Chapter 34: Lots of Work to Do

Derek's Point-of-View

I felt dehydrated. It was no surprise considering how much sex we'd had in the past two days. I was glad that exhaustion finally overtook us because we both needed a break and some rest. I felt my head throbbing and knew I needed to get some water in me, and it'd probably take care of the headache. I opened my eyes and reached for Meredith only to find that the other side of the bed was not only empty but semi-cold.

My eyes fluttered open to confirm my suspicion, and had I not been in my current physical shape I'd almost want to doubt it ever happened. I tried to recall what day it was, and then it made sense. It was Monday and she had rounds. But I saw a small white square with blue writing resting on her pillow, I picked it up and smiled.

This is a great start. But you've got a lot of work to do.
-Mer

I frowned, not sure what she meant by that. It would make sense that I wasn't off the hook yet. I made a huge mess and I should be a in the doghouse for a little while. I got up and quickly showered, ok maybe I enjoyed the hot water against my sore muscles. As I got dressed, I put something on that I knew I'd never take off, never again, my wedding band.

On my way to work I stopped by the florist and ordered the largest most godly bouquet of flowers I could and told them to deliver it, along with a note 'Here's to day one of the rest of our lives.' –Your Husband.

Cheesy, perhaps, but if I had a lot of work to do, I could handle it, they didn't dub me McDreamy for nothing.

I got looks as I walked down the hallways of the hospital, most probably wondering why I wasn't on my honeymoon by now. Or perhaps it was because I was whistling. Either way, I just ignored it as I went to my office to change and get ready for the day. My mind was reeling with more ways to kiss my wife's ass, she deserved it for all I'd put her through, I'd beg and grovel as long as I had to. This was it; she was it for me. There was no other and I'd been a clueless moron to think otherwise.

I could put her back on my services, Bailey willing, and let her perform surgery. She'd love that, and I might get laid a little more….no, can't think like that. Though God knows how good it is with her, I love her, and I need to win her heart back. I checked my watch; it was late morning and she should've been delivered flowers by now. I painted a smile on my face as I walked out of my office and down the hallway, I spotted her right away, as well as the large display of flowers setting on the desk a few feet away from her.

I walk up, I spin her in my arms, a pen falls out of her fingers and crashes to the floor as I kiss her soundlessly in front of the hallway full of people. I pull back expecting to see a glowing smile on her face….and I see a look of shock followed by a scowl. A scowl? Seriously...

"Hi." She said dryly.

"Hi." I tried not to sound unenthused. "Good morning?"

"Morning." She replied numbly.

"You got the flowers?" I glanced over.

She sniffled, "Yeah." It sounded like a mutter "Thanks for that."

"You sound upset." I let my face fall into a frown "You don't like the flowers?"

"They're nice." She said "Pretty." Her voice became strained and then she turned and her face puckered up as she sneezed, she grabbed a tissue out of her pocket "But I'm allergic."

My lips fell open as I felt about three inches tall, her eyes watered and she glared at me with a sniffle.

"I…" I mumbled "I didn't know, I'm sorry."

"I know." She sighed "We have a lot to get to know about each other."

"Yes." That brought a smile back to my face "So shall we get to know each other a little better tonight after work?" I kissed her again "Say my place?"

"I have a place of my own." She said flatly "It's very comfortable to me."

"Ok." I chuckled, I thought she was joking "but married couples usually live under the same roof."

"We haven't for the last three years, so, why should it change now?"

Ouch, that stung "Are we not going to do this, because I was under the impression that we were?" she turned and stared at me with a blank emotionless expression that still spoke volumes of words, and then it hit me "Oh, this is part of the work."

"Bingo." She said, "You didn't think it'd be that easy, did you?"

"Well help me out a little." I pouted "Tell me what I need to work on, anything and I'll do it."

She narrowed her stare "If you don't honestly know…" she let out a sigh "You need to figure that out."

Then, she turned and walked away.. and I started feeling the rejection that I had feared. It wasn't as bad as it could be, she was mine, and she wasn't going anywhere but obviously I needed to figure it out. What though, I had no clue. I glanced at the flowers on the end of the counter, obviously I needed to brush up on my skills.