CHAPTER 3

"So Meredith do you want to tell me why you got kicked out of the house?" Derek asked her as they were heading towards his house.

Meredith shook her head "Not really if you want me to leave you can just drop me off here it's not a big deal i'm a big girl."

Derek just gaped at her wondering what had happend to this young woman to make her think that being alone was okay "I'm not dropping you off anywhere you need a place to stay and my mother can help with that."

Meredith lowered her head in shame "It's just that no one has wanted to help me not even my mother who thinks that i'm a disgrace and my father must feel the same way since i haven't seen him in over ten years."

He felt anger surging through him what kind of parents did that to a child? he asked himself this beautiful young woman who had done nothing wrong to deserve this kind of treatment now has to fend for herself? he shook his head and was glad that he had both hands on the steering wheel.

Meredith couldn't help but notice Derek's facial expression when she told him all that "What's wrong is it something i said?" A bit of fear sounded in her voice and Derek's face softened

"No it's nothing you said."Derek reassured her "It's just that i can't comprehend how your so call parents treated you i mean who does that?"

She gave a little smile "I'm guessing you had a good childhood then huh?' She asked as they were on the freeway heading towards the main street that lay ahead of them.

Derek smiled as he continued to drive on the freeway "Yes i did my mother is a kind of mother that everyone should have,being there at home when you need her,always putting her family first no matter what."

As they approached Farmor street where the Shepherds live Meredith couldn't help but notice that they didn't live that far from where her old house and she couldn't help but tense and unfortunately Derek noticed it.

"What's wrong?" He asked pulling into the driveway

"Nothing i'm fine."Meredith lied noticng Derek's frown "Really i'm fine." She assured him and glanced up noticing the four storey house that completely took her breath away."Wow."She breathed and watched as Derek's face perk up a little.

"You like it huh?" He asked a bit sheepish and got out of the car and Meredith did the same "I love it, it's one of the biggest houses i had seen in a long time."She assured him slamming the car door and slowly made her way across the walkway that would lead her to the Shepherd household where his mother would be waiting panic slowly overcame her and she stopped completely.

"Meredith what is it?" He asked noticing Meredith's panic as he made his way to the door only to turn around and saw that she had frozen completely.

"What if your mother doesn't like me?" Meredith whispered

Derek rolled his eyes "Of course she will like you my mother likes everyone and she will help you out in ways that i can't."He grasped her hand with his and noticed how well it fit into his and he ignored it knowing that she was only fifteen and in need of some help Derek knocked on the house door before opening it and yelled"Mom i'm here." And a few seconds later his mother approached them with a smile on her face.

"Derek dear you know it's not nice to yell especially in front of a guest." Carolyn Shepherd added noticing the young woman beside her son looking panicky and shaky.

Her son rolled his eyes before motioning before motioning the young woman over "Meredith this is my mother Carolyn and mom this is Meredith i found her in a back alley behind the bar." Carolyn gasped when she heard this and shook her head "Who would let this lovely girl out like this your parents should be ashamed of themselves." Carolyn approached the girl who looked ready to bolt at anytime "It's okay i won't bite i just bark."She said and smiled when the young woman gave a bit of a chuckle.

"Do you have anywhere to go Meredith?"She asked and watched as Meredith shook her head "You can stay here til you have a place to go." And Meredith was about to protest when Carolyn continued on "It's final we have plenty of room here so you might as well get comfortable,however first off we'll get you into a shower and a change of clothes do you have any?" Meredith shook her head "You can borrow some of my girl's clothes then."

Meredith wondered how she got here from being on the streets one minute to being in a strangers home the next minute not that she was complaining mind you it was a home and when there's a home there's a bed something she hasn't experienced in a long time even before her mother kicked her shook her head and looked at Mrs Shepherd or rather Carolyn as she preferred and wondered how someone so nice would let someone like her stay shook her head and looked at Derek who looked like he was about to leave.

"Mom i have to leave are you going to be alright with her?" He asked worriedly glancing at his mother and a panic looking Meredith.

"We'll be alright you go on dear i'll take it from here."Carolyn assured him and gently pushed him towards the door.

"Derek where are you going?" Meredith cried not wanting Derek to leave her for one second and watched as he gave her a gentle smile.

"I'm going home Mer i have to get up for work in the morning but don't worry i'll be back."Derek assured her

Meredith bit her lip "Are you sure?" She asked trembling and Derek's heart broke for her so he walked over and gently grasped her shoulders "I promise i'll be back and if you need to talk to me at anytime mom here has my number okay?"And Meredith nodded and with that Derek left wondering how he could leave her here alone but knowing his mother was there looking after her.

Minutes after Derek left Meredith turned toward Carolyn who had a gentle smile on her face and said "Why don't we get you upstairs so you could get you into the shower and some clean clothes now shall we?" Carolyn asked and Meredith nodded following Derek's mother upstairs and to a room down the hall which was across from what to be Derek's old room."Okay you'll stay here i put you in this room because it close by to Derek's and knowing it will make you feel comfortable even though he doesn't sleep here anymore." Carolyn explained and she went to a nearby closet and found Meredith a towel and some jammies to wear.

"The shower is through there and if you need anything please don't hesitate to ask."Carolyn said and quietly left the bedroom leaving Meredith to her own thoughts.

Twenty minutes later Meredith was out of the shower in the kitchen when Carolyn was feeding her like there was no tomorrow and she had to admit she was starving.

"So Meredith do you want to talk about what happend or not right now?" Carolyn asked as Meredith was finishing her toast..

Meredith didn't want to talk about it so she replied "Not right now maybe later." And yawned while she was at it and Carolyn gave a gentle laugh.

"Okay we can talk about it when you're ready,why don't you get some sleep dear you look exhausted."
Carolyn noticed and Meredith nodded she couldn't agree more"I think i will thanks." She got up and placed her plate in the sink before recieving a hug from Carolyn."I mean what i said whenever you are ready to talk just know that i'm here okay?" Meredith gulped and nodded and quickly made her way upstairs before she saw Meredith's tears.

Would they think less of me if they knew why the real reason i got kicked out? Meredith asked herself as she got cozy in bed would they throw me out like my mother did? she shook her head as long as she could keep her secret for a little while longer she would be able to stay. She sighed before falling into a deep sleep.

So there is a connection already between Meredith and Derek but will they disconnect when he finds out the real reason that she got kicked out? stay tuned. I hope you enjoyed this chapter i know i enjoyed writing it so if you do read this please review i love recieving those and they make my day/night.