And chapter three's up. It'll be three weeks before I'm able to update again because I'm going on vacation to Germany. Lilly, thanks for taking the time to leave me a wonderful review, as always! Here are the parts about the other two (these storylines are the most interesting, at least that's what I think). There's lots of angst to come after this... Enjoy!

3

Water

Derek smoothly manoeuvres his car into a parking space and turns off the ignition. Meredith and he get out and walk towards the busy street across from the parking lot.

"Ah! There it is," Derek says as he spots the sign of a fish restaurant. They enter and look around. The sight of grey tendrils of smoke spiralling up to the ceiling and low voices conversing friendly greet Derek and Meredith.

She knows Derek hates smoke so she's not surprised to see the slightly annoyed look on his face. She doesn't like it either, although she must admit it creates a certain pleasant, 'drugging' atmosphere sometimes.

Just as they start to feel a bit uncomfortable standing there hand in hand two men rise from their chairs and wave for them to come over.

"So you must be mister Shepherd and miss Grey," the older man says as his playful eyes inspect the strangers standing before him. He wears a blue sweater and worn-out jeans and his hair is grey and sticks to his head. Meredith is the first to stick out her hand to him.

"Hello," she says as he firmly shakes her hand, "I'm Meredith Grey. Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too, miss Grey, very nice," the fisherman replies with a broad smile. "Now, may I please introduce you to my son, Jason. Where are you, Jason? Come say hello to our customers!"

The second man, the son, obviously, steps forward and shakes Meredith's hand, too. His hair's plain brown and he's dressed just like his father. He could look nice if he got another haircut and dressed a little more stylishly, Meredith observes.

"Hi, I'm Meredith."

"Jason. Nice to meet you, ma'am."

"You too, Jason," Meredith replies in her usual charming tone, "And please don't call me ma'am, I'm just a girl going on vacation with her boyfriend."

"And my name is Derek. Derek Shepherd," Derek is quick to cut in and offers his hand to Jason so he finally releases Meredith's. After he's shaken John's hand, the father's hand, they sit down and order some dinner.

"They seemed nice, didn't they?" Meredith asks as she pulls her top over her head. Derek, who's already in the bed, watches her and answers, "Nice enough. At least they seem to know a lot about fishing."

Meredith has changed and gets into the bed.

"Yeah. Almost as much as you do, don't you doctor Fisherman?" she chuckles as she switches off the light on the nightstand beside her and rests her head on the pillow.

"Are you saying I don't know a lot about fising?"

"I wouldn't dare."

"Good! Okay then."

"So this is our last night in a normal bed in a hotel."

"So it is."

Meredith turns to face her boyfriend, who has become so much more than that over the last months. He softly wipes her hair out of her face and pulls her against his chest.

"Are you really excited over this? I mean, it is sort of my vacation this way. Going fishing and all."

"Yeah, I am excited. I love seeing you happy like a little boy," Meredith replies simply and closes her eyes as she buries her head in his chest.

"I love you, Meredith," Derek whispers in her ear.

"I love you too, doctor Fisherman," Meredith murmers before she falls asleep against Derek's strong chest. He caresses her face but is careful not to wake her while doing so. A darling she is, he thinks to himself, I hope she'll like my surprise.

Fire

"Watch out over there! Those rocks are pretty slippery." Alex turns around to watch Izzie step from rock to rock to cross the little stream they're passing.

"You got it?"

"I got it!" Izzie yells back and lands on the bank of the river safely.

"Okay, let's go then. Let's go!" Alex exclaims excitedly.

"I'm coming!" Izzie quickly runs up the slope to follow her boyfriend into the woods.

"This is fun. Hiking's fun," she states brightly as they walk side by side.

Alex smiles at her proudly.

"You know, you're my first girlfriend who actually likes it."

"Ah! One of the many, right?" Izzie challenges him.

"That's right," Alex replies, smirking, and receives a playful punch in his stomach.

"But you're the best I've ever had, honestly!" he says defensively as he doubles up excessively.

"Yeah right. Seriously?"

"Seriously. Best at everything. Trust me."

"Okay. I trust you."

They smile at each other and hold hands. It's not the most romantic situation to walk hand in hand in but it certainly feels as right.

The next obstacle they come across exists of a steep chasm with only a fallen tree to reach the other side.

"Oh, this is so cool!" Izzie exclaims as they reach it.

"Cool? You call this cool? That's pretty dangerous you know," Alex tries to talk some sense into Izzie but she's already climbed on top of the tree and stretches out her arms to both sides as if she were walking a tight rope.

"Don't worry, I've done gymnastics. I've got great balance," Izzie calls back to reassure him.

Indeed, only a minute or so later Izzie jumps off the tree onto the other side of the chasm and waves at Alex.

"Your turn!"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, easy, Isobel Stevens," he says more to himself than to Izzie, who obviously can't hear him. Alex carefully climbs on the tree and starts walking. After a few steps, though, a blast of wind causes him to lose his balance for a second. Both Alex and Izzie almost suffer a heart-attack as he stumbles on the curved surface of the tree to regain his balance.

"Stretch out your arms! Stretch'em out! Your arms!" Izzie shouts at him. Alex is quick to obeye and reaches the other side of the chasm without further difficulties.

"You nearly got yourself killed," Izzie scolds him as she puts her hands on her hips.

"Naw, I was fine," Alex replies casually and kisses her as he wraps his arms around her waist. After a few moments Izzie pulls back to gasp for air.

"Let's go," she smirks and playfully licks her lips as she turns to continue their walk through the woods.

The sky has grown to dusk and Izzie and Alex arrive at a clearing in the woods that seems like a good place to put up their camp.

Using their last supply of energy Alex puts up their tent and Izzie prepares dinner. A mere twenty minutes later they find themselves sitting on a log wearing warm sweaters and eating chili con carne.

"Actually tastes good," Alex compliments her.

"Thanks," Izzie smiles. She's always been excellent at baking but not until recently was she any good at cooking, "Doctor Burke taught me how to cook."

"Burke?" Alex repeats disbelievingly.

"Yes, he's a very good cook."

"I thought you were already great at cooking."

"No, I'm great at baking. Not cooking."

"Hm. Seems like now you're good at both," Alex replies as he takes another bite of his chili.

"I know," Izzie says simply as she tucks a piece of blond hair that escaped from her ponytail behind her ear.

They eat the rest of their dinner in silence. The physical challenges of today have exhausted the both of them.

"So," Alex says when they've cleaned up their dishes, "I can't wait to be in one sleeping bag with you," he playfully states with a naughty look in his eyes.

"Hm... Me neither," Izzie answers in the same tone.

"Yes! She wants to sleep with me!" Alex exclaims exaggeratingly happy. Izzie rolls her eyes.

"Who said anything about having sex? I'm exhausted!" she says teasingly.

"Oh, come on, Iz! I'm exhausted too but don't you think you can use that last bit of energy to have some fun?" Alex pleads.

Izzie averts her eyes and sighs in exasperation. Then she turns back to Alex and laughs at him.

"I was just messing with you, man! I could sleep with you every moment of the day."

Alex holds her tightly and cocks an eyebrow.

"Every moment of the day? Seriously?"

"Seriously," Izzie confirms and then bursts out in laughter as Alex sweeps her off her feet and throws her in the tent. She lands softly on the airbed and Alex lowers himself atop of her. Izzie eagerly grabs his head and kisses him deeply. Eagle owling nearby announces a passionate night but goes unnoticed by the young lovers.