more than anything

jack

Meredith returned from work slightly earlier than usual, Derek had gone shopping and restocked the kitchen. "Hey, how was work?" he asked as she walked into the kitchen, "it was actually really great, my new client is so easy and cooperative, i can already tell he'll be fun to work with" she beamed. "Are you allowed to date clients?" he questioned, "we're not dating, i was just saying he's easy to work with" she rolled her eyes, "what's his name?" he asked politely, "jack" she smiled. "You like him" he teased, he acted like he didn't care but he knew he did, far too much for 'just friends'.

Later, they ate dinner lazily on the couch. "Are you okay?" Meredith asked him, he looked upset, "fine" he responded, not looking her in the eye, they went to bed shortly after, Meredith feeling confused as to why Derek seemed upset with her.

The next morning they decided to go out, Meredith had an easy schedule and Derek still hadn't gone back to work yet. "Where are we going" Meredith asked Derek, who seemed to be in a better mood, "be patient" he smiled at her.

"Why are we in a pet store?" Meredith looked at him confused, "Don't you love looking at them?" he asked excitedly, "just not something i do in my spare time" she smiled and looked around. They both looked through the glass at the hamsters and gerbils, "Should we get one?" she suggested, "maybe we should leave this isle" he pulled her away. "We should at least get bubbles a friend" she looked through the mini fish tanks at the goldfish, "why not" he chuckled. They chose out a fish and the shopping assistant put it in a bag for them.

"What if we crash?" Meredith wondered, "then the fish goes flying" he cringed, "well you better drive well then" she replied. The clear plastic bag containing the fish was sat between Meredith's legs as she tried to keep it as still as possible. "What are we calling it?" she asked, "i don't know".

The drive home was filled with light chatter and conversation, interrupted when. Meredith's phone started ringing. "Hello" she answered, not knowing who was calling her, "hi, is this Meredith?" the person on the other line asked, "it is, who's this?" she replied. "It's Jack" the man on the other line said. Derek's smile disappeared as he remembered how she seemed to like Jack. "Jack hi, what can i do for you?" Meredith questioned, "dinner, i can pick you up tonight?" he was very forward. "As in like a date?" she was a little surprised, "pick you up at 8?" he suggested, "okay fine, see you at 8" she hung up the phone.

"Your going out with Jack tonight?" Derek asked her, he knew the answer but wanted to seem like he wasn't eavesdropping. "Apparently i am" she chuckled, "are you allowed to have a relationship with a client?" he wondered. "It's a date not a marriage proposal, snd there's nothing that says i cant, so i might as well" she shrugged.

The rest of the drive was quiet and more awkward, he didn't show it, but he was angry, and pathetically jealous. He didn't know if he would eventually tell her how he felt, or if she felt the same way, which she most likely didn't.

"I'll get a cup and we can just put it in" Meredith walked into the kitchen, "ready?" he asked, "yep" she scooped up the fish and some of the water and slowly put it in the tank. "Now bubbles has a friend" Meredith beamed, he smiled in return, before going upstairs.

"Derek i need help!" she yelled from her room. She was done showering and now needed to find an outfit. "What is it?" he walked into the room, "i need your help, i don't know what to wear" she started pulling items of clothing out of her closet. "Cant you call Cristina and do this?" he groaned. "Why are you so grumpy all of a sudden, your supposed to be my friend, this is what friends do so quit whining, sit down and help me!" she raised her voice. "Someone's strict" he mumbled, "i heard that?" she rolled her eyes.

"That ones good, you should wear that" he tried to convince her. This was the 6th outfit she had tried on, he just wanted to leave and go watch tv, but she wanted this outfit to be 'perfect'. Not only was he bored out of his mind, but the reason she's trying on dresses is to impress her client, soon to be boyfriend for their date. While he sat and watched her marry another guy and have his kids. But he would stay friends with her, he would do anything to know he got to be around her, and if that meant only being friends then that was what he had to do.

"I think i'll go with this dress" she finally decided, he sighed. She looked stunning, her hair day perfectly just below her shoulders, the silk red dress showed off her figure. "What do you think?" she asked, snapping him out of his daydream. "You look beautiful" he smiled genuinely.

She hugged him before he left the room. It was a kind, friendly gesture, but all he could focus on was the fact her body was so close to his. He suddenly found it a little harder to breathe. "I'll let you finish getting ready" he smiled before leaving the room.

Derek stood on the front porch for air, she was insanely gorgeous and he was hopelessly in love with her. He had known her for less than a month, how did he feel like this so fast. It was the way she cared for other people, she was kind. She's smart, funny, adorably awkward. Her giggle, her smile which could light up any room and her baby blue eyes. She was everything.

"Hello? is this where Meredith Grey lives?" a tall, handsome man walked up the stairs onto the front porch. "Are you Jack?" Derek ignored the rage and hate he had for this man. "Yes, who are you?" Jack asked him, "Meredith's friend" he replied, "i'll go get her, she's just finishing getting ready" Derek walked through the front door.

He paused as he watched her walk down the stairs, "hey, did i hear someone at the door?" she asked. "Yeah, he's just waiting outside" he told her. "Great, so i'll see you later, if you're still up, if not then we'll talk tomorrow?" she rambled, "have a good night Mer" he smiled. She smiled back and walked out the door.

"Jack hey, i wasn't expecting you to call earlier" she spoke, "i just couldn't stop thinking about you" he replied, she smiled softly as they got into his car.