A new chapter at last! My apologies for not getting this updated, but I was kind of stuck for awhile on what to write next. So, this chapter has some Shepherd family fluff, and ends on a hot Mer/Der note!
Teresa had barely stopped the car in her driveway, with Derek and Meredith and their luggage all piled inside the small car, when the front door bursts open, and all of Derek's sisters come piling outside. "Oh, god…" Derek groans, taking Meredith's hand to help her out of the car.
"Nice to be home…" Meredith giggles, looking up at him.
Amid the hugs and laughter of the family greetings, they manage to get into the house, along with their bags. "You look good, little brother," Nancy teases him, "A little shaggy, maybe…" She ruffles his hair playfully.
"Don't touch the hair," he says, ducking away from her.
Teresa herds them all into the kitchen, where they settle around the table, Maureen making coffee, and setting out mugs. There is a little smile on Teresa's lips, waiting for the inevitable screams when they notice Meredith's ring. After a few minutes of catching up, Lauren sputters on a gulp of coffee, her eyes landing on Meredith's left hand.
"Meredith!" Lauren grabs her hand. "Is that…" Her eyes swing over to Derek, and back to Meredith, a big grin on her face. "You guys are engaged…!!!"
Meredith nods happily, as Derek slips his arm around her. "We wanted to surprise you guys – Mom knew…" he said.
"Ohmigod…" Nancy murmurs, her eyes wide. "My little brother is engaged…I don't believe it."
They all pounce on Meredith then, admiring the ring and taking turns hugging her until Meredith thinks she is going to have her breath squeezed out of her. "I'm phoning Susan – she's gonna be mad she missed it." Lauren runs for her phone, to call the only Shepherd sibling not at the table.
"Do I get to be a bridesmaid?" Nancy asks, with a wink.
"Nancy, I don't think Meredith has had time to process the engagement, let alone plan the wedding," Teresa chides her. "And besides, I'm sure it will be awhile yet…"
"Oh, god, yes."
"But I know how you two feel," Teresa assures them. "Michael proposed to me in our freshman year too, and we did just fine. It can work out." Her voice is a little wistful, remembering the time her world was different, before her husband died.
"We're just going to coast on this for awhile, I think," Derek tells her.
"So, you'll be going up to visit Ellis soon?" Teresa asks, changing the subject. "I've been up there quite often, and she has some good days lately.""I know – Dr. Webber keeps in touch. I want to tell her about this…" Meredith indicates her ring, "even though she may not understand. I think we'll go tomorrow. I'm beat right now. It was a late night last night."
Derek squeezes her leg under the table, and she turns a little pink. "I mean with the ring, and all.."
"Too much information!" Nancy groans. "I do NOT need to hear any details."
"Just because some of us have a good sex life.." Derek starts to say, but she smacks him on the shoulder.
"Never mind…and we aren't talking about me!"
"Derek…" Teresa says with a disapproving grin.
"Sorry, Mom."
"So nice to have all my children at home…" she sighs in mock frustration. "Except for Susan, but she'll be here tomorrow."
"I'm going to head up and unpack, if you can excuse me," Meredith says, pushing away from the table. "Then I'll help with dinner, if you need me…"
"Don't worry about it too much – we've got it under control."
"Wait, Mer, I'll help you carry the suitcase – it weighs a ton…must be all those shoes you packed." Derek jumps up to follow her out to the front hall where their luggage is stacked.
"I can carry my own suitcase, Der," she says, turning around as he stops behind her.
"I know, but I want to get you alone," he whispers, with a soft kiss on her lips. "I know – I'm bad…"
"You are bad, Derek," Meredith replies, seeing the look in his eyes. "But then I must be too.."
He grabs the suitcase, as she picks up the smaller bag, letting her head up the stairs ahead of him. "Have I told you lately you have a nice ass, Mer?" he laughs.
"Derek!" She giggles infectiously, peeking over her shoulder at him.
He grins and raises his eyebrow at her, with a little shrug. "Well, you do…"
They head for his bedroom, piling the luggage on the floor, and he closes the door quietly, being sure to lock it this time. "No Nancy interruptions this time," he assures her.
"That was embarrassing on so many levels.." Meredith laughs, flopping onto the bed, and holding her hand out to him. "Is it gonna seem a little strange, sleeping together here, in your old bedroom?"
"Kinda I guess, and we'll have to be quiet, you know…" He jumps onto the bed with her, pulling her under him quickly. His mouth finds hers, in a soft and loving kiss, as she winds her arms around his neck.
"Mmm.." she murmurs, as he kisses a path down her throat, and along the edge of her sweater. "I guess we don't want to scar Nancy for life…"
Derek chokes back a laugh. "No…"
Meredith slides her hands down his back, along the side of his ribcage, as he pushes her sweater up and out of the way. He gives a little involuntary laugh as her touch tickles him at first, before she rests her hands on his hips. Then before she knows what he is thinking, he pulls her up into his lap, shifting his hips, until she can feel how hard he is against her. He moves his arms around her back, his mouth sliding around to her neck, licking her skin, then moving back to her mouth, driving her to distraction.
"Wait.." she murmurs, pulling her sweater over her head, and his eyes light up when he sees her bra, a skimpy confection of silk and hot pink lace.
"Nice…" His thumbs make little circles over her nipples through the material. "You've been out shopping…"
She sighs a little dramatically. "Oh, yeah…Jenny and me…got a little carried away in the lingerie department…she wanted to get something nice for Mark…"
"I don't need to know about that…"
"Yes, Nancy.."
"Oh…you're gonna pay for that!" He presses his mouth against her chest, licking and sucking, pushing the flimsy material out of the way, stroking his tongue over and around her nipples one by one. Her head goes back, as he continues to tease her, making her wiggle against him, thrusting her breasts higher. Then he stops, seeing her panting and flushed, as she raises her head to peek at him.
"Der…"
"Are you sorry….?" His fingers graze her abdomen, starting to tickle her.
"Yes…yes…YES!" She bites her lip then, trying to keep quiet, as he continues to tickle her, until she collapses in helpless laughter. "I'm sorry...DER!"
"Alright then.." He relents, kissing her belly as she sighs happily.
And then somehow they manage to pull the rest of her clothes off, along with his, and they move together again. His hands at her hips, pulling her onto him, so that he fills her completely, hotly, sweetly. Her hands at his face, kissing him as he pushes into her, rocking gently together. "Jeez..you feel so perfect, Mer…" he mutters, their rhythm coming naturally in a heated urgency. He thrusts into her again, his groan of pleasure washing through her, making her moan in response.
"I love this…I love you…" she whispers, catching his mouth, running her hands along his chest.
"I love you…" he responded, his mouth teasing her nipples again, her hand at his chest, feeling his steady heartbeat beneath her fingertips. "And I love this…" he added, their bodies moving together, seductively and slowly. Then he falls back onto his elbows, letting her set the pace, so that he flexes to meet her, slowly, then picking up speed, building to the peak. Sliding in and out of her, deepening their connection with every stroke…until they feel the climax taking them away, over the edge, their breath ragged, and their sounds of happiness stifled against each other's lips.
Finally, giggling and sighing, she falls away from him, curling into the crook of his arm. The later afternoon wintry sun creeping in the window warms them, but he pulls the comforter up and around them anyway. Her head falls against his shoulder, and before they know it, they are both fast asleep.
