Derek and Meredith had been dating for eleven months now. FOUR WEEKS UNTIL THE DEADLINE! Through some miracle only Mark and Cristina knew about their relationship. Izzie and Alex had guessed that Meredith was seeing someone, since she spent almost every night at Derek's trailer with him, but she wouldn't tell them who it was. Dating Derek being a secret was something that was bothering Meredith more and more each day, but they had come this far they may as well make it to the deadline now.
"Four weeks to go," Derek murmured into Meredith's ear as they rounded on their patients with Meredith's interns.
"Hmmm not long to go," she murmured back.
"You surprised we made it?"
"A little," she confessed. "But we did."
"We did," said Derek. "Love you."
"Love you too."
"Meredith…uh the Chief asked me to scrub in…" stuttered George noticing how cozy Derek and Meredith looked.
"Go ahead," she said. "I'll get someone else to cover the pit."
"Thanks," said George, he looked back as if he was about to say something but thought better of it then sped off to join the Chief in the OR.
"Oh dear, I think we're getting sloppy."
"They'll soon find out anyway," Meredith shrugged.
"Well…it couldn't hurt to just get it over with and tell everyone now."
"It hasn't been a year," said Meredith twirling round to face him.
"Close enough," said Derek. "Come on why are we still hiding? We should have just told everyone months ago, sneaking around like teenagers is ridiculous."
"Ridiculous?" said Meredith clearly hurt that he thought she was ridiculous. "I wish you had told me that before."
"Mer I didn't mean…"
"You know how important this is to me," she hissed. "But you…"
"I didn't mean it like that," said Derek raising his voice so that Meredith wouldn't cut him off again. "But it's frustrating…I love you and you love me but we're sneaking around like we have something to be ashamed of!"
"I do," snapped Meredith. "I took back the guy that left me for his wife and then a nurse…I needed to be sure that you weren't going to go off with the next pretty face that catches your eye!"
"That's not fair!"
"That is what happened though…"
"You make it sound like…"
"Like what? What do I make it sound like?"
"I can't talk to you when you're like this," said Derek.
"Then don't talk to me!"
"Fine," said Derek his eyes blazing at her. His pager went off and we went to storm out of the room.
"Hold on!" Meredith commanded. Derek immediately turned round to face her, she stepped towards him and gently kissed him on the lips.
"Don't start the day on a fight," she said firmly. "I love you, you ass and we'll finish this later."
"I like grown up Meredith," said Derek smiling McDreamily at her, the old Meredith would never have done that.
"Well she doesn't think much of you," Meredith retorted going back to her charts. "Now weren't you about to storm out?"
"I'll see you later," said Derek leaning in to kiss her but she turned and gave him the cheek.
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"Hey I need your opinion," said Derek to Mark that night.
"Alright shoot," said Mark. "Wait your shift finished hours ago, you should be at home with your pissed off girlfriend."
"I'm just going," said Derek. "I wanted to know what you thought of this first."
"Of what?"
"This," said Derek pulling a small black box out of his pocket.
"Oh my god," said Mark opening the box to reveal a white gold, princess cut engagement ring.
"You think she'll like it?"
"If it's a real diamond she'll love it."
"Of course it is," said Derek looking offended Mark would think he would buy Meredith a fake ring.
"She'll love it…so I guess your little deadline is close then?"
"Four weeks," said Derek. "I kind of pissed her off earlier though."
"Ah…so I won't come anywhere near the trailer in the next…three days."
"You can come…but I won't answer the door," said Derek. "You think she'll say yes."
"Grey loves you," Mark stated. "Anyone with half a brain knows that. She'll run into your arms, marry you and have your babies."
"That's the dream," said Derek. "Thanks."
"Anytime Shep."
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As Derek got on the freeway to go home, a drunk driver came out of nowhere and ploughed into his car sending Derek through the windshield…