Delicate Hearts

Six

She was embedded in his mind, he couldn't stop thinking about her. She was so easy to talk to, she made the room lighter with her smile, she made his heart feel warm. He hadn't planned to want anything with anyone, he hadn't planned for his heart to jump when he heard her voice but it happened.  

He hadn't expected Ruby to take to her, sleep in her bed. Ruby was normally an overly anxious dog but she felt comfortable with Meredith, comfortable enough to fall asleep in her bed.

He hadn't stopped thinking about the way her cheeks flushed red after complimenting him that day, the way her eyes searched his each time they locked. 

He couldn't deny how warm he felt around her, how at ease he felt. 

"Derek, you need to ask her out"Mark teased at a Shepherd family dinner that Addison had also joined.

"Who, ask who out"Carolyn frowned. Lizzy had came alone leaving her children with her husband, as had Kathleen.

"Addison has a room mate, well Addison's best friend Meredith. She is pretty, she really is. She is so easy going, and a health nut"Amelia teased. Addison's eyes widened.

"You really fancy her!"She exclaimed. Derek scratched his neck, how could he admit she was all he had thought about all week, even at work just thinking about her made his day.

"He does."Mark confirmed.

"Derek, that is amazing. You deserve a nice girl. " Kathleen and Lizzy both beamed, they wanted nothing more than to see Derek happy.

"She is something"He let out sitting back. Addison shook her head with a smile.

"You. You should have said something. She is at home right now all alone"Addison frowned as she finished her sentence. "Alone, shit I didn't even tell her I was out, she will be worrying, let me call her"Addison grabbed her phone and dialled the number she had learnt. Of course Meredith picked up in a second. 

"I was worried Addie"Meredith let out. "I was just about to call" 

"I am so sorry. I am having dinner with Amelia"She finished "Amelia say hey" 

"Hey Mer"Amelia shouted, she had spent lots of her time over the week with Meredith. She knew how to cope with things and Amelia knew that.

"Hey Amy"Meredith replied. Addison repeated what Meredith had said.

"I am so sorry. I can come home"Addison rushed.

"No, its okay. I'm gonna head to bed now I know you are okay Addie. Bad day. But I love you. Be careful"She could hear her sadness.

"I'll sleep with you when I'm home.  Did you eat tonight"Addison asked. Derek focused on how Addison said tonight.

"I did, fruit yoghurt. I love you" Meredith ended the call, changed into her pjs, grabbed Poppy and snuggled into her covers.

"She was waiting for you to come home wasn't she?"Amelia asked. Addison nodded.

"She will always wait for me. No matter how shit her day was. She always has. When we were kids she would stand at her bedroom window waving. I could see her dad chasing her sometimes. they would laugh so loud. But she had to wave before she fell asleep. When she was in college I missed her. But when she came home she just...i don't know. She always worries about me"Addison felt guilty. "So Shepherd. When you asking her out"Addison was so straight forward that Derek choked on his spinach.

"She wouldn't want to go out with me"He began but Addison laughed.

"Right okay. I saw you with her last week. And she ran to her car with this smile I have never seen. She was clearly blushing.  Mer doesn't blush."Addison teased him as if she was his fourth sister.