The First Time

23.

Friday evening, Derek couldn't ever remember feeling so nervous.

He had to settle down or Meredith would know that something was going on as soon as he saw her. He ran over the list in his head once again, concerned that he had may have forgotten something. He needed to have everything under control.

He'd dropped Mark at the airport a short time ago and was heading home to check that everything was ready.

Her gifts were wrapped and waiting for her. He smiled as he realized that was true ... except for him.

It was 5:30 and he had to collect her at 6 for their 'dinner and a movie' night that he had casually suggested at lunchtime.

Thankfully she'd agreed. There was a moment there, just after he'd asked her, where she'd hesitated, obviously thinking about the busy weekend that she had ahead of her. At Izzie's insistence, she'd taken the weekend off work to prepare for the party and she was obviously wondering if she should stay at home and get started on the preparations. He didn't know if she'd noticed him pale as the thought of her possibly turning his invitation down ran through his mind, but fortunately Izzie had intervened and told her to go do it because they would have enough time on Saturday and Sunday to clean the apartment and cook for the party, so Meredith should spend the evening enjoying herself before the work began.

Derek could have kissed Izzie but he restrained himself knowing that it would only set Meredith's radar off and that was something that he couldn't afford to have happen.

Too much time and effort had gone in to making these plans. Hopefully everything would go off without a hitch.

GAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGA

Derek held the door open for Meredith to hop into the car. He'd just collected her and they were supposedly on their way to the movies.

"Have you decided what you want to see?" he asked.

Meredith smiled. "I thought that after last Friday night that we'd decided that we could save the ticket price and just make out in the car?" she replied, laughing.

"That's no fun." Derek replied and then corrected himself. "Well ... it is fun ... but it's not in the spirit of the evening." He explained. "But I just need to drop back to my place. I realized on the way here that I've left my wallet at home. It won't take me long to pick it up and then we can be on our way."

"I've got money with me and I'd be happy to pay." Meredith pointed out. "It must be my turn anyhow?" she suggested.

"Oh no. Not on you birthday weekend." Derek replied.

"Birthday weekend?" she asked smiling. "I thought that it was just a birth 'day' and that's not until Sunday." She explained.

"Uh uh" he shook his head. "Didn't you know that if it's a special birthday and it falls on a weekend then you get the whole weekend to celebrate?"

Meredith laughed. "Since when?"

"Since I decided." He replied as he pulled up in front of his apartment. "This shouldn't take long. Do you want to come inside with me and help me find it?" he suggested. "I'm not quite sure where I left it. I must have put it down somewhere when I was cleaning up after Mark."

"Sure." Meredith shrugged as she hopped out of the car. "I may as well. Sitting in the car on my own doesn't sound like too much fun." She followed him inside and then waited while he unlocked the door.

Derek stood to one side to let her enter before him and he could feel his heart start to race.

Meredith pushed the door open and was instantly overcome by the scent of oriental lilies. She loved them and as she looked about the room the smile on her face turned to one of wonder. Derek's living room had been transformed. It was full of flowers and candles on almost every available surface. The fire was burning brightly and soft music was playing in the background. She turned to him. "Wh ... what ...?"