I Wanna Be Yours

"Chapter 24"

Thanksgiving Day is an odd day in the Grey household. Since Ellis had always insisted on working holidays to give the chance to other people to celebrate, every holiday celebration has been shifted to a less conspicuous day during the years, especially as Meredith and Maggie got older. For Thanksgiving, breakfast has been chosen as the meal of choice, so that Ellis can go to work after it and work later into the night.

Meredith has started keeping up with the same tradition, especially since she really has nowhere else to be aside from the hospital. This is the first year for Meredith that she actually has someone who wants to celebrate with her. And very adamantly so.

"Meredith, why?"

Meredith sighs, looking at Derek's pleading eyes as he sits on her couch, while she stares at him from her office chair. "I booked my shift last year. I know people want to be home with their families today. I can't find a replacement on such short notice. I'm sorry."

Derek sighs as well. "When will you be done?"

"I have no idea. I usually stay until nine or so. Sometimes I even pick up half of the night shift. That's me, Derek."

Derek shakes his head.

"What do you want me to say? That I'll be home to eat some stupid turkey? Inconvenience someone to actually be there?" Meredith fuels, her eyes flashing with anger.

"I don't know, Meredith. I would want you to care!" Derek blurts before he can catch his tongue. He wants his feelings out in the open, but now he's not so sure it was a good idea.

"You're saying I don't care just because I'm working on Thanksgiving?"

"I'm saying that David has been excited for weeks about sitting next to you at Thanksgiving and now your spot will be empty."

Meredith pinches the bridge of her nose, taking a deep breath. "Get out of my office."

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Derek knows he has pushed her. He has used guilt and tossed an unfair card on the table, but he's not lying either. Yes, David will probably understand if she's working, but he sure as hell won't be pleased about it.

Following through with Meredith's request to leave, Derek walks out of her office to change out of his scrubs, before he heads home. He has a long day ahead of him after his night shift, and he wants to get home early enough so he can sleep for a bit before the craziness of Thanksgiving overwhelms the house.

Most of his family is coming to his mother's, and it will be loud and crazy for a while. He's glad that the most traveling he has to do to get to dinner is to walk the two blocks between his apartment and his mother's house. He's still tired and sleepy, but David's chatter keeps him awake enough to walk.

"Daddy, and then we traced our hand with a crayon and we got a turkey!" David explains, showing him the slightly crumpled page with a hand turkey drawn on it.

David is so proud of his turkey he said he'd bring it to Nana's house, and Derek lets him. He has no more fight in him today. He's still a bit out of it after his night shift, and he feels like something is missing from this festivity since Meredith is at work. He can't quite place his feelings, but he knows he feels unsettled.

"The crayon near my hand was a little gross, but in my head I was telling what Benny tells me about crayons being nice and useful and then I made my turkey!"

"Good job, buddy." Derek praises him absentmindedly, feeling suddenly guilty at how little attention he's paying to his son. Meredith might not be here, but David is, and he deserves his full attention.