Dusk&Summer

22.

The sun had set nearly an hour ago, and Derek was kicking himself for not remembering to bring a flashlight. He was fine, he knew these trails better than anyone, but he wasn't quite sure how Meredith was going to fare on the trails in the dark. Her hand was tightly clasped in his as they made their way through the woods, and he kept his eyes closely on her, watching her every step.

She was doing okay so far, negating the rocks and tree branches that she probably didn't even see that well, so he could only hope she kept managing it. They probably shouldn't have gone hiking this late but they had been relaxing on the hammock after supper and Meredith had suggested it. Meredith had suggested hiking. Derek was too taken aback that he had a girl who wanted to hike to actually manage to say no.

Most of the girls he had ever dated would have rolled their eyes at the suggestion of a hike. Going to college and med school in Seattle and given him plenty of opportunities for camping trips with Mark and Brian, and he could still remember Addison's face when he suggested she come along. But now he had the feeling that Meredith would jump onto that offer if it ever came.

Which it would. Maybe next summer he would suggest it to her. They could hike and fish and live in a tent. He was pretty sure Meredith wouldn't have too many problems living in a tent. She had never taken more than ten minutes to get ready in the moring so she wasn't high maintenance. And he was pretty sure she would eat anything he told her was food. Camping would be perfect for her, with her.

He squeezed her hand tightly, smiling softly at her as she moved closer to him. He loved this. He loved their walks every day, he loved watching the sun rise with her, he loved the feel of her tiny body against his. She was slowly becoming everything he had ever wanted, and everything he had figured he wouldn't need. Meredith was...Meredith. She was the girl who made feeling normal almost impossible.

He didn't want to feel normal. He wanted to feel the tiny bit of heat that always appeared when he touched her, even after being together non-stop for over a week. He wanted to feel the complete peace that he found when he held her close. Peace and happiness seemed to follow him as long as she was close by. He wanted to stop this summer forever because he had no idea what to do when this ended.

He wasn't ready for it to end. It was a five hour drive from New York to Dartmouth, and he had a feeling it would be even longer once he started his internship. He hated that it had started now, that he had fallen so hard for her during the summer, two months before he officially lost all control over his life. But he couldn't think about that, not now. Not when she was so close to him.

"Rock...be careful, Mer," he warned, squeezing her hand again.

"I got it," she rolled her eyes, even though she was smiling.

"I know you do," he nodded.

"Then stop telling me to be careful," she teased, bumping her hip against him.

"Ever so sorry that I'm naturally protective," he laughed.

"I already knew that," she giggled. "Sophie's still angry about the middle of the night phone call when you found out she had gone on her first date."

"Okay, she needs to get over that. It was five years ago."

"You threatened to fly back and kick his ass, Der."

"And?"

"And...annoying."

"Did you just call me annoying?"

"Maybe."

"That was totally uncalled for."

"I don't think it was."