Derek followed Meredith into the living room where she had curled herself up onto the couch with her face in her arms. Derek sat beside her.
"Mer, why won't you take it? Are you still mad at me?" Derek begged.
"I'm a little mad at you, yes." Meredith said, her voice muffled as she spoke into her arms. "Derek, I think we need to take things a little slower."
"Slower? But we already have a daughter, we've already started off fast, I love you, you love me, why can't we just make it official?"
She looked up, placing her feet on the ground, looking at him in the eyes. "Well, for starters. I'm still mad at you! Second of all, we don't even really know each other that well. You were gone for five years, for all you know, I picked up some nasty habits that you would be totally grossed out by." Meredith said, giving him a small smirk. "I just think we should do the 'getting to know you' thing. You know, go out on dates, no sex, more talk, that kind of thing."
"Well, I don't know about that. I don't date women that have children." He said, flashing her a classic McDreamy smile.
"Watch it." Meredith warned him playfully.
"And no sex? That's just ridiculous, I hadn't made love in five years, and now you want to withhold it longer?"
"Hey, I went without sex for five years, and I'm alright with it." She stood up walked over to him. "I'm going to go get ready for work." She straddled him on the couch and gave him a long, passionate kiss, just as he was about to deepen it, she stood up and walked towards the stairs. "Oh. And you can stay here if you want, but you get the couch." She said with a sly grin, disappearing up the steps.
"Meredith!" Derek said in a frustrated tone as he followed her up the steps to the bathroom, she stepped inside and turns around. He tried to follow her inside. "You, out!" she said with a smile, poking his chest with her finger and then pointing at the stairs.
"What? I was just going to help!" Derek said, giving a sad face.
"Help me get dressed? I don't think so!" She said as she started to close the door. She heard the downstairs door open and close, George was home with Katie.
"Meredith?" He called from downstairs.
"It's alright George, he can stay. I've already taken care of it!" she called down. She turned back to Derek. "Now you, go. I'll be down in a minute." Derek headed back downstairs, pretending that he was defeated, putting his head down and moping towards the stairs, he looked up at her once, but she just had her finger extended towards the stairs, with a half grin on her face. He laughed as he got to the stairs.
"You'll give in! You can't hold out forever." He laughed again as he went downstairs.
Meredith got ready for work, she was feeling a little better than she had earlier in the day, so that made her feel like she could go in. She walked down the stairs and George was watching television eating a sandwich while Derek and Katie were sitting on the ground amid a pile of toys discussing the intricate differences between Malibu Barbie and Malibu Stacy. Katherine had put a tiara on Derek's head and he was explaining to her about how the red pumps would go along with the skirt that Katie was putting on Barbie.
"Well what do we have here?" Meredith asked, with a laugh.
"Well, we're having a Barbie discussion, and you aren't allowed in on the fun." Derek said sticking his nose in the air.
Katie giggled and looked up at Meredith. "Daddy says that he's taking us out on a date tomorrow night. He said its where we get dressed up and go have a good time!"
"Ah, he did, did he? Well, mommy has to go to work, Uncle Georgie is gonna keep an eye on you for a few hours and mommy will be back after you're sleeping." Meredith said, bending down to give Katie a kiss on the head.
"Actually, daddy was going to take Katie out tonight, we have a little shopping to do. Uncle Georgie has the night off." Derek said, as Meredith bent down to give him a kiss on the head.
"That sounds good to me." George said smiling. "Have a good day at work, Mer."
"Yep, you guys have a good time, and don't stay up too late!" Meredith said in her 'mother' tone as she walked to the door. "I love you."
"We love you too!" all three yelled.
Derek cleaned up the toys and got Katie ready for their trip to the mall. He was a little nervous, this was his first trip out with her unattended. He had no idea of the adventure he was up for. They got to the mall and Derek decided that the stroller would be too much of a bother, so he decided he would either carry Katie, or let her walk alongside him. They walked into the front doors of the mall and as soon as she got through the door, she took off running. Derek chased her down the hallway calling her name and telling her to stop.
"Daddy hurry!" she said, running quickly, finally stopping at one of the little quarter rides that they have in the middle of the mall. Derek caught up to her and she was holding out her hand. "Daddy! Put a quarter in! I want to ride the horsie!" Breathing heavily, Derek rustled in his pocket for a quarter and gently placed Katie on the ride. Placing the quarter in, he caught his breath as she rode happily, giggling the whole time.
When the ride was over, Derek picked her up and placed her on his shoulders, and off they went, shopping for a pretty dress for their 'date' tomorrow, and maybe a few other little things.
When Derek and Katie arrived home, it was after 9 pm and Derek was exhausted. She had taken off four times, ridden on the horsie ride five times, they had gotten a couple of dresses and toys, had a quick dinner and headed home. Katherine however, never seemed to get tired. When they got home, she wanted to play princess and Barbie. Derek, though exhausted, was having more fun than he could ever remember having.
3am-
Meredith walked into the front door quietly. She could see that the television was on, and wondered if Derek was still awake waiting for her. She turned the corner and her heart melted at the sight before her.
Derek was lying on his back on the couch, sleeping soundly. His arms wrapped protectively around Katie, who was curled into a little ball against his chest, wearing her princess dress. She had her thumb in her mouth and her little fist was grasping tightly to Derek's t-shirt. They were both sound asleep.
Meredith reached over and turned the television off, grabbing an extra blanket from the end of the couch, she covered the two of them up, giving them each a kiss on the forehead, and she quietly headed upstairs to bed.