The Way It Ends

49. Christmas Eve

He was very excited. Her not so much. It was finally the day they flew down to spend Christmas with his family. Every time he looked at her, he could see she was the living form of anxiety. Her legs were shaking her thumb kept tapping his hand since they were entwined. And not to mention the lip biting.

Some people bite their nails, some chew on their hair but Meredith bites her lips. And although it's cute he can't focus on that because his girlfriend is freaking out.

"Mer," he called her name.

"Hmm," she turned her head quickly and as he suspected her bottom lip was stuck underneath her teeth.

"Everything is going to be okay," he smiled at her but kept his eyes on the road.

"I'm fine," she rolled her eyes.

"You're always fine, that's your problem."

"Stop being dramatic," she sighed, "Seriously, I'm doing okay."

"Sure you are. That's why your legs are shaking and your lips look like you haven't drank anything for days." Meredith looks down at her shaking legs then touches her lips.

"I hate you," she said while hiding a smirk.

"You love me and you know it," he chuckled and looked at her for a second.

"I do," she leaned her head against her the head of her seat and mesmerised her boyfriend.

"Hmm, what are you thinking about?" He smiled softly when he realised the silence.

"Nothing in particular," her gaze still focused on her boyfriend. Derek squeezed her hand and turned at a corner.

"Why are you smirking," a smile tugs on the corners of her lips as her gaze never left him.

"I'm not smirking, I'm smiling," he said bluntly.

"Okay," Meredith giggled a little, "Why are you smiling," she squeezed his hand.

"Because I'm thinking about you, about us," he said softly, squeezing her hand back and looking at her briefly. Derek was waiting for her 'corny' comment. But it never came. She seemed to be unfazed about his commentary.

"What about us?" There was a hint of seriousness in her voice he's never heard before. Derek stopped the car at the side of the road and looked at her. Really looked her. Her blue eyes met with her green that sparkled with desire. She could see him trying to figure out something. He was wracking his brain as his eyes moved from one eye to the other. She gave him the smallest of smiles and tilted her head.

"What?" She giggled, squeezing his hands.

"I don't know," he was still focused on her eyes. Like he was sucked in deep within those green gateways, "Are you sure you're okay?" He reached up to stroke her cheeks. Meredith placed her hand over his and leaned into his touch. She closed her eyes and breathed in heavily.

"I've never been better," she smiles and opens her eyes to look at him.

"You seem distracted, is there something on your mind?" He asks.

"Yeah," she says without hesitation. He swears she smiled a little but it dropped immediately.

"Yeah?" He tried to read her eyes again.

"Yeah," she said quietly. Derek looked at her waiting for an answer. Waiting for her to same something. His hands took hers again and he squeezed it for encouragement.

"I think... I mean- it's just that," she takes deep breath, "I know this isn't the most convenient moment to throw this on you but," there's some hesitation on her side but she breathes in and blurts it out, which makes Derek pull back from astonishment, "I want to try and have kids with you," she blushed and started biting her lips.