a force of nature

chapter 23- sleeping monster

Waking up in the bedroom Meredith was given at the Avery's was something she would never get over. Every bit of detail in the room matched her personality and it felt the most like home compared to her very dull rooms in her houses. After reminiscing heavily over her bedroom, she realized that the once occupied space in her bed was empty now.

"Good morning beautiful." Derek smiled at his girlfriend wide awake in her bed with a heavily confused face.

"You didn't wake me? What time is it?"

"It's 7, we still have plenty of time before breakfast." He kissed her lovingly on the forehead. Derek had escaped the bed at 4 am, he had an appointment with the jeweler on Rodeo who he had commissioned back at their New York location. There were just a few more touches to be done on the ring.

"Okay i'm gonna take a shower now." She smirked at him, hinting at what he loved most.

"And I will join you." He winked and practically ran into the bathroom.

---

After their steaming shower, Derek and Meredith were running behind, fumbling to find clothes and look presentable in front of the Avery family. The two ran down the stairs, their hair still soaking wet.

"Looks like you two had some fun in the shower." Jackson looked up from his breakfast plate to see the drenched couple in disheveled clothes knowing exactly why they were ten minutes late to breakfast.

"Shut up Jackie, at least i'm getting some." Meredith rolled her eyes as she took a seat at the table, stacks of waffles and fruit lining the center of the table. 

"Good morning dears, Meredith you are just glowing." Catherine was admiring her girl, it was like something had magically happened overnight. She wasn't wrong though, even Derek had noticed her glow, it was like all of the dread of traveling and research had gone away, leaving behind a glowing Meredith.

"I don't know, it was probably because I got an actual humanly amount of sleep last night." She had actually managed to get a full 8 hours of sleep, something that hadn't happened in months.

"Eat up baby, I asked Dr. Novak if you could scrub in on his lacrimal gland tumor resection and he kindly agreed." Catherine knew how much Meredith loved ophthalmics, never being able to spend enough time in that specialty because of the rarity of such cases.

"No way, i've been dying to witness one, I haven't been able to do much eye surgery since i've been back. Thanks mom." She was so grateful that Catherine subconsciously knew what she always needed, like a true mother.

"And for you Derek, i'd like to have lunch together, just the two of us." Catherine smiled at him, giving him not hints on what would happen at said lunch.

"Of course Dr. Fox, i'd be happy to." He was now spiraling in his thoughts of what Catherine was about to do to him.

"No need to call me Dr. Fox, its Catherine sweetie. The car should be in the front at 9, Jackie I suppose you will be observing surgeries in the gallery?"

"Yes ma, what else would I do?

Meredith had now realized why Catherine had stuck her into an O.R. for a good 8 hours, something that she was looking forward to turned into worrying about the interrogation her boyfriend was going to have to endure. She looked over at Derek, his eyes full of panic, but she placed a reassuring hand on his lap making sure he knew that he would be fine.

The four of them headed to the hospital, going over the best and worst doctors in the hospital and just catching up on life. 

"It is a pleasure to meet you Dr. Grey and congrats on the nomination. It is an absolute honor to have you scrub in today, I was actually headed to the patient room right now if you'd like to join." Dr. Novak was a true admirer of the young surgeon, she was decorated in accomplishment but still held her composure in a humble way.