what i'm here for

Chapter 28: Perfect

"That's the last box," Derek called as he dropped the box onto the floor by the front door. Standing upright he twisted his upper body back and forth several times before stretching his spine upwards.

"Great!" He heard Meredith's voice call from upstairs, where she was putting sheets on their new bed. They had gone furniture shopping on Friday evening before heading out to the trailer, and they had been lucky to have it delivered that morning. And Ron had been nice enough to meet the delivery truck, as they were both at work. It allowed them to move in right away.

Derek made his way towards the kitchen, thirsty after his ordeal of moving the majority of boxes up from the parking garage. He smiled as he glanced at the open space beside him. They had found a couch and love seat set, but that was all, and the normally large furniture pieces appeared relatively small in the empty living room. He stepped around the half wall into the kitchen, and made his way to the sink before reaching upwards and pulling a glass down from the cupboard above. He made a mental note to add dishes to their list. Meredith had left most of the dishes from her house, as they were mainly her mother's, and she was bound and determined to leave as much Ellis-infected things behind as possible. Derek had packed his trailer dishes, but they numbered very little, and would probably be taken back to the trailer once they were settled and had a chance to go shopping.
He drained the glass and placed it in the sink before turning and heading for the stairs, quickly taking the steps two at a time, he reached the landing and made his way through the door, smiling softly at the sight of Meredith smoothing out the brand new bright and shiny sheets on their brand new bright and shiny bed. Life was finally coming together, and bright and shiny seemed to actually be on the horizon. He made his way across the room and collapsed onto the bed.

"Hey!" Meredith exclaimed, taking a light swipe at him. "It was just about perfect!"

Derek laughed and sat up, quickly grabbing a loose hold on her, and pulled her back down with him. She didn't resist and settled easily in his arms, her head resting comfortably on his shoulder. "Trust me," he said. "It is perfect."

"Mmm," Meredith mumbled her agreement. "Perfect," she whispered. Then she yawned.

Derek yawned in response. They had finished packing up her room the night before and had managed to add most of the boxes and suitcases to the stuff they had packed up from the trailer that was already in the cars, before Izzy, George or Alex had gotten home from the hospital. Then they had spent most of the night saying goodbye to the house, just as they had the night before to the trailer. After a long day at work, it was already dark when they had pulled into their assigned parking spaces in the underground garage. And it had taken a little more than an hour to unload the vehicles.

It had been an exceedingly busy day at work; wet weather resulted in slippery roads, which led to an excess of minor accident victims requiring attention. Meredith had not had a chance to talk to her friends. Cristina was on call tonight, and was under strict orders not to mention anything to Izzy, George or Alex. And of course, Meredith's now former roommates, unaware of the 'former' part of their titles, would just assume she and Derek had gone out to the trailer.

Meredith yawned against his chest and shifted slightly, relaxing against him when she found a more comfortable position. Derek ran his hand up and down her back, smiling as his finger tips brushed against the thin chain around her neck; the one that she still refused to take off. Addison had always craved and 'requested' rare and expensive pieces that she only wore once or twice a year, and otherwise sat unused in a fancy wood and velvet box. And when she would wear them, she'd bring them to his attention and ask him if he remembered it. Somehow she could keep straight which piece had been for which holiday which year, but he couldn't. She had picked them all out, and he rarely got to see them anyway.