A/N : This short scene is born out of a sentence I had stuck in my head. It's set after 17x17, in a world where Meredith and Hayes have been dating for a while. Mild mention of some spoilers for S18.
Prompt : Meredith and Hayes relax after a date.
This will be my last one-shot for at least two weeks as real life will be keeping me busy for the foreseeable future. At least the show is coming back. That should help tide us M/H fans over...hopefully. Thank you so much for reading and hope you all enjoy :)
The fact that she's here right now, sprawled comfortably on his couch with her head resting on his lap, is a clear testament to their perseverance. And the profound bond they can no longer ignore. Or rather, no longer wish to.
In the face of all the hurdles they had to contend with—tragedies upon tragedies, her own coma, dreaded awkward timing—the path to them coming together, at long last, had been riddled with trenches and hidden traps, and navigating all that was nothing short of a truly dizzying maze. A mild form of torture, really. A torture Meredith had become much too accustomed to, unfortunately. But conquer those obstacles they did.
It had taken them so long to simply cross that first step, the anticipation practically smothering them in the process. But once they did, their relationship took on a life of its own, accelerating from 0 to 100 in the blink of an eye, the threads that connected them growing stronger day by day.
If Meredith was honest with herself, it didn't take her completely by surprise. From their very first interaction, everything about Hayes felt serious. Nervous butterflies swarmed every inch of her body in his presence, reminiscent of the days of old. Doubts shouted in her mind relentlessly as she second-guessed every move she made. Memories of the past intertwined with glimpses of her future, a future she actually yearned for. Maybe that's why she hedged for what felt like an eternity before delving into his world and committing herself fully.
For so long, moving on remained a frightening, foreign concept to her, having never really pushed herself out of her comfort zone with any of the numerous men—boys, in some cases—she had tentatively invited into her life. Men more interested in the fantasy than the reality. Fleeting romances at best, epic failures at worst.
She wasn't ready then. And more than anything, she wished someone had given her some sage advice. Don't force it, Meredith. Wait until the right one comes along. Everyone involved could have been spared a lot of heartache. Maybe they sensed she didn't want to hear it. Or maybe they were just happy she was stepping out of her comfort zone.
With Hayes, she recognized the gravity instantly, every interaction stoking her interest. And yet, she hesitated—as usual. In the back of her mind, when she was alone in bed late at night, Meredith could admit to herself that she never expected to feel this safe again—or to find a new home.
Nothing scared her quite so much as opening herself up again to the endless possibilities of heartbreak, to the intimacy that came with letting someone in. Throwing caution to the wind, and just listening to her heart instead of rehashing all her failures... Well, that took some practice—a complete shift in mindset, really.
But finally, with the help of her friends and family, she jumped. No safety net, no harness. She simply leapt into the great unknown once again. Thankfully, he was there to catch her.
After dinner, a meal he cooked with absolutely no help from her, they settle in to watch a movie. Folded on his couch, tucked against him while his hands brush every inch they can reach, Meredith wonders how she ever got so lucky to feel this way twice.
As the television plays on in the background, Hayes strokes her head, gliding his fingers mindlessly through her silky, golden strands. Eyes closed, she purrs, basking in the soothing sensation of his rhythmic caresses. A shudder ripples through her at his melting touch, burrowing herself deeper against him.
"Were you a chef in a previous life?" Meredith asks, interrupting their peaceful silence.
His quiet, vibrating laughter jostles her lightly. "It was pasta, Mer," Hayes says, biting his lips to stem the smile threatening to break freak. "Doesn't take much to impress you, does it? We can't all be disasters in the kitchen."
Smacking his thigh and glaring at him over her shoulder, she scoffs, "It was good! Take the compliment like a gentleman!"
"You'll never find a more proper gentleman than me," he protests.
"I haven't seen any evidence of that so far," she teases him.
Playfully tickling her in the ribs, Hayes bends down, whispering along the shell of her ear, his husky breath leaving tingles in their wake, "I thought you liked that about me."
Unsuccessfully evading his feathering traces, laughter bubbles out of her, even as a flush overtakes her features at his heated words.
The gruffness of his tone rumbles pleasantly against her skin, warming her all over. She turns on her back, looking up into his smouldering eyes. He releases a hushed, grateful hum against her smiling lips, stealing a slow kiss, like he's preparing himself to savour a feast and devour her.
But it ends all too soon as Hayes tears his lips from hers, preventing things from going too far. The only consolation prize are the soft nibbles he places on her neck before lifting his head fully and resettling himself to his seated position.
They resume their earlier, comfortable silence while the TV drones on.
Quiet times always breed uncertainty in Meredith. Something about having too much time to let thoughts wander. Memories rush through her mind and soul, transporting her back to periods of her life fraught with angst, heartache and grief. But instead of tiptoeing around the inevitable endlessly like she used to, she dives in.
"Cormac?" She sighs, her voice unsteady, peering up at him from her vulnerable angle.
"Hmm?" He answers, looking down at her, trailing a finger along her neck, her body lighting up like the sky on fourth of July.
"Thank you," she whispers, her eyes tracing over his face before finding his gaze. They share a prolonged stare, his vantage point offering him the perfect glimpse into her inner turmoil.
"For what?" He wonders, his curiosity piqued.
Anxiety gnaws at her, leaving her feeling raw, a single touch enough to extract blood. Her teeth tug on her lower lips, perpetually uneasy in any new relationship given her harrowed track record.
She remains silent for a moment. A silence seated in self-preservation. Exposing her fears to him this early on, putting them out there, leaves her feeling helpless, like she's a fish waiting to be baited.
Finally, she brings her palm up to cup his cheek, his skin tingling at her gentle skim. Holding her gaze unflinchingly, he snuggles against her warm hand, bringing up his own to fold over hers, distracting her momentarily.
A storm rages inside her at the idea of splaying herself open to him completely. She fights off that surge of annoying fear. Fear that she will screw this up. Fear that her insecurities will push him away inadvertently. Fear that the blaze between them will burn out one way or another.
If she has it, she'll ruin it. That seems to be her life story up to this point. Her self-destructive streak always ready to make an appearance when she least expects it.
As reluctant as she is, he deserves to know how grateful she is.
"For not giving up on me when you totally should have. For knowing when to push and when not to. For always being there for me." Her gaze sweeps over his features, noticing a faint smirk dancing on his lips.
He rewards her bravery with a soft, broadening smile. "I had something special waiting for me."
Blushing under his scrutiny, Meredith admits, "It's nice, you know? To have someone who doesn't just see my traumas when they look at me, who doesn't remember every mistake I ever made and throw it back in my face?"
Slightly worried with her uncharacteristic introspection, he asks, "What's this about, Meredith? Really?"
She pauses, mulling over her next words cautiously. Keeping her gaze focused on his takes all the control she's sharpened as a surgeon. "I... I'm scared of ruining what we have...the way I always do. Of finding ridiculous reasons why this won't work, and sabotaging what we have in the process. Please, please...don't let me."
"I reckon you know this, but no one can make you do anything. Have you met you?" He teases her.
"I'm serious," she whispers, voice quivering. It wasn't like her to be this unguarded this early in a relationship. Maybe she wasn't too old to turn over a new leaf. Or maybe wisdom really did come with age.
"I know," he tells her, every single word breaking his heart wide open. Leaning down, his lips meet hers halfway, both of them coming slowly undone. "I won't let you," he pledges. "I promise you that."
Breaking apart, their piercing eyes never waver, singing a slow melody only they can hear. Meredith squeezes his hand gently before unfolding her body from the couch to crawl into his lap and straddle his thighs, wrapping herself completely around him.
Laying her arms around his shoulders, they exchange a calming hug, his hands travelling around her back, pulling her closer. She nestles her face in his neck, peppering him with supple kisses, jump-starting his heart in the process, not unlike paddles to his chest.
Pulling away, she smooths her hands up his chest, vibrating with anticipation. Lacing his fingers at the small of her back, rubbing the sliver of skin exposed, lust crackles around them.
"When are the boys supposed to be back?" Meredith asks breathlessly, their proximity affecting her nervous system.
"Not before tomorrow morning."
Meredith's head rears back, eyebrows arching to the heavens. "Seriously?"
"Aye."
"What are we still doing down here?"
Guffaws explode out of him. "I thought we were enjoying each other's company. At least, I was."
"We can enjoy each other's company a hell of a lot more upstairs," Meredith remarks, her brows waggling.
A youthful glow overtakes her face, brightening her features in a way Hayes hopes becomes a permanent fixture. She rises to her feet, striding purposefully towards the stairs.
A coy smile dangling from her lips, she looks over her shoulder at him, her eyes gleaming with unfettered desire. "Well? Are you coming or what?"