Where You Belong

34

It was cool and damp out as Meredith wandered down the slightly overgrown path that connected the trailer to the pond. The sun was just beginning its trek across the sky, and ten minutes prior, Meredith had awoken to find herself alone in the small trailer. A hastily scribbled note had been left for her on the small kitchen table, only three words written on it.

Fishing,

Love Derek.

And so, Meredith was making the trek out to the pond to be with him, because that's what this weekend was about. They had found themselves with two days off together, and had decided to spend their time at the trailer. Life was still stressful, keeping a close watch on Izzy, who still hadn't stepped foot in the hospital again. Work had been busy for both of them lately, trying to work as many shifts as they could to make up for their imminent second attempt at flying out to New York. And they hadn't had a lot of time to spend just the two of them. This would be their only chance for the next several weeks.

The path gave way into a gently sloping hill, which turned into a rocky beach at the water's edge. Derek sat in an old lawn chair at the end of the dock, fishing pole in hand. She smiled at the sight of him so relaxed, and made her way down the hill.

He must have heard her footsteps on the wooded planks of the dock, as he turned towards her, a bright smile on his face. "Hey."

She smiled back. "Hey," she responded, before making her way in front of him and collapsing onto his lap. There was nowhere else to sit, and it was cool being out so early in the morning, dressed only in track pants and one of his sweatshirts.

He closed his free arm around her immediately and sighed in content, pressing his face into the side of her head. "Mmm," he mumbled into her hair.

"So," she prompted playfully. "You ditched me this morning..."

He scoffed. "I left you a note."

"Yes, informing me of what you ditched me for."

He laughed, long and hearty. "I didn't ditch you," he reiterated.

She ignored him. "I get it, though," she said sarcastically. "You wake up early, in bed with your naked girlfriend, where it's warm and cozy, and you think 'hey, I want to ditch my girlfriend and the warm trailer to go fishing in the cold in the beginning of March all alone.'"

He laughed again, knowing she was only kidding. "I thought I'd catch us some breakfast."

She grumbled into his neck, not yet ready to let him off the hook. "We have breakfast."

"Not fresh breakfast."

"Mmm-hmm," she countered. "Farm fresh eggs, it says right on the carton."

It was his turn to grumble. "You know, you're very stubborn."

She giggled. "I wouldn't be stubborn if you hadn't ditched me."

There was a hollow thud as he dropped his fishing line onto the dock beside him. "I didn't ditch you," he repeated as his fingers found her sides. "And you're always stubborn..."

Meredith squealed under his assault and fought to get away, but he had her pinned on him, stuck on his lap as he tickled her relentlessly. "Stop... Derek... Please..."

He paused, his fingers still poised over her ribs. "Do you take it back?"

She hesitated for a moment, not wanting to admit it, but also knowing what would happen if she refused. Instead of doing either, she pressed her lips up against his, drawing him into a deep kiss. His hands fell away from her side to land in her hair. And when he had completely relaxed underneath her, she broke the kiss and leapt off his lap.