First, and most importantly, thank you for the comments! They are absolutely delightful and make me more excited than is really healthy.
Second, I received an overall good response from the last chapter and the "big reveal" so thank you to everyone who was so kind. I did receive an upset guest message about how Derek "broke" Meredith and how he made the reader "sick." The only two things I'll say to that is Meredith was not broken and still isn't. She's stronger than heartbreak and I think she's proven that by competently raising a daughter. The other thing is, I'm sorry if you think Derek is totally to blame. I don't, but I also have a very personal connection to aspects of this story and from my point-of-view, no one is blameless, not even Meredith.
Anyway, onto a new update!
2008, Meredith
The day after the party, Dad came home and eyed me as I walked out the front door, crossed our lawn onto the Shepherds' and knocked on their front door. Susan said she didn't see Derek and me together last night, but I didn't believe her because of the smug smile on her face. She saw him kiss me and let me walk over to see him. I didn't think she told my dad because he would've freaked.
I knocked on the door and waited as patiently as possible. I tied my hair back to keep it off my sweaty neck and dressed in shorts and a tank top. When the door opened, I was surprised to see a man who looked very much like Derek, only taller and more commanding.
"H-hello," I said uneasily.
The man broke into a grin and it was like an older version of Derek was staring at me. "You must be Meredith." My cheeks flushed because Derek had told his father about me. "So nice to meet you and gosh are you beautiful. Please, please come on in."
Derek's father stepped back and allowed me to pass. The Shepherd home looked a lot like mine from the foyer, a room to the left, a living room to the right and a grand staircase running up the middle. "I'm Michael, father to Derek and about fifteen thousand girls," he said with a surprising Southern twang and I laughed. He grinned at me. "My son is one lucky duck, if I were his age—"
"—I would keep you a hundred miles from my girlfriend," Derek said from the top of the stairs. He smirked at me as he walked down and wrapped his arm around my waist as soon as he reached me. "Hi," he whispered and kissed me chastely in front of his father.
Michael shook his head and held his hands up in a rectangular fashion. "A picture, you two are a picture of beauty! Carolyn, get in here and see these two beautiful creatures!"
Derek laughed and turned to me, his fingers warm and tight against my hip. "You look beautiful."
"I'm sweaty," I groaned charmingly.
He laughed again and kissed my cheek. "You taste good, though."
My face turned bright red just as Derek's mother walked in the room. She was shorter than Derek, but taller than me. She had the same commanding presence as her husband and an equally amused grin. Derek had her eyes and dark hair. "Meredith, so great to meet you." She closed me in a tight hug, not even minding her son's hands on me. Derek finally dropped his hand as Carolyn stepped back and took me by the shoulders. "Can I get you something to drink?"
I began to shake my head and Michael piped in, "Oh, you have to try her iced tea. It'll change your world. Come on," he waved them towards the kitchen and Carolyn followed, calling something after her husband.
Derek caught me by the wrist before I could follow his parents and ducked into the side room next to the steps. It was a spare bedroom, but it was probably once Kate's room or maybe Nancy's or Lizzie's. Derek mouth pressed to mine quick enough to take the breath from my lungs. His hand swept up my back, over my shirt, and to my sweaty neck, holding me tightly against him. I fisted my hands in his shirt and opened my mouth to him, leisurely dipping my tongue into his mouth to taste him. He tasted like butterscotch. Derek moaned into my mouth and gripped my hip with his free hand.
My head was absolutely spinning. I felt him press against me and I felt him. He didn't shy away from his desire and in fact pressed in more. I wrapped my one arm around his back and gripped him to me. I released a bubbling moan, which is when Derek pulled away to kiss along my jaw and down my neck. I turned my head while he licked the underside of my chin and I practically fell to my knees when his lips suctioned onto the space beneath my ear.
A second later, someone was knocking on the wall behind me. "Okay kids, I'm going to need you to come on out now." Michael's voice was laced with humor, but Derek took the command very seriously.
Derek stepped away from me and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. I watched as his eyes slid over me and everything inside me lit up. He wanted me. "Sorry Dad," he said slowly.
Michael chuckled. You could even hear his accent even in his laugh. "No need to fuss, just get on out here before your Mama hears the god awful racket you two were making."
As he walked away, I felt mortified. "Oh my god, I have to go." I held my cheeks in my hands to keep Derek from seeing the blush.
Derek removed my hands from my cheeks and took one hand in mine. "Don't worry about him, he's just teasing. Dad walked in on Nancy having sex when she was only fifteen. I'm nineteen, he can't say anything to me."
"Yes, but you were just kissing your sixteen year old neighbor."
His fingers swept across my cheek. "Don't say kissing to me." His eyes glanced at my lips. "When you say kissing, I want to kiss you again."
"Kissing," I whispered.
"Evil." He leaned towards me.
"Derek Christopher Shepherd, so help me god!" Carolyn yelled from the kitchen.
Derek's cheeks burned red this time and he led me from the guest bedroom. When we walked into the kitchen, his parents were sitting at the table and while Michael was clearly amused, Carolyn was annoyed. I felt badly. I shouldn't have come over. But as soon as I sat down at the table with my iced tea (which really was incredible), Carolyn turned to me with a happy grin on her face. She continued to shoot daggers at Derek. "Derek tells us you moved from Seattle?"
I nodded slowly. "Yes. I grew up there. Born and raised. My stepmom got a good job around here and she couldn't pass up on the opportunity." It was always easier for me to talk to adults rather than kids my own age.
"That's wonderful for your stepmom. How long as she been your stepmom?"
Derek groaned, "Mom."
"I am getting to know your girlfriend. You leave here last night with a dopey grin on your face and come back with an even dopier one. You tell us you have a girlfriend, but nothing else. I want to know her." Carolyn turned back to me. "Ignore him."
I laughed at Derek's faux anger towards his mother. "My parents married when I was one. My stepmom and Dad, that is."
"Derek tells us you lost your mama when you were young," Michael said.
"Yes. Susan raised me so I call her my mom sometimes, especially when I'm talking to my little sister, Lexie. She doesn't actually believe we don't have the same mom because we're so alike. We're like our dad, though."
Michael sat back in his chair. "I met your dad, Thatcher?" I nodded. "He's a good man. A busy man. He told me he'll be teaching English literature at the university. A pretty good gig."
I nodded, enjoying that our families were already familiar. I felt Derek's hand close over mine under the table. I glanced at him and his eyes were on his father, but his thumb was gliding over mine. "He's happy. My sister isn't, but she's getting better. She just misses her friends."
"She'll make new friends," Carolyn said confidently.
"She already did. She thinks Mark is the best person ever."
Michael rolled his eyes. "Oh that poor child."
Derek and I laughed together. I squeezed his hand. It felt like we had our own language palm to palm. I liked being able to tell him everything just by feeling his hand in mine. "Speaking of that poor child, didn't Lexie want to go to the river with us and Mark?"
I'd wanted to go to the river, which was the main reason why I'd come over. But we were pounced on by his parents, so I hadn't actually gotten the words out. "Yes, she did."
"Want to go now?"
Michael and Carolyn shared a look. Derek rolled his eyes. "Meredith's sister is as good a chaperone as any. Relax." Derek stood and I followed. "We'll just go for a few hours," he said.
"Alright then. Meredith, it was so nice meeting you," Carolyn stood with a grin.
"Thank you, you too. Both of you." I smiled at Michael. He saluted me.
"You better come over again real soon," Michael added. "We like to have a lot of barbecues and you and your family are always welcome."
Derek wrapped his arm around my shoulder. I felt so comfortable in their home. The whole place was warm, loving and inviting. We said our goodbyes again and Derek led me out the backyard. He veered off to call Mark and I ran inside to find Lexie. As soon as I rounded the corner to head upstairs, my dad stepped out of the office. "Meredith," he said and I knew he meant business.
I stopped in my tracks. "Hi Dad."
"Who is that boy?"
I couldn't stop my grin. "Derek Shepherd. You know him. He helped us move in."
"He's older than you."
"Just three years."
"He's in college." For the first time, I realized I did even know where Derek went to school. But I nodded anyway because I did know he was in college. "I want to meet him."
"Can it wait until tomorrow? I'm going to the river with Lexie."
Dad perked up. We'd all noticed Lexie was getting better and each time we went to the river she seemed happier. "That's a great idea. Yes, it can wait. You'll invite him to dinner though." It wasn't a question. I nodded. Dad leaned down and kissed my forehead. "Alright now, be good. And be careful!"
Lexie was more than willing to go to the river with us, especially when she learned Mark would be coming. We both changed into our bathing suits, more confident if the guys were there, and stepped into shorts and tee shirts. I brought a towel this time for the two of us. When we made it outside, Lexie launched herself at Derek and he hugged her in return. I smiled at the two of them. We headed off to the river where Mark would meet us, Lexie yammering on the entire time.
Derek let Lexie go first into the forest and turned just long enough to kiss me. I leaned into him and he hugged me tightly. He turned with a smirk on his face and held my hand so I wouldn't fall. Lexie pulled off her tee shirt and shorts and walked into the water while Derek and I spread out towels and sat down on the edge of the water.
"My parents liked you," Derek said with a grin.
I leaned into him, my shoulder to his chest. "I liked them, too. Where is your dad from?"
"North Carolina. He swears he doesn't have an accent."
"He's a liar then."
Lexie splashed in the cold water. She called for Derek. "Come in. It's nice in here!"
Derek stood up immediately. "Yes ma'am," he laughed and began to tug off his shirt. I watched him with more attention than I should have. He tugged his shirt from the collar, pulling it up and over his head. His back was toned and trim and his stomach was flat. He wasn't ripped or overly muscular, but he looked good to me. He looked down, catching me blatantly checking him out, and gave me a small wink before heading off to the water, running in and splashing Lexie right in the face with the cold water. She cried out and began giggling.
Mark showed up after a little while and dropped down beside me. Derek and Lexie were now lazing down the river, allowing the current to take them away. They were chatting and I had no idea about what. I just liked seeming them interacting. "He likes you, you know," Mark said, which seemed very uncharacteristic.
I glanced at him. "I like him, too."
"He talks about you endlessly. It's really fucking annoying."
I laughed. "Well my sister talks about you endlessly. She has quite the crush."
Mark grinned like a wolf again. "She's a good kid." Mark bounced his shoulder off mine. "Don't worry, when she's eighteen I'll come swooping back into her life and then I'll sweep her off her feet, not a minute before."
"Thank you for your restraint," I laughed and pulled my legs up to my chest.
Mark didn't stay beside me for long. He removed his shirt, too (and I tried not to look hard) and took off running after Derek and Lexie. As soon as Mark arrived, Derek climbed up from the water and walked towards me. He stood over me dripping water on my shoulders. I shivered and pushed at his legs. "Stop it, you're so cold!"
Derek dropped onto the towel next to me and hugged me, making me cry out. He started tickling me and before long I was lying on my back, Derek above me, laughing like my life depended on it. "Stop it, stop it," I laughed and kept pushing at him. His lips pressed to me next, swallowing my cries and halting his hands. He cupped my cheek in his hand and slid his wet fingers through my hair. I touched my tongue to his lips before pressing through. Derek groaned and his hand slid down along my side and hip, wrapping around the back of my thigh.
I turned to him and pressed the length of my body to his. Derek pressed back and clung to me, not allowing me to move even an inch. I held his hair tightly and tipped my head back. He kissed along my neck and shoulders, paying special attention to my collar bones. My eyes fluttered open and I stared up at the beautiful blue sky.
Mark cleared his throat and when I sat up, he had his hand pressed to Lexie's eyes. "My eyes," she said loudly, "they're bleeding." We all burst out laughing.
Later that night, I was sitting in bed looking into Derek's window (he wasn't in there, I was just being a creep) when Lexie knocked on the bathroom door leading into my room. "Can I come in?" she asked.
I set down the book I wasn't reading and pulled back my covers. She crossed the room quickly and climbed in beside me. Lexie still used children's shampoo, so she smelled sweet like strawberries. She giggled as I sniffed her hair. "Get off, Meredith," she said and half-heartedly pushed at me.
"Why are you in here?" I asked as she settled next to me. She curled her hands up under her chin and stared up at me.
Lexie turned to stare at the ceiling. "Are you Derek's girlfriend?"
I looked down at her. Lexie looked so perplexed. "I am. Does that bother you?"
She shook her head. "I like Derek."
"Me too. So what has you so upset?"
"Is Mark too old for me?"
I moved down the bed until we were lying nose to nose. Lexie had our dad's dark hair and her mother's eyes. But our mouths were similar and our ears. I tugged on her ear. "You are now, but you'll be old enough one day."
"But then he'll be really old."
I laughed. "How old is really old to you?"
She shrugged. "Forty?"
"Well when you're old enough, Mark will be nowhere near forty, so he won't be really old."
She still looked sad. "I wish I were your age. Derek is old and he dates you."
"Derek is the same distance in age as you and me."
Lexie nodded, as if she'd done the math. "Do you think I'm pretty?'
I broke into a huge grin. "I think you are the most beautiful girl I've ever seen."
Lexie blushed and hid her face beneath the covers. "You're pretty too."
I smiled at the pile of blankets. "Thanks munchkin."
"Can I sleep here?"
I tucked myself in beside her. "Of course."
I flipped off the light and even though it was only 10 PM, I was exhausted. Lexie was always like a little furnace; I had to sleep with my legs out just to keep from sweating. Just as I began to relax, my phone buzzed on the nightstand. I kept one eye closed as I read the text: My parents couldn't stop talking about you at dinner. They're in love with you. Will you come over tomorrow? I smiled and my heart raced. I didn't even know how he had my cell phone number since I hadn't given it to him. I glanced down at my sister, now completely asleep and making cute little wheezing noises. She must've slipped it to him. I'd love to.
A minute later my phone buzzed again. It's a date. Goodnight, Meredith.
Goodnight, Derek.
