Quick Authors Note: I hope everyone is enjoying the story so far! I feel like this is a darker side to Derek that I'm definitely enjoying writing. Right now, Derek & Meredith are struggling through fighting the lust they feel for each other to form something deeper. This is also my take on Derek & Meredith in college where they're not quite as ready to fall quickly and more into exploring the sexual side of each other. I appreciate all the reviews and I'm excited to continue this story!

Meredith looked down at her screen "Let's all meet at Funkies tonight. Need to talk to you all. 8pm."

She was planning to keep her promise to Christina from the night before and finally tell her friends the truth about why she had been so awol lately. She was definitely nervous, but it was time. Within seconds she saw a slew of responses confirming that her friends would all be there.

She sighed and slid her phone back into her pocket and threw a sweatshirt on and a pair of yoga pants. Her long blonde hair fell down her back and grabbed her backpack slinging it over her shoulders. She was definitely looking forward to the break from classes in the next few weeks. The whole deciding on her thanksgiving plans not so much. Typically, she saw Ellis over thanksgiving break and what she meant by saw Ellis was really just seeing Seattle. Ellis would spend a few hours at most with her and usually that time together was tense and awkward. She figured her dad and Susan would likely extend an invite to her to do Thanksgiving at their house after she saw them this week for dinner. Even Derek invited her to do Thanksgiving with his family.

A part of her was curious to learn a bit more about Derek's family. Afterall, she was going to be raising a child with him. A big part of her felt intimidated at the thought of meeting Derek's family, especially under these circumstances. She was worried about what they would think of her and how they would treat her. It wasn't an easy thing to digest.

She was snapped out of her thoughts by a knock at her door.

She opened the door to see Derek standing there with a to-go cup that she was hoping contained coffee.

"Hi" he told her with a grin

"I was just leaving" she told him with a smirk

"I know. Your class starts in about 20 minutes. Figured I would walk with you." He told her

"Oh." Meredith said

"Is that okay?" Derek said with a half laugh

"Of course it is" Meredith told him smiling. She wanted him. It was just the hormones she kept telling herself. She locked up the door behind her and Derek lead the way out of her building. She lived right on campus so the walk really wouldn't be far.

"This is for you" he told her gesturing to the to-go cup

Meredith reached for it "Coffee?" she asked hopeful

"No actually. It's hot tea with ginger. I read the ginger is good for nausea."

"I was really hoping you were going to say this was coffee." She teased

"You know you shouldn't have coffee while you're pregnant" he told her with a smirk.

She rolled her eyes in return.

"So, how's your class going?" he asked. What he really wanted to know was what was up between her and the professor. It was no secret he despised the guy.

Meredith looked at him knowingly "It's going… great" she told him as they passed through a slew of buildings.

"That's good. Do you miss your favorite student?" he asked jokingly

"You know what, I actually do." She told him with a smile

"I figured since I'm so easy on the eyes and all."

"You are not that good looking." Meredith told him with a laugh

"Maybe not in yoga clothes but that night at the bar in my red shirt, I was good looking, and you took advantage of me."

Meredith scoffed "Maybe you were the one who took advantage of me. Ever think about that?"

"Hey, I didn't say I minded the taking advantage. I wouldn't mind if you wanted to take advantage again… I mean really anytime you're up for it" Derek told her seductively

"We're so not having sex again." Meredith told him

"Like ever again?" Derek asked with wide eyes

"Derek"

"I'm kidding. I know that we'll have sex again." He told her

"I mean I know you're dying to. You proved that the first day we met. Remember your little-"

"Yeah, I remember. I mean can you blame me though? You in those tiny shorts down on all fours" Derek whispered

Meredith laughed "I think I remember saying something about slowing down last night."

"It's hard to slow down when I've experienced the complete opposite of "going slow".

Meredith rolled her eyes "I have to go." She said motioning to the door to her yoga class.

"Maybe I'll see you later" he told her smirking

"Derek" she called before he left

He turned to her and she kissed him. It was a deep kiss that felt more meaningful than any kisses they've shared in the past. Derek could tell it meant something to Meredith the way she kissed him. When she pulled away, he looked at her with a bewildered smile before he heard the one voice, he never wanted to hear again "Well isn't this cozy" Dean said with his arm crossed, a smirk etched on his face.

Derek wanted to punch the guy. He looked to Meredith who he could tell looked uncomfortable. He didn't want to make things worse for her, so he told her he'd see her later but not without shooting a glare Dean's way.

"So, that's your new boyfriend." Dean stated as Meredith followed him into the studio. She sat her stuff down and began rolling out her mat.

Meredith sighed "He's not my boyfriend."

"Honey, you can lie to yourself, but you can't lie to me." He told her

"He's not. We're just- you know what I don't have to explain myself to you."

"You certainly don't. However, I would think the past 2 years would have meant enough that you could at least properly end things with me."

"We both knew what this was." Meredith replied

"I'm hurt" Dean told her

Right when Meredith was about to respond, one of the students walked in.

"Can we talk about this later?" she asked him in a hushed voice after she said hello to the student.

Dean nodded and they kept their distance the rest of the class. Meredith assisted the students with their poses as Dean taught. Meredith couldn't wait for the class to be over infact she really couldn't wait for the entire semester to be over so she could get out of this awkward limbo with Dean. Truth is, she wanted to end things with him even before she met Derek. She regretted getting involved with a man so much older than her and especially a man already involved. She felt guilty that she allowed this to go on for so long.

When class ended, she packed her belongings up quickly, but Dean stopped her.

"Meredith, I don't want someone that doesn't want me." He told her

"This just isn't right. We've both known that from the start and we both knew this was never going to be forever."

Dean nodded "I know you're correct. Doesn't mean I'm happy about it."

"It just needs to be over, you know?"

"I do." He told her

"Let's get through the next few weeks and then…..clean break."

"Clean break." He agreed.

Meredith gave him one last small smile and made her way to her next class. This one where she was actually the student.

The rest of her day seemed to fly by and was packed full of classes, assignments & tests. She was supposed to meet her friends at their favorite bar in an hour and was casually studying for an anatomy class that Friday when she thought about Derek. It must have been pretty awkward for him seeing Dean. She realized that he probably had no idea what was going on there and that she ended it with him. She also vaguely remembered Derek having a girlfriend. She never really thought twice about it but now she was curious if he broke that off as well. She figured she would give him a call before she met her friends just to check in since their morning ended a bit more awkwardly than she would have liked.

He answered on the third ring "Hey Mer"

"Hi Derek"

"I'm glad you called" he told her

"You are?"

"Of course. How was your day?"

"It was…long but good. I was just studying for my anatomy test on Friday."

"I have a test this Friday too. Organic Chem"

"Fun."

"Oh definitely. I can't believe this semester is almost over and I'm only 6 months from graduating." Derek told her

"That's big." Meredith replied

"It is" Derek responded

"So, I was actually calling for a reason. I know today was a little awkward and I really didn't mean for it to be. I ended things with Dean which was…. Uncomfortable. I didn't do that because of you, I wanted to end things with him actually before I met you. I'm just really bad at awkward conversations as you probably know by now-"

"Meredith" Derek laughed stopping her

"You're rambling and it's very cute but it's okay. To be honest, I'm more jealous than I want to be over whatever it was going on between you and that guy. I'm glad it's over."

"You are?" Meredith asked

"I am. I'm very glad."

"That's good. That's really good." Meredith replied with a blush creeping onto her face

"So, what are you doing tonight?" Derek asked her

"Well, I'm finally telling my friends about the baby."

"How are you going to do it?"

"I'm going to meet them at Funkies. I owe them an explanation as to why I haven't been going out with them lately. I think they may be pretty mad at me."

"I think they'll understand Mer. If they're truly your friends they will."

"That's true. I just feel bad."

"Do you want me to tell them with you?" he asked

"They really don't know you."

"They're going to have to get to know me eventually. Maybe this can give us practice before we tell our parents."

Meredith cringed. They thought of telling her estranged mother or her father who just popped back in her life made her queasy.

"I think I should just do this on my own."

"Okay, well I'm here if you need me" Derek told her deflated

"Thanks"

"Bye Meredith"

"Wait Derek"

"Yeah?"

"Are you single?" Meredith asked

Derek laughed "Yeah, I'm single Mer"

"Good. Just wanted to be sure."

"Thanks for making sure"

"You're welcome"

"Bye Meredith"

Telling her friends was easier than she thought. They were all very supportive and Izzie actually seemed excited. Christina mentioned the idea of them all renting a house next semester and their senior year to have more room & to help support Meredith when the baby came. They all seemed onboard. It was weird for Meredith to be at the bar with her friends and not drink but she realized how much she missed them. She was touched that they were all so willing to help her and she was surprised how Christina was the one to initiate a better living situation and include them all.

"So…. Elephant in the room, who's the dad?" Alex asked

Meredith bit her lip nervously.

"It's not Hamlock's is it? He's more like a grandpa" Alex continued

"Alex. That's rude" Izzie commented

Christina busted out laughing.

"Do you guys remember that guy from the bar?" Meredith asked

"The one you practically had sex with right here on your birthday." Callie remarked

"Yeah….that one."

"So, do we get to officially meet him?" George asked

"Yeah, of course! Anytime really."

"So, are you two like a thing now?" Alex asked

Izzie clapped her hands together "Oh my God, you two looked so cute together."

"We're not together, just trying to be friends…for the baby"

"Uhh-huh "Christina scoffed

"I'm serious. We hardly know each other."

"Well, we're here for you Mer whatever you need." George told her

"Yes! Whatever you need Mer. We can go shopping for baby stuff. Oh, I can plan you the cutest baby shower!" Izzie chimed in

"Thanks guys. Really. Thank you" Meredith told her heartfelt

"Okay, grosse. Who wants another round?" Christina said interrupting the moment which Meredith was thankful for.

They all chimed in that they did.

Thanks for reading! Next chapter expect more Lexi content with Meredith telling Thatcher & Susan.