Meredith shifted awkwardly in her seat, pulling her skirt over her knees as her eyes met Derek's again. He was watching her carefully, but there was something…wrong in his gaze. He wasn't looking at her the way he usually did, full of love and promise. No, tonight, there was confusion and exhaustion in his eyes, mixed in with something else that she could quite place.

He was nervous.

That had to be it. It was going to propose and he was nervous, and that's why he wasn't acting like himself.

"Meredith," he breathed her name softly and her head snapped up to meet his eyes, her heart pounding. This was it.

"Yes?" she breathed, reaching for his hand.

"Nothing," he murmured, squeezing her hand tightly. "You look beautiful."

"Oh," Meredith nodded. "Thank you."

"I…" Derek's gaze landed on her and a frown creased his face. They were silent for a moment and Meredith tore her hand out of his, reaching for her wine. This was not what she had been expecting.

"Mer," he finally said after a long moment. "I really didn't want to do this, but I can't help it."

"What?" Meredith asked, her eyes wide.

"I have to ask you something."

"Okay," she breathed, suddenly straightening up in her chair.

"What the hell is going on with you?"

"What?" Meredith frowned, pulling back from him and crossing her arms over her chest, pouting slightly.

"Meredith, you insisted that we come to the fanciest restaurant in Seattle," Derek said. "You hate getting dressed up and you hate make up. And I've known you for over a year and you've never ever worn make up."

"I'm a girl, Derek," she snapped. "Sometimes girls do those things."

"Not you," he argued. "And that's what I love about you."

"Well, I'm sorry if you hate that I tried to look beautiful for you."

"See, that's just it," Derek breathed. "You are beautiful to me, Mer. You. Not the layers of make up that are on your face right now. I don't know why you felt like you had to do this especially for me because you don't need it. You're beautiful on your own, without all that."

"I just wanted to look nice," she whispered.

"Which is fine," Derek smiled. "I love the dress. It's hot. But the make up…it's covering up your natural beauty. And how am I supposed to run my fingers through your hair when it's up like that?"

"You really don't think I need this?" she asked.

"Mer, you know when I think you're beautiful?" he asked.

"When?" she asked.

"When I have to wake up early to go into the hospital…sometimes I just lay there and look at you, sleeping beside me with your hair on the pillow, in my clothes. And when the sunlight hits your face away just right…you take my breath away," Derek smiled, reaching for her hand. "Or when I bring you coffee at work and you're just sitting there giggling with your students, playing with them and making them love you. And I just stand there watching you, imagining what an amazing mother you're going to be to my children."

"Oh," Meredith smiled, tears building in her eyes. She squeezed his hand as she reached up and pulled her hair down, smiling widely at him. "Better?"

"Yes," Derek smiled, reaching out to push the fallen hair out of her eyes. "Much. I love your hair."

"Good," Meredith sighed as she reached for a piece of bread. Derek wasn't going to propose, not tonight anyways. Now she could relax and be herself.

"Why did you think you had to do that?" Derek asked from beside her.

"Hmmm?" Meredith asked.

"I just don't get why you felt like you had to become some weird non Meredith person," Derek said. "I love you, Meredith. Not the fancy make up and the dressing up. I hope I didn't do anything to make you think that you had to do that. Because I love you. I'm sorry if I made you think I wanted you to do that."

"You didn't do anything to make me do that," Meredith sighed. "I know you love me. I was just talking to Izzie and Lexie and they said that when we get…I mean, when we go out to dinner, I should look beautiful."

Derek smiled as he squeezed her hand. "I know you love your friends," he smiled. "But please never listen to them."

Meredith giggled. "I can do that," she smiled, leaning forward to kiss him. "Now you have lipstick on you."

Derek rolled his eyes as Meredith reached out to rub his lips. "This is why you shouldn't wear make up," he said. "I can't kiss you properly."

"Well, I'll be sure to never do it again," Meredith smiled.

Before Derek could respond, a figure appeared over their table, and both their faces fell as they saw who was standing before them.

"Mother," Meredith said evenly, her grip on Derek's hand tightening. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Honestly, Meredith that's no way to speak to your mother," Ellis rolled her eyes. "And did I raise a daughter to be completely irresponsible?"

"What now?" Meredith sighed, glancing down at the table.

"I stopped by my house today," Ellis said. "And that little brat informed me that you haven' been living there for months. Months, Meredith."

"So?" Meredith asked.

"So…I do not want strangers living in that house."

"What does it matter, Mom?" Meredith asked. "They pay rent. You live in New York. When you're here for conferences I'm sure they'll let you sleep in my old room, or one of theirs…"

"I want them out," Ellis interrupted.

"What?" Meredith asked. "No, I'm not going to kick them out. That's stupid and ridiculous and…no."

"Well, they're going to have to leave when I move in," Ellis said. "This is my two week's notice as their landlord."

"Move in?" Meredith repeated, feeling her blood run cold.

"Yes," Ellis nodded. "I've accepted the position as the Chief of Surgery at Seattle Grace."

"What?" Derek and Meredith asked together.

Ellis glanced at Derek, realizing for the first time that he was here. "Oh, you," she sighed. "Was the check no big enough? Honestly, the greed of young people these days."

"Dr. Grey," Derek said firmly. "I will not accept your money. And I certainly will never ever leave her. She's everything to me."

Ellis stared at him for a moment before she shrugged. "Well, that should make work very interesting for you," she said.

"Excuse me?" Derek frowned.

"You know what, we're leaving," Meredith snapped, grabbing Derek's hand. "And if you think you can treat Derek differently because I'm dating him, I will report you to the board so fast you won't ever know what happens."

"Meredith Elizabeth…"

"Goodbye, Dr. Grey," Derek said firmly as he pulled Meredith towards the door. "Mer…" he breathed as soon as they were outside.

"I'm fine," she said automatically, wrapping her arms around herself.

"You're not fine," Derek sighed, reaching to pull her into his arms. "Come on, let's go home."

She leaned into his embrace, clutching his shirt tightly. "Don't leave," she whispered. "Last time….you can't leave."

"I won't," Derek shook his head. "I didn't want to last time, and I won't this time. I promise."

Meredith didn't respond, but simply clutched him tighter as they walked to his car. The drive home was silent, Meredith holding onto his hand with a death grip, as if she was afraid that he would leave as soon as she let go. They walked quietly up to their apartment, Meredith's hands clutching his arm tightly.

"Derek," she breathed as soon as the door closed behind her. "I can't…"

"Mer, we'll figure this out," Derek said. "We'll get through this."

"No," Meredith shook her head, moving towards the bedroom. "We're not going to deal with her."

Derek frowned as he followed her into the bedroom, watching as she began scooping clothes out of her dresser. "What are you doing?" he asked.

"We're moving," she said.

"What?" Derek asked.

"We're moving," Meredith said. "To New York or Florida or…Australia. I refuse to be in the same city as that woman."

"Meredith," Derek breathed. "We can't just move."

"Oh, we can," Meredith nodded. "And we're going to."

"What about our jobs?" Derek asked. "What about our family?"

"I don't have a family," Meredith shook her head.

"Yes you do," Derek replied. "You have me. My family is yours."

"For now," Meredith whispered.

"Forever," Derek argued.

"You've said that before."

"I meant it then," Derek breathed, moving to take her hands. "And I mean it now. Forever."

Tears filled Meredith's eyes as she sank onto the bed. "I'm scared, Derek," she whispered.

"What do you possibly have to be scared of?" Derek asked, sitting down beside her, pulling her close.

"Last time she was here…she completely destroyed everything," Meredith said. "She can't do it again."

"She won't," Derek shook his head. "We won't let her. I won't let her. She can't have this much control over your life."

"Derek, she's going to be chief of surgery," Meredith frowned. "She's going to make your life miserable."

"She'll try," Derek nodded. "But Mer…as long as you're here, I really don't think my life could be miserable."

Meredith smiled slightly. "Really?" she whispered.

"Really," Derek nodded.

"Okay," she whispered softly.

Derek leaned forward to press a kiss to her forehead, hoping that she would be able to understand just how much she meant to him. "I love you, Mer."

"I love you too," she replied. "Please don't leave, Derek. I couldn't…I need you."

"I'm not leaving," Derek shook his head. "Never in a million years. I…God, Mer, I can't even imagine where I'd be without you now."

"I think about it sometimes," she admitted quietly. "About where I'd be if we hadn't gotten back together."

"And?" Derek prompted.

"I'd probably still be with Andrew, wishing I was with you," she replied.

Derek smiled as he tightened his arm around her. "God, I'm glad you dumped him," he sighed. Meredith giggled slightly, and he looked down at her. "What?"

"I was just thinking about how you and Addison tried to convince me you were dating," she giggled. "How stupid did you think I was?"

"Hey, it worked," Derek laughed. "You were totally jealous."

"I was," she nodded, looking down at her hands. Her ringless hands. There was no way Derek was going to propose anytime soon, not with her mother breathing down her neck. "Derek?"

"Hmm?"

"Can you promise me something?" she breathed.

"Anything."

"Promise me you won't interact with her besides on a professional level," she whispered. "I don't…I don't want her treating you differently because of me. So just don't mention me, okay?"

"Mer, I won't bring it up," he sighed. "But I can't sit back while she talks to you like that."

"Derek," she said, cradling his face in her hands. "Please. Let me handle her. I asked you to do that before and we both ended up being miserable for months. So please. Let me deal with her. You just be the best doctor you could possibly be."

Derek stared into her concerned eyes, wondering how he'd gotten so lucky. "Okay," he nodded.

"Thank you," she sighed.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah," she nodded. "I just really hope she won't make this hard on you. You've got too much going on."

"I can handle it, Mer," Derek nodded.

"Okay."

"Sorry we couldn't finish our date," he offered after a moment.

"Me too."

"We could grab some ice cream, snuggle up with a movie," he suggested.

"Did you just say snuggle?" Meredith giggled.

"Four sisters," Derek defended. "Four loud annoying sisters and no brothers. Sometimes a girly word slips in."

"Sure, that's all it is," Meredith nodded knowingly.

"Don't believe me?" Derek asked.

"I do," she nodded. "I'd love to snuggle with you."

"You're mocking me."

"It happens to be fun," she giggled, rolling on top of him.

"I'll show you fun," he replied, rolling her over onto her back and digging his fingers into her sides as she giggled and tried to squirm out of his grasp. This was his Meredith.