Meredith sighed as she rolled over in bed and found herself being pulled closer to a warm body. Her arm was resting on top of his chest whilst their legs were entangled in each other's. Meredith smiled as she rested her head on his shoulder. After the madness of the last few days... no in fact the last few months this was just what she needed...
Tonight had been wonderful.
It was Christmas Eve and as a surprise they had, had a beautiful meal in one of the few restaurants that had not closed early for the holidays. They talked constantly throughout, and afterwards they walked back home to her condo hand in hand whilst trying hard not to break their necks on the icy sidewalks.
Meredith had made the hot chocolate whilst he had picked the music. They had the condo to themselves as Lexie was staying at their parents' house while Cristina was visiting her mother in California. They continued to chat as they lay on the sofa and gazed out at the view over the Puget Sound whilst watching as the first flakes snow started to fall. In that moment Meredith knew that the time was right... their lovemaking had been tender and sweet and had been everything that she had wanted... but still there was something that did not feel quite right...
Meredith could feel herself frown as she heard him snore lightly beside her, she was trying to think of what it was that was unsettling her. 'He had a great body, was a great kisser, kind, sensitive, very attentive... great in bed...' she thought to herself. She gently moved her hand across his chest and then she realised that even that gesture did not feel right... When she had been dreaming and had woken up this was not the body she was expecting to find lying beside her...
She sat up quickly and looked at Finn lying beside her. He was a good man. He was good looking, he had a great personality, they shared the same interests and even more importantly, they both came from a rich family and he hated her father as much as she did. So why on the night after they made love for the very first time was she dreaming about Derek Shepherd?
She quickly climbed out of bed, pulled on her robe as she tip-toed out of the bedroom and went into the lounge. She poured herself a drink and curled up into a ball on the sofa... her mind immediately remembering the last time she had sat and watched the snow fall...how ironic was it that she found herself sitting alone again drinking alcohol in the middle of the night and thinking about Derek Shepherd...
"Hey, is everything okay?" Finn asked as he leaned against the doorframe.
"Can't sleep," Meredith muttered in reply.
"Wow... look at the snow!" Finn exclaimed as he walked past the window.
"Finally, a white Christmas in Seattle," Meredith smiled at him as he sat down beside her.
"At long last," Finn replied as he kissed her hand. "Are you sure that you are okay?"
"Yeah, I'm just remembering the last time I watched the snow fall, that's all," Meredith sighed.
"The snowfall at the start of the year?" Finn asked as he stroked her hair.
"No, there was one in glacier in September," Meredith said smiling at the memory.
"Really?" Finn smiled. "That must have been beautiful up there."
"It was," Meredith replied softly, willing herself not to cry.
"What is it? What's wrong?" Finn asked as he pulled her closer to him. Within seconds Meredith was resting her head on his shoulder. "Are we going too fast? Did I hurt you?"
"No and no," Meredith smiled up him. "I just... I met someone when I was there..."
"Ahh..."
"I was there for three and a half months," Meredith said quietly. "I met him in the first few days that I was there and we skipped the whole dating thing and went straight to the sex part of the relationship. He was a park ranger and he showed me the park, I loved him..."
Finn sat back against the sofa as he slowly took in what Meredith was telling him. "Did he love you?" He asked gently.
"He said he did, but I don't know... I don't think so," Meredith tried to explain. "He told me he loved me and the next day dad arrives in town and writes him a cheque for one million dollars. I watched him shake my father's hand and pocket the cheque. Any love I had for him died right there and then."
"I can understand. God, if your father did that to me, I would rip it into pieces in front of him," Finn answered.
"He will never try to pay you off to get out of my life," Meredith explained. "In his eyes we are the perfect couple."
"No offence but the only thing your father is interested in is a share in my father's company," Finn laughed.
"And we both know that will never happen," Meredith smirked.
"Hell will freeze over first," Finn laughed as he looked at Meredith.
"I thought that he was different," Meredith whispered, "the ranger I mean. But now...he was just like every other guy I dated...until you."
Finn smiled. "Do you still love him?"
"Before I went to Glacier, in fact before April was killed, I was spoilt and selfish and I had no idea what I wanted in life... I never wanted to settle down or have kids...I just wanted to work hard and play hard. Now... I want to appreciate everything that life has to offer... and as much as I hate him for breaking my heart, it was him who made me become the person I am today. Our relationship is proof of that," Meredith explained as she smiled at Finn.
"How so?"
"Well I have known you for three months and we have dated – which is a first for me and we waited to have sex... which rocked by the way, this would never have happened a year ago," Meredith smirked.
"The sex did rock didn't it?" Finn laughed.
"I'm over him," Meredith said as she looked him in the eye. "You are the one for me..."
"You are the one for me too," Finn smiled as he moved closer to her and kissed Meredith softly on the lips. "Is it too early to say I love you?"
"No," Meredith smiled back. "But I would hold off from saying that until after Christmas dinner with my family tomorrow."
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When Meredith had woken the following morning, she knew exactly what was going to happen today... she and Finn would have breakfast and exchange presents before heading to her parents for lunch. Now instead of being a happy and jovial conversation around the dinner table, Meredith knew that her parents would be talking business and dropping two very large hints: the first one being; when she and Finn were going to get married and the second one for any guidance on how to become a shareholder at Dandridge Oil.
Lexie, meanwhile would be sitting quietly at the table wondering where Jackson was, even though he had promised her that he would be there this year.
Yes Meredith knew what type of Christmas Day was in front of her and by the time Finn had escorted her into his car for the short journey ride to her parent's house Meredith had not been disappointed.
The very minute they had arrived at the house, Thatcher had been all over Finn in way that had made Meredith feel nauseous, she therefore excused herself and went and sat beside Lexie who was crying silently in the corner.
Lexie had literally cried on her sister's shoulder about how Jackson had promised to spend Christmas with her but was instead working on some important deal to impress Thatcher. Meredith had to admit that her heart went out to her sister, the day after her miscarriage her wedding to Jackson was called off by both the groom and her father, Jackson just wasn't husband material any longer apparently. Within the week Jackson was back grovelling to be in Lexie's life again or as Cristina had so sweetly phrased it – one week in Thatcher's bad books was enough for him and he missed his position of power. Of course Lexie had fallen for the lies again, and once again it was Meredith who wiped away the tears.
"I can promise you my parents are nothing like yours," Finn said as he started the engine "In fact I can almost guarantee that everyone invited to the Dandridge Christmas Night Party will be paralytic by midnight."
"Well it's a good thing that we are staying overnight then," Meredith smiled back.
"I see Jackson finally made an appearance... briefcase and all," Finn stated as he pulled out on to the main road.
"The briefcase will always make an appearance," Meredith replied giggling. "I swear I think it is glued to his hand... I would love to look inside and see what he has that is so important in there!"
"Probably his cv boasting how great he is," Finn smirked.
Meredith could only laugh her response.
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"5...4...3....2...1..."
"Happy New Year, Meredith!" Finn whispered as he leant down and kissed her softly on the lips.
"Happy New Year too!" Meredith smiled back just as Finn turned her round and stood behind her so they both looked out of the window and watched the firework display from the Space Needle.
Cristina had returned the day before and had insisted on throwing a massive New Year's Eve Party to which half of Seattle had been invited too... well at least it felt that way to Meredith.
"This is going to be a great year... I can feel it," Finn whispered.
"I said that this time last year," Meredith replied, "and look what happened?"
"What happened last year was terrible Meredith and you should never have had to go through that... that is why I have plans...." Finn explained.
"Plans?" Meredith frowned
"Yes, plans for you to have a year that you will never forget... in a good way," Finn smiled as he kissed her cheek.
"I have got to love your optimism," Meredith laughed. "So when do I discover these plans?" Meredith asked as she turned round in his arms and faced him.
"Soon... and I am not saying anymore... don't want to ruin the surprise," Finn smirked. "But I can tell you that I will be right behind you, supporting you on Monday – if you need it..."
"I will be fine," Meredith answered quickly.
"I'm sure you will, but returning to the classroom after everything that happened... it is not going to be easy and I just want you to know that I am here... I will be there if you need me," Finn explained as he kissed her and then excused himself when he recognised one of the other guests.
"Happy New Year...have some tequila!" Cristina stated as she handed a shot glass to Meredith.
"I needed that," Meredith said after downing it in one go.
"What has fish boy said or done?" Cristina frowned "It's bad that Jackson is here and that that he and Lexie are practically snogging the face of each other."
Meredith grimaced at the reference to her sister and her partner "No, Finn just said something that I don't know whether to take as a compliment or as an insult... and not to forget that he has plans..."
"Plans? Plans for what?" Cristina asked.
"I have no idea," Meredith frowned as she turned round and watched the remainder of the fireworks.
"I think you need more tequila," Cristina stated as she handed her person the remaining bottle and walked off.
Meredith stood and watched the Space Needle light up under the glow of the fireworks... Finn's conversation was playing on her mind about plans because the only plans she could think about where the ones her father had annoyed her with earlier, building on the West Glacier Hotel would start in July and there was nothing she could do to stop it from happening. As happy as she was right now she could not help but think about what Derek, Amelia and Owen were doing right now in West Glacier to bring in the New Year...
"I can do this.... I can do this... I can do this..."
Meredith took a deep breath and opened the door to the classroom, her old classroom and smiled... yes the displays were different and the desks were positioned differently to how she used to have them, but it was still the same classroom, it was hers.
She turned around and closed and the door and as she did so she saw what was April's classroom... she closed her eyes to block out the memory... 'I can do this...' she opened her eyes to see Cristina standing there.
"So how did your meeting go with the principal go?" Cristina asked as she followed Meredith into the classroom.
"Good, I have my first class in 30 minutes... most of which are students that I taught last year," Meredith said as she stood at the desk, but her gaze was still on the classroom across the corridor.
Cristina followed Meredith's gaze. "It was hard for me too at first, but it will get easier, especially as that is now Finn's classroom."
"I know... it's just going to be weird and everyone is already asking me how I feel and if I enjoyed my trip to the mountains... and just seeing it now is bringing back a lot of memories..." Meredith explained.
"Well this will cheer you up, you have Will Hawkins this year, and his girlfriend Mandy... our answer to Romeo and Juliet," Cristina smirked.
"Perfect I get the two most disruptive pupils in the school in my first class," Meredith sighed as she sat down on the chair.
Cristina laughed loudly. "Oh I bet you wish you were back in the mountains right about now..."
Meredith glared at her friend and then smiled. "Well if I can climb mountains and walk along the edge of a cliff, oh and not to mention befriend and get up close and personnel with gentle Ben then I think I can handle Mandy and Will."
"Now that is the Meredith Grey, joint founder of the 'Twisted Sisters' that I know and love," Cristina smirked as she walked out of the classroom.
Meredith smiled as started to prepare for her first class.
