"Where's your wife to be?" asked Bailey checking her watch again. It was five minutes till six. She could already start the rounds but two of her interns where missing. And she wouldn't move an inch without them. She would go insane if she was to spend a day surrounded by raging testosterone in the form of Shepherd, Sloan and Karev.

"She should be here soon," sighed Derek. "She studied with Yang last night." She was out with Yang a lot lately. He was out with the guys. And they had shifts that didn't always cover. Sometimes it felt as though they just missed each other in passing. When they were actually together they seemed to be unable to stop arguing. Not to mention the fact that their sex life became pretty much nonexistent. He really couldn't wait for the end of the internship. The two-week honeymoon would be a much welcomed breather.

"Here they come, finally," nodded Karev with a deep frown. "At least… I think…"

They all followed his gaze, their eyes going round at the sight of the newcomers, while Derek momentarily forgot how to breathe. He was sucked back in time… he had to be. Meredith, closely followed by Cristina Yang, looked almost exactly as the day he first lay his eyes on her. She was taller for sure, her face features more sublime. And she didn't sport anything black, which was almost a disharmony… But despite these details she was much like her fourteen-year-old self. The fact that she was overall petite contributed to the general effect. What had she done with her shoulder long blond tresses? Well, obviously, she cut and dyed them. Her hairs was so short, only few unruly bangs falling over her forehead.

"We're not late, are we?" she asked disinterestedly as all eyes were on her. Both Mark Sloan and Alex Karev were checking her out while Derek looked nonplussed.

"Wait for us in the patient's room," ordered Bailey to the rest of the group, narrowing her eyes at her. "Yes, you too Shepherd. Grey, have you lost your mind?"

"What makes you say that?" she quipped defiantly.

"Oh, come on, girl, pink hair?"

"There are no rules against it," she shrugged. "Are you discriminating against people with different hair color?"

"Formal rules, there are no formal rules!" barked Bailey. "There exists something like a dressing code around here, one that makes patients at ease!"

"My bedside manner is flawless, pink hair or not."

"I swear if one of these people as much as flinches at you, you're on scut!"

"I understand," nodded Meredith calmly.

"Look," sighed Bailey and glanced around taking a step forward. "I'm sure you've got people to talk to but… if you need an ear, I can land mine. I know a thing or two about being a surgeon in a relationship."

"Thank you… but I know what I'm doing," stated Meredith, trying to convince herself more than Bailey.

"If you say so," shrugged Bailey and beckoned her to follow her.

"What did you do, Meredith?" Derek asked under her breath as she joined her colleagues. He clearly kept at the back waiting for her.

"I think it's rather obvious, don't you think?" she quipped turned her head this way and that way as though admiring her own haircut.

"So this what studying with Cristina means?" he asked. "Is there something else you lied to me about?"

"Don't be melodramatic," she rolled her eyes. Cristina was presenting the case but she couldn't care less right now. "Don't you like the surprise?"

"Quit the game, Meredith," he hissed. "Why did you do that?"

"To show you that people change," she answered him honestly. "To show you how much you have changed."

"What? I-" he became silent as Bailey sent them both a glare.

"You have, don't you see?" she whispered heatedly. "The best proof is that you don't approve of it whereas it didn't make the slightest difference when we met."

"That was high school, Meredith, high school. We were teenagers fooling around, not doctors trying to save lives."

"Nor pompous asses," she gritted though her teeth.

He was about to reiterate but they all jumped when their patient, an eight-year-old girl, sat up on her bed with a cry."I don't want her to by my doctor!" she pointed at Cristina. "She's mean!"

"I didn't even do anything," grumbled Cristina narrowing her eyes at her.

"I want her!" the girl brought the attention on Meredith. "She looks cool!"

Bailey narrowed her eyes at her but Meredith only shrugged. Very reluctantly, Miranda handed her the chart. "You better not screw up because you spent the last ten minutes sniffing your lover boy!" she hissed under her breath making both of them snort away from each other. "God give me patience! Clean your damn laundry at home!"

T H E G E E K A N D T H E R E B E L

FLASHBACK

"I'm… I'm really not convinced," Carolyn sighed, apprehension clear in her voice as she observed Derek polish off her late husband's motorbike. It had stood forgotten, protected with a dust cover, at the back of the garage. Thanks to Derek's care it now looked like new. It looked like Michael Shepherd had just gone back from the store on its back. She used to hate that machine, it was way too dangerous. She also used to love riding on it, keeping flush to her husband's strong back.

Derek used to badger her for permission to make the driving license months even before he was legal to drive. At first, she steadily kept refusing. She even discussed it broadly with Meredith and they both agreed on not giving in to his plea, which made Derek pout at both of them for days.

But then his obsession seemed to pass, he even apologized for his childish behavior, and it got them thinking. Derek was a responsible boy, he would certainly be a responsible driver. And there was no way they could afford a car at the month. Another serious conversation between Meredith and Carolyn resulted in the signed permission form and the birthday present from Meredith in the shape of a leather jacket.

"It's a little too late for doubts, Ma," he grinned passing the cloth over the headlight one last time. The black fuel tank of his father's Yamaha XS 650 Special 2 was already shining.

"Derek Christopher Shepherd!" she scolded him. "You wouldn't dare to mount that bike without my permission!"

"Mrs. S.," Meredith put an arm around her waist. "Don't worry. Nothing's wrong gonna happen. I'm going to keep him in line."

"You do that," nodded Carolyn, more at peace. If she could be sure of anything, that would be Meredith's levelheadedness.

"You did a good job on it, Der," sighed Nancy walking around the bike with clouded eyes. There could be no one missing during the rebirth of Michael Shepherd's Yamaha.

"Do you remember Dad taking us up and pretending we were riding it, Nance?" asked Kath with a throaty voice.

"Like it was yesterday," she answered squeezing her sister's hand.

"Did he put us on too?" asked Mia with a small voice.

"You two were much too little," sighed Carolyn with a smile of recollection.

"You're not anymore," smiled Derek. "I'll take you for a ride."

"You'd try not to!" chuckled Lanie. "But, after Meredith of course."

"Oh, no," she shook her head quickly. "I… You should have your turn first. Really, I'll wait-"

"No way," declared Carolyn categorically. "My husband was a hopeless romantic, you know. He'd like his only son, who is a spitting image of him I'd like to add, to have the honor of taking the love of his life for the first ride."

Carolyn's words affected her in a way that few things on earth could. They made her lower her eyes embarrassedly and blush.

Derek's cheeks covered in a matching flush. Not only because she had called Meredith the love of his life. She complimented him in the best way possible, telling him he was his father's son. "Mom, thank you."

When he disappeared into the garage Carolyn leaned her head to Meredith's and whispered, "You are ready to name your feelings, aren't you? No, don't tell me. Tell him, he feels just the same."

"Thank you, Ma- Mrs. Shepherd," Meredith blushed even more at her slip of the tongue. She was used to calling Carolyn Mom but never to her face.

"Mom is just fine," smiled Carolyn. "I was hoping you'd be ready to say that one day. I'm happy you are."

"Mer," Derek reappeared on the driveway. "That's for you."

"Smartass," she grinned taking a pink helmet he held in his hands.

He wore his black one, got on the bike and straightened his jacket self-consciously.

"So how do I look?" he asked with a grin.

"Perfect," she smiled and her eyes lit up.

Though certainly Derek's looks improved since she first met him - the braces were off, his complexion was much better and he grew even taller than he was already - an average person would still probably not describe him as attractive. But he was to her, oh he was. She wouldn't change a thing about him. She wouldn't agree to replace him for a fashion model even if she was paid a fortune. She… she loved him just the way he was and that way was perfect. And something about him sitting on that bike made him… sexy.

She planted a kiss on his lips through the opening of his helmet.

"Ew," grimaced Lanie. "Save it for later…"

"Save it when Derek sneaks into your room at night," added Mia.

"Amelia Shepherd!"

"I'm just stating the facts, Mom," she shrugged with a grin.

Meredith quickly donned her own helmet and climbed the bike, tightly encircling his waist. She felt excitement bubbling inside her.

"Just drive safely," Carolyn pleaded them once again. "I want you to come back for dinner in one piece!"

"Two pieces, Ma, two," snickered Mia. "You wouldn't like to see them in one piece. Besides, it would be pretty acrobatic on a bike-"

"AMELIA ABIGAIL SHEPPHERD, FOR THE LAST TIME!" hollered Carolyn. "Have you no shame? You can forget about leaving your room this weekend, young lady-"

"You know, let's go before we get mixed into this even further," she whispered to him.

"Yeah, I do want to sneak into that room of yours tonight, you know," he breathed.

They lowered the shields, Meredith grabbed Derek even harder while he turned the key. Seconds later a wild roar came from the engine putting an end to the row between Shepherd woman as they halted to clap. Carolyn had tears in her eyes. This moment could last forever.

They slowly rolled out of the driveway onto the street. Meredith managed to give the girls the last wave before Derek sped up, leaving them behind.

T H E G E E K A N D T H E R E B E L

"Wow! It was freaking fantastic!" Meredith breathed out enthusiastically as she took off her helmet. The adrenaline was still coursing in her blood.

Without Carolyn's watchful eye, Derek really felt the speed after they rode out of the city. Everything they passed mingled together in a colorful blur while the pressure of air against them made butterflies stir in their stomachs.

"It was," laughed Derek following Meredith onto the little clearing.

They made it to the elevated area out of Seattle, a practical wilderness but an excellent viewpoint over the whole city.

Breathless, sporting identical grins they hiked as far as to the edge of the cliff.

"God, it's beautiful here," she managed to breathe out gazing far over the serene panorama. The city line on the background of the most majestic sky she'd ever seen. She glanced at Derek. There were moments in life, moments of exuberance, of beauty, which made you feel so happy it was painful.

"It is beautiful," he muttered not taking his eyes off her.

Her smile widened, her blush intensified. "I could move out here and live here," she whispered in amazement.

"You could?" he grinned.

"I could."

"Then I'll build you a house here one day," he promised.

"You will?" she smiled.

"I will."

"You plan on keeping me around that long?" she looked at him challengingly.

"As long as I can," he confessed breathlessly stopping just in front her. He cupped her cheek with one hand and intertwined their free fingers while looking deeply into her eyes. "I love you."

The three simple words took her breath away. There was no holding back, no hesitation in his voice, no embarrassment.

"I love you too," she smiled gently up at him.

Their lips sought each other sealing the first mutual declaration of love in a sweet lingering kiss.

END OF FLASHBACK

T H E G E E K A N D T H E R E B E L

Why did they agree to come here? Neither of them was particularly enjoying round after round of drinks with their colleagues at Joe's this evening. But maybe it was better than tearing their throats at each other at home. Here they could limit their communication to a few necessary words and keep on talking with anybody else. Derek was still obviously disgruntled with her for subjecting her appearance to such a drastic change without notice while she couldn't muster anything else than passive aggressiveness.

Cristina who was sitting on Meredith's right in their booth sent her a sympathetic look when she sighed. Derek had his arm around her seat out of a habit yet somehow they managed to avoid the contact. What was wrong with them?

"Loosen up, girl." She heard Cristina's snarky voice in her ear. "That's the man you're going to spend the rest of your life with."

Meredith sent her a glare.

"No, seriously. You're lucky you're here," remarked Cristina. "You see the uptight bitch?" she inconspicuously pointed at the woman who just sat down across their table.

"Montgomery?"

"Yeah, she'd be all over your idiot if you hadn't come. Not that you sitting here will be an obstacle to make some suggestive comments…"

"What do you know?" Meredith asked narrowing her eyes at the red head.

"There is not much to know apart from the fact that presumably she's a major cocksucker and it's your cock she wants to take into her deep slimy throat."

"You're disgusting," grimaced Meredith.

"That's called honesty," shrugged Cristina.

Sure enough, Addison Montgomery's chortle rumbled across the booth, "You wouldn't believe what patient I had today. The woman was having spontaneous orgasms!"

"No freaking way!"

"Hey, I'm jealous!"

"I was too," grinned Addison and fluttered her eyes at Derek. "But then I thought… there is nothing that can replace the feel of a man between your legs…"

"Sure there is," Cristina snickered loudly. "A good quality vibrator."

Meredith burst out laughing while Addison chose to ignore both of them and started to continue on her thought, "I'd-"

"Actually, vibrators might be even better the real thing," Cristina interrupted her obnoxiously. "They never fail!"

Mark snorted loudly, "Mark Sloan never fails. I can go on for hours!"

"What about you, Derek?" Addison asked coyly, making Meredith wish she had sneaked a scalpel from the OR.

Derek frowned as he felt the eyes of the group on him. "I… don't really share these details. Sorry."

"Now, Derek, you've just picked my curiosity!" Addison quipped licking her lips.

In any other circumstances Meredith would be proud of him, grateful for his tact, but right now she couldn't muster any warm feelings towards him. Why did Addison even bother to hit on him? Didn't everyone know he was engaged to be married as soon as the internships was over? Maybe he wasn't clear enough that he was off-limits? Maybe… maybe he even encouraged these advances? She no longer knew what to think. Anyway, her thought processing was somewhat hindered by the alcohol she consumed.

"You know Addison, I would hate to leave you in the big unknown," laughed Meredith clearly surprising the red head. "All you need to do is ask me. 'Cause me," she pointed at herself, "hands on experience."

"Meredith," said Derek placing his hand on her shoulder in a warning.

"He was my first you know, popped my cherry," she went on recklessly as though she didn't hear him. She wanted to hit him when it hurt the most. "Lasted thirty seconds, I was counting. No! Actually, he was the one counting-" the rest of the sentence drowned in what could be only described by bystanders as a bomb explosion. Everyone, even Addison, was howling with laughter, tears in their eyes.

"We're calling it a night." Meredith heard Derek's strained voice in her ear and an abrupt pull on her arm.

T H E G E E K A N D T H E R E B E L

The ride home was quiet. It was silent actually. Not even one word was exchanged. She expected him to rage and storm at her but there was nothing. Zero.

"Going to have a shower," she grumbled as she took off her shoes throwing them somewhere near the door and walked into the bedroom.

"Not so fast," he spoke in a low perfectly calm voice, catching her wrist. When she turned towards him, she could see angry flashes of hurt male pride in his eyes.

A/N Just to calm you down, Addison is not going to be an issue in this fic.

The moment I think the most of you is anticipating is coming very soon, but please, trust me to make it better in due time. It's a fic about healing and growing up to be in a mature relationship.

Hope you continue to enjoy this. If you do, please leave a comment.

Em