Hi everyone! I'm both shocked an elated to find that people are actually into this story. This chapter is more of a filler than anything, and it's the last of my banked chapters. Pretty much I just wanted to explain some feelings that both parties were having about the move. I, unfortunately, have finals coming up so I cannot promise quick updates, but I have the general outline of the story in my head so it shouldn't be too hard for me to keep up. Anyway, this story won't be super long. Once I get Meredith to Seattle it'll be about one chapter per month or so of their time apart! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR KIND WORDS AS WELL!
Derek walked into the apartment around 8 PM on a lovely summer evening to find Meredith asleep in their large recliner with a textbook open in her lap. He couldn't help but smile at the sight. She had been working so hard at the hospital lately and what little free time she had was dedicated to studying for her intern exam. Sleep was hardy a priority these days.
There wasn't a doubt in Derek's mind that she would pass the exam. Most of the attendings and upper level residents at Mt. Sinai agreed that Meredith was the best intern they'd seen in years. He sighed at the thought. She had made quite the reputation for herself in only a year, and, while it would follow her to Seattle through letters of recommendation and other such professional networks, he knew she'd have to do it all over again when they arrived. It was especially hard for Derek when he considered the fact that she would have easily been chosen to perform the first solo surgery of her year if she hadn't made the decision to uproot her life for him.
He shook his head in an attempt to rid himself of those thoughts. Meredith hated when he thought that way. She swore that this was not a sacrifice, that she wanted to go with him, that she knew he would do the same for her.
Derek knew all of these things were true, but he still felt guilty from time to time and those feelings would not disappear completely until he saw Meredith happy and succeeding in Seattle. It was the only remedy.
He walked over to her and took the textbook from her lap, carefully marking her place before closing it and placing on the coffee table. He then retrieved the blanket from the back of the couch and gently slid into the chair beside her, wrapping her up in his arms, and covering them both soft chenille fabric.
Meredith's eyes fluttered open at the disturbance, "Derek?" she questioned groggily.
Derek kissed her forehead softly, "It's me. Go back to sleep."
"I need to study," she rasped without bothering to move.
"You can study later," Derek promised, "you should get some sleep now."
"But the test is in a few days and I need to pack," she tried in spite of the fact that her eyes were already closing.
"I'll whisper neurology facts in your ear while you sleep, and when you wake up I'll quiz you on them," he joked.
"Fair enough," Meredith laughed tiredly. She snuggled up to Derek and let the soothing motions of his palm on her back lull her into a peaceful slumber.
Meredith slipped back into consciousness two hours later, rubbing the last of the sleep out of her eyes and rolling her neck around in an attempt to work out the kinks that had developed during her nap.
"Stiff?" Derek asked, quickly moving to massage the knots from her neck and shoulders.
"Yeah, thanks," she breathed, staring at her textbook.
Derek followed her line of sight, "Did you want to hit the books a little? I'll help you."
"I think…maybe…I can take one night off," she offered, though it was unclear to Derek whether she her words were meant to be a statement or a question.
"One night off won't hurt, Meredith. You've got this either way," he assured.
"I just…we don't have very many nights left here," she confided, "I'd rather spend some time with you."
Derek smiled, leaning down to kiss her lips gently, "We've had some good times here."
Meredith nodded her agreement, "I remember being so nervous to move in with you, but this turned out to be the first place that's ever felt like home to me."
"That's not going to go away, Mer. Seattle will feel like home, too."
She was amazed by both the confidence in his tone and his ability to read her mind and pinpoint her worries, "How are you so sure about all of this?"
"Well…for me home was my mom's house for a long time. In a sense I guess it still is. But I also believe that home is the place you long to be. So for me, home isn't a place anymore. Home is wherever you are, because no matter how good or bad my day is I just want you to be there when it's over. That's why I'm sure Seattle will be home," Derek explained.
"You're my home, too," Meredith smiled, pulling him down for another sweet kiss, "I love you."
"I love you, too. And I know this won't be easy, but we'll get through it. It's only six months," he encouraged.
"Only six months," she sighed, "but it'll be worth it."
"Come on," Derek began, pulling them both up from the recliner, "I'll buy you a pizza."
"You're so good to me," she teased.
As they exited the apartment hand-in-hand and headed for their favorite pizza joint just down the street, Meredith couldn't help but wonder how the move would affect these moments. Would they have a place to go for random snack dates at 10 PM in Seattle? Would their new place serve as the private world she'd grown to view their apartment as? Would the six months of waiting to find out drive her insane? The closer they came to the impending move, the more daunting it seemed. A small voice in the back of her mind screamed that she should have taken Derek up on his offer to stay in New York.
However, a louder, more rational voice was excited about the move. That voice told her to look forward to a new adventure with the man she loved. The move would be good for both of their careers, they'd have a larger home, and they'd have a whole new city to make memories in. The rest she'd have to take on faith.
