Mark, Alex and Richard sat at the table on Derek's porch. Addie wasnt there as she had been caught on her way out, and was now in surgery.

Meredith was inside gathering drinks and Derek was maning the grill.

"Nice Place." Richard commented from his spot.

"Yeah, we're going to break ground next weekend. They estimate 6 months, but i hope not longer because the baby will be coming around then." Derek told him.

"You excited?" Richard asked.

"Yeah, but i'm a little worried about what Burke might have to say tomorrow." he confessed after noting Merediths absence.

"I'm sure he's just going to discuss precautions." Richard consoled him. Then turned to watch the lights of Meredith's jeep coming up the driveway.

"Mer gave Richie her car so he could go back to the hotel and change." Derek informed him

Meredith came out of the trailer with a tray of drinks and placed them on the table.

Richie climbed out of the car and moved towards the group. "Thanks for the loan of the car Meredith. It's much appreciated."

"Dude much appreciated?" Alex asked scoffing.

"Alex" Meredith exclaimed

Alex frowned and rubbed his shoulder where Meredith had whacked him.

"Your welcome Richie." she told him as he moved in awkwardly. "besides i'm spending the night here with Derek, so i dont need it."

Richie nodded before moving to stand with Derek. "Do you need any help?" he asked.

Derek shook his head. "No, but why dont you get to know the boys?" he asked gesturing to Mark, Alex and Richard.

"They dont like me. I'm different." he replied.

Derek stood there quietly trying the think how he could console the young man.

"Richie get over here." Mark finally called.

Richie looked nervously at Derek who nodded his head. "Go, give them a chance."

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"So do you play any sport?" Alex asked after recieving an elbow to the side from Meredith.

"Ummm... no" Richie replied. "I know you were a wrestler and Mark was a quarter back... Mer didnt say what she did, but i'm... i dont play sport." Richie told them.

"Well what do you do?" Mark asked completely flabbergasted by the concept.

"I play the sax and i'm in a band." he informed them.

"I played the sax" Derek called "but i was in the band - not a band."

Alex and Mark laughed, "Mer you have changed, you wouldn't have been seen dead with a band geek." Alex told her.

Meredith rolled her eyes. "He may be a band geek, but he's a cute one." she said as he came up behind her. She pulled him close for a kiss.

"We could jam sometime." Derek said to Richie who looked graterful for the suggestion.

"So what did you do Mer?" Richie asked.

The table went quiet and Richie and Derek looked at her curiously. "Black clothes and Pink hair." Richard began.

"Grungy Music." Alex added.

"Eyeliner and pale foundation." Mark finished.

"Goth or emo?" Richie asked intrigued.

"Emo" Alex answered .

Derek was waiting for Meredith to speak.

"I was an artist." she told them finally. "I sculpted and painted. I was an artist."

Derek looked a little surprised by the news. "You paint?" he asked.

"Not anymore" she replied quietly.

"Why not?" Richie asked interested by what was coming out.

"Weren't we talking about you?" she asked Richie.

"Wow your almost as good as mum at avoiding aswering questions." Richie remarked.

Richard tensed at the comment.

"It's a personal choice." Meredith answered.

"It's a good thing she's not painting." Mark told them.

"She only paints when she wants to expel a negative emotion." Alex added.

Derek seemed to understand this , remembering the diary entry that he had read the night before.

Richie went to ask another question but MARK cut him off. "So how do you stay fit?" he asked Richie, gesturing to his defined body.

"Have to go to the gym." Richie answered with a shrug.

Meredith just nodded, only now relaxing as Derek rubbed her shoulders. "You ok?" he asked as he moved to kiss her cheek.

"Yeah... just yeah." she sighed.

Derek again ran his hands over her shoulders. "Do you want to dance it out?" he asked.

"You dont dance in front of strangers." she replied.

"They're not strangers Mer, they're family." he said with a smile.

Derek went inside and turned on some music. He smiled as he recognised the song that came on. He moved back out to her and took her hand, leading her into the clearing . She moved to snuggle in close to him, resting her head on his shoulder.

Don't stray, don't ever go away
I should be much too smart for this
You know it gets the better of me
Sometimes, when you and I collide
I fall into an ocean of you, pull me out in time
Don't let me drown, let me down
I say it's all because of you
And here I go, losing my control
I'm practicing your name so I can say it to your face
It doesn't seem right, to look you in the eye
Let all the things you mean to me
Come tumbling out my mouth
Indeed it's time to tell you why
I say it's infinitely true

Say you'll stay, don't come and go
Like you do
Sway my way, yeah I need to know
All about you

"We dont have to talk about it" he whispered . "Your past is your past, as much as mine is mine."

Meredith nodded into his shoulder, closing her eyes so she can just sway to the music. "It was along time ago." she told him. "maybe i will show you sometime, but not tonight."

Derek ran his hand over her back as she attempted to snuggle closer.


And there's no cure, and no way to be sure
Why everything's turned inside out
Instilling so much doubt
It makes me so tired - I feel so uninspired
My head is battling with my heart
My logic has been torn apart
And now it all turns sour
Come sweeten every afternoon

All the boys looked on. "Derek never used to dance in public." Mark commented.

"Seems like Mer is not the only one to have changed." Richard stated, happy to see his daughter looking so happy. She was looking the happiest he had seen her in a long time.

"They look good together." Richie commented.

"That they do." Alex sighed, feeling like he was slowly loosing his twin.


Say you'll stay, don't come and go
Like you do
Sway my way, yeah I need to know
All about you
Say you'll stay, don't come and go
Like you do
Sway my way, yeah I need to know
All about you

It's all because of you
It's all because of you

Now it all turns sour, come sweeten every afternoon
It's time to tell you why, I say it's infinitely true

Say you'll stay, don't come and go
Like you do
Sway my way, yeah I need to know
All about you
Say you'll stay, don't come and go
Like you do
Sway my way, yeah I need to know
All about you

It's all because of you
It's all because of you
It's all because of you