Ok - I just want to remind you. . . these updates are longish b/c I am putting scenes together. . . I do update this story daily on the boards, but a scene may be 4 days of updates. . . so, when this story is caught up. . . the updates may not be as long. . . but, we are getting caught up. . . although I may keep just posting the longer chapters, just not daily. . .
Derek woke up to the sound of his cell phone alarm going off. He remembered setting it before he went to sleep so he could wake up to cook a good breakfast for Meredith before they had to leave for class.
He was excited to have class with her today, but was dreading Dr. Lawrence's class. He knew being a TA for him would be interesting, but what made it worse is Alex being in the class with a huge target on him. He was in the same situation a year ago and knew what kind of hell Alex would go through with him. Dr. Lawrence was the best, but arrogant and could get away with just about anything. He would help Alex stay focused just like the TA Derek had last year helped him.
Derek started breakfast: pancakes with some bacon. He wanted to make omelets, but he didn't have eggs. He was whistling around the kitchen as he put on some coffee, mixed the batter and got the pan hot.
"Well, it looks like someone got a good fuck last night." Mark said smirking watching his brother waltz around the kitchen like an idiot.
"Mark . . . now is not the time." Derek said in a warning voice.
"You look like a fucking idiot skipping around the kitchen like that."
"Mark . . . please. . ." In the same voice as before.
"Hey man, cool down. . . Oh . . . she is here isn't she . . . way to go Shep. Is she good because she looks like she would be?"
Derek stopped what he was doing this time and walked over close to Mark and looked at him square in the eye, "Look, I am not going to ask you again . . . shut the fuck up."
"Man, she must have. . . " Mark stopped when he noticed Derek really was serious. Something happened. "Derek, is everything ok?"
"Yes . . . no. . . I don't know . . . but I think it will be. . . "
"I know I can be an ass, but if you need to talk. . . "
"Not right now. . . I just need you to shut your fucking mouth this morning and be on your best behavior. Mer. . . She really needs that this morning."
"What are you talking about Shep?"
"Look, I can't give you any specifics, but I think she is going to be spending some time here and I need you to be. . . a little more. . . un-Mark like."
"Is she ok? You are talking all weird and she seems pretty cool."
"She will be, but it may take some time and I want to be there for her every step of the way. I also need your help in being normal." Derek looked up at Mark and they both kind of laughed at the same time.
"You think I am capable of normal?" He said smirking.
"Just try." Derek said shaking his head in amusement.
"I will. . . now, shut up and go back to your whistling and cooking me some breakfast."
"Correction. . . I am cooking Mer breakfast and you, my friend, you should sleep with a bimbo that cooks."
"I don't care to stick around for breakfast . . . with any of my bimbos. I may turn into you—some love sick weirdo who whistles around the kitchen with a stupid love sick grin on his face."
"One day, Mark. . . one day." He said knowing Mark would find someone one day.
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Meredith started to stir in the unfamiliar room. She remembered the events from the previous night very quickly which put a huge smile on her face. As she was opening her eyes, she also could smell something delicious.
She was in his apartment with his things. She remembered falling asleep in his arms and at some point must have left to sleep on the couch just like he said he would do. She couldn't believe he didn't kick her out or look at her like she was just another. . . She wasn't going to think about this because for the first time in 7 months, she was really fine . . . not Meredith fine.
She was surprised she felt comfortable enough to tell him, but there was something about him that made her feel wonderful—like she could tell him anything. She still wasn't sure she deserved any of this, but she wanted to try. . .to let him show her. There was only one problem. . . Alex. She knew she would deal with it as it came. She knew it wouldn't be easy, but as her twin, he would realize. . . Derek . . . was a good one . . . an amazing one.
Meredith decided to get up and see what smelled so good. As she neared the kitchen she could hear laughing and she immediately stiffened. She had not even considered the possibility of Mark being up and around. She knew they were roommates, but she wasn't prepared.
Before she could turn around to go back to Derek's room, Derek saw her, "Mer . . . " He said smiling at her with his hair in all different directions from rooting around on the couch. He just stared at her. She was really there . . . standing near his kitchen with his clothes on with her hair looking like she just got up. He thought she looked amazing last night . . . but this . . . this is something. . . he wanted more of . . . her waking up in his apartment having breakfast waiting for her. Next time, he will have to serve breakfast in bed. He also realized he needed to go with the flow . . . as much as he wanted her here—he had to make sure it was at her pace.
"Oh . . . um. . . I was going to . . . well. . . I thought I would. . . " She said nervously looking between Derek and Mark.
"Well, you don't want to miss Derek's famous pancakes . . . hot and fresh right out the pan." Mark said noticing how nervous Meredith seemed. He walked over to the stove taking the spatula from Derek. Without saying a word, Derek realized Mark was trying to take over so he could go to Meredith.
Derek walked over to where Meredith was standing, "Good morning" He said smiling at her wanting to hug her, but he wasn't sure just yet.
"Good morning to you. . . I could . . . um . . . smell something yummy and wanted to see what it was." She said smiling back at him.
The smile was just what he needed to pull her in for a hug. He felt her relax at his touch. "Did you sleep ok?" He whispered close to her ear.
"Yeah, really great. . . I could get used to waking up to the smell of breakfast cooking." She said as she pulled away to look at him and smiled lightly.
"I wanted to make something a little more . . . healthy . . . but I didn't have any eggs . . . so it is just add water pancakes."
"You and your healthiness. . . " She said giggling up at him.
He wished she wouldn't giggle like that because it made his whole body react. . . "How are you this morning?" He said clearing his throat.
"I am fine. . . "
"On a scale of 1-10, how bad is it?" Derek asked.
"Right this second, 7. . . Maybe 8. . . last night. . . 10. . . definitely a 10. Derek . . . thank. . . "
He stopped her and pulled her back into him and wrapped his arms around her, "Mer. . . You do not have to thank me. . . I am going to be here . . . cooking for you . . . telling you how great you are . . . studying with you . . . and everything you can ever imagine."
She just relaxed in his arms. She felt safe when she was with him. She then felt herself tearing up. She wasn't sure why, but it wasn't bad tears . . . it was good tears.
Derek heard a small sniffle, "Meredith. . ." he said as he pulled slightly away and took his hand and put it under her chin to pull her face up to look at him. He looked at her with concern and she saw this.
"Derek, I am fine. . . really fine. . . not just me fine. . . which you probably don't know, but I say I am fine when I am really not. . . but. . Fine . . . and I am now rambling. The tears are not tears of sadness. . . But are tears of relief . . . relief that I can feel normal again . . . this is the first morning in 7 months I have felt normal." She looked at him shocked at her own words.
He couldn't believe she just said this. He couldn't say anything and felt the tears welling up in his own eyes. . . "Just remember . . . you deserve all the good. Let's go eat breakfast and get ready to go."
"I am going to run to the bathroom and I will be right out." She said smiling at him as he was drying her tears off of her cheeks.
Derek walked into the kitchen to fix a plate for both of them. All three of them sat at the table and began eating. . .
"Derek, these pancakes are great. . . I think you need to stay over more often, Meredith so I can get breakfast." Mark said smiling.
Derek looked quickly at Meredith hoping she would be ok with Mark's comment. . . "Will I get breakfast anytime I stay here?" She quickly said smiling at Derek which made him smile.
"Of course there will be breakfast and preferably a more nutritious one instead of pancakes and syrup." Derek suggested.
"Lighten up with the health crap. . . It looks like Meredith enjoys the syrup and pancakes seeing as it is already all gone." Mark said looking over at Meredith laughing.
She looked up as she heard her cell phone ringing. "Oh. . . they were wonderful. . . excuse me." She walked up from the table to get her cell phone. . .
Meredith looked at her phone, Oh shit. . . she is probably worried. . . I so forgot to call her. Meredith couldn't believe she forgot to call. She was shocked though as it didn't look like she had any missed calls.
"Hello" Meredith answered nervously as she figured her person was going to let her have it.
"Good, your ass is awake. . . I figured you would be on a post-orasmic high. . . "
"Cristina. . . No. . . there was no. . . orgasm or whatever. . . this is. . . more than that. . . "
"Where is Mer and what have you done with her? First she didn't call me to let me know she was ok, now, she is saying there wasn't an orgasm. . . "
"I am sorry I didn't call you. . . I got . . . busy . . . not what you think though . . . talking . . . and breakfast. . .but, I am fine. . . great even. . . "
"Stop rambling Mer. . . I know. . . McDreamy called me. . . "
"HE WHAT??" She yelled loud into the phone.
"Meredith, are you ok?" Derek came into the room making sure everything was ok.
"Oh. . . yeah. . . I am fine. . . I will be back in just a few minutes." She was thankful he got the hint and left the room.
"So, he called you. . . How did he. . .I mean . . . how did he get . . . your number. . . "
"To be so smart. . . you really are a dumb ass sometimes. . ."
"Not nice. . . "
"Where did you leave your phone last night?" Cristina said in a smart ass tone.
She thought, "Oh . . . it was where my books where. . . I guess he called after I went to sleep . . . but . . . why would he call?"
"Well, possibly because you have a brother who would have totally freaked if he would have realized you were not home. . . "
"OH MY GOD. . . ALEX"
Derek heard her say Alex and got nervous so he started towards the room Meredith was in, but stopped when she heard Meredith continue, "Cristina, please tell me everything is ok and he didn't ask too many questions. . . "
Derek was glad he decided to call Cristina last night to let her know Mer was ok.
"Don't worry, I took care of everything." Cristina said thinking about all of the things she did to take care of Alex. . .
"Thank you so much Cristina. . . Derek called you, huh"
"He did. . . "
"Umm . . . what did he. . . I mean, did he say . . . anything. . .to you about . . . last night?"
Cristina wasn't sure if she should tell Meredith that Derek did in fact tell her Meredith opened up to him, she paused before saying, "You told him. . . "
Meredith took a deep breath. . . She wasn't sure how she felt about her person and her. . . whatever he was. . . lab partner. . . talk about her.
"Mer?" Cristina asked hoping Meredith wasn't having a small freak out.
"I am here."
"Don't freak out because I can hear you freaking out." She said hoping to get a laugh out of Meredith.
"You can't hear me. . . " She said letting out a smile laugh.
"Meredith, I think you need to put the last 7 to 8 months behind you and move forward . . . it is time and I think you have just the person to help you."
"I can't Cristina. . . He is great, but Alex. . . He will never. . . I mean . . . they are competitors . . . he is his TA . . . they even have a race this weekend. . . I don't even know how to tell Alex he is my lab partner much less anything else."
"Meredith, he will come around . . . if there is anything he wants—it is for you to be happy—truly happy. Just give it time."
"Ok, now where has my person gone?" She said laughing. It wasn't like Cristina to get all serious and stuff . . . but she has been doing it more and more in the last few weeks. . .
Derek wanted to let her continue to talk, but she probably didn't realize they needed to head to class. So, he quietly walked in the room, "Meredith . . . I am sorry to interrupt . . . but, we need to get going and you still need to change. . . "
"Oh . . . he is already bossing you around. . . " Cristina said laughing.
"No, there is no boss of me. . . I will see you later in class."
"Kicking your ass."
"Never. . . Oh and Cristina. . ."
"Yeah?"
"Thanks for everything. . . I really appreciate it."
"Well, I am sure we can figure out some way to pay me back for it." Cristina said laughing.
"See ya later. . ." Meredith said rolling her eyes hanging up her phone.
"I am sorry. . . Thanks for coming to let me know we needed to get going." She said to Derek.
"No problem, go and get ready . . . do you know what you are going to do about clothes?" Derek asked.
"Oh. . . I haven't really thought about that. . . I will just wear what I had on last night."
Derek really didn't want to see her again in that outfit . . . he knew he was going to have to sit through class with her breasts showing in that white top and those jeans that hugged her ass . . . he didn't want to think about her in those ways . . . but he couldn't help it . . . he would wait as long as she needed, but it didn't want him to want her any less. . .
"Ms. Grey. . . " Dr. Wright said for the second time.
"Oh. . . um. . . the loss of dopaminergic cells in the substantia nigra." Meredith aswered as it rolled off of her tongue. Mark and Derek both looked at her in disbelief—that she knew the answer.
Oh Shit… Meredith thinks to herself…I just spaced in class, I mean I got the answer correct. . . I knew I would. . . we did study last night with the. . . no. . . not thinking about the kissing. . . and the. . . he was perfect when I told him. . . but I must look like an idiot for spacing like that...get Derek, his perfectness and his McDreaminess out of your head! Focus Mer Focus! But he really was great last night about everything…like amazing…like unbelievably amazing…crap class-focus! Meredith could see Derek staring at her as she tried to concentrate on Dr. Wright.
Look at how beautiful she looks and she is so damn smart which makes me want her even more . . . no. . .she is not ready for any of that. . . Alex. . . remember him. . . and these other guys need to stop looking at her. . . But, those jeans . . . her ass in those jeans and. . . Her brain . . . it mesmerizes me . . . even studying last night. . . she was close to perfection . . . knowing just about everything. . . Damn am I rambling? Fuck, I need to pay attention to Dr. Wright . . . maybe I could if she hadn't worn that shirt... He thought to himself as his eyes locked with hers in that instance. Her green eyes peering into his piercing blue ones, getting lost in each other's gaze.
Mark got up to leave class and took a few steps towards the door when he realized there were two people who weren't moving. . . "Earth to Derek… Meredith…guys, class is over. . Where you two eye fucking or what?" Mark said smirking.
Derek quickly broke the trance to give a glare to Mark that told him to shut the fuck up immediately. He asked him to be un-Mark like and he knew that was too much too ask, but he did not need Meredith to freak out. They quickly gathered their belongings and walked out of class with Mark in front of them.
"Man, for our second day of class that was pretty intense" Mark stated.
"I can't believe he called on you in class Mer and you were. . . amazing." Derek said quickly trying to avert attention from Mark before he made another lewd comment.
"Yea, I am just glad I came up with the right answer," she commented quickly being slightly embarrassed she spaced out in class and Dr. Wright had to call her on twice to get her attention.
"Hey there Meredith. . ." Izzie said getting up off of the bench to greet Meredith as they all three walked out of the building.
"Hey. . . um. . . Izzie" She remembered her name and wasn't at all nervous about that, she was nervous that Derek was with her and she had a class with Alex in approximately one hour. . .
"Did you have class this morning?"
"Yeah, class. . . I had class." Meredith said still a little nervous—something Derek picked up on right away although he wasn't sure why.
"Hello, I am Derek and this is Mark. . . Don't mind anything he might say though—we try to ignore him." Derek said shaking Izzie's hand knowing he has seen her somewhere.
"Then, why is he with you guys?" She said in a challenging tone, noticing the steamy eyes he was giving her.
"Because, no one can live without me. Hello, I am Mark Sloan and you too will learn you can't live without me." He said smiling at her. . .
Derek looked at Mark. . . he was smiling, but it was a different smile. . .
"That right there would tell me I can definitely live without you." Izzie replied back never keeping her eyes off of his almost daring him. . .
"Ok, kids. . . I have a class to prepare for. . . Dr. Lawrence's second class. . .you know that is always fun." Derek said looking at Mark. . .He knew it would be long and even more torturous for the students than last class. It would be like that for the next few weeks at least. But, he was really great and prepared the students unlike any other.
"Oh God, I hope it isn't as bad as last time . . . he was really hard on . . . is it Alex? That is his name, correct?" She remembered meeting him in their class yesterday afternoon.
"You are in the class. . . That is why you looked familiar." Derek said realizing she was in there. Dr. Lawrence even made a comment to him about how hot she was, but that she would never make it. Derek knew she had it coming to her as much as Alex if Dr. Lawrence really thought that.
"Yes. . . Meredith isn't in that class with us . . . why is that?" Izzie asked curious.
Meredith didn't like telling people, but she liked Izzie and didn't mind if she knew. . . she would find out anyway, "Well. . . I am in the lab class for second year students. . . "
"Wow. . . that is incredible. . . how did you get to do that?" Izzie asked.
Before Meredith could answer, Derek interrupted, "I really need to get going. . . Mark, get your jaw off of the ground and let's go."
Derek looked over at Meredith. He wasn't sure what to do as he left her because Izzie was standing there and she was going to be in class with Alex. . . He took her hand, leaned into her and whispered in her ear, "I don't want to hide this. You deserve this no matter what." He needed to remind her.
This sent shivers down her spine as she watched him walk off thinking about all of the things they talked about last night. She had opened up to him and he was perfect. . . She wanted to try. . . She needed to try but it was hard. . . She didn't want to hide this either . . . but how?