A/N: Sorry it took me a little longer than I thought. I hope you all like this chapter! (Everybody needs a little MerDer fluff now and then.) WARNING: Somewhat of an M rating for later parts of the chapter.

"Good morning."

"Mmmf," Meredith mumbled as she buried her head in her pillow. She heard a low chuckle, followed by a squeeze around her waist. Suddenly, she realized that there was a pair of strong, muscular arms wrapped around her. And they were bare. She turned to see Derek smiling at her with mussed hair and noticeable stubble. Looking down, she realized she wasn't wearing one of her own t-shirts.

Quickly gaining consciousness, Meredith sat up. "Oww," she muttered as she rubbed her aching head. "Uh…Derek…did we, um, you know…"

Derek chuckled again. "You'd remember if we did, trust me."

Meredith let out a sigh of relief and let her head fall back onto the pillow. Vague memories of the previous night were coming back to her. "Did I…uh…say anything…interesting…last night?"

"Apparently, I have sexy hands," Derek laughed. "And I smell good."

Meredith felt a blush creep up her cheeks. "Oh," she murmured. "I don't remember saying that. Sorry."

"That's okay. Do you remember anything you said?"

Dammit, Meredith thought as memories of her long rant to Derek came flooding back. "You said things. You need to stop saying things. Because those things made me say things," she muttered.

"Did you mean…things?" Derek asked.

"Did you?"

"Which things?"

"The first ones. Not the Rose ones."

"Yeah."

"Me too."

They lay quietly on Meredith's bed, each trying to come up with something to say.

"Thanks for staying, by the way," Meredith said to break the silence. "Um, Derek…do you think…since we…and you…I don't know. Never mind."

"What?"

"Do you think…we could try this? I mean, the whole you and me thing. If you really meant what you said. It's okay if you didn't, though. I could totally understand if you didn't mean it. I mean, you have Rose, and I guess I have Finn, but even if I didn't have Finn and you didn't have Rose, you still wouldn't have to mean it. And I know you're older than me, and you're one of my best friend's older brothers, and I…"

"Rambling again."

"Sorry."

"I think it's cute."

"So…can we…I mean, only if you want….can we try…this?"

"I'd like that."

"Me too." Meredith settled her head on Derek's chest, wrapping her arms around him.

"I like waking up like this," she whispered.

"Me too," he whispered back.

"Shit!" Meredith suddenly exclaimed. "What time is it?"

"Nine, why?"

"My mom! Shit, shit, shit! She wasn't supposed to come home last night…she'll be here any minute!"

"Relax," Derek laughed.

"What? Relax? How can I relax? If my mom finds you here, without a shirt, in my bed, she'll castrate you!"

"Ouch. You didn't have to mention castration."

"She would."

"Relax. Dr. Webber called an hour ago and said that she wouldn't be back until late tonight."

"Thank God. You know, that means we have to whole house to ourselves."

"Mer," Derek sighed. "I don't want to do that to you."

"You don't want to have sex with me?" Meredith asked embarrassedly. "I'm sorry, I should have known. I just…I'm sorry. I'll go get dressed now."

"Mer, it's not that I don't want to have sex with you. It's definitely not that. It's just…you're better than that. You deserve more than a relationship based on sex."

"So…no sex? Ever?"

"There'll be lots of sex. I mean, lots. But you're worth more than just sex to me, Mer."

Meredith nodded and nuzzled her face into the crook of Derek's neck. "How long does that mean we have to wait?" she whispered.

"We're taking it slow, Mer."

"We're taking it slow…does that mean we can't do this?" Meredith asked as she ran her fingers through Derek's hair, pulling his lips to hers, parting them easily. Derek's fingers quickly became entangled in her hair as his tongue explored the soft, warm caverns of her mouth. He placed a hand on her thigh and gently lifted her onto his lap, never breaking the kiss. When they finally came up for air, Meredith smiled and laid her head on Derek's shoulder.

"We can do that any time you want," Derek chuckled. "Even at two a.m. All you need to do is call." He leaned in to kiss Meredith again, but she playfully swatted him away.

"I need food first. Food, then kissing."

x.x.x.x.x

"What will Kath say?" Meredith asked as she took a bite of her favorite delicacy, cold pizza.

"About what?"

"Us."

"Oh. I don't know. I'm more worried about your mom."

"Don't worry. As long as she doesn't find you naked in the house, she probably won't even notice. Should we tell your mom?"

"The minute we walk in the door she'll figure it out. She has an innate sense for stuff like that."

"Do you think she remembers what you did at the dinner party?"

"At the table?"

"Mmmhhmm," Meredith mumbled with a mouthful of pizza.

"I don't think she'll bother you about it."

Meredith's eyes widened in horror. "So…she knows what you did?"

"It wouldn't surprise me."

"Oh my God! I came in your dining room, at a party, in front of your MOTHER? And she KNOWS? DEREK!" Meredith began to pound Derek's chest with her tiny, balled up fists.

Derek laughed and gently restrained Meredith's hands. "Like I said, I don't think she'll bother you about it."

"Let me go!" Meredith squealed. "I'm not done hitting you yet!" She twisted and turned in his grasp, but he wouldn't let go. Being as gentle as he could, while still being in control, Derek pinned Meredith to the wall, her hands high above her head. His body pressed against hers as their lips collided, tongues dancing and fighting for control. He could feel her nipples harden under the thin fabric of his t-shirt as he began to kiss lower and lower. Letting her hands go free, he planted soft kisses on her stomach, chest, and finally her breasts as he lifted the t-shirt up. Taking one rosy bud in his mouth, he licked and sucked until Meredith was moaning and squirming uncontrollably. She could feel a wet spot growing in her panties as her core ached. While Derek was fixated on her breasts, she timidly reached one of her fingers between her legs to give herself some temporary relief. Derek pulled away and smiled when he realized what she was doing.

"It looks like you've got this one," he murmured in her ear. "I guess you won't be needing me." He turned to leave, but a frantic plea from Meredith stopped him.

"I need you, Derek!" she moaned. "Please."

"Well, since you were polite." Derek smirked as he swept Meredith off her feet and carried her upstairs. Laying her down on her bed, he pulled the t-shirt over her head and slowly dragged her panties down her legs.

"You're so beautiful, Mer," he whispered as stared into her bright, green eyes. "I love you."

"I love you too."

For once, Meredith was happy. And it felt good.

A/N 2: I know they were supposed to be taking it slow...but I just couldn't resist. Please let me know what you think!