Derek Shepherd wasn't sure if he'd ever smiled for so long before. Well, maybe when he was a kid and the world was easy, but he hadn't smiled like this in years, and he hadn't smiled even a quarter as much as this before his accident.

But...Meredith.

That was it.

Just Meredith.

But, although he loved her, she was also the reason he was so extremely late. After breakfast, they'd gone back to bed for some more kissing. He had no idea why he thought that was a good idea, but now he was late to therapy, and Meredith was late to both work and her appointment about her broken toes.

He paused at the door, and knocked twice.

After a second, the door opened. He was about to apologize when she spoke before he had the chance to.

"Not sure I've ever been greeted with such a smile before from anyone, nevermind you." She said with her own smile. "My eleven o'clock canceled; you're very lucky."

His smile only expanded as she stepped out of the way of the door to let him in, and he entered. "I have updates."

"Would this be about a certain lady who you may or may not be in love with?" She asked as she followed him and closed the door behind her.

"What- you mean my girlfriend?" Derek asked with a smirk, knowing how she'd react, as he paused at his regular place.

"Your girlfriend?" She repeated.

"Mmm mmm." He agreed.

"When was this?"

"Last night."

"Did she do it or you?" She asked, although she was pretty sure she knew the answer.

"Her. She kissed me and then...then that was it. And she keeps kissing me; it's really great."

"So she kissed you, where was this?"

"On a ferryboat. The best place for kissing."

She smiled. Of course she knew about the ferry boats. Anyone who had ever talked to Derek for about five minutes knew about ferry boats. "So, once she kissed you, did you go with your regular speech?"

"I...I though about it." He admitted earnestly.

"But you didn't?"

"She didn't give me a chance, she already knew what was coming."

"So, uh- kissing." He stated, voice a little shaky. He wasn't expecting this. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not next month. "That's a, you know, a thing that people do when they like people."

She beamed. "And that's why I kissed you. Because I like you. I like you an awful lot."

"Right." He exhaled breathlessly. "But I-"

"No." She shushed, raising her hand. "I'm so ready for you to spew crap, and I'm not going to have it, okay? I am not in love with your legs specifically because that would be weird and I am not one of those people but- I am in love with every part of you, and that includes them. And I know, okay, I know you don't want me to love you, but I do, and I don't care what you want to say back to me, because I'll love you forever. Everyone has problems and everyone has flaws and if yours is that you- I don't know- keep me awake at night with a cramp or can't get me breakfast in bed because you'll spill drink everywhere or- whatever you think is so unappealing- then I just- Derek, I love you. In fact, the only time I hated you was before I found out about all the paralysis and stuff."

The edge of his lips rose, just a little, at that memory. Getting shouted at by an oblivious intern wasn't quite how he planned to meet the love of his life, but it was, and, man, was it worth it.

"So, here's how it's going to go. You're going to kiss me. You're going to kiss me a lot. And you're not going to feel guilty. You're not going to be convinced that you're ruining my life because you're not and- Derek, I love you, and I know you love me. And I've been afraid for so long to tell you and I know you are too but- I went first so all you have to do is agree, and kiss me. Okay? Can you do that?"

He didn't speak, or move, or shift his eyes, or do anything at all.

"Okay, say something." She breathed, worried. Had she actually just broken him? "Derek-"

"You're very bossy, you know." He muttered, smiling once he had finished his sentence.

"And that means?"

"I like it." His grin grew. "Keeps me in check."

Her head tilted. "Which means?"

"Which means I better shut up and kiss you."

It took her mouth a second to form a smile before kissing him. Once. Twice. Thrice. Again and again and again and again and again.

"And after? Most people nowadays seem to start as a couple from a dating app or meet at a bar, not go the friendship route, so I'm not sure what comes next."

"The hospital."

"The hospital?" She repeated. "I thought you weren't working yet. At least another two weeks, right?"

"Meredith broke two toes when she tripped over the lip of a door. She is not happy about it, as you would imagine."

"Seriously?" Meredith exclaimed when she sat up to look who was at the door.

"Yes, seriously." Derek agreed as he moved to her bedside, and handed her what was on his lap.

"The diagnosis?"

"Broken second and third phalanges. The rest is just bruising, there's no metatarsal breaks or anything."

"How long do I have to wear that thing for?"

He shrugged. "Few weeks. You have an appointment with ortho tomorrow morning at ten, since Callie isn't in and I didn't want to have to drag her here. They'll tell you more."

"A few weeks? I'm not wearing this for a few weeks!" Meredith exclaimed as she held up the walking boot.

"Well, you are. Unless you want your toes to heal incorrectly and be left with chronic pain for the rest of your life."

She looked at him, speechless for a second before huffing, "Fine."

He smiled, and took the boot back off of her. In his opinion, it wasn't that bad, but, of course, he wasn't going to tell her that. It was hardly higher than her shoe anyway, seeing as it was a short aircast. He ripped off the three straps of velcro, pulled out the tongue, and carefully secured it around her foot. He tightened it to what he thought was just about right. "Feel okay?"

She leaned forwards and tightened one strap before nodding. "Think so."

"Right. Now, your car is still at the car park near the restaurant, seeing as we never made it back there, so there's a taxi coming in ten to take us back to mine." He explained as she moved so she was sat on the side of the bed. "Considering the fact you can't drive now, I'm not entirely sure what you're going to do."

She sighed as she looked at her foot. "Forgot about that."

"It's fine. I mean, it's not really because I'm still not allowed to drive either, but we can get taxis. An awful lot of taxis- but, you know."

"Well I don't want to have to get a taxi to yours to pick up my stuff and then go home, so I'll go separately and you can bring my stuff- somewhen."

"Or you could- you know-" He tried, feeling his cheeks redden.

"I could?" She prompted, genuinely confused.

"You could-" He swallowed before just about getting out the rest of his sentence, "-sleep at um- my house."

She beamed. "That sounds like a great idea."

He smiled back. He didn't think she would say no, seeing as she'd accidently done it multiple times, but he was nervous anyway. "Okay. Well, let's get you out of here."

She nodded, stood, and limped out of the room.

"Ow."

Step.

"Ow-"

Another step.

"Ow."

Another step.

"Ow."

And another one.

"Ow."

And another.

"Don't say 'ow' again." Derek begged before she could mutter the dreaded word again.

"It hurts." She stated as she paused and turned to look at him, putting all her weight into the foot that didn't have crushed toes.

"Saying 'ow' isn't going to stop it from hurting." He pointed out sensibly.

She sighed; he was right.

"How about I give you another kiss?" He suggested, analysing the corridor to check there was no one around. Luckily, it was quite late on a night that wasn't often busy.

She beamed. "That sounds like a really good idea." She said as she stepped towards him - without saying 'ow', which was apparently quite the achievement now - and completed his request.

"Better?"

"How about another one?" She suggested. She was happier after one kiss, but she wanted another one.

He smiled. "Of course."

She smiled back, and then they kissed again. Both were brief, both silently worried about someone seeing them.

"Okay, are you going to stop saying 'ow' now?"

She looked at him blankly before shaking her head, and turning back around to continue.

"Ow."

Step.

"Ow."

Step.

"Ow!"

Derek rolled his eyes before following her again. She was an idiot, but it was helping him discover something. He liked Dr Meredith, and he liked intelligent Meredith, and he liked funny Meredith, and he loved caring Meredith, and he loved thoughtful Meredith...but he also liked stubborn Meredith, and crappy-cook Meredith and clumsy Meredith and Messy Meredith too.

"Right, and after that?"

"We...we did a lot of kissing." He admitted. "Like- a lot, a lot."

"Is this okay?"

Was this okay? What a stupid question. She was straddling him when he was half sat up, and, before she asked the question, she was kissing him in the position. Even though men's t-shirts had smaller head holes than women's, the t-shirt she was wearing left quite a bit of exposed skin around her neck, thanks to her petite size. It meant that she had no distinct figure, rather just hanging fabric, but she still looked so damn cute. Her trousers were far too big too, which meant she almost tripped over - again - multiple times. On the positive side, it did mean she managed to fit them on over her boot rather than having to take it off then put it back on again.

"No."

"No?" She repeated, fear in her eyes.

"No, because you stopped kissing me."

She smiled so much she laughed. "I hate you."

He smirked too, then grabbed her loose t-shirt to pull her towards him again so they could continue, and Meredith happily obliged.

"Was that good?"

He smiled at just the thought of it. "Freaking amazing."

"But no sex?" She asked. It was another one of the questions she already knew the answer too.

He shook his head simply, knowing he had the perfect excuse. "I'm not allowed. No strenuous activities for a minimum of six weeks, remember?"

"But if you were allowed to?" She pushed.

He sighed, and his smile dropped for one of the first times in the last 24 hours. "I- um- I don't know."

"I recommend that you should talk to Meredith about this. I'm not saying that you should say no or yes, but I know that the last thing you want is her to expect something from you."

He swallowed. "I know. I...just- hey, Meredith, remember how you're a normal person and want sex- well, I haven't had any in almost two years, and I don't even know if I want any." He said, imitating what he could say to Meredith.

"It sounds bad because of your phrasing, not because of what you're saying. Tell her you need to start slow. In fact, you have. You mentioned hugging, and now you've got kissing."

"Spooning." Derek added. "We spooned last night. Not for the whole night, I had to roll over but- for a lot of the night, we spooned."

"Right. Hugging, kissing, spooning- it sounds like you don't even need me anymore."

He smiled. "I'd love to agree. But...I can't."

She shared his smile. Derek had made miles of progress, but the problem was that his problems stretched thousands of miles. "Did you find it comfortable? It's important that you feel...free, and like you can be yourself around her."

"Mostly."

"Why mostly?" She pressed. "What made you uncomfortable?"

He snorted. "She snores. I told you that before but- like, Jesus, she snores!"

"You're watching me sleep."

He grinned as he brushed a lock of hair from her face. "You're cute when you sleep."

"Don't you sleep?" She asked with a dropped brow, concerned. "How long have you been up?"

"A little while." He shrugged.

"What?" She breathed as she sat up into a half upright position. She could see the lie behind his eyes. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." He reassured her before kissing her and smiling.

"Something is wrong. Do you- do you not want it after all? It's okay if you don't- I mean, it's not okay but if you just- I don't know need more time or something then I like-"

"Mer." He sighed, brushing her cheek with his hand. She was such a rambler sometimes. "Nothing is wrong. It's just-"

"Just what?" She pressed when he didn't continue.

"I just didn't sleep very well."

"Because of me?"

"It's not a big deal-" He started vaguely.

"What isn't a bit deal?"

"It's just-" He paused, knowing how she was going to react. "-you snore a little."

"What? I do not!" She exclaimed, outraged.

"You do. But I kind of love it. I find it charming that such a big noise can come from such a little person." He said, smirking the whole way through. He kissed her, and she agreed despite the fact she was angry with him. Cute, pouty angry though, not angry-angry.

"Do you know what isn't charming?" Meredith asked once their kiss ended, sass in her voice. "Your morning breath."

His eyes widened. "I'm sorry...what?" He cupped his hands over his mouth and breathed out.

"Well, seeing as you were awake before me, you know, you could have brushed your teeth."

He sighed as he slowly removed himself from the bed, and disappeared to the bathroom. Two minutes later, he returned, and slid back into bed next to her.

"See, that wasn't that hard, was it?" She teased.

He sighed before kissing her. "Is this better?"

She smiled. "So much better that I kind of just want you to kiss me all day."

He grinned back. A McDreamy grin, to be precise. "Sounds good to me."

"So, overall, if you had to rate your feelings on a scale of one to ten-"

"Negative three." He answered instantaneously, barely giving her a chance to finish her last word.

"One to ten." She repeated with a smirk.

"Fine." He smiled. "One."

"I'm not sure I've ever heard you say a number below three before." She noted.

His smile grew to a beam. "I'm not sure I've ever felt like a one before in my entire life. But I do now."

"Hi- I am so, so sorry."

"What are you sorry for?" Dr Webber asked, confused.

"Being late?" Meredith suggested slowly, confused. Was that not why she had found a post-it note on her locker telling her to go straight to the chief's office?

He was about to reply, when his eyes found what he thought was her wearing mis-matched shoes before he realized what it actually was. "And what happened to you?"

Now she was even more confused. If it wasn't about her lateness, she presumed it would be about the boot on her foot, but he clearly didn't even know anything had happened. "Tripped, broke two toes."

"When?"

"Last night. On like- a front door with a raised door frame thing." She explained, still unsure about what it was actually called.

"Are you okay to work?"

"Dr Torres put me on pit for three weeks. Treat, rest, treat, rest until I'm comfortable standing for six odd hours." She explained. "But um- why did you want to see me if it wasn't about either of those things?"

"It's September Seventeenth."

She gulped. Right. That thing. "Yeah- I um- I guess it is."

"So, I asked you here because I wanted to check you were doing okay."

"I'm going to be honest-" She sighed. "I didn't even acknowledge that today was- well, today."

"Take a seat, Meredith."

She obliged without a word, mostly because he was her boss.

"So, it's been a year."

"It has." She agreed awkwardly. She had no need to be here; she didn't even remember that today was the one year...well, she wouldn't call it an anniversary, because that didn't sound right, but that's what it technically was.

"So, I know you didn't realize, but, now that you have- let's talk about you, and how you feel."