Chapter 9: Pizza and Boding

Meredith opens the door to go inside the pizza place just as Cristina is exiting with her own box of freshly baked and sliced heaven.

"Hi Cristina," Meredith says with a smile.

"Hi Meredith," Cristina smiles in return. "How are you?"

"I'm good. And hungry," she answers while taking a deep, appreciative breath. "It smells so good in here."

"You're a pizza junkie," Cristina laughs.

"I suppose the pizza you're carrying is for charity?"

"Oh no, this is my crack," she replies. "Do you want to share this, or do you already have plans?"

"I actually have a date," Meredith answers.

"With the guy you thought was out of your league?"

"Yes," Meredith sighs. "He still is definitely out of my league. However, he seems to like me so I'm taking a chance and seeing where this goes. Have you decided whether or not you're going to marry your boyfriend?"

"No," Cristina answers with a disgruntled groan, "But my mother has decided on the menu for the reception dinner."

"You better get a handle on that," Meredith giggles.

"You better get a handle on your Fellowship."

"Touché'," Meredith sighs. "I'm off at 7 Monday night. Drinks at Joe's?"

"I'm off at 8 - I'll meet you there."

"Okay, enjoy your pizza."

"Enjoy your date," Cristina answers and leaves. Meredith orders pizza and her mind drifts to her Fellowship. She really does need to get a handle on that situation before she ends up doing her Fellowship in the middle of Timbuktu.


"Hi Kathleen," Derek answers his phone.

"Hi Derek. How was your date with Meredith last night?"

Derek laughs then answers, "Kath, I love how you always get right to the point."

"I know you do," his sister laughs in response. "Now, tell me how it went."

"It went well, but she was called back to the hospital for an emergency surgery. She's on her way over with pizza now."

"What?" Kathleen asks, sounding excited. "Two dates, two nights in a row? That's better than 'well,' Derek. I want details!"

Derek laughs and replies, "I am not giving my sister details about my date. Somehow that just seems… wrong."

"Ewww Derek, I don't want any intimate details. Just tell me stuff you have in common, her specialty at work or about her family."

Derek laughs again and then hears Meredith's car in his driveway. "She's here, Kath. I'll call you tomorrow."

"Have fun and tell her I say 'hi.'"

"I will. I love you."

"I love you too, Derek. Bye."

"Bye," Derek says to his sister and goes to greet Meredith.


"Are you going to tell me what's bothering you?" Derek asks Meredith ten minutes later.

"I'm fine," she answers with a sigh. She's sitting on one of the barstools at Derek's kitchen island.

"Really?" he asks as he goes to the fridge and takes out two beers then goes to sit beside Meredith.

"Yes really," she says while breaking her slice of pizza into small chunks on her plate, but not eating any of it.

"We haven't known one another that long. So, it's okay if you don't want to tell me what you're upset about, but you're a terrible liar."

Meredith turns to look at Derek in surprise. He takes a bite of his pizza then opens both of their beer bottles. She watches his efficient movements and the lust she feels for him begins to coil in her stomach. At the same time, she experiences a sense of awe at the fact that he can so easily read her. Deciding to mirror his no-nonsense approach she says, "I'm sorry, I don't want to ruin our evening. I just…" she trails off and sighs. "I've done something stupid and may have put a real glitch in my career."

Derek turns his body to face Meredith and asks, "What happened?"

She is wringing her hands together when she says quietly, "I haven't applied for my Fellowship."

Derek can't control the look of surprise on his face.

"See," Meredith says sardonically, "stupid."

"Why haven't you applied yet?"

"I didn't really mean to not apply anywhere," Meredith begins. "It's just… I mean… I really…" she's starting to feel a bit of panic and gets up to pace a little. "I'm sorry Derek. Maybe I should just go home."

"No," he answers gently as he reaches out and takes her arm when she paces by him again. "You need to talk about this - it's important." He pulls her into his arms and gives her a hug and rubs her back softly. When he feels her calm down, he says, "If I remember correctly, the deadline to apply for your Fellowship is the end of this week."

"Yes," she answers, feeling no desire to move from the comfort of his embrace. She wraps her arms around him more tightly and lays her head on his shoulder.

"So, you have six days to complete the entire application process."

Meredith pulls her head from his shoulder and looks at his face. She is surprised to see no judgment there but says, "Feel free to tell me how stupid you think I…"

Derek cuts her off with a soft kiss to her lips. Her brain immediately clears of everything but the feel of him. She reaches up to run her hand along his hair-stubbled cheek and softly moans at the feel of his tongue along her mouth. She parts her lips and allows his tongue entrance to mate with her own. All too soon, Derek breaks the kiss and says, "I don't think anything negative of you, Meredith. Stupid would be letting the deadline come and go without applying anywhere. Besides, do you think you're the first person to procrastinate the boring application process?"

"Well," she giggles, "when you put it that way… but I bet you didn't put it off."

"You'd lose that bet," he laughs. "Mark and I both started applying three days before the deadline."

"Seriously?'

"Yes, seriously. So, where do you want to apply for your Fellowship?" His stomach tightens and he realizes he doesn't want her to go away, but he has no right to tell her that.

"That's kind of the problem," Meredith mumbles as she chews her bottom lip.

"What do you mean?"

"I don't want to leave Seattle Grace," she answers hurriedly.

Derek feels the grin spread across his face and he states, "That's not a problem. I'm pretty sure Webber would love to have you stay on at SG." Derek recalls Miranda telling him that the Chief was getting antsy about Mer's Fellowship.

"Yeah but there's no guarantee of that happening. So, I need to apply to other hospitals."

"If you feel better having a backup plan then you should, but I really don't think you should worry. Webber wanted you to work with me - remember? If he was trying to arrange that then I'm sure he'll be thrilled to have you do your Fellowship at Seattle Grace."

"True," she sighs, "but again - there's no guarantee. Webber isn't the only one making the Fellowship decisions. I think I should apply to other hospitals." She looks at Derek and feels sad at the idea of possibly leaving him when they're just getting started.

Derek's feeling the same thing but says, "I think you'll be accepted at Seattle Grace, but I understand the need to apply to other hospitals."

"I guess I'll be busy applying this week."

"I can help," he states.

"I wish," she giggles.

"It's called moral support," he laughs with her. "I promise not to distract you."

"How is it moral support if you aren't distracting me?" she asks as she leans in to kiss him again.

"Okay," he grins when the kiss breaks, "I'll distract you a little."

They kiss some more but neither of them let things go far. They finish their pizza and beer, talk about other hospitals Meredith may want to apply to, and then call it a night.


Meredith sits down on the barstool next to Cristina and orders a shot of tequila from Joe.

"You were off an hour before me," Cristina states in greeting. "How did I get here before you?"

"I was working on one of my Fellowship applications. Then, I called Derek."

"Derek? Is he the guy you're dating?"

"Yes," Meredith answers.

"Is he a Doctor?"

"Uh…"Meredith is grateful for the momentary distraction Joe provides by placing her shot in front of her. She isn't prepared to answer questions about Derek and has no idea what to say. Derek is still a well-respected Doctor in the surgical world and Meredith doesn't know whether he'd want Cristina knowing about his blindness. She answers Cristina's question by saying, "He runs his own business." She wants to change the subject and asks, "Is your boyfriend a Doctor?"

"Brandon?" Cristina asks and laughs. "Yeah, I guess he is a doctor."

Meredith laughs and asks, "You guess?"

"He's an Orthodontist." Cristina mumbles.

"That's a doctor." Meredith says, puzzled.

"The thing is," Cristina says, sounding a little defensive, "I don't really think of anyone other than surgeons as real doctors."

"Ummm, okay. Does Brandon know that?"

"No, I'm not stupid."

"Is that why you're not sure if you want to marry him?"

"No. I just… the thing is… Look, we don't have to talk about this crap. We're in a bar - let's just drink."

"Okay," Meredith shrugs and orders another shot for her and Cristina. "The thing is - this is what friends do… talk to one another about stuff and try to be helpful. If you don't want to talk that's fine, but if you do - I'll listen. And try to be helpful."

Cristina glares at Meredith then remarks snidely, "Says the woman who has been completely distant from her co-workers for the last few years."

"True." Meredith says and smiles, "But that was before we started this friendship thing."

"Great." Cristina grumbles and downs her shot.

Meredith does the same and lets her mind wander to Derek as Cristina continues to sit in grumpy silence. She wants to see him and that surprises her greatly. She can't remember a time in her life that she wanted to be around anyone - let alone a man she was dating - every day. Granted, she and Derek were just getting to know one another, but this still wasn't like her at all. It scared her a little bit but not enough to stay away from him.

"Hey," Cristina's voice interrupted Meredith's thoughts.

"Sorry, my mind was wandering. Did you say something?"

"Yeah, I said I like Brandon, but I'm not sure I'm in love with him."

"Oh," Meredith sighs. "I guess you know your answer about marrying him then."

"Come on," Cristina says a bit cynically. "There's more to a marriage than love."

"I agree. There's trust, fidelity, communication, shared goals, and common interests. And love." Meredith stresses. "Love is a key ingredient, Cristina."

"I didn't know you were Miss Merry Sunshine like Izzie Stevens."

"I'm not," Meredith laughs, "but I'm not an eternal pessimist, either. I had a completely crap childhood and didn't even know I had two half-sisters until our father died. We found out about each other through our father's lawyer. My father was with Susan first, together they had Molly and Lexi. Then, He left Susan and came to Seattle. Him and my mom had a brief "relationship," I guess. Finally, him and Susan somehow ended up back together. He denied me my whole life… Anyway, it has taken a lot for me to get to a place where I believe a happy life is possible."

"Well hell," Cristina states then she's quiet for a few moments. "You and I are both part of the Dead Daddy Club. My Dad and I were in a car wreck when I was nine, - he bled to death in my arms."

Meredith - not knowing what to say - wraps her arm around Cristina's shoulder. Cristina has a disgusted look on her face and says, "You're touching me."

"Shut up," Meredith mumbles.

Cristina gives a tiny smirk and lays her head on Meredith's shoulder.