A big thank you again to everyone that has reviewed and/or added the story as a favorite! I know this is kind of a departure from my usual, and all I can say is that don't take it all too seriously! I have to admit, I've been watching the new reboot/sequel to 'Dallas' and I'm enjoying the campy drama and it's giving me lots of inspiration.

Now this chapter brings in what's going on with Derek...and sets in motion a lot of the drama to come! As always, I love to hear what you think!


Chapter Two
An Evening in Paris

Derek leaned back in his chair, stretching his legs out under the wrought iron patio table. It was a cool evening in Paris, with a mist in the air that managed to permeate through the leather jacket he wore. The dampness also made his thick black hair curl with riotous abandon, and he knew there was nothing he could do about it, but he wasn't there to make an impression on anyone. He was seated at a little bistro, which was quiet and out of the way of tourists, and he was one of the few Americans who knew about it.

Taking a sip of the espresso that warmed him, he scanned the newspaper spread in front of him. He was enjoying the time in Paris; in fact, his whole time in Europe had been a great learning experience. His father had insisted that Derek spend time in some of the best European wineries, learning some of the secrets of the trade that couldn't be picked up in America. This was after Derek had graduated from Harvard with a business degree, and spending his time growing up doing all he could to soak up the family's knowledge of wine making. His younger sister, Aria, had a passing interest in the business, but she had decided to pursue a career in medicine and was presently studying at Dartmouth.

Still, he was getting somewhat homesick, and he intended to return to Tuscany Valley after a few more weeks here. His parents weren't getting any younger, and he wanted to be able to spend time with them. Besides that, he had several ideas he was anxious to try out to improve the business. In his last conversation with his father, they had a rather heated discussion about some of the concepts, but Derek knew that Matthew would mull over the ideas and get back to him.

Matthew Shepherd was a well respected vintner, and built the business up from a very small operation. It was still family-run and always would be, but they had won many awards for their wines, and competed fiercely with Silver Moon Estates. Derek knew that he would carry on the traditions, but there was always room for improvement.

"Ah, cherie...are you ready for some company?" A soft female voice whispered in his ear, and he looked up at the young woman that appeared beside him. She was slim and auburn-haired, with a generous mouth and green eyes that danced with flirtatious intent. Monique settled in the chair next to him, and waved at the waiter who immediately leaped to her assistance, taking her order efficiently.

"Did I look lonely?" Derek asked, raising one eyebrow.

"Non...but perhaps I am lonely, and need some distraction," she replied, accepting the glass of Cabernet from the waiter. She inhaled the aroma of black currents and pepper, before taking a delicate sip, regarding Derek over the rim of her glass. "Papa wants me to make sure you're happy while you are here." Leaning closer, she patted his hand, letting her fingers linger on his skin.

"I appreciate his concern," Derek grinned.

"Then come home with me, so that that I can make you tres happy..." Monique winked at him. Despite her best efforts, he had been polite but kept his distance, something she was determined to change. She rubbed her foot along his calf suggestively, letting her short skirt ride up her thigh as she did so. She was wearing a simple black dress, under a swing coat of white cashmere, with strappy little sandals, and managed to make it look effortlessly chic. He felt almost shabby in comparison, with his jeans and black turtleneck sweater, layered beneath the battered leather jacket that had seen better days. Of course, his casual style still exuded masculine charm, and caught the eye of more than one female in the vicinity besides Monique.

"Monique..." he sighed. It wasn't that he didn't find her attractive, or that he wasn't interested, but he wasn't sure if he should get involved with the daughter of the man who was his mentor here. Jacques DuBrand was also a fiery Frenchman, with a legendary temper. Somehow Derek suspected that his idea of keeping Derek happy didn't include taking Monique to bed. Even if the equally fiery young woman was willing and sexy in a way that gave no doubt of her interest in Derek.

"Derek..." she mimicked, taking another sip of wine. "I want you, and you want me...no need to be shy..."

"Not shy, just smart," he countered.

Monique leaned closer, enveloping him in the cloud of her exotic perfume. "I like an intelligent man...I'm sure you are able to use that intelligence very creatively in bed. It will be our secret, cherie..." she murmured, tempting him with a glimpse of the generous cleavage of her scooped neck dress. "You're due for some recreation, aren't you?"

For a moment, Derek hesitated, wondering why he was resisting her evident charms. He was a long way from home, and he hadn't had a lot of time for female companionship during his European journeys. He leaned a little closer, so that his mouth was close to hers, inhaling the scent of wine on her lips. She met his mouth, kissing him with a provocative flick of her tongue against his. "It will be so good..." she whispered. "You have never been loved until you have been with a French woman...

Before Derek could form a response, his cell phone vibrated in his pocket, and he pulled back. "I should get this..."

"Non...it cannot be more important that moi..." Monique sighed, but it was too late, the moment was broken.

"Hello..." Derek answered the call, giving her an apologetic smile as she leaned back in her chair with a pout. "Mom...what's wrong?" His eyes darkened as he listened to the voice on the other end, without saying too much. Finally, he slumped back. "All right, just hold on until I get home...I'll be there as soon as I can. Just hang in there, and I'll let you know what my flight is as soon as I can book something...have you spoken with Aria?" After a few more murmured words, he disconnected the call and slipped the phone in his jacket pocket again. For a moment, he closed his eyes, and rubbed the bridge of his nose, trying to process the news he just received. In a heartbeat, everything had changed.

"Trouble, cherie?" Monique asked, taking in his now dejected expression. "Can I help?"

"I have to get home," he muttered, getting to his feet quickly. His legs felt unsteady, almost as if he had been the one drinking wine, while his mind still reeled in disbelief.

"Why, is there something wrong?"

"My father is dead," he told her, not quite believing the words himself.

"Oh, I'm so sorry..." Monique stood up beside him, touching his cheek in sympathy. "What can I do?"

"Nothing...just tell your father I had to leave, and explain the circumstances. I will call him when I have a chance," he told her, taking her by the shoulders. "You're a beautiful woman, Monique...I'm sorry I can't give you what you want." He brushed a kiss over her lips, but he was thinking of someone else as he did so. Someone he hadn't seen in a long time, but still remained in his thoughts. Now that he was returning home to California, would he see her again?

"Just go, cherie...you have to go home to your family," Monique whispered. "Perhaps we will cross paths again someday..."

Derek nodded, but his mind was already moving ahead, making plans to head back to California. He shoved his hands in his jacket pockets and walked resolutely towards his hotel, not looking backwards.

Monique pulled her own cell phone out of her purse, and punched in a familiar number. "Hello...oui, he is leaving...he will be home soon..."


Meredith was settled in her usual booth at the Orchid Club, contemplating the drink in front of her. Her best friend, Cristina Yang, was across from her, nursing a tequila. "How can she marry him? She managed all these years after Dad died...why now?" Meredith muttered. It was two days after her mother's bombshell announcement, and it still didn't seem real.

"Sex?" Cristina offered, lifting her eyebrows.

"Ugh...now there's an image I don't want to have," Meredith frowned. "Even so...she doesn't need to marry him for that. There has to be some ulterior motive..." She took another swallow of her martini. The lounge/restaurant was their favorite place to get together – it wasn't too loud, the music was laid back and jazzy, and the crowd was pretty mellow. Mellow was something she needed at the moment. "I mean, seriously?"

"How did Sky react?"

"Typical gut reaction of yelling obscenities and taking off," Meredith sighed. "He's hanging out with Jace again tonight...I just hope he doesn't do anything stupid. I don't want to have to bail him out of jail or something..."

"He still trying to make it as a rock star?"

"Oh yes, he and Jace are always fooling around with some songs, putting videos up on YouTube." Meredith rolled her eyes.

"Hey, stranger things have happened." Cristina waved at the bartender, who grinned, holding up the tequila bottle in response. Miranda Bailey was the owner of the place, and she liked to keep an eye on things by tending bar in the evenings. Meredith had met her at one of the wine tastings at Silver Moon, and they had been friends since then.

"Ladies, you look rather serious over here," she commented, bringing them both fresh drinks. "Anything you want to tell your friendly bartender about?"

Meredith leaned her chin on her fist. "Well, you'll hear about it soon enough...Mom is getting married again. I'm sure the news will be all over the society page tomorrow if Paxton has his way."

"Well, no wonder you look depressed."

"Yeah, the thought of her marrying that douchebag lawyer sucks big time," Meredith agreed. "I have no idea what this means in the long run for the winery. Is it too late for me to run away from home?"

"You can always come work for me," Bailey joked. "I can always use a wine expert here."

"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind." Meredith lifted her glass in acknowledgement.

"Or you could join Sky's band, and be a rock babe," Cristina laughed. "Think of the possibilities..."

Meredith choked on her drink. "Gee, what would I do without you guys? I don't think that Savage Soul needs a female singer, not to mention I can't sing!"

"I thought they called themselves Scarlet Dreams?"

"They changed it, don't ask...I can't keep up."

Bailey was called away to make more drinks, and Meredith watched for a moment. "She's got a good business here...maybe I should take her up on that offer."

"Mer, please...you are not a waitress. You are the heir to the Silver Moon winery, don't let that weasel Karev push you out of the picture," Cristina said firmly. "I mean, if you want to have some fun with life, I can understand that...you haven't been exactly been able to get out much. When was the last time you had a date?"

"Who has time to date?"

"You need to have some fun, trust me. Your mother shouldn't be the only one getting laid..."

Meredith shuddered. "Again...bad images..."

"What ever happened to that guy?"

"Which guy?"

"The guy you told me about...Derek..." Cristina hadn't grown up in the Valley, she only met Meredith in college, and by that time Derek was away at Harvard.

"Derek?" Meredith smiled fondly at the thought of him. They had stayed in touch via email or phone during their college years, but after he left for Europe, they really seemed to have gone their separate ways. She remembered the sweet kiss he had given her the day of her father's funeral, a kiss that had never been repeated. She had shied away from getting involved with her best friend, and she knew in a rational way that it probably wouldn't have worked anyway, being from rival families so to speak.

"You have that look on your face," Cristina pointed out. "Unrequited young love and all that..."

"It wasn't young love..." Meredith protested, but a blush crept up her cheeks just the same. "And besides, I heard gossip that he was engaged at one time, and now he's busy in Europe, so I'm sure he won't be back for awhile." Her cell phone vibrated on the polished table then, and she picked it up, happy for the distraction.

"Hello Mom...what's up?" Expecting some trivial bit of news, or something about the winery, she only half listened for a moment, and then her eyes widened. "What...? Oh my god, that's terrible...what happened...?" She blinked rapidly, at the sudden tears that came to her eyes, before they finished the conversation with a few more questions, and then she laid the phone down carefully.

"What happened? Did something happen to Skylar?"

"No. It's Matthew Shepherd...he's dead..."

"Wait, who is Matthew Shepherd?"

"Derek's father...he was found in the oak barrel storage vaults this morning...apparently a heart attack. Mom just heard about it now," Meredith said quietly. "I guess this means Derek will be coming home after all..."