Chapter 69: Ellis and Derek Talk

Derek followed Ellis to the door quietly. Before Derek could close the door behind her, he felt it stop and open back up slightly.

With eyes that he could not read, Ellis said very quietly so that only Derek could hear, "I am not sure what is going on here, but this could be your job. You realize that right?"

"Yes, I do." Derek wasn't going to hide anything but made the split-second decision to not lie about anything.

Ellis studied Derek while he stood there. She noticed he seemed to be completely okay, not intimidated by her, which was strangely unusual. "So, what exactly is going on?"

Derek's head was spinning not 100% sure what to say but he knew he had just a second to say something, "I love her." He knew in this moment, he was either going to burn and his career was over, or she would quite possibly be content with the honest answer. He was hoping on the latter.

Ellis stared him down for what seemed like hours, but was no more than 15 seconds, "Love is for the weak."

"I am sorry you feel that way." Derek immediately answered, not even hesitating. He knew he was already in as far as he could be, so why not continue? He was amazed at how strangely calm he was. He had no idea what Ellis would do, but he knew enough to realize there was a reason she was doing this. Ellis was the person that did nothing without a reason. He just hoped it was only for her information, not to ruin his career. This wasn't something he could worry about at this time.

Ellis looked up at Derek with glassy eyes, "Meredith's Dad, Thatcher. I loved him beyond this universe, but he left when she was five and I was 23. We were together since we were 15; then, I got pregnant my senior year of high school. So, a week after my 18th birthday, we got married. At first, we were happy, Meredith was our life...the center of our universe. One day, I was 23, I had finished college, and enrolled my baby girl in kindergarten. After our busy day, I went home, Thatcher's stuff was gone and there was a note."

Ellis,

I'm leaving you for another woman, tell Meredith I love her… she'll be better off without me anyway.

~ Thatcher

Ellis continued almost in tears, "From that point on, I decided to never love again, to raise Meredith with a tough exterior, told her that her father was sick, and told her that's why he had to leave. So, then I enlisted in the navy as an officer at 23. Whenever I had a detachment or deployment, Meredith would stay with our good friends Richard and Adele. They had a daughter, Maggie. The two of them were childhood best friends."

Derek understood Ellis in that moment, she just wanted her daughter to be safe. Derek spoke, "Ellis, I love Meredith and would never hurt her. She means the world to me. I'm prepared to give up everything for her."

Derek watched as Ellis's eyes did something a little strange, like a twinge of sadness, but it was a split second and if he had not been watching so carefully, one would have missed it. She quickly hardened again to say, "She deserves it. Everyone deserves it. Everyone." With that Ellis Grey turned around to walk down the hallway.

Derek took a huge breath, trying to compose himself. He had no idea what this meant for him. The possible implications from just this conversation were huge, but he had a strange calmness about it. He took another deep breath and walked back into the room.

"That took a few minutes." Meredith said as Derek walked back into her view. She still couldn't see anything around her. They were hoping for surgery the following day.

"Yes, but I am all yours for a bit." Derek leaned down slowly and very tenderly while his hand instinctively moved to her head to stroke her hair ever so slightly and gently.

He felt her try to move her head, "Don't move." He whispered so close to her lips that she could feel his hot breath on them.

"I love you." Derek whispered before lightly kissing her lips softly, knowing this was all for now.

Meredith felt her heart tug, "I love you too." She managed to get out through the little bit of water that was pooling in the corner of her eyes.

Derek pulled up a bit to look into her eyes, "Hey, none of that. You are here, I am here. We are together and I love you."

"Oh Derek. Can you really be here? I mean, you can't even hold my hand if someone is in here. And I don't want you to…" Meredith giggled a bit, "I mean, I do want you to, but not at the expense of your career. I am ready to live a life with you, a normal life and I am not sure that is even possible. Not with my mother." Meredith suddenly became very serious.

"Meredith, listen carefully because I do not want to have to say this to you more than once. I am completely and totally in love with you. I would give it all up if it meant having you forever. We will have that normal life." He chuckled a bit at this and added, "So, what exactly is normal? Who defines what that is? I think no matter what, we have proven we are not normal. So, a normal life, not possible. An adventure with the woman I love, now that is possible." He was beaming inside to see his Meredith with the biggest smile on her face giggling ever so slightly at this. He longed to hear that giggle.

Derek then grew somewhat serious to address the other comment, "As far as your mother, let me worry about that. I think there will be a day soonish that she will be okay with us together." Derek was hoping he was not over stating the small exchange he and Ellis had before she left the room.

"Soonish isn't a word. I may be semi-high, but this I know." Meredith giggled slightly.

"It is for me. Go with it. Be flexible." Derek laughed with Meredith.

"I am not flexible." Meredith rolled her groggy eyes playfully.

"I beg to differ."

Meredith then stopped laughing and looked at him with so many questions in her mind, "But she… she won't be. I am nothing but a disappointment to her and this, if I can't fly again, I will never be able to face her."

Before Derek could say anything, the nurse came in the room causing Derek to pull back from Meredith the second he heard the door open, "Time for your pain meds." The nurse smiled delightfully.

"Thanks." Derek answered for her while she gave it through Meredith's IV.

While doing this, Derek thought about how he had no idea what it was like to have a mother like Ellis Grey. He lived a life that was as normal as could be given, no big things happened, and life was just good most of the time. He had two parents that loved him very much as well as sisters that he grew up with. His heart was breaking for this woman in the hospital bed that had been through so much. "Listen to me, I think you mean more to her than she can express. I know she was a shitty mom. You and Alex have said more than enough, and I have witnessed it; however, she is here and no matter what happens, I am here with you, and I am not leaving. So, we can do this together if you want me too."

Meredith was stunned, "You mean you would put up with my mother and do this together? Have you met my mother?"

Derek smiled his perfect smile with his eyes beaming down at her, "I have met your mother. I think in the last day we have come to some strange understanding. I am not sure how to describe it, but trust me on this."

"I do trust you." Meredith said quietly.

"Good." Derek leaned back down and kissed her lovingly still stroking her hair.

"Please help with one thing."

"What?" Derek loved having this time with her. He was able to love her freely, something that hadn't happened since Ellis came into town.

"Alex and my mother."

"I am really trying. Your mother likes me, so it isn't too difficult." Derek flashed a cocky smile.

"Likes you? Let's not get carried away now." Meredith rolled her eyes and yawned huge.

"Looks like you need to get some sleep. With your surgery…" Derek stopped talking and his stomach dropped.

"Derek, surgery will be okay. I will be okay. Hell, I survived a plane crash, how many people can say that? I did eject, but still. Surgery, surgery is nothing." She tried to make him feel better, but she was concerned too. She knew any surgery involving the back could be dangerous.

"You will be okay." Derek smiled but couldn't help but feel nervous, "Close your eyes and rest. I will be here."

"I love you." Meredith said drifting off.

"I love you too, so much." Derek sat stroking her hair enjoying this time with her. He just hoped this was the first of a lifetime of great moments for them.

They needed the forces to be on their side, would they be?