Chapter 26: Proposal
Derek had the box in his hand. The box where a princess cut engagement ring lay between the Tiffany blue cushions. An engagement ring! He had gotten it a while ago with the help of Aaron who secretly made the trip just for that sole purpose. It had taken them hours to find the perfect ring that wasn't too big, but perfect.
Their lives were far from perfect. A little perfection would do it justice as soon as he would propose to her. He had the perfect plan, which involved a nice restaurant and candles with live music in the background. That was his plan.
He had already picked a date and everything. What wasn't planned was her answer, although deep down inside he knew should say yes.
She had to or else he would resort to drinking himself away.
As the days had gone by, his nerves got to him. The two-letter word floated around in his head.
When he slept.
When he ate.
When he was in the OR.
When he was making love to Meredith.
No.
It was mocking him to the extremes, and even after being inside Meredith and filling her warm wet walls around him as he came, the word would not go away.
So, he did it. Screw the candles and the four-course meal served by the best in Seattle.
He did it.
"Oh shit!"
Not the reply he was looking for. Her eyes grew wide, handing the small black box into her delicate hand. With shaking hands, she opened the box only to reveal the vacant spot where she expected a ring to glimmer before her.
Nothing.
"Der-"
"I'm ready to be with you for the rest of my life Meredith Grey. I want to grow old with you in our house, wake up to the sunrise overlooking the lake. I want to die when I am 110 in your arms. I know your scared, I know. And you need time to think, so I want you to keep that box, and when you're ready all you have to do is give it back." he whispered with the faintest smile before pulling her close, sighing.
He did it.
All he needed to do was wait.
"More suction." he ordered as he continued his task of saving the young man's life that was on the table. A week had gone by, neither talking about what had happened, going on with their lives as if nothing had happened.
"Suction." his scrub nurse nodded.
"I can't seem to get the clot out." he groaned holding back a curse. "Need more light people."
There it was! The little asshole that was causing the man his seizures was right there under his eyes.
"Ten blade." he ordered his hand out waiting for the surgical instrument to be placed in his awaiting palm.
He felt something placed into his hand although it did not feel or even weigh like the ten blade he had asked for. It was smaller, lighter, much more rectangular.
"What-" Turning his head, looking down he knew exactly what it was.
She said yes!
The END!