This Life

Chapter 9

"What do you think about this?" Derek asked Meredith.

It was exactly three weeks to Christmas and Derek was literally driving Meredith crazy looking at toys for Beth. He was scanning through a catalogue from a local toy store in downtown Seattle.

"Um, looks great" Meredith answered "but I don't think a tree house is really suitable for a 10 month old baby Derek." She saw the look on his face and smiled "I know it's her first Christmas and you want to spoil her rotten but be practical she is not even walking yet".

"She is standing up though" Derek argued back and then realised "fair enough, I see your point maybe next year."

Meredith just rolled her eyes and continued with the pile of ironing.

"Here let me finish that – you haven't stopped all day." Derek said as put the catalogue down and came up behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist.

"It's okay I don't mind" Meredith said.

"Really?" Derek answered. She was the first woman he knew apart from his mother who did not mind ironing clothes.

"Yeah, I learned early that in my family if you wanted something ironed it was best to do it yourself. My mother was not a domestic goddess and as for dad and Molly forget it – unless you wanted to go school with burned shirt."

Derek did not know how to respond to this and so decided to kiss the back of neck instead. Meredith put down the iron and turned around allowing him to kiss along her neck and then deeply on her lips. The kiss was just starting to heat up when the doorbell rang.

"Oh that'll be the guy from the market delivering the Christmas tree" Meredith giggled.

"I'll go." Derek answered.

They had spent the morning going around various department stores buying Christmas decorations for the house.

Derek's parents decided they would come out and visit the weekend before Christmas to see Beth's first Christmas nativity play at the nursery before going to Nancy's husband's family for Christmas, or as Michael had put it the torture chamber. Jeff Goldstein's parents had to be the most boring people you had ever met in your life. The Shepherd's had previously declined their Christmas invitation for the last three years and knew that they could not get out of it this year. Sam and Gavin had also been talked into attending and had not spoken to their parents since they had been 'volunteered' to go.

Meredith was also up to her eyes trying to organise the nativity play and was not really looking forward to going shopping three weeks before Christmas, but then again she had never been Christmas shopping with Derek before.

Her eyes lit up in the Christmas store and before they both knew it they had bought tree lights and some simple but elegant Christmas decorations. Derek had even convinced Meredith to buy wrapping paper and cards.

Meredith admitted that she had always loved Christmas and every year Molly had always been the centre of attention and would get the most extravagant of presents. Christmas Day usually always ended with Meredith crying softly in bed promising and hoping that next year would be different.

It was in that moment that Derek made sure he would spoil Meredith and give her a Christmas she would never forget.

"Thanks again and Merry Christmas "Derek said to the delivery guy as he gave him a tip and closed the door. Meredith was coming down the stairs with Beth and went into the kitchen to get the decorations.

The tree was in the corner of the lounge between the fireplace and window and Derek was standing beside it with the stepladders and looking as if he did not know where to start. Meredith walked over and stood facing him.