The scent of rich coffee wafted through Meredith's room, waking her up. A cup of coffee appeared in her face, accompanied by Derek. "Coffee?"
"What?" Meredith, still being half-asleep, was deeply confused. "Derek?"
"Morning." He knelt beside her bed, brushing her hair out of her face.
"How did you get in here?" Meredith groaned, propping her pillows behind her and sitting up.
"George let me in. Move over." Meredith groaned again and moved over. Derek sat beside her on top of her covers and handed her a coffee.
"Thanks." She took a sip and let the warm fluid fill her body. "I'm grateful for the coffee, but what are you doing here?"
"You sounded sad last night, I just wanted to come and see if you were alright." Derek shrugged, taking another sip of coffee.
"You couldn't have done that at work?" Meredith asked, sharing eye-contact. Derek stayed silent. "That's sweet. Thank you."
"No problem." Derek smiled. "I'll give you a lift to work if you want."
"Ok." She put her mug down on the bedside table. "Quick shower and I'm there."
"Ok. Breakfast?" Derek offered.
"Sure." Meredith smiled and entered the bathroom.
Derek headed downstairs and into the kitchen. "Right, pancakes." He muttered to himself. At that moment, George and Callie came into the kitchen. "Hey guys."
"Oh," Callie looked surprised. "Hi Doctor Shepherd. What brings you here?"
"Just making Meredith breakfast. You want some pancakes?" He offered.
"We'd love to, but we were just on our way out. I have some errands to run before work." George replied, looking at a somewhat distracted Callie.
"Ok. See you at work then." Derek replied and as he fiddled with the pots and pans beneath the sink, George and Callie left the house and stood outside on the porch.
"Am I mistaken, but isn't Meredith going out with Finn?" George asked, helping Callie put on her coat.
"Didn't you hear?" Callie asked. "Meredith slept with Derek and Finn found out. Where've you been?"
"Oh. Out of it apparently." George answered. "So now Meredith's with Derek?"
"I didn't think so, thus my surprise at seeing him here. Did you let him in?"
"Yeah." Callie gave him a look. "He bribed me with donuts!" He smiled.
"Come on," She hooked her arm around his. "Let's go."
The smell of pancakes floated up the staircase, drawing Meredith downstairs and into the kitchen after her shower had refreshed her.
"Smells good." She smiled.
"Tastes great." He replied, flipping the pancakes onto their plates and brought them to the table where Meredith sat.
Meredith stabbed the food with her fork and ate her fill, letting out a satisfying groan.
"Good?" Derek asked hopefully.
"Fantastic!" Meredith answered, stuffing more in her mouth.
Derek laughed. "I make the best pancakes from here to New York." He took a mouthful of pancakes.
"I believe you!" Meredith answered with a full mouth and Derek chuckled. "More coffee?" Meredith asked, already getting up to turn on the kettle.
"Please." Derek replied. "Let me help." He got up and got out the mugs while Meredith grabbed the coffee grounds and sugar.
"How do you remember where everything is?" Meredith laughed.
"Good question. I guess I've just spent a lot of time here." Derek answered. They waited while the kettle boiled almost in uncomfortable silence. Coffee was made and they sat back down to finish breakfast.
"So how are you holding up?" Derek asked. Meredith half-smiled, giving him the vibe that he was not the person she wanted to talk about it to. "Hey, if nothing else Meredith, I'm still your friend."
"Well, then I guess it's your lucky day. I'd talk to Christina about it, but she and Burke took off yesterday for that vacation they've been planning." Meredith replied. Derek just maintained a serious look.
Meredith sighed. "I'm fine I guess. Oddly fine, just…"
"What is it?" Derek gently pushed.
"I just feel really guilty. Constantly. All the time." Meredith looked down into her coffee, and dropped her fork. "And now here I am with you again, eating the world's best pancakes," Derek smiled. "And drinking coffee and it's almost like I've forgotten what's happened. Finn doesn't deserve that. I feel like I should be more upset." She sighed.
"I'm sorry." Derek said, still looking straight at her.
"Yeah," She sighed. "Me too." Meredith took her plate, threw her leftovers in the bin and loaded the dishwasher.
Derek silently did the same. "Do you regret what happened? With us, I mean."
Meredith avoided his gaze. "Why are you here Derek?"
"I told you." Derek reminded her.
"I know what you said, and I appreciate it. A lot. A lot, a lot. But what were you expecting? That you could sleep with me to distract me from Finn and then woo me with coffee and pancakes?" Meredith accused.
"Did it work?" Derek lightly joked.
Meredith shook her head. "Derek, Finn broke up with me because I hurt him. Like how Mark and Addison hurt you."
"That's different." Derek defended, his ego shaken.
"How?" Meredith asked. "How is it different?"
"We were together for 12 years, and we were married." Derek replied. There was no need for Meredith to reply.
"I just need some space. A lot of space." Meredith said calmly.
"Ok. I get it." Derek replied. "I'll wait for you."
Meredith smiled, bringing her hand up to touch his cheek. He smiled. "We better go, we'll be late."
They left the kitchen, put on their coats and opened the door. Finn stood there.
"Finn." Meredith said out of reflex. Finn just glanced from Derek to Meredith and back to Derek again. Meredith glanced at Derek. "Oh, no, Finn, it's not what it –"
He didn't let her finish, he just walked away and Meredith followed him.
"Finn!"
"Meredith!" Derek ran after her, into the pouring rain.
Meredith turned around. "Derek, leave me alone."
He stopped and watched Meredith run after the vet and watched as she caught up with him.