Author's Note: I'm so sorry for the wait. I hope that this chapter is worth it. Thank you to all reviewers I really appreciate it. I will try to reply to all of them but I don't have a lot of time on my hands. I truly am grateful for the support that you have given me.

This is not happening. I am in a dream. A dream where Derek is returning. Not happening. NOT happening.

As Meredith continued to battle with herself like a teenage girl, the elevator doors opened revealing the man that she had been running from.

Derek looked at her. There was no denying that she was in pain. Pain caused by him.

"Meredith?"

"What are you looking at Derek?"

"Meredith… I'm sorry that I caused you so much pain and misery it's just… just…"

"I'm not in the mood for fake apologies Derek."

He walked into the elevator and pressed to button for the fifth floor. Hiding his temptation to pull the emergency button so he and Meredith could talk. Just as Bailey had done for him years ago.

"I mean it Meredith. I'm really sorry for all of this."

Meredith stood up meeting his eye level. Looking into his perfect eyes. Eyes that showed all his feeling. Just like Madison. One of the hardest things Meredith had to endured was looking Madison in the eye. She was like a mirror image of her father. Their eyes showed every feeling, emotion, every tear and heartbeat. She looked into them sensing an unknown emotion that she couldn't quite articulate.

"Derek…I want you to know that I loved you and you were my everything. But as you can see, things have changed. I am not the same. Being a mother. The mother of our child has changed my focuses and outlooks. Everything changed Derek. A lot can happen over the years."
"I know." He looked at her. Remembering how beautiful she really is. Through all the tiredness, the emptiness that he had put her through, there was a maternal glow in her. One that put forth something he couldn't quite grasp. He had expected her to change. No one can stay the same for five years. But he wanted her to be his. Not as a prize or eye-candy for his arm. He wanted to love her, hold her, spoil her, cherish her. Anything to show that he loved her. And maybe just maybe she loved him almost as much.

"Derek… it's just… I don't think that it would be the best idea for you to be included in Madison's life just yet."

This tore him apart broke him. Killed every fiber of his body. The minute he found out that he was a father, he already loved Madison yet he didn't even know her.

"She's my daughter Meredith. You can't keep me from her."

"I'm her mother Derek. Until that girl reaches 18, you are not to even speak to her without my say so."

"Meredith can we at least talk this out? Work something out? Does Madison even know that I'm her father?"

Before Meredith could answer that she had reached her floor. She causally walked out of the elevator. Meredith glanced back at him.

"Joe's at 6."

Derek nodded. He was not going to miss this for the world.

Yes it's a very, very, very short chapter. But I should be able to update by…. 2006. I will update before 2005 is over! Please please review. I need motivation to keep this story going. There's not much left to write.

--Sadie Hawkins Dance in my khaki pants

Sadie Hawkins Dance by Relient K