Untouchable face

72.

Meredith had no idea where her boyfriend was taking her. When he had mentioned a hike to relax after her crappy day yesterday, she had figured they'd go on one of their normal trails. But there had been a ferry boat ride, and she didn't recognize this trail at all. She knew Derek hiked a lot now that his back and leg were doing so much better and she knew he did a lot without her which didn't bother her at all but she really had thought he had taken her to all his favourite places. And from the smile on his face, he loved this trail.

It was a little more difficult than they had hiked before; his forehead tiny beads of sweat and she could feel her legs working with each step. She wasn't going to worry about him though. He was grinning widely and the grasp on her hand was strong. She'd probably just have to give him a massage later but that definitely didn't bother her. He was working a lot lately and it meant almost every night he needed a massage and it had kind of become their nightly routine and she loved it. It was a good way to be close to be him. They were almost always together when they weren't working but there was something to the intimacy thing Lexie was always going on about. It felt amazing.

She really loved dating him. It had gone so fast, a lot faster than she had expected but it was good, it was really good. Before she met Derek she never would have thought about wanting to get married or have babies or anything but now she wanted it all.

She had no idea how it had happened like this but it just had. Somehow, she had fallen so hard for her former patient that her old life seemed...petty. Her whole life she had thought being with someone made a person ordinary, but with Derek...she felt really extraordinary. He just got her or something, she couldn't even figure out what it was but she knew that he made everything feel better or amazing or something. She just knew that everything was a million times better in her life although really nothing had changed. She just had Derek. She had someone and that apparently made all the difference. She had someone to wake up to and someone who totally loved her. It was perfect. "Okay, where are we?"

"In the woods."

"Really? Is that why we're surrounded by trees?"

"Yeah, I know it's shocking," he nodded.

"Derek," she groaned as she knocked her hip against his.

"What?"

"Where are you taking me?"

"We're hiking," he shrugged.

"I know that."

"So stop asking questions."

"Derek..."

"What?"

"We're on a trail you've never taken me to."

"Yes," he nodded.

"So..."

"So go with it."

"Fine," she rolled her eyes, passing him her water bottle.

"It's an adventure," he smiled.

"Adventures are good."

"Exactly," he nodded. "So go with it."

"I'm going with it."

"Good."

"But only because I'm about eighty percent sure you won't kill me."

"I definitely won't kill you," he laughed.

"Good," she giggled softly.

"You're very safe."

"Unless a bear attacks us."

"I don't think a bear is going to attack us."

"Okay," she shrugged. "A crazed squirrel."