*Attention—Spoiler Alert: If you have not watched "Grey's Anatomy," I suggest you stop what you're doing, close this article, and log on to the nearest Netflix.*

We come across certain television shows that truly leave an impact on our lives; and then we come across specific characters within those television shows, and they leave permanent prints on our hearts. I'm embarrassed to say this, but I think it's safe to say that I'm speaking on the behalf of all women. Patrick Dempsey aka Derek Shepard aka McDreamy is just one of those characters who immediately tug on every heart string we possess, even the ones we thought we've never had, and trance you into deeply falling and caring for them. And the worst part is, there is no such thing as McDreamy; but we'd all like to think there is some knock-off out there that is close enough. For all 11 seasons of "Grey's Anatomy," Derek Shepard has made us feel so many different emotions: love, passion, excitement, joy (I can continue the list but I'm sure my word limit would cease). But most importantly, he's taught us how to never settle for anything less than extraordinary. Don't dismiss those chills, because you know it's true. Besides, he isn't called McDreamy for nothing. Let's reminisce, shall we?

1. "It's not about the chase."

Meredith accuses Derek of only asking her out because he loves the chase. He sets the record straight by finding her in the intern locker room and says, "It's not the thrill of the chase. It's not a game. It's your tiny, ineffectual fists and your hair. It smells nice. And you're very, very bossy. It keeps me in line." And may I remind you, he's saying this with his cute, smirky, McDreamy smile; and even then she still won't go out with him (eventually she caves a few episodes in). But he once again swoops in with his game changer lines, "You say that now." Talk about a heartthrob. We all need this.

2. "I can't remember our last kiss."

After Meredith's first near death experience (which is the first of many), Derek shows up at her door to make sure she's alive and well. And before he steps out the door, she's puzzled and can't remember their last kiss (unfortunately, he is with his wife Addison at this time). His response is everything. "It was a Thursday morning. You were wearing that ratty little "Dartmouth" T-shirt you look so good in. The one with the hole in the back of the neck. You'd just washed your hair and you smelled like some kind of ... flower. I was running late for surgery. You said you were going to see me later, and you leaned to me, you put your hand on my chest, and you kissed me. Soft. It was quick. Kind of like a habit. You know, like we'd do it everyday for the rest of our lives. And you went back to reading the newspaper, and I went to work. That was the last time we kissed."

3. "I don't want my mother to die alone."

After Meredith saves a coded patient who was instructed to not be saved, she starts to think of her mother and her Alzheimer's disease and how she's alone at a nursing home. She succumbs to a panic attack and rushes into the hospital's supply closet, where of course, McDreamy follows because he cares oh so much. But he's there for her. He slows down her breathing, holds her, comforts her; and isn't that what any of us want when we're in our times of need? Yes, yes we do.

4. "I'd give anything not to be looking at you."

At this point in season 2, Derek is with his wife Addison and Meredith is with the veterinarian, Finn. A prom is thrown at Seattle Grace for the Chief's dying niece, and as both couples are slow dancing on the dance floor, Meredith and Derek interlock eyes. This leaves Meredith extremely flustered and speechless, which leads her to running away from the scene into an evaluation room, which of course, Derek follows her! She states that she can't breathe when he looks at her a certain way, and his response leaves us in chills and a few tears, "You think I want to look at you? That I wouldn't rather be looking at my wife? I'm married. I have responsibilities. She doesn't drive me crazy. She doesn't make it impossible for me to feel normal. She doesn't make me sick to my stomach thinking about my veterinarian touching her with his hands. Man, I would give anything not to be looking at you." And this just insinuates one of the most passionate, sexy-filled scenes in all of "Grey's Anatomy."

5. "I love you."

If you want to figure out how to tell someone you love them, late is better than never; but you might as well do it in style like McDreamy. Derek finally decides to leave his wife Addison because he can't deny the undeniable bond he has with Meredith. He shows up at Meredith's house at the beginning of season 3, and finally drops the L bomb that we have all have been longing for since the very beginning, "I'm in love with you. I've been in love with you forever. I'm a little late, I know I'm a little late in telling you that. I, I just, I just want you to take your time, you know. Take all the time you need, because you have a choice to make. And when I had a choice to make, I chose wrong. Goodnight." Swoon!

6. "You deserve to be with somebody who makes you happy."

This is the most overlooked scene in all of "Grey's Anatomy," because even though it's a small snippet, it truly shows how much Derek cares for Meredith's happiness, even if it doesn't involve him. She had just come out of a surprising appendectomy, where Finn and Derek are both making sure she is well accounted for. As Finn is fetching Meredith some ice chips, Derek finds the strength to walk away and let Meredith be with "the better guy." (No, McDreamy! You will always be the better guy!) "You deserve to be with somebody who makes you happy. Someone who won't complicate your life. Someone who won't hurt you. He's the better guy, Meredith. Finn's the better guy. I'm walking away." It's clear that any guy who values your self worth, and see's there's someone who's a better fit for you than themselves is forever worth settling for.

7. "I want to die when I'm 110 years old, in your arms."

If any of you are crazed "Grey's Anatomy" fans such as myself, you know that Meredith has commitment issues. She's dark and twisty. She loves Derek, but she can't allow herself to be happy because of her past, having been abandoned by her father and a mother who loved her career more than she loved her own daughter. But Derek is a special case. He still believes in true love, fairytales, and happily-ever-afters; and it's not until towards the end of season 4 does he tell Meredith what he truly wants in the long run, and especially, with her. "I want to marry you. I want to have kids with you. I want to build us a house. I want to settle down and grow old with you. I want to die when I'm 110 years old, in your arms. I don't want 48 uninterrupted hours. I want a lifetime." A guy who has the balls to state his future with you is a guy that you want to be with—hands down, no questions asked.

8. Derek and Meredith's 30-Second Dance Party

You can't settle for a guy who's not willing to dance it out with you when you've had a bad day. In season 5, Meredith and Cristina have a small falling out and don't speak for a couple of days, which is truly devastating because they are best friends. They're each other's person. Derek sees how upset Meredith is, and he decides to perk her up by "dancing it out" with a 30-second dance party, which really is the cutest thing you will ever see. Though these dance parties are a Meredith and Cristina thing, there ain't nothing like McDreamy shaking some booty.

9. Elevator Proposal

Opening an elevator to an unexpected McDreamy with his happy, full of hope and love face in this little elevator of beautiful brain scans was something no "Grey's Anatomy" fan expected. Sure, we all knew that "Mer and Der" would be married; but not like this. Derek's proposal to Meredith is one of a kind; and that's what all of us need, that one in a million. "This is a CT of Katie Bryce. 15-year-old female severed aneurysm. It was the first surgery we ever scrubbed in together. Our first save. Right here is a cerebral cyst. Tough save, but we did it. I kissed you in the stairwell after the surgery. And this right here is where Dr. Bailey kicked you out of the surgery because she caught us in your driveway in my car. And right here, this was a seven-hour craniotomy and you held the clamp the entire time, never flinched. That's when I knew you were going to be an incredible surgeon. Beth Monroe, made our clinical trial a success by surviving. You talked me into putting her under. That's when I knew I needed you. And this is today. The post-op head CT of Izzie Stevens. See that, right there? Tumor free, because of you. You got me into the OR. If there's a crisis, you don't freeze. You move forward. You get the rest of us to move forward, because you've seen worse. You've survived worse. And you know we'll survive too. You say you're dark and twisty. It's not a flaw. It's a strength. It makes you who you are. I'm not going to get down on one knee. I'm not going to ask you a question. I love you Meredith Grey. And I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

10. The Iconic Post-It Scene

You know I had to save the best for last. Derek and Meredith initially planned to have a white, church wedding; but that didn't go as planned because of Izzie's sickness. Knowing that every day is moving at a speed of 250 mph for a surgeon, they knew that the only way to get married was to do it in their own, on their own terms. The "Mer and Der" way—a Post-It. Yes, as unplanned and silly as it sounds, it actually is one of the most spontaneous gestures Derek creates throughout all of "Grey's Anatomy." And let's all be honest, who wouldn't want to get married on a blue Post-It to McDreamy?

Derek: Okay. What do we want to promise each other?

Meredith: That you'll love me, even when you hate me.

Derek: To love each other, even when we hate each other. No running. Ever. Nobody walks out. No matter what happens.

Meredith: No running.

Derek: What else?

Meredith: That we'll take care of each other even when we're old and smelly and senile. And, if I get Alzheimer's and I forget you—

Derek: I will remind you who I am, every day. To take care when old, senile, smelly. This, is, forever.