Aiden browsed through the pictures; in every single picture that he saw Meredith looked ten times happier than he had ever seen her in their relationship. He was shocked how many pictures she had kept of the two, all arranged in chronological order. He had always heard that Dr. Shepherd was supposed to be a nice guy, and easy to get along with, but nothing like this. There was just too many to go through; he threw what he had down, back onto the suit case.

"Im sorry," she whispered.

"Oh Mer, no, no its not your fault," he took her into his arms, running his fingers through her hair as she kept her head burried into his chest, "Its mine, I'm sorry."

She shot up instantly, confused, "Your fault?"

Sighing he decided that he should elaborate, "When Cristina and Burke came the other day, I saw you searching for him on the web. I figured that you wanted to meet him, I mean, he's a great surgeon. And I went to see Dr. Webber and he told me that he was going to be there for awhile --"

"Richard said that Derek is staying?" Meredith blurted out, shocked and startled, unable to think.

"Yeah," he said, letting out a deep breath, "His niece has a tumor, and he wants Derek to get rid of it."

"But, why--why couldn't you do it?" She threw her head back into his chest.

Laughing at her 'silly antics' he brushed through her hair once more, "He wants the best, Mer."

"Well. . .your close enough to the best. . ."

"Not close enough for him apparently. You have nothing to worry about, darling, I'm here for you."

-------------------------------------

Derek pulled into Izzie's driveway, acing back and forth several times before heading towards the door. Izzie was leaning against the doorframe, watching him patiently, "Rough night?"

"You? You just--How could you arrange that??" He spurted out, "How could you do that to me Izz!"

"I was just helping!" She urged as she pulled him inside before it started to rain. "Look, you needed to see her before you started working tomorrow, so that you could focus!"

He sighed, pulling his old friend into his arms, "Thanks Izz, its just not what I need right now." He pulled her away, cocking his head, "She hates me."

"Oh no she doesn't! I know, I spend everyday with her Derek!" He didn't seem to convinced, "She was just suprised to see you, thats all." She reassured him, rubbing his shoulder.

"Sure?"

"I am absolutely positive!"

"You promise?"

"I do!"

"Pinky." He reached out his pinky finger to her and she grabbed it with hers, "Pinky." she repeated, smiling.