A/N: Enjoy! The first part is for those who wanted a little more caveman Derek; just showing you nothing has changed. Just so you don't have to wait for Matt…who may or may not appear again.


Oh and I can't believe how fast I got this up! Maybe it's all the awesome reviews ;)

Disclaimer: If I owned the show, I probably wouldn't be writing fanfiction…so obviously I don't own the show.

***

"I had a really great time tonight," smiled Meredith, as Trevor leaned against the doorframe to her apartment.


"I did too," he smiled, leaning forward too kiss her. Their lips interlocked, tongues tangling between them.

"Goodnight," whispered Meredith, slipping into her dorm.

Trevor walked down the hall, a smug smile on his face. Meredith Grey was the most unobtainable girl on campus and he'd got her. He pressed the elevator button and leaned against the wall, waiting for it. The doors opened, and Derek and Mark stepped out. "You were Meredith's date right?" asked Derek.

"Yeah um…who are you?" he asked.

"I'm her boyfriend," Mark but in, earning a glare from Derek.

"Boyfriend? She seemed single tonight," Trevor shrugged.

"Stay away from her," Derek snarled.

"Yes. Stay away," Mark glared.

"Aw what are you his little lacky?" he taunted.

"Shut the fuck up. Man I swear I'll kick your ass," said Mark, narrowing his eyes at the other man.

"Ok, jeez," he groaned. "She's hot but not worth this," Trevor rolled his eyes and pushed through Mark and Derek, stepping into the elevator. Before the doors could close Derek shoved his hand through to stop them.

"Meredith isn't just another hot piece of ass," hissed Derek. "She's worth anything," he snapped, letting the doors close and walking away with Mark, who opened his mouth to speak. "Don't," Derek frowned walking towards his and Meredith's apartment.

***

"Derek! Mark!" screamed Meredith from the living room. "Get your fat ass' out here NOW! Right NOW."

"Shit man, we're in trouble," Mark mumbled as they slid out of Derek's room, tails between their legs.

"No shit Sherlock," Meredith rolled her eyes, standing up from her seat on the couch.

"What happened Mer?" Derek asked innocently, giving his most McDreamy eyes.

"Shut up Derek," she snapped, sauntering towards Mark. "Why do people think we're dating?" asked Meredith poking Mark in the chest.

"Uhm well… Derek…"

"Of course it's his fault," she snarled, turning to glare at Derek. He smiled innocently, earning a death glare from his best friend. "What the hell did you do?" she shouted.

"That Trevor clown was walking down the hall and…"

Raising her fist, Meredith punched Derek in the chest with all the force she could muster. "He never called me back!" she snapped. "And, stop trying to be an annoying protective older brother!" Mark started to chuckle. "And you," glared Meredith at Mark. "Stop going along with him. If I find out either of you ever did this again, I will not only kick both of your asses, I will tell every girl at this school embarrassing stories to make sure you never have sex, let a lone have a date, again."

"Yes mam," Derek nodded.

"You just called me mam," she stated, narrowing her eyes at him.

"Uhh…"

"Just, shut the hell up," groaned Meredith walking into her room and slamming the door.

"You're not going to stop are you," Mark stated.

"Nope."

"You're going to get your ass kicked and never get laid."

"Who said I was going to get caught?" he smirked walking towards his room.

***

"Why do you have to leave?" Derek whined, wrapping an arm around her waist as he and Meredith walked into the airport.

"Because I have work, and an apartment, and patients," she pointed out, resting her head on his shoulder.

"But you could move here and work, get a house and have patients," countered Derek.

"You're not going to drop that are you?" she giggled, turning to face him.

"Nope," he smiled. "Not until you move here."

"Bye Derek," she laughed, trying to walk away.

Derek grabbed her arm. "Please don't make it another six months before you come visit," he pleaded.

"I won't," laughed Meredith, throwing her arms around her best friend. "I'll miss you DerBear."

"I'll miss you too MerBear," he responded.

"What did I tell you about calling me that?" she asked with a laugh, wiping a tear off her face.

"You told me not to," shrugged Derek. "What did I tell you about calling me DerBear?"

"You told me not to."

Derek laughed. The conversation was all too familiar, mostly because they had it constantly.

Meredith laughed, hugging her best friend again. "Bye Der," she frowned, walking away, towards the security line

She continued through the line, wiping away a single tear that fell down her cheek. The past three years were weird, having to say good-bye to Derek every time she saw him.

For 28 years of her life, Derek was by her side, drinking when she needed to drink, having a shoulder when she needed to cry, and just being there for everything. Not having him around was proving to be difficult but moving to Seattle didn't seem like an option.

***

Meredith watched as the plane descended through the New York sunset. Light glistened off the top of the highest buildings and night-lights began to illuminate the street. Her mood was much different than the last descent she'd taken. In place of the nervousness she'd felt entering Sea-Tac airport, she felt sadness and she missed her best friend.

Even though she loved him, more than a best friend, he was only her best friend for now and she needed that much. Deplaning, Meredith walked through the terminal she heard someone yell her name. Turning around she saw Derek's sister Anna waving her arms. "Ame!" she exclaimed, hurrying towards her. Engulfing the woman who'd been her sister for the past 33 years in a hug.

"Ugh I missed you," groaned Amelia.

"Missed you too…we missed our weekly lunch!"

"You can make it up to me by coming for drinks tonight," she smiled.

"Sounds amazing," Meredith breathed.

"Good. Let's go."

Meredith and Amelia drove to a bar they were frequent patrons of, chatting happily about everything and nothing.

"So," Amelia said as they slid into a booth. "How was Seattle?"

"Seattle was wet," she giggled.

"How's my idiot of a brother?"

"Still an idiot."

"Is he still with that insufferable horse?"

Meredith groaned. "Yes…she is SO possessive and insecure!"

"I know! She was even like that towards me!" laughed Amelia. "I'm his sister!"

"I'm his best friend! I might as well be one of the guys!"

"But…you're not," she reminded Meredith. "You love him."

"Shut up now," Meredith laughed awkwardly. "I have no clue why I told you," she mumbled.

"You didn't tell me. I figured it out," Amelia smiled brightly. "I'm just a genius like that."

"Well according to Mark, Derek's the only oblivious one anymore. I'm that bad."

"Mom doesn't-"

"Mom knows," Meredith nodded, interrupting Amelia. "Mom is all knowing," she giggled, Amelia joining in. "I'm so screwed!" Meredith laughed, downing a shot of tequila as it was placed on the table. "He's my best friend Ame…my family. I'm not supposed to have these feelings."

"But you do," she shrugged. "You can't go back now Mer…you need to lean into the fear to get a happy ending."

"Ugh!" groaned Meredith. "My shrink said that too."'

"Smart woman," Amelia nodded.

Meredith took another shot of tequila, the amber liquid burning her throat as it traveled down, bringing any words she had in her mind to the tip of her tongue as she felt the effects of the alcohol.