Looking at you side ways

80

Meredith walked into the house and closed the door. [i]It smelled delicious. Her mother's house was finally a home. Their home for now. Mark had dragged out practically everything and it was furnished tastefully. It was warm and comforting and inviting. It now had a soul.[/i] She hung her coat up and carried her gifts into the kitchen where the wonderful smell was coming from. She heard her stomach growl.

She stood in the doorway and watched him.[i] He was studying at the table with a glass of wine in front of him. He had on a tight fitting tee shirt and jeans. He ran his hand through his unruly hair. She smiled. He was all hers.[/i]

"Hey." She sat her gifts on the table.

Derek looked up and said, "Hi there gorgeous." He stood up and walked over to her and gave her a kiss. "Dinner should be ready in about forty-five minutes. What's in the bags?"

Meredith said, "Take a look."

Derek pulled a box of gourmet chocolates out of a festive bag and said, "Sweet. I'm surprised you haven't opened them yet."

She giggled and said, "Well I just got them a short time ago. From Preston." [i]Meredith had been surprised at Joe's when both Owen and Preston gave her a bag when she got up to leave. [/i]

Derek raised an eyebrow, "Burke?"

"Yeah. I know. But that was nice of him."

Derek pulled out a bottle of wine from another bag. "Nice vintage. Who gave you this?"

"That came from Owen."

Derek said, "You know. I'm not sure if I like guys giving you wine and chocolate. But since it's your birthday, I guess I'll live with it."

Meredith said, "Especially since you are going to help me eat the chocolate and drink the wine."

Derek pulled out the journal and admired it. "This is really thoughtful Mer. Who gave you this?"

"Cristina. But she said it was Owen's idea."

"Um.....and this looks very interesting. This had better come from Yang too." Derek had opened up the box with the vibrator.

Meredith giggled and said, "Yeah. That's from her too. I don't know why she thinks I have a use for that. I have you!"

Derek laughed and said, "Oh I think you might like this. Of course we will have to limit your exposure so that you don't get addicted."

She smacked him on the arm and said, "I'm going to change."

"You've got time Meredith. Why don't you take a nice relaxing bath?"

"Okay. That does sound nice." She grabbed the bag from Cristina and headed upstairs.

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Meredith walked into the bedroom and smiled. [i]Derek had changed the sheets and had turned the bed down. There was a big vase with exquisite flowers on the nightstand.[/i] Meredith walked over and inhaled. [i]There were a variety of different flowers all in different shades of purple and lavender. She fingered her necklace and thought again how fortunate she was that Derek loved her.[/i] Meredith put the gifts from Cristina in the nightstand and went into the bathroom.

Meredith was enveloped in lavender. She spied the plant on the counter. She lightly touched the feathery tendrils which were pink and purple. She smiled and thought[i] French lavender.[/i] She turned on the water for the tub and noticed a large bowl of lavender rose petals. She picked one up and rubbed her fingers over the soft petal and sniffed it delicately.[i] She so did not deserve this.[/i] She threw a handful of petals into the water and stripped her clothes off quickly. She got in the tub and let out a big sigh.