I stopped getting e-mails too, but they started again today. Strange, huh? The site must have been messing up or something! Hopefully they'll keep working this time!

Chapter 10: Crab cakes

Derek pulled his car into a parking place overlooking the water. He pulled his keys out and turned to see Meredith's smile and glistening eyes. The sight alone almost made his heart melt. She noticed his gaze and quickly looked over at him, her smile growing. "What are you doing?"

"Looking," he said quietly.

She giggled a little at his gentle response, "At what?"

"You," he answered before leaning over to kiss her tenderly on the lips. He had missed her so much, but he pulled back knowing they were in public.

Derek got out of the car and hurried over to Meredith's side to catch her hand as she closed the door behind her. They smiled lovingly at each other before heading across the street to a small restaurant.

Derek pulled the door open for her, leading her into a relaxing atmosphere. The walls had deep wood paneling on them and the entire restaurant was decorated perfectly for fishermen. Derek led her towards a booth that was marked by an old fishing net filled with vibrant seashells.

Meredith took her own seat and Derek sat across from her. He instinctively took her hands in his across the table. Her eyes danced around the restaurant to the front and then the bar, before heading back to meet Derek's gaze. "I forgot about this place. I miss coming here."

"You'd think you would have gotten sick of it," he said with a small laugh, "We use to come here almost every Saturday night and you would order the same exact thing every time."

"I did not," she said with a false defensive voice.

Derek smiled at her as a waitress walked over to their table and placed down two menus. "Hi, I'm Becca. Can I get anything for you to drink?"

"A Bud Light," Derek answered before Meredith ordered a soda. The waitress quickly brought them their drinks from the bar and gave them some time to decide what to eat.

Meredith pulled her hands away from Derek as she opened the menu. Derek followed, keeping one eye on her beautiful features.

Meredith could feel his warm eyes on her. She slowly sneaked her eyes over the menu and he darted his down towards his own. She rolled her eyes before returning to the entrée section.

Derek cleared his throat and shifted a little in his seat before he returned his eyes to Meredith. He watched as a small smile slowly grew along her face as she tried to keep her eyes on the menu.

She finally gave up and dropped her menu on the table, "Okay, what are you doing?" she asked with an amused smile lighting up her face.

"I'm not doing anything," Derek answered innocently before closing his own menu and placing it off to the side.

Meredith's eyes narrowed, "You're planning something."

"I'm eating dinner."

"You have no food," she pointed out.

Derek laughed, "You're a smart ass."

"You're suspicious."

"Then it's fair," Derek teased as the waitress came back over to the table.

She smiled at them, "Ready to order?"

"I'll have the crab cakes," Meredith said before handing Becca her menu.

Derek chuckled at Meredith's request, receiving a strange look from her. He ignored it and turned to their waitress, "I guess I'll have the crab cakes as well." She jotted down the order before taking Derek's menu and leaving them.

"What was that?" Meredith asked as soon as they were alone.

Derek took her hands in his again, "What are you talking about?"

"That chuckle, or laugh, whatever."

Derek was easily amused by her frustration and confusion, "Meredith Grey is a woman who never changes."

"What are you talking about?"

"The crab cakes," he teased, "The same thing you always ordered."

They enjoyed their dinner immensely, but Meredith could tell something was going on. Something was different about those sparkling eyes that Derek kept locked on her all night. Not to mention the fact that she could tell there was something he was keeping from her.

"You look tired," Derek observed, breaking her away from her thoughts.

She pulled her head up from the hand it'd been resting on and gave him a small smile, "I am."

"You did just get out of the hospital," Derek pointed out as he placed some money on top of the bill for the waitress to pick up. "We should go home and get you in bed."

"Just finished dinner and you're already talking about bed," she teased as he reached across the table to grab her hand, running his fingers over hers. "You aren't very subtle are you?"

"I'm just a man that knows what I want," he joked before standing up, "Come on, let's go home."

Meredith stood up and he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close to him. She wrapped her arm around his back as he silently led her out to the car. He opened the car do for her and she stepped in before he closed it and then got in on the driver's side.

Derek started the car and pulled out onto the main road. As he passed the hospital, he looked over at Meredith. Her head was leaning against the cold glass window and her eyes were shut. Derek smiled at her as he placed his hand on hers.

He stopped at a red light and looked down at their hands. The ring on her finger was sparkling up at him. He ran his fingers over it and looked back up at where they were headed. Something inside of him shifted. He quickly changed lanes to turn in the opposite direction. He looked back up at Meredith and made sure she was still asleep. He wanted this all to be a surprise.