peace

chapter 16

Derek sat on the couch in Meredith's living room with his feet up on the coffee table. Meredith was lying down, wither her legs draped over the back of couch and her head resting on Derek's lab. They sat quietly as the tv hummed and Derek ran his fingers gently through her hair.

"You want to order food?" Meredith asked.

"I already did." Derek answered nonchalantly.

"From that place with the thing with the really good stuff in the thing on top of the thing?" Meredith asked hopefully.

"No, from the place with the really bad thing but the amazing other thing. Don't worry, I didn't order any of the bad thing." Derek answered.

"Oh yum. That sounds good."

"And we can get food from the other place tomorrow."

"Actually we can't. I'm busy tomorrow night." Meredith said.

"You're not working tomorrow night." Derek said confused.

"You know, there are other things that people do besides work." Meredith teased.

"Yes for normal people. But we don't do things."

"Well I do tomorrow night." Meredith said.

"But what are you doing?" Derek asked.

"I- have a date." Meredith responded sheepishly.

"You have a date?" Derek asked slowly.

"Yep."

"With who?"

"A guy." She answered.

"What guy?" His voice becoming harsher.

"Um Daniel, I met him at the hospital." She answered.

"He works at the hospital?" He asked.

"No, he was picking up his brother when I met him." She answered.

"You are going out on a date with one of your patient's loved ones?" He asked with judgement in his voice.

"No, the brother wasn't one of my patients, he was just in the hospital."

"So what do you know about this guy? what does he do? Has he been married? Does he know you're pregnant?" Derek fired.

"He knows I am pregnant, and the rest of the stuff will be what we discuss on our date." She answered.

Derek stood up and started pacing. "No." He stated.

"No?" She asked.

"No, you- no."

"What do you mean 'no'?" She asked.

"You – no -date." Derek stammered.

"Derek. You can't tell me what to do. I am going on this date."

"Meredith. This is stupid."

"How is this stupid?"

"You are going out at night with a stranger, you are pregnant. You have to think of the baby, not just yourself."

"I can't live in a bubble. And I am going to a crowded restaurant, there is no danger." She rolled her eyes.

"This is silly and childish. You can't go." Derek stated.

"I am silly and childish? Derek, I am going on a date. Why are you overreacting so much?" Meredith asked.

"Because it's irresponsible." He yelled.

"No it's not. I am an adult, who can go on a date if I want to." She yelled back.

"You're not acting like an adult. Why do you even want to go on a date?" Derek asked,

"I want to go on a date, to, I don't know, meet someone? My old method of meeting people isn't really going to work anymore."

"You're old method?" He asked.

"The same method used to create baby." She answered.

"OHH. So you are putting my child at risk because you want sex." He sneered.

"I am not putting OUR child at risk!" She retorted.

"I can't sit here and watch you be so- so- stupid, Meredith." He yelled.

"Then go." She responded dryly.

"Go?" He asked.

"Leave. If you can't watch my 'stupidity,' then leave."

"Fine. I'll go." He responded.

"Fine. Go." She said.

"I'm going." He turned and left the house, slamming the door, the tv still humming in the background.