Dogs and Dances
It's hard to stomp meaningfully in heels and a tight long dress.
"Meredith, don't stomp"
Ahh well obviously I pulled it off well enough that he knew what I was doing.
"Meredith"
Can't hear you busy stomping
"Meredith"
"What"
"Oh.. umm"
"It's a dog Derek, just a dog, I thought we liked dogs, me, you, us"
"I do, we do, it's just.."
"Just what?"
"What if it dies?"
"What? We haven't even bought a dog yet and you are killing it already?"
"hmmmmm"
She scrunches up her nose and looks at her husband. It's new enough that even thinking that "husband" still sends small thrills down her spine. Even when she is angry. God what a girl I've turned into she thinks.
He looks at her scrunched up nose and determined chin. He sighs inside, he knows he is being silly, but it gives him goosebumps. He sees her shiver slightly and the glare in her eye soften.
The cab beeps breaking their reverie, he holds her door for her and then moves around the cab and slides in.
"If we can't even have a dog Derek, how are we ever going to deal with children"
Ahh low blow, she's bought children into it. Those negotiations are on a temporary hold, not to be reopened until after Christmas, by mutual agreement.
"Meredith" he growls
"I know, I know sorry, but Derek, we can look after a dog, surely"
"I'm not worried about us looking after the dog Meredith, we are more than capable"
"Well then, what, that we will kill it"
"Not kill it just, just that it will die"
This time the nose scrunch deepens to a frown, he has lost her... are they talking about a dog.. oh, no they aren't are they.
"Ahhhhhh" she nods smiling
"Ahhhh what"
"I see"
"See what"
He is now shifting around uncomfortable under her scrutiny in the back of the cab.
"It's the symbolism isn't it?"
"hmmm, not sure" he slumps down a little in his seat and intently watches the traffic out the window
"Derek Shepherd"
"Meredith Grey"
"Shepherd"
"What"
"Meredith Shepherd, we are out of the hospital, it's Shepherd"
"Were on the way to a hospital function"
"We are in a cab, it's Shepherd and stop trying to pick a lame argument to get out of this"
"What?"
"The symbolism whatever. The Dog, the "ohh it was a good dog" stuff"
"I have no idea what you are prattling on about"
"Ohhhh yes you do" she teases "you know the inappropriate hand touching over a dead dog with my boyfriend standing there"
"He was NOT your boyfriend" he spits indignantly
"Stop changing the subject"
"Stop bringing incorrect facts in"
They both giggle
"So you are scared to get a dog because..." she prompts him, smiling softly tocuhing his hair to convey she is done teasing.
"... because yeah, ok, if it was to die, what would that symbolise?" He looks questioningly at
her, tentative
"That the Dog was Dead?"
"Meredith"
"No seriously, sad, but dead dog means dead dog. Not dead Meredith and Derek"
"I know, I know" window gazing again
"Derek, look at me", he turns "Derek we are good yeah"
"Yeah"
"Strong"
"Yeah"
"We would survive a dog dying"
"I guess"
"Or..."
"Or...?"
"We could get a cat, no symbolism there?"
"A cat, god are you kidding, no no cat"
"Ok, fair enough, so we can get a dog" she smiles at him sweetly tossing her shoulders from side to side
He leans over to kiss her "Yes Meredith, we can get a dog"
He hates hospital social functions, always has. Mind you they are easier to bear since he has been with Meredith. Unlike Addison she feels exactly the same way he does, and is often the one to drag him out early to a bar or home, or occasionally a appropriately empty and lockable hospital room.
This one isn't so bad. There are no speeches, and there is alcohol. Meredith looks amazing in her fitted teal green dress. She is bubbly and happy after their dog decision. He reckons he has to endure an hour more before he can drag her off somewhere.
The hospital has splurge on a band tonight. He dances in public now, since that prom. But they have an unwritten rule, they only dance with each other from now on.
He watches her talking to Cris laughing and tossing her head back. This is why he accepts the dancing now, he has to wait an hour to drag her off, but with dancing he can at least hold her close now.
He walks over and drops his hand lightly to her waist. She smiles up at him, still listening to Cris. At a break in their conversation he leans down and whispers in her ear "Mrs Shepherd, will you dance with me", she turns to him smiling, "hospital, it's Dr Grey", he leans in and whispers "I can't call you Dr Grey when I'm asking you to dance". She looks at him and raises her eyebrow. He tilts his head on the side gives her a half smile (apparently according to Izzie this expression is called the McDreamy around the hospital), "Meredith, dance with me?". She giggles and her eyes light up, causing his heart to jump in delight. She grabs his hand and lets him lead her to the dance floor.
They sway to the music, you can't technically call it dancing he thinks. They don't know steps or anything.
He is surprised by a tap on the shoulder. "Dr Shepherd can I cut in?", Alex asks. They are good friends Meredith and Alex, he doesn't mind. It's just they don't dance with other people. If anyone ever asks her Meredith always declines. Even at Cris and Preston's wedding. "Alex, ahh.." he doesn't want to sound like a jerk. Meredith tugs his hand and he looks at her. "It's ok, I'd love to dance with you Alex". He is surprised but ok with it, he moves away and watches them dance (or sway, none of the Dr's are good at this stuff) to a few tracks. They chat more than they dance (or sway). They pull apart and Alex walks her back over. Meredith moves to his side and presses her small body into his, he drapes his arm around her hips.
"Thanks Derek, I've got to get going and wanted to catchup with Mer before I left"
"No worries, good to see you"
"You too, bye guys, oh and on call room 4 is empty and the lock is fixed" he winks as he leaves.
Derek looks at her questioningly. "You danced with Alex"
"I danced"
"You did"
"And we are getting a dog"
"We are"
"You wanna go?"
"Yeah, Joes, Home or.."
"Oh my heels are hurting, On Call room 4 sounds much closer"
AN: OK, A,B,C,D are done. That's all I have for a while.. will keep writing and post when I'm done. Reviews will make me write a post faster please