Thankyou all for the reviews i got for last chapter! I love it! and to badassbrunette83, lol your comment made me laugh. Lookin forward to read more of your thoughts and comments. Thankyou.

_

Chapter 12

Fiancé Caught Cheating?!

"There's no swelling or heat...Looks fine." Derek checked over her ankle.

Her sprained ankle from the morning run a few days ago is nearly better.

"I can go out then, right?" she asked.

"Yeah. But you should put a cold compress on it, just in case. I'll bring you one right now" Derek got up and rushed back with a compress. "Here you go"

"Thankyou" She started chuckling.

"What is it?" Derek looked startled, watching her chuckle. "Did i say something weird?"

"No...I just thought, you're like my mother."

"R-really?" Derek smiled awkwardly. "I don't know why...but i can't help but worry about you. If you're my little sister like Amy, i'm sure i would've been an overprotective brother"

"Yeaaaah probably" They both looked at each other and laughed. Though, inside, she's thinking something else.

a little sister... is that how Derek sees me?

Now that she knew how she felt about him, hearing the words "Little Sister" made her heart ache.

"Your foot is all better, so now you can go to that art show." He's talking about the art show that Mark invited her to. She's working at Joe's until the afternoon, and Mark's supposed to pick her up from there. "Mark told me before that it's supposed to be a oretty good exhibition, with lots of work by famous artists."

"Yeah, I heard that too."

"There's probably a lot you can learn from seeing other people's work. I hope it gives you some inspiration." Derek smiled kindly.

When she saw him smile like that, she felt a mix of emotions.

He really doesn't mind if i go to the art show with Mark, does he...? Even Mark appears to have intended this as a date...

She and Mark had texted back and forth a few times after that, to set up a meeting time, and he had bluntly written back, "I look forward to our date"

"Oh yeah, i'm working late today, so don't worry about making dinner." Derek said.

"Oh, i thought you had today off"

"The office is closed, but i still have to go in. There's some stuff i have to take care of.."

"If you sort of know when you'll be done, i can come back and make something."

"Just enjoy yourself. And i just feel like eating out today. So don't worry about it, okay?" He showed her a bright smile.

"Okay..."

"Anyway, i need to get going. Tell me about the art show tomorrow" Derek walked her to the front, to see her off at the door.

"See you later"

"Bye"

Derek started to leave and then stopped.

"Oh, i forgot to tell you. I got a call from back home yesterday. They said my mother's test results are much better."

"Really?!"

"She's not out of the woods yet...but i'm relieved for now"

"That's great Derek... that's really great!"

"Thanks.." Derek smiled happily and pat her on the head. "It feels great to know we can share happiness together like this. I was going to see her on my next day off."

"You should. She'll be happy to see you!"

"Could you come with me?" He asked softly.

"Of course! But,... are you sure it's okay?"

"Ofcourse. It'll be weird if you don't come. We're eng.." Derek started to say something but stopped himself. "...Sorry, i should get going"

"Sorry to keep you"

"See you later!" Derek waved with a smile and left.

I really wish he was going to tell me to come because we're engaged...

She head back to the living room, sadly. There, she saw Amy's painting through a gap in the guest room door. She and Derek we close together smiling.. I wish we were really like that...

As she gazed at that picture, strength gradually came back to her. Reinvigorated, she continued her journey to the living room.

000

"You're going that date today right?" Joe asked her later on at the bar where she was just finishing her shift.

"it's not really a date..."

"Are you talking about that art show Mark invited you to?" Jackson asked.

"He's coming to get me after this. I'm just going with him to something he already had complimentary tickets for, it's not really a date..."

"Everywhere else in the world, it totally is though?" Jackson smirked.

"it is..." George nodded.

"He should be here soon.."

Just then, the front door opened. "Oh, everyone's here."

"Speak of the Devil!"

"You're early Mark" Joe raised an eyebrow.

"I just couldn't wait for our date, so i came a little early. Even though i did want to meet you somewhere else." He smiled.

"How rude... what's wrong with meeting here huh?" Joe frowned.

"I kind of get it. We hang out here so much, it's not really the best place to meet someone to go on a date." Jackson spoke up.

"Right, It just doesn't feel special enough. Now should we get going?" Mark turned to Meredith.

"Yeah... I've finished my shift. I'll get going then"

"Have fun" Joe smiled.

"Bye..."

"Sloan! Don't forget, keep your filthy paws off Meredith, now, you hear?" Jackson warned.

"...why?"

"What do you mean, why..?"

Mark responded so seriously, Jackson doesn't know what to say.

Do i need permission from someone?" Mark asked again.

"N-not permission, but..."

"Let's save our discussion about that for later. Let's go, Meredith."

"Uh, okay." Mark pulled her out of Joe's

000

"...did you see his face just now?" Jackson asked the others.

"Yeah..." George nodded.

"He sounded like his usual self, but his eyes were really intense."

"They were..."

"Makes sense..." Joe said.

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing really... i just feel like i finally see how things are coming together

..I just hope that all of this doesn't get too messy..."

000

She walked through the art show with Mark. Today is reserved for VIPs only, so there are art critics and celebrities all over the place.

"What a posh exhibition"

"It's a big deal in the art world to get your work displayed here. It's a real getway to success for a young artist. So a lot of interesting work gets shown here."

The beauty of the paintings is really inspirational, and Mark's vivid, interesting explanations pull her in even more.

Mark placed his hand nonchalantly on her back and showed her to the next section, when...

"Hey! What the hell are you doing here?!"

huh?

She turned toward the familiar voice.

"I thought it was you. What are you doing here!?"

"Amelia! I should be asking you the same thing!"

"The gallery owner gave me a VIP ticket. What about you?"

"I, um.."

"Well, if it isn't Amelia" Mark greeted.

"Mark!" Mark and Amy looked at each other in surprise.

"Do you know each other?" Meredith asked confused.

"We're from the same home town. Derek's whole family used to come to our baseball games." Marke explained.

"My brother isn't with you today?"

"Derek?"

"I mean you're here, and Meredith's here..." Amy then made a surprised face. "Did you two... come here together?"

"Yeah, what did you expect?" Mark raised an eyebrow.

"You came to an art show together... That's gotta be a date!"

"Amy, we just..." Meredith spoke up just to be cut by Mark saying "Yeah, you could say that"

"You can't be serious! That means..." Amy glared at her. "You're cheating!"

"B-but i'm not!"

"But you are. Going on a date with someone other than your Fiancé, that's cheating! You're having an affair!"

"Keep it down!" Feeling everyone's eyes on her made her break out in a cold sweat.

She felt like anything she said is going to be taken the wrong way, so she changed the subject. "By the way, Amy, did you talj to your father?"

"We're not talking about me right now!"

"Just tell me. Derek wants to know, too"

"...i told him that i want to pursue art. He didn't really take me seriously. So, i didn't really try pressing the issue."

"...oh"

"I've already commited myself to this, anyway. No matter how long it takes, i'll make him understand, and.."

"What are you two talking about?" Mark aksed confused.

Just then, Amelia's cellphone started ringing. "Oh, it's Derek"

"Derek?"

"He never calls me at this time. What's going on?" she picked it up. "Hello?"

"...Hey, Meredith." While Amy's on the phone, Mark whispered to her. "So Amelia doesn't know the truth about your relationship with Derek?"

"What do you mean the truth?"

"That you're just pretending to be engaged.."

"Shhh! He can hear you...!"

"So... i guess you haven't told Amelia.That's why she said you were cheating. I know you're lying for Derek's kother. But you've got to draw a linr somewhere, or things are going to get out of hand..."

"No way!" Amelia shouted into the phone. "But you texted me and told me the test results were good!"

His mother hasn't taken a turn for the worse, has she...?

"...okay. I'll go right to the hospital. I'm at an art show right now. Meredith's here too, so i'll bring her with me...what...? what do you mean?" Amelia got a suspicious look on her face. "I don't even know.. what the hell are you even going on about now?... but she's your fiancé, right? She should be there with you..."

Did Derek just told her thag he doesn't need to tell her about this? she thought wryly. He doesn't wan't her to worry. She remembered how Derek told her to enjoy herself today. And how happy he looked when he told her his mother's test results were good... He must be.. really upset right now.

So, she took a step toward her. "...Amelia, give me your phone. "

"Huh? But..."

"Just give it to me!"

"H-hey!" She snatched the phone out of her hand, and put herself through to Derek.

"Hello, Derek?"

"Meredith!? why...?"

"We'll talk about That later. I'm going to head to the hospital right now with Amelia."

"What?" Amy asked.

"You don't have to come. We can handle things here..."

"No... Because... your problems are my problems! Thanks for your phone, Amy." She gave it back to Amelia.

"Um, yeah... Damn! The power of love is crazy..." She smirked.

"We have to go to the hospital!"

"Hey, wait!"

Without even stopping to think, she rushed out the door.

"A fake relationship huh..." Mark muttered to himself.

Meanwhile...

"Your problems are my problems!"

"Meredith!" She hung up before Derek even finished her name. Derek stared at his phone, completely dumbfounded...

"So, my problems are her problems.. looks like i'm in trouble..." A small smile appeared on his face.

Then his sister came out of the building. "Did you get a hold of Amy?"

"Yeah, i got her on her phone. She said she's coming right over. "

"I see. It looks like mom's going to have to go in for that emergency surgery after all..."

"A surgery... What on earth happened though? she was doing so well yesterday..." He raked a hand through his hair and sighed "Don't worry Kath. She's going to get better. I just feel like.. she's going to get through this."

"I hope so.."

"Let's get back to her hospital room." Derek brought his sister into the building.

000

"It's faster by train than by taxi, right?"

"At this time of day, definitely"

"Then, let's run to the station!"

"Hey, wait!" She started running before Amelia had a chance to answer. She ran to the station as she desperately hope inside.

Please Carolyn... Please be alright...

Next week...

Derek's mother suddenly takes a turn for the worse!!

She hurried to the hospital but...

[Derek's father] " i have something to talk to you about."

What could Derek's father have to say?

Art exhibition... I'm actually an artist too (eh, sorta) i have an art page on instagram where i post all my art. I recently made a fanart of Jackson. Would anyone want to check out on my work? if so then i'll share my username. (I don't use my real name here lol)