Chapter 8: A Sleepover ~ Part 1
A/N:Decided to split this to get a chapter up.
Sorry for the delays in posting I've been reading more than writing recently. Need to figure out a better balance. Happy Spring Break!
Chapter Summary: Getting ready for their evening together.
Prompt from : Muse A and Muse B are very much looking forward to celebrating Valentine's Day together, but Muse A especially so. Muse A has a very tantalizing gift planned for their lover. Muse A is about to give Muse B their very own private lingerie show.
The reality is that you will grieve forever. You will not 'get over' the loss of a loved one; you will learn to live with it. You will heal and you will rebuild yourself around the loss you have suffered. You will be whole again but you will never be the same. Nor should you be the same nor would you want to. ~ Elizabeth Kübler-Ross
Friday
His day is crazy! The peds department is busy, following up on all the surgical cases from the day before. He spends the day monitoring, following up and unfortunately didn't make it to an OR, nor did he manage to catch up with Meredith for lunch. He has his fellow follow up on all the kids held for observation, and thankfully of the 25 held only one will be staying for further follow up.
He is tired, but looking forward to night with Meredith. If all goes well they will have 18 hours together just the two of them, before watching a few soccer games and then a family dinner. Leaving the work he stops by Pike Place Market, stopping at the Italian Deli to pick up a bake-at-home cannelloni that he had quickly pre-ordered this morning. He also stops at the liquor store, the bakery for bread and dessert and swings by the florist and picks up a bouquet of lavender and roses.
Arriving home he puts dinner in the oven, noticing a gift on the living room table addressed "To Dad and Meredith". He was interested in what his son had chosen, but will wait until Meredith arrives before opening the gift.
He then pulls the clean sheets out of the dryer and heads to the bedroom to make up the bed. He finds an envelope containing an assortment of condoms on the bedside table, with a note from his oldest.
"Dad, remember to be safe. -Liam"
Shaking his head, he finishes setting up the bedroom and heads for a quick shower. After showering and cleaning the bathroom including replacing the towels and pulling out a new bottle of Citrus Mint bubble bath, he heads back to the kitchen to prepare a salad.
After dropping off the kids at school Meredith heads home for a quick shower and changes into slacks and a blouse for work. She heads into her closet and pulls out her shopping from a few weeks ago, new lingerie, a new sweater and pair of leggings.
As she packs her bag for the weekend, she sees the framed post-it in her dresser drawer. She runs her finger over their words, thinking back to her post-it wedding
Derek: What do we want to promise each other?
Meredith: That you'll love me even when you hate me
Derek: To love each other even when we hate each other…No running. Ever. Nobody walks out, no matter what happens.
Meredith: No running.
Derek: What else?
Meredith: That we'll take care of each other, even when we're old and smelly and senial and if i get Alzheimer's and forget you…
Derek: I will remind you who i am every day…To take care when old, senile, smelly.
This is forever.
sign?
Meredith: This is our wedding? a post it…
Derek: mhm if you sign it
[Meredith signs]: Now what?
Derek: Now I kiss the bride
[They kiss] Meredith: Married.
Derek: Married.
Meredith will always remember her first true love, her mentor, her partner, her soulmate, the father of her kids. Wiping the lone tear from her cheek, she thinks about the future while placing the post-it and his ferry boat scrub cap back in her drawer. "I will never forget you, Derek. You will always have a big place in my heart. It's time to move forward," she says closing the drawer. Her bag is packed, including some special shopping, sexy underwear and bra to put on at the end of the work day, something sexy for after dinner, a nightie and wrap to leave a Cormac's, and a change of clothes for the next day.
Her day is uneventful, routine, although her surgeries stretched over lunch hour so she's only seen Cormac when she drops off a latte after morning rounds. Her teaching goes well with all her residents progressing and successful today with their surgeries. At the end of the day she showers and changes in the Attendings change room, and chats with Jo as they both change after their busy day. Jo, noticing her lacy undies, teases, "Hot date tonight?"
"Heading to Cormac's," she says.
"I heard Bailey say Ben was taking all 4 boys out tonight. Guess you have the house to yourselves?" Jo continues.
"Really, Jo. Are we in high school?"
"Mer, I think you two are great together. I'm glad you've found someone. Enjoy some kid free time," Jo says.
"Thanks Jo," Meredith says, finishing her makeup and drying her hair.
Taking a deep breath Meredith grabs her bag from the back of Link's sports car. She'd traded vehicles with him as there was no way he could carry four kids in his little car. It was quite the ride. She walks up to Cormac's door and knocks.
"Hi, beautiful," Cormac says, pulling her into a kiss, his arms going around her waist pulling her close.
"Hi!" she replies, relaxing into him.
"How was your day?" he asks, leading her into the living room and taking her bag to his bedroom.
"Not bad. Lots of teaching in the OR," she replies noticing the gift on the table.
"Wine?" he asks between kisses.
"Please. You didn't need to get me another gift. I loved all of them," she says.
"This one is for you and I from Liam."
"Oh! Have you looked?"
"No. I was waiting for you to arrive," he answers, coming to sit down with her.