"Derek," Emma smiled as her son walked into her kitchen, his eyes red and his hair a mess. "How are you, dear?"

"I'm alright," he sighed, pressing a kiss to her cheek. "Hi, Dad."

"Derek," Michael smiled, clapping his son on the back. "You hanging in there?"

"Trying to," Derek sighed.

Michael glanced at Emma for a moment before he wrapped an arm around his son. "What do you think about turning the game on?" he asked. "Rangers are set to win."

"Sure," Derek sighed, running a hand through his hair as he followed his father into the living room.

Emma frowned as she moved closer to the cutting board, reaching for her knife and an onion. Her son definitely hadn't been himself since he'd broken up with Meredith, and now she was starting to worry. It had been over a month, and now she was starting to worry that he wasn't even recovering in the slightest. She could see that his grades were slipping in school, which only made her worry even more since his medical boards were coming up.

"Mom, thank God you're here," Liz breathed as she burst into the kitchen, the door slamming behind her.

"Liz, what's wrong?" Emma asked, putting her knife down and turning her full attention to her daughter.

"I just saw Meredith," Liz breathed, tossing her bag on the ground and putting a cup of coffee on the counter.

"Oh dear," Emma sighed. "She was such a sweet girl, I hope she's doing better than Derek."

"Oh, she is," Liz nodded. "She was on a date."

"A date?" Emma frowned.

"Completely flirty and giggly," Liz nodded. "He looked like a real tool if you ask me."

"I don't understand," Emma frowned. "Derek's barely standing."

"I know," Liz said. "I still don't completely understand what happened between them, but now…should I tell him?"

"Oh," Emma sighed. "I…I'm really not sure dear."

Liz rolled her eyes as she collapsed onto a stool. "You're supposed to know these things," she sighed.

"What things?" Kathleen asked as she walked into the kitchen, pausing to kiss Emma's cheek. "Hi Mom."

"Meredith's dating," Liz said. "Should I tell Derek?"

"She's dating?" Kathleen frowned. "That's weird."

"I know," Liz nodded. "But I don't know whether it would the right thing to do to tell Derek, or if it would just be plain cruel."

"No, it's weird because according to Meg, Miss Grey's been completely sad and knitting a lot," Kathleen said. "Her words, not mine."

"It's really none of our business," Emma said. "As much as we might want to protect Derek, it's his life. He should find out that Meredith's dating on his own."

"Meredith's dating?" Derek's meek voice came from the doorway, and all three women turned to look at him, a broken expression on his face.

"Derek, dear," Emma sighed, but Liz pushed in front of her to look up at Derek.

"Derbear," she sighed. "I just got back from the coffee house by the docks. Meredith was in there, with a teacher from work. He was…really gorgeous."

"Oh," Derek nodded, looking down at his feet. "I…okay."

"I'm sorry," Liz whispered. "I wasn't sure I should tell you, but…I guess you know now."

"Thanks," Derek nodded, kissing her cheek quickly. "I'm glad I know."

"Derek," Liz sighed as she watched him moved back to their mother.

"Mom, I'm not feeling great," he said. "Can I take a rain check on dinner?"

"Oh, sweetheart," Emma sighed, reaching out to stroke his cheek. "I know this is hard, but you should try to move on. She clearly is."

"I know," Derek nodded, dark sadness taking over his eyes. "I just…just tonight. I'll get better soon. I promise."

"Alright," Emma sighed, reaching up to kiss his cheek. "Tell your father."

"Thanks," Derek smiled faintly before he grabbed his car keys off the counter and made his way back into the living room.

"What's wrong with Derek?" Caitlin asked as she passed by him on her way into the kitchen.

"I just saw Meredith on a date," Liz sighed.

"You told him?" Caitlin asked.

"Well…he kind of just heard us talking," Kathleen defended. "He's a mess, and I don't actually think knowing about that will make this any better."

Emma stared after her son for a moment, surprised when her husband poked her head into the kitchen. "Em, I'm going to take Derek home," he said.

"Alright," Emma nodded.

"You don't need to take me home," Derek rolled his eyes, holding his hand out to his father. "I'm fine to drive."

"Derek, you shouldn't have even driven over here," Michael argued, wrapping an arm over his son's shoulders. "You should just be grateful no one yelled at you for coming over here drunk."

"M not drunk," Derek mumbled as he followed his father out the door.

"Does anyone actually know what happened?" Liz frowned as the door closed behind the two of them.

"Something to do with Meredith's mother, I believe," Emma sighed.

"She gave him a check," Kathleen added. "To leave Meredith."

"And he took it?" Caitlin frowned.

"No," Kathleen shook her head. "Well, he didn't mean to, but I guess he just shoved it in his pocket or something, and Meredith found it."

"But that's not his fault," Liz said.

"Apparently it's not the first time this has happened," Kathleen said. "Ellis has paid off every single one of Meredith's boyfriends, and when she found the check she thought Derek was just another one who was after the money."

"That poor girl," Emma sighed. "I'm glad she seems to be doing alright."

"Mom," Kathleen frowned.

"What?" Emma asked.

"She destroyed Derek," Kathleen said. "How could you possibly be thinking about her when Derek's been drunk for a month?"

"Of course I'm worried about Derek," Emma rolled her eyes. "But they'll work things out."

Liz frowned as she exchanged a glance with her sisters. Maybe her mother had finally lost it. "Mom, they broke up," she said. "Meredith's seeing someone else."

"I know," Emma nodded. "But I have faith. After all, your father had to propose to me three times before I said yes. They'll work this out. Faith, girls, just have faith."

XXXXX

"Alright, Derek," Michael sighed as he watched his son collapse on the couch in his apartment. "I love you, but I'm worried about you."

"I'm fine," Derek murmured, popping another beer open.

"You are not drinking that," Michael said, pulling the beer out of his hands. "And I'm taking the rest of the alcohol in here. If you're not careful, I'll take your ID too."

"I'm not a child, Dad," Derek sighed.

"Then you might want to start acting like an adult," Michael said, sitting down on the coffee table, resting his elbows on his knees as he leaned towards his son. "What's going on, Derek?"

"I miss her," Derek whispered. "She refuses to talk to me, and now…now she's dating someone else. I can barely breathe, and she's moving on."

"Derek," Michael sighed. "You had to know that was going to happen eventually. The two of you broke up, you couldn't have expected her to be by herself forever."

"It just feels so final now," Derek whispered, staring at the ceiling. "Before…I could pretend that maybe she was just as miserable as I was, that one day she would finally answer when I called. But now that she's dating someone else, it's so final."

"Maybe you should talk to her," Michael suggested. "Get some closure."

"I think I have all the closure I need," Derek sighed. "I just wish I didn't have to get closure at all."

Michael sighed as he reached out to clap his son on the shoulder. "Is there anything you need?" he asked.

"No," Derek sighed. "I just have to start living again."

"You do," Michael nodded. "You're a strong man, Derek, you can do this."

"Yeah," Derek nodded. "I can."

Michael leaned forward to kiss the top of Derek's head. "We're here for you, Derek," he said. "If you need us, we're here."

"I know," Derek nodded. "Thanks."

He stared at the ceiling as Michael quietly left the apartment, leaving Derek alone with his thoughts. He could do this. He could learn to live without Meredith.

XXXXX

"Hi Kath," Derek sighed into the phone a week later, looking down at his textbook. "What's up?"

"Derek," Kathleen sighed, breathless. "I hate to do this, I really really do."

"Do what?" Derek looked up, his heart suddenly pounding.

"I know you've been having a hard time with everything, and I'm glad that you're getting better," Kathleen said. "But I've called everyone else, Derek, everyone. And I wouldn't call you if it wasn't a complete emergency."

"What's going on?" Derek asked.

"Chris had an emergency at work," Kathleen sighed. "And I tried to get an hour off, I really did. But I can't."

"You need someone to get Meg," Derek sighed, running a hand through his hair.

"I'm sorry, Derek," Kathleen sighed. "I'll never make you do this again, I promise."

"I can't…can't I just meet her at the bus stop?" Derek asked.

"Her bus route's down," Kathleen said softly. "The bus drivers are on strike."

"Fine," Derek sighed, taking a deep breath.

"Thank you," Kathleen sighed in relief. "This is why you're my favorite."

"I better be," Derek sighed. "I'll bring her back to my place until you or Chris can come get her."

"Thank you," Kathleen repeated. "I love you."

"Yeah, yeah," Derek sighed. "I have to go."

"Bye Derek," Kathleen said as she hung up.

Derek sighed as he glanced at the clock, knowing he had just enough time to get to the school before dismissal started. And maybe if he got there at the right time, Meredith would be distracted and he could grab his niece and run.

With a pounding heart, he moved towards his car, different scenarios ran through his head at the thought of seeing Meredith again. His thoughts ranged from Meredith falling into his arms and confessing how much she missed him to walking into the classroom to find her wearing another man's engagement ring. He knew it was crazy, but he couldn't really think clearly as he pulled into the parking lot of the school, suddenly frozen in fear.

He could do this. He'd done it a thousand times before, and he could just grab Meg, bribe her with ice cream if she moved quickly. He may not even have to see Meredith. He could do this.

When he reached her classroom, his breath caught in his throat as he saw her, sitting behind her desk and knitting furiously. He'd never even known that she could knit, and his heart constricted at the fact that there was so much he'd never get to know about her. So much that he wanted to know, but never would.

"Uncle Derek!" Meg cried, and he kept his eyes on Meredith, noticed how her fingers stilled, clutching the needles so tightly that her knuckles began to turn white.

"Hey sweetheart," he murmured, pulling her into his arms. "You ready to go?"

"Yup, I just have to put my chair up," Meg giggled. "Can we go for ice cream, Uncle Derek?"

"Whatever you want," he managed to smile at her as he set her back on her feet and looked closely at Meredith as she turned to smile nervously at him. "Hi."

"Hi," she said softly.

"I…." Derek tried to find words to say, but as he looked into her eyes, he couldn't find the strength to say the words he wanted to. "You're knitting."

"Oh," Meredith nodded. "Yeah, I…Lexie taught me. I figured it was a good way to…a good hobby to have."

"I'm sure," Derek nodded, looking down at the light purple scarf in her lap. Lavender. Something that would always be associated with her in his mind. "It's beautiful."

Meredith smiled softly, but before either one of them could say anything, Meg ran up to Derek and handed him her backpack. "You can carry my backpack, Uncle Derek," she said.

"Oh, well, what an honor," Derek smiled slightly. "Miss Grey," he nodded, trying to memorize her face in his mind.

"Mr. Shepherd," Meredith murmured, looking down at the yarn in her lap.

Derek sighed as he took Meg's hand and walked out of the room. That hadn't gone as well as it could have, but it hadn't been exactly easy either. But if Kathleen was going to keep her promise, then he would never have to worry about this again, he could get over Meredith and never have to see her again.

"Uncle Derek?" Meg asked.

"Hmmm?" Derek asked, looking down at her as he opened the back seat of his car for her.

"Are you very sad?"

"No," Derek frowned. "Why would you say that?"

"Cause Mommy says so," Meg said. "And I don't want you to be very sad. You're my favoritest uncle."

"Thanks, Meg," Derek smiled, glancing at her in the rearview mirror. "I'm not very sad. Not anymore."

"Good," Meg nodded. "Cause Miss Grey was really sad too. But now she's not anymore. Cause she's got a boyfriend now."

"Well, she's very lucky," Derek inhaled deeply.

"He's a teacher across the hall," Meg continued. "And he's reaaaaaaaaaaally cute. Like Troy from High School Musical."

"That sure seems to be a popular opinion," Derek muttered, trying to ignore the tearing in his heart. He could do this. He had to do this.