Meredith was really excited. . . Derek and she were going out tonight. He had made them reservations at one of the nicest restaurants in town. She needed to just relax and enjoy the evening with Derek . . . away from books and studying. She was really happy with the budding relationship with Derek.

Monday was really difficult for her. She went home after her first class with him. She was so tired, he called to make sure she was on her way back and he woke up her from a deep sleep. She would have slept right through class and she really couldn't afford to do that. That class was the first time she had seen Alex and Cristina since leaving the condo on Sunday. She could tell from their body language they were no longer a couple or whatever it was they were . . . and things really seemed to be ok between them . . . back to normal between them. Alex seemed a little down, but, they haven't had a chance to talk without Cristina around or someone around.

Derek found her after class on Monday to make sure she was ok. She loved that he was concerned about her . . . she hoped she wouldn't get tired of it. They had studied together a few times since Monday. . . It was now Thursday afternoon and Meredith only had a few hours before she got to see Derek . . . and would do fun things with him . . . talk. . . drink wine. . . eat. . . then . . . She hoped to be doing many things with Derek tonight.

"Hello?" Meredith said answering her phone.

"Hey there Mer . . . "

"Hey Bryant, what is up big brother?" Meredith asked cheerfully.

"Wow, someone is in a good mood. Glad that makes one of us." Meredith's brother said quickly.

Meredith's smile quickly went away, "Bryant . . . what's wrong?" She asked hearing the stress in his voice. She felt terrible . . . she has been so busy since moving back; she hasn't spent as much time with Bryant and his family as she would like.

"Meredith. . . I hate that I am calling, but I have no one else to call about this . . . do you have plans tonight? I mean, I know you are busy, but I really need a favor and. . . You know I wouldn't ask unless it was really important." He said with sadness in his voice that Meredith picked up on very quickly.

"Well. . . I did, but . . . you sound . . . it sounds like this is important . . . what's up." She said trying not to feel disappointed, but she loved her brother and his children. His wife . . . she was a different story, none of the family ever liked her. She was a self-absorbed bitch who was one of the top lawyers in town . . . which meant she was similar to their own mom. Meredith and Alex could never understand why he married her, but it was his life.

"Well. . . Meredith . . . it is . . . the kids. . . Morgan is working tonight. She wasn't supposed to, she was supposed to be off, but she is working all of the time these days. I am teaching tonight. I am teaching a night class this semester and the kids . . . and, they have been wanting to see their aunt. I will bring them to you. I know you may have to study."

"Bryant, stop . . .you are rambling and that is something I do. . . although I think we both are very good at it. . . you don't have to explain. . . you know I love my niece and nephews and would. . . love to spend time with them." She said trying very hard not to let the disappointment show in her voice . . . she would have to call Derek and try to explain. She thought he wouldn't understand and would get mad . . . just what she needed . . . they were doing great and this. . . She knew Bryant would do this for her in a second if need be, but it didn't help any.

"You said you had plans. . ." Bryant said sighing.

"Bryant, I would love to see my nieces and nephews and Derek. . ." Meredith stopped because she didn't know what Bryant would say . . . he would want to meet him. Shit. She knew she wasn't ready to put more of a definition on their relationship other than they were only doing . . . whatever it was they were doing only with each other. She did like that.

"Derek? You stopped Mer. . . Is there someone I need to meet?" He said curiously.

"I think Alex has it covered . . . you know how he can be." She said laughing.

Bryant laughed . . . the first time he had laughed in a while, "Yes . . . the twins thing . . . so, there is something for Alex to cover though."

"It is . . . you know, we are . . . we study and we . . . we are only with each other, but that is it . . . we haven't really defined anything except we have rules . . . that it is only Derek and I . . . there is no one else."

"Meredith . . . breathe. You are talking in circles . . . you like him." Bryant said smiling happy that one of the three of them was doing ok because when he talked to Alex earlier in the week, he sounded as bad as Bryant.

"Oh . . . well . . . um . . . yeah. . . I do . . . a whole lot actually and it is kind of . . . great." She said smiling thinking about Derek and how much she really liked him . . .

"When do I get to meet this Derek?"

"I think you may actually know him. . . I know you have missed the last few races, which Alex is really pissed about by the way, but it is. . . Derek Shepherd." Meredith said biting her lip.

"WHAT THE FUCK, MER. You can't date a driver . . . Alex is ok with this? . . . why in the fuck has he not mentioned it to me . . . driver's are . . . wait . . . you said you study together. . ." Bryant said taking a breath after momentarily freaking out . . . another trait he and Meredith had in common.

Meredith took a deep breath. That was sort of the reaction she was expecting. "Bryant, Alex . . . he is trying. He didn't. . . I didn't tell him at first, but. . . Bryant. . . Derek . . . he is kind of great . . . amazing really. He is a 2nd year med student."

"Really?" Bryant asked.

"Yes . . . unbelievable huh. . ." Meredith said still having to remind herself every now and then that this was good.

"Meredith. . . I am really happy . . . if you are happy. I will have to meet him though . . . let him know there isn't just one Grey he will have to answer to."

"He is actually more scared of Cristina than either of you I am sure. . ."

They both laughed knowing it was true.

"So, I will bring the kids over in about 30 minutes if that is ok, I have to be on campus by 4:45. . . I think I know where your condo is at . . . do you realize I haven't even been there . . . since you moved in." Bryant said a little disappointed.

"Bryant . . . we need to get together and do something, very soon. Are you coming to the race Saturday night?" Meredith said realizing how much she had missed her older brother and his children . . . she didn't care that she hadn't seen his wife.

"I am planning on bringing the kids. . . " He said knowing it would be a typical Saturday night. . . with only he and his kids.

"Good . . . and I will see you in 30 minutes. We will order pizza or something." She said thinking about the dinner reservations she had at Geseppio's with Derek.

"Meredith. . . I love you and thanks. . . I really do appreciate. . . I wouldn't ask unless. . . Thank you so much. Derek. . . I have to meet him soon." He said hating the fact he just asked his sister who had plans . . . with a man she seemed to really care about. He also hated the fact she sounded so excited about those plans with Derek.

"Yes . . . you should meet Derek and I can't wait to see the kids." Meredith said. Although she was disappointed about her date, she loved spending time with her brother's kids.

"See you in a few. . . "

"OK." Meredith said hanging up the phone and sighing . . . she didn't want to make this next phone call . . . worried what Derek may say. She knew she had to do this for her brother because something in his voice . . . something just wasn't right, but she wasn't exactly sure what. He never asks her for anything which made her wonder exactly what was going on at home.

She sighed heavily before dialing the number that was becoming more and more familiar to her. . . usually she was smiling and was all giddy. . . but, now. . . she didn't know what Derek would say. . . or if he would even believe her.

Meredith sighed as she dialed the number. She really didn't want to make this phone call. She dialed the number 5 times before this time . . . she would quickly shut her cell phone before she would press send. She wanted to go . . . she didn't realize how badly she really wanted to go until now . . . but, she also wanted to help her brother out. His wife was a real bitch and it didn't surprise Meredith that she couldn't stay home to watch her own children . . . she was similar to their own mother. At least the three siblings had each other to watch out for each other.

She heard the first ring and her heart was beating . . . very fast . . . the phone rang a second time. As the phone rang a third time, she heard the voice, "Are you getting ready for our date?" He said excitedly over the phone.

This made her that much more nervous and she had no idea what to say . . . before she knew it a few seconds passed, "Mer? Are you there?" He said worriedly.

She cleared her throat trying to hold back the tears that wanted to fall so badly. "Yeah, I am here." She said in a whisper.

"Meredith. . .Are you alright?" He said in a worried voice.

"I am . . . um. . . Derek . . . don't be mad please." Meredith said pleading.

"Meredith . . . tell me . . . what is going on. . . I will not be mad . . . don't you know, I can't be mad at you." He said as Meredith knew from the sound of his voice he was smiling.

She took a deep breath . . . knowing he would not be smiling in a few seconds, "My brother called. . . " She stopped.

"Ok, what did Alex need?" Derek asked wondering what the problem was.

"No, Derek, my brother Bryant." She took a pause again not wanting to disappoint him.

"That is great Mer. . . I know you were saying just yesterday that you needed to talk to him." He said trying to stay positive because he knew something was coming. Meredith wasn't hard to read when it came to knowing if something was on her mind. . . what was on her mind. . . was a different story.

"Ok. . . I really don't know how to say this, so I am just going to say it. . . I want to go tonight Derek . . . I want to go and have the perfect date that I know you will give me. . . I want to sit across from you, or maybe next to you and do the stupid little coupl-y stuff that I would usually laugh at others for doing . . . but, I want that . . . tonight. . . " She said sighing, stopping to regain her breath.

"And you are rambling." Derek said laughing at her, "I want all of those things with you as well."

"Oh Derek, I have to watch my brother's kids tonight because his bitch of a wife seems to be too busy to take care of her own damn children. . . " She said taking a deep breath waiting for him to hang up. . .

"Meredith . . . is that all?" Derek said trying not to laugh at her on the other end of the phone. She was really freaking out and he found it adorable.

"Yes . . . and Derek. . . I am so sorry . . . I understand if you don't want to go out with me again. . . I mean . . . this is."

"STOP!" Derek said loudly over the phone still trying to not laugh at her. She really thought he would not want to date her.

There was a few seconds of silence, "Mer. . . Did you really think. . . I wouldn't want to date you because of this?"

"Well. . . I didn't know. . . I mean. . .I have never really . . . um . . ." She said not sure what to say.

"You have never really been on a date before . . . a real date, have you?" Derek asked making sense of why she was so nervous.

"No. . . I haven't." She said a little embarrassed.

"Wow . . . now, you will be in for the treat of your life, this is great news because now, I can really be McDreamy and plan an amazing first date for you. I am glad I found this out . . ." Derek said as a million things went through his head of things he could do to make it perfect. If he would have known this was her first real first date . . . it would have been way more than just reservations at the restaurant. Now, he could do it up right and he was so excited about this. He was a little disappointed about tonight . . . he wanted to see Meredith, but he was quickly thinking of ways for that disappointment he had to go away.

"Oh. . . I don't need . . . wait, you aren't mad?"

"Mer. . . I told you, I can't be mad at you and if I were, it would be over something much bigger than this. I can't say I am not disappointed, but at this point. I am glad . . . you are going to have an amazing date soon. . . I am going to plan it all."

"Wow. . . Derek, just wow. I thought. . . "

"That is what you get for thinking." They both laughed as Meredith felt relieved . . . in a way that made her heart swell even more for Derek.

"So . . . what are you planning on doing with your niece and nephews?" Derek asked.

"I will probably order pizza . . . and we will talk and play games and just hang out. I am not sure if Alex will be in, but if he is . . . the boys will wrestle and do the 'manly' things they do. Me and Marissa, my niece, will do girly things. . ." She said giggling, thinking about all of the great times she has had with them, but she hasn't seen them as much in the last 4 years, but anytime she was in town, she spent quite a bit of time with them.

Derek couldn't help but feel an intense feeling of happiness. . . Thinking his Meredith with children . . . hopefully one day with his children . . . all 4 of them as he dreamed about. . . "That sounds like fun." He said knowing exactly what he was about to do.

"I should go and get ready for them." Meredith said hating to have to get off of the phone.

"Mer. . . Date . . . you and me. . . " Derek sighed not knowing when this date could actually happen. . . then, the perfect time popped in his head. . . "Sunday . . . we are going on our date Sunday and be ready bright and early." He said smiling . . . he wasn't exactly sure what they would be doing, but it would be many different things they would do.

"Derek. . . I don't do bright and early." She said grumbling a bit.

"You will want to do bright and early for this." He said smiling.

"Cheesefest. . . I can't wait." She said laughing knowing he would have big things planned because she had already learned that was the way Derek operated.

"And, you will love it."

"Derek . . . thank you . . . for understanding." Meredith said knowing she needed to go and pick up a little.

"Anytime . . . have fun. Call me later." Derek said knowing exactly what he was about to do. Pizza wasn't a good dinner for children. . .

"Bye Derek, I really wanted . . . tonight."

"I know, but soon . . . very soon. Bye." He said very excited about what he was planning to do right now.

They both hung up the phone. Meredith was disappointed; she really wanted to go out with Derek, but felt anxious and excited for their upcoming date Sunday, bright and early as he put it.

Derek hung up the phone, grabbed his car keys, and headed out the door. . .