The Seventh Sense is Love

Returning to Maui

"I can't believe you got us the same room," Meredith sighed as she and Derek stepped onto the lanai.

"Really - this surprises you?"

"Yes," she answered as she went into his outstretched arms. "You amaze and surprise me on a regular basis. How did you manage to pull this off?"

"I just asked," he replied with a chuckle. "It's only ours for two nights, though. Then we have to move because someone else had this room reserved."

"Oh," Meredith pouted for a moment. Then she shrugged and smiled. Turning to look out at the beach and the ocean she asked, "What can you see?"

"Everything that's amazing and breath taking," he answered while looking at her and rubbing her tummy."

"Not me," she giggled, placing her hand on top of his. "The beach, the ocean, the scenery and people and all of this."

"I guess I won't argue with a seriously pregnant woman," Derek chuckled and turned to look out at the horizon. He was quiet for a while as he looked around, taking everything in and savoring the delight of being able to see this in any fashion.

"Derek?"

"As crazy as this may sound - my first thought was that I'm glad I'm wearing my sunglasses. It's bright, really bright. I don't know if it's so noticeable to me because the light is new again, or -" he trailed off.

"It's not crazy," Meredith whispered, a little choked up. She swallowed the lump in her throat. "It is bright here. Not just because the sun is actually out instead of hidden behind a cloud cover. The sun is at a different angle here and it's definitely, noticeably brighter. It might be a good idea to be certain you always have your sunglasses here."

"Yeah," he agreed. "I can also see the contrast between the colors of the sand and the ocean. It's pretty amazing."

"It's beautiful.

"It is," he nodded. "I can't make out the details of anything. I can only make out the general colors and notice the contrast, but that's okay. Being able to see any of this is -" he trailed off again, shrugging his shoulders.

"A gift," Meredith said softly because that's exactly how she felt for and about Derek.

"Yes," he replied, turning his attention back to her and smiling. "Definitely a gift."

"Not -" she began and was cut off by him kissing her. They shared a long and relaxed kiss. Both enjoying the fact that they didn't have to be anywhere or do anything unless they wanted to.

Once the kiss ended, Derek said, "Yes you, Meredith. You and Ian are the most amazing gifts I've ever received. You give my life a sharpness, a clarity, a meaning that it never had before. Even before I lost my sight. You and our baby mean everything to me. Now and always."

"Okay," Meredith giggled in spite of the tears in her eyes. "Making the hormonal chick cry again." Then she reached up and stroked his cheek with her hand and said softly, "You and Ian mean everything to me, too. Now and always."

"I feel like a beached whale."

Derek chuckled and then felt like an ass when she started crying. "Meredith," he said and moved to pull her into his arms. "Mer, don't cry. I'm sorry for laughing. You don't look like a beached whale. You look beautiful." He kissed her cheeks and wiped her tears as she continued crying.

A few minutes later she was done crying. She was still pouting a little bit, though. "I'm sorry," she said. "Why don't you go down to the beach without me."

"Why would I go without you?"

"It's our vacation and I'm being grouchy. I couldn't get comfortable all night, so I barely slept. When I did, I'd wake up ten minutes later having to pee. You shouldn't have to endure my crappy mood or my fat ass."