Chapter 51: Christmas Shopping

They needed to stop kissing, this much public affection couldn't be enjoyable for others as she leaned against his car, his body against hers as they made out like teens in the parking lot. They were here to Christmas shop before they left for New York. Now, they should be heading inside, looking for gifts for Dawsyn, his family, her friends, and maybe even ideas for each other. Except they were kissing.

It started as an argument in the car. Derek was stressed about her being stressed. He pleaded with her to stop working so much extra because they were going to buy gifts for each other, but then a few teen girls at her job had convinced her to take their shifts and now Meredith had worked three doubles in a row. So, they fought over work and a little bit about money and now they were kissing. "Hmm..."

"Mer..."

"Mmm..."

"Hmm..." He let out a light moan, as his hands moved further down her back.

"Hey!" A teenage boy yelled from across the parking lot. "There is a hotel just on the other side of the street! Get a room!"

"Shut up!" Derek yelled back, trying not to laugh.

"Maybe he's right..." Meredith giggled.

"He's just jealous." Derek laughed, running his hands up and down her arms.

"I was thinking on the getting a room level..." Meredith laughed, tightening his scarf.

"Ohh..." Derek laughed, kissing her again.

"No more fighting on the way to places because then we can't...make up properly."

"Hmm...There's always tonight..."

"Daws' been listening a little better...so I could let her stay the night with Sadie...since Sadie asked and all..."

"I think that's a wonderful idea."

"Mmm..."

"We're like seventeen-year-olds." Derek laughed, sucking on her neck.

"Derek..."

"Hmm..."

"If you don't stop, you're going to have to do me in the car really quick." She moaned.

"That wouldn't be so bad." He whispered.

"Derek..." She gasped, feeling his erection through his jeans.

"Mmm..."

"Make your mind...up..."

"Okay...mall...sex later..."

"Mmm..."

"Come on..." He whispered, not moving.

"You're the one who has me pinned against the car."

"I know..."

"Derek."

"Okay...stopping..." He laughed, backing away from her.

"Thank you."

"Later."

"Come on." Meredith took his hand, holding her purse close to her.

"Okay.." Derek smiled, kissing her again quickly before they headed towards the mall entrance.

"What first?"

"Your choice."

"I don't know...maybe somewhere with nice clothes...not clothes your mother probably doesn't want clothes from...what about...well we could get her a watch."

"Let's start with the sisters." Derek laughed.

"Oh God..."

"They're easy to buy for."

"Really?" Meredith whispered, as they walked into a department store, the front covered with Christmas decorations.

"Really." Derek assured her. "A nice sweater...something for the kitchen. Very easy.

"Easy for you."

"And easy for you since I'm here to help."

"But they already like you." Meredith stopped, looking at a gray cable knit sweater.

"Not gray."

"Oh." Meredith frowned. She liked the sweater, she thought it was pretty, but maybe it wasn't actually that nice. "Okay...right..."

"Okay..."

"And don't worry about them not liking you...

"I thought the gray was nice."

"Depends on which sister it's for." Derek said.

"Nevermind." Meredith sighed, reaching for the green sweater. "The green is good, and you know your sisters."

"This one's perfect for Kath."

"The therapist?"

"Yeah."

"Maybe they won't like the sweaters."

"They will." Derek told her, "Just like they're going to like you."

"What about these?" Meredith asked, holding up the cashmere cardigan before looking at the price tag.

"Nancy...Definitely Nancy."

"Right..." Meredith frowned. Never once had she spent this much on a sweater. This was like a grocery bill, not a sweater price.

"You don't have to get that for her." Derek said, watching as Meredith stared at the price tag.

"No...these are from us and they're your sisters. If they like these things, then I can get them..."

"Okay." He smiled, kissing her quickly.

"Hmm..." Meredith groaned.

"Steph next."

"Right..."

"Anything for the kitchen would be nice for her."

"So...the home section." Meredith walked away from the clothes, stopping to look once more at the gray sweater.

"Do you want me to get you that?" Derek laughed.

"No..." Meredith ran her hands over it, before shaking her head and walking towards the other side of the department store.

"We could get Marissa something for the kitchen too...Or some perfume or something...She's a little more girly than the others."

"Okay..."

"Mer...Don't worry so much about this."

"If I don't worry about this then we...they might not like what we get them. They'll forgive you but they won't forgive me." Meredith groaned, reaching for a small metal contraption on a kitchen display.

"I promise they're going to like you." Derek laughed.

"Should we get one of them this thing...whatever it is..."

"It's a strainer."

"Of course, it is." She groaned, sitting it back onto the display.

"I remember her saying something to be about a blender."

"A blender?"

"Yeah. A blender."

"Okay, a blender." Meredith walked down an aisle, looking at the small selection.

"What about this one?" Derek suggested, stopping and pointing to one

"It's nice."

"I think she'd really like this one."

'Then, we should get it."

"Okay." Derek nodded, picking up the box.

"So, are we going to check out or look more in here?"

"Do you want to get Marissa's perfume in here? You're probably better at picking that stuff out."

"Sure." Meredith sighed, walking closely with him as they walked by the clothes one more time.

"Or you could get her the grey sweater."

"It's a stupid sweater."

"It's up to you."

"No...perfume." Meredith sighed.

"Okay,"

"And then we should get them something small like chocolates and then your Mom...and gosh you have nieces and nephews...brothers in law..."

"I'll take care of them."

"Yeah..." Meredith bit her lip.

"I'll get the kids a toy or a gift card...and the brother's in law all like golf...so I'll do that. But Mom, we should do together."

"I have no idea what to get her and she's going to hate it."

"You said a watch earlier...She'd love that."

"I don't know." She sighed, gazing over the perfume counter, picking up one bottle and putting it down.

"She's going to love you, Mer...She can barely wait to meet you." Derek whispered.

"Okay...fine."

"That was all she talked about when I called her yesterday."

"Until she decides she hates me and that we can't have kids together."

"She's not going to decide that. And if she did...I'd still stay with you."

"No because she might hate me...then she would hate our kids."

"She's not going to hate you or our kids."

"Because we don't have any because she hates me." Meredith groaned, trying to spray another bottle of perfume, wincing at the old rose smell.

"I promise you ,she's going to love you." Derek whispered, kissing her gently.

"You say that now."

"Please stop worrying about it."

"I'm not worried."

"Mer."

"I'm not." Meredith covered her face after pushing away a bottle. "Oh God...that's...bad."

"Why don't we come back to the perfume?" Derek suggested.

"No...your sister likes perfume."

"I know. We'll come back...Get something for Mom and get it out of the way."

"Fine."

"And I was thinking...while we're looking at watches..."

"What?" She asked, running a hand over her stomach.

"You could pick something out."

"I'm not picking your Mom's gift out all by myself."

"No...For yourself."

"Why?"

"Because I'm getting you a Christmas present."

"Oh...right...we have to get each other stuff too."

"Nothing big just...something."

"Okay."

"Okay..." Derek smiled, taking her hand as they headed to the check out.

"What do you want?"

"I don't know...a new shirt?"

"I'm not getting you just a shirt...I need other ideas."

"Sex?"

"Derek..." A smile finally returned to her face.

"That's what I was looking for." He laughed, kissing her.

"Mmm...if we can get alone time...lots of sex."

"We're getting alone time."

"I could get you something lacy..."

"Mmm...I like that..."

"Hmmm..." Meredith wrapped her arms around his neck, as they waited in line.

"What do you want?" Derek asked, between kisses.

"Nothing..."

"Okay...Then I'm getting you something and you don't get to choose."

"I need new socks."

"I can get you socks..."

"Mmm..."

"But that's not all..." Derek whispered, as the cashier rang up their items.

"I don't know what else I want."

"We'll find something." He said.

"I don't need anything."

"Okay..."

"I don't." She whispered, tilting her head up at him as he handed the cashier his credit card.

"I'm still getting you something." He smiled, kissing her forehead.

"Well I'm getting you something."

"Mmm..."

"I could get you a baby." Meredith said, before giggling as hard as she could. "Just kidding."

"Not funny." Derek rolled his eyes.

"Not funny?" She laughed.

"Not at all."

"I think it's funny."

"Of course you do." He laughed, taking the bags from the cashier.

"Why is it not funny?" She smiled.

"Because I want a baby."

"Because...you...now that's not funny." Meredith frowned.

"Not right now." Derek laughed.

"You would be pissed if I was."

"If you were pregnant?"

"Yes." Meredith replied, as they walked down the mall.

"No I wouldn't."

"Fine." Meredith rolled her eyes, her face dead serious. "I'm pregnant."

"Is it mine?"

"Ass!"

"I'm just kidding." He laughed, wrapping his arms around her.

"It's yours...or the guy across the street..."

"Hmm...Well...

"You'd be really mad now if I was." Meredith giggled, stopping against the marble post.

"That...I would be mad about."

"Or if I was pregnant before I met your Mom."

"If we were going to have a baby..." Derek whispered. "I'd be very happy."

"Right now? You're full of crap." She smiled, placing her hands on his shoulders. "In a year or two you'd be happy...now...you'd kill me."

"No I wouldn't."

"Mmm..."

"I would be very happy if you were pregnant right now." Derek whispered.

"Well I'm not...don't get excited." Meredith laughed.

"I know...I know."

"We still have months and months...maybe years..."

"I know...I'm just saying..."

"We could sell the kid we have...start fresh."

"I don't think she'd like that very much." Derek laughed.

"Probably."

"I say we keep her."

"Fine..." Meredith sighed dramatically.

"Okay." Derek laughed, kissing her.

"Love you..."

"Love you too."

"Mmm...I'm happy...scared but happy."

"Don't be scared." He whispered.

"I just...when I had Daws I didn't think I would want another one or to have someone to have them with and...it scares me because I want all of this so bad."

"Me too."

"I...okay."

"I think its time to get your present..."

"Your Mom's present." Meredith tried to correct him.

"Nope...Yours."

"Socks?"

"Not socks." Derek laughed, taking her hand and leading her toward a store.

"I need socks."

"You'll get socks."

"Well...we have to find your mom a watch." Meredith looked around the mall.

"This makes me nervous." She replied, walking into the store with him, her hand grasping his.

"Don't be." He whispered.

"Okay..." Meredith looked down at the glass, with stunning pieces of jewelry in front of her eyes.

"Whatever you want."

"That...what you just said makes me nervous." Meredith replied, as they stopped in front of the rings.

"Why does it make you nervous?" Derek frowned.

"Nobody has ever bought me jewelry."

"Hmm..."

"Nevermind...I can shut up."

"Here..." He whispered, stopping in front of the engagement rings.

"What...oh wow." Meredith turned away from the counter.

"Mer..."

"Nobody's ever bought me jewelry before." Meredith whispered.

"Excuse me...can I help you?" A young red haired sales woman approached them from the other side of the counter.

"We're looking for a ring..." Derek smiled, holding tightly to Meredith's hand.

"Engagement ring?" The woman asked.

"Yeah..."

"Oh..." Meredith nodded.

"Well...my name is Cindy...I would be glad to help you two today."

"Meredith..." Derek whispered, turning to face her.

"Oh God...you're going to do it..."

"No..." He laughed, holding her hand. "Not yet."

"Would you two like a moment?" Cindy asked, looking at a nervous Meredith.

"Please." Derek nodded.

"Sure." Cindy nodded, walking away.

"Relax, Mer..." Derek whispered.

"Oh, I'm relaxed." Meredith swallowed.

"I want to buy you a ring...A ring that you love and one that you're going to have for the rest of your life. And I'm going to keep that ring until it's time. Until the right time..."

"Oh...so...we're still getting a ring...for marriage..."

"To keep until it's time."

"Hmm...okay..." Meredith's voice shook nervously. "I just...until it's time. I can do that..."

"You can do that." He whispered, kissing her gently.

"And we're just...we're just picking it out now..."

"Just picking it out."

"Okay."

"You ready?"

"Yeah just...can we look alone before Cindy comes over?"

"Yeah." Derek smiled.

'Okay..." She nodded, looking down at her hands.

"I love you Mer."

"Love you too...Derek."