-1First off ilovegreysanatomy THANK YOU! That was the first bit of like criticism anybody has given me! I love all of you who have reviewed, but ILGA pointed out something terribly important. Does anybody else think Derek feels stuffy? I think it's happening like that because neither is remotely attracted by the other. Or at least neither thinks about it at all. But them living together like that is bound to stir it up. So lets give them a little bit of time… I think flirty Derek'll show up in a bit…maybe. Guys keep pointing these things out to me, it really does help… Oh one quick question ILGA, you reviewed on the 4th chapter…did Derek seem a little more 'Derek' in the 5th chapter?
August passed quickly for the two of them. Meredith began classes at UVA finding new friends and catching up with some old ones. August for Derek was about getting to know his coworkers, meeting families in the church and planning the fall events including UMYF kickoff and a few retreats. (UMYF stands for United Methodist Youth Fellowship, basically youth group.) Meredith often went to church with him on Sundays, getting involved in the struggling young adult program the church offered. They fell into an easy routine together sharing household responsibilities. Dinner happened most nights of the week with both of them cooking, an easy time to relax and chill.
As the fall picked up Meredith made sure dinner was ready for Derek after a full day of church. In return Derek tried to keep her favorite drunk food left within easy reach in the kitchen and water and aspirin on her night table on Friday nights. Each taking care of the other the best way they knew how.
He found himself amazed that after ten years as a self-sufficient bachelor he was able to adjust to living with somebody else. He not only adjusted to it, but welcomed her presence. It was a comforting change of pace from his previous existence. Since things had ended with Addison five years ago he delved deep into his work, pretty much destroying the slight boundary that existed for him between his work and personal lives. He worked long hours at the office to come home to an empty house where he either worked some more or chilled out in front of the television or computer. Now there was this tiny youthful ball of energy that was always there, who made him smile many times throughout the day.
Mid-way through September on a Friday night Derek was laying down in his room with a bowl of ice cream and was flicking through the TV stations. Meredith had left before he'd gotten home. He vaguely remembered her mentioning that she was going to be out with some friends and not to worry. She always said this. He always worried.
Not much later he heard the door open and her shuffling up the steps. She went into her room for a moment, then back downstairs. He could hear her sniffling as she passed by his room. He peeked down the steps when he didn't hear anything for a moment. She had found a bottle of tequila and a shot glass. (Mer has the usual tequila problem and the daddy issues and the distant mom and she's dark and twisty, but she doesn't have the boy problem.) She had another shot and then began to sob. Derek fought the urge to go downstairs and comfort her. She was a big girl and he couldn't fight her battles for her. Instead he settled for opening her door turning on the lamp and the light. He turned down her sheets made sure a trash can was by the bed and made sure her stuffed animals were within reach. Then he checked on her again from the top of the stairs. She was still drinking more tequila. He retired to his bedroom leaving his door opened and the television on.
He heard her stumble, a while later, up the steps and into her room. She emerged quickly and leaned against the doorway to his room. He set the book on his nightstand and ran a hand through his hair, taking in the sight of smashed Meredith. He'd experienced this side of her once or twice, usually over the phone. Only once in person. Her eyes were red and swollen, her usually sleek auburn hair tossed messily into a ponytail with a few wispy strands here and there. Her pajamas didn't match. Without a word she teetered her way to the side of his bed. Pausing as he pulled back the sheets. She climbed in and snuggled under the comforter dragging along an ancient stuffed rabbit and an empty satin pillowcase. She laid down just out of his reach, looking at him with a tearstained face. Derek turned on his side waiting patiently.
"David doesn't think anything is working out." She choked out as a fresh wave of tears ran down her face. (I mentioned David in the author's note)
"I didn't know you two had started anything." Derek said, wondering how he could have missed that. David and Meredith had known each other all through school. In high school they became close friends going to proms and homecomings together. About midway through high school Meredith fell for David, but he didn't want to date. Not just her, anybody. The agreement became that Meredith was to date and if when he was ready they were both single they would attempt it. Meredith never could quite put her love for him aside and never had much of a romantic relationship with anybody.
"We hadn't really. We were just talking about it mostly. He asked me to go out with him tonight. So I went. When I got to the restaurant he pulled me in to kiss me, just a quick brush of the lips. Then he got a look in his eyes. We sat down and he told me that he'd always though he loved me, but he wasn't positive. There was another girl. Somebody he'd just met. And he was falling for her he thought. And he wanted to date her." Meredith collapsed into sobs and Derek couldn't stand it anymore. He reached for the tissues on his nightstand and pulled a few out. He reached for her placing a hand securely on her back to bring her to him. He barely put any pressure on her back before she eagerly moved towards his body. She scooted to him, leaving no gap between them. She buried her face in his chest breathing in that familiar scent before sobbing into his chest. He wrapped his arms tightly around her hoping the tight he held her the more the pain slipped away. They laid there for a long time just like that, Meredith crying as Derek murmured into her ear.
Eventually he felt her breathing deepen. She pulled away from him a bit to lay on her back. He smiled softly at her as he smooth her hair back.
"Are you going to be okay princess?"
"I'm drunk." She replied with a lopsided smile.
"I know I can smell you." He looked down at his shirt that was sticking to him, completely soaked with her tears. "I'm going to change now." He said with a smile, backing out of the bed and peeling off his soaked shirt replacing it with another.
"Sorry, when I get drunk and cry on guys I tend to do that…" She apologized softly, clearly still smashed from her run in with Jose.
"You've done that before?" He asked with a laugh.
"Yeah I've done it once before. To David. At my graduation party. I was drunk and we were saying goodnight. I started to cry. We made promises. He still teases me about it."
"I can imagine." Derek said dryly climbing back into bed.
"Everything is spinning. And it gets worse when I close my eyes." Meredith commented.
"How much did you have?" Derek asked concerned, after all she was so very tiny. She shrugged unsure herself. She rolled onto her side with her back facing Derek as she began to cry again. He sighed realizing that she wasn't going to stop anytime soon. He gathered her into his arms holding her to his body allowing her to cry. Meanwhile he rubbed her back and hummed into her ear. Anything to let her know he was there with her as she cried herself into exhaustion.
Long
after she had fallen asleep Derek stayed awake listening to her
breathe and wiping away the tears that came even in her sleep. He
couldn't bring himself to carry her into her own room and leave her
alone. Afraid she would awake upset or perhaps even stop breathing.
He wasn't sure how much tequila she had consumed. He settled for a
sleepless night of watching over her.
"What's wrong with
David?" He thought to himself as she drew in a ragged breath. "I
understand not wanting to be distracted by a relationship, but
they're good friends. It has always felt like just a matter of time
between those two." If he looked at Meredith objectively he
realized she was absolutely gorgeous. He knew her personality was
amazing. Her fondness of tequila was her only downfall and he knew
that since college began she'd made it a point to respect David and
not drink when he was around. And even in general it wasn't a real
issue. He sighed drawing her closer to him and gave her forehead a
gentle kiss.
