Hiding in the Shadows

19. Need To Know Details

"How old are you?" Derek asked, startling Meredith.

"I...what?" She asked.

"How old are you? I need to know...we should know something about each other if we are going to do this." Derek said.

"Are you sure you can remember anything I tell you?" Meredith sassed.

A grin played at Derek's mouth. He made an effort to stifle it.

"I think I can manage." He replied wryly.

"I am 32."

"Years?" He asked incredulously.

"No...decades...of course years you moron." Meredith said.

"No...it...you just..." He stammered.

"I know...I know...I am too old to be an intern...what the hell took me so long...why can't I be a normal girl and not have pink hair and drink tequila...why do I always have to be an embarrassment?" Meredith ranted.

Derek looked at the steering wheel for a moment and wondered how to proceed.

"Look, I can't decipher girl freak out into normal language...what I was going to say was you look a lot younger than that..."

"Oh...sorry." Meredith blushed.

Derek swallowed hard. Damn, she was beautiful. This was going to be so hard...literally.

"How old are you? Did you grow up in Connecticut? How many siblings do you have? Where is your father? Where did you go to school?" Meredith blurted out.

"Okay...40, yes, though I lived in New York before moving here, four sisters, he died when I was 10, and Columbia and Bowdoin." He answered. "You?"

"Um...32, Born in Seattle but was drug to Boston with my mother when I was five, no siblings that I know of, my father has been MIA since I was 5, and Dartmouth."

"So it was just you and your mom?" Derek asked.

Meredith snorted.

"No there was my mother and then there was me...never in the same place if she could help it." Meredith stated matter of factly.

"But..." Derek began.

"Can we drop this, please." Meredith asked softly.

"Why Seattle Grace?" He asked instead.

"Far away from my mother and close to Richard Webber." She said.

"The Chief?"

Meredith giggled.

"How many Richard Webber's do you know?" She asked.

"Smart ass." He said.

"I know." She agreed.

They pulled up into The Archifield. Derek handed the valet the keys to his Lexus and then went around to get Meredith out. He extended his hand and she took it reluctantly. Her breath caught at the electric tingling yet again. He cringed.

"Let's just get through this...okay?" Meredith asked, taking her hand from his and grasping his arm. She could feel the warmth of his skin through his shirt but it was better than the feeling of being Tasered by touching his bare skin.

"There she is." Derek murmured in her ear.

Meredith shivered.

"Are you cold? Do you need my jacket?" Derek asked.

"No." It was disconcerting enough touching him but to be enveloped in his blazer surrounded by his scent...no thank you.

"Derek...Meredith! I am so glad we could do this." Carolyn said happily. Meredith and Derek took a deep breath and pasted smiles on their faces.

"Ma." He leaned in to kiss her cheek.

"Mrs. Shepherd." Meredith nodded politely.

"My mother in law was Mrs. Shepherd...the insipid old bat...call me Carolyn and we hug in my family." She said, before drawing an awkward Meredith in her arms.

"Heavens child, you act as if you have never been hugged before." Carolyn admonished.

Meredith looked down and Derek exchanged a shocked look with his mom before he subtly shook his head.

"So, who's hungry?" Derek asked, breaking the tension.

"I made reservations for 8:30, so why don't we head into the restaurant?" Carolyn suggested, walking ahead.

Derek looked at Meredith, who was still studying her shoes.

"Do you want to go home?" He asked.

She raised her head at his gentle tone and she shook her head. She squared her shoulders.

"A deal is a deal...Let's do this." She said, placing her arm in the crook of his elbow and he led her into the dining room.