Meredith wakes up with a familiar taste of iron in her mouth and she instantly knows what that means even before she feels the intense cramp ripple through her abdomen, causing her to curl up in a tight ball while emitting a low groan. She knew this was coming. She knew. That is why she chose to wear a ratty pair of underwear last night with a panty liner. That is also the reason that she made an excuse to spend the night alone. She didn't want to subject Derek to her PMS symptoms.
She tightens her grip around her legs as she tries to make herself get up and go to the bathroom. It hurts. It hurts to move. It hurts to walk. It hurts to lie there. It hurts to breathe. If there is a God, he hates her. Seriously.
She pulls herself to the edge of the bed and forces herself to her feet. She ambles to the bathroom in a slouched over position. Her flow isn't heavy. It isn't heavy at all. It's just everything the cramps that reduce her to a groaning pile of flesh for the first two days of her period every single month. She can usually function with the medication that her doctor prescribed for her. Her medication that she just happened to leave at home. Figures. Like she said, God hates her. God hates Meredith Grey and it feels as if at this moment he is kicking her in the ovaries to express that intense hatred.
She slowly pulls on a pair of navy blue Juicy sweats and pulls a sweatshirt over her head. She then turns the thermostat down in her room. She wants to be comfortable. She needs to be comfortable, and growing up in Boston, sweats are comfortable.
She groans as the cramps intensify a bit. She begins to make her way back towards her bed, where she intends to spend the next two days. She should probably call Derek and figure out something to tell him. They have spent every day and every night together for the past week, so a couple of days won't hurt anything. Right?
She walks over to the nightstand to grab her cell phone. As she moves her finger to press the send button, there is a knock on her door. She glances at the door before looking back at the phone. She wonders who in the hell is knocking on her door. All of her friends know to avoid Mega-bitch Meredith during the first two days of her period, so they avoid her like the plague.
She ambles over to the door, her phone still gripped in her hand, as the knocking persists. She reaches the door and turns the handle and is somewhat shocked to see who is standing on the other side of the door. Her mouth falls slightly open as she stares at him.
Meredith: Derek! What are you doing here?
Derek cocks his head slightly to the side as he feigns hurt.
Derek: Aren't you happy to see me?
Meredith bends over slightly, trying to ease the pain while also attempting to hide her discomfort from Derek. Unfortunately, Derek notices the pained look the crosses her face and he rushes to her side, placing his hand on her lower back.
Derek: Are you okay?
Meredith (through gritted teeth): I'm fine.
Derek: Meredith, I can tell that you are in pain.
Meredith sighs.
Meredith: I'm fine. Really.
Derek tilts his head to the side as he stares her down.
Derek: Meredith.
Meredith leans her body into Derek's and he automatically wraps his arms around her. He leans forward and kisses her on her hair as he runs one of his hands up and down her back.
Derek: Just tell me what it is.
Meredith: Cramps.
Derek straightens a bit.
Derek: Oh.
Meredith: Yeah. Sucks.
Derek: I'm sorry, baby. Is there anything I can do?
Meredith shakes her head no.
Meredith: I just laze around for the next two days. Sorry, but I won't be leaving this room.
Derek chuckles as he brushes a strand of hair out of Meredith's face.
Derek: Why don't you go lay down and I will be back in a couple of minutes.
Meredith cocks her eyebrow as she looks at him.
Meredith: What?
Derek: I will even take your key with me so you don't have to get back up.
Meredith: You mean you actually want to spend time with me today?
Derek chuckles again.
Derek: Why wouldn't I want to spend time with you?
Meredith: Well, I'm not the nicest person at this time of the month and there won't be any sex…
Derek cocks his brow as he looks at her.
Derek: First of all, you don't scare me and you deserve to be a little bitchy, if you are, because I know that you are pain. Secondly, do you think that this is just about sex?
Meredith arches her eyebrow as she stares at him, her mouth is slightly agape as she is attempting to recover from the shock of his words. No man has ever told her it was okay to be a bitch. And this is just about sex, right? It has to be. It has to be just about sex because there is now way that this can go past the three weeks that are remaining. It has to be. It has to be just about sex but that doesn't mean that they can't spend time together. Right? If he wants to put up with Mega-bitch Meredith then God help him, because he is going to need it. Maybe this new persona will scare him away and make it easier for her to leave him in three weeks. Yeah. That is it. That is why she is going to go along with this. To scare him away and make it easier on herself.
Meredith: They keycard is on the table next to the bed.
Meredith starts to move slowly back towards the bed, but Derek walks over to her and picks her up, carrying her over to the bed. Meredith just stares at him, unable to find words at the moment. No one has ever treated her this way. She doesn't know what to say. She doesn't know how to act. It's all knew to her.
Derek leans down and kisses her gently on the forehead before reaching over and grabbing the keycard.
Derek: I will be back in a few minutes.
Meredith: You better bring some strawberry ice cream back with you.
Derek chuckles.
Derek: Sure thing.
Meredith finds herself smiling at the door after it closes behind Derek's masculine form. She doesn't realize she's smiling. She doesn't even realize that the pain isn't even as bad anymore. She doesn't realize these things, and she doesn't realize that the origin of these things is the man whom she is now waiting for.
Meredith doesn't move as she hears the door unlock and the handle turn. She hears him making his way across the room and towards her bed, but she still doesn't move. She lies curled up in the fetal position, the covers serving as a cocoon as she hides from the outside world.
She hears Derek place several items on the table before moving to put some things in the fridge. She listens intently, not wanting to move, the covers and her position providing heat and causing the pain in her uterus to ease just a bit. No one has ever done this for her before, so she is completely unsure as to what to do.
The bed moves under the weight of Derek's body as he sits down on the edge of the bed. She has no idea what he is doing. That is, until his body appears under the covers followed by his head. She smiles weakly at him as he brushes a strand of hair out of her face.
Derek: What are we doing?
Meredith: Trying to make it stop.
Derek furrows his brow at her as he begins to run his hand up and down her back.
Derek: Cramps?
Meredith just nods.
Derek moves his body closer to Meredith's.
Derek; Is there anything I can do?
Meredith just shakes her head.
Meredith: I don't think so. I don't know. I've never had anyone want to help me like this before.
Derek; Seriously?
Meredith: Seriously.
Derek: Meredith?
Meredith looks into his eyes.
Meredith: Yeah?
Derek: I'm here.
Meredith smiles at him, the pain easing a bit more. She can feel his hot breath against her face.
Meredith: Thank you.
Derek: It is my pleasure.
Derek smiles at her, and Meredith can't help but reciprocate. She pushes the covers off of her, emerging from her cocoon, feeling somewhat different but not really. She sits up and leans back against the headboard, pulling her legs up against her chest. She looks at Derek.
Meredith: So, what did you bring?
Derek chuckles as he stands up and walks over the table. He removes several items and walks back over to the bed. He spreads the items out in front of Meredith.
Meredith: Movies, crosswords, sudoku, and Cosmo. You brought Cosmo?
Meredith giggles as she asks this.
Derek shrugs.
Derek: When my sisters would veg out they would always pile up with a Cosmo and chocolate, so I thought we could try it.
Meredith tilts her head to the side as she stares at Derek.
Meredith: You are willing to have a girls' night and day with me?
Derek chuckles as he gets up on his knees and kisses her on the forehead.
Derek: If that is what you want, then that is what we will do.
Meredith: You really are something, Derek.
Derek smirks.
Derek: A good something or a bad something?
Meredith smiles as she traces her finger along his jawline.
Meredith: An amazing something.
Derek chuckles as he leans into her touch.
Meredith: So, what food did you bring me?
Derek continues to chuckle as he gets up off of the bed and retrieves a bag from the floor. He pours the contents of the bag out onto the bed. Meredith's eyes widen with a mixture of shock and extreme pleasure.
Meredith: MMmmm.
She rubs her stomach as she stares at the various foods lying in front of her.
Derek: Hungry?
Meredith: Starving.
Derek: Well, what do you want?
Meredith continues to glance around at all of the food. She reaches forward and grabs a chocolate bar that is next to Derek's leg.
Derek: Do you want a coke?
Meredith moans in pleasure as she takes a bite.
Meredith; Oh my God, you are amazing. Yes, please.
Derek can't help but chuckle once again as he walks to the minifridge to grab Meredith a coke. He stares at her a moment before sitting back down on the bed. She looks so happy. She is smiling through all of her pain and it's nice that this isn't about sex. This is about them spending time together. He is happy that he can be there for her.
Meredith: What?
Derek shakes his head and snaps out of his reverie as returns to the bed. Meredith opens the can and takes a big drink.
Derek: Nothing.
Meredith leans back against the headboard once again as she grabs a bag of chips and begins to eat them.
Meredith: Tell me something about yourself.
Derek: What do you want to know?
Meredith shrugs.
Meredith: Anything that doesn't violate the rules.
Derek's face falls a bit.
Derek: Ah, the rules.
He quickly recovers, not wanting Meredith to see his crestfallen appearance.
Derek: Well, I have three older sisters, all very girly with tons of kids. My favorite band is The Clash. My favorite novel is The Sun Also Rises. Favorite color is blue. Not light blue. I don't like light blue. Dark blue. See this scar?
Derek points to a small scar on his forehead and Meredith squints before nodding.
Derek: That's why I don't ride motorcycles anymore. Mark is my best friend, but more like my brother.
Derek pauses and looks at her. She is digesting every word he says.
Derek: I think it's your turn.
Meredith: My turn?
Derek chuckles.
Derek: Yes, your turn.
Meredith bites down on her bottom lip and looks at him.
Meredith: Well, I am an only child. My favorite band is Duran Duran. Umm…poison of choice is Tequila. I don't know what else.
Derek: What about your parents?
Derek notices the pained look that crosses Meredith's face.
Meredith: My mom had an affair with a coworker, so my father left. After that she wasn't really around. Now she is remarried to that man and gives me money to stay out of her hair.
Derek leans in to Meredith and looks at her, sincerity and sympathy etched in his expression.
Derek: I'm sorry.
Meredith just shrugs.
Meredith: It happens.
Derek: But you deserve better.
Meredith looks at him.
Meredith: How do you know that?
Derek: I just do.
Meredith sighs.
Meredith: What about your parents?
Derek: Ehh…well…my parents have been married for almost forty years.
Meredith: Oh. You had that family.
Derek arches his eyebrow.
Derek: Which family?
Meredith: The disgustingly perfect one.
Derek chuckles.
Derek: I guess you could say that. But I really am sorry about your mom.
Meredith: Don't be. I'm not. Let's watch a movie.
Derek smiles at Meredith's obvious attempt to avoid the subject.
Derek: I was hoping we could take a look at the "Crazy-Ass Moves He Wants You to Do to Him There" article in the latest Cosmo.
Meredith giggles as she hits Derek with a pillow. Derek grabs the pillow from her.
Derek (feigning hurt): What was that for?
Meredith giggles again.
Meredith: For being a pervert.
Derek arches his eyebrow.
Derek: You like me being a pervert.
Meredith: Yes. I do. But only when sex is imminent.
Derek chuckles as he gets up and grabs the remote. He settles back on the bed before handing the remote to Meredith. She cuddles into his body as he wraps his arm around her. They settle in for a long day of relaxation, both finding themselves more and more entwined as more time passes.
You guys are almost caught up. :D
-Marci