Mark had sat for a moment longer with Richard before deciding that he needed to go speak with Addie. He knew that he shouldn't have just walked away from her. He hated that he had done it, and yet, his talk with Richard reminded him why he used to turn to him.

Richard had watched Mark walk away knowing that he would now do the right thing for his family, and by Addie He understood his step-sons fears, who wouldn't. The poor guy had been abandoned by his father at such a young age, and then to have his mother simply walk away from all of them, leaving them with a man that he had taken so long to get used to. It was hard, and yet, he knew that that experience alone would be somthing that he could draw strength from.

Mark reached Addie's office knowing that this was the place that he had left her. The office door was open and he could see Meredith holding Addie close trying to soothe her.

Meredith didnt have to look up to know that Mark was there.

"Hey" he said quietly as he looked between them both.

Meredith smiled softly glad that he was there as she was getting tired.

Mark looked at his sister and couldn't help but feel guilty. He hated that she was the one to go to his wife when it was her that shouldnt be carrying the stress of it all.

"It's ok squirt, i've got it from here." he told her as he moved into the room and sat down beside Addie. He pulled her towards him and let her bury herself into his shirt. "Shh babe." Mark said to Addie as he ran his hand down her back.

Meredith stood cautiously and looked at her brother.

"It's ok Mer, go home or something. I've got this." Mark told her and she nodded. Meredith smiled softly at her brother as she slowly made her way to the door, not sure where she wanted to go now.

In the meantime...

Alex found Christina down in the basement. It was obvious that she was studying and he wasnt sure whether he should disturb her. He knew that she hated to be interrupted, but this was important, this was his life, their life.

He approached her hesitantly and watched as she tucked a piece of hair out of her face again. He loved how when she was studying she would bite her tongue in concentration, and sometimes it would work its way out of her mouth. Alex tried not to be turned on as he approached her, after all, this was not about sex.

Christina looked up at him. She had been able to feel his presence from the moment he had reached the basement. She did not say anything, she simply looked up at him in curiosity.

"We... we need to talk." Alex told her, and she nodded and put her book down.

Alex approached the bed and sat down on the edge of it. He reached for her hand, even though he knew she wasnt exactly the cuddly type.

Chris looked at him, but still didnt say anything. She knew that this conversation was coming, even if she had wanted to avoid it.

"You... you dont have to do this alone." he told her nervously, and she watched as he took a deep breath.

"I think we should do this, we can make our way through this together. you dont have to do this alone, and honestly i dont want to do this with anyone else." he said quickly.

Chris looked at him in shock. "Alex?" she said quietly.

"I want us to have this baby Chris, i believe we can do this. We've got what it takes to go the whole nine yards. I want you to think about this I know it's asking a lot of you, but please, dont kill our baby."

Chris looked at him, she was biting her bottom lip now as she looked at him unsure of what to say.

Alex reached forward and placed his hand on her stomach, taking her completely by surprise. "Lets face our fears." he said to her as he leaned forward and kissed her softly.

"But my career." she stammered.

"We can do both." he told her as he moved closer still. He kissed her again.

"Just consider it, please." he told her. "The whole nine yards." he said again as he pulled back this time. "I want that with you."

Christina looked stunned as she watched him now stand up

"Lex" she said with a sigh.

Alex looked at her.

"I'll think about it." she told him.

Alex nodded, and could not hide the smile that was forming on his face

"Thats all i ask." he said quietly as he retraced his steps back out of the basement, leaving Christina to her thoughts.

GAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGA

Meredith slowly made her way towards Derek's office. She had noticed his car in the carpark as she had looked out the window from near her fathers office. She had thought that he had gone home, but it was obvious that he was still worried about her, possibly thinking about the talk that they had had with preston in the morning.

She could see the light on in his office as she neared the door. It was as she got closer that she was surprised to hear the voices coming from the room.

"I told you not to come, it will only upset Meredith." She heard Derek say, and she was not sure who he could be talking to.

"Look, you sounded like you needed someone, and mom was going to come, but she couldn't when she is looking after all of the brats." Meredith heard someone reply.

"Yeah, yours included." he had replied.

Meredith stood by the door, her hand resting on the handle.

"Why cant you just come home?" the female voice asked, and Meredith suddenly knew who it was.

"Because my life is here now." Derek replied, and Meredith could hear him moving around his office.

"Because Meredith is here." the voice said in a narky tone.

"Yes." Derek answered simply.

Meredith froze when she felt the door knob turn in her grasp.

"Nancy, i think it would be best if you just went home." Derek told her as the door opened and he gestured for her to leave, only to look up and see Meredith.

"Mer" he said quietly, shocked that she was there.

"I... I.." Meredith stammered as she took a step back.

Nancy pursed her lips as she took in the sight of the young girl who had captured her brothers heart.

"I'm going home." Derek told Nancy as he reached for Meredith before she could make her escape. "I suggest you book yourself into a hotel for the night, and then be on the first plane out of here in the morning."

Nancy stood watching Meredith panic, she heard the change in the breathing as Derek pulled his office door closed.

Meredith went pale, and Nancy was quick to step back, not sure whether she was going to vomit.

"It's ok Mer" Derek said quietly as he ran a hand over her back, "lets just go home."

Derek hoped Meredith's breathing would steady because he didnt want Nancy to know about Meredith's heart condition, it was bad enough that he had already called Erin to ask for her to give him a consult, and had sent the patients file to her.

He led her down to the car, and made sure that Nancy hadnt followed, so that when she sat down in the car, he had time to steady her breathing, before he could drive them home.