iLove

Chapter 41

"You don't have to stay here tonight." Meredith said as she watched Derek walk back and forth from her bedroom to the bathroom and back that morning while getting ready for work. "You're not obligated."

"I know." he mumbled as he walked in while brushing his teeth "I want to be here."

"Ok." she smiled up at him "But I'm just saying...you don't have to be here."

"Do you not want me here?" he frowned.

"I didn't say that." she said "But you've been here almost every night, and you're great and taking care of me. But that's got to get tiring."

"I like taking care of you." he called out to her while rinsing out his mouth "And besides your roommates don't seem to mind."

"Speaking of which I'm still very pissed about that!"

"It's fine. He shrugged "They've known for a while now and they haven't said or gestured anything." he kissed the top of her head, she fought a smile "Have you thought about when you'll be telling your boss?"

"If by boss you mean my mother...no!" she grimaced

"She'll find out soon enough."

"She'll know when I show and that'll be all she knows." she growled "And you--"

"Won't say a thing." he sighed "I know."

Meredith rolled her eyes and followed him down the stairs to the kitchen where they heard George and Izzy talking. She sat at the table as Derek walked to the cabinet and pulled out a bowl and box of cereal.

"I just can't get it right." Izzy mumbled "Something is missing."

"They're good Izzy." George said with a mouthful "Martha Stewart would be proud!" George glanced over at the table "Meredith you've gotta try Izzy's cupcakes."

"It's bad enough I can't think of the missing ingredient George." Izzy said "I don't need to see the regurgitated version of them."

"I'm fine." Meredith sighed "I haven't been sick all week, but I don't want a cupcake for breakfast thanks."

"Dr. Shepherd?" George offered.

"No thanks." he turned up his nose.

"You're like some kind of health nut aren't you?" he mumbled through another bite "Are you turning Meredith and your baby into one too?"

"What?" Derek frowned "I'm not a health nut."

"Sure you are." George argued "You eat muesli every morning, you walk around all chipper and happy."

"I don't eat muesli every morning."

"Every morning for the past month you have." Izzy mentioned. Derek thought about it and scrunched up his nose.

"Have I been here that long?" he whispered to Meredith, she smiled.

"See." she giggled "Even they think it's weird."

"Well, I mean it's not like you guys are married or anything, so it is kind of weird." Izzy said "You're just having a baby, don't want to suffocate us."

"And by us she means her." George said "If Meredith wants him here it's her business."

They all looked at her as if waiting for her to answer, she rolled her eyes and got up and grabbed a bowl. She sat down at the table and poured a bowl of cereal.

"Yes, I want him here." she said "I'm not becoming a health nut I just crave this cardboard shit. And he doesn't have to be here if he doesn't want to. Like Izzy said, we're not married."

Derek chewed on a bite of cereal and started at her a long moment, she glanced up at him as he twiddled the spoon in his hand and finally he smiled at her.

"We could be married."

___________________________________________________________________________

<33