The Fight for Chief

Chapter 19

Kiss me once

She groaned as the sunlight flooded their tent. "God!" She said groggily as she looked to see Derek climbing back inside. "What time is it?" She said as she closed her eyes again. "7:30" he smiled as he shuffled around a bit. "Morning sleepyhead" he chuckled as he hovered over her.

She opened her eyes, enjoying his fly-away curls and sleepy face. "Good morning indeed" she chuckled as she wrapped her arms around his neck. He hummed in response, leaning down to kiss her. "Hmm- this feels so right" she sighed happily. "Right?" He said before settling next to her.

"Did you sleep well?" He asked as he brushed a stand of hair away from her eyes. "No, I kept dreaming of bears eating us alive" she pouted. He only laughed and kissed anyway. "It was a close call, wasn't it?" He chuckled. She hid her face into his chest as they laughed. "I don't know what was scarier, the bear, or you trying to scare away the bear. I nearly lost you to a gunman, don't sacrifice yourself to a bear ever again please" she laughed hysterically in his arms.

They reminisced of the night filled with tears, laughter and so much love...and a lot of kissing. "The kissing part was the best part" he smiled at her. She nodded. "The best" she whispered before her hand threaded through his hair and they kissed passionately for a little while, just enjoying each other in that moment.

"Oh! I'm boiling some water. Do you want a coffee?" He asked as he frantically got up. She nodded and climbed out with him. "Oh wow!" She gasped as she looked to the sky that was painted with orange and pink. "It's beautiful" she whispered as she admired the sunrise.

Derek watched her. "Yeah. It's pretty beautiful" he smiled before turning to tend to his boiling water. Meredith sat against the log as she watched him make their coffee's and breakfast. "You do realise how hot you look right now?" Meredith grinned as she watched him. "Oh stop" he chuckled as he handed her a mug and joined her on the ground.

They drank in silence for a little while as they admired the peace and serenity. Derek couldn't help but think about how perfect this was. If he could ever visualise Meredith as a place, this was it. Absolutely beautiful. It brought him so much peace being here, especially with her, and he needed to let her know that.

"Meredith" he said quietly. She looked to him. "I don't know what this- we- are-" he stumbled over his words before pausing. "But I'm in love with you. I've been in love with you since-" he shook his head as he thought. "Forever" he whispered. "And I know I'm a little late in saying it, I know that now, but I just-" he sighed as he remembered the shooting. "I'm so in love with you" he repeated again.

She couldn't help herself as she kissed him deeply and passionately, smiling and giggling as she leaned into him. His hands massaged her scalp, making her sigh in delight. "This is so relaxing" she moaned against his neck and jaw, finding his mountain-man scent intoxicating.

He hummed in response before kissing her again. "Do you want to catch some fish before we need to head back?" He asked as he pulled away, much to her disappointment. She giggled. "Yeah, that's why we came out here" she laughed as she pulled away and stood up.

"Hmm no, I just came here to spend some time alone with you" he smiled as he admired the view. "You know, if you were a stalker then that would be a very weird thing to say" she said. He jumped up. "Well it's a good thing I'm not one then" he laughed before he began chasing after her.

She screamed as they ran down to the river before he eventually caught up to her and pulled her back to him. She screamed loudly as he flung her over his shoulder and he continued to walk towards the river. "Derek! Put me down you ass!" She shrieked as she laughed hysterically. He entered the water with his feet and she only screamed louder, slapping his back as she tried to free from his hold. "You stupid stupid brain man!" She screamed before he dropped both her and himself into the cold water.

They both emerged to the surface breathlessly. "Oh I'm so going to get you back for that!" She shouted before the grabbed his shoulders and dunked him under the water. Somewhere in the squabble, Derek had slipped from her hold. "Der?" She said as she looked around frantically. About 30 more seconds passed and she grew increasingly panicked. "Derek?!"

Before she even realised what was happening, something grabbed her leg and pulled her under the water with him. "You stupid man!" She screamed as they resurfaced. She jumped in his arms, clinging to him as he chuckled. "I thought you drowned!" She smacked the back of his head, startling him.

He could only laugh as he caught his breath back, kissing her gently. "So a gunman nearly kills you, then a bear starts a fight with you and now you nearly just drowned. Give me a god damn break, Derek" she said as she wrapped her arms around his neck. He couldn't say anything, only admire how truly stunning she was. She bit her lip as she watched the water droplets fall from his hair. This man.

"Derek" she said quietly. He listened to her. "I love you" she smiled as her hands played with the curls on the back of his neck. "I love you so much" she whispered. He smiled at her gently, stroking her cheek. "I love you too" he said. As she leaned in to kiss him, he suddenly launched her back into the water.

"YOU ASSHOLE!"

____________

The chapter you've all been waiting for is next😏