This fic is named after the song Alone by Heart.

Prom happened. Denny died, but he was just another patient. Izzie is with Alex, George is with Callie and Burke and Christina are still together.

4 ½ months since Prom

Meredith sits on the plane, drinking the bottle of water that the flight attendant just brought her. Her brows are furrowed as she thinks about the past months, the time since she left Seattle.

The two men were standing there.

Finn: Meredith?

Derek: Meredith?

After looking between the two men, she turns around and begins to run away. She runs through the front door of the hospital and is approaching her car as she feels a strong hand grab her arm.

Voice: Meredith? What's wrong? Why are you running from me?

Meredith: I just…I can't do this anymore Finn…I'm sorry.

Tears begin to cascade down her cheeks as she sees Derek walking out the front door, Addison following close behind. For a moment they lock eye—all else disappears. Just for that moment they are the only two people who exist. Once again she feels as if she can't breathe.

Finn: Meredith?

Meredith snaps her head around as Finn's voice recalls her to reality.

Meredith: I'm sorry.

Saying this Meredith gets into her car and drives out of the hospital parking lot…Derek's eyes watching her the entire time.

Voice: Ma'am? Is everything OK?

Meredith looks up at the flight attendant, just now realizing that she had been crying at the vivid memory of that night.

Meredith: Yeah. I'm fine. How much longer until we land?

Flight Attendant: We should be landing in Seattle within the hour.

Meredith: Thank you.

Flight Attendant: No problem.

Meredith sighs and looks down at her bulging belly. She couldn't do this alone…she needed her family…but most of all, she needed him.

Meredith arrived at the empty house, her roommates were still at the prom. She felt so broken. His touch…his touch sent lightning through her body. She loved him. She loved him so much. She walked upstairs to her bedroom, glancing at a picture on the nightstand. It was of them…when they were happy, before Addison. Sighing deeply, she ran her fingers through her hair. She knew what she needed to do. She dialed the number.

Voice: Hello?

Meredith: Chief.

Chief: Meredith? Is everything OK?

Meredith starts crying.

Chief: Meredith, what is wrong?

Even though things hadn't worked out with Ellis, the Chief still felt some responsibility for Meredith. She was like the daughter he never had.

Meredith: Chief, I need a transfer.

Chief: What? Meredith, I'm sure that whatever is wrong we can fix. Let me help. We can figure this out together.

Meredith: I am packing my bags as we speak.

She starts crying a little heavier.

Meredith: I can't do this anymore. I'm not strong enough. I need to disappear for a while.

Chief: Meredith, think about this.

Meredith: I have made my decision. Either you approve a transfer and know where I am going, or I just go. I need some time. I can't breathe…I just can't breathe with him around me and not with me.

She begins crying even harder.

Meredith: I can't not be good enough anymore.

Chief: Ok, but Meredith, can't this wait until tomorrow?

Meredith: No sir, I'm sorry, but I don't want anyone to know.

Chief: Will you ever come back?

Meredith: Maybe after my internship…I don't know.

Chief: Let me make a few calls. I will call you back in a few minutes.

Meredith: Ok, Thank you.

She hangs up the phone and sinks to the floor, freely and fully releasing all of her emotions. She looks up as she hears the door open.

Voice: Meredith?

Meredith glances up, seeing her person.

Cristina: What did he do?

Cristina walks to where Meredith is laying on the floor.

Meredith: I can't do it anymore.

Cristina: Do what anymore?

She sits down next to her friend, seeing how broken she is.

Meredith: Not be good enough.

Cristina: Now good enough for what?

Just as Meredith is about to speak, her cell phone rings.

Meredith: Hello?

Voice: OK, you can go to Boston General. I have a friend there. I will fax all the paper work in the morning.

Meredith: Thank you so much Chief.

Chief (sighing): No problem. When are you leaving?

Meredith: Tonight, before everyone gets home.

Chief: Ok (pause) Meredith….if you need anything…anything at all…

Meredith: Thank you. Chief?

Chief: Yes?

Meredith: Please do not tell anyone where I am going.

Chief: Ok. Bye Meredith.

Meredith: Bye.

Meredith hangs up the phone. She looks up. She forgot that Cristina was here.

Cristina: What were you talking about with the Chief?

Meredith: I'm leaving Cris.

Voice: Ladies and Gentlemen, we are now approaching Seattle International Airport. We hope that you enjoyed your flight and choose to fly with us again.

Meredith's eyes opened quickly at the sound of this voice and she subconsciously placed her hand on her stomach. She hoped that she was going the right thing. She hoped that they didn't hate her….that he didn't hate her. She closed her eyes tightly as the plane began to descend. She hated this part.

After the plane lands, she stands up and grabs her carry on bag. She walks down the terminal and sees a face eagerly searching for her among the sea of face—a face she hadn't seen in a while.

(Scene cuts to Seattle Grace Hospital)

Derek walked through the doors of the hospital, running his right hand through his thick, dark hair. Since she left, he felt so empty. The divorce between him and Addison was finalized two weeks ago, but the one person he wanted to celebrate with the most wasn't there. A familiar voice interrupts his thoughts.

Voice: Dr. Shepherd?

Derek: Chief.

Chief: How are you?

Derek just shrugged and started to continue his walk towards his office.

Chief: Derek!

Derek: Yes, Chief?

Chief: Could you stop by my office later? There is something I wish to speak with you about.

Derek: Yeah.

With that, Derek turns and continues to walk towards his office. The Chief smiles slightly after he turns. He knows she's coming back today. However, he doesn't know that she isn't coming back completely alone.

Derek arrives in his office. Letting out a deep sigh, he sits down behind his desk, putting his head in his hands.

Derek (to himself): Another day at Seattle Grace…another day without her.

Just as Derek closes his eyes there is a knock at the door.

Derek: Yes?

Voice: Dr. Shepherd?

Derek: What is it Stevens?

Izzie: I am your intern for today.

Derek: Ok. Check on my patients and notify me if there are any changes in their condition. Then begin prepping Ms. Hale for her surgery later today.

Izzie: Yes doctor.

She starts to leave but stops with her hand on the door.

Izzie: Dr. Shepherd?

Derek: Yes Stevens?

Izzie: Are you ok?

Derek sighs deeply and looks at Izzie…the sadness evident in his once happy bright blue eyes.

Derek: I miss her.

Izzie: I know.

With that Izzie leaves Derek's office, leaving him to his own thoughts.

They locked eyes. Everything else disappeared. In that moment he knew. He knew that he loved her, that he had always loved her. He felt empty without her. He felt as if he couldn't breathe, losing himself in those bright, green eyes. Suddenly a manicured hand appeared on Derek's shoulder, snapping him out of this reverie.

Voice: Derek?

Derek (In a somewhat harsh and gruff voice): What Addison?

She was a bit taken aback by his tone, it had been months since he had spoken to her life that.

Addison: Are you ready to go home?

His home was no longer with Addison. His home hadn't been with Addison since he had moved to Seattle. Now, his home was with Meredith.

Derek: No. I am going to stay here. I have some patients that I need to check on and I have an early surgery in the morning.

He really didn't want to be around her tonight. He needed to think. He needed to figure out a way to tell Addison that he was still in love with Meredith. He also needed to figure out a way to tell Meredith that he was in love with her. He notices that Addison is shivering.

Derek: Here…take my coat. I will see you tomorrow.

He took off his coat and handed it to Addison, leaving her to put it on herself.

Addison: OK…I love you.

She then leans in to kiss him. However, he turns his face so that her lips land on his cheek. She doesn't know what to make of his behavior, but she has a feeling it has something to do with a certain intern.

Derek: Goodnight Addison.

Saying this he turns and walks back into the hospital, leaving his wife standing there—a worried look spreading across her face.

He goes back into the hospital and notices the Chief posting a sign on the bulletin board about a meeting in the morning. He looks at the Chief wondering what this could be about. The Chief just looks at Derek and sighs, a worried look apparent on his visage. Deciding that it would be best to wait until tomorrow to figure out what is going on, he decides to go to an on-call room. A place where he can think and be alone.

The next morning Derek wakes up and knows what he is going to do. After his shift he is going to tell Addison it's over and give her the divorce papers he had signed upon her first arriving in Seattle. Then he was going to find Meredith and tell her how he felt about her. How he had love her since forever and that she was the only one who stopped his world. He WAS going to tell her these things. However, his plans changed once he arrived at the meeting.

Arriving at the meeting, he sits in the front row. He turns his head and glances around the room, his eyes landing on Bailey's interns. She isn't there. He notices Cristina looks tired and her eyes are somewhat bloodshot. He wonders what is going on. Just as he Is about to ask them the Chief walks into the room.

Chief: Thank you all for coming on such short notice. I have an announcement to make.(He takes a deep breathe) Meredith Grey has decided to transfer to another hospital, effective immediately. I will answer no questions regarding where or why she has left. I know this may come as a shock to you all, as it has for me, but I ask that you respect her wishes and let her alone. That is all. Now…go save some lives.

Derek sits frozen to his seat. He can't believe his ears. She's gone. The love of his life is gone and now he is alone. He knows that he will never be happy with anyone else. She's it. He has to find a way to get her back. Just then a presence interrupts his thoughts.

Voice: What did you do, you fool?

Derek: Excuse me, Dr. Bailey?

Bailey: You heard me. I know that you did something. Grey is a strong woman. She is a strong woman except when it comes to you. Now what did you do?

She has her arms crossed and is tapping her foot, staring him down. She knows how to make him feel small. Meanwhile, Derek squirms in his seat. He is afraid of very few people, but this woman, she is one of them.

Derek: I don't know what you mean Dr. Bailey.

Bailey: Yes you do. And I will find out.

She begins walking away, muttering under her breath

Bailey: Stupid attendings sleeping with stupid interns.

The room is now empty with the exception of Derek. He just sits there, feeling numb, feeling empty.

BEEP BEEP BEEP

The sound of his pager recalls Derek back to the present. He wipes away a few tears that escaped his eyes as he was thinking about her. Oh God, he missed her. He missed her so much. Standing up, he walks out the door, thinking of a way to get back the one thing in his life that had ever made him feel human.

(Scene cuts back to Seattle International Airport)

Voice: Meredith!!

Meredith walked up to the individual who was calling her name.

Meredith: Hello Cristina.

Much to her surprise, Cristina pulled Meredith into a quick hug. For the first time in months, Meredith felt a small smile twitch upon her lips. Cristina straightened herself up after the hug, surprised at her own behavior.

Cristina: So…you're back.

Meredith: Yeah…I'm back.

Cristina: Meredith?

Meredith: Yeah?

Cristina: I'm glad you're back.

Meredith: Me too.

Cristina: So, let's go get your luggage.

Meredith and Cristina walk over to baggage claim where Cristina picks up Meredith's luggage from the conveyer belt.

Meredith: Hey, I can get that you know.

Cristina: I know, but you're pregnant…and you're my person…So, I'll get it.

Meredith: OK then.

Meredith smiles, feeling like she is glad she came back. She knows that no matter what happens, she's not alone.