I'll Hold My Breath

Chapter 7

Sorry if this chapter isn't too great, super hectic week! Hoping to post the next soon so you won't have to wait too long!

 Meredith woke up in her bed, the sun peeking through her blinds and a body radiating heat from behind her. She couldn't remember the last time she felt so safe and so comforted when she woke up. Derek's arm rested protectively over her waist, his head buried in her neck. She placed her hand in his, intertwining their fingers and let herself fall back asleep.

The next time Meredith woke up she was alone in her bed. She figured Derek must have woken up after she had and snuck out, not that it bothered her. She normally did the same thing. Without putting much thought into it, she trudged downstairs into the kitchen in dire need of coffee.

Derek sat at her kitchen table, sipping coffee and reading that days paper. She walked in, not saying anything but heading straight for the coffee machine.

"I already put the pot on." Derek said, not looking up from the paper.

"Oh, thanks." Meredith replied, pouring herself a cup.

How was she supposed to do this? She couldn't just kick him out, he wasn't just a one night stand he was her co-worker. Whatever she did she would have to face the repercussions at work and that was a headache she didn't want to deal with.

It wasn't just that though, Meredith liked seeing him so casual and laid back. He looked so at ease in her kitchen. This almost felt like a routine. She was quick to shake those thoughts out of her mind. Meredith Grey did not do commitment. Derek was just getting out of a serious relationship and she was not looking to be someone's rebound. After her break up with Finn she had promised herself that she would take time to focus on herself and her career. The last thing she needed was an attractive, charming and seemingly perfect man getting in the way of that.

"I made breakfast." He commented.

"Thanks." She said and put a couple pancakes on her plate before taking a seat across from him.

"You snore." Derek smiled.

"No I don't." Meredith replied, taken aback.

"It's very cute."

"I'm not cute." She rolled her eyes.

Meredith drowned her pancakes in syrup before topping it off with some whipped cream. Derek looked at the clogged artery feast before him and shook his head.

"What?" She asked, noting his expression.

"You can't even see the pancakes Meredith." He chuckled.

"Shut up." She laughed and took a bite of her pancakes.

After she was finished with her breakfast, Derek took her plate along with his own and started on the dishes.

"You don't have to do that." Meredith said.

"I don't mind." He replied and proceeded to clean their plates.

"Derek.." Meredith sighed.

"Meredith." Derek mimicked and turned to her.

"Why did you do all this? The coffee and the pancakes and now you're doing my dishes."

"I feel bad about how things went yesterday."

"You feel bad about having sex with me?"

"No, definitely not." Derek smiled.

"Then what do you feel bad about Derek?" Meredith huffed.

"You didn't get a proper date."

"We went to dinner and had sex. That's a proper date for me. Except you were still here when I woke up." She giggled.

"Meredith, I'm serious. You deserve a proper date."

"It's fine."

"No it's not. Let me take you out again. On a real date. With actual conversations this time."

"I agreed to one date."

"I'm asking for another." He countered.

"You better leave if you want to get to work on time." She replied, changing the subject.

"Is that a yes?" He asked hopefully.

"Yes, now go to work." Meredith smiled.

"Is tonight good?"

"Tonight is great."

"I'll pick you up?"

"Yeah." She nodded.

"See you tonight." He smiled widely.