Endless Summer Nights

41.

Meredith stares at the staircase in front of her. The descent seems daunting, especially with the soreness that continues to radiate throughout her body. But she needs to go downstairs. She has to go downstairs. She has to go downstairs for some black olives. There is no question. She needs black olives. Derek had made a big fuss earlier about her staying in bed and him taking care of her, but he is asleep now and she doesn't want to wake him. She tried to listen. She tried to be cooperative, but she really really needs some black olives.

She places her hand on the banister as she mentally prepares herself for the long descent. She closes her eyes and inhales deeply. Just as she prepares to take the first step, a soft voice from behind her startles her.

"What do you think you're doing?" he asks sleepily.

She gasps as she whirls around to face him, the sudden movement causes her to dangle precariously at the top of the staircase. He takes one step forward and wraps his arms around her waist, preventing her from falling backwards.

"Woah," he says as he pulls her body against his. "I've got you."

She wraps her arms around him, her body still shaken from the almost fall. "Thanks," she manages in a shaky voice.

"Now," he says as he moves her away from the stairs, "are you going to tell me what you think you are doing?"

She bites down on her bottom lip as she looks up at him through her lashes. "I was going to get some black olives," she mumbles as a blush creeps into her cheeks.

He furrows his eyebrows together as he stares at her. "I'm sorry," he says as he shakes his head, "I thought you just said that you were risking tearing your sutures open that haven't fully healed yet so that you could get some black olives, but I think I heard you wrong."

The heat rises in her cheeks as she stares down at her feet momentarily before looking back up at him. "But I NEED them," she tells him with pleading eyes.

His eyes widen as he notices the pleading tone of her voice. "You're beings serious?" he asks as a smile begins to form on his mouth.

She stomps her foot childishly as she watches the smirk form. "It's not funny," she hisses at him.

He chuckles as he places a hand over her mouth. "Shhh...my parents are sleeping," he whispers with a chuckle. Even though he can't see her mouth, he can see the scowl in her eyes. Without a second thought, he places one arm under her knees and lifts her.

She gasps. "What are you doing?"

He chuckles as he begins to walk downstairs. "I'm taking you to get your damn black olives," he says with a smile.

"Ass!" she hisses as he reaches the bottom of the staircase.

He shrugs. " I was thinking something more like, knight in shining armor, but ass works as well," he says with a smirk. "At least I'm your ass."

She rolls her eyes as they reach the kitchen. He sits her down on one of the barstools before he begins to rummage through the pantry for black olives.

"So, is this what your cravings like?" he asks with a glance over his shoulder.

She shrugs. "You mean the not being able to function until I have it thing?"

He nods. "Yeah," he responds as he finds a can.

"Pretty much."

He chuckles as he opens the can and pours the olives into a bowl. "And the black olives thing?" he asks as he sits the bowl in front of her.

"I have no idea where that one came from. I woke up and thought, I want black olives. A minute later, it was I need black olives. Five minutes later and here we are," she answers as she plops a black olive into her mouth. She closes her eyes as a look of pure pleasure overtakes her and she moans softly.

Derek begins to feel aroused just watching her indulge her craving. He clears his throat. "Are they satisfying?" he asks in a somewhat husky voice.

"Better than sex," she responds as she opens her eyes and smirks at him.

His mouth falls agape. "I highly doubt that."

"You would," she responds with a shrug as she begins to place black olives on her fingers.

He chuckles as she wiggles her Martian-like fingers at him. "What are you? Like five?" he asks as he bends his head down and eats one of the black olives off of Meredith's fingers.

She scowls at him. "Shut up," she mutters as she eats the black olives one by one off of her fingers.

"So, am I going to need to go get more black olives? I mean, how long do these cravings generally last?" he asks with a smile as he sits down across from her.

"You don't have to..." she begins.

He reaches over and places his fingers under her chin and lifts her face. "Yes, I do. There are still a few cans in the pantry, but would you like me to add black olives to the shopping list for tomorrow?" he asks in a voice laced with love.

She blushes as she nods slowly. "Yes, please," she mutters.

He chuckles as he stands up and walks over to the refrigerator. "See, that wasn't so hard, was it?" he asks as he jots down a case of black olives for Meredith's cravings on the shopping list.

"Incredibly," she mumbles to herself as she finishes the black olives. She even drinks the juice, much to Derek's disgust, before she pats her stomach and smiles at him.

"Satisfied?" he asks with a smile as he walks around the counter and places his hand on her stomach, feeling a small fluttering under his touch.

"Extremely," she answers with a yawn.

"Ready to go back to bed?"

"Yes, please," she responds before he lifts her and carries her back upstairs and places her in bed. Her eyes are already growing heavy as he tucks her in. "Derek?" she asks as he prepares to leave for the night.

"Yeah?"

"Thanks," she sighs.

"No problem," he says with a smile. "If you need anything else, don't hesitate to ask...and if I catch you trying to go downstairs by yourself again, I will kick your ass," he says in a playful tone that hints of seriousness.

"Okay...Derek?" she says with another yawn.

"Yeah?"

"Will you tell your son to go to sleep so I can?" she asks in a whiny voice as she opens her eyes and pouts at him,

He chuckles at her before pulling the covers down below her stomach and lifting her pajama top. "Hey, buddy. This is your daddy. Go to sleep for Mommy. She needs her sleep so she isn't grouchy tomorrow. Daddy loves you," he whispers to her stomach before placing a soft kiss on her bump.

He looks back up to Meredith to tell her goodnight, but she has already fallen asleep. He smiles softly at her before walking to the door. "Goodnight, Meredith," he whispers before closing the door and returning to his own room.