Untouchable face

61.

Meredith had had a long day. Anytime she worked overnight it was hard and tiring, but the night before had been just awful and she couldn't believe how happy she was to be driving away from the hospital right now. She had been anxiously waiting for her shift to just finish. Usually, she'd want to sleep and just ignore the world. But today, she wanted to curl up with Derek and feel his strong arms around her. At this point, she was aware that she sounded crazy and completely cheesy, but she didn't care. Somehow, this was working out for her and she wasn't going to start over-thinking it. It'd be silly and stupid to do that, especially when Derek made it feel so easy. When she was around him, she didn't even consider over thinking it because it felt like the most natural thing in the world and it made her forget that things generally didn't work out of her. So curling up sounded perfect.

He had promised chocolate cake too, which would be awesome. She hadn't lost any patients, though she had come close. Mostly, she had just been an idiot and had dropped a kidney. She wasn't even sure what kind of person dropped a kidney, except an idiot. And she wasn't even sure how she would explain that to Derek. Of course he had fallen off a roof, which maybe was the equivalent to dropping a kidney in the contractors world. And she really didn't want to talk about it that much or talk about how she was definitely the butt of some jokes right now. She just wanted to forget today had even happened. She had no idea how this was going to go. She hadn't really spent a lot of time with Derek's mom but she had to believe they would be okay. Anything had to be better than dropping a kidney on the floor. And anyway, Mrs. Shepherd seemed to like her, which was good. She had been really nice when she had gone to pick Derek up so hopefully that would just keep happening. Meredith didn't do moms a lot, at least not outside of working with patients so she had no idea how it was going to work but she'd handle it for a chance to see Derek.

She rubbed her forehead as she sat at the stop sign before Mrs. Shepherd's house. No matter what she did, she couldn't stop picturing the kidney on the floor. She felt like a complete idiot, which was the exact opposite way she had felt this morning. She had felt amazing this morning. She had felt perfect and amazing and giggly and really happy about everything. She hadn't been sure how this dating thing would work with Derek but it had been better than she could have even hoped for. It had been the perfect night.

Everyone had told her not to sleep with him. Lexie had said it about a hundred times the day before. But she had and she couldn't imagine regretting that. Somehow, sleeping with him had felt totally...right or something. Their night had ended perfectly and Derek didn't seem to be regretting anything. Derek seemed really happy with the date too and he did the dating thing but didn't seem to think that there was anything too wrong with the fact they had slept together. So that was good, that had to be a good thing. They were both happy. He had texted her several times over the last few hours and it had been a lot of fun. He was a great guy and he really seemed to just...get her or something. She knew they hadn't started off in the best way, but it was going to get better. She knew that. And right now, she was just really anxious to see him again. All her friends had sworn to her that she was making herself too available or something but she wasn't going to play whatever mind games they were talking about when she just wanted to see Derek.

She moved out of her car and towards Mrs. Shepherd's front door, fighting back a yawn. She just wanted to be with him, and she didn't care if she was supposed to be taking it slow. Slow was stupid when being in Derek's arms made her feel so safe. She rang the doorbell and rocked on her heels, waiting for someone to answer. Derek hadn't actually told her if she was supposed to just come in or what so this definitely seemed like the better idea. She really wanted Derek's family to like her. "Meredith!" the door swung open and Mrs. Shepherd smiled widely. "You look exhausted, dear."

"Oh...long day, really long day. And night," she breathed.

"Of course," Mrs. Shepherd nodded. "Come in. Derek's just in the kitchen putting the finishing touches on the cake."