As Meredith hung up the phone, she was unaware that Derek stood close by, watching her as she spoke on the phone. Derek could tell that Meredith was seconds away from tears as she ran away, and he realized that now was the time that she needed someone.
He followed her into a closet, where he found her curled up on the floor, crying her heart out. She looked up at him, temporarily stopping herself from crying. He just sat beside her and held her in his arms protectively, hushing her sobs.
"I can't deal with this," She wept. "My mother, she's so ill."
He stroked her hair, calming her with his loving care. "It's all right," He said soothingly. "I'm here."
Derek simply held Meredith as she released all the burdens she had been carrying. Finn, her mother, her life in general – it all pooled out into one big mess, weighing her down. Derek stroked her hair, gently swaying her backwards and forwards, kissing her forehead. She felt so comfortable there, the way she'd always wanted to feel – loved and protected. All these emotions of how it used to be welled up again – how much she loved him, how much she was willing to give up for him.
After a few minutes of silent weeping, Meredith finally looked up to Derek's blue eyes. She knew, right then, that he loved her as much as she did. He was hers completely – her perfect match, her one true love, her best friend and soulmate. All that she could tell just from the way he looked at her. Sweetly, he kissed her; telling her how she could always trust him, how he would always love her and that he would never leave her side.
"Never leave me." She whispered, taking comfort in his embrace.
"Never." He whispered, kissing her forehead once more.