Enjoy! :)
Disclaimer: I don't own any of Grey's Anatomy. Not the characters. Not the plot. Not anything. Nor do I own anything to do with the NHL. At all. But it would be pretty cool if I did.
Washington Capitals were going to be tough. They were near the top of their own division and had a bunch of good players. Derek had to be in the zone if he wanted to play well, to entirely focus on the match ahead. The team talk had gone well and now they were kitting up, getting ready to play. They were in their alternate jerseys, which Derek actually loved. The orange and black felt powerful, he wasn't sure how. He pulled it on over his head, and walked out to the ice, stick in hand.
The crowd was already in full force, there were flags and banners, an equal mix of Flyer and Capital fans. The thrill he got from this game never ceased to amaze him. He joined the warm-up and got ready to play the second game of the tournament.
xxxxx
Meredith sat at home, watching the TV with her son sat next to her. She saw Derek come out from the changing rooms and now he was skating around, admittedly looking pretty hot, who was she kidding, she was in her own head; he was gorgeous. They both watched for a few minutes when she reached for her phone. She really didn't think it would go through but someone picked up who wasn't Derek.
"Hello," a masculine voice came over the phone.
"Hi, I know Derek's warming up, but do you think he can take a minute?" Aiden looked at her quizzically.
"Sure," the man laughed, she heard him shout over the phone, "Hey Shep, get over here, your girl wants you."
On the screen, she saw confusion cross his face until he realised just who his teammate was talking about. He skated over and took the phone, "Hey Mer," she could see him smiling.
"Hey, I know you're warming up, I can see you right now, well, on the tv, but I just wanted to wish you good luck!"
"Thanks Mer, that means a lot. Don't worry, I'll do you proud."
"Good," she giggled, "Oh, Aiden wants to talk to you."
She passed the phone to her son who had been poking her the entire time she'd been on the phone. She watched the tv screen as Derek's smile grew even brighter. "Hey bud," she heard.
"Hey Derek, you'll smash the Capitals, you're all better than them anyway."
"Thanks Aiden, I'll make sure to tell the rest of my team that!"
"Kay," he giggled, "Good luck, I'll see you soon."
"Bye bud." She took the phone back and said, "Make sure you win Der."
"Oh I will, with you watching what choice do I have," he smiled.
"Cheesy Derek," she giggled.
"You love it," he concluded.
"I do," she smiled softly, "go and play hockey,"
"I'm going, I'm going. I'll see you Tuesday."
"Bye Der."
"Bye Meredith."
Meredith hung up and watched Derek skate back to his team, grinning from ear to ear. Meredith smiled herself, pulled Aiden closer, who was already eating his game snacks, and sat back to watch the game, she watched Derek closely, and the more thought about it, the more she couldn't wait to go out with him tomorrow night.
xxxxx
Derek drew up to Meredith's house the next day, in a pair of jeans, a jumper pulled over his button down, seeing as it was still summer, kind of, he decided that he didn't need a jacket. He had told Meredith to dress, 'dressy casual'.
He rang the doorbell and smoothed down the front of his chest, removing imaginary wrinkles from it as he stared at the door before it opened. Aiden was with Lexie, her sister, and Meredith...
His mind stopped when he saw her in front of him, she was only in jeans and a nice top and sweater, but she had never looked more beautiful to him. He picked his jaw up from the floor, "Mer..."
"Hey Derek," she blushed.
"You look stunning."
"It's only a sweater and a pair of jeans," she giggled.
"Well maybe it's you then," he grinned and kissed her lightly on the cheek, "Ready to go?"
"Absolutely," she took his outstretched hand and they got into the car.
Derek drove her to the docks under a stream of relentless questions. He rolled onto the ferry to take them to Bainbridge, "So you're really not going to tell me where we're going?"
"Nope, you'll just have to wait and see."
"And I see that I'm feeding your ferry boat obsession," she giggled.
"Hey," he said, indignant, "don't knock it, ferry boats are great."
"Come on then," she said and flung open the door, halfway up the steps before Derek could catch up with her. "Hey, we're meant to be on a date together you know," he said as they reached the top.
"Just keeping you on your toes," she leant against the railings.
"I'm not letting you go that quickly," he whispered and wrapped his arms around her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder.
"Hmm, I wouldn't want you to," she whispered back, resting her head against his after running her hands through his hair. They talked softly for the rest of the ferry ride and only untangled themselves from their embrace at the last possible second. Derek took her up the hill slightly, parked and took her hand to start dragging her up the hill.
"I heard through our endless conversations that you haven't been hiking in a while. So, I'm taking you," he grinned. Meredith grinned right back, "Seriously? This is your date?" She said with a twinkle in her eye.
"Uh huh," he grinned boyishly.
"Well let's go then, I'll race you, I'll win," she taunted.
"Oh not if I can help it," he smirked and sprinted off up the hill.
"Derek! That's cheating!" He heard Meredith shout.
He turned around to shout back but found her facing him already, her eyes bright and her cheeks flushed. "Bye Der, see you at the top." She raced off. He caught up with her and they ran for a few seconds more before they just decided to take in the scenery and the calm, it wasn't often that they both got this. They walked contentedly up to the top, hand in hand. Derek brought her into a clearing that overlooked Seattle.
"Wow Derek, this view is amazing," she exclaimed.
"I know, it's why I love it up here," he said as she wandered around the grass, peering over the cliff down onto Seattle.
"It's why I want to buy it," he stated.
She swivelled round to look at him, "Really? You're going to buy it."
He nodded mutely, a smile on his face.
"You should, you definitely should. And build a house. This is so you Der, I know I haven't really known you that long, but I can see you living here!"
"So can I. I'll get an apartment when I move here, but I'm looking to stay here long term. I'm on a contract for 8 years and all my family is here, I want to stay in Seattle."
"Do it Derek. Call an estate agent and buy it. You have to," Mer decided for him.
He grinned, "I'll definitely buy it."
They continued their walk back down and Derek took her to a small restaurant next to the docks. It was a small, quaint place, perfect for how they were dressed up, and a perfect end to a perfect evening. They chatted over candlelight about their work, childhoods, any miscellaneous stories they could think of. It just flowed in a way neither of them had experienced before.
xxxxx
Reluctantly, Derek got her back to her house at around 11.
"I wish this date wasn't over," he muttered.
"Me neither, I had a great time tonight."
"You're not just saying that are you?"
"No," she smiled, "Easily the best date I've ever been on," she said softly. She saw the bright smile on his face and said, "don't get too cocky," running a thumb across his cheek.
"I'll try not to," he laughed.
"Do you want to come in? For coffee or something?" She asked timidly.
"I would love to," he nodded.
Meredith let them both in, made the coffee, and they sat down on the sofa. She curled into his warmth and he put his arm around her. They sat for a few minutes before Meredith said, "You can stay here tonight. I mean, if you want. I know you probably don't want to go back to the hotel at this time of night and it could be easier," she suggested.
"Yeah, I want to stay, if you want me to stay, I'll stay."
"I do," she said quickly, looking up at him.
"Me too," he whispered, and kissed her. They remained in a lip lock for a few minutes before the desire overwhelmed them, they stumbled up the stairs and arrived swiftly in Meredith's bedroom where they stayed up longer into the night.
xxxxx
Meredith woke up comfier than she ever had done before in her life, there was no alarm clock to wake her and she was huddled against Derek's chest. His breaths were even, and an arm was draped over her side, his face in her hair. She breathed a contented sigh, she was happily cocooned in bed with her, boyfriend, she supposed, and the word didn't freak her out. It felt completely natural and she wanted this to be a regular occurrence, she wanted more of this. She snuggled closer and groaned when she heard the doorbell go. Derek grunted and shifted to bring her closer, unwilling to admit that it was morning and that he should probably get up. Reluctantly, Meredith got up, out of the warmth they had created. She looked down at Derek, tangled in her sheets, whining for her to come back, his eyes still closed. She smiled and kissed his temple. She shrugged on her robe from the door hook and came downstairs. She opened the door and found Aiden and Lexie in front of her. Her eyes went wide when she realised that Derek was upstairs, and Aiden would have questions as to why he was in her bed. Lexie took one look at her and knew what had happened last night. She smiled happily at her sister, she needed a man like Derek Shepherd, if not for her sake then for Aiden's.
"Hey mom," Aiden grinned and hugged her tightly. "How long did you have to work for yesterday?"
"Oh," Meredith realised the lie Lexie had told, "quite late sweetie, but I missed you," she kissed his head.
"I missed you too Mom," Aiden kissed her cheek.
"I was just about to take a shower so why don't you and Lexie go and get breakfast sorted?"
"Kay, but is Derek here? I saw his car."
"Oh, yeah, yeah he is. He forgot something the other day, so he came to get it. He might be in the bathroom right now."
"Yay! I wanted to see him yesterday, but he was busy," he sighed.
"I know sweetie."
She ruffled his hair and went back up the stairs for her shower and get Derek to wake up.
"Derek," she hissed when she got to her bedroom, "get the hell up. Aiden and Lexie are downstairs and wondering why your car is here!" She pulled the sheets off him.
"Come on Mer," he whimpered, jolting from the colder air. She sighed and peppered kisses on his temple, tempting him to get up. He finally did so, and she told him to get changed and find Aiden.
"Yes Meredith," he smiled.
"Don't patronise me. I'm grouchy, I was in a perfect cocoon with my boyfriend and now I'm up early on my day off and I wish I was still asleep!"
Derek only focused on one part, "Boyfriend?" He grinned.
"Oh. Well, I, I mean, that, that's what we're doing right. Unless you don't want me to be your girlfriend?"
"No, I do. I definitely want you to be my girlfriend," he grinned, pulling her against his chest.
"Hmmm," she sighed, letting herself bask in the comfort for a second.
He kissed the top of her head, pulled on a shirt and some jeans, and trod carefully down the stairs. But, clearly, he wasn't careful enough when he heard Aiden running towards him. "Derek! Derek!" He barrelled into him just as he reached the bottom step.
"Hey Aiden, did you have a good time at Aunt Lexie's?" Despite never meeting the woman, Derek was already immensely grateful. He had just had the best night of his life and now he got to see his favourite bud.
"Yeah, it was fun. But I missed Mom," Aiden's explained.
"I'm sure you did. You know, I'm gonna tell you a secret," he crouched down to whisper to him.
"What?" He asked in a whisper, eager to learn this secret that Derek had.
"I miss your mom sometimes too."
Aiden giggled slightly, "But why do you miss mom? She doesn't get you chocolate waffles on special game nights."
"No," he chuckled, "But you miss your Mom because she loves you doesn't she, and you love her?"
"Yeah?"
"Well, it's kind of like that, but I just like her lots."
"Oh, well I'll tell her when you're not here."
"Thanks bud," he ruffled his blond hair, "I'll tell her when you're not here too."
"But what if we're both not here," he asked slightly panicked.
"Well then we'll have to make sure she knows won't we," Derek grinned.
A few minutes later, Meredith came down to find Derek and Aiden sat next to each other.
"I met Lexie. We wanted to talk more but she had to go to the hospital," Derek smiled.
"That's good," she said walking to the counter.
Aiden and Derek shared a knowing look and almost immediately was attacked by a giant hug from the both of them. Aiden's arms were around her waist, each of Derek's on Aiden's back and her own. His face buried in her hair; she could tell he was smiling.
"What's this for?" She giggled.
"So that you know we miss you when we're not here," Aiden explained. Meredith's grin widened, this was pretty cute, not just on Aiden but on her boyfriend, who had refused to move back yet, though she wasn't complaining. He kissed her head discreetly and backed off, bringing Aiden up over his shoulder.
"Ahh," Aiden laughed uncontrollably, "Derek put me down."
"What was that bud, where are you?" Derek swung round as though he was looking frantically for her son.
"Derek!" He giggled again.
"Oh there you are," Derek smiled and set him back down at the table.
"Silly Derek," he laughed.
"Sorry bud," Derek's low rumbling chuckle came as he ruffled Aiden's hair.
"Hey Mer, when do you have to go to the hospital today?"
"I have to be there in an hour," she sighed, looking forlornly at him.
He tried to hide his disappointment and said, "It's okay, I can take care of Aiden today, we'll have fun won't we bud?"
"Oh God, I would owe you forever if you could do that." She stood next to him.
"Of course I can."
Then he whispered, "I can think of a few ways you could owe me." But it only got him a slap on the arm.
A/N: Derek showed Meredith the land he wants to buy! They're just getting closer and closer. I should be updating tomorrow so stand by. :)