Ok, so here it is. I see some of you are getting anxious about Derek's answer, so here it is part 7. Oh, and I'd really like to thank all of you who reviewed, it really makes mevery happy :)that you guys are enjoying this as much as I enjoy reading others. There are some excellent writers on this site, and I love getting addicted to stories! So please, if you like this story, or even if you think it sucks, please READ and REVIEW! It means so much to me.

Disclaimer: See previous chapters!

Thanks

--anatomycd

Part 7

"I was with Addison for a very long time, but we met at the hospital and just had so much in common that our relationship was just comfortable. When I found her in bed with Mark, I wasn't upset; I was almost relieved to be free. I started a new life down here, and I want you to be part of that."

Meredith was upset. He had just gone way around the question. "Derek…"

Derek didn't give her a chance to finish the sentence. It wasn't that he was still in love; he just hadn't admitted that he wasn't in love with Addison in over two years. "Meredith, to answer your question, No, I'm not still in love with Addison, but my feelings for you are getting more overwhelming every minute."

"I can't handle this right now. I really need to get to work." Meredith couldn't think. Seriously. What was she supposed to be thinking right now? This was not your normal conversation with your new boyfriend. She wanted to be with Derek, no doubt, but she didn't think she could handle this right now. She was a vulnerable person, she always had been, and she had relationship-phobia like no one else.

"Meredith, would you at least go to dinner with me tonight. You can ask me anything you want then. I'll do anything not to ruin this. You're right though; we need to get to work. So, in that case, I'll take the jeep, and you take this car, and we'll be on the way."

"Oh, are you sure, you want me to take this car. Really, I don't mind driving the jeep; I've got the key right here!"

"No, no it's fine, enjoy. This car's a fun drive. Plus, I really, really owe you. This is just the beginning."

Meredith forced a fake smile on her face. So many questions were left unanswered. She knew she would go to dinner with him because she needed to have her questions answered. She forced herself to leave all those thoughts behind and put the car into drive. For now, she was going to forget all her boy problems and just enjoy the ride…

As Meredith pulled out behind Derek, she turned the radio on. She laughed; he was so funny in that jeep. Not a car she ever saw him driving. Maybe they were more alike than she first thought. The CD of the Clash was still in the player, so she turned it up loud. She didn't mind The Clash and decided to sing along. Derek pulled over into the other lane, and at the next stop light, they were next to each other. At the stop light, with her foot on the break, she let go of herself. She closed her eyes and danced to the song as she sang at the top of her lungs. Meredith was usually the glass-half-empty kind of person, but when she could be by herself (in a very expensive car, no less) she decided to take advantage and enjoy herself. All of a sudden, she looked up. The light was still red, but she felt eyes looking at her, piercing her skin. She looked over and saw Derek. He was laughing hysterically. Crap. Someone had seen her and her smooth moves. Well, at least there would be one lighthearted story to talk about at dinner; it might be the only one. The light turned green, and she sped off. She was almost to the hospital.

Meredith pulled into the hospital parking lot. Derek pulled in right behind her, but parked one space over. Smooth, very smooth. Derek walked slyly over to Meredith and his car. She handed him back the key and smiled at him, with a semi-genuine smile. Derek looked back at her, "We're ok, right, Meredith?"

She had enjoyed herself for about five minutes, but Derek had just brought her back to the glass-half-empty way of thinking. "No, Derek, we're not ok yet, but we can be. We'll work it out." It seemed weird that she had to be comforting him, but she could see how hard he was taking this and she hadn't made this easy on him. He was trying; she could give him that. She still had no idea how when she was around him, it could create problems, yet she could forget everything wrong in the world at the same time. Was she falling for him too?

"Derek," she said, "I'm working with Burke today, so I will meet you tonight. We probably shouldn't leave together again."

Derek was thankful that she was making some effort. He knew this had to be overwhelming for her, but the earlier in the relationship this could be fixed, the stronger their relationship could be. "Why don't you let me pick you up tonight from your house. Your shift is over at seven tonight, right? Well, why don't you let me pick you up at 8:00? I'll make reservations for 8:30. Oh, and dress casual, you'll want to stay comfortable where we're going." He gave her a peck on the cheek, almost instinctively, but she pulled away.

"Derek. Now, I really need to be headed to work before I'm late for rounds again and Bailey yells. Plus, I've got this little problem with my roommates to work with. Now, I will meet you after work. Thanks for the ride again."

And with that, Meredith walked ahead into Seattle Grace, ready for whatever her day held. She felt Derek's dark, deep eyes watching her the whole way into the building, and she couldn't help but smile.