AN: Hi friends! Here with another one-shot! One-shots are definitely easier for me to write as there is no expectation of having to get out more. That being said I've seen your feedback on Right Where You Left Me and I do have a second chapter in the works. I also have another story idea brewing so keep a lookout for that. I tested positive for covid so that means I'll be quarantined but also have some time to write (if I'm feeling okay) so I would appreciate it if you guys were patient with me!
This is a continuation of 8x21/8x22. It's not super long or heavy, it's more so just a little bit of MerDer fluff to give you some buzz. Reviews are always welcome. I love hearing feedback. Thank you again for reading my stories, happy reading!
The sound of a doorbell startled him. Aside from the obnoxious ringing the house was ultimately quiet. No roommates or as he preferred to call them, "strays" roaming the hallways causing the floorboards to creak. No sound of doors slamming or people chatting in hushed whispers. It'd been that way the entire weekend. Most of the residents he cohabitated with including his own wife were out of town for their board exam. Surprisingly he still had no word from Meredith about how it went or how she thought it might've gone. Other than the strange call he received earlier in the day, it was radio silence. He didn't want to bother her though. Derek knew she'd tell all when she was ready.
When he realized the persistent nag of the doorbell wasn't just a figment of a dream he might be having, he rolled out of bed. The room was dark aside from the sliver of moonlight twinkling through the blinds. He was still half asleep as he reached for a pair of pajama pants to throw on over his black boxers. "I'm coming!" He hissed to nothing more than the empty hallway. He treaded down the stairs with bare feet and his teeth chattered when the ice cold floor touched his toes. It never occurred to him that the person behind the foggy glass door was just the person he actually wanted to see. In his mind he figured it was a roommate who forgot their key again or maybe a delusional neighbor. Though who the fuck was up at this time of night anyways?
Except when he pulled on the knob it was Meredith that stood behind the threshold. He rubbed his eyes to clear up his blurry vision. She stood barefoot on the welcome mat in a wrinkled tan suit or more so the ghost of one. The jacket was missing and her blouse was unbuttoned a little further down than it probably had been earlier. She held her heels in one hand and her Blackberry in the other.
"I think I lost my keys," she blurted.
Derek didn't miss the fatigue that seeped from her tone when she spoke. Not that he didn't find her beautiful all the time but she definitely didn't look herself. He noticed the paleness of her skin almost immediately. There was mascara smeared beneath her eyes and her hair was drawn back in a scraggly ponytail. For a second he feared she might have been crying, had she failed her test? Was that why she never called?
"Meredith, it's like two in the morning," he responded with a slight chuckle. He reached for her hand and she took it without hesitation. Together, they walked back into the house, the sound of her suitcase wheeling in behind filled the silence. Derek watched his wife lock the front door and turn out the porch light.
She sighed when the lock clicked and slowly turned to face him. He couldn't read her which was a rarity for Derek. He didn't know if the news she probably wanted to share would be an occasion to celebrate or one to mourn. What he was cognizant of was that she looked like someone in need of a hug and he proceeded forward to embrace her.
Derek held her so tight he feared he might be crushing her lungs in the process. He missed being with her the last few days. It was rare they spent time apart, living together, working together, it left little to no room for independence. And while there was nothing wrong with being apart he couldn't deny he functioned better while in her presence. He kissed her hair and sighed happily when the familiar scent of lavender brushed his nose. He didn't miss the warmth of her forehead though and it made him frown almost instantly.
Meredith circled her arms around his waist too. They stood interlocked in the foyer for what felt like eternity. It was Derek that broke the silence stating, "You have a fever," not a question but a matter of fact.
"I'm sick," she mumbled against his t-shirt.
"And we're hugging because…?"
She looked up at him, "You hugged me."
"And you didn't stop me either," it was almost ironic considering neither of them retracted from each other. He really didn't care if she spread her germs to him. Whatever Zola had she probably gave to Meredith and if his wife didn't pass it along he knew his daughter likely already did. If anything he was secretly glad he was still holding her. God, he missed being with her.
"Your daughter got me sick, I've been sick the entire weekend," Meredith explained.
Derek snorted. "So she's my daughter when she does something you don't like?" He asked humorously.
She rolled her eyes at him but responded, "Yes, that's exactly how this works."
"Okay," Derek sighed. He felt her relax back into his hold, her head nuzzling against his chest. She sounded congested and tired and downright miserable. He should have known something was off with her phone call earlier that day but he hadn't pressed her about it. "You were sick during the boards?"
He felt her nod. "Mmm Derek, it was miserable. I hurled after every single question I was asked. The room smelled like puke. It was horrible."
"Oh, Mer…" Derek frowned at the revelation. Not only did he feel terrible she was sick but the possibility of having the stomach flu probably ruined her chances at passing made it all the more horrible. Why couldn't it have been him who'd gotten Zola's bug? He hated this for her. He better than anyone knew she worked her ass off for this exam for months. "I'm so sorry. It's okay, you can retake them. It's not the end I promise," he stroked her golden hair.
"Derek, I never said I didn't pass," for a moment they locked eyes as the realization hit him. All of the exhaustion momentarily fled from her eyes and it was replaced with joy. Meredith grinned, "I passed. I kicked ass, I'm gonna be an attending."
Derek reached to cup her rosy cheeks. He smiled with her. "My wife is brilliant," he praised, "so fucking brilliant. Who else can say they puked the entire time during their test and still passed with flying colors? You are incredible! I'd spin you around right now if I wasn't scared you might throw up on me." They shared a laugh together, he bent down to press his forehead against hers.
"No spinning is probably a good call," she giggled a bit. He loved her giggle.
"I'm so proud of you. You amaze me, Meredith Grey."
Derek kissed her head again, slowly, tenderly. He squeezed her tight against his body. There had never been a doubt in his mind Meredith was an extraordinary person. She continued to break barriers and reach new heights. Not simply in her career but personally too. She thrived as a mother, a wife, a friend. Things she consistently doubted herself on but time and time again he watched as she proved her doubts wrong. She amazed him beyond words.
"I wish I could kiss you," he spoke quietly, his eyes drooping to find hers.
She grinned. "If you weren't such a baby you'd kiss me anyways," Meredith pressed a chaste kiss to his neck and pulled from his grasp. "What you can do is carry my suitcase upstairs," she winked at him and suddenly was fleeing up the staircase without a second thought.
Derek shook his head and smiled to himself. He did as told, grabbing her bag, clamoring up the stairs behind her. He could hear Meredith whispering down the hall, likely checking in Zola. He caught a glimpse of his wife bending over the crib to kiss their daughter goodnight.
"May I ask why Zola is in a bee costume?" Meredith's voice tore him from the task of pulling her suitcase into their room. He felt his cheeks flush.
"She threw up on the rest of her clothes," he replied sheepishly. Meredith didn't quite know the extent of his weekend with Zola. He remembered one time when his wife called Zola was screaming while he pretended she was just fine. He didn't want to seem like a horrible dad that didn't know how to handle a little stomach bug. Especially after he promised she would be in good hands while Meredith was out of town.
"Derek…"
"Mer I did my best!" Derek found himself defensive, "I didn't want to worry you and she was fine. She is fine."
Meredith folded her arms. "And the best you could do was a bee costume?"
"She hasn't puked since I put it on her… I'd say it's pretty effective."
Meredith sighed, rolling her eyes at him. He couldn't tell if she was actually annoyed or just pretending to be. When she started to laugh he breathed a sigh of relief. "You're an idiot."
"No name calling," He pretended to be hurt by her assertion. A few years ago her comment might've bruised his extremely precious ego, now he brushes it off with a laugh, she was probably even right. He was an idiot in some aspects of life and he didn't mind being called out on it so much now.
"I'll call you whatever I want," and with that Meredith strut into their bedroom.
"Okay Mrs. Future General Surgery Attending."
He watched as she rummaged through dresser drawers, probably looking for something to throw on that was more comfortable than dress pants and a blouse. He silently unpacked her bag for her, shucking the clothes into the hamper and placing her shoes back inside the closet. At some point he heard the shower come to life. She left the door to the bathroom open but he didn't join her.
"Hey, Mer?" He called from the bedroom. "Do you want some ginger ale or anything?"
"I think I'm okay now," she replied over the roar of the shower.
In the meantime he straightened the bed a little, fluffing her pillows, pulling out extra blankets. When she reappeared again she was in his t-shirt, tangled wet hair dripping onto her shoulders. She looked exhausted but still so radiant. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and crawled into bed without another word. She wrapped herself around his pillow.
"Are you not brushing your hair?" Derek joked.
"Too tired," she lifted her hand as if to signal she were reaching for him to join her in the cocoon of their marital bed. "Come to bed."
He didn't dismiss her request. He simply crawled in behind her and they met in the middle lying nose to nose. He pulled his fingers through the damp tangles of her hair. She purred slightly at the contact of his hands on her scalp and her eyes fluttered closed.
"April didn't pass," Meredith sighed, breaking their silence. "Everyone… all of us passed. She seemed so disappointed. I felt terrible." He stroked her back as she spoke.
He sighed. "Is she going to stay at Seattle-Grace or…?"
"I don't know. I doubt Hunt is going to keep a place for her without having a board certification. She can't be a proper physician without it, you know?"
"Hmm," he responded, "is it wrong I'm just happy you passed?"
"I think it would be more wrong if you weren't," Meredith nuzzled closer into his heat. He'd missed this, even if she was only away for a weekend. If the last seven years had taught him anything it was that he slept better, functioned better, lived better when he was with Meredith.
"I really am so proud of you. I feel like I don't tell you that enough," he whispered to her. He had definitely done things in the past that might say otherwise. The magazine disaster comes to mind, when he left her out of the article for his own gain. He'd been selfish in their relationship a handful of times and he hated that. He hated how he treated her with kid gloves in moments he didn't have to. He wanted to be better moving forward. She deserved not just appraisal from him but from those around her. She was a damn good surgeon, it should be celebrated.
Meredith was silent for a beat. They laid still in the apex of the mattress holding each other for dear life. "I know you're proud of me, Derek," she sounded so sure of herself. Certain that he was proud of her despite previous actions that might describe otherwise.
"You're going to do amazing things, Meredith Grey," and he meant that entirely. Within moments he listened as her breathing evened, signaling she'd fallen asleep almost instantly. He grinned to himself when her softer snores brimmed the quietness. He followed in her footsteps not too long after, the best sleep he could recall in days.