Disclaimer: If Grey's Anatomy belonged to me, I wouldn't have to worry about how much a pair of ballet flats from Target cost. Instead, I'm a poor college student.

The number of hits I've gotten on this story in the past day is amazing. I want to thank the girls at Grey's McBoard for reading my fic on here!! That sounds like an acceptance speech. I wish.

A day and a half was all Meredith spent in the hospital and she was already itching to leave. She saw it all the time, people spending weeks, even months in the hospital. And she had been there for a day and half and couldn't wait to get out. That did have something to do with the fact that everybody in the hospital found out what happened to her and she had had non-stop visitors.

But today she was finally getting discharged. Her head still hurt sometimes and her ribs were sore but she was recovering from her concussion and was definitely ready to get out of the hospital. Instead, she would be stuck at home with Izzie and George. And Derek. Derek had been there when they had brought her to her room. She vaguely remembered him saying he was in love with her. But she wasn't sure if it had actually happened or if it was the drugs.

The doctors were buzzing around here, checking her vitals and doing last minute checks to make sure that she would be okay at home. The nurse gave her meds to Izzie and she was just waiting for final confirmation that she wouldn't have to spend another night crammed in that little room.

"Dr. Grey, you're being discharged today. Strict orders to rest and keep activity to a minimum. I don't want to see you back in here because you reinjured yourself," Bailey ordered as she came into the room.

"Yes Dr. Bailey," Meredith agreed.

"Dr. Stevens will be right up with a wheelchair to take you downstairs."

"I can walk."

"No arguments Grey. I want you back here working as soon as possible and if that means riding downstairs in a wheelchair then you'll do it."

"Ready to go home?" Izzie chimed, as she brought the wheel chair into the room.

"Can't wait," Meredith sat in the wheelchair.

"Feel better Grey," Bailey said as Izzie wheeled Meredith out of the room.

Derek heard that Meredith was being discharged and the only thing he wanted to do was go to her house and tell her that he was sorry that he hurt her. Sorry for all the pain he had caused and that he wanted to start over. He and Addison had talked the day before. It wasn't friendly but they had made a decision that there wasn't anything to reconcile. Their marriage was over. It was sad, but it had to be done. Addison was free to have her baby with Mark and Derek could be with Meredith. All he wanted to do was tell her. Tell her that he would be there for her every day for the rest of their lives.

"Dr. Shepherd, I would guess you're here to see Meredith. But I've been wrong about you in the past" George opened the door.

"It's nice to see you too Dr. O'Malley. And this time you guessed right."

"She's upstairs," George told him.

"Thank you Dr. O'Malley," he yelled as he walked up the stairs.

The walk up the stairs felt like eternity. He ached to take her in his arms and tell her how much he loved her and how sorry he was. He walked up the stairs and saw her curled up on the bed with Doc, reading a book.

"How's the patient doing?" Derek smiled in the doorway.

"I'm a little sore," she answered, putting the book aside.

"So I think we have to talk," he said, coming into the room.

"You said things to me. Big things," Meredith winced as she moved over to make room for Derek.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"I'm fine. And don't change the subject," she ordered, getting comfortable on the couch.

"I said things to you."

"So I wasn't dreaming.

"No. You weren't."

"Usually I would like those things but you're married. And you're having a baby."

"I'm not having a baby," Derek sighed.

"What? I thought you said…"

He cut her off, "It's Mark's…The baby is Mark's."

"McSteamy's the father?"

"McSteamy?" he laughed.

"That's what Cristina and Izzie and I named him while I was on drugs. Him being in the hospital was big news." Meredith grinned.

"I'm sure he'll love that."

"Does he know that we call you McDreamy?" she giggled.

"I haven't exactly talked to him since I found him in bed with Addison. Apparently, the night they conceived a child."

"You're not having a baby."

"No. I'm not."

"I'm sorry," she breathed.

"You know what? I'm not. As happy as I was when Addison told me she was pregnant, she's not the person I really want to have kids with. I'm just sorry it took me this long to realize it."

"You have another wife?"

"That's cute. You're funny,"

"What about Addison?" she murmured.

"I'm done trying to fix something that's already broken beyond repair. She and I…there's nothing left."

"You're getting a divorce?"

"We're getting a divorce. She filed this afternoon after finding out Mark was the father. All I have to do is sign."

"Are you actually going to sign this time?" she whispered.

"As soon as I get the papers," he answered, taking her hand.

"So what does this…What happens with you and me?" Meredith linked their fingers together.

"It means I'm just asking for another chance. A chance to make things right. You deserve to be with somebody who makes you happy. Somebody who doesn't complicate your life. Somebody who won't hurt you. I want to be that person. I just need you to let me back in and let me be that person."

"That's cheesy, Der," she giggled, a tear running down her cheek.

"I know," he laughed through his own tears, "But it's true."

"You did hurt me Derek. When you chose Addison.

"I know and you have no idea what I would do to take that back. But I can't. So I need you to just let me show you that I'm here. I'm not going anywhere this time," he wiped the tears from her face.

"It's going to take some time for me to trust you again. We can't just be together like we were before.

"I know," Derek nodded.

"I think we should take things slow."

"Slow," he repeated.

"We should date," Meredith smiled at him.

"We can date. We didn't really do that before," Derek winked.

"We're dating," she giggled.

"Does dating mean I'm allowed to stay with you tonight?" he grinned.

"I think so," she giggled, cuddling up to him.

Dating. They could date. It would be fun. They would get to know each other over again. And Meredith could build up her trust in Derek once again. Until then, lying on her bed in his arms, felt perfect. For once in her life, she had stability. It felt safe and that was all she needed.

And the song you sing today wasn't always in your head
The
words you try to say are the ones you should've said

Sorry this is up so late. I had a doctor's appointment about an hour away from home today and then we ended up having people over for dinner. I hate when my parents make plans that involve me. And then they bring their 4-year old granddaughter, who I adore but I always end up entertaining her. I can't say for sure if I'll have an update tomorrow because it's football day and the Redskins are in the playoffs. I'll try to have one tomorrow night around the same time as this one. Sorry!! Leave me some reviews!!!