It was later that evening that they found themselves sitting at the dining table in the kitchen, dinner had been served and eaten, the youngest kids were up to bed and the older kids were watching a movie on Disney+© in the living room. His oldest sister Kathleen, her husband Robert and their children, his younger sister Liz, her husband Steve and their children, and his youngest sister Amelia had all arrived during the day. It was a full house but the atmosphere was relaxed and happy.
Meredith wasn't used to these kinds of holidays, normally she had to entertain herself. She had learned to keep herself busy, as long as she had a full agenda with work or studying, she was able to live through the days and then soon everything was back to the everyday fuss. But now it was all different, she felt like she was part of the family, they all took her in as one of their own. They were interested, asked several questions and were sincerely interested in her answers. Meredith had felt more at home in a home full of people she barely knew then she would feel at her own mother's home.
The shared stories about their youth at the Shepherd house, which gave her new insights in to Derek, were really entertaining to listen to. Some were funny, others weird but overall, the love they held for each other was clear in every told story.
'So.. Has Derek ever told you he almost set the house on fire?' Kathleen asked Meredith.
'What? No! Do tell me..' Meredith almost clapped with glee, while she gave Derek a wide smirk. Oh, how she loved to hear all the stories about young Derek. He sounded cute and kind of dorky when he was younger, nothing like the suave gentleman he was these days.
'Oh, yes, this story is so good.' Liz chimed in.
'Derek was around the age of 16 and he just found himself a first girlfriend, some girl of the school band he was in. He was always looking for ways to impress her. You know, he would make her these little cards or he would buy her some of her favourite candies, these kinds of things. Then one day he decides he wants to cook her a meal, that boy couldn't even bake an omelette, let alone cook a complete meal.' Kathleen let out a small laugh before she continued. 'But we all know how determent Derek can be. So, he thinks he has it all figured out, he cuts all veggies and puts them in to the pan. Only thing he forgets is some oil, once he remembers he has to put in oil most veggies are already turning black, then he manages to put in so much the whole pan sets on fire.'
Meredith was laughing while she looked next to her at an embarrassed Derek, he was trying to hide it but she could see right through him.
'Mom, do you hear how they are speaking about your boy?' Derek mocked, trying to get the sympathy and help of his mother. His sisters always knew how to tease him
'He tried to save his ass, puts the pan in the sink and adds water which only made the matter worse. He was lucky mom was just arriving home just in time, she quickly put the lid over the pan and saves the house from a visit of the fire department. Girl didn't know how quickly she had to leave. Practically ran out of the house.' Nancy added to the story.
After they finished laughing Liz added; 'The smell was horrible for weeks. Mom decided to give him some cooking lessons immediately after the disastrous event.'
'And that worked out perfectly fine, Derek is an Accelent cook.' Michael focussed on Meredith. 'But you already know that, he must have made you some good meals.'
Meredith's cheeks turned slightly pink. 'Actually, Derek hasn't really cooked anything for me.. yet.'
'That's not true!' Derek defended himself. 'That morning in my kitchen, when mom came to visit, I made you pancakes!'
'Pancakes aren't real food, that isn't cooking..' she teased him.
'Says the woman who eats left over grilled cheese for breakfast..' he was teasing her back with the same force.
'Says the man who eats muesli every morning..' Meredith was solely focussed on Derek. He had that ability, to make everything else in the room disappear. That glistering in his eyes was there, the glistering she had grew so familiar with. That glint when they were teasing each other, that look that reeked sexual tension.
'There is nothing wrong with muesli, it is quite healthy actually. Maybe you should think about that before shoving a piece of cold pizza in your mouth in the morning...'
'I didn't hear you complain the last time we ordered pizza and you had some left overs the next morning...' She was trying to get a reaction out of him. She was trying to work him up, and did she manage to do just that.
'That was because I had worked up an appetite and you didn't have anything else..'
The people around the table were watching the bickering with an amused smile. Following the verbal match like a tennis game, moving from one to the other and back. Derek and Meredith weren't aware of al the details they shared; they gave of much more than they had wanted to share.
'Oh, so now that is your excuse. It's quite pathetic actually..'
'Did you just call me pathetic? Ah, you are so going to get it.' Derek couldn't stop himself; she had sucked him in under her spell. He had lost all ability to think.
'What? What am I going to get, Derek.' She had a smug smile on her face. Meredith was pushing his limits and she knew it. It just felt so good to get under his skin, to get him all worked up and agitated.
'You.. You just make me want to... argh..'
Before she had the possibility to respond his hands were on her cheeks, holding her head steadily in his hands, then his lips found hers, shutting her up effectively.
The kiss itself was short, brief, nothing more than a hard peck. Just enough to shut her up before he let go of her again. But it was more than enough to turn the entire room silent. All were staring at the duo with disbelief. They knew Meredith and Derek were close, but they didn't know it was more than just friendship.
'Well, that's one way to win an argument.' David broke the silence, unbeknown to the awkward tension that fell between Derek and Meredith.
'Do you want something to drink, Meredith?' Caroline asked.
'No, thank you.. I think I will head upstairs; it is kind of late and we have a long day ahead tomorrow. Thank you so much for the wonderful dinner, I-I will see you guys tomorrow.' Meredith quickly gave a small smile and made her way to the bedroom she shared with Derek.
She was praying Derek wouldn't follow her, she needed some time to think. Quickly she changed into the long t-shirt and shorts Derek had leant to her before she brushed her teeth and climbed into bed. She knew she had been teasing him, pushing him to his limits and apparently over them. The thing was she didn't mind he was kissing her in the presence of his family, no she had actually liked it. It felt good that he wasn't afraid to show affection while they were around, it felt good that she could push him to his limits, the same way he did to her. It felt so good to be loved by him. And that was her whole point, every time someone came close to her and her feelings, she wanted to run. She wanted to flee and avoid, to wait until her feelings would pass by and she could be her again. That she could be her cool and collected self again.
She couldn't admit her true feelings, she couldn't really feel them, she couldn't participate in them. Every time she had done that in the past it had turned disastrous; she would end up getting hurt and damaged. All the people she had truly loved in her life had abandoned and hurt her, and he would do exactly the same sooner rather than later. And she just couldn't handle that, so she had to stay away from him. She had to distance herself from him, she had come too close to the feelings she hadn't allowed herself to feel for him. She couldn't trust herself around him anymore, she couldn't play this game of uncomplicated sex with him anymore. She was way to deep into it, and it made her scared like some frightened little kitten on the side of the road.
On the other side she hadn't felt this alive in a long time, maybe it was time to take a change. She was to deep into it, she would get hurt either way that was for sure. And if she was going to get hurt anyway maybe the best way to hurt was when she was together with him.
After Derek gave a small knock on the door, he slowly opened it. 'Hi.. Are you okay?' he asked quietly, quickly stripping down to his boxers, sitting down next to her on the edge of the bed.
'Yeah.. Just been thinking a bit.' Meredith gently smiled at him.
'I am sorry, Mer. I never should have put you in that position. I don't know what came over me...' he sighed defeated, running his hand over through his hair. 'You have some kind of power over me. I don't know what it is. I truly don't.. You make me feel good, when I am with you, when we are together.. You got this strange power; you make everybody else disappear..'
She understood what he was saying and where it was coming from. 'I know. You have the same power over me..'
That made his lips curl upwards a bit, he shook his head before his smile turned into a big sultry grin. 'We are quite the duo, aren't we?'
'That we are, hotstuff.' She gave him a small shove on his upper arm. 'Go brush your teeth, I can't kiss you when you are all garlicy.'
Hi jumped of the bed and saluted her. 'Ai, ai, captain.' he said, before he took off to the bathroom.
A/N: I am sorry for my lack of updates the last two weeks, I will try to update more frequently. While writing has been an outlet for my everyday life the last days have been kind of hard. My husband and I have been trying for quite some time to become parents, unfortunately after some examining, we found out we aren't able to conceive naturally. For us it means we are bound to an IVF-ICSI treatment. We had our first round of hormones, puncture and transfer last month, and while everything seemed to be looking fine I unfortunately miscarried. I am praying for all the couples who are struggling with fertility and hope that we all will be blessed with a miracle one day soon.