Derek ran up the stairs of Meredith's house breathing hard. He leaned against the glass of the door trying to erase the images of his best friend and wife in the throes of passion. How could this have happened to him again? Was he really neglecting Addy that much for her to seek comfort in the arms of his best friend? Again? He was an awful husband. Sleeping with Meredith twice and failing to discuss it with either woman, he had to be the world's lowest person. He felt like scum, the lowest form of scum in the world. Derek beat his head against the door until he felt the presence of another person on the other side.
"Derek?" Meredith said wrapping her long sweater around her body. The soft pitter-patter of the rain beat against the roof filling the room with its steady rhythm.
"Derek?" she asked again frightened at his behavior and lack of response. He moved away from the door allowing her to open it and invite him in. Lethargically, he escaped the rain stepping into the warm house. Meredith wrapped the sweater tighter around her body not wanting Derek to find her wearing his blue oxford shirt. His wet fingertips danced across her face as he slid them behind her neck drawing him close to him.
"We can't." she said firmly relishing his touch. Derek nodded mutely dropping his hand from her face.
"Go home. Get some rest." She offered.
"Addison, cheated on me." He blurted out. "She cheated on me again. Why?" he paused keeping his tears in. "Because I neglected her, because I was too busy pursuing you and flirting with you to notice that she was hurting inside. If there was any doubt that I pushed her away the first time there isn't any here. And then you kept asking me why I wouldn't leave Addison and live my life with you and our daughter. It's because I was afraid that I would do the very same thing that I did to Addison to you. I was afraid I would keep you at arms length and focus on my patients and surgeries." He chuckled shook his head and found his voice again. "The best part is that she did it with Mark. When the hell did he come back into town?"
Meredith stood there silently taking all of it in trying to be as supportive as she could. Her nimble fingers slipped under his waterlogged jacket and pulled it off. "'Dinner with an old friend.'" He murmured but was quieted by Meredith's shushing. She brought her hands to the hem of his equally wet t-shirt and pulled it over his head. His pants came next clattering on the floor nosily as the belt buckle fell. There he stood in Meredith's doorway dressed in his boxers.
"Here." She shrugged off her sweater and began to unbutton the buttons of his shirt.
"No." he protested when she handed it.
"Wear it, that's the thing about living here you have your own clothes whenever you need them." Reluctantly he took the shirt putting it on.
"Do you want to crash here?" she asked. He looked into her eyes searching for the right answer.
"If that's alright with you." Meredith nodded and took his hand leading him to her bedroom. Once they got there Meredith searched her dresser for a shirt to wear. She pulled a small white t-shirt on and slid under the covers. Derek watched her as if it were completely normal for the two of them to be getting ready for bed together. He joined her in bed and turned of the lamp. Meredith brought her hand to his chest and timidly cuddled into his cold body. She rubbed her toes against his calves trying to warm him up. Derek sighed happily as he brought his hand to her rear cupping it gently turning her into him further. She pressed wet kisses against his neck attempting to soothe his pain.
"George there can be many explanations as to why McDreamy's car is parked outside." Izzie said as she joined him at the table. She brought her coffee cup to her lips and took a sip, wondering how Meredith was going to explain this one to them.
"She can't keep doing this. He can't keep doing this, it's really screwing with her." George expressed his concern. "Especially for Mallory, she may not understand it now but when she gets older things will be all the more complicated." He pointed out as Izzie nodded in agreement.
Interrupting their conversation Meredith entered the kitchen pushing past the swinging door. She greeted her two roommates with a small smile and opened the cupboard grabbing a cup and filling it with coffee. She turned and was met with their expectant faces waiting for her to explain Derek's presence.
"I can't, it's complicated. So can you please not say anything to anyone just yet?" she pleaded. George nodded nudging Izzie to oblige.
"Okay our lips are sealed." She said.
"Thanks, um you should probably leave without me I'm coming in late this morning. Eighty hour limit." She explained.
"Yeah I'll be done by noon." Izzie replied. She smiled at her two friends and quietly exited the kitchen. Meredith walked into her bedroom and found Derek still asleep. It took her about ten minutes to free herself from his grasp without waking him up. In her absence she left her pillow, which he had cuddled up to in a cute manner. She laughed and put her cup down to go check on Mallory. The little girl was already up standing in her crib. Her blue eyes sparkled as she saw her mommy walk into the room. She put her arms out wanting to be held. Meredith scooped her up kissing her forehead.
"Hey sweetie, do you wanna see daddy?" she asked taking her into her room. Mallory mumbled incoherently as they entered the room.
"There's daddy." Meredith whispered as she put Mallory on the bed. She crawled over to Derek and tugged at his nose slapping his face lightly. Derek shifted in his sleep and awoke to the drooling face of his adorable nine-month-old daughter.
"Hey Mal," he whispered groggily rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. Meredith smiled watching their interaction. Her breath came short at the thought that they might be sharing more moments like this. There was no doubt that Addison's betrayal and Derek's recent bout of infidelity had forced their marriage to a turning point. He really needed to reevaluate his relationship with Addison before they could pursue anything.
"What time are you going in today?" Meredith asked interrupting their bonding session.
"Ten." He answered, looking Meredith in the eyes.
"I'm going in at nine." She replied running a hand through her hair.
"Okay. I'll take care of her." He said picking Mallory up. "Go get ready, I'll fix you some breakfast." Meredith smiled softly; as she passed Derek on her way to the bathroom he grabbed her arm. She looked into his face with a questioning glance; Derek bent down and brushed his lips across hers.
"Thank you." He said letting go of her arm and leaving the room. Meredith brought a hand to her face feeling the growing warmth in her cheeks.
"Your welcome." She answered back to the empty room.