Forbidden

Chapter 12: Getting Closer

  Derek pulled up to the quaint little cafe that she pointed out. The drive had been awkward. Once again, he slipped up. Once again, he gave in. He knew he had to stop doing it. It was bad. It was how you got fired. It was how whatever happened to Aleeo happened. He didn't want to know what happened to Aleeo. He didn't want to know what would happen to him if he screwed up again. He had to stop.

Meredith sat in the car in silence. She did it again. She did it a lot. But with Derek, it was different. She had kissed guys before. She had kissed random guys many times. Hell, she had even fucked random guys in moments of drunken sadness. But Derek was different. This was different. And it scared her. She was losing her self control.

"Benvenuto!" (Welcome!) The hostess said as they walked in the door of the quaint cafe. "Come stai?" (How are you?)

"Bene, grazie!" (I'm Fine, Thanks!) Meredith answered quickly, realizing Derek didn't know what she was saying. The hostess quickly walked them to a small table by the large window. She ordered their drinks and looked at him.

"You don't know Italian..." She said in shock.

"I know a little. Okay. Fine. Actually not much at all. Everything I know is what I learned in the two years of Italian I took in high school. And I don't really remember that." Derek said with a sigh.

"That's not so good." She said simply. "You need to learn. I can teach you."

"Is this a trade of skills we are doing? I teach you to drive, you teach me to speak Italian." He said quickly.

"Hmm. That could work." Meredith said with a satisfied nod.

"It could." Derek agreed. "So your father may be coming back today?"

"That's what they say. Not that it matters." She said simply.

"I see what you mean. He doesn't make it a point to acknowledge you." Derek pointed out sadly.

"No. Not anymore. He did when I was young. Then he just got busier and busier. I was spending more time with my body guards and the help than him." She told him simply as the waitress brought their drinks.

"That's really sad. I just can't imagine not having my family around." Derek said quickly. "I would even miss my sisters if I didn't see them again."

"How many sisters do you have?" Meredith asked as she glanced across the table.

"Four." He said with wide eyes. "I know. Too many."

"That is a lot." Meredith agreed. "I always wondered what it would be like to have siblings. But I don't think it would make a difference."

"It may have." Derek said with a shrug and a nod. "But you had your other family."

"Yeah. I guess. Sophia is actually a lot more compassionate then she looks. We have just grown apart since I have gotten older." Meredith pointed out.

"So have you been through a lot of guards?" Derek finally asked nervously.

The waitress walked up and Meredith helped Derek order his food. They went through it several times before Derek pronounced it correctly. He sighed when the waitress walked away. That was his in. He had finally asked her about the guards and the damn waitress had to show up. Now he was sure she would avoid it.

"A lot." Meredith finally answered.

"A lot what?" Derek asked quickly.

"Of guards. I've had a lot." She said with a sigh.

"What happened to the last one?" Derek asked as he took a bite of bread.

"Tony. Tony got to you, right?" Meredith said with a smile.