Meredith picked up her phone without looking at the number calling, "Hello!"
Her voice . . . it even sounded different. She was not the Meredith he knew, "Meredith . . . you look beautiful tonight."
She couldn't help but smile, "And how would you know?"
"I am here . . . to rescue you . . . be your knight and shining whatever." He immediately noticed her smile go away a little and immediately swallowed very deeply, not hearing her say anything, he continued.
"Meredith . . . I have watched you. Mark and Izzie are also here and you need rescuing." He said hoping to see her relax a little.
Meredith had no idea what to think. She should be mad at them for being there and watching her . . . but, she needed to get out of this date. She felt bad, but Steve was just . . . weird and immature . . . definitely not her type. "So, there is a medical emergency?" She asked.
He smiled knowing she wanted out of the date as much as he wanted her out of it, "You could say that."
"Ok . . . I will be right there." She said.
"My land rover is right outside . . . I will take you home." He said before she hung up quickly.
She hung up with Derek and looked back to Steve. She wished she felt worse about what she was about to do, but she really didn't.
Steve didn't say anything, he just looked at her. She figured he didn't even understand what was about to happen.
"Steve, I am sorry, but one of my patients needs me, I have to go . . . Life as a doctor."
Derek walked back over to Izzie and Mark never taking his eyes off Meredith.
"Well, I see whatever you said to her worked. No need to thank me." Mark smirked knowing his plan worked just like it was supposed to.
Derek finished off his drink, thankful he had nursed that one the entire time he was there. He figured it was out of nerves. He walked out of the restaurant without saying a word so he could be at his land rover before she got out there. He was standing at the passenger side door leaning against it. He sees her approaching and gets a huge smile on his face.
She gets to him and slaps him on his arm.
"Hey, what is that for? That is the second time tonight." Derek says.
"For spying on me and second time . . . you probably deserved it." She said watching Derek open the door to help her in.
Instead of closing the door right away, "But, you were miserable and I was saving you . . . you needed it and you know it and I did nothing to deserve it. I was saving your ass."
She gave him a shitty ass grin, "Yeah, you were saving my ass . . . thanks . . . for being my knight and shining whatever."
Derek flashed her the McDreamy smile, closed her door, and walked to his side and got in. As they drove, Derek looked over to her, "Do you want to stop at the store to pick something up, I can cook . . . I know you have not eaten yet."
She smiled, "What are you going to cook for me because I was really looking forward to a good steak."
"If the lady wants a steak, the lady gets a steak." He smiled, taking her hand in his. He did it as a reflex, but was pleasantly surprised that she didn't pull away. He could see her out of the corner of his eye . . . she was smiling . . . not the same smile from the restaurant, but one that was completely relaxed and perfect . . . the one only Meredith could give. Little did he know . . . only he could give her that smile.
They headed to the store. Derek picked up some Ribeyes, potatoes, and salad stuff. As they walked up and down the aisle, Derek held her hand while pushing the cart with the other. This seemed so normal . . . like they had been doing it for years and would be doing it for years to come.
Meredith had no idea why she was holding Derek's hand. She wanted to . . . she couldn't let go. Could it be that the horrible date . . . with Steve helped her realize her feelings for Derek . . . Izzie made her think about it earlier as well . . .
Once they were done getting the stuff for dinner, they headed back to the car. On the ride home, Meredith could not help but smile . . . letting out a chuckle.
A little giggle . . . the one he knew so well. He looked over to her and smiled, "What?"
She shook her head, "I can't believe he ordered a virgin whatever because he was driving."
"Yeah, once a geek, always a geek." Derek laughed.
"I wouldn't say a geek Derek, just immature." She knew Derek didn't like him.
"Yeah . . . you just didn't know him back in high school . . . he was a geek. Even his best friend Ronnie Miller turned semi-cool until we found out he paid off one of the most popular girls in school."
"Seriously." Meredith looked at him.
Derek laughed, remembering it well, "Oh yeah, even Addison was pinning for him. They said he kind of looked like me, but no way, I was way better looking."
"So sure of yourself." She laughed, realizing how much she did that when she was around Derek and how easy it was . . . all of it. It had never been like that with Chris. They loved each other in their own way . . . but, it wasn't like this and that scared the hell out of her.
They made it back to Meredith's and Derek said he would get everything started, making himself at home while Meredith excused herself to put on something a little more comfortable.
She was only gone a few minutes and when she came back down . . . he couldn't help but notice how beautiful she was in a pair of sweats and her Dartmouth shirt on. Her hair was pulled back in a low ponytail with strands of hair tucked behind her ears. He had never met a woman like this . . . that would be free to do this . . . with a man. Most women would want to stay dressed perfectly . . . but, not Meredith. It was something he loved most about her.
"Can I help?"
"You can start the salad if you want to." He replied.
She stood there. She really wasn't sure where to start. He quickly realized she was just standing there, unsure of what to do. He couldn't help but to laugh a little, "Meredith . . . you have to . . . wash the spinach first."
"I knew that." She had no idea what to do.
Derek gave her a smirk, "Ok, sure."
"What, I did. But, even you said this wasn't a normal toss em salad."
"No, you will have to make the dressing even, but it is easy." He smiled while getting the potatoes ready.
He instructed her every step of the way and she did great. Once dinner was ready, Derek set the table. He started looking for the wine glasses, but couldn't find them and he really didn't want to go looking through all of her cabinets. "Um . . . Mer, where are the wine glasses?"
She walked over to the cabinet and reached up to get the glasses out . . . when she reached up, he couldn't help but see her bare skin from where her shirt had ridden up a bit. She got them out and sat them on the table.
He poured the wine and they sat down, Derek raised his glass and Meredith got a little nervous at what he was going to say, but she followed suite, "To friendship." He wanted to say so much more . . .
She smiled, "To friendship." She wondered if this was the beginning of a friendship . . . that was something beautiful.
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"That was outstanding Derek . . . so much better than what I would have had I am sure." She was washing the few dishes as Derek was drying them. She needed to get a dish washer when she remodeled the kitchen, but she didn't cook too much now. She knew that would change as time goes on.
They finished up and went into the living room, both with fresh glasses of wine. Meredith put on some soft music from her ipod.
"You are starting in here next . . . the remodeling." He asked looking around starting to see a few things moved around.
"I am. I am going to paint in here this week I think." She looked around and he just stared at her. He thought about what she must look like . . . painting.
"I can help." Derek said smiling.
"You have done more than enough . . . more than Chris would have done." She looked quickly at him waiting to see his response. She saw his eyes softening before her.
"Mer, I am not sure who Chris is . . . but, I like helping you. I enjoy being around you . . . a lot."
"You do?" She asked not realizing herself inching closer to him.
"I do. I want to help you." He replied in a very low voice, inching in closer to her not breaking eye contact.
"I think . . . I want you to help me. I like you helping me." She was just a few inches from him.
"More helping." He breathed as he swiftly moved his hand to her head and pulled her the rest of the way in. He smiled against her lips when he felt her arms wrap around his neck.
He didn't want to rush this . . . but, he felt . . . this was electric . . . an electric current running through his body and he was sure she was feeling it as well. He felt her open her mouth, inviting his tongue to tango with hers. He moaned knowing this was the most . . . passionate, amazing kiss he had ever experienced.
She started to push him down on the couch. He wanted this . . . god, he wanted her . . . whatever this may be tonight, but he needed to make sure she was ok with this. He pulled away slightly, taking both hands on either side of her face and looked deep into her eyes . . .
"Kiss me, Derek . . ." She breathed before colliding into his lips, pushing her tongue in his mouth . . . learning all of the contours of his mouth. Her hands were starting to roam down his chest, his hands running up and down her sides and back. She was lying on top of him, on her couch, kissing him with more fire than she has ever had. This was the most amazing thing she has ever experienced.
Meredith moved down his jaw-line with her tongue, kissing and sucking while he attacked her neck doing the same thing. They were eliciting small moans from the other, completely aware of exactly what they were doing . . . and how perfect this felt. Their hands were exploring the other heated body, studying every inch. They continued their fiery pursuit of the other face and neck for a few minutes, never crossing over the threshold of the clothes.
Out of breathe, they pulled apart and kept an intense stare . . . one of love . . . passion. They were plunged back into reality as they looked into the others eyes. Both wanting more . . . so much more, but not yet; their eyes telling the story without any words, unable to form coherent thoughts just yet. Derek stroked Meredith's hair and Meredith did the same.
He found himself lying on his back and needing to get her off of him, or he might not be able to stop anything further from happening . . . he was ready for her . . . more than ready. But, he knows . . . as much as they both want this . . . slow, they have to go slow. Derek took her in his arms and slowly sat up.
"Meredith . . ." He brain was still incoherent
"Derek . . ." She had never felt anything so perfect . . . so amazing. She wanted more . . . so much more, but she knew . . . slow, they needed slow.
"You are . . . that was . . ." He said quietly, stroking her cheek.
"Perfect . . ." She smiled a little shyly.
"Yeah . . . it was." He replied.
They sat with a deep admiration for each other for a few seconds, "There is . . . we are . . . more of this . . . I think we need more of this." She tried to say, but wasn't sure how it came out.
He titled his head and smiled, "Definitely more . . . more kissing I say." He went to get up knowing he needed to go. He didn't want to . . . but, knew he had to . . . He wasn't sure his legs could support him yet, but was hoping they would when he went to stand up.
He protectively took her hand in his and walked to her front door. Quietly he said, "Don't forget about dinner tomorrow night."
She looked up at him unsure what he was talking about, her mind still a little dazed.
"It's Sunday . . . you are cooking." He offered her his flawless smile.
She nods and bites her lip, "Yeah, lasagna . . . your family . . . what do we . . . I mean . . . what are we?"
He was bursting to shout out from the rooftops how much he loved this woman, but knew he couldn't, not yet, "Whatever you are comfortable with."
She smiled, "Thank you Derek . . . for everything. You are . . . thank you." She never thought she would be here . . . months ago she was moving here, with despair, but now, her life . . . was looking up . . . and this man . . . he was someone she knew she wanted around for a long time and as scary as it was, it was the most excited she had ever been.
"I am going to . . . I will see you tomorrow. Do you want to, I mean, you may be busy, but have you ever been riding before?"
"Riding what?" She asked a little unsure.
"Horses . . . we could ride through a trail or two. It may even be snowing a little, so you would need to bundle up."
"I have never been." She quietly said, looking down a little.
He took his hand and put it on her chin and tilted it upwards, "Do you want to go? I can teach you."
"I would love to." She smiled widely, falling . . . more and more for this man, not even sure how it happened.
He kept his hand on her chin and leaned in to kiss her . . . this time, with so much fervor . . . that he knew was reciprocated.
She enveloped him with her arms before he walked out the door. "See you tomorrow afternoon."
"I can't wait." He said walking out of the door.
Derek opened his car door and sat down in the driver's seat for a few minutes, making sure he could breathe properly to drive. Thankfully he knew the sheriff in town, because if he got pulled over tonight, they would think he was drunk, not on the few glasses of wine, but of this woman . . . Meredith Grey. He was glazed over . . . he couldn't think properly. She was . . . he knew from the second he heard 'the voice' at Darby's retirement, she was it for him. He couldn't explain it, but he knew.
Meredith stood up with her back against the door with her eyes shut and a smile playing on her lips. She never realized when she felt this way about Derek . . . it just . . . happened. She wondered if she should feel guilty, as if she were cheating on Chris, but Chris . . . he never made her feel like this . . . she couldn't exactly explain it, but nothing had ever felt so right in her life and she was not going to feel bad for it. Chris . . . he was her past . . . and Derek . . . he was her future and up until tonight, she wasn't ready to admit that, but tonight . . . she was ready to take that step forward.