'Here is gone' By the GooGoo Dolls
All Grey's characters belong to Shonda, Aiden belongs to me!

You and I got something
But it's all then it's nothing to me
yah
I got my defenses
When it comes to your intentions to me
yah
And we wake up in the breakdown
In the things we never thought we could be
yah

Meredith went home, thinking of what Derek, thinking of what he said, and most importantly, thinking of what he did. She sighed, letting herself into her house quietly. Dropping her bags to her side and her keys on the small table that was perfectly positioned next to the entry, she slid onto the couch, not bothering to turn the lights on. Her body went limp once she settled in, her mind roaming freely around the fact that after a year of seeing Derek, she still alowed him to kiss her, even if it was just a small one. It would have been different if he had just hugged her, or just touched her, that would have been ok, but no, he had to just go off and press his delicious lips onto hers. Digging her head into her pillow, she let out a muffled scream, trying to get Derek out of her mind. Why couldn't Aiden do these things to her? Why couldn't he make her melt in her arms, shoot her down with one glance, or make her fall in love over and over with the simple touch of his hands? Confusion burst through her head, trying to find an explanation for everything. She thought she was actually falling in love with him until Derek had to pop right up again. A tear escaped her eye when she finally layed down. Taking deep and steady breaths, she lulled herself to sleep with her mother's old lullaby.

I'm not the one who broke you
I'm not the one you should fear
We've got to move you darling
I thought I lost you somewhere
But you were never really ever there at all

Aiden came through the door not too long after she fell into a deep slumber on her mother's couch. His rush to see her came to a slow stop as he saw Meredith's eyes closed on the couch. He smiled to himself, taking in her beauty; as he approached her, her red and puffy cheeks began to stand out. Leaning down to meet her sleeping form face to face, he brushed her hair out of her face, tucking it behind her ear. Then kissing her forehead lightly, he left to retrieve a small blanket for her. Upon returning to the couch, she was awake, staring intently at him.

"Hey babe," He whispered, sitting next to her on the couch, placing another kiss on her forehead, "Are you ok?" He asked, cocking his head.

"Huh? Yeah I'm ok," She said lightly, stretching her arms into the air, "Why do you ask?" She said yawning as she placed her head on his chest.

"Well, one, you look like you've been crying, and two, Preston told me what happened," His voice was lighter at the end of the statement.

"Oh," letting out another deep sigh, she placed her head into his neck, taking in his familiar smell. He wrapped his arms tightly around her, never wanting to let her go.

"Shall we head to bed?" He asked politely, letting his head fall next to hers.

"Yeah, let's go." She said, letting him take her into his arms, carrying her up to her bedroom.

And I want to get free
Talk to me
I can fear you falling
And I won't tempt to be
All you need
Somehow here is gone

Setting her down in the bed, he pulled the sheets up to meet her face, trying to tuck her in as much as possible before he was forced to leave her side. "Do you want to change?" She just shook her head no in response, looking at his beautiful green eyes. He smiled at her, forcing a smile to appear on her face as well. After pulling herself into a comfortable position, she layed her head down on her pillow, closing her eyes. Figuring it was his cue, he stood up, making his way out of the room.

"Aiden?"

"Yes baby," He asked, turning back around and heading toward her bedside once more.

"I'm sorry."

"For what?"

". . .For everything. I have been so absent, and I just. . .I just am sorry for everything I put you through, you don't deserve it. I wish I could be good to you, Aiden, I wish I could show you as much commitment as you show me everyday, and I am sorry that I'm not. . ."

He smiled, choking back as he sat down next to her, "Mere. . .Mere, you have just, you have given me so much, and you don't have to say your sorry baby, I understand. I'm not trying to be everything you need, I am just trying to be there for you. Hell, I'd love to be your night and day like you are to me, but I'm not going to force anything on you because I know that you have been though so much, and I love you. I know that we have only been together for a year, and I know that this is going to be hard, but you know what? I am willing to take every chance with you Mere. So here it is, here is my chance I'm taking: I love you with all my heart, and I never want to let you go Meredith Grey, so would you do me the honor of becoming Mrs. Meredith Schaffer?"

I am no solution
To this sound of dispollution in me
yah
And I was not the answer so forget you if ever thought it was me
yah

"Everything I do. . .Everything is just so wrong!"

"Derek, geez! I don't think I have ever seen you this upset!" Izzie commented as he paced back and forth in front of her.

"Izzie, what do you expect???? I have. . .I AM JUST SUCH AN ASS!"

Laughing, Izzie began, "That would be the understtement of the year! You would have been looooong gone if I were Meredith."

"Your not helping!" Derek practically yelled at her.

"You know what?" She said, scrunching her nose up as she finished her knitting, "Your so cute when your mad!"

"Izzie!"

"Fine! Ok, ummm, tell her your sorry."

"Don't you think that I have already tried that?"

"I donno, your a pretty dumb guy, Derek."

"I know, I know," He threw his hands into his unruly hair.

"The first step i salways admitting it."

"Then what is step two, what do I do next?" He asked desperatly.

Izzie dropped her knitting into her lap, looking directly at him, clearly annoyed, "Derek, I'm not your matchmaker. You need to figure these things out on your own! You and Meredith had something, ok? Rekindle it, find the passion again. Make her realize that she still loves you!"

"So what do I do?"

"Derek. Seriously? I don't know her! You are the one who is in love, you know everything about her! Figure something out!"

". . .Right. . ."

And I don't need a fall out
Of all the past that's here between us
And I'm not holding on
And all your lies weren't enough to keep me here

Lying in his bed, Derek wondered what exactly he could do for Meredith to make her realize that she loved him, to make her remember all of those times that they had together on stormy nights, to reminisce on every date and dinner they went to, to recall every time that they made love. His voice was heavy, the only thing audibly in his room. The lights were out as he tied to concentrate. Was this even possible? Was Meredith already too far gone? No. She wasn't out of his reach just yet; not until she said 'I do' to another man at the alter, then it would be lost hope, but not now. Now he could make it up, he could show her his love. Everything had suddenly become so simple to Derek as he formulated a plan to get his love back.

I know it's out there
I know it's out there
I can fear you falling
I know it's out there
I know it's out there
Somehow here is gone
I know it's out there
I know it's out there
Somehow here is gone