Fools in love they think they're heroes because they get to feel no pain; I say fools in love are zeros.
Derek was close to dropping off to sleep himself when he heard his phone buzz in the side pocket of his jeans. Keeping his hold on the sleeping woman who lay on him, he reached for his phone; his mom was ringing again. He sighed softly and answered the phone, talking so quiet it was almost a whisper, "Hey. Mom, now is a really bad time."
"Derek! You actually answered," she laughed softly, as upset as she was with him, she couldn't get angry at him, "Why are you whispering?"
"I just need to be quiet right now," his eyes were fixed on Meredith as he spoke, hoping he wouldn't wake her. He couldn't hide the affection in his voice, and part of him just didn't want to hide her from his own mother.
"Just let me know, are you okay?" She questioned; she hadn't heard from him in over three weeks. All she knew is that he had up and left Addison and gone away to Seattle. She didn't blame him though, she supported her son in every decision he made. She just worried.
"Yes, Mom. I'm okay, I think. I guess, I was really angry for a while. But things have changed, and I'm happy, honestly," he said, still keeping quiet, but unable to keep the grin off his face.
"Well, I'm sure you'll tell me all about her when you're ready, son," she laughed softly, he really couldn't hide anything from her if he tried.
"I will, Mom, promise," he watched as Meredith started to stir in his hold, "I have to go, I'll speak to you soon, love you."
"Speak soon, love you too," she responded. He ended the call just as Meredith's eyes opened and she looked up at him.
She stretched a little and his hold loosened on her as she started to sit, she murmured, her voice still thick with sleep, "Who was that?"
"Just my mom, she has bad timing, I'm sorry I didn't mean to wake you," he explained, watching her closely.
She shook her head and smiled softly, "It's okay, I probably shouldn't sleep here all night anyway. That can't have been comfortable for you," she said with a small laugh as she wiped at her eyes.
He laughed with her and sat up beside her, resting his hand on her lower back, "Oh no, it was very comfortable for me, don't worry," he leaned to kiss her cheek, just as her head moved and his lips ended up on hers. She didn't pull away. Her hand moved to his shoulder as she returned the kiss, deepening it.
As they continued, their lips locked together, his arms moved around her waist and he felt the smirk of her lips against his own as she moved to straddle him on the couch, sat in his lap with her knees on the couch either side of him. His own hands moved around her waist, holding her there as she tangled her fingers into his hair, neither one breaking the passionate kiss.
After a gentle tug on her lower lip, inciting a soft, quiet moan from Meredith, he moved his lips with gentle kisses along her jaw line and down her neck, his arms moving around her waist to hold her closer to him. She relished in the feel of his lips against her soft skin, her breathing still slightly heavier from their kiss moments ago. One hand moved to his chin as she moved her lips back on his, needing to feel that connection again.
"Will you stay?" she murmured against his lips. She didn't want to be alone. She knew how to be alone and she could be alone if she had to be. But the fact was, she didn't want to.
Their lips parted and their eyes met, and he smiled at her, "Of course I'll stay." She grinned back at him and climbed out of his lap. It had to be getting late. He watched her as she moved picked her phone up off the coffee table.
She had a message from Maggie, about an hour ago, letting her know she'd be back late, around 10pm. Meredith checked the time, 21:45. She looked up at Derek, "Let's go upstairs," she suggested. She wasn't ready for Maggie to meet him yet. Of course, Maggie had already met him, but that was professional. She wasn't ready for Maggie to meet him as more than that. Not yet.
Derek nodded, thinking nothing of it. He picked up the empty pizza box and took it through to the kitchen as Meredith moved the bottles of alcohol into the kitchen as well. She led him up to her room, feeling nervous all of a sudden. It's not like this was new, but it sure as hell felt it. She closed the bedroom door, using the lock for the first time in years. Her room was always kept open, whether for Cristina's spontaneous visits or in case Maggie needed her. She wasn't risking anyone walking in unannounced tonight, not while he was there.
"I need a shower," Meredith said quietly, she looked over to where Derek was sat on the edge of her bed and slightly bit her lower lip, hesitating a moment before plucking up the courage to ask, "Do you, do you want to join me?"
She held her breath for a moment, waiting for his answer, only he grinned and stood up, moving closer to her and weaving his arms around her waist, sensing her nervousness and pulled her close to his body to try and ease her nerves, "Yes, I do want to join you," he murmured softly as he pressed a soft kiss to her lips. He felt her body relax instantly and he saw the smile return to her lips. Beautiful, he thought.
She continued smiling as she pulled away from his hold, only to go into her adjoining bathroom to turn on the shower. He followed her in, taking off his shirt as he went. He watched, silent, as she undressed in front of him, her back to him. She felt his eyes on her back and put her clothes in the hamper before she stepped under the hot water, waiting for him. He quickly stripped the rest of his clothes and followed her into the shower, his arms reaching around her from behind. He had no doubt this was where he was meant to be in his life. Right now.
As wrapped up in each other as they were, neither of them heard the door open and close downstairs.
Maggie came home to a seemingly empty house. If it weren't for the fact Meredith's car was in the driveway, she would be more worried about her sister's whereabouts. Walking into the kitchen, she eyed the empty pizza box and two empty glasses on the side. She put her bag down on the kitchen island and put the glasses on the top shelf of the dishwasher, and the empty pizza box in the trash.
She set a portion of leftover lasagne to reheat in the microwave as she sat on one of the stools, pulling her phone out. A yawn escaped her lips as she composed a message to Jackson. Just got home, going to eat and head to bed. Speak tomorrow. She didn't feel up to any long conversations tonight, it had been a very long day and she just wanted to go to bed.
Finishing her food, she put the plate in the dishwasher before picking her bag back up and heading up to her room. She paused for a moment on the landing, before deciding to quickly check on Meredith. She walked down to the end of the hall, and before she could even touch the door handle, or knock on the door, she heard the sound of her sister's laughter coming from the room shortly followed by a male voice. Oh.
She smiled to herself and shook her head a little, debating a moment longer about knocking on the door, just to let her sister know she was home before deciding not to. She stepped away from the door and retreated to her own room for the night. She sat on her bed with a soft sigh and sent a quick message to Meredith, I'm home, gone to bed. She wasn't about to spook her sister by letting on that she knew she wasn't alone. This is exactly what Meredith needed. A small voice in the back of her head just hoped it was Derek Shepherd in there with her.
They woke to the sound of Meredith's alarm clock going off. Meredith groaned, not wanting to separate from Derek's warmth. She began to reach over him to turn of the alarm, but he shifted next to her and reached over instead, "I got it," he murmured, his arm then returning to hold her at her waist. He pressed a soft kiss to the side of her head, "Good morning."
She smiled and turned to look at his sleepy expression, "Good morning." They lay there a moment, just watching one another. Her eyes eventually peered over at the time on the clock, "I need to get up," she sighed softly and turned on to her back.
"Yeah, I need to stop by my place before the hospital," he mused with a soft chuckle, realising he needed a change of clothes. Neither moved yet.
Meredith was the first to move, sitting up and pulling back the covers, "I need a shower… I smell like sex," she said with a soft laugh.
He sat up himself and moved close to her, his hand resting on her cheek to move her to face him, his lips pressed against hers in a soft kiss that she reciprocated, "I can help you with that," he said with a slight smirk on his lips.
"If you keep touching me, I'll never make it to work," she laughed and gave him one last kiss before stepping out of the bed.
"I can't argue with that logic," he laughed with her and climbed out of the bed himself, pulling on his boxers as he stood up. She walked round to his side and his arms wrapped around her, "I'll see you later, then?" he asked as her hands moved up to rest on his shoulders.
"Yes you will," she assured him with a soft grin, "Now go so I can get ready, you're making me late," she reached up to press a soft kiss against his cheek before pulling away and heading towards her adjoining bathroom to wash last night's activities off.
"Okay, okay…" he laughed softly as he watched her close the door behind herself, shaking his head in a moment of disbelief as he dressed himself. He sat on her bed a moment, listening to the sound of the water start in the shower as he thought. He was sure more than ever, he needed to keep that woman in his life.
He stood to put his shoes on and made his way out of her room, almost sneaking as he made his way to the front door, just in case anyone else, such as Maggie, were in the house. He managed to make it out to his car unseen and made his way to his own apartment to get ready for the day ahead.
Meredith stepped out of her bathroom, wrapped in a towel, when she heard a small knock on her bedroom door, "Meredith?" She heard her sister through the wood. She went over and opened the door with a smile.
"Hey, Maggie, what's up?" she asked her sister as she towel dried her hair, stepping back into her room with the door open for Maggie to step inside.
"Good night?" her sister asked, a knowing smile on her face.
Meredith felt a slight blush on her cheeks and nodded in response, "Yeah, it was a good night."
"And that was Derek Shepherd I just saw driving away from the house?" her sister pushed slightly, wanting to know more.
Meredith laughed softly at her sister, "Yes, yes it was," both were silent a moment before Meredith spoke again, "Do you wanna carpool this morning? I'll be ready to go in 15."
"Yeah, sounds good, I'll be ready," Maggie responded. She decided on not pressing the matter further. Meredith would talk when Meredith was either ready or had drank enough tequila. She left the room with a small laugh, making sure she was ready on time.
I should know, I should know because this fool's in love again.
Fools in Love - Inara George.