Chapter 24: Visions of the Past?

The words are enough to make Meredith shudder.

Bite me Meredith...take my blood... you know you need to complete the final step of our bonding...

Meredith gives Derek a startled look, as the newly familiar tingle begins in her fangs. "Is there a ceremony to follow?"

He grins lazily at her, his own fangs gleaming white in the darkness. He raises up beside her, the muscles of his chest looking granite sculpted. So strong and perfect. He catches her head in one hand, his thumb feathering her cheek. Leaning closer, their eyes meeting, both edging in gold again. "Only that I need to be inside of you, joined as one, while you take my blood. Can you handle that?"

"Oh...I think so..."

"Good...because I really..." He kisses her once.

"...really..." Kisses again.

"...really need to take you slow and easy this time..."

"I like the sound of that..." Meredith sighs, easing him backwards, so that she is now above him. "Like this?"

"Any way you want me, honey..."

Meredith runs her palm along his abdomen, feeling him quicken under her touch. It's different now, able to sense all of his responses so exactly beneath her fingertips, gather his thoughts. His oh-so-intimate thoughts. His cock rises against her, and she brushes her fingers along the throbbing length. Her own desires rise to match his, their eyes meeting.

"The ancient ones have a word for the bonding ritual," Derek tells her, as she leans forward. Her hair grazes his chest as she lightly skims her tongue over his nipples, one by one. Her warm breath fans him gently.

"Oh…?"

"Yes, they call it Sangre-Amour…the blood of love…" He smiles sensuously at her, playing with her hair.

"I like that…" Meredith whispers, intent on finding more places to kiss him, stroking with her tongue until he pulls her ever close, his finger still twining in her hair.

"Take me inside of you now, sweetheart…" His hands move to her hips, guiding her closer still. Rising to meet her, aching to be enveloped in the tight warmth, eager to have her take his blood on her own. Giving it to her by cutting himself has bonded them, but she needs to do it again on her own, using her own fangs to pierce him and initiate the flow.

"Yes, I want this now too…" With a shaking sigh, she sinks down over him, inch by exquisite inch. Holding still then, as their pulses throb, and words come unbidden to her mind. "I love you, Derek Shepherd…my blood bond, my immortal mate…" Her fingers entwine with his, as she leans closer, his cock gliding upwards with her.

"I love you, Meredith Grey…my blood bond, my immortal heart…" he tells her in response, his voice low and intimate. "Take me into you forever…" He bucks up into her then, just as she kisses his throat, seeking the blood she craves. Tremors begin deep within her, a moan in her throat, before she bites down. Derek's body jerks, heat flooding him as she takes a first pull from him. This is the first time he is giving his blood in this way, and he almost cries out at how good it feels. The succulent feel of her mouth, the pull of her tongue is amazing. His cock seems to swell even more, pumping into her in long, deep strokes.

Meredith revels in the rich taste, the amazing way it feels her senses. Marveling again at the way it tastes so full of life and power and heat. Flooding her cells and muscles with strength. His body rocks into hers, fulfilling their destiny, as the orgasm spikes.

Now Meredith…

She takes one final pull, before letting go, the wound healing instantly. A small trickled of his blood clings to her bottom lips as she leans to kiss him. Watching her small tongue dart out and lap it up sends even more erotic heat to Derek, and he kisses her hard, flipping them over quickly. Driving into her deeper still, his mouth hovering over the tender place on her throat. A strangled hiss escapes him, before he bites down, her blood on his tongue, bringing her to an instant climax beneath him. Drinking in her essence, binding them for all time.

Blood between us always…

His own body flexes and pushes one last thrust, as he lets her throat go. Energized, flushed with blood, they move faster, deeper, each breath and pulse in rhythm. Meredith feels shattered into pieces of pure erotic delight, as she cries out from the intensity of it.

Love you…love you…

Always and forever…

They collapse together, bodies sated and exhausted. Meredith can feel the sudden pull of day sleep, with the oncoming dawn. It affects her more quickly than Derek, due to the newness of her vampire state. He curls into her, possessive and strong, his lips at her temple, as she falls into a deep sleep.

Sleep well love…

Within a week, they have moved into Derek's penthouse, which is freshly painted, repaired and back to the same luxurious comfort that existed before the attack of Michelangelo and his minions. Meredith knows her father would be just as happy to have them stay, but Derek is anxious to return to his own place, and she can't imagine not being there with him.

They have brought all of her things over, and she is nearly finished putting away her clothes in the huge closet Derek assured her she could use. His own is filled with racks of designer suits, buttery soft leather jackets and pants, and shirts of every color. Meredith smiles to herself, as she surveys his collection. He is a very well-dressed vampire of the night, that much is certain. Her father has provided her with a large wardrobe as well, more so than she could have dreamed of, but perhaps she should go shopping herself one of these nights. A girl's gotta have clothes…and shoes…she muses, tapping the toes of the Christian Louboutin boots that have become her favorites.

As she tucks a few sweaters into the drawers, she spots a small, ornately carved box tucked away in the bottom corner. It looks old, the wood smoothed to a fine patina. She drops to her knees, and tugs it closer. The carving is exquisite, tiny roses and vines entwine over the lid, breathtakingly real. She springs the little catch, and a scent of roses and heather wafts to her nostrils. For a moment, her eyes close, a strange sense pervading her. Without being told, she knows this box belonged to Kiera, and she has a moment of hesitation about looking inside. Maybe she will wait for Derek to come home from meeting with Alexei about a new car for her.

But she sits on the floor, too curious to keep from peeking at the contents of the box. She still has the book of poetry, which she had saved that night of the attack, tucked in her jacket pocket. And Derek had told her that there were other things of Kiera's here as well. What harm could there be in looking at this?

There are a few small compartments, lined in velvet that is nearly falling apart after all these years. Dried rose petals are in one corner, and a few pieces of jewelry are there as well. Meredith's heart beats a little faster, as she carefully touches each piece. There is a necklace, some earrings, and a carved ivory bracelet. The necklace is a locket, and Meredith holds it in her fingers for a moment before clicking the tiny catch. It springs open, revealing a miniature portrait in each half. One side is Derek, looking fierce and strong, yet with a hint of his usual smile lurking at the corner of his mouth. The other picture is a baby, and Meredith bites her lip in sadness. The child that died along with Kiera that fateful night – the portrait shows him as having the same black hair as Derek, with chubby cheeks and bright blue eyes. A wash of sadness ripples through her, as she reverently closes the locket and places it back in the box. The last item is a ring, set in gold, with a large sapphire stone that glints warmly at her. She turns it over, feeling a sudden urge to place it on her finger. The ring is small and looks like it will fit on her own ring finger.

As soon as the ring encircles her finger, Meredith feels an overwhelming rush of emotions. The lights seem to swirl around her, and she sees a different room, set with candles and a fire roaring in a massive stone grate. She looks down at herself, touching the stiff gown in surprise, feeling the unfamiliar constricting undergarments cinching in her waist, and pushing her breasts upwards. It feels real, right down to the smell of the candles burning, and the hiss and snap of the fire. She twists the ring on her finger, trying to remove it, but it's stuck fast.

The sudden, sharp wail of a baby makes her whirl around, spotting the cradle near the bed. Crossing the cold stone floor, her slippers making no sound as she walks, she finds the baby waving his fists, as he cries out.

Meredith looks around, biting her lip, finally picking up the child. Instantly, his cries ease, as he snuggles against her, smelling of warm baby skin. She wonders if there is someone else around, or if this is a dream where she is alone. Walking towards the windows, humming softly, where she peers outside. The moon is high, illuminating lush greenery, no other lights twinkling anywhere. The baby falls asleep against her chest, as the minutes pass silently.

"Ah, there you are..." Derek's voice comes from behind her. "I trust you are feeling better?" His lips graze her neck, before she turns around, the heavy skirts twisting around her legs.

"Better?"

Derek smoothes her hair away from her forehead. "You were feeling ill, love, feverish...have you forgotten?" He looks at her in concern, his blue eyes so familiar, yet different from in his vampire state. Dressed casually in a loose-fitting white shirt with wide sleeves, an open brocade vest, dark trousers tucked into knee high leather boots, he looks elegant and sinful at the same time. He is every bit the arrogant nobleman, born to the luxury of the estate, and at ease with his masculine strength. A large ruby ring with an ornate crest graces his finger, a sign of his status. Her eyes are drawn to the mat of dark hair on his chest, and she realizes it's no wonder he is such a sensual vampire, given how virile he is at this peak of his life.

"Oh...of course, I'm just a little sleepy yet," she murmurs finally, as he tenderly touches the baby's downy head.

"Ah, love, just do not overtire yourself..." he admonishes, kissing her temple.

Meredith nods, wondering if this is where Kiera began to feel sick. Wondering why she is seeing this moment. She can feel a slight sense of over-protectiveness in Derek's tone, as if Kiera has been fragile and ill before. He takes her hand, kissing her knuckles, a smile on his face at seeing the ring there. "The setting is perfect for the stone; your mother will be pleased to see it when she comes to visit..."

"It is lovely," Meredith agrees.

His eyes stray to the deep décolletage of the gown, where the square cut of the material shows off her cleavage. "Perhaps you can put the babe back in his cradle now that he is sleeping…" he murmurs, dropping a kiss along the soft skin. A hot tingle arises in her core, just as real as the rest of this vision. She bites back a whimper, as his mouth travels a little further, wanting him just as badly in this time period as their own.

But suddenly, the ring feels even tighter, warming her finger almost painfully, and the room spins again, and she pitches forward, into Derek's arms...

"Meredith?!" Derek's voice cuts through the fog in her mind, and she blinks in surprise, finding him kneeling in front of her. She puts her hands on his shoulders, touching the black leather jacket, damp with rain. It's not the brocade vest from her vision, and she is not wearing a stiff gown. There is soft carpet beneath her, not stone floor, and there is no baby in her arms. She shakes her head to clear the cobwebs away.

"Oh god, Derek...I had the strangest vision..." she murmurs, as he spots the open wooden box, the ring now lying on the floor beside her. "I'm sorry, I found the box, and the ring seemed to call to me...to put it on...I shouldn't have done that."

"It's all right, Meredith. Obviously, it has opened some connection between the past and the present. I came back as quickly as possible, as soon as I felt your concern." With the blood bond even stronger between them, he became immediately aware something was happening to her, and left Alexei without finishing the test drive of the car. He looks into her wide eyes now, scooping her up easily, and carrying her to the bed. "Can you tell me what you saw?"

"It was Kiera, yet it was me with you..." Meredith tells him what had happened, closing her eyes, still able to see it all clearly. "The ring...was it special to her somehow?"

Derek takes her hand, tracing the delicate fingers with his own. "It was her mother's, or rather, the stone was. It had been handed down from mother to daughter for generations. Kiera received it after the birth of our son, and we had it set into a ring. They say the stone had special powers, but who knows for sure?" He shrugs lightly. "She lost so much weight during her sickness, her fingers became too thin, and she was unable to keep the ring on at the end. I should have buried it with her, but I forgot completely at the time..."

"My god, Derek, what if there is a family connection to me?" Meredith suddenly asks, sitting up. "Maybe that's why I feel her so strongly."

"It might explain it. Do you know your mother's family history?"

She shakes her head slowly. "Not really, I was an only child, the same as Mom was, and when she died, I lost track of any kind of family I might have had. Maybe I should ask Richard, he might know."

"It's a place to start," he agrees, pulling her closer, touching her cheek. "But I love you for you, Meredith, not what your past may have been, you know..."

"I know, but if there is something restless in Kiera's spirit that needs to be given peace, I would like to do that. Veronique says that wraiths exist, that there are ceremonies to send them into peaceful eternity. I want to explore the connection before putting this to rest." She smiles into his glittering indigo eyes, leaning in to kiss him. "And I love you too, Derek..." Heat simmers between them, blood desire spiking.

"I was going to suggest we go out, go meet with Alexei at Savage Garden, since I left him so abruptly," Derek murmurs, "but I think we could stay here awhile longer..." Pulling her over him, so that she laughs breathlessly, feeling his arousal so intimately against her.

"I think you are right...and you know, you were pretty damn hot back then too, lover…" Running her fingers along his chest, something she can never get enough of. Touching the perfectly formed muscles, the flat abdomen, longing to feel him joined with her again. "I think you're the most gorgeous vampire I've ever seen..." she whispers, helping him undress, her fingers moving just as swiftly as his now.

"Mmmm...then no wonder I chose you...waited for you...all these centuries...my beautiful mate," he replies wickedly, parting her legs, pulling her closer. His tongue rolls over her breasts, her nipples, making a wet trail along her belly. Finally tasting her dampness, each flick of his tongue making her beg for more. He holds her hips, so that she is arching against his mouth, her feminine scent surrounding him completely.

Her pulse throbs, calling to him, and he can't resist any longer. Fangs graze over her skin, along her inner thigh, as his fingers continue to play over her slick wetness.

I want to bite you...here...

Just do it... Her thoughts implore him to keep going.

Keeping his eyes locked on hers, Derek lowers his fangs carefully into her, tasting the sweetness of her. Tongue lapping erotically, taking just enough to satisfy his craving, as the climax rolls through her.

"Oh dear god..." Meredith whimpers, falling back limply. Derek strokes the wound shut, before raising himself over her again. Parting her wider, ready to take her then, his cock throbbing for release. Lowering himself to her, sliding into her so easily and perfectly, their bodies made for each other. Melding together so completely as if they were one, stroking each other into pure sweet satisfaction, again and again.

As Meredith cries out one last time from the climax that grips her, Derek's hips driving against her, with the force of his own pleasure, her eyes find the ring glittering on the bedside table. It seems to call to her again, but she turns away, looking into Derek's eyes as they move together. For a brief moment, she thinks she hears a soft whisper of something, a feminine sigh, but it's almost too faint even for her newly enhanced hearing. Then she is engulfed again, taken away into waves of heat, as Derek loses himself into her, and nothing else matters but the endless orgasm that grips them both.

We possess each other, love...body...

...blood...

...and soul...