See, I can manage an update in a decent span of time, can't I?
I'm glad you're still out there reading this, I know it doesn't feel much like summer -except for those of you who live Down Under, hi Aussies!- so it's even more amazing that you are indeed here. Thank you for the silent presence and the reviews, they keep me motivated every day more.
Song for this chapter is Squalor Victoria by The National. Listen to that, it will change your life.
I don't condone drinking, but I enjoy alcohol, so I act accordingly! You all do the same, alright?
Enough rambling, enjoy!
Chapter 12 - Raise Our Heavenly Glasses To The Heavens
Derek smiled gently, watching as Meredith fidgeted with her pint of beer, her gaze absent. "Look Meredith, it's not like they send the responses right away, it takes a couple of days for a letter to get into your mailbox"
From the moment in Vienna where she had realized what day it was, she had sort of retreated into her shell, shutting him out.
The ride on the Prater right before hopping on the train directed to Munich didn't change her mood one iota. Not even the sun shining again nor the Glockenspiel show, the small concert of bells and moving puppets in the main square of Munich they were able to watch that same afternoon. It amazed her, surely cheering up her spirit, but as soon as Marienplatz was filled only with the rumble and hum of the people around them, that same lingering sadness returning to her gaze.
Tired of seeing her moping around for the rest of the day, Derek had decided that drastic measures were necessary and brought her to the Hofbräuhaus that evening, the most famous brewery in Munich —probably in the world thanks to the fame they gained being the official partner of the Oktoberfest.
They sat outside in the fresh breeze under a sun umbrella, a pint of beer each in front of them as they sipped it in silence, the sun barely up in the sky anymore.
"I don't think they're going to accept my applications" she sighed.
"Why not?"
"Because I'm just...ordinary. No sane person takes a sabbatical before graduating" she moaned.
"You're brave, Mere" Derek took her hand in his, but she pulled away quickly "I couldn't do it when I was your age. I could have, but I didn't"
"Because you had somebody waiting for you at home, missing you. Nobody cares where I am right now" she sighed, gulping her beer and wiping away the foam with a flick of her tongue.
Derek lost his train of thought for a moment, mesmerized by the subtle gesture.
"I care about you" he said impulsively and she shook her head, finishing her beer then leaving a couple of bills on the table, before exiting the brewery.
Derek finished his beer quickly and caught up with Meredith in the street "Hey!" he called out to her. When she turned she had never looked so sad.
"I have no idea where we are, I can't even leave you here" she complained, her eyes glassy and he wasn't sure if it was because of her unshed tears or the glow of the streetlamps.
"Look Mere, I care where you are. I might be nobody, but I do care"
She stared at him bewildered for a long second, their gazes clashing, then stated: "I want more beer" and walked away.
She stopped in the next pub on their way and sat on a stool, ordering two pints. He sat warily next to her, unsure if she wanted him there or at the opposite end of the counter. She didn't push him away though; she simply slid the beer and coaster towards him, taking a sip of hers.
They sat there until their glasses were empty, in silence.
She thought about a lot of things as he sat next to her, but not a single one was something happy. She thought about her mother, the disappointment and the fight that would ensure. She let her mind wander to Sadie and her bunch of so-called friends, wondering if they were freaking out over a rejection like she was.
None of these trains of thoughts were happy enough to make her comfortable sharing them with him.
"Tequila" she ordered in defeat and Derek looked at her pleadingly.
She had given in to her old habits after the third beer had no effect on her. Well, the only effect was send her straight to the bathroom after ordering the next drink, but it surely wasn't as numbing as a good old shot of José Cuervo.
She sighed pointedly when she returned from the restroom and saw her shot was waiting for her, glowing slightly under the yellowish lights. She brought the glass to her lips and tipped it in a smooth motion. She welcomed the burning sensation irradiating from her throat down her stomach and let out an automatic small smile.
"So you're an happy drunk" Derek finally broke the slightly awkward silence. The tequila had surely loosened her tongue.
"When tequila is involved I'm always happy" she grinned with a far away look in her eyes that didn't really match her words and she giggled, trying to wipe away the concern from his eyes "Let's toast" she suggested, ordering two more shots with a flick of her wrist, Derek staring at her still with that same moping look "Please"
"Alright" he gave in, head starting to buzz. He still didn't get this wave of sadness but he decided that if he couldn't fight it, he had to at least bring her back to their hostel all in one piece, possibly without anybody trailing along.
"To my failure" she laughed, raising the glass high and he snorted.
"I'm going to toast to a remarkable person" he smiled sadly.
"Whatever" Meredith mumbled as their drinks clinked, a few drops of tequila dripping on the counter before she drowned the liquid.
"You know, my mother is the great Ellis Grey?" she giggled hysterically, clearly too far gone to care "Can you believe she has such a screw-up for a kid?"
"What?" he swallowed, imagining the cold woman he had met only once with a child. A woman he had wished he could work for. Her child was drowning in alcohol right in front of him.
His eyes went wide.
"That's what everybody says" she sighed, turning the empty glass upside-down and staring at it without focus, her fake giddiness disappearing like the tequila in her glasses.
"I'm surprised she has a daughter in the first place. You are remarkable, not a screw up. I toasted to that" he emphasized, watching her frown deepen.
"I'm drunk" she giggled, taking a deep breath.
"I know" he smiled softly, sadly.
"You shouldn't expect me to remember this conversation tomorrow morning" she giggled again, melodically and added, with a hit of real amusement "Stop me when I start saying inappropriate things"
"Like what?" he prodded, knowing that something inappropriate had to come out, and wishing he could bring out a real smile from her.
"Uh, like...um" she began, staring at him deep in thought "You have really great hair. All mousse-y and soft. Can I run a hand through it?" she smiled and made her puppy dog's eyes.
"Great hair has always been on my business card. Right after surgeon" he teased "But you can't touch the hair, I'm sorry"
"Oooh-kay" she sighed dramatically, scoffing and pouting but not bothering asking why. He couldn't say no to her face though when she looked at him with the same look his niece gave him when he denied her candy.
"Alright" he grinned, "Just once"
Her eyes lit up "Really?"
"Go ahead" he tipped his head closer and she studied him for a second, her long, steady fingers trailing on his scalp from his forehead down to the nape of his neck, covering his skin suddenly in goosebumps.
Inappropriate images filled his head at the mere touch.
"Very nice hair" she sighed sadly, a shaky smile appearing on her lips then disappearing as she finished off the latest shot.
He tried to calm his nerves playing with his empty shot of tequila and watching sadly amused as she built a tower with the glasses she had drank during the night, marveled at the significant hand-eye coordination after everything she had drunk. He stole a bunch of appetizers in a forgotten bowl to keep his hands busy and not touch her.
Touching Meredith? Bad. Really bad. But oh, so tempting.
He watched as she started swaying with the basses of the music playing and mentally groaned.
"Wanna dance?" she suggested with a glint and he was this close to kissing her.
"I don't really dance in public" he confessed, fidgeting nervously, his voice a little too breathy.
"I'll dance alone" she shrugged and stood up unsteadily, almost falling off balance. "Or maybe not" she giggled as his arm went around her mid section, automatically holding her up.
Their gazes aligned and Derek kept his hand on her hip even when she was safely standing on her own, their contact evoking feelings he had long ago forgotten and buried, having sworn off women after Rose.
Her lips were begging to be kissed, every inch of her warm body to be explored.
"I should get you home" He let out a shaky breath, chastising himself and trying to keep his cool. It definitely wasn't appropriate to take advantage of her vulnerable state.
She nodded, then giggled. "You should"
He grabbed her hand and she felt her grip it tightly, like a lifeline, as he led her outside, in the brisk, slightly chilly night air.
They walked through the city still joined, Meredith sometimes leaning heavily against him, sometimes skipping at his side, until they reached the subway that brought them to their hostel.
She grinned as they stood on the platform, her head resting on his chest heavily as he held her up. "Will you tuck me in?"
He shook his head, lips curving into a wide smile.
"I'm totally gonna blackmail you with that line"
Things are definitely getting more interesting! I bet you enjoyed that ;)
So, how nice was the last episode? Yeah, the stupid grin on my face? Still there. Apart from the ending, perfect episode.
Hopefully, I will be able to update in less than a month time. Anything under that limit is considered a success, but I will try to manage it before 2013. It's almost Christmas, I would love to give you all a treat!
