Anna laid there and quietly watched her mom sleep. She knew Meredith was tired, and she didn't want to disturb her. She looked over at the clock, and then back at her mom. She was getting bored, and tired of watching her sleep. She didn't know what to do. She jumped slightly when she heard her Meredith's cellphone go off. She ran around the bed and picked it up off of the table.

"Hello?" She said as she opened the phone.

"Hey, baby." Derek said into the phone. Anna immediately smiled at his voice.

"Daddy!" Anna said happily.

"So, are you having fun?" He asked her. He looked over at the picture of Meredith and Anna on the table.

"No." She said frankly as she looked around the room.

"No?" He said in surprise. "Why not?"

"We haven't done anything. Just sleep. Well, mommy sleeps, I watch." She moaned as she looked over. She heard Derek chuckle.

"Mommy needs her rest." Derek said quickly. He was happy to hear that she was taking care of herself.

"Well, should I wake her up?" Anna asked as she looked over, hoping that Meredith would wake up now.

"No. She needs to rest. Maybe you should turn the t.v. on. Or play with the toys you brought." Derek suggested with a sigh.

That answer didn't satisfy Anna. She did what she always does. Wake her up without waking her up. She leaned down as close to her face as she could without touching her. She had doen this before and it always worked.

"Whoa!" Meredith said as she opened her eyes to see Anna's big brown ones in her face.

"Mommy's up." Anna said happily into the phone.

"Who are you talking to?" Meredith said groggily as she looked at Anna.

"Daddy. He called." She stated as she held out the phone.

"Hmm." Meredith moaned as she put her hand out for the phone. "Hey."

"Hey. You sound tired." Derek said with a from.

"I just woke up." She said matter-of-factly. "How are you?" She asked softly.

"I'm fine. Did you walk on the plane?" He drilled.

"I did. And I haven't eaten anything funky. I haven't eaten, actually." Meredith said with a frown.

"You need to eat." Derek said forcefully.

"I will. Ian, Anna and I are going to go out to dinner later." She told him.

"Good. That is what I want to hear." He said happily. "So... How is Ian?" Derek asked out of necessity, rather than true interest.

"He's getting along. I think he will be okay." Meredith told him quickly as she climbed out of bed and to the bathroom.

"Are you peeing?" Derek asked as he listened to the telltale sound.

"I am. Sorry." She said frankly. "I had to go. When it's time, it's time." Meredith said with haste. "I have no control anymore."

"That's what twins will do to you, I suppose." Derek said with a chuckle.

"So how was your day?" Meredith asked as she walked back out to the sofa.

"I had a craniotomy, nothing exciting." Derek told her nonchalantly.

"Better than sitting on a plane forever." Meredith said with a chuckle. "Oh, crap. Ian's on the other line. I have to go." Meredith said happily. "I love you."

"Love you too. Call me later." Derek said. "Bye."

"Hey." Meredith said as she answered the phone.

"Hey. Did you sleep?" Ian asked as he listened to Meredith's chipper voice.

"Just woke up. And I am freaking starving." She told him a she looked down at her stomach.

"Good. So am I. I'll be over in about an hour. Is that good for you?" Ian replied as he pulled his shoes on.

"Yep. See you then." Meredith said as she flipped her phone shut and rubbed her face.

Meredith stood in the shower, letting the warm water run down her body. She just couldn't wake up. The jet lag had taken the life out of her. She squeezed some of her lavender conditioner on her hair and massaged it in. She turned the water off, knowing she had to get moving. As she threw her leg over the tub, she grabbed her stomach, feeling the different sensation. She took a deep breath and wrapped a towel around her, finishing her routine.

"Coming..." Meredith muttered as she walked to the door of her suite. She opened it to see Ian standing there.

"Hello, love." He said as he walked in. "You look nice. Smell good too." He said as he kissed her cheek.

"Ian!" Anna said as she bounced to the door in a light yellow dress.

"You look nice too." He said with a smile as he looked at Anna.

"Mommy let me pick my clothes. I like dresses." She said as she looked down at herself.

"So where are we going?" Meredith asked as she struggled to pull her black boots. Ian walked over and helped her. She smiled on and stood up. "I'm huge." She muttered as she placed her hands on her stomach.

"You look great. And we are going to your favorite place." He said with a smile as he motioned for her to walk.

"Oh good." Meredith said with a smile as she grabbed Anna's hand and led her to the car. "I missed that place."

Meredith watched the buildings as they drove down the familiar road. It seemed like yesterday that she was driving here. She was in a different place. In her old life. One that worked, but wasn't ideal. One that didn't even give her a taste of what was to come. A life where Derek wasn't even a thought. And being a mother was even father from her mind. Looking at the buildings she knew that she had made the right choice. She knew that her life had fallen into just the right place.

"Your mommy and I used to come here four or five days a week." Ian said as they walked into the familiar restaurant.

"You and mommy?" Anna asked as she looked between the two of them. They grabbed a booth along the wall and read their menus. "Why would mommy come with you?"

"Well, I used to live here, Anna. Before I met Derek. This is where I went to medical school." Meredith explained as she looked over the menu.

"Oh..." Anna said with a strange look on her face. Anna looked at menu, and seemed to be in her own little distracted world as she looked around at the signs on the walls.

"She's cute..." Ian said as he looked at her.

"Yeah. She is." Meredith agreed. Ian looked around, and stared at Anna for awhile.

"Do you ever---" He started. "Never mind..."

"What?" She asked as she tilted her head, wondering what he was thinking.

"Do you ever stop and think about if we had kids. If you had been pregnant?" He asked as he looked at her.

"No. No." She said as she shook her head. "It would have never worked. The child... It wouldn't have been fair to the child. You and I-- We were dysfunctional. We weren't a family. Derek is the love of my life. He makes me complete. If I died tomorrow, I would feel satisfied. I would feel like I completed my mission. I met the most wonderful man. I my soul mate. Derek is... He is great." She said with a smile as she looked at Anna.

"That's great, Mer. It really is." Ian said with a smile as he drank his beer.

"Yeah, it is." Meredith agreed. The waitress finally came back with their order, and placed it in front of them. "Can I have some peanut butter?" Meredith asked.

"Um. Peanut butter?" The waitress asked with surprise.

"Uh huh." Meredith said as she she looked at her fish.

"Right away." She said as she walked away and came back.

"That is gross." Ian said as he watched her spread peanut butter on her fish.

"It's good. Really good." Meredith said as she continued eating.

"The twins like it." Anna pointed out, saying what her mother always said.

"The twins..." Ian said with a laugh.

"The twins." Meredith repeated as she rested her hand on her stomach.

They all finished their meal. Meredith decided that it was probably a good idea to walk around for awhile. Anna was eating up the culture. Meredith had never seen her eyes so wide. She smiled and laughed, pointing at every new thing she came across. She seemed really happy, and as sad as Meredith was that Derek wasn't there, she was happy they came. They were just finishing up their walk as Meredith grabbed her stomach and winced. She stopped in her tracks and looked down.

"Are you okay?" Ian said as he looked at her.

"Oh... Just braxton hicks." Meredith said as she rubbed her stomach. "Braxton hicks..."

"Meredith!" Ian said as he rubbed her back. She took a deep breath and looked up. "You're sure?"

"I'm positive." Meredith said with an affirmative smile.

"Mommy...are you okay?" Anna asked in a panic. "The twins aren't coming are they? I forgot my purse. My purse..." She started to panic, realizing she didn't have the cellphone Derek told her to carry.

"Anna, I am okay. My body is just getting ready for the twins. Everything is all right." Meredith told her as she rubbed her head. "And why do you need your purse?"

"Oh. Aunt Addison says a lady should never be without her purse..." Anna said with a smile.

"Well, I'm sure you will be just fine without it." Meredith said with a giggle as she began to walk.

"Mer, are you sure you're okay?" Ian asked again.

"I'm okay." She said with a smile as she placed her hand back on her abdomen.

"So what are we going to do?" Anna asked as she looked around.

"Well, the day is almost over... But tomorrow..." Meredith said quickly. "Tomorrow Alice is going to take you shopping. I have the funeral." Meredith explained.

"Who is Alice?" Anna asked as she looked up at Meredith.

"Alice used to take care of me. She helped cook and clean the house when I lived here. She's a good friend, and you guys will have a good time." Meredith said convincingly.

"Mommy..." Anna whined loudly.

"It will be fine. Alice is very nice, you'll see." Meredith said quickly as they walked up to the car. Ian unlocked the doors and they all got in.

"You look tired." Ian said as he looked over at her.

"I am. I slept and slept, and I'm still tired." She said with a frown. "Is it okay if we go back to the hotel?" Meredith asked Anna.

"I guess." Anna said with disappointment.

"I brought Dreamer." Meredith said with a smile.

"Okay. We can go back." Anna said with an agreeing nod.

Meredith and Anna returned to the hotel. Anna took a quick bath and sat down to watch her movie. Meredith started the hot water and climbed in. She needed a hot relaxing bath. She laid there and stroked her stomach. The twins calmed down as she talked to them softly. She smiled as she felt a soft bump. She couldn't wait to hold them in her arms.

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

Meredith was shocked at how quickly Anna took to Alice. Alice was a very likable person. Meredith trusted Alice with her life. She had spent ten years with her. She was family. Meredith knew that Anna would have a good time shopping, she always did. And as much as she wanted to spend time with her, there was no way she was taking her to a funeral. Not after all that she had been through.

Meredith walked out to the limo with Ian on her arm. She was his rock. She's never believed it a few years ago, but he needed her. When she left, she was so bitter. But looking back, she knew that Ian had always taken care of her. Maybe not emotionally. But that was only because he couldn't. He didn't know how. And it seemed he was learning. But now it was too late.

"You look great." Ian said with a faint smile as they pulled up to the church.

"Thank you." She said softly as she rubbed her black dress with her hand.

Meredith looked at the long line of cars in front of the church. Ethan Atherton was a well liked man. He was a business man. One of the few business men who still played fair, and he was well liked because of it. The number of people was astounding as they took their seats in front of the church. She noticed a few familiar faces as she walked along, most of them getting wide-eyed when they saw her large abdomen.

Meredith held Ian's had during the readings. She sat there supportively as he read the eulogy. She was there. She was there and it felt great. She was glad she came. As sad as she was, she knew that he had had a full life, and done everything he wanted to do. In the back of her head, she could only wish that for herself.

"Meredith! Oh my god, it is you!" Ella said as she approached. Ella was one of she and Ian's closer friends.

"Ella, how are you?" Meredith said with a smiled as she gave into her warm embrace.

"I am great. And you-- You're pregnant." She said in shock as she looked down at her.

"Thirty weeks. Twins. A boy and a girl." Meredith said with a proud grin.

"Wow. I can't believe it. And you're...you're remarried?" She said as she looked at the rings on Meredith's hand.

"I am. I am married to the most wonderful man..." Meredith said, thinking fondly of Derek.

"That is so great. We all-- We all hoped that you would find happiness when you left. You really deserve it." She said as she pulled her close. "Maybe we could have dinner before you go home?"

"That would be great." Meredith said with a smile.

"Good. I'll see you later then." She said as she started to walk away. "Oh... and I'm sorry. About Ethan."

"Thanks, Ella. Thank you." Meredith said with a smile as she turned on her heel and straight into Ian. "How are you holding up?" Meredith said with a faint, concerned smile.

"I'm holding up." He said frankly. "How about you?"

"I'm sad...but-- He had a full life." Meredith said quickly.

"He did." Ian agreed as they walked away from the grave, hand in hand.

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

The rest of the trip was uneventful. Anna was eating everything up like candy. She loved London. She said it was her favorite place in the world, except for home, of course. Alice had taken Anna to Harrods, and Anna said she couldn't wait to get home and tell Aunt Addison all about it. Derek was going to love Anna when he got his credit card bill from this trip.

The week was spent touring every possible tourist attraction there was. Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, london Zoo, Hyde Park. They had a great time. But as much fun as vacation was, Meredith couldn't wait to get home. She couldn't wait to be in Derek's warm arms. She couldn't wait to sleep in her own bed next to her husband.

Meredith grabbed her clothing and started folding. She looked at all of the new things they had acquired during their trip. More so Anna, than herself. Anna had gotten quite a collection built up. Enough so, that Meredith had to buy her another bag to take it home in. She finished packing the last of their luggage when she heard a knock on the door.

"Hello, Love." Ian said as she opened the door. "Are you ready to go home?" He said with a bittersweet smile.

"More than you would believe." Meredith said with a relieved sigh.

"Well, we really should get going. Your flight leaves soon, and you have to go through all of the security." He said frankly.

"I supposed you're right." She said as she took another glance around the suite. "Are you ready, Anna Banana?"

"Yeah. I miss daddy." He said with a frown.

"I miss daddy too." Meredith returned as she grabbed her bag, and Anna's hand. "Let's go."

Ian was quiet the whole ride to the airport. Meredith knew he was upset that she was leaving. They had spent ten years together. Ten years where they were together almost every night. Ian knew they were over. He knew they were just friends. But a small part in the back of his head also knew that it was his fault. He had messed up the best thing he ever had.

With Ian's help, the bags were taken in. Their tickets were picked up, and finally they were at the gate. The amount of relief that came over Meredith was immense. She missed Derek more than she could imagine. A week. A week had gone past, and each day she felt a little worst. a little more depressed. She had never thought she would be so happy to be going somewhere.

"So, I guess this is goodbye." Meredith said as she looked at Ian.

"I suppose it is." Ian said as he pulled her into a hug. "I had a great time. I hope you did." Ian said in her ear. "I'm glad you came. I needed you. That's the thing about you, Mer. When someone needs you, you're always there. And I'll miss you." He said as he kissed her on the cheek.

"And you, Anna. I hope you had fun." He said as he bent down.

"I did Ian. You're fun!" Anna said as she jumped into his arms. "And lay off the girls..."

"What?" Ian said, taken aback.

"Alice told mommy that you needed to lay off the girls. I don't know what it means, but they're probably right." Anna said with a smile.

"They probably are..." He said with a chuckle. "Bye, Mer..." He said with a smile as she turned and walked away. Meredith made her way up to board the plane.

"Tickets, please." The attendant said as she reached out her hand. "And how far along are you?" She asked as she looked at her.

"31 weeks." Meredith said as she rested her hand on her stomach.

"Do you have a note from your obstetrician?" She asked quickly.

"I-- Uh, yeah. Here." She said as she pulled it out.

"This isn't valid." She said as she read it. "It's a week old. They're only valid for 48 hours. I'm sorry, we can't let you board..."

"What?" Meredith said in shock. "No!"

Oh no!