TEN DAYS LATER
"Good morning," said Derek. He had been staying at Meredith's house while she had the flu, to look after Ella. He took coffee into Meredith's bedroom, carrying a gurgling Ella in his arms.
"Good morning," yawned Meredith stretching. "Thank you."
"How are you feeling?" he asked.
"Much better," she said.
"Enough to go back to work, Richard is on the phone wondering when we will be back at work," said Derek.
"You could go back to work," said Meredith. "I'm not that sick now, I can look after Ella."
"So you get to lie around here and watch daytime TV, while I have to go to work," said Derek making a face. "I don't think so."
"But I'm still sick," Meredith whined. "Tell the chief I'm sick."
"You're not sick," said Derek firmly.
"But I can go back to work tomorrow."
"Alright, you can have a sick day," said Derek slowly. "As long as I can too."
"What?"
"Well I don't feel like going to work today either," said Derek placing Ella in Meredith's lap. "So I will tell the chief you're sick if you tell him you can't possibly cope without help today, and we can watch daytime TV and eat ice cream today."
"Seriously?"
"Seriously," said Derek who had had a great time looking after Meredith and Ella for the past week and a half, not that Meredith would admit that she had needed his help.
"Alright," said Meredith smiling at the thought of having a lazy day at home. "But you have to phone the Chief and tell him we'll be at work tomorrow."
"Alright," laughed Derek reaching for his cell phone, then it suddenly started to ring. "I'll uh just use the other phone," he said awkwardly looking round.
"Here it is," said Meredith rolling her eyes and handing him the phone on the bedside table. "Are you still avoiding Rose?"
"Yes," said Derek dialing.
"It's not healthy to avoid these things," Meredith called after him as he took the phone into the hallway.
"Yeah cause you've never avoided anything have you?" Derek laughed. "Hi Richard it's Derek, yeah Meredith is feeling a little better but she won't make it in to work today. We'll both be in work tomorrow morning…Yeah okay, thanks bye."
"What did he say?" asked Meredith.
"He said we better be in tomorrow and he hopes you feel better soon," said Derek.
"So…"
"So? We have the day off and neither of us are sick…what do we do?" said Meredith.
"We have breakfast," said Derek cheerfully. "What do you want?"
"Just coffee for me."
"You have to eat."
"Fine I'll have some eggs then."
"Coming up," said Derek.
"I'm just going to jump in the shower before all the daytime television starts," said Meredith getting out of bed.
"Alright," said Derek. "Just call if you need me to scrub your back."
"Very funny."
-----------------------------------------
That afternoon Derek was sitting on the sofa watching some soap opera on TV, rocking Ella's bouncy chair with his foot, she was sleeping soundly. Meredith was slouched on the other side of the sofa asleep also, she was positioned so that if she moved her head even slightly it would be resting on his shoulder. Derek poked her shoulder with his index finger just to see how deeply she was sleeping, she didn't give any indication that she had felt it. So Derek gently tugged on her arm until her head flopped to the side and then he carefully guided her head to his shoulder, instinctively she seemed to respond. She snuggled her head into his neck and her arm flopped round his waist. Derek leaned back so that Meredith was in a more comfortable position, all the while still rocking Ella in her chair.
Derek sat there quite content to have Meredith and Ella so close. For a minute he closed his eyes and imagined it was real, he imagined that it was just an ordinary day off and Meredith had fallen asleep in his arms. He closed his eyes and imagined they were a proper family. After a few minutes he was surprised to find he didn't want to open his eyes and remember that it was just a fantasy. What really amazed him was the strong longing he felt when he realised he could smell Meredith's lavender conditioner quite clearly in her hair? Ever since Ella was born Derek hadn't allowed himself to think about what could have been. What would have happened if he had just kept his mouth shut about Rose the night Meredith told him she was pregnant? Would they have given their relationship another chance? Would they still be together? Would they have built that house on his land?
But he didn't have long to think about it before Meredith started to stir, she opened her eyes looked around and then realised the position she was in. She pulled away from Derek, yawning.
"Sorry," she said.
"Don't be," said Derek. "Did you enjoy your nap?"
"I did, I enjoyed it very much," said Meredith. "Sorry for using you as a pillow."
"Happy to be of some use," said Derek.
"You know what we need now?" said Meredith with a mischievous glint in her eye.
"Uh…what?" said Derek wondering if she had read his mind and was going to drag him upstairs and have her wicked way with him.
"Ice cream," said Meredith getting to her feet and going into the kitchen, Derek got up and followed her.
"You still snore, you know?" said Derek as he watched Meredith get them both spoons. He loved the way she moved, so comfortable but elegant at the same time.
"And you obviously still watch me while I sleep," said Meredith.
"You're very, very cute when you're asleep," said Derek softly.
He walked up behind Meredith and spun her round to face him, their bodies pressed against each other. Meredith hesitantly looked up at him and the look in his eyes was unmistakable, she grabbed a fist full of his sweater at the stomach. She was tempted, she could just pull him down to her and then…she wouldn't be able to think it was wrong if they did kiss, she would lose all self control if he kissed her. Derek leaned his head down and gently brushed his lips against hers.
"Derek, we can't…" Meredith sighed sadly.
"We can."
"No we can't," she said. "When we do things get messy and…we can't have complicated anymore, it has to be simple and easy so that means just friends…no exceptions, no drunken mistakes. Just friends!"
"Okay," said Derek taking a step back. He pressed a kiss to her forehead to let her know that everything was alright. "I'm sorry." He looked round and then grabbed two bowls from the open dishwasher.
"What are you doing?" said Meredith.
"Uh…getting bowls."
"Oh no that is not how we eat ice cream in this house," she grinned, grabbing two tubs of ice cream from the freezer.
"What if I want some of yours," Derek pouted.
"Then you do this," said Meredith taking her spoon and dunking it in Derek's tub then eating it. "Can Mommy's boy handle that?"
"I can do that," said Derek McDreamily. "And anymore Mommy's boy remarks and…"
"And what?" Meredith challenged.
"And I will have to punish you," said Derek.
"Ooohhh what's Mommy's boy going to do?" she teased.
"Tickle you till you cry," said Derek placing the ice cream on the counter.
"No Derek don't you dare," squealed Meredith running from the living room.
----------------------------------------
"Here you go," said Derek. It was their first day back at work Meredith had just walked into the hospital and Derek had handed her a cup of coffee.
"What is this? More fluids," groaned Meredith. "I'm fine now."
"It's coffee," said Derek rolling his eyes. "Although if you don't want it…"
"No I'm sorry," said Meredith keeping it out of his reach. "I'm going to need as much of this as I can get."
"I thought you might," smirked Derek. "You're back on my rotation today."
"Oh lucky me, like I don't see enough of you as it is," Meredith teased.
"Who are you kidding? You can't get enough of me," Derek teased back.
"Derek I need to talk to you in private," Rose called as she tried to catch up with them.
"We don't need to talk, there is nothing to say," sighed Derek. "It's over."
"Derek…" Rose protested.
"No I told you before. You made me choose between you and spending time with my daughter, I chose her and I will choose her every time," said Derek his eyes glinting in anger. "So while we may have had a good thing once, but it's gone. I hope this won't affect our working relationship."
"I'm pregnant!"