As always huge thanks to all who reviewed it seriously makes my day so please keep them coming cos it makes me smile and makes up for all the horrible weather here which means im spending more time infront of a computer screen rather than going out in all the wind and rain.

So this is Chapter 8 and its more MerDer and is roughly a week on from the last one so as always Read, Enjoy and PLS REVIEW!!!

On A Night Like This.

"Seattle has ferry boats," Derek placed two coffee's down in front of Meredith and Christina in one of the smaller conference rooms they were using to write up patients charts. "You never told me that!"

He stilled as she smiled up at him and as that smile reached her eyes he wished Christina and the whole hospital with her to hell so he could kiss those smiling lips in private. Showing her in the best way he knew how just how much this all meant and how happy she was making him.

"Seattle is surrounded by water on three sides Derek." Meredith answered trying not to squirm in her seat as leaning over the back of her chair his breath tickled the bare skin at the nape of her neck.

"Hence the ferry boats… But seeing as I've taken you out to dinner the last two nights and ate lunch with you for the past three days I would have expected you to tell me."

Meredith chuckled she knew even without having to look that he was pouting, he always did when he used the voice that made him sound a lot more like a spoilt five year old who had just found out everyone knew a big secret he didn't rather than a successful brain surgeon.

"Derek has a thing for ferry boats," Meredith told a confused looking Christina as she fought to keep her breathing steady as Derek's lips now pressed in small kisses his teeth nipping at her skin.

"Actually it's more of a mutual thing… You see Dr Yang, Dr Grey simply never appreciated the true pleasure of a ferry boat ride until that was she took her first one with me. It was a summer night wasn't it Meredith, a very hot, sultry night, if I remember rightly and didn't you have problems keeping your clothes on it was so hot… …" He teased enjoying her blush and delighting in knowing the exact memories he had evoked.

"Okay the secret marriage I could forgive you for but ferry boats Meredith seriously???" Christina rolled her eyes in disgust as she moved to the other side of the table away from the couple who were both wearing matching and in her opinion sickening grins.

"And for all our sakes just hurry up and give him some cos right now he's like a rabid dog on heat with all that drooling over you it's nasty!"

"Christina!" Meredith exclaimed but made no move away from Derek's continued embrace as laughing he pressed a final kiss to her neck.

"Lunch then?"

"Okay but go before Bailey catches you in here with us…"

"Fine but tonight lets call it my reward, you let me take you somewhere new? I have something to show you."

"Sure." Her smile tender as she looked up at him "Thanks for the coffee's."

"My pleasure." He beamed before nodding at Christina and shut the door behind him.

Walking back towards his patients room Derek was blind to everyone and everything, too busy thanking whoever had brought Meredith Grey into his life all those years ago and for giving him this second chance that he sometimes doubted he really deserved.

They were taking it at her pace which so far had meant no sex, which was torture to him. He craved her, the scent of her skin the feel of her in his arms, the taste of her on his lips he ached constantly for it all and he knew Meredith was finding it harder and harder to say no.

But her intention had been right; it gave them time without being clouded by the haze of sexual satisfaction to rediscover exactly why they had fallen so hard in the first place and for her to know for sure that they could make this work.

He already knew though, Meredith was the difference in a day and proving to her they were worth it was a fight, a fight for life and telling her the truth about Sarah became less of an appealing option as each day passed. Each day brought more smiles; more laughter and the eyes that had been dulled by pain now lit when he was near and if it was possible Derek had found himself falling even more in love with her.

The phone call to Sarah had been one of painful embarrassment, not that it had hurt to end something that had never really began but because he had felt ashamed of himself. He knew just as she did that he had used her, first their friendship to hide from the problems he himself had caused in his marriage and then after Meredith had left in a selfish attempt to heal his own grief.

Surprisingly she had been understanding and honest enough to admit he had never really given her false hopes.

"I knew it was just a matter of time until you found her and went to her… Derek you called her name out in your sleep every night."

But he had still apologized for leaving New York without telling her and putting her in the picture instead of leaving her to find out from gossip at work, but she had only laughed and told him not to be a fool.

"Derek you're in love with your wife and that won't ever change… If anything I'm a little sorry for the part I played in the damage that's been done, you know you were only half the man I had first been attracted to after she left… Which say's it all really!"

He had deleted her number from his cell after that, knowing that he would never take Meredith for granted again because Sarah was right he was only a shell without her.

And tonight he would prove to her that his home was wherever she was and that he would never regret leaving New York.


"Are you coming to Joe's tonight?" Izzy asked as Meredith joined them all in the basement corridor, shaking her head at George's offered pack of chips.

"Sorry cant, Derek has plans there's something he wants to show me…"

"It doesn't take a doctor to work out what that is… The way the dude keeps looking at you he might as well just mount you on top of the nurse's station!" Alex smirked dodging the plastic bottle she threw at him as Christina laughed.

"Admit it Mer Evil Spawn has a point…"

But Meredith didn't hear her, she was too caught up in watching the speaking looks passing between Izzy and George.

"What?"

"Nothing," George answered quickly too quickly so she turned her attention to Izzy.

"Well?"

"It's just… Dr Shepherd, Derek he's only been back a week or a little more, don't you think this is all a little quick Mer? I mean you're only ever apart when you're at home sleeping, even here when you're not his intern he's like your shadow… What if he hurts you?" Izzy asked and looking between her two room mates Meredith sighed.

"Izz he isn't someone I just picked up at Joe's and you have to be believe that when it comes to Derek Shepherd I am far from blind to his faults… He's my husband and that means something, he's my … … …" Meredith didn't finish, shrugging instead because the only word she could come up with was McDreamy.

To her it seemed the absent, unresponsive, preoccupied Derek she had left in New York had stayed there leaving a man who was a lot more like the man she had first fallen for to come to Seattle in his place. A man a lot more deserving of the McName Christina had christened him with.

Their dinner dates, lunches and trips to Joe's had been fun, filled with laughter, hours of rediscovering each other, reminders of exactly why they had ever gotten together or even married in the first place. And she knew their constant togetherness at the hospital hadn't just been noticed by her friends and was causing just as much of a stir as their fight had.

From what Alex had told her the latest rumor was that she was his mistress and Derek had left a broken hearted wife back in New York. Which Derek was amused by as he had told her she had the answer to that hanging from the chain around her neck. But still she refused to put her rings back where they belonged, she wasn't ready to commit that far and just like the sex ban she wouldn't give in until she was ready.

It was the self imposed sex ban she was finding the hardest to cope with though. Sex had always played a major part in their relationship, even when they were barely holding it together back in New York it had been the one thing undamaged about them.

Somehow the passion sparked by their first kiss had survived and now they only had to be in sight of each other for it to burn bright and as Alex had proved it was as clear as day to everyone else too.

But there was also something else holding her back, a look in Derek's eyes that she had caught once or twice, he was feeling guilty about something, something she guessed had happened in their time apart. Which as she knew what she herself had done she wasn't sure if she even wanted to know about what was making him feel bad. Because to know meant to deal with it and that would mean threatening the still fragile foundations they were building.

"We just don't want to see you hurt?" George told her staring down at his shoes.

"You guys are my family but so is Derek no matter what happens in the future, it would just be easier if you could get along!" Meredith smiled persuasively.

"I suppose him letting me in on a few surgeries would help…" Izzy suggested shrugging with a small smile and Alex nodded

"I don't mind the dude but I'll be in on that."

"Well he brought me coffee and lunch today… Not any hospital crap either and I get to scrub in on a craniotomy later… That's what comes from being his intern and her person!" Christina smirked happily at the others.


"Derek where are we going?" Meredith asked holding on to his hand as she stumbled slightly over the uneven ground in the darkness, sensing his unmistakable excitement as he squeezed her fingers pulling her to move faster.

"Remember at your mother's house the day after I arrived I told you we could have a life here?" He asked stopping so he could turn to face her, grinning at her confusion.

"So…"

"Well I meant it. You said I loved Manhattan and I did I still do but after you left it wasn't home anymore, home is wherever you are so ..." He lead her forward a few more steps around a group of trees and Meredith found herself staring in confusion at a brightly lit trailer.

"Seattle is home now! It has you and it has ferry boats, so this is all ours … …" Letting go of her hand he spread his arms out wide.

"Seriously…" Meredith stared around her in shock "You would do all this, give up everything in New York for me?"

"For us when you're ready to be us again… Its forty acres of some of the most beautiful land in Seattle, I know it's only a trailer right now but we can build a house… one that looks over the water! There's enough room for us to grow, start a family, get a couple of dogs and its not too far from the hospital but if you don't… … "

Meredith couldn't stand the beginning of uncertainty that had crept into his voice.

"Derek Shepherd you are… …" Was all she managed her heart full of love and awe as she threw herself in to his arms laughing as he spun her around, his laughter mixing with hers.

He carried her over to the trailer sitting down on the steps with her sat comfortably on his lap.

"So when you said you moved out of the hotel yesterday it was here you moved too?"

"Yep. I found this place my first night here after our fight… I was just driving and ended up here, it was so peaceful I could really think and for the second time in my life I fell irreversibly in love. So I got onto the realtor and the owner was more than happy to off load it!"

"You knew even then you were staying?" She asked turning her head to smile up at him, his returning smile was one of love as he nodded.

"Even then… When I held you that day for those few moments I felt at home in my own skin again and for the first time in two months I felt alive!"

"But what if I had told you to leave, to sign the papers?"

"I would have simply ignored you and harassed you until you gave in… The fight isn't over yet and no matter what I'm staying I'll always be here…"

"You'll wait for me?" Her voice quiet as she brushed a hand through his hair settling herself that little bit closer to him.

"For as long as you need…" He smiled his heart leaping into his throat as her smile turned into a bubble of laughter

"Oh my god you live in a trailer… You Derek Shepherd, what will your mom say? They'll all think you've gone mad!"

"No they'll think I'm finally seeing sense at trying to win you back! We got swallowed up in New York Mer and for a while I lost sight of you but not now."

"I'm glad you're here in Seattle Derek."

"Me too." His voice low as his arms tightened, loving the feel of her so close, fitting so perfectly to him.

"I do love you Meredith Shepherd!"

"I know,"

She whispered turning again to face him, using the hand in his hair to pull his mouth down to hers. The first tentative warm brush of lips against lips that began with such heart wrenching sweetness soon blazed out of control with the swiftness of a match tossed into gasoline. Derek kissed her as if he was starving unable to get enough as Meredith did the same, pressing herself into him as soft moans escaped from her lips. Meredith felt a tremor move through her, a wave built of pure desire so familiar that it made her ache to pull back from him to look up at into his now indigo gaze. A teasing smile curved her swollen lips as he stared down at her dazedly.

"This does not mean we're having sex Derek Shepherd."

"Seriously?" He demanded his voice full of the same confusion that was written all other his face

"Seriously."

On a night like this
I wanna stay forever
On a night like this
Just wanna be together
On a night like this

Well that was that... A whole lot of MerDer!

Okay so now you know it wont be Sarah who tells Mer about those two months but she will find out and how she does i hope will shock you but you'll still love it anyway... And Mer knows Derek is feeling guilty and as always doesnt want to face it cos he's there and he's being all dreamy and shes fallin for him that little bit more just like she is. So in the next few chapters the people briefly touched on in New York will be back to stir the story up and the next chap will be up in a few days! But for now PLEASE hit the blue button and REVIEW!!!