I was a big fan of "Falcon Crest" back in the day (go on, Google it if you need to, and come back), and I thought I would try my hand at the soapy goings on of two families who are rivals in the wine business. So my basic premise is that Meredith and Derek are heirs to the opposing wineries, but have always maintained a close friendship. As fate brings them together again, they start to fall in love, but there's a lot of other goings on around them that make it difficult. In true soap opera style, there will be weddings, deaths, intrigue, back-stabbing, and romance.
Many of the usual characters will make an appearance in some form or other, along with a couple of my own creation. As always, this is a work of fiction, and I own none of the GA characters – they belong to Shonda & Co. I am merely borrowing them for this story.
Rating: M for Mature, however...based on the reminder recently posted by the moderators, I've made a decision not to have the same level of sexually explicit scenes as I usually do. According to their posting, "the M rating only allows for adult language, themes and suggestions. Detailed descriptions of physical interaction of sexual nature is not allowed". I think I've pushed my luck on previous stories, and I don't want to have my account deleted for violating this if they're being more vigilant! I hope you'll understand my decision on this, and enjoy the story even without the same level of erotica.
My thanks to dakotalady for her feedback on this story idea, and to Jill for her encouragement, and for suggesting the title! To everyone else...read, enjoy...and please leave a review!
Blood & Wine
Prologue - September 1999
Sitting on the padded seat that was set into the curved window in her bedroom, Meredith rested her chin on her hand and stared moodily out the window. Her hair, loose and tumbling around her face, had strands still slightly tangled after her excursion outside earlier. Her thoughts were sad as she contemplated the scene in front of her, which was illuminated by the fullness of the moon, easily visible in the dark, cloudless sky. The gardens below were meticulously tended, with many exotic plants and various nooks and crannies that were ideal for hiding in. The extensive property spread quite far around the palatial house, nestled amidst the vineyards that were the family's business. It had always seemed a magical place to Meredith, the very best place in the world to grow up. She had believed life would never change, that she would always go on being happy and safe.
Until now.
For a moment, tears filled her eyes again at the realization that her beloved father was now dead. His funeral had been that afternoon; a sombre affair with a parade of black limousines that carried her mother, her brother and herself to the chapel and then the graveyard, followed by mourning friends and enemies of her deceased father. It had all been like a crazy dream, but she knew it was all too real. Life would never be the same again.
As soon as she had been able to escape her mother's eagle eye, Meredith left the house for her favourite spot to be alone. Even Skylar, her little brother, didn't know where she disappeared to. There was only one person who shared that spot with her, the boy who had been her constant friend as long as she could remember.
He had found her there, of course, knowing that she needed to get away from her mother. Meredith had been sitting near the pond, her knees drawn up under her chin. The black dress she'd worn to the funeral was smudged with grass and wrinkled beyond repair.
"Your Mom's gonna yell at you for getting dirty..." he observed, dropping down beside her.
Meredith glanced over at him. He was wearing his usual faded jeans, dark blue t-shirt and sneakers, his black hair unruly. She remembered seeing him at the funeral, his blue eyes a welcome oasis amidst the sea of other sympathetic gazes. "I don't care, Derek. And she's too busy with all of the people at the house to worry about me." Tears slid silently down her cheeks, as the cold reality sank into her soul that her father was gone forever. A little sob escaped her, and she closed her eyes, unable to stop crying.
"Hey..." Derek put his arm around her shaking shoulders, not sure how to make her feel better. "You know she loves you..."
"Sure..." Meredith sighed, and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand when she had been able to stem her tears for a moment. "But she loves Silver Moon Estates more. She only married Dad to get into the business, I know it. Me and Skylar are just collateral damage."
"That's a little harsh, don't you think?" he asked, trying to be impartial, but Derek was well aware of Ellis Grey's temper and her rigid views on raising children. Meredith had given him enough information over the years, both voluntary and involuntary. It was far removed from his own childhood; his parents were very generous and loving, but strict when they needed to be. They had their own winery, next to Silver Moon, and the two estates were intense business rivals. Ellis Grey did not even want Meredith to associate with Derek, even though they went to the same private school. Derek was now a senior to Meredith's sophomore and they were close friends despite the age difference and the fact they weren't supposed to be together. Ever since he saw her march resolutely into school, carrying her little lunchbox that bumped against her knees on her first day of class, he had been drawn to her.
Meredith shrugged. "I know my mother. And I know she's likely thrilled that she's a widow now. Daddy is hardly dead, and she's probably plotting to make changes in the company. Her and that creepy lawyer that seems to be hanging around all the time."
Derek squeezed her shoulders lightly. "Hey, why don't you come home with me and let Mom take care of you for awhile? We can hang out, eat junk food..."
For a second, she was tempted, but she shook her head regretfully. "I should get back...Skylar needs me..." No matter what, she needed to look after her little brother; her father would have wanted that. Another round of tears threatened to spill over again, but she blinked furiously to clear her eyes.
"Okay, well...call me if you need to talk, promise?"
"Sure, Der...thanks for being here." She turned her head, meeting his intense blue eyes, and felt a flutter of something unexpected. She was aware of his closeness, of the heat of his body next to hers in the damp evening air, and her breath caught. They had never been anything other than friends, but for a split second she felt something spark between them. Something emotional and unspoken.
Derek touched her cheek, feeling that sudden rush of emotion as well. His thumb traced the outline of her bottom lip, unsure of the reaction he would get if he did what he wanted to do. And he wanted to kiss her, something that seemed to be the most natural thing in the world to do.
"Meredith..." he breathed, before giving in to the temptation. His mouth brushed over hers, tasting the sweetness briefly before she backed away.
"Derek...I have...I have to go..." she whispered, her pulse hammering so loud she was sure he could hear it. Scrambling to her feet, she stood for a moment, trying to get her wits back. "I'll call you..."
He raked his hand through his hair, and watched her run lightly over the grass, finding the hidden pathway through the trees and towards the vineyards. He waited until she was out of sight before getting to his feet and heading towards his own home. Obviously that was a stupid move on his part, he berated himself, what the hell had he been thinking? Her father was just buried, and he had kissed her...but he grinned just the same...it had been a great kiss.
Meredith tiptoed into the house, making her way through the crowded kitchen without attracting any notice from the catering staff that was cleaning up. With any luck, her mother wouldn't be looking for her either. She peeked into Skylar's room, and he was crashed on his bed, holding his stuffed bear. The bear Daddy had given him for his fifth birthday. Sky was eleven now, way past the point of playing with it, but obviously he needed the reassurance. She pulled a blanket over his skinny frame, and he mumbled something in his sleep, but didn't wake up.
From there, she made it back to her room, and curled into the window seat to stare outside. Her father was gone, but life was still going on, even if she wasn't sure how to deal with the changes it would bring. Why did he have to die? "I miss you Daddy..." she whispered. "I'm going to keep going, and maybe...maybe I'll make you proud of me..."
Then she remembered the unexpected kiss from Derek, and she hugged herself as she re-lived that moment, touching her lips softly. It wasn't the first time she'd been kissed, but this had been different, and she smiled to herself despite the sadness inside of her...
So are you interested? Intrigued? Let me know what you think!
P.S. I'm adding a note here to advise you that this won't be a high school MerDer story, just in case you're confused about that. There is a jump ahead in the next chapter.
