Chapter 20: Killing Cookies

Or rest beside the weary road

When the doorbell rung, no one in the house heard it. Cristina had taken her children upstairs to the only bedroom besides Meredith and Derek's that had been fully furnished almost thirty minutes ago. Burke had joined her not too long after to help her with their children.

Izzie had passed out on the couch long ago, her pregnancy weighing her Christmas spirit down greatly. Everyone else was in the kitchen, munching on more of Izzie's food, trying to clean up, and talking lightly about anything and everything.

But as the doorbell rang for the second time, Derek noticed. He looked up at the clock and noticed that it was nearing ten o'clock. That really was not all that late, but these doctors hadn't had a day off in weeks and they were all ready to pass out.

As Derek headed out of the kitchen, he kissed Meredith quickly on the forehead as she wondered out loud who could be at the door. She stayed with Alex, George, and Callie in the kitchen as Derek walked into the foyer, looking over his shoulder at a peaceful Izzie.

The cool December wind blew through the house as Derek opened his front door. The small light on the porch was the only illumination for miles and it set strange shadows all around them.

Derek could have said he was surprised, but he knew that that would be an understatement. He thought it may have been another friend just dropping by to say Merry Christmas, but he had not been expecting this.

"I… uh, I know this is your house and I'm guessing I'm not really welcome here, I just was hoping that I could… that I could possibly speak to Meredith."

Derek thought for a moment. He thought about slamming the door and walking back into the kitchen to spend the rest of his evening with his fiancé, forgetting completely about this visitor. He then thought about lashing out about all the pain Meredith had dealt with and the guilt she felt just earlier this evening.

Despite his many thoughts, something willed him to ignore them. Maybe it was the Christmas spirit that had filled his mind and body since he had walked into the house with Meredith's hand in his that afternoon. Maybe it was the calmness that Meredith's love had brought to his usual erratic temper. Maybe it was the forgotten friendship that he had once shared with this man. He didn't really know.

No matter what caused him to do it, he nodded carefully. He opened the door widely and gestured for Ryan to walk in. He closed the door and locked it instinctively. He gave Ryan a look that alluded to him staying exactly where he was. Ryan understood as he stood up straight, close to the door.

He looked around the house, surprised by how large it was. He noticed Izzie lying asleep on the couch and tried to smile slightly at her as Derek walked down the hall.

"Izzie can sleep in our bed tonight. We really don't mind, Alex," Meredith said as she sat on one of the benches at the island.

"No, it's okay. She'll wake up soon hungry. She always does. We'll just go home so I can make whatever strange thing she's craving," Alex said in a more husbandly way than most would expect out of him.

Meredith smiled when she noticed that Derek had returned, but it fell when she looked at his expression. "Who's at the door, Derek?"

Derek didn't say anything at first. He just pulled out one of the wooden chairs from the kitchen table and sat down in it. He grabbed another cookie from the almost empty plate still sitting out. "There is someone waiting for you in the foyer, Meredith."

Meredith found his response strange. It was direct, like an order. When he said her name at the end of sentences, it was usually only came out as 'Mer.' He tended to only say her full name when saying something important or making a point. It felt strange to hear it this way. It didn't roll off his tongue. It seemed to be forced.

Her expression was tense as she slowly slipped off the stool. George, Callie, and Alex had all stopped to watch the awkward exchange between the couple that was usually so sweet and loving towards each other.

No one spoke until Meredith had left the room. At first they watched Derek, but Alex didn't like the silence. "Dude, you're killing that snowman."

Derek looked up at Alex confused until his eyes drifted towards the crumbled cookie in his own hand. "Are you okay?" George asked awkwardly. Derek didn't answer. He just picked up another cookie, this time destroying Santa Claus.

Callie and George shared a worried glance as they hurried to finish cleaning up. They both shared the idea that whatever this was, Meredith and Derek were going to need some time alone afterwards.

And hear the angels sing