Derek is carrying Meredith towards the kitchen. They are right outside the kitchen door and he is about to push the door open.
Meredith: Wait.
Derek looks down at her, concerned.
Derek: What is it?
Meredith looks up at him.
Meredith: I don't want your family to hate me.
Derek sits her down on the floor and takes her face in his hands.
Derek: They won't hate you. They don't hate you. I love you.
Meredith feels the tears beginning to well up in her eyes.
Meredith: I just...I have never done this before.
Derek smiles and tilts his head to the side. He brushes a strand of hair out of her face. He leans in and kisses her on her hair. He grabs her hand.
Derek: We are doing this...together. If you need anything or you need a break just let me know.
Meredith: So, we need like a super secret salvation code thingy...
Derek chuckles.
Derek: Okay. Have anything in mind?
Meredith: I guess I could just say that I need to go lie down.
Derek nods.
Derek: That works.
Meredith: Derek?
Derek: Yeah?
Meredith: I really want some pickles.
Derek: Pickles?
Meredith: Yeah. Pickles. Ohhhh, and ranch dressing. To dip the pickles in, of course.
Derek makes a face.
Meredith: Hey, don't diss it until you try it.
Derek: I think I will trust your judgement. Are you ready to go in there?
Meredith nods and Derek squeezes her hand in reassurance. They enter the kitchen and all eyes are immediately directed towards them. Derek walks Meredith over to her chair where his mother has placed her cup of tea. She takes a big drink.
Meredith: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Mrs. Shepherd laughs at her enthusiasm and watches as her son removes the pickles and ranch dressing from the refridgerator.
Mrs. Shepherd: What are you doing, Derek?
Derek: Meredith has a craving.
Mrs. Shepherd: Pickles and ranch dressing?
Mrs. Shepherd looks at Meredith and she shrugs and blushes slightly.
Mrs. Shepherd: That is the same thing that I craved with Derek.
Derek: Seriously?
Mrs. Shepherd: Yes. That and chocolate milk.
Derek places some pickles and ranch on a plate and sits it in front of Meredith. She looks up at him.
Derek: What?
Meredith: There are only like five pickles on this plate.
Derek: Seriously? You want more?
Meredith smiles.
Meredith: Please?
Derek adds a few pickles to the plate. Meredith looks up at him again.
Derek: More?
Meredith nods anxiously.
Derek: Here, I am just going to set the whole jar in front of you. That way you can eat as many pickles as your heart desires.
Meredith smiles at him.
Meredith: Thank you.
Derek leans forward and kisses her on the forehead.
Derek: Anything for you, my love.
Sara: Wow, you are really whipped.
Derek smiles happily.
Derek: Yes. Yes, I am and I am loving every minute of it.
Everyone laughs at Derek's confession except for Nancy, who sits in the corner sulking. The family carries on light conversation as Mrs. Shepherd takes over cooking. Derek sits in a chair next to Meredith and places her feet in his lap and begins to rub them. He watches her as she eats her pickles and ranch dressing with a look of absolute delight on her face. However, he can tell that she is now even more uncomfortable around his family after Nancy's questions. She is quiet and reserved. She is listening to the conversation taking place around her but isn't partaking unless she is spoken to. He feels her body tense up as Nancy mentions yet another very uncomfortable topic.
Nancy: So, Derek, how is Addison?
Derek glances tentatively at Meredith. He notices that she looks very uncomfortable.
Derek (through his teeth): She is fine, Nancy.
Nancy: I still can't believe you decided to get a divorce. You could have worked things out if you had tried harder.
Meredith removes her feet from Derek's lap. He looks at her and begs her to forgive him with his eyes for his sister's stupidity. She stands up and Derek follows suit.
Meredith: I am starting to feel tired so I am going to go lie down for a little while.
She looks at Derek.
Meredith: Will you come get me when dinner is ready?
He nods and watches her leave the room. He knows that he needs to go upstairs and comfort her, but he has something that he needs to take care of first. He turns to face his sister who is already being chewed out by his mother and other sisters.
Mrs. Shepherd: I can't believe you, Nancy. I am very disappointed.
Mrs. Shepherd turns to her son and is taken aback by the angry expression on his face. His lips are squeezed tightly shut and his eyebrows are furrowed together. His eyes have turned several shades darker. When he speaks it is in a very controlled and low voice.
Derek: I am going to go upstairs and make sure she is alright for the second time since you have been here.
His gaze is fixated on Nancy. She tries to interrupt but he hold up his hand, stopping her in her tracks.
Derek: I am going to go upstairs and sit with her and when he come back down, you will not be here. We will not see you nor talk to you for the remainder of your stay in Seattle. Not only have you insulted the woman I love by your demeaning questions and cold-hearted bitchy attitude towards her, but you have endangered the like of my child by putting her under extra stress.
Nancy is taken aback and gasps. All of the women are stunned at this and their mouths have fallen agape.
Derek: I am going upstairs now.
Derek stands up.
Derek: Unless you want me to call her person who will most definately kick your ass, you will be gone by the time we come back down.
He now looks at his mother and his expression softens as does his voice.
Derek: Will you please come get me if we are not back down here by the time dinner is ready?
His mother just nods and Derek leaves the room. His sister is stunned and looks to her mother for help.
Mrs. Shepherd: You heard him, Nancy. You should go. I will see you at the hotel later.
With that Nancy storms out of the house, leaving all of the Shepherd women in awe of their brother.
Sorry about the formatting...there are only a couple more that are like this...it just takes to long to go through and put the spaces in right now...school is swamping me and I'm trying to get everything over here caught up..
-Marci