Meredith becomes vaguely aware of the fact that her phone is ringing as she struggles to open her eyes. She feels someones hands brushing through her hair as she fights to stay asleep.

Derek (in a quiet voice): Mer..

Meredith just mumbles into Derek's chest as she nuzzles further into his body, her hair falling across his bare torso. Derek can't help but chuckle at her reluctance to wake up.

Derek: Meredith, your phone is ringing...

Meredith (groaning): I'm sleeping...

Derek chuckles again as he runs his fingers along Meredith's bare spine.

Meredith: Mmmm..

Meredith's phone starts ringing again. She groans into Derek's chest as he chuckles.

Derek: Sexy Back, Meredith?

Meredith: Shut up.

Meredith reaches across Derek's body, her boobs pressing into his chest, as she reaches for her phone on the table next to the bed. She flips the phone open as she looks Derek in the eyes.

Meredith: Hello?...No...What?...Why?...Whatever...Seriously?!...Okay, okay...Give me an hour...Shut up, bitch...bye.

Meredith snaps her phone shut and can't help but notice the smirk on Derek's face as he runs his hands up and down her back.

Meredith: What?

Derek chuckles.

Derek: You are not a morning person, are you?

Meredith groans as she rolls off of Derek and onto her back.

Meredith: No. I'm not.

Derek rolls onto his side and begins to run his hand down Meredith's arm. Meredith looks at him and smiles. He leans forward and briefly brushes his lips across hers.

He props his head up on his elbow as he stares down at her, each getting lost in the other's eyes. Derek reaches down and caresses Meredith's cheek as she runs her fingers through his hair. They are both enjoying each other's company and they don't want it to end.

Derek sighs.

Derek: Meredith..

Meredith arches her eyebrow, unsure of what he is about to say.

Derek: I had an amazing time last night. There is something about you...you just...you have already captivated me...and I would love to spend more time with you.

Meredith bites down on her bottom lip as she looks into his bright blue eyes. She can see th sincerity that resides there, but she is terrified of committment. And what happens when it is all over? What happens in four weeks when they return to port and each go their seperate ways? Meredith already feels for this man more than she has ever felt for a man before. She doesn't want to let him go. Not yet. But she also doesn't want to get hurt.

Meredith: I...I had an amazing time as well...but, if we are going to continue this...thing...which I'm thinking you do from what you just said...

Derek nods his head as he watches Meredith expectantly.

Meredith: If we are going to continue with this, then there have to be rules.

Derek arches his eyebrow.

Derek: Rules?

Meredith: Yes, rules.

Derek: O...okay.

Meredith: First rule: If we are sleeping with each other, then we are not sleeping with anyone else.

Derek: Of course not. I completely agree.

Meredith: Good. Now, B.: No last names, no addresses. You don't know mine. I don't know yours.

Derek's body tenses a little.

Derek: May I ask why?

Meredith: Because, this cruise is four weeks and I think it would be easier if both of us realized that nothing is going to happen past those four weeks.

Derek nods.

Derek: I can accept that.

Meredith: And the third rule, you can't fall in love with me.

Derek widens his eyes in shock.

Meredith: I know that right now that seems like such a distant possibility, but this rule is for me just as well as it is for you. Nothing can happen past this cruise and we know that, so why should we put ourself through that torture?

Derek: But...I...you can't help who you fall in love with..

Meredith: If you don't agree, then there is no way that I can carry this on. I can't. We can't. I need for you to promise me that you won't fall in love. If you start to feel like you are, then we will end it.

Derek doesn't want it to end. He will do anything to keep it from ending. That is why the next words escape from his mouth.

Derek: Okay.

Meredith nods.

Meredith: Good. I have to go meet my friends for lunch since it seems that we slept through breakfast..

Derek chuckles.

Derek: Well, we didn't go to sleep until sunrise..

Meredith smiles.

Meredith: It was worth it.

Derek smiles broadly.

Derek: Yes. It was.

Meredith reaches up and runs her fingers through Derek hair while pulling his lips to hers. She kisses him softly and passionately. She nibbles on his bottom lip before softly running her tongue over it. He can feel her hot breath on his mouth the moment before her lips crash down fully on his. Her lips melt into his as she pushes her tongue into mouth for just a brief moment. He groans when she pulls away from him.

Meredith (breathless): I have to get ready.

Derek (breathless): Meet me later?

Meredith smirks.

Meredith: Of course.

Derek moves so that Meredith can get up. He watches her watch to the bathroom, her hips swaying as she moves. After he hears the shower going he gets out of bed and gets dressed before heading back to his suite to take his own shower.

Both agree to the rules, but both know that rules are made to be broken. Neither one realizes that the newly formed rules are already bending.

Thank you all for your comments. I really do love comments. I am a comment whore you might say. :D

-Marci