"Do we really have to do this, Alex? There isn't anything I can do to change your mind?" she whined, batting her eyelashes at him.
"Nope, this is what I want to do. And after the stunt you pulled today, you owe me ... big time!" he adamantly said, refusing to be swayed by her irresistible pout.
They were seated on the couch, freshly showered and comfortable in house clothes, a large pepperoni pizza spread on the coffee table. Conceding defeat, she wrinkled her nose at him with disgust before turning away from him to face the TV, mimicking his position.
"Fine! Stars Wars then," she grumbled, settling comfortably against his side, leaning her head against the arm draped on the backrest.
"Correction. Star Wars Trilogy!"
"Star Wars Trilogy, then," she repeated mockingly. "I bet you don't even like Star Wars, huh?"
"Damn right I don't."
"So why the hell are we watching it?" she demanded in exasperation, grudgingly clicking the play button on the remote control.
"Revenge, Grey, revenge," he grinned, reaching for two slices of pizza, handing one to her, momentarily transfixed by the tongue she stuck out at him.
X ---------- 1 PIZZA & 5 BEERS LATER AND HALFWAY THROUGH 'The Empire Strikes Back' ---------- X
He had spent the past half hour threading his fingers through her hair, reliving the highlights of the day he spent with Meredith. She was currently snoring, making adorable gurgling noises, her head on his lap while the rest of her tiny form was sprawled comfortably on the couch. He had chuckled when he first heard those noises ten minutes into the second movie, shifting their positions to enable him a better view of her face while she napped. It seemed improper somehow, to watch her while she slept, but he took advantage of the opportunity to look at her without having to guard his thoughts.
He had woken that morning to disappointment at the discovery that he was alone on the bed. After a quick shower, he made his way to the kitchen, greeted by the aroma of Izzie's french toast and the smell of coffee. Smiling his greeting, he gratefully took the cup Meredith offered, taking the chair beside hers, and then devoured the plate of toast set before him. An hour later, they said goodbye to Izzie as she set off for the hospital for her shift, then planned the day ahead of them.
He didn't mind the shoe shopping, being dragged to six different stores. He didn't even mind the fact that she made him carry all the packages; he was a gentleman, after all. No, he didn't mind. The revenge-by-way-of-torture he sought was for the stunt she pulled after lunch --- when she dragged him into a lingerie shop. She said she wanted to get something for Cristina, 'you know, maybe as a shower gift or whatever.' Ordinarily, he would have enjoyed the sight of negligees and dainty underwear, but he found himself in a 'delicate' situation whenever she pressed an item against her body, flirtatiously inquiring his opinion of said item. He was actually more than prepared to throttle her when she playfully modeled some lingerie for him, obviously delighting in his 'discomfort'.
After a torturous hour, they drove to Green Lake Park as a concession to his exercise regimen during his days off. They spent an hour running leisurely by the water, settling on a bench when Mer adamantly insisted she's had enough. They sat there companionably, exchanging stories about the horrors of their childhood. He didn't mind telling her about his past. The tricky part of the afternoon was when she asked him about Addison. It was rather difficult, at first, because he was still uncertain about the whole affair he had with the Attending. He talked about the weeks leading up to that night they spent together, and the conversation they had before she left for L.A. In turn, Meredith talked about her relationship with Derek, or rather the lack thereof.
He greatly appreciated that conversation. No insults cast, no advice given, no 'you're better of without him', no 'you deserve better than her' --- nothing. While one talked, the other listened. No judgment, no sharing of opinions. Hunger and exhaustion finally caught up with them, effectively putting an end to the melancholy of the afternoon. That's how they ended up on the couch.
He slowly moved to get up, gently easing her head off his lap so he could stand. He stretched to relieve his aching muscles before stooping to pick her up to carry her upstairs to bed.
A/N: I don't know anything about Star Wars --- had to Google it. Oh yeah, Green Lake Park --- googled that too. LOL.