Author's Note: I have been having issues with FFN, along with the fact that I've been on vacation for a while, and didn't have any real story time for the computer I had. I'm very sorry. However, I think I'm making it up in this chapter. It's not much, but it get s a little fluffy...and what MDer doesn't love some good MerDer fluffiness, right? I promise that won't be ALL the rest of this story is, but it's what made sense for this chapter.
Review, please--they're what keep me going!
"So I was thinking-"Meredith said as she reached to the backseat of Derek's car, handing Elizabeth a toy. "You and Burke are friends, right?"
"Yes, isn't that why we're going to this...impromptu housewarming party?"Derek asked, an amused smile gracing his features.
"That's not what I meant."Meredith replied. "Just that...with him being Chief now, and you and me building the house..well, we're not actually building the house, I mean I'm pretty sure a surgeon can't just suddenly know how to build a house, but-"
"Mer?"Derek asked, stopping the car to wait at a red light. "It'll be fine. If anything we'll end up talking about different aspects of homes and such, maybe throw in discussion of surgeries, and call it a night. Complete with a meal of course."
Meredith smiled at Elizabeth who seemed content in moving the ear of the stuffed dog she had handed her before turning to look back at him. "I know. And I get that. What I'm trying to say is that you should..you know...be nice."
"Nice?"Derek asked, moving the car forward.
"Your tastes differ. You know, with organization, and selection. And according to what Cristina explained was a very stark white he plans on having the walls painted-"
"Meredith...Burke and I-Well, Preston and I are friends. Everything will be okay. Trust me."Derek assured her, tapping her knee with his hand. He loved it when she would ramble on, perhaps being afraid. It was the Meredith that he knew and loved. The one that, like it or not, would end up getting his help. Glancing over, he noticed how she bit her lip, chewing gently as she stared out the window. "What is it that you're so afraid of, Mer? Cristina is going to be there, so if anything you two can just hide in one of the back rooms...assuming that Elizabeth will be safe, that is."
In truth, Meredith had no clue as to why she felt nervous. She should have felt fine, she knew. But she couldn't help but remember the dinner with Mark and Addison. Sure, that time, she wasn't best friends with one of the hosts, but Meredith guessed she took it as a sign of change. Visting friends for a housewarmin dinner was something married couples, married families did together. While she and Derek weren't, Meredith knew that it could have been a step. She was sure that this...dinner was only a sign of things to come.
"It's not the dinner i'm afraid of. I know it'll be okay. But when our house is finished, seeing as Burke so kindly invited us over, it's only fair that we invite them."Meredith surmised, feeling that she had chosen the right words to describe how she felt.
Derek nodded, taking a look at a smiling Elizabeth through the rearview mirror. "I see. So you think we're going to start some competition, not only competing at work, but on some mundane neverending lawn improvement game as well?"He asked, pulling into the correct driveway.
"Well, sort of..."Meredith mumbled, watching the smirk on his face. "What?"
"I can assure you that nothing like that will happen."Derek said, leaning over to kiss her. He let his lips linger for a second before pulling back, unfastening his seatbelt. "I'll get Elizabeth, I can see Cristina hovering in the window."
"And this..."Burke said, gesturing to a glass table situated in the middle of a mess of boxes. "-will be the dining room. As you can see we have not fully finished unpacking, but we have enough out to provide for the evening."
Meredith nodded. "It looks nice. Is that dinner I smell?"She asked, sensing Cristina fidgeting.
"Yes, of course. If you'll excuse me-"Burke said, making his way out of the room.
"It's a lovely house, Doctor Yang."Derek said, clasping his hands together. He knew she appeared nervous, perhaps exhausted, from the whole process.
Cristina nodded, sighing. "It is, isn't it? I mean...don't get me wrong. Because I like it and everything. But moving in is...it's hard. You know? With the-the signing, and the meetings. And then once you're in the house, you have to move everything in-which trust me, I am not cut out for."
Meredith laughed, patting her friend on the shoulder. "I'm pretty sure that you'll be okay."
"Hey, just know that I'll use whatever I say back at you when you're freaking out...how many months from now?"Cristina asked, referencing to the time until the house would be built.
At that time Derek heard Burke calling for him from the kitchen. "Yes?"
"Do you think you could come help me in the kitchen? There are some things that need to be moved to the table."Burke said, referring to the food.
"We can't serve the food if we don't have plates on the table."Cristina shot back at him as Derek walked through the doorway to assist in carrying the food in.
"They should be in the box in the corner."Burke replied.
Meredith laughed, shaking her head as she moved Elizabeth into the chair they had brought for her. "Mommy and daddy won't be like this when we move in, okay?"She whispered. A clink was heard behind her, so she turned her head to see what it was.
"There. Plates."Cristina said, wiping the hair from her eyes.
"Careful-"Burke mused, a satisfied smile crossing his place. "Those are family heirlooms. They were passed down through the Burke family, Cristina."He said, setting one of the dishes on the table. Once everything had been set down, the all began to eat.
"Could I ask you a question?"Derek asked halfway through the dinner, fork dangling in the air. He darted his eyes back and forth between Meredith and Burke.
"What would that be?"Burke questioned, sticking a forkful of pasta into his mouth.
Nodding in the general direction of the room, Derek continued. "Why now? I mean, don't get me wrong. It's a great place. But you two have had this oppurtunity for...a while now."
"It's something that has been in the works, albeit behind the scenes for a while now. Why do you ask?"
Meredith brushed her hand against Derek's, smiling for a second due to their connection. "Curiousity?"She offered, not wanting to interrupt too far.
Derek nodded, squeezing her hand under the table. "Curiousity."
Burke looked at Cristina, perhaps looking for some sort of inspiration. "It was time. The apartment had gotten too old, and the owner of the building announced that he would soon be selling. The timing was right for the change."
Satisfied with the answer her had gotten, Derek thought of he and Meredith, and of the situation they were in. He knew that it was right, that the timing was right. In fact, Derek thought as he reached for the green beans, it couldn't have been more better.
The dinner finished smoothly, save for Elizabeth dropping her plate on the floor. Thankfully, Meredith said, it had been emtied. As she helped Cristina to clean it up, she heard Elizabeth offer a "sorry", to which Derek remarked how well behaved she was, even at the very young age she was. They stood on the driveway, after having packed Elizabeth's chair, saying goodbye.
"Thank you for coming, and I assure you we will both be happy to have dinner with you both once the project is completed."Burke said, replying to Derek's offer.
"It's good to hear."Derek replied in return.
Cristina pulled on Meredith's sleeve, in an attempt to get her away so she could talk. "Okay...you get that I will pay you back for this, right?"
"What are you talking about?"Meredith asked, an amused smile on her face.
"This-"Cristina said, waving her arm towards the house. "This happy...couples...dining thing. As soon as that house of yours is finished, trust me, Mer, you're going to love your payback."
"What, so you'll come over with a freshly store bought apple pie and some of those fresh scent candles?"Meredith asked sarcastically, darting her eyes in Derek's direction. Her breath caught short, watching as he stared back at her, a smile evident in his eyes.
Cristina caught her stare and sighed audibly. "When did this happen?"
"When did what happen?"Meredith asked, not taking her eyes off of Derek.
Nudging Meredith's arm, Cristina arched her eyebrow. "We became the happy people."
Meredith laughed, knowing Cristina was right. "That's true."She said nodding. "But for once...I can't complain."
Meredith had just gotten out of the shower when she heard something coming from outside of the room. She knew that Izzie and Alex were out that night, and recognizing the voice as Derek's, Meredith chose to quickly towel dry her hair before heading to see what it was. Looking down the hall, she watched as Derek hovered over Elizabeth's crib, a smile clearly shining on his face as he did.
"And the swingset...well, of course you won't be able to play on it by yourself until you're a little older. But mommy or me could help you, i'm sure. And the lake will be perfect for swimming in the summer. Maybe a dog..."
Feeling warm at Derek speaking to their daughter, Meredith propped herself against the doorframe of the room that now served as Elizabeth's.
Instictively, Derek heard her and turned his head. "You heard..."
"I heard..."Meredith said, walking in. "I think it's sweet."
"Yeah, well..."Derek said, kissing her forehead as they met. "She's so beautiful..."
"I love how her eyes look when she's just falling asleep. And the way the blanket just...comes up to-"Meredith said, stroking her cheek just as their daughter was drifting to sleep. "Goodnight, sweetie. Mommy loves you..."She cooed, standing there a moment, taking the scene in.
Derek rubbed small circled on Meredith's back, silently moving her still damp hair. "You know her mother's beautiful, too."He said, his blue eyes taking on a sincere look.
Meredith looked back at him, emotion washing over her. "Her father isn't so bad either."
"Really?"Derek asked, raising an eyebrow. "I'd like to meet this guy."
Laughing softly, as to not wake Elizabeth, Meredith linked her arms around his neck. "I'm pretty sure you'd like him. Although I don't know..he can be kind of arrogant sometimes..."
"Is that so? Well, I hear that her mother has a way of talking about other people..."Derek said, forcefully tickling her, trying to keep it hushed as they moved towards the hallway. "You know, her father."
Meredith smiled, because in that moment, she was nothing more than deliriously happy. It was a strange feeling, because now that everything had fallen into place, she knew that it was great. She knew that it was right this time. Meredith understood why things had fallen apart in the past, why they had lost their connection. And as she felt Derek's hands, warm against the skin that was now bare between her worn Dartmouth shirt and a pair of pajama pants, she knew that this time everything was settled. Everything was better. This time, none of those things that had happened in the past would happen. "Derek?"
"Mer?"He called, stubble gracing her chin. His lips met hers gracefully, yet still conveying the fact that at the moment, he craved her. Pulling back, Derek stared into her eyes.
"We're the happy people."Meredith said, as if saying it made it all the more real. "I...I like being the happy people."
"Really?"Derek asked, smirking. He eliminated any space left between them, letting out a sigh. "That's good. Because I..."He said, before plunging his face into Meredith's neck, reveling in the lavender scent that mixed with her natural odor. Derek planted kisses down her neck, his hand slowly sliding beneath the worn fabric of her shirt. "-like being the happy people, too."