Thanks as always to those who reviewed the last chapter I really do appreciate them.

I know it's been a while and I am sorry but writers block followed losing complete confidence in my writing and this story...

But with no desire to abandon the story again I'm going to try just pushing through this and see how we go …

So all I ask now is you Read, Enjoy and help me on my way and PLEASE REVIEW!!!!

I Changed For You

Part One

Derek entered the intern locker room, and began pulling his crumpled scrub top over his head before the door had chance to close behind him. He used the little energy he had left to kick off his trainers, and stretch out the kinks in his neck and back. Collapsing down onto the bench in front of his locker with a groan of relief, his head soon dropping into the waiting relief of his hands.

The last eight hours of his shift he had spent in an emergency surgery with Dr Grant. Their patients condition hadn't looked good and he was sure it was only down to the Chief of Surgery's refusal to give up that the man had pulled through at all. The physical and mental exhaustion had hit the moment he had came down from the exhilaration of the patient surviving. Now he was left with nothing except for the desire to be with Meredith.

"You look like crap,"

Mark voice cut through the silence of the empty locker room. It brought Derek's head up briefly from his hands as he sat down beside him.

Dressed in his obviously fresh scrubs Mark was clutching onto a large polystyrene cup of coffee as if Derek thought his life depended on it. That however wasn't an uncommon sight in their friendship, Mark was a caffeine addict and had been since high school. His addiction now far out reached that of any normal intern Derek knew off including his and Addison's. But, what Derek did find odd was Mark obvious need when he hadn't stepped foot in the hospital for the past forty eight hours.

"Not possible."

Derek murmured with a shake of his head as he reluctantly pushed himself back to his feet as Mark arched up a skeptical eyebrow.

"Sure about that man? What hair you do have, looks kind of limp and greasy, you have suitcases rather than bags under your eyes and you're sort of in need of a shower."

"It is not and I ... Shut up."

Derek muttered after having run his fingers through his still short hair and sniffed slightly at himself before pulling his t shirt over his head.

Though he had in most aspects recovered from the accident, there were still moments when like now he felt as if he was back at square one. Not that he would ever admit that to Mark, but he was probably right about him looking like crap because that was certainly how he felt.

"Mer okay this morning?"

Derek asked voicing his only real and lasting thought that had existed outside that O.R for the last few hours.

The surgery had been a great opportunity that he wouldn't have wanted to miss yet he had found himself torn between paying attention to Dr Grant's skilled hands at work, and the clock on the O.R wall. Every minute that they had over ran he had seen his chance to see Meredith slipping away. There would be no time for him to get home to see her after seeing his patient through post op, nor would there be a chance to even ring to catch her before she left for her first class of the day.

Those calls though in no way the same as seeing her, gave him at least the chance to hear her voice especially after a long night away from her. Meredith not in any possible way a morning person, managed to be just that little more communicative when a phone call was his only option . The usual morning grunts he was accustomed to and adored were spaced between more words, that almost made full sentences. Even if sometimes he was pretty sure she wasn't so much as hearing what he was saying rather than simply listening to the rise and fall of his voice.

"No hi man? How was your day off? What did you get up too ? Did you sleep well last night? No you, you just want to know about Grey."

"So my girlfriends fine?"

"No she's not fine. She gave me hell this morning because she's tired and she misses your dumb ass and that, that makes her grouchy."

"You better not have upset her." Derek warned a frown starting to form as Mark's face twisted into a look of outrage that was almost comical.

"Me upset her? Meredith Grey is a bossy, stroppy,stubborn woman who seems to assume that she is the boss of me and queen of my world."

"I like bossy. It's hot, Mer is hot."

"She is. But, do you know what isn't hot? Hot isn't having my coffee stolen this morning or being punished by her hiding the rest of the coffee."

"If you didn't upset her why did she hide the coffee?" Derek demanded studying Mark's face for any small flicker of guilt.

"Because in her eyes I'm mean...? Me, I'm mean but do you know what is mean? Mean is being dragged out of bed yesterday to take her a paper she had left behind!"

A slight smile curled up the corner of his mouth as Derek felt his mood lighten . He knew that tone of Mark's voice though it was very rare that he heard it. It was as Meredith called it his spoilt I don't like sharing Derek or my bachelor pad voice and definitely someone who hadn't had there full fix of morning coffee. Which he knew was really to blame for Mark's mood. There was nothing Mark liked better than to have Meredith all to himself. To not have to share, or worse lose Meredith's attention altogether to him.

"But you went didn't you. You could have said no?"

Derek said knowing full well that he would have never even thought of saying it and despite his complaints nor would Mark. It didn't matter if that meant dragging himself out of bed only a hour or so after he had fallen into it. They were, the both of them wrapped very firmly around her little finger. That was no secret to Meredith and when she needed too she used it to her full advantage.

"No I couldn't have. She needed it for her class after lunch and it was a good paper and it's an important time right now with finals and all, "

"It is and you my friend are Mer's bitch. Admit it, accept it and move on!"

"That is you, not me. Mark Sloane is no womans bitch."

"I'm sure Mer and Addie would have something to say to that? But I'm alright with it, you keep living in denial!"

Derek laughed as he hurriedly with energy he didn't know he possessed pulled his sweater over his head. All the talk of Meredith had only increased his eagerness to get home. Derek knew he wouldn't be seeing her there not for a few hours at least but, the apartment felt a lot closer to her than here.

"Right thats me done. I'll see you at home."

"Oh yeah, before I forget. The other great way I started my morning was being hunted down as a means to finding you. I swear the Grey women, old and young have it in for me today."

"Your on about Ellis Grey?

It took Derek a few seconds to answer and then only to ask a question. Mark's words having to penetrate past thoughts of Meredith. Of being with her, of actually being able to hold her, and to have her in his sights for forty eight hours straight.

"Who else ? Unless you know of anymore Grey women running around this city."

"What does she want?"

"No idea. I made sure the elevator doors closed before I could hear anything more than your name."

A very self satisfied smirk quickly replaced Mark's earlier pout as he took a long drink from the cup.

"She had that look on her face. Same one Mer gets and I cannot face two of them this morning with no caffeine to hold me up! So I thought, why don't I save it all for my best friend!"

"Thanks for your consideration."

Derek muttered as the locker room door swung shut behind him. A seconds thought caused him to decide then and there to take the stairs. If a confrontation with him was what Ellis Grey was looking for, which he was in no doubt she was he refused to do it in a confined environment. Somehow he doubted his luck would live up to Mark's and the elevator doors would close before she reached him.

"Dr Shepherd."

Derek's step faltered as he let out a soft groan. He had managed to reach half way across the lobby with the exit in sight when the cold voice he had been hoping to avoid reached him and quite possibly everyone else around them. For a brief moment he considered quickening his step, to simply ignore her. The rational part of his brain however knew that wasn't possible, not whilst they were still in the grounds of the hospital.

The one thing Dr Grant had made absolutely clear after his and Mark's last run in with her was that that had to be the last time it happened. That inside the hospital, despite everything Ellis Grey was their boss, their superior and she deserved that much respect from them.

"Dr Grey,"

At nine am, after an over forty hour shit with little if any sleep Ellis Grey was not who he wanted to be stuck talking too. Or the more likely outcome being yelled at. Especially not when all he wanted was to go home. To step into the shower that would still smell of lavender conditioner, then climb into bed. The bed her daughter had not long left. Curl himself up under the sheets that would still have her scent clinging to them, and try to sleep the hours away until she got home. So that he would be awake to spend some time with her . Time that was more than a hurried lunch in a hospital cafeteria or a rushed phone call in between patients.

"Where is my daughter?"

Ellis's demand snapped him from the comforting thoughts of his bed and her daughter and straight back to the uncomfortable reality he was currently faced with.

"Excuse me?"

"My daughter, Meredith I would like you to tell me where she is?"

Ellis spoke slowly as if she thought he couldn't comprehend simply worded sentences.

"No."

"No, What does no mean ? Do you not know where she is?"

"Do you want an exact definition or..."

Derek started only for Ellis to cut him off quickly.

"I do not have time for word games Dr Shepherd so start talking!"

"Okay I'll play. What I meant was no, as in no I am not telling you and to answer your next demand that I know will come I'll tell you why."

Derek did his best to keep the pleasant smile on his face. Wanting to make it look like to the many people around them that it was just another intern discussing a case with an attending. He wasn't sure however that it would hold face as most of the hospital seemed to know Ellis Grey openly disapproved of his relationship with Meredith and disliked him.

"I have to be polite to you. I have to show you respect. I have to take your orders, and do them in a work environment and seem happy to do it because you are my boss. You being my boss however doesn't mean I have to talk to you about my private life and Mer she is that. So no I am not telling you where she is."

"Dr Shepherd one day you will realize why I have been so insistent about my disapproval of this relationship. You will see that you will have wasted so much time on a relationship doomed to fail, and that like I have told you before my daughter is not capable, and never will be of what you want from her. "

"I am so tired of this, of repeating myself. How long will it carry on for? What me and Mer have with all respect it's none of your business, and secondly you have absolutely no idea of what your daughter is capable of."

"Yes I do. Despite everything Meredith has filled your head with, I know my daughter, and therefore understand her limitations better than you ever could. You are the adult out of the two of you and it is up to you to be the one that ends this."

"I will not end or destroy the most important thing in my life."

Derek forced himself to take a breath and to lower his voice slightly so that it wouldn't carry any further. His personal life was already too well known around this hospital than he wanted.

"At the end of this month it is six months since I met her, the happiest six months of my life . Thats six months in which I have loved her and tried to give her everything that I possess to convince her that I am not leaving … And I'm not. Meredith is starting to believe that and you need to too. Now is there any thing else?"

"I know she's gone ahead with this ridiculous move to NYU, I know..."

Ellis Grey changed the topic so quickly that Derek found he had to rub his head to put his thoughts together. Though once through the fog of tiredness the words came quickly rolling off his tongue. To quickly to sensor them.

"You don't know crap. She finishes for the year at the end of this week. That makes it six weeks and three days she's has been at NYU. Forty five days and you are only just asking me where she is. That, that is why I will not discuss Meredith with you."

His anger was starting to escape him and there was a part of him that wondered if that was exactly what she wanted. Meredith had told him her mother always went after a person's weakness and in the best possible way Meredith was his.

"Where is she living?"

"Obviously not at your house as you locked her out."

Derek threw back quickly in an hissed whisper

"She had perfectly good room's at Dartmouth that I was paying for."

There were words, many of them on the tip of his tongue just waiting to spew out. Instead Derek clamped his mouth shut till he was sure he could control himself.

"Have a good day Dr Grey."

"It would not take much for me to find the address she used on her application form."

"Knock yourself out."

Derek ignored the shout of his name again as he exited through the sliding doors. For a second he was sure she would follow him, knowing that if she did it would be her daughter's car she saw him getting into.

Since the accident he had not gotten around to buying a new car to replace the bike that had now taken up permanent residence in his parents garage. He still missed it sometimes but Meredith had made her stand perfectly clear. No bike or no her and there really was no competition. Plus he had found like now, the car despite its relentless mess was a comfort to him. The mess no matter how may attempts he had made to tidy and clear it, still seemed to remain the same. So much so that he had long since given up trying especially as Meredith never appreciated his efforts. Her answer always the same, that she liked it the way it was. And though he would deny it if she ever called him on it he was starting to think he liked it this way too. It in the best possible way reminded him of Meredith.

Glancing down at her watch one more time Meredith felt a smile grow as she gathered up her papers and text books and shoved them away in her bag, past the bulge of the jar of coffee she had taken from Mark. She had known exactly what effect it would have had on the start of his day and she could think of no better punishment for him. With her smile turning to one of revengeful satisfaction Meredith pulled the strap further up on her shoulder as she headed for the door.

Her last class of the day had finished over an hour ago but guilt had stopped her going straight back to the apartment. Derek would have only had a few hours sleep and despite how tired he would be there was no doubt sleep would be the last possible thing on his mind because of her. He would want to make up for the last two days, spend time with her and though that was just what she wanted she couldn't let it happen. He needed to sleep. Proper sleep with no distraction. So for her not to be there now had meant the very hard work of squashing her own eagerness and forcing herself to be here in the library.

"Meredith?"

The shout of her name was unexpected and quickly followed by a hissed instruction by the librarian to be quiet. The voice definitely female had struck a memory, a memory that caused Meredith to pause in her step. She turned her head to look over at a group of tables on her right that had been hidden from her view before by a bookcase. There was a group of people there but it was very easy to see exactly who had called her name out.

"Sam...?"

It came out a lot louder than Meredith had planned and it was barely a second before a fierce instruction to be quiet or get out was directed this time at her.

The dark haired girl the focus of Meredith's attention grabbed up her bag and at more of a run than a walk hurried towards Meredith. Her arm linking through hers as she pulled her out of the library not stopping until they were out in the fresh air. Where they both stopped and took each other in for the first time in nearly a year.

The long naturally dark hair still hung long down her back. The careless curls framing a very pretty face still scattered with piercings, which only slightly distracted you from the large blue eyes and full lips.

Samantha though Meredith had never once been allowed to call her that had been her best friend in high school. Almost instantly since they had laid eyes on each other on Meredith's first day. It was as if they had sensed a kindred spirit in one another. Both rebelling against everything and everyone.

Sam's father though not a surgeon was a very rich and busy investment banker. Her mother only interested in the social circles she mixed in and keeping up appearances. Not in the lives of her troublesome teenage daughter. It was from that shared understanding that had first drawn them together and their friendship had only grown.

"So what are you doing back in the city let alone in this library? Do we have some book Dartmouth doesn't?"

Samantha asked gazing with disbelief at the girl stood in front of her for the first time in the better part of a year. There were a lot of differences from then to now. Gone was the pink hair or whatever particular color had taken Meredith's fancy, in fact for the first time since knowing Meredith Sam was sure she was seeing her natural hair color. But that wasn't the change that Samantha noticed most. What was was the lightness to her. The eyes that now seemed clear and shone rather than seeming always to be guarded.

"I'm at NYU."

"Don't tell me you got expelled? Oh god what did your Mom say to that? Did that actually bring her home from the hospital?"

Sam demanded and Meredith couldn't stop the bubble of laughter that fell from her lips.

"No I didn't I'm not that bad. I transferred back. I have a friend well not a friend, but a boyfriend and I'm living here with him. Well and Mark but he's not important tod..."

"Hang on, stop the ramble right there. You said the B word. Did you Meredith Grey really say that? A boyfriend? Like committed relationship, where you exclusive, not just hook up? You Mer, really?"

Meredith felt the heat in her cheeks, completely understanding Sam's well natured skeptic teasing. Memories flashing through her mind of all the times she had stated that a relationship wasn't for her. That Sam was mad for letting herself become vulnerable and relying on a guy that would only walk out on her one day.

All the times she had been there for her when some waste of space had broken her heart and she had silently promised herself that that would never be her, crying drunkenly on a bathroom floor.

There were times late at night especially when Derek was at the hospital that she found herself still feeling that fear. But then she would think of Derek and though she was still scared a inner voice told her that for him it was worth being scared for.

Thinking of him now she felt that peace settle over her as she nodded.

"Really. Derek his names Derek Shepherd."

The unconscious softness in Meredith's voice, the sudden warmth in her eyes when she said her boyfriends name told Sam more than Meredith ever could. That the girl stood in front of her was most definitely not the same girl she had partied away the last two years of high school with.

"So the hair color isn't the only things thats changed then? Meredith Grey, wow Nate will be shocked."

At the mention of Sam's twin Meredith felt her stomach twist as she tried to keep the grimace off her face. Meredith had first slept with him a week into her move from Washington and it had continued for two years.

In no way had it been a relationship. More a series of one night stands with a lot of men in between but it had been the closest she had ever come. Nathan had been the opposite to her and his sister. Never feeling the need to rebel, he had been everything in high school that Meredith had never wanted to be part off and yet somehow along the way he had claimed to fall in love with her. Even then she had never quite believed him and now she knew for sure that what he had felt wasn't real love. At least not the same as what she felt for Derek or what he felt for her.

Yet he had carried on with what she wanted hoping she might change someday. She knew it was that thought crossing his sisters mind now.

"How is he?"

"He's good, around here somewhere. He's still the perfect son. As a brother I can't complain either, he still covers for me every time I need it. Look lets go somewhere catch up properly?"

Meredith looked at her old friend but instead of her face she saw Derek's.

"I can't now..."

Meredith hesitated. She wanted and had planned nothing more for today than getting home to Derek. She was off work tonight and all she wanted was a night in the apartment with Derek stretched out on the couch in front of the television. Yet the look on Sam's face was stopping her. They had history. Sam had been her best friend and she had lost complete touch since leaving New York for Dartmouth.

"But tonight, um I can probably do tonight."

"Nine at the bar just across the street ?"

"I'll be there."

Meredith regretted the words the moment they were out of her mouth as she pictured the look of disappointment that would flash in Derek's eyes when she would tell him.

"Cant wait, I want to hear all about the man that conquered Meredith Grey."

Derek found himself being pulled out of a deep sleep by gentle fingers running over his brow. Tracing patterns as they followed the path down to his jaw. Lingering there as the lips that had wiped away every memory of every previous kiss in his life brushed over his in a caress that his whole body had been aching to feel.

"Mmm."

He groaned as he allowed her tongue access to his mouth. A kiss that ended all too quickly for his liking.

"That is maybe the second best way to wake up,"

"Oh really only second."

Mischief danced in the green eye and Derek had to suddenly remind himself to breathe. With Meredith smiling down at him in such a way he wondered if it was possible to just stop time and stay in this one moment forever.

This was all the proof he needed to not listen to one word that fell from Ellis Grey's lips. This look in her eyes beyond the mischief. The glow he knew shone just as bright in his own. It was happiness and it was love. Despite even what at moments Meredith may think of herself Meredith could do this, they could have this and it was all he needed.

"Do I dare ask what the first is?"

Meredith asked the teasing lilt in her voice matching the smile on her lips. Nodding Derek pulled her down to him so there lips were just touching.

"Your lips wrapped around my …."

His final word was cut off by a small hand covering his mouth as laughter fell from her lips. So infectious that he couldn't help but join in.

"Dirty , dirty boy."

"Mmm but it's true, very true."

"I've missed you."

She sighed as she kissed him one more time before dropping down onto the bed next to him. His arms quickly going around her, pulling her as close as possible.

"I missed you too. Was Mark that bad?"

"No, but we argued about hot water because he's like a girl even more of a girl than me and he spends ages in the bathroom. Then, then he says I'm bossy!."

"You Meredith Grey bossy? No never, how dare he... Shall I disown him?"

"Your mocking me..."

"I love you," Derek breathed rolling to his side so that he was facing her.

"No you love mocking me. I doubt you will love me in a minute mocking or otherwise though because I have plans tonight. Different plans to what I had planned. Those plans were all about you but now its not so much because I saw an old friend today. An old friend who wants me to meet for drinks later and I said yes I didn't want to because I didn't want to make you pout but your pouting now and..."

Derek found himself only half listening to her ramble instead simply enjoying the sight of her, but when she trailed off and the words sunk in disappointment stabbed through him.

"Old friend?" He forced the question out of unwilling lips when all he wanted was to plead with her to stay with him right where she was.

"Sam, Samantha Alexander. I met her my first day in high school after I moved here. Actually she offered to skip classes with me... Mmm very productive first day we thought! On the other hand my mother not so impressed."

Derek was surprised by the smile he could feel tugging at the corner of his mouth even if every nerve ending was screaming at him louder and louder to pull her down beside him, and not let her leave this bedroom.

"You should go. You should catch up,"

It wasn't what he wanted to say but he knew it was the right thing to say. The little free time she did have now outside school or work was spent either with him or hanging around here waiting to see him. That didn't leave much time for making friends, and he hated the thought that she might find herself lonely or one day even regret leaving Dartmouth.

"I could ring and cancel, if you want me too I could. I wouldn't mind, it was just I couldn't say no to her when we were face to face, but on the phone I can do it, I will do it."

"No you wont. Its a few hours Mer. I've the next two days off, its okay. Go , go see your friend."

"Would you like to come too, hear all about my reckless youth pre Derek."

Meredith offered and Derek knew the offer was a genuine one. He was tempted, very as at least he would be able to be with her but, still he shook his head.

"Another time definitely. But tonight it should be about you two."

"Okay."

"Okay."

"You still love me?"

"I do."

"Me too. I love you enough to apologize to Mark for stealing his coffee,"

"Even though he was mean?"

"For you I might."

"He deserved it."

"I thought so."

She nodded and laughing Derek rolled her over so she straddled him, his hand's running down from her face to hold her hips.

"So your shift went okay? You look worn out..."

"I am there wasn't much time to sleep but …."

He was about to explain all about his surgery with Dr Grant when Derek found totally different words coming out of his mouth.

"Your mother cornered me as I was leaving. She wants to know where you are. I didn't tell her you were here... I didn't shout." Derek rushed in at the end as a frown started to appear.

"That's good, you can't do that anymore Derek you know that, Uncle Miles can't always stop her going to the board or lodging a complaint."

Meredith said thoughtfully knowing that was exactly what her mother would do if she could.

"It wouldn't matter if you did tell her, she'll find out anyway...Mark would love that my mom turning up here, god can you imagine his face."

Derek found the giggle falling from her lips too irresistible to resist as he started to laugh with her. Very able to see the picture she must have been imagining in her own mind.

"It might just be worth it Mer..."

"As long as we weren't here," She said leaning down to press her lips to his. Loving the feel of her bare chest beneath her fingers as every other thought but him and his warm body beneath her vanished from her mind.

.

Entering the bar ten minutes late Meredith spotted Sam easily in the quiet week day crowd. Making her way over to the table Meredith grinned at the sight of the shot of tequila already waiting for her.

"And there was me thinking you were leaving me to catch up all alone,"

Samantha said the shock of seeing the new Meredith still hitting her as it did this morning. She was glowing and there was a smile on her face that she had definitely never seen before.

"Sorry. I haven't seen Derek in a few days and..."

"I thought you said you lived with him?"

"I do but he's an intern so..."

"An intern, as in works in the hospital... Not your mothers hospital?"

At Meredith's nod Samantha started to laugh.

"If I didn't know you I'd have thought you did it on purpose."

"My mother did."

"She would."

Samantha muttered. Having only met Ellis Grey on a few occasions she had found that enough to understand why Meredith was the way she was. Never would she forget the look on Meredith's face at graduation when she had realized her mother really wasn't going to turn up. Or that night just how obliterated Meredith had got. How she had drunk herself to the point of collapse. Past that of her usual way of dealing with her mother, so much so that her and Nate had had to drive her to hospital. Her stomach had been pumped and barely a flicker of emotion had passed over Ellis Grey's face that was as long as you discounted the one of disappointment and disgust. Even her own mother despite all her failings would have been horrified to see her daughter so upset. The only person she can remember actually caring was her mother's boss who had hovered around Meredith's room.

"Anyway lets not talk about her."

Meredith insisted as though she could read her old frinds thoughts. She threw the shot Sam had ordered for her back in one. Opening her eyes to find her old friend laughing.

"Well thats definitely one thing that hasn't changed."

"No but in a lot smaller quantities now...."

"God what is this man of your's a miracle worker? Nate tried for two years to settle you down even though we all including you kept telling him it was no use..."

"I don't know how it happened."

Meredith admitted

"It's just him... He's Derek. It's not been easy but I know it's worth it. We're worth it which I know is cheesy but he's cheesy and its infected me in a little way. I love him Sam. Me love someone thats unheard off but I do and he loves me too. Not for what I might be, who I could learn to be but just for me... And well I don't believe in forever. I don't, I have no proof of it and the thought of what may come along terrifies me. But with Derek, I want a forever, if it does exist I want it…."

Meredith paused to look at her friend before shrugging her shoulders with a helpless sigh.

"He's Derek when you meet him you'll get it."

"Show me a photo?"

At the demand she pulled her purse from her bag. Meredith handed over the photo of Derek taken the weekend he had spent at Dartmouth for their three month anniversary.

"Wow... Now I'm starting to see why. Gorgeous absolutely gorgeous but, not your usual type . Which knowing your history is no bad thing Mer."

"Yeah." Meredith agreed with a laugh "Apart from Nate I had crappy taste."

"No Nate included. Twin or no twin, totally not right for you! I didn't tell him I was coming to meet you tonight, I haven't missed the Meredith and Nate drama but I have missed you. Not many have that love of tequila I'm looking for."

"Me too."

Meredith agreed and as the words fell from her lips she realized how true it was. Until she had met Addison she had had no girl friend that she could talk too like she could Samantha.

Though Elliot had gotten into the habit of ringing every night she had missed having someone she could talk too or just hang out with. Derek was her best friend there was no doubting or questioning of that. There was no one she would rather spend her time with but when he, Mark and Addison were working and she was at the apartment all alone she had often thought it would be nice to have someone to help speed up the time until Derek got home.

"Well I should hope you have. I didn't spend two years holding your hair back to just be forgotten about..."

"Hey I did my duty too..." Meredith protested with a laugh and Sam nodded raising from her seat.

"To celebrate the we paid are friendship dues I'll get another round in... Tequila?"

"A beer,"

Meredith said and laughing Sam nodded tossing a remark over her shoulder.

"Tequila sales must really be suffering."

Laid out on the couch in only a pair of jogging pants and a t shirt Derek glanced up hopefully as the apartment door opened. He was to be disappointed when Mark walked in. Pizza boxes in his hand causing Derek to drop back down onto the cushions.

"Where's my Kid? Is she still pissed?"

"Not here. So no point in sucking up for this morning."

He said trying to hide a smile as Mark joined him looking just as disappointed as he felt.

"Where is she? She's not meant to be working tonight."

"She's not. She bumped into an old friend from high school, they've gone to catch up."

"And you let her?"

"Why wouldn't I?"

"Well we've got the night off and I brought her favorite pizza and I wanted to see her... Couldn't you have stopped her? "

Mark demanded as if Meredith was a possession that he lent as nothing more than a favor to his best friend.

"No I'm her boyfriend not her keeper. If you haven't noticed she already lives her life around my schedule, and it's her thats here alone most of the time so no I refuse to stop her from having fun just because it means we have to spend an evening on our own here."

Derek told him . It had been playing on his mind a lot since she had left him with a kiss and another invitation for him to join them. She so far showed no effects of it and never once questioned if he didn't have chance to ring her and knew that came from growing up with Ellis Grey as a parent. But he wanted more than that for her, she deserved more than that.

"I know but …"

At Derek's continued frown Mark shrugged.

"Okay, okay... Still it sucks that I'm stuck with just you."

Mark sighed as he handed him a beer from the bag he had brought in with him.

"It's a wonder you managed for the years before I met her."

Derek said dryly as he took a long gulp only for Mark to nod with a serious look on his face belied by the twinkle in his eyes.

"It was hard I must admit. The kid is my reward."

"Good to know."

"Anytime man. Oh but maybe you can be of some use and tell me why the evil older Grey is more pissed at me than she usually is? I know I pissed her off this morning but this went deeper. Dr Sanders was on a case of hers today, this burn victim and if looks could kill it would be me flat lining."

"I refused to tell her where Mer is..."

"Why would she think you would tell her?"

"I have no idea. She'll find out soon enough though, it's not like we're hiding it."

"She'll have killed us by the end of the year."

"Scared?"

"A little."

At this admission Derek started to laugh remembering Meredith's earlier plan of letting Mark be here when her mother turned up for the first time which they both knew would ultimately happen.

"What's so funny?"

Neither of them had heard the door open and looking over the back of the couch at her Derek smiled. She wasn't drunk he knew that with one glance and she was smiling ion the eaxct same way as earlier as he reached out a hand over the back of the couch for her.

"You had fun?"

"I did."

"I'm glad."

"Well thats good because I invited her round tomorrow. I want to be with you and she wants to meet you so if you can share me for a few hours ?"

"I think I might be persuaded."

"I like being persuasive,"

"I know you do."

Derek breathed as her lips hesitated millimeters from his, waiting for a kiss that Meredith was all too happy to give until that was she spotted sight of Mark looking the picture of innocence, the beer and pizza.

"He's sorry."

Derek murmured causing Meredith to nod.

"He should be."

"He is."

Mark confirmed the twinkle in his eye matching the one glinting in the green eyes as she kissed Derek's waiting lips before leaning over to kiss Mark's cheek.

"I'm not."

Okay so thats me pushing through.... I'm not sure about this chapter its took so long and its been a real effort so I'm relieved to have it posted.

Now Sam I like Sam and I think she's good for Mer. It reminds her that she can do this, that she has already done so much and I think that belief is going to be important as we move on in this story... …

Now all I ask is you take a little time and please review ….