"I have to tell you things and when I do you can't react in anyway," said Meredith. She and Derek had been dating for almost four months now. She had found Cristina in the locker room alone.
"Yeah sure," Cristina snorted.
"Fine I'm not telling you then," Meredith huffed.
"Yes you are," said Cristina. "And I will mock you and get you drunk because I am your person."
"You're my person."
"So spill."
"I broke up with Greg," said Meredith.
"Is that all?"
"No," said Meredith. "I'm dating Derek for…three months."
"McDreamy?"
"Yes," said Meredith grudgingly.
"Sex?"
"Yes."
"Alright then," said Cristina. "Tequila time now."
"There is a little more," said Meredith quietly. "I gave Derek a deadline, a year…a year to date other people and each other…only I've stopped dating other people and I haven't told him."
"Okay," said Cristina. "Do I have to give you advice or hug you and have a moment now?"
"No I'm good," said Meredith. "Just don't tell anyone."
"Fine," said Cristina. "But you're buying the first round of drinks."
"Deal."
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"Feel better now?" Derek asked the next morning. Meredith had come to work hung over and was now currently sprawled out on top of Derek in an on call room.
"No," came her muffled reply.
"We have to do at least some work today, you know?" chucked Derek as he stroked her hair.
"Don't want to."
"Neither do I but we took an oath," said Derek. "So get up and I'll see if I can get you scrubbed in on a good surgery this morning."
"No it's alright," groaned Meredith sitting up. "I have interns to boss around and paperwork to do."
"You sure?"
"Yes," she said leaning down and kissing him softly. "See you tonight?"
"I can't tonight," said Derek hesitating. "I have a date."
"Okay," said Meredith who felt like she had had the wind knocked out of her. "Bye."
"Meredith…" Derek started but she had fled.
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"McDreamy you moron," Cristina hissed at Derek after he had finished his shift.
"Pardon?"
"You heard you ass," she said.
"Dr. Yang."
"Oh don't give me the 'Dr. Yang' crap, you're breaking her again. I knew you would…it's a McDreamy thing, right? But to make her think it's her fault every single time…that's low."
"Ah we're talking about Meredith?" said Derek finally catching on.
"No shit."
"What is wrong with Meredith?"
"Like you don't know," she scoffed. "She tries and you start dating…typical…I should kick your ass but I won't…because I need a surgery right now and I don't want to hurt my hand on your face."
"What do you mean she's trying?" asked Derek.
"Like I'm going to tell you."
"Tell me!" he roared. "Then you can kick my ass all you want."
Cristina just looked at him in shock. "She broke up with Holden," she said as if she knew she shouldn't. "A month ago."
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Derek drove straight from the hospital to the ferry docks, he knew she would be there. And she was, Meredith was standing at the barrier watching the ferries. He got out of his car and walked over to her, and stood behind her.
"I'm sorry," he whispered into her hair.
"Why are you sorry?" she asked not being to stop herself from smiling because he was there, behind her, whispering into her ear and making her pulse race.
"I thought we were dating," he said placing his arms on the barrier at either side of Meredith so she couldn't run from him.
"We are," said Meredith well aware that he was making sure she couldn't run from him.
"You're not," he said sadly. "Why didn't you tell me you broke up with Holden?"
"It never came up."
"I'm sure you could have dropped it into conversation," said Derek.
"I'm sure I could have."
"So…you're not dating anyone except me."
"No…I'm not," said Meredith. She heard Derek sigh sadly behind her. "Speaking of dates, you'll be late for yours."
"I cancelled," he said moving his arms so that they were wrapped round her waist. "I never wanted to date…I just thought I should…"
"Derek the deal wasn't for me to date and for you to wait," said Meredith still looking out at the water intently. "It was for both of us to see what is out there so that we know that we choose to be together and that it's not just an old habit we can't shake."
"I know that," he said. "But I know what is out there and I don't want it, I want you."
"Derek you don't have to apologise for having a date," said Meredith firmly. "That was part of the deal."
"I want you, only you," Derek repeated. "You didn't tell me we were exclusive."
"I know, maybe I should have…I just didn't want things to change," she confessed.
"Okay," he said quietly. "We'll keep things as we are…but we're exclusive…right now I mean. You're not seeing anyone else and neither am I."
"Fine we're exclusive," said Meredith grudgingly. "Happy now?"
"Yes," he grinned turning her to face him. "I love you."
"Yeah yeah I love you too."
"We'll do it this time Mer," he whispered as he hugged her close to him.
"Don't hurt me again, please," she begged.
"I promise."