

" Because the thing that has you so freaked out? It's not Meredith's."

" You're pregnant, " Derek asked a little louder than he meant to.

" Keep it down will you? No one knows, except for you."

" What about the father? Does he know?"

" No, and he's not going too either. You should go find Meredith. I sent her home. "

" How mad is she? "

Cristina shot him a look that was accompanied by a laugh that might be considered maniacal, possibly even evil.

" You have no idea."

How did one go about apologizing to their girlfriend for implying they were a whore? Derek wasn't sure, but he thought maybe Joe would have an idea, so he made his way across the street to Emerald City for some advice and just the slightest of liquid courage. Upon stepping inside, he was certain he had died and gone to hell. He was being punished for being a bad catholic. There sitting together at the bar, laughing and giggling, was his girlfriend and his not so ex wife yet. He blinked to make certain he wasn't dreaming, but when he opened his eyes they were still there. Joe waved to him and he waved back, slightly dazed before heading towards the two women.

" I thought you'd be at home, " Derek addressed Meredith first. She turned on her bar stool and it was then he saw at least five shot glasses lined up in front of her.

" Well, I was going to go, but my good friend Addison here talked me into having a drink with her, " Meredith replied, her words slurring just the slightest.

It was then Addison turned to look at him, clearly not as drunk, but most certainly on her way to it.

" Well, I figured we should have some girl talk. You know seeing as we have so much in common, " Addison added on helpfully.

" You're trying to torture me, aren't you Addie, " Derek whined pitifully.

" Not in the slightest. I just wanted to get to know the woman who has captured my husband's heart."

" Do you know he called me a whore, " Meredith asked Addison, looking at her new friend

sadly.

" I did not call you a whore and I really don't think she's the person you should be discussing this with. Come on, we'll go home and we can talk about it there, " He tried to reason with her, but she wasn't having it.

" Seriously? He called you a whore? Now that's romance there, " Addison replied sarcastically as if Derek had never spoken.

" I did not call her a whore. Meri, come on. We can talk about this at home. Where we don't have an audience."

" I want to stay here with Addison. We were having fun, 'til you showed up, " Meredith pouted.

" I don't doubt it. Please, Meredith. It's been a long day. You can talk to Addison later. When you're both sober. "

" You know he didn't even tell me you were coming out. Our Chief of Surgery told me. And he's been preaching at me all day for hiding something, but I don't have a clue what he's talking about, " Meredith rambled on.

" At least he talks to you. Even now, he's trying to pretend I don't exist, " Addison countered as she sipped her drink.

" No, I wish you didn't exist. There's a difference. Meredith, please. Can we just go home? "

" You know, I don't remember him being this whiny. Of course, that could be because in order for him to whine he'd have to talk and talking wasn't something we did."

" Satan, please shut up. You're not helping me here, " Derek snapped.

" Did he just call you Satan? "

" I think he did. Isn't that sweet? "

" Seriously."

" Meredith, I don't want to make a scene here, but I will remove you from this bar if necessary. Let's go home."

" Oh, what are you going to do? Throw me over your shoulder like a caveman, " Meredith snorted, clearly not believing him.

"If I have too."

" You're not serious."

" I think he's serious. Don't worry Meredith, Satan will still be here tomorrow. We can pick up later on, " Addison assured her.

Addison heard Derek mutter something under his breath along the lines of 'not if I can help it', but she didn't comment.

Releasing a breath he didn't realize he was holding, Derek eagerly helped Meredith into her coat. Finally, they could go home and talk about this. Well he could apologize and she could listen. Everything would be just fine...right?

-X-

Getting home and making her listen was proving to be difficult. First of all, she'd made a beeline for the bathroom as soon as they got in the door and he'd had to walk behind her as she'd stumbled up the steps. Derek had waited patiently for her to come to bed, but ten minutes later there was still no sign of Meredith. Crossing the hall, he'd knocked on the door and got no response. He tried the door, only to find it locked.

" Meredith, " Derek called through the door.

" Go away."

"Meredith, are you okay, " His voice became concerned.

" I'm fine. Now leave me alone, " She all but growled back at him.

" This is ridiculous, Meredith. Open the door."

The door swung open and Meredith's angry face appeared. She glared at him, eyes glassy and full of rage.

" Fuck. Off ," She spat at him, before slamming the door shut in his face.

" Oh, that's real mature, Dr. Grey. What are you, two? "

" I'm already pissed off at you, Dr. Shepherd. Do you really want to go there with me right now?"

" What I want is for you to open the door and discuss this like a rational adult, instead of a two year old child. "

" That's rich, coming from you. I distinctly recall you implying that I was a whore. "

" Dammit, Meredith. If you'd just come out here, we could talk this out. I'm sorry for what I said. Now will you please open the damn door?"

Derek heard her laughter though the door and he thought for a second she might cave.

" If you think a simple apology is going to make this better then you really shouldn't be a brain surgeon, Derek, because you obviously don't have a brain."

Taking a deep breath to try and reign in his growing agitation with her behavior, he decided to try a different tactic.

" Meri, sweetheart, I'm really and truly sorry for what I said. Now, come on baby, it's late and we can talk this out, " Derek leaned his forehead against the door, only to nearly fall through the open doorway a few seconds later.

" Did you seriously just pet name me, " Meredith's eyes were narrowed at him and he felt distinctly like a bug under a microscope. Deciding not to let her intimidate him, he went with a cocky response.

" It got you out here, " He replied smugly.

" Seriously!"

" Come on, Meredith, I apologized. What more do you want?"

" You apologized? Yes. Except I didn't hear any apology about not telling me your freaking wife was coming into town!"

" I was trying to tell you this afternoon when you went all crazy on me!"

A heated glare was pointed in his direction and suddenly, Derek was just as mad as she was. He'd been trying to apologize to her all damn day, but she'd dodged his pages and wouldn't answer his calls and when he'd finally found her, she'd been getting drunk and making friends with his wife. He glared right back at her watching as she prepared to slam the door shut on him again. This time he was ready for her and he used his shoulder to block her attempt. She seemed mildly surprised. That lasted for all of about two seconds before she pushed him out of her way.

On instinct he caught her as she passed and spun her around to face him. Her cheeks were tinged with pink from her angry and she smelled of tequila and just the slightest hint of lavender from the conditioner she used. It was then he took notice of how incredibly sexy she looked when she was mad.

" It would be in your best interest to let me go, Derek. I'm not in the mood to deal with you right now."

" Well, that's unfortunate for you, Dr. Grey. Because I'm not letting you go."

" Do you really want to wake up without a vital piece of your anatomy, Derek, because the way you're acting,. you just might- " Meredith was silenced by him using his free hand to cover her mouth.

" Meredith? Shut up, " He watched as her eyes widened and in an instant he'd replaced his hand with his mouth, shoving her against the wall as he did so.

She responded to him instinctively, hands gripping against his shoulders, torn between wanting to push him way, but finding herself drawing him closer. A moment later not an inch of space could be found between them. His hands dropped down to her hips and he gripped them so hard she knew she'd have bruises later, but she couldn't seem to find it in her to care.

His kiss was punishing and when he pulled away from her for air, Meredith knew if she could see into a mirror she'd find them swollen. Angrily, she pulled his head back down and kissed him back just as ferociously. Derek lifted her up and her legs locked around his waist. He pushed against her and she felt the proof of his arousal. She rocked against him and she heard him groan.

Smiling in satisfaction at seemingly having the upper hand, her nails scraped across the back of his neck . Meredith dragged her mouth from his and dropped her head to his neck, delighted at the way he instantly craned it to the side to give her better access. She bit down hard, enjoying his cry of pain, before soothing the damaged skin with her tongue. His hands drew her shirt up and she paused momentarily to allow him to pull it over her head. Seconds later, they were moving and she was dropped unceremoniously on the bed.

Derek left her only for a second before covering her body with his. She pulled his sweater up and over his head, tossing it to the side before grabbing each side of his shirt and pulling. Buttons flew everywhere and she could hear a few dropping to the wood floor.

" That shirt was a gift, " Derek said in between kisses, obviously irritated.

" From who? Your wife?"

He glared at her before slipping his arms under her back and ripping the clasp on her bra.

"Do you know how much that cost!"

" Hmm...let me think. Oh, here's a thought; I don't care."

" You're such an asshole."

He grinned at her, in that cocky arrogant smug sort of way that made her want to slap him and screw his brains out all at the same time.

She settled for the screwing his brains out.

-x-

The dawn of morning found Meredith with a horrible hangover and an empty bed. Her body ached all over and she knew that her hips were bruised without even looking. They had most certainly worked out their issues on one another. Both had finally passed out from exhaustion.

There was a glass of water and two aspirin on the nightstand, so she knew he wasn't too angry at her.

Grabbing her cashmere robe, Meredith slipped it on and crept quietly down the hall. She could hear him typing away furiously on his laptop from his study and she stood in the open doorway, waiting for him to notice her. He was bare chested with his hair mussed and a large red mark on the side of his neck.

" Good morning, " Derek greeted, but didn't look up.

" Good morning, " She repeated back softly as she crossed the room and perched herself on the side of his desk.

When he finally looked over at her, she saw his eyes were bloodshot and he looked upset.

" I'm sorry. For the past two days, for everything I said, and for everything I didn't say. Most of all I'm sorry for my behavior this morning. It was never my intention to hurt you, " He said lowly, unable to meet her eyes as he spoke.

Meredith heard everything he said, but the last sentence bothered her.

" You're apologizing for the best sex I ever had? "

" I hurt you, " Derek muttered, his hand reaching out to brush over her hip.

" Derek , you didn't hurt me. We just got a little carried away. I know you'd never intentionally hurt me, " Her hand wrapped around his and she brought it to her lips and kissed it gently, trying to show him she really was okay with what happened.

All she got in return was a halfhearted smile.