Disclaimer: There is proof that we don't own Grey's. Tonight's episode. We can't even begin to match that amazingness.
Meredith was going to be less than happy about this plan, there was no way Meredith was going to like this plan. Me just randomly showing up at her house. I shouldn't have come, I should have stayed with my family instead of risking a fight with the girl that wasn't quite yet my girlfriend. But Dillon's voice had been too tempting. Meredith might still be having problems reaching out to me, but her son had none of the same fears.
I sighed as I pulled into her driveway, behind two other cars that I didn't recognize. This was probably a bad idea, and I was probably shooting myself in the foot. But Dillon Grey wanted me to come over to dinner. And I couldn't say no to him. I already loved him like he was my own son, and not seeing him just wasn't an option. I got out of my car and rang the doorbell, my hands shaking a little bit.
I wasn't sure who would come to the door. It looked like a crowded house, anyone could answer the door. Luckily the familiar blonde came walking around the corner. She looked beautiful today, relaxed and happy. She was wearing that Dartmouth shirt I loved so much. "Derek!" she blurted out, panic filling her eyes.
Before I had the chance to answer, Dillon came running towards the door, a little blond girl following closely behind him. "Derek!" he shouted as he lunged at me and wrapped his arms around my legs. "Hi!"
"Hey bud!" I exclaimed, reaching down and picking him up. "Did you save me some lasagna?" I asked him, weaking at Meredith.
"We haven't eaten yet," he promised me. "Mommy, Derek's here!"
"I hope you don't mind," I said rather sheepishly. "This one called with an offer I couldn't refuse."
She turned to Dillon, anger flashing in her eyes. "Dillon Grey, did you call Derek?"
Dillon nodded slightly and buried his face in my neck, looking for protection. "Mer, it's okay. I was happy to hear from him."
"But I, uh," she frowned slightly as she stammered, "I thought you were eating dinner with your family."
"Much to Mark's annoyance my mom let me out of family duty tonight," I told her smiling.
"Oh," she sighed. "Well, um, I guess, if you want, Izzie made lasagna."
"Dillon, how about you go grab me a seat?" I told him, setting him back onto the ground. "I have to talk to your mom for a minute." As I watched Dillon run off, I turned and smiled at Meredith. "I'm sorry, I knew I shouldn't have come. But I couldn't say no to him."
She smiled back at me, though the panicked look still flickered in her eyes. "It's fine," she sighed. "Really, it is. You haven't known him long enough to build defenses."
I leaned forward and brushed my lips against her, not a real kiss but something. "I kind of wanted to see his mother too," I whispered.
She blushed and leaned her forward against mine. "I wanted to see you too," she murmured.
"Good to know," I said, smiling. "You could have called."
She laughed a little. "Well, I was going to wait until after my family dinner died down," she said. "Because the gang's all here. Cristina, Izzie and Alex and their kids, and George."
"So I meet the family," I said, nodding seriously. Not that I didn't want to meet the family, but it was like meeting her real family. I was the boyfriend meeting the protective siblings, and that couldn't sit well in any man's stomach.
"Meredith," Cristina Yang came marching into the foyer, a frown on her face, "why the hell don't you have anything stronger in the house than wine?"
"Dr. Yang," I greeted her, before Meredith had a chance to answer.
"Dr. Shepherd," she sized me up and down. "What are you doing here?"
"Dillon invited me over for supper," I told her. My hand brushed against Meredith's, and I slipped my hand into her, giving it a tight squeeze. Although I wasn't sure who's benefit it was for, her's or mine.
"Whatever," she rolled her eyes and then turned back to Meredith. "Seriously, Mer, I'm going to need something stronger than wine. Barbie and Dr. Evil Spawn are talking about spawning more children. And I may vomit."
"There's tequilla in the cupboard over the fridge but don't let the kids see you drinking it," Meredith said giggling slightly.
"Thank god," Cristina said and went back towards the kitchen, not even bothering to give me a second glance.
"Did she know we were dating?" I asked Meredith.
Meredith nodded. "Of course she does, she's my person."
"So let's go meet the rest of them," I told her, forcing a smile even though nerves bubbled in my stomach.
She smiled and squeezed my hand, and led me towards the kitchen, where I could hear many different voices speaking at once. I hear Dillon above them all, singing his ABCs. "Hey, guys," Meredith said as she stepped into the kitchen, waiting as everyone except Dillon settled down. "Dillon, honey, Mommy's trying to talk now." I laughed as Dillon finished and Mer said, "This is Derek. He's going to be, well, he's going to eat with us. Today. I guess."
"Hi everyone," I said, reaching my hand out to shake a man a vaguely recognized from the hospital. "Dr. Karev," I greeted him.
"Dr. Shepherd," he shook my hand once and then turned to Meredith, a question in his eyes.
"Umm..." Meredith, said her head whipping around to look at me nervously, her eyes filled with panic. "He's umm...we're ummm...he's a friend," she responded. I didn't mind the friend title right now. Whatever she felt comfortable with, because I knew what was really going on.
"He's mommy's friend and my friend!" Dillon said from his spot next to a shorter man with brown hair. "Aren't you, Derek?"
"Yeah, bud, I'm your friend," I told him with a smile.
"He's going to take me fishing, Uncle George," Dillon grinned as he turned to the man next to him. "He's gonna buy me a pole and everything!"
"I was supposed to take you fishing," the man I assumed was George answered with a frown.
"Well, you never did," Dillon reminded him. "And Derek said he'd take me. And mommy says it's okay."
"You can come along if you want," I offered, not wanting to step on any toes that Dillon grew up with.
"Oh, uh, no, it's fine," the man stammered. "I'm George, by the way. George O'Malley."
"Derek Shepherd," I told him, offering him my hand.
"It's nice to meet you," he nodded. "Meredith's really special."
"I know," I said smiling over at Meredith who was now helping Izzie with some of the food. I just hoped she wasn't cook it. "She's something else," I said, not even trying to hide the love I felt for her.
He smiled and then leaned forward carefully and whispered, "Don't use her, okay?"
"I'm not going to," I whispered back, impressed by the loyalty her friends showed.
"Derek!" Dillon grabbed my hand. "No more grown up talk!"
"Sorry bud," I said, sitting down beside him. "As I'm your guest we should probably talk about what you want."
"Yeah," he grinned and then pointed to the little girl who was currently standing next to Meredith. "That's Becky. She's my girlfriend."
"You have a girlfriend?" I asked, widening my eyes at him in true disbelief. I had been 13 when I had my first girlfriend and I thought I was the coolest kid around. Apparently I was wrong. Dillon, at age 6, had beaten me.
"Yeah," he nodded. "We're gonna get married. Right, Uncle George?"
"Yeah, Dillon. You and Becky," George said, still sounding awkward.
Dillon grinned. "See? She's my girlfriend."
"You're quite the cool kid, bud. I don't even have a girlfriend," I told him, winking at Meredith. Not yet, at least.
"Mommy can be your girlfriend," he said wisely. "She's a girl. And she's your friend. So she can be your girlfriend."
"I like that idea," I told him. I really liked that idea. And it was a perfect way to broach the subject without giving Meredith a chance to freak out. "What do you say, Mer?"
"To what?" she asked innocently as she brought a salad over to the table.
"Your son thinks you could be my girlfriend, since I don't have one," I said, pouting at her. "Be my girlfriend?"
She laughed and then leaned forward and kissed my cheek. "You realize his definition of a girlfriend is a friend who is a girl?"
"Yes. But we could use my defninition. It's much more interesting," I said, slightly rubbing my cheek where her lips had been.
"Oh, and what's your definition?"
"Small ears, Mer," I told her, laughing gently and pointing to Dillon.
She laughed and then nodded. "Fine, Derek, I'll be your friend who is a girl."
"His definition or mine?" I asked, trying not to sound to hopeful.
"Yours," she winked at me and then turned to Dillon. "Dillon, honey, why don't you and Becky go wash your hands before supper?"
The two of them ran away from the table, hand in hand and giggling. "So you're my girlfriend," I whispered in her ear.
She nodded slowly, though I could feel her body tensing. "It's not too soon is it? I mean, you were probably just joking. And now you're freaking out and you want to leave and you can if you want to."
"Meredith, I'm not going anywhere. And I definitely wasn't joking."
She smiled at me and leaned forward to kiss me. "Ugh, gross," Cristina groaned from her spot on the kitchen counter. "Get a room."
"They're cute," the blonde that was obviously Alex's wife said. "I'm happy for you. Both of you."
Meredith grinned and turned to me. "Derek, Izzie Karev. Izzie, Derek Shepherd, my, um, boyfriend."
"Nice to meet you," I said, reaching out and taking her hand. I liked Izzie already, she was bubbly and perky. The last person I had expected Meredith to ever be friends with. But I liked her.
"Hey," she smiled. "Meredith told me you really liked the cupcakes. I can make you more if you want."
"I'd like that. Thanks Izzie," I said, feeling my cheeks redden slightly. I didn't think Meredith had shared all the details of how much I enjoyed th cupcakes. But if she was anything she
"So you're a doctor?" Izzie smiled at me. She was definitely favorite of Meredith's friends so far. Alex and George seemed uncomfortable around me, Cristina wasn't even talking to me. But Izzie, well, Izzie was nice.
"Yes. Head of neurosurgery at Seattle Grace." For the first time I said it not even trying to impress anyone. I wanted Meredith's family to like me for who I was, not for what I did. I wanted to be part of this family, as loud and as overwhelming as they might be.
"Very cool," she grinned and then turned to her husband. "Alex, will you go see if Justin is awake from his nap yet?"
"Sure, babe," he said leaning over and giving her a quick kiss. This was not Alex Karev that I worked with. This was a different Alex, the one I could actually see Meredith being friends with, no just the ass that all the interns hated.
"Derek!" Dillon came running back in. "Are you and Mommy boyfriend and girlfriend now?"
I laughed as he yet again threw his arms around my legs. I loved kids, I adored kids, but none of them had bonded with me like this before. Dillon felt like he was mine. Not only did Meredith fit my life, but so did her son. "Yep, bud. She's my girlfriend now."
"Cool!" he grinned. "Does that mean that you're gonna get married like me and Becky?"
I grinned at Meredith and knelt down to meet Dillon's wide open gaze. "I hope so," I told him, deciding to stick to the truth. I wasn't one to lie to kids. "But I've only been her boyfriend for 5 minutes, I can't marry her for a very long time."
When I looked up at Meredith, there was panic in her eyes and she was fumbling with the silverware. "Um, uh, is everyone ready to eat?" she finally stammered out. "It's uh, ready. Right, Izzie, it's ready?"
Izzie gave Meredith a perplexed look. "Yeah, it's ready."
"See? It's ready," Meredith let out a nervous laugh and then headed towards the table with salad dressing and breadsticks. "So, yeah, uh, everyone can sit."
"Meredith," I said, grabbing her elbow as she placed the dishes on the table. "I'm sorry...I wasn't thinking...I'm sorry." I hadn't been thinking. Because I knew I wanted to marry Meredith, I also knew she was no where near ready to hear that.
She looked away from me and towards Dillon who was proudly telling people where to sit. "Derek, slow," she murmured. "I mean, I know I said that we're actually you know, a couple, or whatever. But marriage? Seriously?"
"Sorry," I told her sincerely, wrapping an arm around her back. "I am happy that you're my girlfriend."
"Me too," she finally sighed, resting her head against my shoulder. "Okay, everyone, supper time. Derek, I think you have the place of honor next to Dillon today."
"I would hope so," I said, as I lightly pressed a kiss on Meredith's head and headed towards my seat, that Dillon was proudly pouting. Life with Meredith was easier now that her son adored me.
"You're gonna sit next to me," he told me proudly. "It's better than sitting with the grown ups. They talk about work and stuff."
"Boring stuff," I told him, scrunching up my nose in my best Meredith impression.
He giggled and nodded. "When are we gonna go fishing? Can we go tomorrow, Derek?"
"I have to work tomorrow, bud. My next day off I promise to take you," I told him, putting some salad on his plate.
He stared at the salad for a moment and then made a face. "Veggies are ewww," he said, scrunching up his nose. "I just want asanga, Derek."
"I'd love to give you just lasagna, but I don't think your mommy would be very happy with me," I said, shooting a look at Meredith.
She nodded at me and smiled, her eyes bright. "Dillon," she smiled, "why don't you tell Derek about what you learned in school on Friday."
"Yeah, bud, did you learn lots of neat stuff?" I asked him, putting some lasagna on his plate, much to his thrill.
"Yep," he nodded. "We did reading groups and I was in the best group. Cause I'm the best reader. And I got a long book from the liberry."
"Wow," I said, smiling brightly at him. "And you can read it all by yourself?"
"Most of it," he answered. "Mommy helps me sometimes. But I can read a lot of it all by myself. Can you read by yourself, Derek?"
"Yep. They wouldn't let me be a surgeon if I couldn't," I told him laughingly.
"Aunt Cris and Uncle Alex are surgeons too," he said excitedly. "What do you surgeon on?"
"Brains," I said, raising my eyebrows at him.
"Ewww," Becky said next to him. "Are they gooey?"
"Not too gooey. They kind of feel like spaghetti," I told her. They didn't really, but it was the only thing I could imagine likening it to.
"My daddy operates on babies so they can be born," she said proudly.
"That's pretty cool," I told her enthusiatically.
"Aunt Cris operates on hearts," Dillon told me. "Surgery is hardcore."
"It is," I said, nodding. "What do you want to do when you grow up?"
"Race car driver," he answered enthusiastically. "And I wanna surgeon. I wanna do both."
"Wow, you're going to be pretty busy," I told him. I looked up at Becky. "What about you?"
"A teacher," she said. "Like my mommy. And a movie star. I'm gonna do both."
"That's pretty impressive," I told her, looking up to find Meredith smiling warmly at me.
"Are you grown up already, Mr. Derek?" Becky asked.
"Yep, I'm all grown up," I told her, taking the question to be very serious.
"Are you gonna surgeon forever?" she asked me.
I laughed. "I hope not. When I retire, when I get really old, I want to fish."
"How old are you, Derek?" Dillon asked. "Cause you're already pretty old."
I wasn't old, maybe a little old but definitey not pretty old. I frowned at Meredith. "I'm 40," I told him.
"Dillon," Meredith interrupted. "It's not nice to call grown ups old."
"You're just upset because if I'm old, you're old," I told her.
"I'm only thirty," she laughed. "You have a whole ten years on me, old man."
"Wait till later tonight and I'll show you who's old," I flirted with her.
Meredith laughed and then turned to Cristina. "So he is good?" I overheard as I took a bit of lasagna. "He looks like he'd be good."
For someone who had problems sharing even the slightest piece of information with me, she seemed right at ease with my friends. This had always been my favourite part of a relationship, getting to know someone, finding out everything that makes them who they are, all their different sides. And it had never been better than it was with Meredith. Tonight I saw a different Meredith than ever before.
She was relaxed and laughing, her eyes sparkling. I had never seen her like this, I couldn't get her to look like this. I knew she was scared. But I was hoping that now that I had been accepted into her group of friends, she would start to really open up even more with me. I needed to know her. And as I watched her laugh with her friends, talk about school and potty training with Izzie, I realized that I had finally met the real Meredith Grey.
I do know, where you go, is where I wanna be