Chapter 50: Breakfast
Derek was helping his mom with breakfast, with a smile from ear to ear. Over the past week since getting back from Colorado, he has spent a few nights at Meredith's and he couldn't wait to have her at his place, but he was still... nervous with his parent's right there; he knew the time would come soonish, but he wasn't ready just yet to answer those questions from his parents although he knew they wouldn't really mind. He has had plans drawn up on his house for a while and wasn't sure what to do with them right now. He wanted to start his house... there was only one problem, Meredith. He wanted her input because he wanted it to be the house... he raised his children in... with Meredith.
Carolyn Shepherd had never seen her son so happy, and she knew it had to do with Meredith Grey. Carolyn used the few moments they had alone to talk to her son, "You are happy."
Derek stopped what he was doing with the onions he was chopping for the omelets and looked at his mom and smiled, "I am mom, I am very happy."
"It definitely shows. Your father and I have noticed your vehicle gone... all night and not returning until the morning." Carolyn smiled, but wanting to let Derek know he could bring Meredith, to his place. He was a grown man, and they knew it.
Derek didn't know quite what to say, "Um... yeah... I have... a few nights." He kind of stuttered through the words not sure what to say.
Carolyn just smiled. She and Michael were actually really happy with them spending time together and was overjoyed when Derek and Meredith had returned back from Colorado on Sunday night just in time for the family dinner and looked, happier than ever, "Well, you have excitement written all over your face these days. Derek... you have the look, that your father had and still has... she is it, isn't she? Watching the two of you... I think it is what people see when looking at your father and me."
Derek inhaled deeply thinking about his mother's words... his mother and father had it all and hearing that he could have all of that with Meredith, made his smile even widen more if that was even imaginable, "Mom... really? I mean, I do... I love her mom."
"I know." Carolyn said trying not to let the tears escape that was quickly coming. Her son... her only son had found love and not just any love, but love that only a few are lucky to find.
Michael walked into the kitchen the second Carolyn said, 'I know.' He knew he interrupted a moment between mother and son, "Good morning son. Should I come back, in a few minutes?"
Carolyn took a few steps over to him and put her arms around him, "There is no reason for you to leave, I was just telling my son how happy he looks."
"He is your son when he is happy." Michael chuckled lovingly and kissed her quickly.
"He is my son, happy and in love." Carolyn said smiling adorningly at her husband.
"Well, in that case, he would have to be my son too, because I am pretty sure, I am happy and in love too." Michael smiled down at her, kissing her again lightly.
Derek smiled knowing him and Meredith... he could see them here, in the kitchen... doing this same thing. He loved that she would try to cook with him, and they would giggle together and kiss and touch. Mainly, he just liked spending time with her. He was working more and more with her. Darby would be back in a few days, but he was hoping the current arrangement could continue. Even though Darby had retired, he still helped out a few times a week, but Derek knew he wanted to completely retire. He loved practicing medicine and really needed to stay in Laramie instead of driving to Cheyenne to work at the hospital. The ranch did need him, but George was doing a great job running the ranch and they have decided to give him a raise and hire another ranch hand. Derek still oversees all of the finances and the overall running of it, working a few days a week, but he still wanted to practice medicine. Michael couldn't be happier that Derek had found a perfect balance.
Just then they heard the doorbell ring and Derek knew it was Meredith, "I will get the door." Derek offered, getting the overexcited feeling in his stomach knowing he was about to see her.
The second he opened the door, he couldn't believe how much love he possessed for this woman. She was wearing a sweater and jeans and was perfect. He gave her a kiss, "Good morning, beautiful."
He led her into the kitchen with his hand on the small of her back the entire time. As soon as Michael and Carolyn saw them together in the kitchen, they broke apart and Michael quickly went over to greet her by giving her a small kiss on the cheek, "Good morning, Meredith. How are you this morning?"
Meredith always feels so welcomed in this house, "Good morning, Michael. I am doing great." She said as she looked at Derek with a huge smile on her face.
Carolyn watched them for a second before drying off her hands to give Meredith a hug, "You made it just in time for breakfast, dear."
"Is there anything I can help with?" She asked curiously.
"I don't think so, it is all about done. I will just need help bringing things to the table, but Michael can help me with that." She smiled at her husband.
"That is what I am good for." Michael chuckled, as he walked over to get out glasses for the orange juice, he continued, "Meredith, how are things going at work?"
"They are great." She stopped and smiled at Derek. She loved that he had worked with her the last two weeks.
"Katie Bryce is a pain in the a... butt." Derek stopped himself knowing he should watch what he says with his parents there.
"Yes, I saw her dad the other day and he said Katie has diabetes." Michael stated.
"And you would think she was the only one in town to have ever had it." Meredith laughed and rolled her eyes.
"I can only imagine. She is... quite the young lady." Michael laughed.
"Oh, you have no idea." Derek chimed in.
"Ok, all of you... she is a nice young girl that... well... ok, you are right, but we shouldn't talk about her, and we need to talk about Thanksgiving that is Thursday." Carolyn smiled thinking about it. She loved this time of year, but was a little sad that most of the children couldn't make it until Christmas. But, she was excited about the people that would be there.
Meredith immediately got a little tense. She usually tried to work on holidays, she and Chris both did.
Derek could feel how Meredith locked up a little at the mention of Thanksgiving and pulled his arm around her a little tighter letting her know he is there for her.
"So, um... can I bring something?" She knew enough about manners to know she needed to ask.
"Actually, Meredith, I was thinking you could bring a pecan pie." Carolyn smiled knowing they had made a few homemade pies and Meredith was getting really good at it, especially the crust part.
Meredith immediately looked to Derek in a panic, "I have never... made one of those."
"Don't worry, I will help you every step of the way. It will be fun." Derek gave her his McDreamy smile and pulled her into a tight hug.
Carolyn watched the two interact and watched Meredith's expression immediately relax when Derek told her he would help her. She was so proud to be Derek's mom, to hopefully be a mother to Meredith as well. She knew Meredith was ready to attempt to make a pie on her own from a recipe. Meredith had perfected her crust and she knew the recipe for pecan pie wasn't too difficult and she had a feeling... her son would be there helping her.
"Mark is coming in Thursday morning?" Michael asked.
"I think he is going to try and get out Wednesday night." Derek smiled at Meredith.
"Is he going to be staying with you?" Carolyn asked.
"I think so. Hannah will be around." He said without thinking.
"Hannah? What would she have to do with... oh, Izzie went with you guys and... what is going on?" Carolyn said quickly with a small smile on her lips. Izzie was like one of her daughters and knew she deserved happiness as much as Derek.
"They met a few weeks ago and I think... they really like each other, but Hannah doesn't know yet, but Izzie wants to introduce them in a very nonchalant way, so he probably won't see her until they get here Thursday morning and even then, I think he will be more my friend than a man Izzie is interested in." Derek explained.
"Wow, Izzie is considering even dating, I mean, that is wonderful news. He must be something special." Carolyn smiled.
"You met Mark; he is one of a kind." Derek laughed, "But, I do think he is ready to settle down if the right woman came along and I have a feeling, maybe she did."
Carolyn smiled and started to say something before Michael laughed and jumped in.
"Ok, let's get this on the table and we are ready to eat. I know you kids need to get down to the barn to ride. This all looks delicious." Michael announced knowing Carolyn would go on and on when love was in the air and life was good.