Chapter 10
It had been a week since Meredith returned to New York with Mark and Mark hadn't left her alone all week. He had taken her phone off her, called in sick for her, he wasn't letting her out of the house; she was surprise that he didn't lock her up. It had been a miserable week and she couldn't stop thinking about Derek, she missed him so much and she longed to hear his voice again. Mark was talking about going back to work the next day, which meant that she could finally get away from him for a few hours.
Meredith was sat on the sofa reading a book, while Mark was sat in his office. Meredith had the television on in the background, but she was so engrossed in her book. It wasn't until she heard Derek name being mentioned that looked up from her book and stared at the TV and she reached over for the remote and turning up the volume. She didn't hear what was being said but she couldn't take her eyes off the screen as she studied his face and she could see the sadness in his eyes. But he looked as handsome has ever and she could see the worry and concern in his face, knowing that no one else would notice and her heart broke at the sight of him. Meredith was so engrossed in the TV that she never noticed Mark stood in the doorway watching her closely.
Meredith just couldn't take her eyes of him, she had spent the last week, crying, hiding away in her study, but what she couldn't get out of her head was the look of glee on Mark's face, like he had won something, right now she had never hated anyone has much has she hated Mark.
"Meredith" she quickly looked at him.
"Yes, Mark"
"Isn't there a party at Susanna tonight?"
"Yeah" she answered sombrely.
"Do you want to go?" Meredith looked at him like he had two heads. "Well do you?"
"I would"
"Go and get yourself ready, I'll ring Susanna and tell her you are coming" Meredith walked across the room, and has she walked passed him, he grabbed her arm. "Meredith"
"Yeah"
"Cheer up, I love you" he said.
"I love you too" Meredith says quietly. Mark leant down and kissed her and for the first time, she realises how different his kisses are to Derek's which are so gentle, caring and loving and Mark, are rough and possessive.
An hour later, Meredith came downstairs, wearing a white Grecian dress, and her hair in soft waves, she waited for Mark to come out of the study; and he was dressed in a suit.
"Are you coming with me?" Meredith asked him, praying that he wasn't, she really didn't want to deal with him tonight.
"No, I have a meeting with clients, and I didn't want you here on your own. You ready to go" Meredith nodded her head, and followed him out into the cool New York night. When they got to Susanna brownstone, Mark escorted her to the door and he gave her cell phone, as he knocked on the door, he whispered in her ear.
"I call you when I am on my way to pick you up" Meredith nodded has Susanna came and greeted her.
"Meredith, you look beautiful, as always" she greeted her. "Hello Mark"
"Susanna...Meredith, have fun tonight" he said before disappearing back into the taxi waiting for him.
"Come in Meredith" Susanna says placing an arm around her, has she closes the door behind him. Susanna takes her wrap off her. "Meredith, are you alright?" Meredith nodded.
"I am sorry about not being in work this week"
"Meredith don't worry about it, I gathered Mark wouldn't let you out of his sight"
"I was shocked when he asked me if I wanted to come tonight. I think it was so I couldn't ring Derek" Susanna nodded leading her into the kitchen to get her a drink, Meredith didn't notice the dark-haired man watching her, nodding at something that his date was whispering in his ear.
Derek watched has Meredith walked into Susanna looking so beautiful, he could see the sadness etched on her beautiful face, he couldn't take his eyes of her. He had hoped to see her on this trip but he didn't know where she lived and Susanna had told him that she hadn't been in work since returning from Seattle. He felt his sister Lacey standing next to him, he finally tore his eyes away from Meredith and she whispered in his ear.
"Is that her, Derek?" she asked him, he simply nodded watching her disappear into the kitchen with Susanna, knowing that he needed see her alone, he followed them into the kitchen, leaving Lacey talking to the couple that they were previously talking too.
Susanna handed Meredith a glass of white wine and looked at her, with concern, Meredith had to look away anywhere. She couldn't handle the look of pity; it was then that she heard his voice.
"Meredith" he said gently. Meredith felt at breathe hitch in her throat, but she couldn't look at him, she was so ashamed of how she left him Seattle.
Susanna excused herself, leaving the two of them alone. Derek walked towards her, not sure if she was real, she was like a vision to him. Like she had been this past week, she was in his dreams and he found himself reaching out to touch her. Meredith could feel herself weaken at the knees, grateful that she was holding on to the kitchen island. She turned to face him, taking him in, and then he was holding her and she was in his arms, where she felt safe. She could let herself go and found herself crying in his arms. Derek held her close to him and breathed her in, for the first time in a week he felt alive.
"I am so sorry Derek; I didn't mean to ruin your shirt"
"It's okay, love. I am staying here, so can go up and change" he told her; looking down at Meredith and giving her a smile. "I've missed you"
"I've miss you too. I am so sorry for leaving like that"
"Mer, don't...I just want to know that you are alright?"
"I've been better, but he hasn't hurt me, if that what you mean. You knew didn't you?" Derek nods.
Meredith looked at him and getting herself lost in the eyes of the man she was in love with, they had only spent 8 days together, but she knew that he was what she wanted, even if she couldn't have him. Derek lips touched her gently at first; she could tell that he was hesitant. Meredith parted her mouth, allowing his tongue to delve into her mouth. God, she had missed his kisses. She deepened the kiss and found herself clinging to him has their tongues continued to explore each other mouths and for a moment in time, Meredith felt home. She felt safe and only stopping their kiss when they needed to come up for air. They are stood here unable to look away from each other, until they hear someone clearing their throat behind them.
"Derek, Dinner almost ready, Susanna told me to come and get the two of you"
"Lacey we are coming" he says not taking his eyes of Meredith.
"Oh my god...I am sorry...your date must" Meredith panics, trying to get out of Derek's embrace, Derek notes the look of jealously flash in her eyes, he chuckles to himself, which stops Meredith dead in her tracks.
"What is so funny?" Meredith demands standing with her hands on her hips.
"You're jealous" he says
"I don't get jealous" she snaps at him, Derek notes how adorable she looks standing there, that he quickly closes the gap between them and kisses her again and she once again melts into his embrace. "Okay maybe I am, I know I have no right. But I can't help it"
"I assure you, Meredith you have nothing to be jealous of, you are the woman I want Meredith and Lacey is my sister"
"Your sis...sister oh god, she must hate me" Meredith says starting to freak out.
"Meredith, no need to freak out, Lacey will love you. Now, we need to go and sit down and I need to change my shirt"
"Of course, I must look terrible"
"You look beautiful to me"
"Is my brother trying to charm you?" they hear Lacey saying from behind them. Derek turned to look at his sister.
"Lacey, this is Meredith. Meredith, my sister Lacey"
"Meredith is it so great to meet you"
"Lacey would you mind taking Meredith through and I'll be back down, I just need to change my shirt"
"Of course I can" she says, taking taking Meredith arm. "Don't worry I don't bite" she tells Meredith who giggles. Derek watches them leave the room and he knows that they will get on really well after tonight. He wants them to be friends so he has someone to keep an eye of Meredith, when he returns to Seattle, so he knows that she is safe.
