Delicate Hearts

Thirty Nine

Addison had been gone for three weeks already and the couple had found their own perfect routine. Each Saturday they had a walk with Ruby, they would walk around the local lake laughing and joking about thousands of different topics. 

On the days that Derek worked Meredith would make sure he came home to a clean home and a big meal. He worked mainly Monday to Friday now, on Fridays he would hand over to the weekend fill in team. 

When he worked late nights she would eat alone, watching a sitcom of some kind. She had even started painting again. She was thriving and Derek loved it. 

Today Meredith was driving to pick up the newest addition to the Grey/Shepherd household. She had been shown pictures of a black and white which Addison showed her or a silver tabby male. She chose the silver after a talk with Derek.

He had assembled a new giant cat scratch post in the corner for Poppy and the kitten that they had decided to call Smokey.

Addison had collected Cookie the day before when Meredith and Derek were taking Ruby for her medical. The best friends had lightly drifted to Meredith's surprise. She had always balanced Addison and Derek but Addison couldn't seem to balance her time between friends and her boyfriend Jake.

She didn't mind but she missed her. She had been spending more time with Amelia however. Amelia was a beautiful soul, she had been seeing someone as well. The man who had helped save her life, Atticus Lincoln. 

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The tiny bundle of fur jumped around, chasing Poppy around. But the ginger kitty didn't seem to mind. She enjoyed the company.

Meredith looked around her home smiling as she noticed the little things Derek had bought with him. Such as a large family photo of them when they went away with Meredith, the photo of when he became a police officer and when Ruby became a certified police dog. His shoes sat by the door, his coats were hung up. His masculine scent mixed with her feminie one, his prescence was known.

He had his own favourite mug and glass, he had bought them a new blender. Her once red and pink bed sheets were now blacks and greys, the pink pillows replaced with grey, the bathroom cabinet now had his shaver and products, his tooth brush sat beside hers. In the shower on one shelf was her shampoo, conditioner and body wash on the other were his. On sticky hooks there were two loofah's one pink one green and two sponges, one was a strawberry the other ordinary black. 

"Honey I am home"Derek called out as he opened the door, Ruby ran straight in to Meredith, settling her head on her leg.

"Hello girl"She greeted before standing up to greet Derek who stood in his uniform.She would never get bored of that sight. 

"Hello beautiful"Derek wrapped his arms around her tiny frame as he placed a loving kiss to her lips.

"Hey baby, how was work today?"She asked as he took off his shoes.

"So much to tell, let me grab a shower then I will tell you all. How was Smokey on the way home?"He asked. She pulled a face.

"He pooped in the carrier and cried the car down. I had to wipe him.  He is okay now. Poppy has worn him out, look they are asleep in the hammock"She pointed to the new cat bed where Poppy laid on her back and the kitten on top of her.

"Just perfect"He kissed the side of her head before leaving to sort himself out. Meredith decided on cooking honey chicken breasts with pasta and salad for dinner, one of Derek's new favourites. 

She fed Ruby which of course caused the two cats to meow like crazy so she fed them both, luckily Poppy was still on kitten food because her stomach couldn't handle the adult food although she had only recently turned one.

"Something smells good"He came out twenty minutes later in a loose fitting polo and sweat pants. Meredith loved being able to see the relaxed side of him.

Once she had plated dinner and placed it on the table Derek chuckled.

"So my love. Rose and Mark broke up it was a huge huge thing. I had no idea he kept it quiet. Turns out she was pregnant with Mark's baby. She had an abortion at a clinic and he had no idea he found out by a reciept on the counter of her place. He asked her why because he would have loved to have been a dad. She said she wasn't ready blah blah. Mark and I found out this morning by the new guy on our team that Rose slept with someone from Narcotics. She didn't know whose baby it was. So they broke up today then she threw her resignation at me"Derek frowned then laughed at the entire situation.

"Oww poor Mark he was really falling for her."Meredith pouted her lips.

"Mhm I know. Made me think. If you fell pregnant and you weren't ready would you have an abortion without telling me?"He asked, her eyes widened as she shook her head.

"No I wouldn't. In my own opinion I don't believe anyone is ever ready. If i was raped or not in a financially stable situtaion it would be different. But if i am with someone I love which I am then I would love my child with my heart, no matter the timing" Derek's face softened as he watched the warm look in her eyes.

"I'm with you princess. All of the cases of abuse I see are junky parents." He shrugged his shoulders as they continued on with their dinner.  "Let me get these cleaned up, go get into your pyjamas come out and get a film on"Derek took both of the plates too the kitchen.

Meredith removed all of her makeup and pulled on her black satin cami top and short set followed by a robe.  

He loved spending time with her, each moment he spent with her was precious. By the time she got back to the sofa he had picked a film, pulled the curtains and blinds, set the lights to calm and lay waiting for her.

She dived onto him giggling as he tickled her waist.

"I'll never get enough of this, time with you, holding you"He kisses her hair.

"You will because this is forever mr Shepherd, you and I are fooorrreevver"She emphasised the end as the cats began to play.

"We are forever Mer, I promise you that. None of us ever leave."Her words engraved on his heart. He knew then what he had to do, what it was time to do.