Meredith walked away from Derek with a tear in her eye. She didn't understand why he was so upset. She wasn't going to be gone that long. They had spent time apart before. But this seemed different. To him. Not to her. She wasn't concerned. She felt great. Well, as great as you can when you are going to your former father-in-law's funeral. Meredith walked up to the flight attendant and smiled.

"Ma'am, you're..." The flight attendant said as she looked at Meredith's large abdomen.

"Pregnant? Yes, yes I am." Meredith said frankly.

"I don't know if we can let you on." The flight attendant said as she called for another person.

"How far along are you?" The other flight attendant said as she walked up.

"30 weeks. I have a note from my obstetrician." Meredith said as she dug in her purse and took it out. They grabbed the note, and read it.

"Okay." The first flight attendant said with a smile. "I hope you have a good flight."

"Thank you." Meredith said as she walked away. She spotted Anna and Drew towards the front of the plane and walked up.

"What took so long?" Drew asked as he grabbed her bag and put in the overhead compartment.

"Derek... And then they didn't want to let me on. Like I would be going if I was worried. What do they think I am?" Meredith asked with a huff as she sat down in the window seat next to Anna. She frowned as she stretched the seat beat around her large baby bump.

"The last thing they need is a baby on board. One that comes out in the sky." He laughed.

"That is not going to happen." Meredith said frankly.

"Mommy. I'm scared." Anna said as she leaned towards Meredith.

"Of what?" Meredith asked softly.

"What if we crash?" She said with worry.

"We won't crash. Flying is fun. Lots of fun." Meredith said quickly. "It will be fine. I promise." Meredith said as she grabbed her hand.

They listened to the flight attendants go through their usual speech. Meredith's watched Anna's eyes go wide as the plane lifted off. Her had became a death grip around Meredith. As the plane leveled out in the air, Anna's look of shock turned to relaxation.

"Are you okay?" Meredith asked her.

"That was fun!" Anna giggled. "I wanna do it again."

"Oh we will be. Many times." Meredith said with a frown.

"Mommy. Can I listen to my ipod?" Anna asked as she riffled through her bag. The tiny cellphone that Derek had given her threatened it's way to the top. She quickly pushed it back down.

"Yes, but no too loud. It's bad for your ears." Meredith told her. Anna nodded and turned it on.

The flight went without mishap, and before they knew it, they were landing in New York. Meredith frowned when they got off the plane and saw that their flight was delayed two hours. Just what she needed, a layover with a small child in a busy airport.

"I'll stay." Drew said as he looked at the screen with a frown.

"Drew, you don't have to." She said quickly. "Anna! Don't move. You hold my hand." She spat nervously as she looked at all of the strangers.

"Nope. I promised Derek. I'll stay with you. We can get something to eat, it will be fun." Drew said with an enticing grin.

"I don't want you to stick around and waste your time..." Meredith told him.

"Bullshit. It's not a waste of time." Drew said quickly. "And you guys need to eat." He ordered as he led them to the airport restaurant.

"You're sure?" Meredith said as she dragged Anna along.

"Yes, I am sure." Drew said firmly.

Anna, Meredith and Drew all ate dinner at the restaurant. Drew insisted on buying Anna whatever she wanted from the gift shop. Anna clung to him as if her life depended on it. She was going to miss him. She liked having him along, and she knew this was the end of the road for him.

"Have a good time." Drew said as he pulled her close and gave her a hug. "And I'll call Derek everyday. To make sure he's okay." Drew told her reassuringly.

"Thanks, Drew. Thanks for everything." Meredith told him.

"Bye, Uncle Drew." Anna said as she gave him a hug.

"Bye, Ana Banana." Drew said with a grin as he rubbed her head.

Meredith went through the same issues as she she had in Seattle when she attempted to board the plane. After she presented her note, they let her on, and they were off again. She wasn't looking forward to the long flight. She was exhausted, but she had a hard time sleeping in public. She looked over to see Anna sleeping softly with the pillow behind her head and a blanket over her. She looked down at her BlackBerry and began texting.

Meredith: Hey.

Derek: Shouldn't you be sleeping?

Meredith: Shouldn't you?

Derek: Can't. Thinking about you.

Meredith: I can't sleep on planes. Plus I have a devil in my ribs.

Derek??

Meredith. The boy. He kick-boxes. My ribs.

Derek: The boy? It's the girl.

Meredith: No. Only a boy would do this to his mother.

Derek: Oh. You have a lot to learn. You'll see.

Meredith: It's the boy.

Derek: Uh huh... How's the flight?

Meredith: Was delayed two hours.

Derek: How is Anna?

Meredith: She's sleeping. She was scared at first. But now she's okay.

Derek: I miss you.

Meredith: I miss you too.

Derek: So what are you wearing?

Meredith: Seriously? I'm on a plane.

Derek: So?

Meredith: No fair. I can't do anything.

Derek: But I can...

Meredith: You are pathetic. I am not doing that.

Derek: And you are no fun.

Meredith: Never claimed to be.

Derek: Are you wearing your flight socks?

Meredith: Of course.

Derek: And you aren't eating anything funky are you?

Meredith: Nothing funkier than fish and peanut butter.

Derek: You have problems.

Meredith: I know.

Derek: Have you walked?

Meredith: Uh huh.

Derek: You're lying. Get up and walk.

Meredith: I did. I've been to the bathroom every five minutes. Two rotten kids are bouncing on my bladder.

Derek: You need to take care of yourself.

Meredith: I will. And I do have to go to the bathroom. Again. Go to bed.

Derek: I love you.

Meredith: Love you too. Bye.

Derek: Bye.

Meredith looked over at Anna with a sigh as she stood up. Anna stirred and opened her eyes.

"Mommy! Again..." Anna said with a frown.

"I'm sorry, baby. Why don't you switch me seats?" Meredith asked as she looked at her.

"No." She said loudly.

"Why?" Meredith asked. She crossed her legs, feeling the pressure on her bladder.

"The wing monster." Anna said with wide eyes.

"Anna. There is no wing monster." Meredith said quickly. "Uncle Drew was full of it."

"How do you know it was uncle Drew?" Anna asked.

"I know uncle Drew. Only he would say that. I have to potty now before I explode. Why don't you come? Then you can switch me seats." Meredith said with a wince.

"Okay." Anna grumbled as she followed Meredith.

They both returned to their seats, Anna now my the window. She made sure that she leaned up against Meredith, just incase the wing monster tried to get her. Meredith smiled as she closed her eyes, one arm wrapped Anna, and the other on her babies.

Meredith woke up after an hour. At least she got some rest. She looked around the dark plane. A few people had their lights on and were reading. She looked down at her legs. She needed to walk. She slowly stood up and began walking down the aisle around the front and back down the other aisle.

"Are you okay, Ma'am?" The flight attendant asked as he approached Meredith.

"Just walking. I promised my husband I would walk. I'm at an increased risk for DVT." She said as she looked at the man.

"DVT?" He asked with confusion.

"Deep vein thrombosis." She explained. "I need to keep the blood flowing." She said as she walked.

"Oh, well if you need anything..." He said as he watched her walk.

"If I could get some water, that would be great." She said with a smile.

"Right away." He told her. She made a few laps and finally sat back down at her seat, drinking her water. She rested her hand on her stomach. They were really kicking hard.

"You're okay...every thing's okay." She said as she rubbed her stomach. She felt them settle down. They were used to sleeping at this hour. The increased activity was even affecting them.

"Mommy... are you okay?" Anna asked as she opened her eyes and looked at her mom.

"I'm good." Meredith told her with a smile.

"Not fine?" Anna asked with concern.

"Nope. I am great." She said as she rubbed Anna's head.

"Good..." She said with relief. "I can't wait to get there." Anna said with excitement.

"Me, either." Meredith said with a smile. She lied. She'd much rather be in her bed, next to her husband.

"How much longer?" Anna asked as she looked out the window into the darkness.

"Too long... About four hours." Meredith said quickly. "And you should be resting."

"Okay..." Anna said with a frown as she laid her head in Meredith's stomach, giggling every time the twins kicked.

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

Meredith grabbed Anna's hand as they walked off the plane. She was going home. Not really home. Home was where Derek was. It didn't matter what the location. Just the company she kept. But the U.K. was where she had spent so many years. It was where she grew up. Where she learned to mature, very quickly. Meredith shoved her bag back over her shoulder as they stepped foot into the airport. She looked up to see Ian. He looked exactly the same as he always did. Except for the huge look of shock on his face.

"Holy shit, Mer! You're bloody pregnant!" He said in complete and utter shock as he stared at her.

"I am." She said with a grin and she pulled him into an embrace. "Language."

"I missed you..." He said as he took a deep breath.

"Missed you too..." She said quickly.

"Who is this?" He asked as he looked down at Anna.

"This is my daughter, Anna." Meredith said with a smile. "Anna, this is Ian." Meredith explained.

"Hello, Anna." He said as he kissed her hand.

"Hello, Ian." Anna said with an infatuated smile. "You sound like the guys from the Clash!" She said with excitement.

"The Clash?" He asked as he shot Meredith a what-the-hell look.

"Derek." She said as she shook her head in disgust.

"Oh... That explains a lot." Ian said as he shook his head. "So you didn't tell me that McDouche had a kid..."

"McDreamy." Anna stated boldly. "My dad's name is McDreamy. And my mommy and daddy adopted me. But they are still my mommy and daddy." She said quickly.

"Oh. I see." Ian said, taken aback by her forwardness. "So you're a mummy now?"

"No. Mummies are dead. Mommy is alive." Anna explained. Ian looked over at Meredith and they both began laughing.

"What?" Anna asked with confusion.

"That's how british people say mommy. Mummy. And mum." Meredith explained.

"Oh. So is it your duddy and you dud?" Anna asked. They both began laughing again.

"No." Meredith told her as she continued to giggle. "You didn't have to pick me up, we could have taken a cab.

"Rubbish. It's not a problem." He said as he made his way to the baggage claim.

"So how are you?" Meredith asked as she placed her hand on his arm.

"Surviving." He said honestly. "But better now that you are here." He told her as he grabbed their luggage. "So what do you want to do?"

"Go to sleep." She said with a yawn.

"You didn't sleep on the plane?" He asked with a frown. She shot him a look. "Ah, yes. You don't sleep on planes."

"Mommy is a zombie." Anna said quickly.

"Do you even know what a zombie is?" Meredith asked her.

"No. That's what daddy calls you when you work late." Anna told her.

"I do know one thing...I need some fresh air." Meredith said with a grin as she walked to the exit of the familiar airport.

"This looks like home...kind of." Anna said as she looked around.

"It is. A little bit." Meredith said as she followed Ian to his car. "I know that I need some sleep..." Meredith said with another yawn. "Can you drop us at the hotel. I'll help if you need it, but I need sleep first."

"Hotel? I thought you were coming home..." He said with a frown.

"Ian...home is in Seattle. And I don't think it would be appropriate." She said frankly.

"I know...I... I just assumed." He said with a shrug. "It's no big deal."

"I could never go back there..." She said softly. "And it's not the environment for Anna to be in." She told him.

"I don't-- I wouldn't with a child around." He said, referring to the women he brings home.

"The hotel is fine. Derek got us a nice suite." She said with a smile.

"So...when are you due?" He asked as he looked down.

"Six weeks." She said frankly.

"Wow...not long." He said with surprise.

"Nope." Meredith answered.

"Mommy..." Anna whispered. "He doesn't know how to drive...he's on the wrong side of the road." She said with worry.

"That's how they drive over here." Meredith explained with a giggle.

"So is it a boy or girl?" Ian asked as he looked down at the huge bump that now took up her once flat stomach.

"Both. Twins." Meredith said as she rubbed her stomach.

"Oh. This is bad...you are really in for it. I pity you..." He said as he shook his head.

"It will be fine." Meredith said optimistically.

"Yeah...we'll see. You went from no kids, and now you're going to have three..." He said in shock.

"It's amazing...I never thought I would have all of this." Meredith said happily as they walked into the hotel. "Thanks, Ian." She said as they walked up to the desk to check in.

"Do you want me to take you up?" He asked.

"No. The minute I walk in, I'm hitting that bed." She said with a smile. "To sleep." She added.

"Okay... Well, call me if you want to go to dinner tonight." He said as he gave her a soft hug.

Meredith and Anna made their way to their room. It was nice. Really nice. It would have been nicer if Derek were in it too. Meredith looked at the two bedrooms and large bathroom. They would survive here for a week. She looked at the inviting bed and then at Anna.

"I say we go to bed." Anna said with a yawn.

"I say that is an excellent idea!" Meredith said. They both walked over an collapsed, their eyes closed before they hit the pillow.

So they made it... And don't worry...there will be no possibility of a Mer/Ian relationship. Mer/Der all the way out from here...