Derek and Meredith made it to class just in time for class. Meredith decided to drive her own car so she could go home after her first class for a little while. She knew Alex and Cristina wouldn't be there because their class started about 45 minutes after Meredith's class.
They made it through class . . . though neither were sure how. They had stopped to get coffee on the way, but were both so tired. This wasn't the entire problem though . . . they couldn't quite staring at each other and touching each other as they sat side by side at their table. . .
"I don't think I even want to know what went on in the apartment last night because judging by the, 'please fuck me again' look that has been plastered on both of your faces through class . . . things went on. . . " Mark said grinning at them both, thinking about his own amazing night with Izzie. . .
"Nothing. . . Mark can tear me away from this . . . bright and shiny feeling I have." Derek said smiling at Meredith.
She looked at him, "I am not bright and shiny. . . I don't do bright and shiny." She said laughing, crinkling her nose as he came down to kiss it lightly.
"That is what we are working on . . . remember." He said raising his eyebrows.
"You two are . . . well . . . you are . . . god. . . I understand it." Mark said shaking his head while realizing he was the exact same way with Izzie. . . He wanted to be bright and shiny . . . with her. He left her apartment this morning to get to class after a night that he imagined was similar to his brother's night. He smiled big thinking about her. He couldn't wait to see her; she said she would try to meet him after his class.
"Wow . . . I never thought you would. . . It is great man. . . . Izzie seems great." Derek said looking in amazement. He knew it would take the right woman and Izzie seemed like just the person. She was perky, but edgy and that was exciting to Mark.
"Well. . . I am going to run home for a little while. Maybe take a nap before my afternoon class. This schedule is killing me. . . I have all early morning classes and then this long break today before my next class." She said yawning really tired.
"Next time, don't try to be the suck up and take a class a year early . . . " Mark said laughing knowing she really worked hard to get where she was at. It was something Dr. Bailey had already noticed about her in the first week of class. He liked being her TA, but she was a pain in the ass sometimes. It kept him in line most of the time.
"She just wants to be the best. . . " Derek said putting his arm around her tightly giving her a squeeze and kissing her temple.
"My mom actually wanted me to do it." She said her face falling a bit causing Derek to stop walking and looked at Mark as if to tell him to fix it—now.
"Meredith . . . you are the best. . . I was just. . . I wish I could get ahead like you." Mark said quickly not wanting Derek to be upset with him . . . he would have been the same way if it was Izzie. He quickly learned what it meant to actually think about someone else.
"Thanks Mark. I do want to get going so I have time to lay down for a bit." Meredith said smiling back up at Mark, then at Derek.
Derek wrapped both arms around her in a hug and bent down to her ear, "I wish I was going with you."
She quickly smiled and said, "Then. . . I would not be napping."
"True, very true. . . " Derek said pulling back and giving her a soft kiss on her lips. He loved being able to do this out in the open. He wanted to . . . he wanted to shout from the rooftops that this incredible woman was his.
"Bye. . . I think we need to study some tonight." She said looking up at him raising her eyebrow.
"I like the way you think." He said smiling back at her.
"Studying, Derek . . . really. . . I am worried about a quiz that I am sure is coming in a class I have tomorrow, but I am sure I could use some help." She said with a serious look.
Mark just watched these two and how much . . . they were perfect together. He only hoped he could have that with Izzie. He thought they could have it, but could he really do it . . . commit to one woman. If he could do it, he knew Izzie would be the one he would want to commit to.
"Ok. . . I can help you; you know it could be fun." He said thinking about all of the naughty ways he could help her study.
"You know, you have a roommate, right?" Mark asked laughing.
"Yeah . . . something I wouldn't mind forgetting sometimes." Derek laughed as Meredith gave him one last hug and kiss and walked off.
"Man. . . You have it bad." Mark said looking in amazement at Derek.
"Yes . . . for that woman, I do. . . " He said smiling, turning to face Mark when Meredith was out of sight, "and it sounds like you may have something too with a woman. . ."
At that second, Mark's eyes became fixated over the top of Derek's head. . . Derek turned around to see what had him so captivated. "And here she is now." Derek said laughing.
"Don't man, I mean . . . we aren't like you and Mer, please don't say anything. . . " Mark said getting all nervous which caused him to rub his hands together.
"So, you don't want me to be . . . you." Derek said watching how nervous Mark had gotten.
"Derek . . . please." Mark said pleading.
Derek had never seen Mark like this. "Wow. . . this is. . . "
"Hey Mark. . . Derek. . ." Izzie said before Derek could say anything else looking at both of the men, but giving special attention to Mark.
Derek turned around to face her, "Hello Izzie, how are you this morning?"
"Oh. . . I am good . . . great even." She said giving Mark a quick smirk.
"I am sure you are. . . " Derek said coughing trying not to laugh. Pay backs were a bitch and Mark deserved this for all of the years of him doing this to Derek.
"Derek, don't you have something you need to be attending to?" Mark asked strongly suggesting Derek needed to go.
Derek looked up just in time to see just the person he needed to talk to before class. . . "Yeah. . . I do actually. Bye Mark, Izzie. . . I will see you in 30 or so minutes." He said quickly before jogging off hoping to catch the person he needed to talk to.
"Alex. . . " Derek said out of breath.
Alex stopped and turned around. Derek took a deep breath when Alex turned around because he looked terrible, like he hadn't slept at all which made Derek that much more nervous that things weren't good.
"What?" Alex snapped back. Yes, Alex was trying with Derek; they had a nice talk the morning before at Derek's apartment, but they weren't friends.
Derek thought maybe this was a bad idea, but he had to find out . . . make sure Meredith would be ok. "I wanted to . . . um . . . talk . . . make sure. . . I know about you and. . . um Cristina . . . Mer loves you both and . . . I want to make sure things are ok . . . or will be."
Alex stood looking at him like he was crazy. He didn't want to talk about it . . . especially to Derek. He had tried to call Meredith last night, but she didn't pick up the phone. He knew she had plans to study with Derek. . . "You don't know shit about this . . . things are fine. . . "
Derek could easily sense that things were not ok. "Look, I am going to just put it to you plainly and if you want to be an ass, then so be it." Derek paused to make sure he didn't find a fist in his face. When he realized Alex actually whipped his head around looking shocked that Derek actually just said that, he continued, "Meredith . . . she is . . . great and is doing really well right now. The reason why she is doing so well is because of you and Cristina."
"Yeah . . . so, why is this any of your concern?" Alex said scathingly.
Derek breathed. He knew this wasn't going to be easy, but he had to know what happened. He also needed to make sure they were ok . . . after their talk yesterday . . . Derek was his TA in Alex's class that was in the next 30 minutes. "Meredith . . . she is my concern . . . I am concerned for her. I just want to . . . be there for her and. . . You are her brother and if you need . . . well . . . if you need to talk. . . I can listen. . . "
Alex sighed. As much as he wanted to hate Derek Shepherd, he just couldn't. In fact, he almost considered the thought that Derek was really great for Meredith. He wasn't ready to let that be known either, but he did see the pleading look in Derek's eyes. Alex saw that Derek wanted to know . . . to make sure Meredith would be ok. Derek was trying to protect her and he couldn't ask for anything more. "There isn't a Cristina and I. . . I wanted . . . it doesn't matter what I wanted. Cristina . . . she isn't the marrying kind . . . she won't commit and at this point, it will all be fine. We will be able to live together and still be there for Meredith . . . although sometimes I think she is terrible for her, but she has always been there for her. It was just better this way." He sighed again. He knew he had to do this . . . the second he found out Cristina had kept the information about Derek and Meredith; he knew he couldn't be with her. She was loyal to Meredith . . . and that wasn't going to change. He was the one that decided to end it all. Cristina basically told him there wasn't . . . a them. . .they only had wild sex that was mind-blowing, but for the first time in Alex's life, he could see himself settling down. He knew deep down it wasn't ever going to be with Cristina and it was better to realize that now . . . early enough so that no one is hurt.
Derek just saw a completely different side to Alex. He saw a glimpse of it yesterday morning, but now . . . he saw it clearly. This man who he thought was a selfish, man-whore . . . was actually similar to him. . . They had a lot more in common than Derek cared to realize at this point. "Alex . . . it is great that you both are there for Mer. . . She couldn't have gotten through the last months without the two of you. She talks about both of you a lot. In fact, when we were studying yesterday, she would tell a story about you and/or Cristina anytime something we were studying reminded her of either of you.
Alex smiled. He knew his sister was truly amazing and was glad he found a way to accept Derek. Derek was really trying, with her and with Alex. "Thanks man . . . it was just . . . it is ok. It really isn't because of Meredith . . . that Cristina and I . . . decided to end things . . . so, I don't want you to think that."
"No. . . I don't . . . think that at all . . . that girl . . . she isn't the marrying kind . . . kind of scary really. I do worry about what you would do to me if I hurt your sister, but Cristina. . . I would be fearful of my life. . . " Derek laughed.
Alex laughed even harder than Derek, "I think you are right man . . . not that I wouldn't kill you and make it look like an accident, but she would make sure it was a very, slow, painful death."
After they calmed a few seconds later, "So. . . Alex . . . everything is . . . ok. . . I mean. . . Mer. . . She is . . . great and I really am. . . " Derek stopped to clear her throat not sure how Alex would respond, "falling for her. . . and you mean so. . . much to her." He said not taking his eyes off of Alex.
"Derek. . . I see . . . today . . . coming and talking to me about . . . Cris and me . . . it was for Toots . . . I see that . . . she needs that. . . I am glad. . .you " Alex said coughing before he could continue, "Don't fucking hurt her or you will have two of us coming after you, and what I will do, won't even come close to what Cris will do." He almost said it . . . he wanted to say he was glad it was Derek that Meredith had turned to. . . But, he wasn't ready just yet, because this was new . . . for all of them and up until yesterday, Alex hated this man . . . or hated what he knew of this man.
"I never plan on it . . . but, Alex . . . problems . . . there are always bumps."
"I know, but it is what you do with those bumps that make a relationship." Alex said matter-of-factly.
"Wow . . . who knew you could be so . . . right. . . " Derek said smiling, a little surprised Alex just said that.
"Yeah. . . I don't make it a habit." Alex said kind of shocked he came back with that, like it was natural.
"So . . . class . . . everything is . . . it is ok. . . I mean I am the TA . . . if you can't. . . " Derek was nervous talking about this after they had made progress. They were still very cautious with each other, but were getting more and more comfortable.
"Yes . . . but, Dr. Wright, he is an ass . . . maybe I should get in the other class just to get away from that ass."
"Alex . . . he is the best . . . you will see. He only rides you so hard because of who your mother is. You will do amazing having him—his students do the best on their steps and boards. . . I learned so much from him last year."
"So, you keep telling me . . . speaking of class, I should get going, I need a seat that isn't front and center . . . at least I don't have to sit by Cristina any more. . . " Alex said with a grin.
"Yes . . . out of his line of vision, but never out of his head . . . you are his target and that won't change this semester." Derek said pointedly.
"Well, good thing I am up for a challenge." Alex said smirking.
"See you in class . . . and Alex . . . thanks. . . I am glad you . . . just thanks. . . " Derek said really glad that Alex is ok with their relationship.
"She is happy. . . when I stopped and thought about the last few weeks. . . she hasn't wiped the smile off of her face and yesterday. . . it killed me to see it. . . go away." He said looking down. He hated doing that to his sister . . . he knew he shouldn't have hid it from her, it seemed like the right thing to do at the time . . . just like she thought it was best not to say anything about her and Derek.
"She is fine. She just needed time. See you in a few minutes." Derek said walking away, smiling as he thought about how fine she seemed last night.
Alex stood watching him walk away, "Yeah." He really was glad his sister had someone that . . . would protect her . . . stand up for her . . . talk to her twin brother who at one time wanted to kill him. He wasn't sure he would withstand as much as Derek had over his sister . . . not until recently. He knew the right woman would come along, but until then, he was actually going to try and be single . . . not have a woman a week or how ever frequent it was. He wanted to date . . . not just . . . have a few nights. He knew Cristina wasn't that girl, but he would find her. . .