Disclaimer: We don't own Grey's Anatomy. And that's okay. Because if we did, there's not much we could do to improve it. Actually...fire Isaiah. Yep. That would do it. Team TR all the way!

I trudged into my trailer, my entire body drooping from absolute exhaustion. I had been at work for nearly fifty hours, a six car pile up had guaranteed that. I loved my job, and in the OR, I wasn't tired, but once the surgery was over, I was exhuasted. Today was no different as I collapsed onto my bed, not even bothering to remove any of my clothing or shoes. I just needed to sleep. My eyes started to blissfully close the second my head was down, the world around me fading a cloud of darkness. Meredith briefly flashed through my mind. It had been four days and still no call. But right now I was too tired. I was seconds from sleep, I knew I was seconds from sleep. And then the phone rang.

I rolled over and grabbed the damn thing, seriously considering turning it off and sending the caller to voicemail. It was probably my mother. But I sighed and flipped my phone open, not even bothering to look at the display. "Shepherd."

"Derek?" the tentative voice on the other side said, my eyes opening wide again immediately. I knew that voice. I had been waiting for that voice. "It's Meredith," she said unnecessarily.

"Meredith," I sat up in bed quickly, suddenly alert and awake. "Hey. How are you?"

"I'm good. I'm sorry, I'm sorry it took me a bit to call," she said, her nervousness coming through the phone.

"Don't worry about it," I laughed, almost giddily. "Though, I was starting to worry you'd actually make me wait eleven months and twenty nine days."

"I thought about it," she said giggling beautifully. "But I figured it was a waste. You'd just start stalking me again."

"I don't recall stalking you," I said, faking horror. "I remember you were stalking me. Being in my hospital. In my elevator. Taking care of my niece. I think we all know who was stalking, Ms. Grey."

"I'm not stalking you, you were the one that wouldn't leave me alone," she said giggling some more. I loved that giggle. I loved even more being the one that caused the giggle.

"We kissed in an elevator. Actually, you kissed me. I think you were trying to sexually harass me," I laughed, hoping she'd giggle again. I could listen to her giggle for the rest of my life.

"That kiss was a mistake. And it shouldn't have happened. It should be forgotten about," Meredih said, rewarding me with the giggle I had hoped for.

"Forgotten about?" I gasped. "Meredith, for shame! And I was hoping you'd consider trying to sexually harass me again, sometime soon." Why was I so lame when it came to Meredith? Usually, I was suave. I was debonair. I was never lame. What had Meredith done to my game?

She giggled again. That's what was wrong, that giggle was tearing apart my game. And the thing was, she didn't even seem to matter. Apparently she enjoyed the lameness. In fact she seemed to enjoy the lameness. "Well I was thinking...umm...if you don't have plans we could do something this Saturday," she said, sounding like she almost expected me to say no.

"Saturday?" I asked, trying to decide if I should tease her. If I should pretend that I had other plans. Instead, I rushed to answer. "Saturday sounds great. Dinner?"

"You do owe me a dinner, Dr. Shepherd," Meredith answered. I could hear her gorgeous teasing smile through the phone.

"You're so demanding, Ms. Grey," I teased right back. "My picnic wasn't good enough for your tastes?"

"I loved the picnic, as cheesy as it was. But you're the one that promised a dinner. It's the only reason I called," Meredith said, giggling slightly at me. I liked her on the phone, she sounded more relaxed on the phone. More like the girl I knew she really was when she wasn't too busy freaking out over some small details.

"Oh, I see, I'm just your meal ticket?" I usually wasn't good on the phone, but Meredith made it easy.

"That and a nice piece of arm candy, but don't let that go to your head," Meredith teased me. I loved the teasing. No one had ever teased me like that before.

"You're not so bad yourself," I grin. "So, Saturday, seven-thirty?"

"Sounds good," Meredith said, sounding a little more somber. She cleared her throat and when she talked again the nervousness had returned. "Where are we meeting?"

"How does Rock Salt sound?" I asked her. "Steak, wine, big chunks of carbs in baskets."

She giggled softly. "I like steak. It sounds good."

"Great," I said firmly. "Rock Salt, Saturday, at seven-thirty."

"See you Derek," she said sounding happy.

"Can't wait," I said honestly.

She giggled one last time. "Bye."

"Bye, Meredith," I sighed, closing my phone and falling onto my pillow, finally falling asleep, a smile on my face.

And it sure feels good, to finally feel the way I do...