Chapter 22

Derek and Meredith are driving in silence towards the spa, each of them deep into their own thoughts. He is pondering about their future. He wants to spend it with Meredith. He wants to marry her, build a house on his land, have kids with her and die in her arms at the age of 110. Meredith wants this getaway to be a new beginning. Why can't she just trust him? Why is she always assuming the worst? Everything felt so good the last few days and then…boom … the engagement party and the fake pregnancy and now Cristina is moving here with Owen. Can she work in the same hospital as that nurse?

Cristina and Owen have a lot of stuff to take care of during Wednesday and they also want to check out houses in the area. Owen wants something with a backyard and Cristina wants to live close by the hospital. Their realestate assistant is sighing deeply. Their wishes will not be easy to meet. She shows them a couple of prospects during the afternoon.

It is late when they finally arrive to the spa. Derek follows the instructions from the reception and stops in front of their room. He looks at Meredith once more and asks again.
"Are you sure about sharing?"
She nods with a small smile and replies.
"We are adults and we can share a room and take this slow at the same time, right?"
"Yeah" he answers and caresses her cheek. "Just as long as you understand my upcoming need for extremely long cold showers."

Rose is in a blind rage. Every plan she has made, every reservation is cancelled and she can't get in contact with Derek. Dr Webber is in his office saying that Derek is on a consult. The same says his assistant. After driving past the Webbers she knows that Mrs. Shepherd is still there. A drive by Meredith friends confirms that at least Dr Hunt is still there. She calls a nurse at the hospital and gets an update on the gossip line. There are both rumors about her pregnancy and the cancelled engagement party. People are saying that Dr Shepherd got cold feet. Everybody believes that he is on a consult but no one knows where to. Rose really needs to find out and Meredith's friends are always chatty. She parks her car at their street and observes the drive way. Maybe if she gets close enough she get to overhear some conversations.

Alex is walking down the street with Owen when his phone rings.
"It's Derek" he says to Owen.
"Hi Dr Shepherd, how is the spa?"
"Rainy like Seattle"
"Talked to Meredith yet?"
"Yeah, but she just wanted you guys to know that we arrived safely. I also want to make sure you don't tell anyone were we are, especially you know who."
"Great, I'll spread the word. That crazy plant is not going to get what she wants."
"Bye Alex, talk to you in a few days."
"Bye Derek."
Alex hangs up the phone and explains to Owen. Neither one sees the dark-haired woman in the car across the street.

Rose has trouble focusing. That lying son of a bitch he has gone away to a spa with the slutty bitch. He is not on a consult. They must be punished for that.

Derek hangs up and sits down beside Meredith on the couch.
"What happened, Mer? Why did you leave without telling somebody, telling me? I thought we were moving towards something."
"I wasn't planning on leaving until Friday. The invitation made me want to talk to you."
"Rose is a crazy full-blown psycho" he says. Meredith stares at him. He continues telling her about the engagement party and how he had found out about it. How Adele and his mother who was invited to the party are helping stopping it. He tells her about the invitation list and about the apartment and that he picked up all his stuff. Meredith is resting on his shoulder and his arm keeps her tightly secured to his side. He strokes her hair with one hand while he slowly rubs her back with the other.
"I love you Meredith and I want to fix this."
"I will never be able to work at a hospital where she is."
"Then I'm going to get the board to fire her."
"But she would still be in Seattle."
"We can work for the MSF together and then decide together were to move in the world."
"But Cristina and Owen are keeping the baby and they are going to accept their contracts."
"Together we can find a solution but right now all I want is to sit here and breathe you in."
"OK"
They are both tired and soon falls asleep snuggled together. Derek wakes up after a while and pushes her down on the couch and spoons her. There is a throw on the back of the couch and he pulls that over them wrapping her in his arms. He kisses her neck and breathes in her scent of lavender and is soon asleep again.

At Meredith's house the friends are playing board games. Rose is sitting in her car watching the people inside the open window. She has her side window rolled down and can hear them talking. They are loud and noisy, not at all the sophisticated people she and Derek are going to entertain. Their parties will consist of elegant dinners and drinks with other high ranking people. She can see it all. Suddenly the front is opened and Drs Hunt and Yang is on the doorstep, making out. How very disgusting, her guest will never behave so impropriety. She can hear them talk and suddenly she hears Cristina say the slut's name.
"Meredith and Derek will not be joining us at the Webbers tomorrow night. They are staying at the spa."
"Yeah, they need their time together after all these mishaps the nurse has pulled on them."

Rose gets so mad that red is all she visibly can see. After a deep breathe she clears her vision enough to be able to see again. Derek and the slut must be punished and she knows just how and when. She speeds off in a hurry.