Ah...an anticipated chapter for all of you...I am so grateful to all of you who offer CONSTRUCTIVE reviews and appreciate the story, it really makes a difference to my writing.

Please enjoy this chapter; it has been a long ride and I am thankful to all who stayed on board!!

I pulled away from the kiss and let his breathing fall upon my skin; as we looked into each others' eyes we saw nothing but each other; as though the stars had fallen and reflected in the opposite gaze we both were drawn to.

I felt every inch of my broken heart mending as every inch of his eyes apologised for what he'd said…

"I'm sorry…" he whispered as he leaned in to kiss me once more. "I'm sorry for what I said last night and I'm sorry for hurting you…"

"You did hurt me…" I told him.

"I know…"

"I need to know you won't do it again…"

"I can't promise that I will be perfect…"

"There is one thing you can promise me Derek,"

"What's that?"

"You can promise me, with every inch of your heart…for the sake of every kiss we share…for every cuddle you have with your children…you can promise me that you will just try…" I told him.

Derek nodded over and over again, until he pulled me close and pressed his lips to my forehead, breathing in every scent that my hair expelled in that moment and wondering how he could mend this broken family…how could he make it right?

"Meredith…I wanna make it right…" he said.

"Okay," I said as I met his lips with mine once more.

"We work as a team…I can't…we can't work without each other…we can't be broken anymore…" he whispered.

"We're not…" I assured him. "We'll make it work…"

Suddenly Mia's head poked around the door.

"Mommy…" her expression changed when she saw Derek; her eyes lit like a Christmas tree and her face was brightened with a smile. "Daddy!" she exclaimed running over to his open arms. "Oh dad, I missed you!"

"I missed you too darling girl," Derek said as tears found his eyes and streamed down his cheeks in happiness.

Mia looked up.

"Dad…" she said softly. "How come you're crying?"

"I'm just happy sweetheart…just happy, that's all," Derek answered. "Where are your brother and sister?"

Mia jumped up.

"I'll go and get them…Charlie! Riley! Dad's home!" she screamed running up the stairs.

I turned back to Derek and smiled as his lips pressed to mine once more.

"Come home Meredith…" he pleaded.

I nodded, our lips still connected.

"Okay," I murmured.

"Uh…mom!" came Charlie's mortified voice.

I looked up at my three smiling children.

"Come and sit down…" I patted the lounge space where Charlie perched herself on my knee, Mia sat on Derek and Riley rested his arms around me from behind my neck as his chin sat on my shoulder.

"You're mom and I…well…we want to ask you something…" Derek said as he stumbled on a somewhat coherent phrase.

"How would you feel if we moved back into dad's house?" I asked them.

"As in all of us? Our whole family?" Charlie asked.

"All together?" Riley questioned.

"Mom and dad together?" Mia chimed in questioningly.

"Our family, all of us together again…" I said.

"Forever…" Derek added.

Mia jumped up and cheered.

"Yay!" she exclaimed as she hugged Derek. "Dad, I knew we'd be able to come home again!"

Charlie and Riley beamed excitedly.

"When?" Charlie asked.

"Well…it's probably a bit late now…but I'm sure we can go back to the house tonight…" I said.

Mia clapped her hands.

"Well let's go!" she exclaimed.

I laughed at her enthusiasm.

"Hold on a second baby," I told her. "We need to get some things packed up okay…"

Mia nodded and ran up to her room.

"I'm going to pack up some things!" she yelled.

I started laughing and looked at Charlie and Riley.

"Do you have anything here that you may need tomorrow?" I asked them.

Riley shrugged.

"Just my iPod I guess," he said.

"Go and get it packed up then honey," I kissed his forehead.

I turned to Charlie and smiled.

"What about you blossom?" I asked.

She shook her head.

"Everything's really at dad's…"

I nodded and reached over to hug her.

"I am so proud of you sweetheart," I said as I held her tightly.

"Me too…" Derek added on.

Charlie kissed my cheek and then kissed Derek.

"I'm sorry…" she said once more.

"We know darling," Derek answered. "But it's all over now…we're going to be a happier, stronger family okay…we look out for each other…" he cupped his hand around her rounded chin. "And we'll start by looking out for you a little more…"

Charlie nodded and smiled as I stood up.

"Well, I am just going to pack a couple of things," I told them.

"Okay," Derek smiled.

I sauntered up the stairs, happier than I'd been in a long time.

"Dad…" Charlie said softly.

"What is it babe?"

"I'm glad we're going home…"

"Me too…"

"We're going to be a better family aren't we?"

"Yes,"

"Promise…?"

"I promise," Derek leaned over and kissed her forehead gently.

I emerged momentarily to see the kids and Derek waiting for me; saying goodbye to Cristina, Izzie and George, I had the world's biggest smile plastered across my face; truly indicating how happy I was.

When we arrived back at the house I looked around at the beautiful surroundings; breathing in the oaky and piny smell, listening to the crickets humming tunes that could put a smile on my face any day… this was home; this was where I belonged.

As I walked through, the kids bounded into the house at a full speed, Riley and Mia, of course, headed straight for the kitchen and searched the fridge for some ice cream and Charlie planted herself in front of the television.

"Dad!" she called. "Can I watch cable?"

"Go for it babe!" Derek called back. "Just be careful with what it is…"

"Can I watch Step Up?" Charlie asked.

"What's it rated?" I asked her.

"Umm…T!" she answered.

"Is it on the two hours later channel?" Derek questioned.

"Um…yeah…" Charlie replied.

"You can watch it when it comes on that channel, Riley and Mia will be in bed by then," I told her. "See if dad has a DVD we can all watch honey,"

She groaned but wasn't about to argue with me.

"Okay…"

Moments later, as Derek and I made coffee and hot cocoa in the kitchen, Charlie emerged with a DVD.

"What's that?" I asked her.

"Harry Potter," Charlie answered.

I looked at Derek and shrugged.

"Sounds good to me," he said.

"Yeah, are Mia and Riley okay to watch it?" I questioned.

"Are you kidding me? Riley aspires to be as over famous as Daniel Radcliffe and Mia wants to be Hermione Granger!" Charlie laughed.

I giggled and poked my head around the door to see Mia and Riley carrying their blankets to the lounge room.

Derek and I followed Charlie back in as we carried hot cocoa and coffee into the living room. I sat down next to Derek on the lounge and Mia plonked herself on my lap, Riley sat at Derek's feet and Charlie sprawled lazily onto the single seater.

After a while, the two younger kids grew sleepy and were getting ready to go to bed; I looked down at Charlie who was still contently awake and watching the end of the movie.

"Charlie, after we take the kids to bed, your dad and I will probably go to sleep…" I said quietly.

She turned around and nodded.

"Okay mom," she answered.

I leaned down to kiss her forehead.

"Don't stay up too late…" I told her.

"I won't," she answered.

Once Derek and I had put Mia and Riley in bed, I turned to look at him with a gentle smile.

"I think it's about time I showed you how much I really love you…" he said sweetly.

I felt the pressure of his body push me against the wall gently as he locked his lips to mine.

"Okay…" was all I could say.

And with that he led me into our bedroom; a phrase that still said so much…

Our bedroom.

Our family.

Our life…

But I knew that wasn't the end of the night…

Yes there is more to come; please let me know what you think!

Happy Reviewing!!

Amy.