I think this story is probably just going to be a short one shot but who knows, it was prompted from the end of episode 11x15 and the sneak peeks from 11x16. To be honest, I don't think Derek will have cheated, at least not physically on Meredith, unless Patrick Dempsey wants out so they are trying to make it seem good for Derek to disappear. But anyway this story is about what if he actually did cheat.

"He's not cheating on me right?" Meredith asked, only to be met with silence.

"He might be." Alex finally said.

"What the hell Karev!" Maggie shouted as she swung herself down from the top bunk.

"Of course he's not cheating on you Meredith" Maggie said as she sat on the bed next to her.

"He's done it before, met a girl, fell in love, started over" Meredith said.

"Do you want to know how I know this, because I'm that girl." She says.

"I'm the girl he left his wife for, who he left his whole other life for and now he's doing it again with some girl in DC who is tall and has perfect hair."

"You hair's nice" Maggie says "unlike mine which is a frizz ball of untamable mess."

"The thing is" Meredith says flipping the phone around in her hand.

"It's different this time, he has, we have children, how could he cheat."

"Look he's not cheating on you, the dude's so in love with you it makes my teeth hurt." Alex finally says, trying to ebb the flow of Meredith dark and twisty spiral.

"He probably just left his phone somewhere by mistake and it rang so some one picked it up" Alex offers.

"You said it yourself Alex I have the perfect marriage with no husband and even if someone else answered then why didn't she say who it was" Meredith asks.

"I don't know, maybe she stole it, a thief wouldn't say who she was." Alex says.

"Or maybe she is socially awkward, and hates talking on phones." Maggie suggests.

"With a tall and perfect hair voice, I doubt it."Meredith replies.

"Hey you can look good and be socially awkward" Maggie defends.

"Yeah look at kepner" Alex jokes.

"It could be a million different reasons, Meredith, don't jump to conclusions, wait for Derek to call and you can ask him then." Maggie says.

"I know but still." Meredith says as her phone begins to buzz.

"It's Derek" She says.

"well go on answer it" Alex nudges.

"I don't know if I want to. what if i answer it and he tells me my marriage is over." Meredith says.

"Just Answer It!" Both Alex and Maggie shout.

"Hello" Meredith says holding her breath.

"Meredith" Derek's voice sounds flustered and high than normal, like when he's done something wrong and he's been caught and Meredith's stomach starts to sink and fill with dread.

"How are the kids" He mumbles.

"They're fine" She says, waving at Alex and Maggie to leave.

"Zola's been ask when you're coming to visit again and Bailey, well Bailey has just decided he doesn't like mashed carrot and pumpkin anymore, so there's that." Meredith rambles trying to been normal.

"God I miss them" He says.

"I'm sure they miss you as well." She says as an awkward silence engulfs the conversation.

The tension is almost palpable, Meredith is sure something is definitly wrong. She is sure that Derek knows, she know something is wrong as well. A part of her wants to carry on with the mundane, wasp like conversation, to ignore the tall girl with perfect hair, to pretend like everything is the same and that nothing has changed

"I called before." Meredith says.

"I, Meredith" Derek says

"No, don't let me, let me say my piece and then you can talk."

"I called to tell you, to tell you that I haven't lost a patient since November 14th. To tell you that since you left I have saved 89 people and not lost a single person on my table. I called to tell you that the kids are doing great, I'm being awesome and that we are great, that it's working and we're working and then some random tall lady with perfect hair answers your phone and it suddenly became very clear to me, that maybe we are not fine. Who why she and why was she answering your phone?" Meredith finshes.

"Her name is Natalie Hughes, she's a neuroscientist, doing some post doctoral work, on neurological diseases. She's actually doing some really interesting work and is getting some fantastic results." Derek says, ernestly.

Meredith can't believe how nonchalant he is, and she can feel her face staring to burn with the anger that is boiling inside of her.

"Are you sleeping with her."

"I" he stutters.

"I think we need to have this conversation in person." He says.

And there it was Meredith thought as the furnace of dread exploded inside her.

"I'll catch the next plane to seattle, I can be there in like six or seven hours. And we can talk."

"No, Derek, you can say it now, say whatever you have to say." She says trying not to dissolve into a puddle of despair.

"Meredith I really think we need to have this conversation face to face." He pleads.

"Oh come on Derek just say it, you cheated on me, why don't you just say it now, the answers not going to change on the plane is it. Just say it." She says as a single hot wet tear etches it's way down her face.

"Fine I cheated on you." He admits

The words are like a dagger being plunged into her heart, whilst she

"Bastard." She spits, "You bloody Bastard."

"Meredith please, just listen." He says

"Why should I? Why should I Derek."

"Because I love you" He says simply.

"Then why would you cheat on me." She starts to cry.

"Please don't cry Meredith, I'm so sorry, It didn't mean anything."

"It just happened."

"How can it just happen" Meredith asks "How does it just happen."

"It just did. It was just after you cancelled on me the first time. I was upset and pissed and home sick so I went to a bar not far from here and started drinking and at some point Natalie showed up or I realised she was there and we started talking, she was also in a drinking mood, her latest grant application fell through and her research had stalled and we just started drinking together and then it was two am in the morning and for some reason we caught a cab together and then we were back at my place still drinking and the it gets hazy and then I woke up and it was morning." he pauses

"and she was in bed next to me." He final admits.

"and I've spent every day since hating myself. I feel, I feel terrible. I've been avoiding coming to Seattle because I couldn't face you and didn't want to tell you because I can't lose you Meredith, I can't I love you, I love you so much and I am so, so sorry Meredith. It meant nothing, It was nothing, it was a mistake a massive, massive mistake, and I just don't know what's wrong with me, I mean nothing I do seems to be working anymore, I can't make it right with work, with Amelia, with the kids, I mean Bailey, Bailey doesn't seem to even now who I am anymore, I know you pretend he does but he doesn't and Zola just knows I'm not there and now I've messed it up with you and I. Please say something Meredith Please."

"I don't know what, what to say. I can't do this right now, I can't." Meredith says, as the weight of the day starts to overwhelm her.

"But Derek, it's not like last time with Addison, you have children now."

"And they are more important than you and I" She says before hanging up on him and falling apart in the oncall room.

I know I said It was a one shot but as I wrote, I kind of kept getting Ideas for furthering the story so maybe it will be a multi chapter thing. Depending on what people think which probably means it won't because not many people seem to like stories where derek cheats. anyway thanks

lumae