A/N: Thank you all for the lovely reviews once again! It gives me the inspiration to write better each update and I hope that you find the case is that my writing improves each chapter along. So, after this I think its a fast forward in time, maybe a week or so, otherwise it'll become one day after another and be quite slowly progressing. Enjoy this chapter, Derek has dinner at Merediths. I hope the "sparkage" action is not to cheesy, but.. hey, I'm using my artistic licence! So, anyway, on with the fic and whatever

Take Care

FOUR

As The Tides Change

Derek had sped home, showered and changed in world recording breaking time, and now stood on the doorstep to Meredith's small home, well, it was quite big, but to Derek, compared with his huge home any other house was practically a cardboard box in comparison. He rang the doorbell and tugged the bottom of his jumper as he waited.

He heard the sound of little feet running on hardwood floor and then Luca's voice shouting "Mummy" before the door opened revealing Luca in a little Minnesota Wild Jersey and jeans, with the truck scrub cap firmly on his head, his line of stitches creeping out beneath the edge. Meredith took Derek's breath away, somehow in the 40 minutes that had passed since seeing her she had managed to both change Luca and herself, redo her hair and put on a floaty white and black summer dress. She was breath taking. Her hair fell about her shoulders in soft curls and waves.

"Whoa" he stammered. "You look.. amazing." He leant in and kissed her cheek, and gave her the bottle of red wine he had bought.

Meredith was also feeling a rush of desire at seeing Derek stood in her doorway. He had a pair of well worn blue jeans on, and a white shirt under a black jumper. As she invited him in and allowed him to precede her through the hall way she appreciated just how well the well worn jeans hugged his butt.

As Meredith said it would be 10 minutes before dinner was ready, Luca dragged Derek off to show him his toys and room. When the buzzer of the oven went off she dished up the food and walked to the bottom of the staircase calling up "Guys, dinners ready!" She smiled at the sounds of laughter, happy that Luca was able to spend sometime with a male father figure, which she suspected would be desperately needed, compared to the amount of time he spent with women. Luca only had her Dad and Preston Burke as males in his life, Elaine his babysitter was a single parent, then there was just Meredith herself, and Cristina. Hopefully her intern friends would also become apart of Luca's family though.

She set the plates on the table and went to the fridge to grab some grape juice, as she went back to the table the boys arrived and joined her. Derek lifted Luca into his high chair and took the seat opposite Meredith smiling at her.

The meal progressed slowly, with Luca chattering away to the adults. When they had finished Derek pushed back his chair and sighed. "That was great! Thank you Meredith." he said, totally full from the meal.

Meredith smiled and lifted a very tired Luca from his high chair.

"You've had some long days" she said her son "Bedtime. Say goodnight to Derek."

The two year old fought to keep his eyes open to say goodbye to his new hero. "Night nighhhh Derrrwik" he slurred, failing the fight and gently nodding off in Meredith's arms. Derek smiled and kissed the little boys head "Night Lucas" he said as he watched Meredith carry him from the room and up the stairs towards Luca's room.

Derek stood and gathered the dishes, and put them into the sink, he leant back against the counter as the bowl filled with water, listening to the sound of Meredith's voice float down the stairs, he smiled softly.

Meredith gently pried Luca's arms from around her neck. She quickly changed the drowsy 2 year old into his PJs, removed the tiny scrub cap from his and placed it on his bedside cabinet. Smiling she brushed her fingers through her sons hair, then reached over and flicked the nightlight on, before kissing Luca's head and quietly saying "Night Lucas Thatcher, I love you baby." She silently walked across the room, and shut the door quietly before walking back down to the kitchen and Derek.

"What are you doing?" she asked upon entering the kitchen.

"What?" Derek asked, turning his head to her as his hands cleaned a plate.

"You don't need to do the washing up Derek." she said, holding back a grin.

"Don't be silly, you did the mean and sorted Luca, it's the least I could do."

"Oh, no, I know that. You deserve to do it for doing nothing, but I just meant…" she trailed off and walked over to a cabinet and pulled the door down "…you could have used the dishwasher." She laughed at Derek's face, as he blushed from embarrassment.

Grinning he reached into the bowl and grabbed handfuls of soapy bubbles and hurled them at Meredith. As she shrieked and jumped out of the way of each handful she slipped on a patch of soapy water and flew forwards, barrelling into Derek. The two fell against the wall, as Derek half winded grabbed a hold of Meredith waist in an effort to keep them both standing, and pulled her to his chest.

She stared up at him and their laughter died out as they were drawn to each other in an unblinking gaze. He pulled he upright and raised his hand to her cheek, when she made to effort to move away he slowly brought his lips down on hers.

She moaned as she allowed herself to surrender to his lips, deepening the kiss she draped her arms around his neck, as his other hand wrapped round her waist. Without breaking the kiss he picked her up, both hands on her waist now, spun her and placed her on the counter top. She opened her legs and he stood between them, and fed her kisses. They pulled apart breathing heavily, he rested his forehead against hers as he controlled his breathing, he kissed her lips again before moving back.

"I should go" he said holding Meredith's hands as he stepped back, pulling her down of the side to stand in front of him.

"Do you have to?" she said, way to turned on to let him go.

"I think I should. I really like you Mer."

"I like you too" she whispered smiling softly. She pulled him to her, kissing him again, before releasing him and walking Derek to the front door. She opened the door and hung on to it, he stood in the door way and kissed her goodnight.

"See you tomorrow Doctor Grey." he said winking.

"Goodnight Doctor Shepherd."

She closed the door behind him and turned to lean her back against it. She was falling for Derek Shepherd. Since the start of her internship she knew she was attracted to him, and Cristina was forever telling her McDreamy had a thing for her but she never believed it. But in the last two days she saw it might actually be true.

And after years of being alone, she smiled at the thought that she might not be anymore.