Chapter 14: Just Try!

Meredith was an idiot. She wasn't sure what happened. All she knew was that she had slept in Derek's bed, as he held her all night. He held her even after she told him nothing could happen between them. Her head hurt and felt better when she woke up this morning, in his arms.

That didn't matter now, she just arrived to pick up her daughter and she had to stop thinking about Derek's arms, keeping her safe. Nothing could happen with him. Nothing even if he held her perfectly.

"Why didn't you tell me you had a boyfriend?" Izzie Stevens asked, her hands on her hips as she opened the door.

"What?" Meredith frowned, still in her clothes from the night before.

"A doctor boyfriend."

"I don't have a boyfriend."

"That's not what your daughter said."

"My daughter is wrong."

"Then who's Derek?"

"He's a doctor that came into the bookstore...then Dawsyn met at the hospital, and he gave me stitches."

"You giggle and blush when he's around?" Izzie asked, still standing in the doorway.

"I...shut up."

"Who is he?" Izzie grinned.

"He's just...Derek."

"Just Derek."

"Yeah." Meredith shrugged.

"And is just Derek the reason you're wearing the same clothes you were when you dropped Dawsyn off yesterday?"

"Okay,,,I fell asleep at his place." Meredith explained. "I didn't feel well."

"You were at his place?" Izzie smiled.

"Friends hang out at friend's places, Iz."

"Come in." Izzie rolled her eyes.

"Where is my daughter?" Meredith groaned.

"Upstairs."

"He's a good kisser."

"You kissed him?"

"Which time?"

"Meredith!" Izzie grinned.

"It doesn't matter." Meredith replied, sitting down on the couch. "I told him nothing could happen."

"Why?"

"He's a brain surgeon...I'm about to start working two jobs...Izzie it's obvious."

"I don't get it."

"He's not my type."

"But you've kissed him multiple times?"

"Yeah..."

"Then, I'm really confused."

"It's not that confusing." Meredith rolled her eyes. "How many times do I make out with guys in bars?"

"How many times do you sleepover at those guys houses...without sex?" Izzie asked, eyebrows raised.

"I hate you."

"Do you like him?"

"Yes...I don't know." Meredith breathed. "He's just...I barely know him."

"That's called dating." Izzie laughed.

"We're not dating."

"Have you gone out?"

"No."

"Then, do it."

"No because I told him that I wasn't interested in anything."

"Why?" Izzie frowned.

"I...just because Izzie." Meredith rolled her eyes.

"I don't understand you."

"I've heard that before."

"You haven't dated somebody in so long."

"And I'm not dating Derek."

"But you like him."

"I'm not actually sure of that."

"Then find out...Go on a date with him..."

"I don't want to go out on a date with him." Meredith groaned, pulling a throw pillow close to her. "I told him that we're not doing anything together and I mean it."

"What if he's the one?" Izzie said.

"I don't have a one." Meredith replied. "If I did, the one wouldn't be a dreamy brain surgeon."

"How will you know if you don't date him?"

"Dreamy brain surgeon...struggling single Mom doesn't quite strike me as the romance of the century."

"No. It's perfect!' Izzie grinned.

"Besides I need to focus on finding another job."

"You're always trying to find another job."

"And Derek isn't."

"Maybe he could find you something at the hospital." Izzie shrugged.

"I don't need Derek to help me, and I don't need to be with him."

"Is this the whole I don't need a man to support me thing?"

"It's not that." Meredith rolled her eyes. "Derek is a great guy, but he can do better. I don't want a relationship."

"That's what I said when I met Alex...and look..."

"You just broke up with him for the second time." Meredith replied. "How does that help me?"

"Okay. Maybe that's not the best example...But still..." Izzie groaned.

"Derek's a great guy...Daws adores him, but I don't think I need to start anything."

"Why don't you give it a try, Mer?"

"I need to take my daughter to the library." Meredith ignored her friend. "Dawsyn!"

"I'm serious. Think about it." Izzie said, as Dawsyn came running down the stairs.

"I made up my mind."

"Hi Mom!" Dawsyn grinned, coming into the living room.

"Hey Dawsyn Bug." Meredith smiled weakly.

"How was work?" She asked, giving her mom a hug.

"It was work." Meredith breathed, inhaling the scent of her daughter's hair. "Did you have fun with Izzie?"

"Yup! We made cookies."

"Good." Meredith plastered on a smile as her daughter pulled away.

"What are we doing today?" Dawsyn asked.

"We're going to return your other books to the library then we can look for some more." Meredith offered. "Then maybe we'll just go home."

"Okay." Dawsyn sighed.

"Go get your stuff.".

"Okay." Dawsyn sighed, heading back up the stairs.

"I still say you should go out on a date with him..." Izzie whispered, making sure that Dawsyn couldn't hear.

"He'll make a good friend."

"One date."

"No...and he hasn't even asked." Meredith replied,

"What if he does?

"He won't, especially now that I told him that I wanted nothing more." Meredith crossed her arms. "Izzie...I don't need Derek. We're friends...so what?"

"You didn't answer my question." Izzie said.

"He's not going to ask."

"What if he does?"

"He's not going to ask Iz."

"If he does, will you say yes?" Izzie asked, not giving up.

"No...I'll say no."

"Smart, Mer."

"What?"

"This guy obviously likes you...And you like him. So don't deny it. And you're going to turn him down?"

"I don't want a relationship."

"Fine." Izzie sighed, standing up.

"Derek has a type...and that type isn't me."

"How do you know that?"

"Brain surgeon Iz!"

"Just give him a shot."

"Hmm..."

"If it doesn't work...You can be friends."

"We are friends."

"Then you can go back to being just friends."

"We're not more than friends...ever."

"But you kiss."

"Kissed."

"More than once."

"Not again."

"I'm ready!" Dawsyn said, coming back into the living room. "What are you talking about?"

"We're talking about that taco place down the street...we didn't like it remember?" Meredith cut in, not wanting Dawsyn to get in on this conversation.

"Oh yeah." Dawsyn grimaced.

"See." Meredith winked at Izzie.

"Yeah..." Izzie rolled her eyes

"You ready?" Meredith turned to Dawsyn.

"I'm ready." Dawsyn nodded.

"We have to go." Meredith stood quickly.

"Okay." Izzie sighed. "Bye Daws."

"Bye Izzie!" Dawsyn smiled, giving her aunt a hug.

"Bye Izzie."

"Bye Mer." Izzie said, before mouthing the word, Derek.

"Izzie." Meredith groaned.

"Just...try it."

"No."

"Fine...But don't complain to me about being lonely." Izzie called as she walked into the kitchen.

"I have an eleven-year-old!" Meredith shouted, opening the door to the apartment.

"Just try!' Izzie called back.

"Come on Dawsyn, Izzie's gone crazy."

"What is she talking about?" Dawsyn asked, as they walked towards the car.

"I told you...that restaurant."

"If you don't like it..why does she want you to try it?"

"I...that's a good question."

"Weird."

"Yeah." Meredith put the key in the ignition. Izzie was crazy and she just didn't get it. Meredith knew they couldn't be more then friends, life didn't work that way. Even if he was great.