peace

chapter 18

Meredith put on the dress she had brought to work, slowly put on some make-up, and left the hospital. She drove to the crowded restaurant and entered. Daniel was already sitting and he waved her over.

"Hi Meredith!" He said excitedly.

"He Daniel." She said with a feeble smile.

"How are you doing? How's your – um- baby?" He asked.

"I'm- we're fine." She paused, "How are you doing?"

"I'm great. Well, work has been kicking my ass lately. You know I am a CPA and it's tax season. So I barely get a free second. I can't believe I even got this time off for the date. But you know, I love my job so I am not going to complain. Just a lot of taxes. Do you do your own taxes or do you have an accountant who does it?" He asked.

"I -uh- have an accountant."

"That's good. Not a lot of people can do their own taxes, it's a complicated system, and you know if you mess it up, you could get into big trouble." He said.

"Yea- taxes are... tough." She said.

"Super." He said as he pulled a piece of bread out of a basket. "How's the surgery game going?"

"It's good. Tough hours-"

"Oh I know all about tough hours."

"Yup, but it's a rewarding-"

"Rewarding jobs are the best. Most people wouldn't assume that being an accountant would be so reward, but it is. We really help people."

"Oh I am sure you do." She said dryly.

"So are you close with your family?" He asked.

"Not so much." She responded plainly.

"Are you're parents still together?" He asked.

"What?" She said almost choking on her water.

"They say someone's relationship will often correlate to their parents relationship."

Meredith laughed, "God, I hope that's not true."

"Why is that?" He asked.

"My mother had an affair on my father then he left when I was five, and then my mother's boyfriend went back to his wife and my mother never dated again and I haven't seen my father since."

"Oh." He said quietly.

"How about you? Are your parent's still together?" She asked feigning sincerity.

"Um yea. They will have been married 35 years next fall."

"Well, then, you better go ahead and get married quickly if you want to reach 35 years. I mean your job is so stressful with all those hours and rewards, that you probably are going to fall down and die of a heart attack in your 50's. I would know, I'm a surgeon. And what, you are in your late 20's now?"

"28."

"Oh so better hope you are lucky enough to keep all that stress at bay until your 60's, otherwise you'll never get to become your parents." She replied with a smirk.

"Haha." He said quietly.

"Oh look, my pager is going off." She said.

"I don't hear anything."

"Oh. Must be on vibrate." She said as she got up and left the restaurant. She got into her car and drove home. Sure, she was alone, her child was most likely going to grow up fatherless. But that's just what father's do. They leave. But she was better off alone than spending another second with that obnoxious ass. Who the fuck asks if someone's parents are still together on a first date? Then has the audacity to judge them based off of that. Ass. She pulled into the driveway to find another ass sitting outside her door.

"Meredith." Derek called out.

"What." She responded dryly.

"I- I am sorry. I don't know what got into me. That- I am sorry." He said.

"Why did you come back?" She asked.

"Come back?"

"You left. Why did you come back?" She asked harshly.

"I live here, Meredith. We are having a baby together." He said.

"So? Father's leave." She responded.

"I- Not me. Meredith. I am never going to leave. I will always be here."

"You weren't here last night." She said as her eyes became watery.

"I just, spent the night at my trailer, then my car broke down so I couldn't make it to work. I'm staying. I am here for the long hall. I will always come back, come home." He said walking towards her.

"How was I supposed to know that?" She said.

"I- I'm sorry for making you think I left. But please, never think that again. I could never even imagine leaving you." He said.

"You mean leaving the baby." She corrected.

"I can't imagine leaving the baby, but Meredith, I couldn't imagine leaving you either." He said. "You're my-"

He was cut off by Meredith pressing her lips against his. He wrapped his arms tightly around her waist and deepened the kiss. After a little bit, they separated and caught their breath.

"So how was the date?" He laughed.

"I faked a page. According to him, I am going to end up having a failed marriage and then wind up alone."

"He said that?" Derek questioned, his arms still wrapped around her.

"Basically." She said.

"Ass." He responded as he kissed her again.

"Well I think I'm done with the dates with strange men." She said.

"Oh?" he asked.

"I was thinking I'd stick to dates with one strange man. If he is okay with that." She said kissing him again.

"I think he will be perfectly fine with that."

"Oh that's good." She responded, kissing him once again.