Derek strode down the hallway of the surgical floor with a cheerful smile on his face. His life was good. In four months he was getting married to the love of his life, he was visiting his family in two days, and he had just found out that he did not have mono. It didn't get much better than this.
"What the hell is this?"
The angry voice of his fiancé pulled Derek from his cheerful mood. It sounded like he was in trouble, and Meredith was the person with whom he hated being in trouble the most.
"Meredith," Derek greeted in his sweetest voice. "Good morning, beautiful."
"Shut up," she dismissed with a roll of her eyes. "Explain this," she demanded with a dangerous flash in his eyes as she waved a piece of paper at him.
"What am I explaining?" Derek asked innocently as he took the paper, truly having no idea why she was mad at him.
Resident Schedules: November 20-27
"That's your schedule," Derek pointed out as he glanced at the paper. "You're listed right here. Meredith Grey. It'll be Meredith Shepard soon, you know."
"Derek," Meredith growled. "Look at my schedule. That's what you're explaining."
Derek looked over the hours he had scheduled for her that week, still not seeing a problem. "What, Mer?"
"Derek, I'm working twenty hours this week!" she cried. "The other residents are working over eighty. And I'm working twenty! Twenty, Derek, twenty! Explain that."
"Meredith," Derek sighed, pulling her into the office behind the nurse's station, and shutting the blinds.
"Don't Meredith me," she exclaimed as soon as he shut the door.
"Mer," he repeated calmly. "Look." He gestured to the schedule. "We're gone these three days. That's why you're working so much less."
She ripped the schedule from his grip and scanned over it. "No, it's not! I have another day off, and you put me in for two half days. Derek, I'm only putting in one full day this week! I'll be in my residency forever!"
Derek chuckled, earning himself a hard smack from Meredith. As he rubbed his shoulder, he said, "Meredith, you need to rest. You're sick. And you're not behind the other residents at all. I promise you'll finish with everyone else. And I can promise that."
"That's fucking favoritism, Derek! And I'm going to be behind. A ten day honeymoon? Yeah, that's going to put me beside a little," she ranted.
With a sigh, Derek quietly explained, "Mer, this is not going to put you behind. Surgeons do get sick days and vacation. And you're brilliant. You'll have no problem finishing up your residency."
"Fine," she grunted, folding the crinkled schedule and shoving it into her pocket.
"Mer." Derek caught her should as she turned to storm out of the room. "I'm sorry about this, but you do have to rest. Otherwise you're never going to get better."
"Are you going to take time off to rest?" she mocked in an uncharacteristically nasty tone.
Derek shifted uncomfortably. Suddenly his good news was sounding not so good. "Um, about that. Idonthavemono," he mumbled quickly, avoiding eye contact.
Her eyes narrowed. "What did you say?"
"I got the blood test," Derek explained. "And it came back negative. No mono."
"What?" Meredith screeched. "I have to suffer alone?"
Derek shook his head. "You won't be alone. I'll going to be here, and I'll take care of you."
"Dammit, Derek!" Meredith shrieked, lunging at him. "I'm going to infect you!"
It was one of the better attacks Derek had experienced as Meredith lunged towards him and latched on, fusing their lips together. Her tongue quickly wrestled its way into his mouth, and Derek securely gripped her thighs that were wrapped around his waist and backed her into the opposite wall. Keeping her firmly supported, Derek wrestled with her tongue, sucking in the sweetness of her.
Meredith moaned when they broke the kiss, her eyes soft. Derek kept her supported in his arms and leaned forward to kiss her softly. He brushed their lips together, and then feathered little kisses across her cheeks and nose, feeling her melt in his arms.
"I'm sorry I freaked out at you," Meredith sighed, resting her face against his neck.
Derek smiled, and braced her against the wall, so he could have a free hand to rub her back and neck. "I know. It's okay."
Wrapping his free hand tight around her once again, Derek kissed her deeply again, letting his tongue slip into her slightly open mouth. He could feel Meredith's hands tugging on his hair, and the action made him groan.
Derek let her slip to the floor when they broke the kiss, and he stroked wisps of hair that had escaped her ponytail back behind her ears. He leaned into her again, but was interrupted by the obnoxious sound of his pager.
Pulling away from her, he glanced down at it. "I've got to go," he said reluctantly.
"Okay. I'll see you tonight."
"Yep." Derek leaned forward to kiss her lightly. "Oh, and, Mer, why don't you leave Katherine in daycare this afternoon so you can actually rest. I'll bring her home tonight."
"No," Meredith contradicted. "She'll be fine. She naps, and I don't want her in daycare all day."
Derek frowned. "I don't want her there either, but I need you to get better. Just think about it; see how you feel when you get off."
"Okay," Meredith agreed. "I love you."
"Love you, too," Derek responded, before running off.
GAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGA
"Daddy! Daddy!"
Meredith smiled from the couch as she watched Katherine drop the toys she had been playing with and run across the living room to the garage door Derek was coming in.
"Katherine!" Derek swung her up in his arms. "What have you been up to?"
Katherine gave him a toothy grin. "Goed to park."
"You went to the park?" Derek asked enthusiastically. "Wow, what a lucky girl."
She erupted into giggles as Derek tickled her before setting her back down on the floor. Derek followed Katherine into the living room, and leaned over the back of the couch to kiss Meredith.
"Hey, Mer. It sounds like you had a busy afternoon."
She stretched her arms up and yawned. "Not too bad. We were only out for an hour, and then we napped."
"That's good." He smiled down at her. "Are you still mad?"
Meredith rolled her eyes. "I don't get why you don't have mono."
"Well, I'm told I have very high resistance to the disease. I was advised to stop kissing you, though."
"Hmm," Meredith sighed. "I'm glad you're not obeying."
"Me too." Derek cemented his proclamation with a long kiss to her lips.
"Daddy, Mama, kiss!" Katherine placed a dimpled hand on each of their cheeks as they pulled away. "Me kiss!"
"Kiss you?" Derek exclaimed, running around the couch to catch her. "I'll kiss you." He lifted her up and lightly kissed her cheek.
"Tickles!" she giggled loudly, rubbing her cheek where Derek's evening stubble had brushed against her.
Derek gently brushed their cheeks together, making Katherine shriek loudly. "Does that tickle?" he teased.
"No, daddy, no!" she demanded, pushing his face away.
"Someone is bossy," Meredith giggled as she watched the exchange.
"I wonder where she picked that up," Derek laughed, and then he turned to Katherine in his arms. "Do you want to help me make dinner?"
"Yes!"
"Oh, good, I need a helper. Anything you want in particular, Mer?"
"No, just whatever."
Derek chuckled. "I can do whatever. You rest while we cook. Come on, helper." He lifted Katherine high in the air, and tossed her up lightly, making her laugh loudly.
"Again, again, daddy!"
Derek tossed her again, and then turned her to lifted her up onto his shoulders and carry her into the kitchen.
"Faster, horsie!"
Meredith smiled as Katherine's high little voice drifted into the kitchen, far enough away that she only caught the loudest exclamations. She was such a happy little girl, though perhaps a little stubborn at times. Meredith was certain she would be a handful as she got older.
Her thoughts drifted from Katherine to the trip coming up. She hated to go visit Derek's family when she was sick, but this was better than waiting until Christmas when the hospital would be busier than ever and the wedding plans would be in full swing. Last year, they had gone to New York for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and she was glad it was only one time this year. All that family-time was quite draining.
One minute she was reflecting on Derek's family, and the next, she felt herself being gently shaken.
"Meredith, dinner." Derek squatted down in front of the couch so they faces were on the same level.
"Oh," she groaned, realizing how exhausted she was.
"Daddy, me hungry," Katherine whined, running into the room.
"Just a minute, princess." He ran a hand down Meredith's head. "Are you waking up or should I bring something to you later?"
"Later," Meredith decided, realizing that she did not have the energy to get up and sit at the table.
"Okay." Even through her grogginess she could hear the concern in his voice.
"I'm okay, Derek," she said, and at the time same, Katherine again cried, "Hungry, daddy."
"Good." Derek kissed her head, and she saw him usher Katherine out of the room as she shut her eyes.
Meredith could feel herself already falling asleep, and she remember again how much she hated being sick.
So holiday season in this fic is coming after the real thing, but it will be brief as we transition into the wedding. Yay. And then the honeymoon. Which actually may become a separate little fic, but I'm not sure about that yet. Anyways, keep reading and keep reviewing. I'll update ASAP.