"What?" Meredith said, her voice cracking. No. Please not now. Things are just now working out for the better. Why is this happening. Maybe its not his. Maybe she's lying. No. Please….
"I'm Pregnant. I just found out today. I didn't know where to find Derek, so I asked around at the hospital and found out he was staying here. I'm so sorry. I didn't know what else to do." Rose said, with tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Why are you doing this to me! Why! You took him from me, out of our marriage. He left me and ignored the fact that I was pregnant. For you! What the hell! Why can't I just be happy? Why!" Meredith screamed as sobs overtook her body. She fell to the floor and curled up in the fetal position. Rose didn't know what to do. She just stood there watching Meredith fall apart. Her heart was breaking for the small woman in the doorway. She didn't know what to say.
She just ran, and didn't stop.
Meredith cried and cried for so long she lost track of time. She finally sat up and walked around the kitchen back and forth. She grabbed her keys and got into her car and pulled out of the driveway, not even bothering with the seatbelt. She drove, almost like clockwork, to the nearest liquor store and bought a bottle of tequila. She calmly walked back to her car and drove back to the house. She grabbed the brown sack, as she headed in the door, thinking of the lovely, numb feeling she would get as soon as she opened the lid. She could drink it all away. She could end her pain.
But she couldn't open it. She just sat staring at it, unable to move her body.
Derek opened his eyes and softly sat up. He stood, and set a sleeping Delia into the crib. He walked into the guest bedroom and snuggled into the sheets. Sleep. He needed sleep. He worried about Meredith. He wanted to protect her from anything that would ever hurt her again. His eyes slowly closed, taking in a world where everything was perfect.
"Come on daddy! Push me higher!" Screamed a bubbly blonde four-year old, on a swing set.
"Ok Peanut, I'll try and send you to the moon!" He said laughing as her eyes got wider at the comment.
"Daddy, can you really send me to the moon? I want to go!" She yelled as her feet went higher and higher into the air.
"Maybe one day sweetheart." He said, smiling at the innocence of children.
He heard Meredith yell from the back porch, to tell them that lunch was ready. He grabbed his daughter from the swing and set her down.
"Race?" He said, smirking. He took off running chasing after his beautiful child.
Derek sat down and took in his perfect family. Delia was close to hitting ten years old, he had a son around six, a daughter around four, and Meredith was about 7 months pregnant. She had cooked a wonderful lunch for all of them and they just sat enjoying each other's company. He was in love. His family meant the world to him… A family where he never let them feel pain.
Derek jumped awake. Something was wrong. He had a bad feeling. He nearly fell out of bed, not realizing he was wrapped in his sheets when he tried to stand up. He regained his composure and took off out the door and over to the nursery, not seeing anything out of the ordinary. Delia was resting peacefully. Meredith… What about Meredith? He took off towards her bedroom, but the bed was empty. Maybe she was in the kitchen? He made his way down the stairs and nearly had a heart attack at the sight before him. Meredith. Meredith with tequila bottle. Meredith alone with tequila bottle. She didn't even acknowledge his presence as he swiped it from in front of her face and proceeded with pouring the whole-unopened bottle down the sink.
After every last drop had disappeared, he walked back over the counter and sat in front of her. She looked horrible. She had black circles under her eyes, her mascara was everywhere, and she looked like she hadn't moved in hours.
"Meredith, honey, what's wrong?" Derek said, full of concern and worry.
She just stared at him. No movement, no blinking. Just staring straight ahead. He was starting to get really worried. Maybe he should call Izzie or something.
"Meredith, if you don't tell me anything, I won't know what's wrong. " He said reaching for her hand. She jerked it back and reached for his phone sitting on the other side of the counter. She slid it over to him and stopped it right in front of his hand. He picked it up and looked at it. Dozens of missed calls from Rose. He must have found his phone.
"MER! I NEVER TALKED TO HER I SWEAR!" He said panicking. She probably thought that he was cheating again.
"I know." Meredith replied, still no emotions, of movement in her body.
"Then what is wrong?" He said, feeling his adrenaline start to cease.
"Rose is pregnant, Derek." She said, finally looking into his eyes. A single tear rolled down her cheek.
Derek felt as if a cruel joke was being played on him. He felt like someone stabbed a fiery knife into his chest and twisted it. He felt as if the whole world was laughing at him. He didn't know what to say. He couldn't possibly have a child with someone he wasn't even in love with. He didn't know what to do. He didn't want to be with Rose but he couldn't abandon his child.
"Are you sure, mer? Did she tell you or did you hear a rumor." He said, still hoping for a miracle.
"She came by earlier. Right after I made it home. I had just checked on you and Delia in the nursery and when I came down to the kitchen I heard your phone buzzing. Then she showed up and told me." Meredith explained.
"So, where is she now?"
"Derek, she left. I yelled at her. I'm sorry. I just don't want you to leave again. It's like no matter what happens you always drift away from me. I just don't know what to say."
"You know I didn't want this right? I broke up with her before I knew. We haven't had sex in over two months Meredith. I swear." He said, his blue eyes pleading for an absolution.
"I know Derek. What do you want me to do. What are you going to do? You need to talk to her. I can't stop you from that."
Derek picked up his cell and called Rose. No answer. He left a message. What was going on? Why didn't Rose come to him? Meredith couldn't handle this.
Derek heard his pager for the hospital going off. He had a 911. Derek pleaded to Meredith to just hold on until he could comeback and talk. He kissed her forehead and ran out the door heading for Seattle Grace.
Derek quickly changed into his scrubs and frantically tried to put on his lab coat as he heard his pager begin to go off again. He headed for the exam room. As he entered, he asked for details. He saw the looks of his coworkers. He felt the hands touching him. He heard the symptoms being called out, but all he could see was the all too familiar brown hair amidst the blood and disfiguration of a woman named Rose.