Chapter 6

Taking a chance

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters. They belong to Shonda Rhimes (I hope I'm not mistaken)

Background: Starts from the beginning of season 1 with their first meeting at the bar. AU from there. Derek is looking for a fresh start, one-night stands and mostly- oblivion from his carefully built life back home. Meredith is a virgin but still hotheaded and stubborn to no end. When her one-night-stand attempt ends up her boss, she's mortified. Still, not as mortified as overhearing him talk to another attending asking him is she was frigid and Derek agreeing with him. Now he's determined to forget about her, and she will do anything to prove his words wrong. None of them expected to fall for each other in the process.

Most of the regular characters will be there, though I may give them slightly different stories. Christina is with Owen from the start, I was never much into Burke. Lots of drama because writing is my way to vent.

1.

Finally, she pulled away from him and looked at him directly.

He said he didn't want her any less, and that was hard to believe. Despite the fact that she found no reason not to trust it. He sounded calm and sincere, unbothered by her confession. That was new. She wasn't used to this. The gossip, no one believing her, people calling her awful names for that one night she could barely remember, making bets, mocking her either for her innocence or for whatever they believed happened, that was ground zero. Years of bullying on the basis of things that weren't even true. His calmness was a welcome change, though she didn't quite trust it yet.

'We'll be late. Or, I'll be late. We should go.'

She was pulling away, and he gently pulled her back by the hand.

'What?' She'd said nothing when he said he still wanted her. He could read the doubt on her face, and it confused him, but there was time to get the full story. He was smiling at her fully in that way, that had stopped her in her tracks the night they met. It made her heart skip, and she couldn't help but stop rushing for a moment. He was still holding her hand, his fingers interlocked with hers. She smiled back at him, blushing.'What?'

'Would you like to explore doing some of these things you've never done, with me?' He was grinning at her, his eyes shining at her.

'What, are we in high school?'

'Was that what you were doing in high school?' He countered and she laughed. 'So, would you like to explore? I promise, we can stop whenever you want, or try, whatever you want. No pressure.'

Had he lost his mind? She searched for any doubts on his face there weren't any. She grinned back.

'I would like to, yes.'

'Yes?'

'Yes. But not now, because we are l-' She couldn't finish, because he happily pulled her closer, his mouth mashing over hers, his hands encircling her waist. He covered her face in kisses and she giggled in pure joy. She didn't remember ever feeling so relaxed in any of her relationships, so free to do and be whoever she was. She wrapped her hands around his neck and joined the kiss, teasing, playing, forgetting that she needed to breathe- or go to work for that matter. When they finally separated, her face was red and they were both breathing heavily.

'Tonight then?' he said hoarsely, his hands still holding around her waist- fact, that she didn't feel like objecting to. Man, the woman could kiss. She kissed with joy that he'd forgotten, in the way you did when you were discovering everything for the first time, unburdened by life. That innocent joy he hadn't experienced in years. He'd needed that so much, especially now. And what she lacked in experience, she was definitely making up for in enthusiasm.

She kissed him once more, quickly, unable to stop herself, like she was a kid and he was candy. Then she nodded, her cheeks pink and her smile wide.

'Tonight.'

At the ferry, she stayed on the top floor, to get a full view of the water, wind messing up her hair. He stayed behind her, encircling her waist, occasionally kissing her. She couldn't stop grinning, feeling almost high from happiness. She knew the nerves would hit, sooner or later, but she wanted to enjoy the moment while she could.

2.

The whole time while she was getting ready for rounds, she couldn't stop grinning, daydreaming about his hands on...

'Meredith? Earth to Meredith?' George's voice finally reached her.

'What? What? Am I late?'

Christina giggled behind her while putting her scrubs on. 'Told ya she spent the night at Shepherd's place. I bet she'd high on orgasm endorphins right now.'

'Christina! What I have or have not done is my business, I don't have to share it.'

'Oh please. Share it. Document it. Don't skip any details.' chimed in Alex, grinning like an idiot.

'Bite me, Alex.' said Meredith, leaving the changing room, and closing the door in his face before he could add ' I would like to' Nothing could get to her today. Not today. The goofy smile returned on her face, and Christina, who was a step behind her, examined her face.

'So, really, is McDreamy the one responsible for that wide smile?' she inquired now that the rest of the interns were still way behind them, changing and getting ready.

'Derek, his name is Derek.'

'Damn, you've got it bad, Mer. That's why I only do one-night stands.'

'Oh, please, haven't you been with Owen few times already.'

'Well, if someone can give you multiple orgasms, he's worth reconsidering.'

'Oh, God.' Meredith put hands on her ears. 'I did not need to know that. He is also our boss, you know.'

'He can be the boss of me any time he wants.' Christina grinned while her friend was blushing.'Seriously, what's up with you and Shepherd?'

Meredith sighed, but her smile widened again. 'I will tell you as soon as I figure it out.' Feeling a bit braver than usual, she added. 'And I plan to spend some time, finding it out.'

'Yeees! But seriously, I want details too.'

Meredith giggled and shook her head. She'd slept 3 hours max and she should have been exhausted, but she never felt so refreshed and awake. And then, she remembered that time didn't stop turning just because she had a good morning. She stopped smiling.

'Christina, about yesterday.'

'I'm keeping tabs on every test and everything going on with your mom, I promise.'

Meredith relaxed slightly. There was a reason Christina was quickly becoming her closest friend.

'I'm afraid, that...'

'It's cancer? I know. We don't know yet. I promise I'll tell you the moment there is any news. But it's been hard, getting her to do the tests. A lot of the time she still thinks she's late for an operation or something...'

'I know...' Meredith closed her eyes for a brief second, wishing she could disappear.

'I promise I'll update you, as soon as there is anything new.' Christina didn't like the expression her friend got when she talked about her mom, all ashy and nervous. It wasn't just a worry for her health. 'You wanna see her?'

Meredith nodded negatively.

'That's okay.'

'It really isn't.'

'Okay, here's what we'll do. I am going back there because I am on your mom's case. And I will page you if there is anything to know. You, go to cardio, since you're on their service today, and promise to tell me everything you do. And do not worry about your mom until our shift ends. I'm on it. Okay?'

''kay.'

They walked in different directions, and she continued walking, lost in her thoughts. On days like this, she was happy to have a job that required her full attention. Once she started with patients and cases, she was able to forget everything else.

3.

Around 6 pm, when she was finally done, Meredith went in front of her mom's room. She hadn't seen her since she was brought to the OR and she hated herself for it. But she stood in front of her patient room, and she could not make herself walk in, their actual last lucid conversations flashing through her head. None of them good. The anxiety gathered in a ball in her stomach and she stood frozen in front of her room and found herself walking away. She felt like a horrible person, and still couldn't make herself walk in. Thank God she had plans with Derek that night. She met him in the lobby, as per their agreement, but before she could even say much more than hi to him, something caught her attention.

A woman walking towards them. A beautiful red-haired woman that made her feel like a geeky kid in comparison. She was dressed expensively, with high heels, her hair carefully curled and her make-up impeccable. Everything about her screamed class. Meredith felt a sting of jealousy, even before she opened her mouth. Derek's face had suddenly gotten serious, and he'd mouthed 'I'm sorry' at Meredith, right before the stranger got to them.

'Well, Derek. Is that what one should do to track where you are? You into blondes now?'

Meredith's brows furrowed, annoyed. 'I'm sorry, and you are?'

'Addison. Addison Shepherd.'

'Shepherd?'

'Yes, I'm Derek's wife. And you must be the woman he's been screwing this week.'