Perfect strangers

Chapter 43

Derek didn't sleep at all that night, the couch definitely wasn't designed to be slept on and he hoped that he wouldn't have to sleep on it tonight either. Once the morning rolled round, he pushed his stiff body off of the couch and headed into the kitchen.

He immediately started cooking breakfast, knowing that Meredith would be hungry from the minute she woke up. As he flipped the pancakes, he could hear her pacing around upstairs, knowing she was probably heading to the bathroom before coming downstairs.

He placed all the plates on the table and turned to make himself a coffee, knowing that it was going to be a long morning.

"Hey." Meredith said softly as he jumped slightly before turning to face Meredith. "You made breakfast."

"Yeah, are you hungry?" He asked as she nodded her head. He couldn't help but smile at her as she stepped in wearing one of his tops. "Can I get you anything else?"

"Oh, no...can I have some orange juice please?" Meredith gave him a half smile before looking down at the table.

"Of course." Derek didn't hesitate as he pulled open the fridge and poured her a glass of fresh orange juice before placing it down in front of her. "There you go." He leaned down and kissed the top of her head before moving to sit opposite her.

They sat in silence as Derek watched Meredith eat her breakfast, as he occasionally sipped from his coffee.

"You look like shit." Meredith said as she finally looked up at Derek.

"I deserve that." They both laughed slightly before the mood fell again. "Mer, I am sorry..."

"I know I probably over reacted but you promised me you would be there. Every time I go for a scan I am terrified that they are going to tell me that they can't find a heartbeat and that I lost another baby..." she stopped herself as she could feel the tears threatening to fall.

"No, you wasn't over reacting." He reached out and grabbed her hand, smiling at the fact that she didn't move away from him. "I just..."

They were cut off by Derek's phone ringing but he simply ignored it and turned back to Meredith. But before he could speak, the phone started ringing again causing Meredith to sigh and pull her hand from his and rest them both on her stomach.

"I'm sorry." Derek mouthed as he pulled his phone out on his pocket. "Abi, now really isn't a good time."

Meredith watched as Derek pushed himself up from the table and moved to stand back in the kitchen, looking out of the window. She was hoping today they would finally get to speak and spend some time together but obviously that wasn't going to happen.

"Mer..." Derek finally ended the call and turned towards Meredith, a somber expression on his face.

"Let me guess, you've got to go to work." Meredith laughed and shook her head as she slowly pushed herself up, her hand going to rest on her back. "Abi says jump and you say how high. I mean, is there something going on between you and Abi?"

"Meredith don't be ridiculous." Derek exclaimed. "Of course there isn't anything going on between me and Abi, I could never do that to you..." he walked over and cupped her face in his hands. "Come and have lunch with me today."

Meredith looked up and watched as Derek smiled softly at her. She nodded her head before leaning her head on his chest, wrapping their arms around each other tight.

"I should get ready and go." He pressed his lips to the top of her head before pulling back so he could lean down and press his lips to hers softly. "I love you."

"I know." Meredith replied shortly before pulling out of his arms and moving to sit down on the couch.

Once Derek had left, she knew that she couldn't just sit there and wallow in self pity. So she pushed herself up and moved to the stairs and dragged her exhausted body up and down to the spare room. Pushing the door open, she sighed at the stacked boxes in the room, knowing they needed to get a move on with getting the nursery ready otherwise their daughter would be here before they know it.

She took her time and moved to stack the boxes on the landing and even placing some of them into their room, smiling as she stood in the now empty room. Her mind began to run wide with all the possibilities that they would have when it came to decorating the nursery.

Glancing at her watch, she realised that if she didn't start getting ready soon then she would end up being late for lunch. Walking down to their room, she quickly changed before heading out and climbing into her car.

On the way over to Dereks office, she stopped at their favourite lunch spot and picked up a couple of sandwiches, snacks and drinks for them before finally getting back in her car and arriving at Derek's office.

Walking in, she bumped into one of Derek's business partners who appeared to be heading out for the day.

"Meredith, how are we? How's the little one doing?" The older gentleman asked as he stopped and smiled at Meredith.

"Hey Charles." Meredith smiled back as her spare hand went to her stomach. "I'm good, exhausted but good and she is perfect."

"It's a girl! Congratulations!" He moved and gave Meredith a quick hug before stepping back. "Now I must get going, can't keep the wife waiting."

Meredith laughed to herself as Charles walked out the office with a spring in his step and whistling to herself as he walked out the door.

She walked the short distance to Derek's office and pushed the door open, her stomach dropping at what she saw in front of her. Derek was kissing Abi.

At hearing the door open, Derek pushed Abi off of him as he turned to her with a guilt look at his face.

"Mer, this isn't what it looks like..." Derek said as he stepped closer to her and watched as she held her hand up and stepped away from him.

"Derek..." she had to hold back the bile that rose in her throat as her hands shook. The only thing calming her was the fact that their daughter was kicking away, reminding Meredith that she was alone. She would never be alone again. "I need to go."

Without hesitation, Meredith dropped the bag with the food in and turned on her heels and walked out, desperate to get out of there. She could hear Derek chasing after her as she stepped out to the street and over to her car.

"Mer, please I can explain." Derek cried as he watched her grab the car door handle and stop before slowly turning to face him.

"Your stuff will be packed for you when you decide to come home. We are finished." Meredith pulled the door open and climbed inside before pulling off and driving off home.

Derek stood there, frozen to the spot. He knew how it looked and he should have listened to Meredith from the start.

"Mr Shepherd..." he heard Abi quietly approach him. "I'm sorry, I just thought..."

"You thought wrong!" Derek exclaimed as he turned to face her, anger evident in his face and stance. "You kissed me, after I told you multiple times that I wasn't interested. Now, I've lost the love of my life and maybe even my daughter. So you don't get to apologise. So go back in there and pack your shit, you're fired!" He shouted.

Abi simply nodded her head before twirling on her heels before heading back in the office, her head hanging down in shame. The anger was still surging through his body as he swung his fist round and listened as it cracked as it hit the brick wall.

"Fuck." He screamed to himself as the anger was now replaced with a burning surge of pain. "What have I done?" He asked himself as he cradled his arm to his chest.

He had done what he had alway promised he wouldn't do to her. Now he didn't know if he had any chance of ever getting her back...

*a/n*
hehe sorry, please don't hate me but people wanted drama so here we go...