"So you guys are actually friends?" Questioned Izzie in hushed tones, she and Meredith were in the kitchen making dinner while George was in the lounge setting the table.
"Shh…" Meredith said with wide eyes.
"What? He moved back in…he is going to find out that you and Derek are friends sooner or later." Izzie replied
"I'll tell him," Meredith replied, "But he only just moved in…I just have to wait for the right time- he hardly talks to me now."
I know Izzie reassured, "Just make sure he hears it from you."
"He will- and besides why should he care, he is going out with Kathy. What happened between us was a long time ago."
"But it's not necessarily forgotten….anyway you didn't answer my question…you and McDreamy are actually friends?" Izzie asked again.
"Sure are," Meredith replied, acting as if it was no big deal, "and don't call him that."
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After the table had been cleared from dinner Meredith said her good-byes and headed for the door, "Where you off to?" asked George.
"Oh…just the movies with a friend," she smiled, caught a little off guard with his sudden interest.
"Ok…have a good night," he replied, a small smirk on his face.
"Yeah, you to." She called over her shoulder, shutting the door behind her.
"Are you ever going to tell her you know?" Izzie asked- an unimpressed look on her face.
"Eventually," George grinned, "But at the moment it's kind of fun having something over her."
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"Sorry I'm late," she said walking into the cinema.
"That's okay," he said greeting her with a kiss on the cheek before turning his attention to the display board. "So what is on the agenda for this cheap Tuesday?"
"Movies and waffles as always." She grinned joining him in looking at the board, "So what are we going to see?"
"Whose choice is it this week?" he asked.
"Mine…don't you remember last week you made me go see King Kong…oh that's right- you fell asleep," she teased, niggling him in the arm.
"Hey," he defended, "I'd come straight from a ten hour surgery!"
The counter-girl laughed at their antics as they brought their tickets, Derek pouting and pretending not to speak to Meredith.
"Oh stop whining and find us some seats- I'm on popcorn duty." She laughed, handing him a ticket and pushing him towards the cinema door.
"Ahh good choice on the seats," she said collapsing next to him as the lights dimmed.
"Back row, right in the middle- just the way you like it," he smiled.
"You sir, have earnt yourself some popcorn and coke," she replied, handing the box to him and putting the cup between them.
"Where's yours?" he asked while stuffing a handful of popcorn in his mouth.
"Well considering you always end up eating most of mine, I thought I would look after your waist line and get us one to share," She grinned.
"Does that mean we are sharing waffles tonight?"
"God no! What are you crazy!" She replied, feigning offence.
They settled and watched the movie in silence, well until Derek let out a loud snore in one of the romantic scenes, which earnt him an elbow in the chest from Meredith.
Later as they sat eating their waffles and ice-cream she asked, "Right- so when are you going to let us be friends at work?"
"What we are friends at work," he stuttered.
"No we're not!" She protested pointing her fork at him, "You still treat me like an intern, when I'm not, and you only ever have lunch with me if we go off hospital grounds!"
"I am still your boss at work; you're the one that wanted me to treat you like everyone else!"
"That was when we were sleeping together!" she pouted, the old couple in the booth behind them scowled at him over the seats.
"Fine!" he relented, "We will have lunch together tomorrow, in the middle of the cafeteria, in front of everyone."
"Good!" she smiled contentedly.
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The next day at twelve o'clock he met her at the nurses' desk, asked her to join him for lunch then guided her down towards the cafeteria. "Sure you want to do this?" He asked just before the lift opened.
"Yes, why… don't you?" She asked growing concerned.
"Of course I want to be able to have lunch with you," he soothed. "It's just that you are the one the rumors are about when everyone sees us together…and trust me they aren't always nice."
"Derek." She squared off with him, "Stuff the people! I've been the brunt of rumors enough times around here not to care what they say anymore. The only time they affect me is when they stop me talking to a friend in public."
"Okay, settle." He nudged, "I was just checking!"
Smiling contentedly they stepped out of the lift together, headed to the counter and bought their lunch, they then proceeded to a table and sat across form each other.
While reaching for the second half of his sandwich he looked around to see more than half the surrounding eyes on them, Stuff the people! He thought and smiled at her.
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