Derek picked up the take away before leading her inside. "Are you serious about building us a house Der?" she asked.
Derek nodded. "I already have the plans drawn up. I was waiting for your answer before giving the builders the go ahead."
"Wow you really thought things through." she smiled. "You could have moved into mom's old house with me and the others."
Derek laughed. "Never. I wouldn't be able to have you all to myself." he told her before he gave her a kiss.
The couple had settled down and happily began to eat their dinner. Meredith shocked Derek by having her second helping of butter chicken.
Meredith giggled. "I've always been a big eater; my mom was shocked because I could eat more than the boys."
Derek was curious. Meredith had mentioned her mother twice this evening. "Mer" he began as he put down his fork and wiped his mouth. "Can you tell me about your mom?"
Meredith studied Derek thoughtfully. "There's not a lot to tell." she said with a shrug. "My mom left when I was 9, never to be seen or heard from again. She didn't even divorce Richard. Technically their still married, she's just missing in action."
Derek was thinking hard. "Her leaving when you were 9 means she left
when you were sick." he spoke confused.
Meredith nodded. "I had coded in my hospital room. She watched them fight to revive me, and then when Dad got back she said she was going to get a coffee and she left."
Derek looked shocked. "Who could leave their child alone in a hospital bed?"
"She thought I was going to die. I think, I guess, she couldn't handle it anymore. I understand her leaving me. I didn't. but I do now. But I never understood her leaving Dad. Lex or Mark."
Derek seemed to click with the realisation. "You didn't want to tell me about your heart because you were worried I was going to leave like your mother."
Meredith nodded. "I don't think I really would have been able to cope if you left me too. I have gotten used to people leaving me at one time or another. "she told him."The only people I have learnt to rely on is dad, Lex, mark, bailey and only recently Addie."
"Well babe you can add me to that list now." He told her with a big cheesy grin. "Because I don't intend on going anywhere."
Meredith smiled.
Later that night, naked and tangled up in Derek, she truly believed he wasn't going to leave her.