A/N Hey, there! So it's unbelievable, right? Me updating only three days after the latest chapter. But like I said I was on a roll. Hope you'll enjoy the chapter. It's a bit dirty, you're warned!
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"We'll be absolutely fine taking a cab, Mer," assured her Stacy.
"Nonsense, we'll meet you at the airport," insisted Meredith.
"There's really no need in dragging Cherry- pie all the way to meet us at the airport in that awful Seattle weather."
"Stacy, we live in Seattle, we go outside every day and somehow we've survived so far. Besides, I'll have help."
"Fine," acquiesced Stacy. "I can't wait to see you and the little one, we have tons of presents. James almost bought out the whole Hamleys." Well, I'm not going to save on my granddaughter, he grumbled on the other side of the line.
"Tell him Bessie misses Grandpa James," laughed Meredith.
"So, we can count on your guestroom, right?" asked Stacy.
"Uhm, wouldn't you be more comfortable at a hotel," Meredith bit her lip. "It's just a… guest room… small and… small…"
"A minute ago you were insisting on coming for us at the airport and now you're denying a roof over our heads?"
"No," whined Meredith. "Is just that someone is already staying in the guest room."
"Who? You didn't get roommates again, did you? James will have a fit."
"No, it's… Derek's mother."
"Derek's mother… Derek's mother… What are you not telling me, Meredith Grey?" growled Stacy.
Meredith sighed; she really didn't want to talk about it over the phone, though, a surprise Shepherd party for James and Stacy at the airport wasn't appealing either.
"We got together, me and Derek," announced Meredith, a smile tugging at her lips.
"And you're telling me this now?" exclaimed Stacy. What's wrong? sounded James's worried voice. "Congratulations! It calls for congratulations, doesn't it? Are you happy, Meredith?" she asked solemnly.
"Yes," she answered calmly. "I am, like I've never been before."
"I'm so glad to hear it, you deserve to be happy," assured Stacy, "Oh, I've got to go. James has problems with his tie, I swear men never grow up. We'll see you in the Rain City."
They hung up and Meredith contentedly leaned back in the seat in the lobby. Life was good, and it was getting even better as a packet of crisps landed at her outstretched legs and Cristina plopped on the chair beside her.
"My interns are killing me," she complained. "Why did I get such a bunch of idiots? Either they can't do the simplest thing or they hide around the hospital. Only Lexipedia's working like a mule."
"Maybe there're just scared of you," joked Meredith. "We were scared of Bailey."
"They're up to something, I just know they're up to something. I can feel it in my bones," gritted out Cristina. "And they're gonna pull me to the bottom."
Meredith laughed in a carefree manner until Derek paraded into her line of vision, clad in his scrubs. He leaned over the counter at the nurses' station to deposit a chart, giving Meredith a perfect view of his ass. A little moan escaped her throat, if only she get that ass all for herself, naked…
"What's wrong with you?" Cristina kicked her shin.
"Nothing," shrugged Meredith stuffing her mouth with crisps, her eyes still fixated on Derek's nether regions.
Cristina followed her gaze and whined, "Oh, that just sickening. Can't you wait to spare me the gory pictures and wait with undressing him until you're in private?"
"I'm not undressing him… and it's not gory… he's hot…" said Meredith absent-mindedly watching his biceps flex as he raised his hand to pull his ferryboat scrub cap off his head leaving his hair a little messier than usual. He smiled as another doctor greeted him in passing and marched off
"Seriously, why are you telling me this?"
"Why am I telling you what?"
Cristina rolled her eyes, "That your lover boy's so hot."
"I said that?" Meredith furrowed her brows, "sorry."
"I get that sex after such a long period of abstinence can do things with your brain but… have some mercy."
"Mhm," murmured Meredith succumbing once again to her steamy fantasy.
"McMama, nine o'clock," startled her Cristina. "She came to take Bessie to the aquarium, right?"
"Yeah," sighed Meredith seeing Carolyn make her way through the corridor probably heading to her office. "I think I have to go," she said but made no move.
"Why the frown? You like McMama," Cristina raised her eyebrows. "Even I like McMama."
"I adore McMama," groaned Meredith. "But…"
"But?"
"She's… a cockblocker."
"There it is," grinned Cristina but her smile was somehow diffused. "You've been shying away from sex because of McMama!"
"I don't know how much longer I'm going to last…" Meredith shook her head.
"I don't know what's your problem," shrugged Cristina. "What, do you think she doesn't approve sex before marriage? Hate to break it to you, Mer, she knows you're not as pure as snow; you have a kid together."
"That's not why I'm not having hot sex right now," Meredith rolled her eyes. "I'm not having hot sex because hot sex is loud
"Fine, what do you think on-call rooms are for? Are they beneath you now?" scowled Cristina. "I seem to remember there were times you couldn't wait to hump your McDreamy in every supply closet on the way."
"You know, a little support in these trying times would help."
"Trying times? What are we talking about, again? Your sex life?" snorted Cristina.
"I don't have a sex life," groaned Meredith. "I… I think Derek might not want me anymore."
"I… I'm not even gonna comment on that," Cristina shook her head impatiently.
"He's sweet and McDreamy and everything but he isn't even trying to get into my pants!"
"Whatever sin I committed to deserve this must have been grievous," groaned Cristina under her breath sinking her chin onto her hand.
"What did you say?" asked Meredith.
"Nothing, nothing," she waved her hand. "He probably doesn't want you to freak out. I think he knows how your brain works by now."
"What's wrong with the way my brain works?" frowned Meredith.
"I mean, he wanted… to have sex but I didn't. That is, I did but we couldn't…" rambled on Meredith. "And then he looked at me weird, at the post pregnancy me and I don't know-"
"Meredith!" Cristina got impatient.
"What? Why are you making that face?"
"Shut up," hissed Cristina. "You know, just shut up about Derek, shut up about having sex with Derek, shut up about your relationship!"
"I…" started timidly Meredith.
"No! Go and screw him or… or put a chastity belt but, please please, as you weigh your options here, can you consider the possibility of shutting the hell up?"
Meredith sat momentarily stunned at her best friend's outburst. Cristina rarely yelled at her but when she did, it indicated she was going through some kind of emotional distress.
"How's Owen?" Meredith asked shrewdly.
"I don't know," she shrugged.
"Cristina," Meredith looked at her knowingly.
"I don't know," repeated firmly Cristina. "All I know is that he's seeing a shrink. We worked together yesterday and all he said to me was "You did a good job today."
"You broke up with him," reminded Meredith.
"I know, I…"
"He's keeping his distance. Being close to someone you love but not as close as you'd like to is hard," said pensively Meredith. "Maybe he wants to protect you or the shrink told him-" she trailed off feeling her mobile vibrate. "It's Carolyn, need to go. You'll be fine?"
"Yeah," replied Cristina dismissively. "Mer," she spoke as her Meredith hopped off her chair throwing the empty crisp bag into the bin. "Please, get laid before you talk to me again. Another discussion of your and McDreamy's sex life might just be too much."
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"We going see fishes!" exclaimed Bessie joyfully as Meredith kneeled before her buttoning her coat.
"And you won't be scared?" Meredith wound her up. "Of the fish with big teeth?"
"Nope!" Bessie shook her head frantically.
"You will be," said Meredith coyly rubbing her daughter's sides. "A little?"
"No!"
"You won't even be scared of a jellyfish?"
"Won't!" fired Bessie only to ask, "Who jellyfish?"
"A jellyfish is a sea monster," started Meredith seriously, looking her daughter in the eye, "that has very long hands so it can catch you and eat you!" she said suddenly taking Bessie into a tight hug and lightly biting on her neck making funny noises as if she was chewing.
Bessie giggled madly wriggling in her mother's arms, "Mommy! You no jelly fish!"
"I'm not?" Meredith bit her lip. "How do you know?"
"Fishes smell bad; you pretty Mommy," Bessie smiled at her.
"Aww," Meredith's heart melted on the spot. "It must be the first compliment I've heard from her," she said to Carolyn with sparkling eyes.
"She's a well-behaved young lady," commented Carolyn with a smile. In that moment, she couldn't be more grateful that her son met a woman like Meredith on his way; a woman who was able to love with all her heart, unconditionally, and was able to teach her daughter how to love.
"And you're going to stay a lady, ok?" Meredith asked Bessie. "There will be no running from Nanny, you'll stick close and always hold Nanny's hand, ok?"
"Ok," nodded Bessie resolutely.
"Don't worry, dear," Carolyn rubbed Meredith's shoulder. "She'll be safe with me."
"I know," Meredith reciprocated her smile. "Thank you for taking her. We've been here for months and I haven't even taken her to see Seattle landmarks."
"No need to thank me," assured Carolyn. "I want to spend some time with my newest granddaughter before I head back to New York."
"Me and Derek should take a day off sometime after Thanksgiving to take her to the Space Needle but that won't be easy," sighed Meredith. "We're already going away for the whole weekend for a friends' wedding."
"About Thanksgiving," took up Carolyn. "Lexie's mom called this morning."
"Susan called?" asked Meredith, feeling a twinge of uneasiness. Carolyn knew little about her family's complicated history and it was better that way.
"We chatted a bit and we ended up planning Thanksgiving dinner together. With Susan and your Dad. Susan said that your other sister, Molly, was going to her in-laws this year," smiled Carolyn.
"Oh," that was all Meredith could say.
"I hope you're not offended with my being overbearing at your house…."
"I'm… no, of course not," she answered weakly. "It's… Bessie's first holiday with the family… so, good, family time…"
"The more the merrier," chuckled Carolyn. "See you at home, Meredith. We'll bring something for you from the aquarium, right Bessie?"
"Right!"
Meredith halted in the corridor and watched Carolyn and Bessie stroll to the elevator when they were met by Richard.
"Mrs. Shepherd," he greeted Derek's mother enthusiastically. "And the little princess," he looked at Bessie affectionately. "How's Seattle working for you?"
"The city clearly has its character but the weather's awful. How's your wife?"
The elevator door closed behind them and Meredith marched with a sigh in the direction of her office. Her father, Susan and Carolyn at the same table… It was going to be awkward, Meredith knew as much. And what was Lexie going to do? She still didn't introduce Mark to her parents and there was no way Carolyn wouldn't mention their relationship in front of Susan and Thatcher.
However, all Meredith's grim thoughts flew out of the window as she realized Derek was walking a few feet in front of her giving her a wonderful opportunity to admire his broad back and perfect ass. God, she was horny… She saw the love of her life enter the supply closet… If it wasn't fate, it didn't exist. She quickly slipped into the tiny room behind Derek and closed the door.
"Meredith," he said whipping his head to see who came in behind him.
"Hey," she breathed out in reply. Her breath hitched and it wasn't because of the small supply of oxygen in the closet. She probably should feel a bit ashamed of herself for the overt lust for his body in the workplace but her brain was blissfully blank as her nostrils discerned the smell of his aftershave. His cheeks were so smooth, the stubble he shaved off this morning didn't have the time to regrow yet.
He didn't notice the effect he was having on her and turned back to the carton box he was rummaging clearly in search of something.
"Do you have to do everything yourself today as well?" he grumbled from the box. "I don't know what's going on with those interns. It's unthinkable."
"They're just interns," shrugged Meredith trying to regain her composure. "They're… supposed to be lazy and incompetent…"
"A-huh," he chuckled glancing at her. "You were good." He turned to face her noticing the flush on her cheeks.
"I… I was… I am good," she stammered grabbing a fistful of his hair to lower his head onto her lips. She pressed herself frantically to his hard body.
"Hmmm," he groaned into her mouth and kissed her hard while his hands roamed over her body. The last couple of days were a real torture. Meredith was uncomfortable with the thought of having sex when his mother was staying at her house and Derek respected her decision. He didn't insist because he wanted their physical reunion to be special, not hurried or casual. Not even like they made love in the trailer after her successful trial procedure.
He would be making love to her for the first time he learnt she had been pregnant with his baby. He wanted to make the occasion special but… he didn't realize he missed her body so much. The way she was clinging to him in the tiny supply closet, all her curves matching his body like pieces of puzzle, the soft impatient sounds she was producing… He just wanted her, badly…
"A quickie in the supply closet?" he breathed out biting on her earlobe feeling himself getting harder.
"Naaah," she moaned continuing the zealous exploration of his body. "I… don't'ev… aaaaaa…. condom…"
"God," he groaned pulling slightly away from her. "We're in the supply closet… Shouldn't it be supplied with condoms?"
"Sure, Derek," she snickered standing on her tiptoes to reach his lips greedily. "They should even offer a selection of choice… glowing in the dark ones… flavoured…"
"Mer…" he whimpered pulling away once again, "as much as I enjoy kissing you… I don't want to start anything we can't finish…"
Meredith smirked and sneaked a hand between their bodies down… down… groping his length giving him an instant rise.
"Too late," she giggled between his deep moans, "but I… can finish you off…"
With that she sank to her knees and pulled his scrub pants and his boxer down his legs freeing his raging erection.
"Meredith…" he breathed out bracing himself against the shelf. He was putty in her hands… literally.
She smiled with satisfaction watching the emotions playing on his face. She still wasn't going to have sex. She wasn't on the pill and they didn't have condoms… and she didn't want to have another pregnancy scare while they were still figuring things out. But… nothing could stop her from relieving her fixation on Derek's penis, she thought bringing her lips onto his sensitive tip.
Several minutes later Meredith rose to her feet taking pity on Derek and putting his pants up for him. His back was pressed uncomfortably against the metal shelf but he didn't care. His breathing was erratic and his legs were shaken up but he felt wonderful. This was by far the best blow job he received in his life. Meredith always had skillful mouth. He cracked his eyelids open and chanced a look at her. His eyes were instantly drawn to her swollen lips curved up in a smile. God, he needed to stop replaying the feel of this little mouth sucking, lapping on his length or he was going to get hard all over again.
"So… am I still good?" asked Meredith slightly out of breath, fixing her hair.
"Uhm… oh, yeah," he hummed.
"Thanks," she grinned.
"Uhm… you're welcome?" he breathed out making her smirk widen. "Should… I… return the favour?"
"Thought you'd never ask," she rolled her eyes coming closer to him impatient to feel him on her. Their plans were thwarted, however, by her annoying pager. "Damn, it's the Chief," she sighed. "I'll hold onto that favour," she winked at him and left him alone in the supply closet with his post-orgasmic bliss. He closed his eyes for a second. God, he worshipped this woman.
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"Chief?" Meredith poked her head into Richard's office. She wanted whatever the Chief had to discuss to be quick. She couldn't wait to get to Derek and his favour… or she could just get equipped with condoms on the way.
"Sit down, Meredith," Richard pointed her to the chair in front of him.
"I know how stressful those past few weeks were for you," he started hesitantly, playing with his thumbs on the table.
Meredith looked at him questioningly.
"Your little girl was sick, then you… and Derek had problems…" he cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Are you… are you good now?"
Meredith smiled at him. She had every reason to despise him; he had an affair with his mother which broke her parents' marriage but the truth was she couldn't get mad him. The strange truth was that Richard paid more attention to her than any of her parents and it felt good.
"Things are… great, Chief," she nodded. "I feel we're finally standing on our feet."
"Derek's treating you…?" he asked sharply.
"He's treating me well," chuckled Meredith. "We… we explained everything to each other. Things are going well."
"Good," acknowledged Richard. "There's also another reason I paged you. Here," he pushed towards her a stack of envelopes sitting on his desk.
"What's that?" she asked curiously.
"These are letters," Richard looked at her with pride, "from patients from all over the world, asking about your trial."
"What?" she gasped.
"You heard me," smiled Richard. "You're making medical history. The news of your success travelled fast and there are hundreds of people out there with the hopes of getting help."
"Wow! I… They're for me?" she breathed out disbelievingly, feeling elated. "I… oh," she frowned, suddenly the high deflating from her like the air from a punctured balloon.
"Meredith?" probed Richard.
"Sorry," she laughed nervously slowly touching the envelopes. "It's just… this trial… it was my second baby… the second most important thing in my life for quite some time… and I completely forgot about it!" she looked at Richard in shock.
"It's all right, it's how it should be really," he calmed her. "We are people first and foremost, then doctors. That's the right order and I'm glad you live according to it. I mixed my priorities once, actually have been doing it for years, glad you don't repeat my mistakes."
"I… I'll be able to continue the trial?" she inquired.
"Of course," he nodded. "Whenever you're ready."
"Thank you, Chief," she said standing up taking the pile of documents in her hands.
"One more thing," stopped her Richard. "Thank you for inviting us for Thanksgiving, Adele and I will come with pleasure."
"Oh?" Meredith breathed out. She was clearly missing something.
"Derek's mother has already asked me," explained Richard. "I ran on her and Bessie earlier. We would spend this holiday alone with Adele…"
"Oh, no problem, Chief," she let out though her mind was racing. Her father and Richard Webber at the same table? She needed to find a way out of this mess.
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Derek was making his way down the corridor when he felt a steely grip on his arm and was dragged into an empty room.
"Mhmm, an exam room," a smile crept upon his lips. "Is it the time for me to return the favour?"
He closed the distance between them and pulled Meredith into a fierce kiss.
"Is sex all that you think about?" she asked pulling away.
Derek frowned slightly and stared at her. Not even an hour passed since she sexually assaulted him in the supply closet and pleasured him out of his wits.
"Your mom," she blurted out.
"My mom what?" he frowned tiredly. "She's not at the hospital; I called her no longer than fifteen minutes ago and she was with Bessie in the aquarium."
"God, no," groaned Meredith impatiently. "Your mother invited Susan and Thatcher to dinner, the Thanksgiving dinner."
"Oh," he furrowed his brows. "What's the problem? You get along with Susan and your Dad."
"I do get along with them," admitted Meredith. "And having dinner with them wouldn't be a problem if," she paused dramatically, "she hadn't invited Richard and Adele as well!"
"It's just.. two more people," Derek tried to reason with her.
She rolled his eyes at him impatiently. "Hello? Dirty mistress, cheating wife, broken marriage, does it ring any bells or should I go on?"
"Oh," said Derek as the realization hit him.
"Yes, oh," she replied sarcastically. "What am I going to do?"
"Be strong," nodded Derek encouragingly.
"Seriously? You're telling me to be strong?" she spat. "They're going to kill each other!"
"Why would they kill each other? It might get a bit awkward at some point but they're two adult men-"
He trailed off as Meredith glared at him as though he had grown two heads. "Would you sit at the same table with a man who screwed your wife behind your back?"
"Actually, I do that almost every day," he answered amusedly.
Meredith plopped dejectedly on the exam table. "I think I don't have arguments to counter that…"
"Ok," hesitated Derek bringing his hands together. "If someone as much as tried to make a pass on you, I would have to kill him," he said gravely. "So, I think I get what you're trying to say."
She gave out an involuntary giggle. "No one has tried to make a pass on me for ages, Derek. I'm like… McBranded. Everyone knows our story. And everyone knows I'm a mom."
"You're a sexy mom," he grinned scanning he body. "Plus, you're the youngest attending. I'm pretty sure I saw an intern drooling over you a few days ago."
"Derek!" she tried to remain serious. "You're my… boyfriend or whatever… and the father of my child! Do something!"
"Your faith in my abilities flatters me," he quipped but kept thinking that the word boyfriend felt somehow inadequate. They were beyond dating. The word fiancé would be much more suitable and Derek was binding his time… "Do you want me to talk to Richard?" he sighed.
"I… I don't think so," she twirled her fingers. "I… would hate him if I was a sane person, wouldn't I? But I don't hate him, I don't mind him being around and… he's excited to come over…"
"You don't know how Thatcher feels," remarked Derek.
"I…" she looked up at him bringing a hand over her mouth in horror. "I just thought… he wouldn't care much I didn't want him to come but… I don't want to offend Susan… it's kind of a dead end."
"Shhh," he cupped her face in his palms. "I'll take care of everything," he said soothingly.
"How?" she pouted.
"I have my ways," he whispered hypnotically into her lips. "Dr. Shepherd will take care of everything."
"Dr. Shepherd, huh?" she giggled as a shiver of excitement passed through her body. "Am I your patient now?"
"Well," he smirked. "You're currently occupying the exam table… and I have… some very fond memories concerning an exam table."
"I bet you do," she snorted. Her breathing got heavier as he pried himself between her legs and tugged at the cord holding her scrub pants. Soon they were laying discarded on the floor along with her panties. She leaned back expectantly gripping the table, goose bumps erupting on her skin as Derek's head lowered to give her the pleasure she was so anxious to feel.
"Ohhhh," she moaned feeling Derek's hot tongue on her. "Dr. Shepherd, you're so thourouuuuuugh!"
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Derek got out of his car and hurried up to a neatly looking house. He pressed the buzzer waiting impatiently for the door to open. He wasn't sure what he should tell exactly but he was sure he had to do something. The predicament his mother put Meredith into was causing her great distress. It was now his job to take care of her, just as he promised in their contract.
Finally, the door opened to reveal Meredith's father.
"Derek," he nodded his head, a slight nervousness discernible in his voice.
"Mr. Grey, thank you for agreeing to meet me at such a short notice," said Derek coming in the hall.
"Oh, that's not a problem," he waved his hand dismissively. "I've just started going through my editor's remarks on my latest article, not a very pleasant job, so I'm glad for the distraction… I mean, everything is good, right?" he looked suddenly anxious, "with Meredith and Bessie?"
"Yes, don't worry," assured him Derek with a smile. "They're great but what I'd like to discuss with you involves them, mainly Meredith but indirectly also Bessie."
"Oh," frowned Thatcher. "Pass, pass to my study. And it's Thatcher. We're almost… well, we are family.""
"Thank you," sighed Derek sitting down on a small sofa while Thatcher took a seat near his desk. "I'm afraid it's matter of… a delicate nature."
"I'm listening," the older man looked at him questioningly.
"I know my mother invited you and your wife for Thanksgiving," started Derek cautiously.
"Yes, Susan tried to call…" Thatcher's face fell slightly, "Meredith doesn't want us to come-"
"No, she'd like you both to come," denied Derek quickly. "And Lexie of course, they've got really close recently."
"Then?"
"I… ," Derek hesitated with evident unease. "My mother doesn't know much about Mer's family and… she likes big family occasions. And she also invited Richard Webber."
Thatcher blanched at the mention of the man who at the cause of his divorce. "Wh-why?" he stammered. I guess… he's the boss of both of you…"
"It's more than that. He's my mentor and my friend… as for Meredith, he's… very protective of her," stated Derek carefully choosing his words. "Now also of Bessie."
"They're… close?" breathed out Thatcher. It was visibly a hard piece of information to swallow.
"You could say that… as far as the circumstances allow."
"Does he know I was also invited?" asked Thatcher.
"Yes, I talked to him," explained Derek. "He'd like to make amends-"
"I don't even have the right to be angry at him for stealing both my wife and my daughter," said Thatcher quietly. "I… practically abandoned my daughter, no wonder she sees someone else as her father."
"I don't think you can really put it like this," said Derek deciding not to aggravate Thatcher's mood by mentioning James Warren. He let out a breath, Meredith surely was popular these days. "I know the perspective of coming to… Meredith's house and meeting Richard doesn't look to appealing but you might want to try…"
Thatcher looked up at him tiredly and Derek was sure he could grasp what Meredith's father was feeling.
"I think it'll be better for everyone and certainly for Meredith and the little one if me and Susan spend the holiday here."
"I'll be honest with you," said frankly Derek, beginning to feel impatient. "I have no idea how you could walk away from Meredith, from your child. I've known my daughter for two months and I… I can no longer imagine my life without her. it would kill me," he said fiercely. "And I would howl from pain if any man replaced me in her life."
Thatcher's hands trembled imperceptibly and his eyes glistened. "I… there wasn't a day I didn't think about her. There isn't…"
"Why won't you tell this Meredith?" asked Derek gently. "I'm sure she'd like to hear your version of the story-"
"Speaking of the devil," he murmured checking the message that he just received on his mobile. "I need to get going; we have to pick some friends from the airport. I sneaked out of the house."
"Meredith doesn't know you've come here."
"No, she's already freaking out about the dinner… I really hope you'll think about it," said Derek looking at Thatcher's unconvinced face.
"You know, I know how it is to be stabbed in the back like that," said slowly Derek. "I was married."
"Before you met Meredith?"
"Well, yeah," Thatcher didn't need to know he was still married when he met Meredith. "One evening I returned home to find them in bed together."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be, it all worked out for the best," provided lightly Derek. "What hit me most was the betrayal of trust on the part of someone whom I considered my brother. But… it's a history now. We've moved on."
"And what about your best friend?"
"He's still my best friend," shrugged Derek. "My marriage had been dead long before it happened. It just speeded up the whole process. I moved here, I met Meredith," he smiled at the memory of their first encounter. "We move on, we all do. You moved on. It's not worth clinging to the past when we can move on to something better."
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"So, where have you been?" asked Meredith as they stood in the crowd of people in the arrival area waiting for Stacy and James.
"Missed me much?" quipped Derek leaning in to give her a quick kiss, careful not to squash Bessie between them. "Me too."
"Missed yourself much?" smirked Meredith as she tilted her head for another kiss only to meet a stuffed otter that suddenly shot between their faces. After the trip to Seattle aquarium, Bessie's stuffed bunny was thrown to a corner lonely and forgotten, replaced by a grayish otter.
"You're making out with sea otters now?" exclaimed Derek feigning indignation.
"Who knows?" shrugged Meredith sweetly. "They're more cuddlier, you're so… big and hard…" she bit her lip.
"Fine, you win," he gave up. "Just don't try to give me a hard-on while I'm holding our innocent daughter."
Meredith giggled, "Is it bad that I want all our guests out of our house before they even arrived? I want to have you all to myself."
"No, it's not bad," he chuckled. "Meredith, don't worry."
"I will survive this?" she joked hiding her real preoccupation.
"No, we will survive this," he clarified. "I'm here."
"You're here," she whispered contentedly lying her head on his shoulder, near Bessie's.
"Meredith! Meredith!"
They searched the throng of exiting passengers and finally noticed Stacy and Warren hurrying towards them with their neat suitcases.
"Meredith, it's so good to see you!"
"Dr. Shepherd."
"Cherry-pie, you've only got more beautiful! Where's your favourite bunny?"
For a few moments, they drowned in a chaotic swirl of greetings until Meredith asked, "Do you want to go to your hotel first?"
"Yes, it think that's the plan," said Stacy. "We need to leave our bags, freshen up and take a nap I think. We're not so young anymore."
"Speak for yourself," quipped James. "I feel like a newborn."
Stacy snorted, "That's only because you slept like a log all throughout the flight. But… before we go to the hotel… we've got a surprise for you," Stacy looked over Meredith's shoulder and smiled.
"I don't like surprises," stated Meredith frowning.
"You'll like this one," stated an amused voice behind her.
Meredith turned on her heel with a wide smile, "Ned? What are you doing here?"
"Holiday's a family time right?" he asked self-assuredly. "And I missed the midget," he shrugged looking at Bessie.
Derek frowned at the scene in front of him. Ned? Where did he see this arrogant face before? He raked his memory and finally came up with the image of the gallery… a blond young man in navy scrubs leaning against the glass and shouting, "You owe us, babe."
It was at this precise moment when he knew he didn't like this kid. He didn't like his mischievous grin and Meredith's warm smile that came up at the sight of him. He didn't like the tight hug that Meredith took him in. He didn't like him. At all.
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A/N Thank you for all the feedback you're giving me. I'd like to know if you're getting bored with the story, the shrinking number of comments seems to indicate this, so… tell me if you feel it's dragging too much. The fic is slowly heading towards the finish line but I hope it's still interesting to you.
Have a good Sunday,
Em
