Here's a sentence I thought I would never, ever type: Meredith Grey needs a new man in her life. And not just any man, because most men could never compete with Derek (RIP). She needs to be with a man we already all love just as much as McDreamy, the man she walked in with from day one, the man that's been by her side all along. That man is Alex Karev. And before you yell at your screen, allow me to explain myself.

They're both dark and twisty.

Meredith and Alex both come from troubled pasts that made them both heartless in the best way possible. Their personalities make them great friends, and maybe more?

They both suck at relationships.

Alex slept his way through most of the staff of Grey-Sloan, and the few times he found true love, they ended in heartbreak (Remember Ava? The worst). And while Meredith and Derek were happy for a while, she managed to screw it up a few times before they got it right.

They've been through everything together.

If you've survived bombs, drownings, shootings, plane crashes, divorces, attacks and countless deaths, you can probably survive anything (including dating each other.)

They're each other's person.

With Cristina gone, Alex became Meredith's person. Over the past two seasons, we watched them become closer than ever. And Alex treats Meredith better than he has ever treated any of his girlfriends.

They take care of each other.

Alex has dropped everything to take care of Meredith, and in return, Meredith gives Alex advice that he follows, but it usually ends up badly. Perhaps Meredith gives Alex bad advice because she wants him all to herself?

They've never hooked up before.

Over 12 years, we've had Meredith and Derek, Meredith and the vet, Alex and Izzie, Alex and Jo, even Alex and Callie. But never Alex and Meredith (the alter universe doesn't count). Maybe Shonda was holding out because she wanted them to end up together all along.

Did you see Alex cry over Meredith after her attack?

Watching Alex cry in general is enough to make you cry. Watching Alex cry over Meredith will melt you into a puddle of tears.

They deserve a happy ending.

At this rate, Grey's will be on until 2042. But when the series finale airs, Meredith and Alex both deserve to have their happily ever after, and so do the fans. What better way to say goodbye than with having your two favorite characters admitting their feelings for each other?

While no one can ever really replace Derek, Alex may be the next best thing. So Meredith (and Shonda), as a fan of this show for 10 years, I'm asking you: Pick him. Choose him. Love him.