Chapter 39: Surprising Him

Meredith's Point-of-View

"You want to do what?"

I looked at Amber like she had ridden the short bus to work today.

"Don't look at me like that. It is a warranted question." She said, giving me the Bitchface.

I sighed.

"I want you to give me Derek's house key." I answered, holding my hand out.

She just looked at it.

"No can do." She finally said, turning to walk away.

I groaned and caught up to her.

"Why not?" I asked.

She stalled and turned to me.

"Why not? The last time I gave you the key you made him resemble a blow fish, had to give him a shot in his ass, and broke a family heirloom!" She exclaimed.

Oh yeah.

"About that." I said, laughing slightly.

Her eyes narrowed.

"I noticed that you had a whole set of those family heirlooms. I will be needing a piece of that." I told her.

She began laughing. I stared at her, confused. What was so funny?

She stopped laughing abruptly.

"You're serious." She stated.

"Yes. I need his keys and the plate." I told her again.

"I don't know…" She hedged.

"Amber, I am trying to do something nice for your brother. I made a mess of that night and I want a do over. I need a do over. If I don't do the do over, I am going to implode! It has been two years!" I grabbed her collar and pulled her to me. "I need sex Amber! Like now! I need sex now damnit!"

Amber looked at me wide eyed and I realized what I was doing. I loosened my grip on her and smiled sheepishly. I put her clothes back in place.

"Please?" I begged sweetly.

Amber groaned.

"Okay. But you owe me." She said.

"Anything! I will do your laundry for a week…a month!" I said.

"No I was thinking more that you would do all my rectals for two months." She said.

"What? Are you serious?" I asked.

"As a heart attack."

"No." I crossed my arms over my chest.

"Okay then." She shrugged casually and walked off.

Shit. Fuck. Damn.

"Okay, fine! Ugh! I hate you." I agreed.

Amber smiled, reached into her pocket for her keys, and extracted a small silver one with a blue top and handed it to me.

"And you know where the plate is." She said.

"Thanks." I said sincerely, as I hugged her.

"I am only doing it because I can't take all the pheromones around you two. And I am in a good mood because I got laid. I swear my hymen had started growing back." She said.

"I will see you later. Don't wait up!"

"I never do. I will just be home trying not to think that you are porking my brother."

"Have fun with that." I told her as I hurried away.

I heard the door open and I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. I looked over everything that I had painstakingly prepared.

Derek's footsteps slowed down as he hesitantly rounded the corner to the kitchen. I kept my place by the table and had my hands gripping each other in front of me.

His eyes warily took in the kitchen and dining area and then it became something akin to warm pleasure.

"Hi." I said nervously.

"Hi." He said smiling.

We stood there for a moment, neither sure what to say.

"So…surprise!" I said.

"This is a surprise." He said.

"A pleasant one I hope."

"Yes definitely a pleasant one. You look breathtaking." He said warmly.

I felt a shiver go up by spine just from the look he was giving me.

"So there's dinner." I said.

His eyes were wary again.

I laughed.

"Don't worry. I didn't cook and there are no peanut products at all. I checked and double checked." I assured him. "I hear this is your favorite." I said, almost shyly.

He looked past me to the table and saw the mushroom ravioli, salad and red wine.

"Who told you that?" He asked.

"Mark." I told him.

"And he just told you?" He asked.

"No, he made me give him a blow job." I sighed.

Derek's eyes flashed.

"I'm kidding! Though I am not entirely sure that Lexie didn't to get me the information, but I don't want to think about that so how about we just eat." I suggested.

He pulled out my chair for me, his hands caressing my back before he took his own seat across from me.

'It looks terrific. Thank you."

"You're welcome." I said sincerely.

We ate in silence for a moment, just enjoying each other's company.

"So, how was your day?" He asked.

"You should know. I worked with you all day." I pointed out.

He blushed slightly, and I laughed.

"Oh! I have something for you." I reached over to one of the empty chairs and handed him a wrapped gift.

"You didn't have to get me anything. What is it?" He asked, looking at it.

"You have to open it." I hinted.

"I knew that." He tore the paper off.

"It's a DVD player." He said, reading the box.

"Open it."

He looked confused but did as I asked. His features softened and he smiled softly at me. He pulled out the plate.

"Where did you get this?" He asked.

"Amber. She had more than one and I asked her for it." I said.

He raised his eyebrows.

"And she just gave it to you?" He asked doubtfully.

"Yes. Well, after she coerced me into doing all her rectal exams for the next two months." I told him.

He winced.

"Wow. You really wanted this plate."

"You have no idea." I told him.

"Thank you."

I looked down at my plate, letting my hair form a curtain to hide my face.

"Yeah." I said.

He leaned across the table and tilted my chin up with his fingers.

"Don't hide from me." He said. He brushed my hair behind my ear.

"Okay."

We ate and talked about little details of our lives growing up and what we hoped for in the future. It was a nice dinner and even better conversation. I got up and started clearing the table. I picked up my plates and then walked around to his side. I went to do the same to his setting when two strong hands grasped my waist and pulled me down onto his lap.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

He took the plates from my hands and placed them back on the table.

"I'm going to kiss you. Any arguments?" He asked.

"None at all." I replied, pulling him to me.