Lost love

Chapter 20

With reluctance Meredith had agreed to go home with Derek after his weeks of asking and weeks of sympathy,  so now she was sat in the passenger seat of his rental car as they drove to his childhood home from the airport. It felt strange being back in Seattle, not that she remembered much about the city but even now 13 years later she felt that horrible feeling that she had never quite let go when she thought of the place. When she was here she didn't see much, mostly her 4 bedroom walls, her school and the hospital where sometimes she'd be left in a locked gallery when her baby sitter wasn't available and her mom had to work.

She was anxious about being back, everything was new to her really and she had never been a fan of change and now she had to spend a week with Derek's family who she didn't know with no privacy, and from what she gathered his family was close knit and praised the ground each and everyone of them walked on. She didn't think they would be horrible to her, at least she hoped they wouldn't be but that didn't mean she still wasn't nervous, she wasn't the type of girl parents liked, she was awkward and dark and craved tequila when she was sad, not exactly a moms bucket list wish for her son. Hell, her own mom didn't even like her so she was really screwed for luck. He had a big family, she knew that, a bigger family than most with 4 sisters and nieces and nephews, she almost smiled at the thought.

"We're about 20 minutes out." Derek smiled, resting his hand on her thigh as he drove.

"Ok." She hummed still staring out of the window.

"Do you want to stop and get something to eat? Or drink?"

"I thought you said your mom was cooking?"

"Well she is but you look like you're about to puke all over this car so if you need to stop we can."

"I'm fine. Just keep driving." Meredith told him with a tight smile.

"Just relax Mer, they're gonna love you I promise."

"You can't promise that. I mean what if I make a kid cry or what if I upset your mom if I don't like her cooking... not that I think she'll be a bad cook or anything but moms don't like me Derek I'm not a mommy person and your a mommy's boy but my mom hates me so how is your mom gonna like me and what about your sisters? They're gonna wanna interrogate me and I can't hold back on what I can say nor do I think about what I say so it's probably best you just drop me off at a coffee shop somewhere and tell them you forgot me and then we can meet up later when your done because..."

"Jesus Christ Mer." He laughed loudly.

"What?" She breathed finally, a frown denting her face.

"Take a breath and calm down. I'm not leaving you at a coffee shop and I'm not telling my mom I forgot about you. You're coming, you're here, you've made the biggest step and I promise my family will love you." He smiled, his hand rubbing her thigh.

"How do you know that? What are you psychic?"

"I just know they will."

"No you don't."

"Yes I do."

"Don't."

"Do."

"Don't."

"Do."

"How?"

"Because I love you." He said quickly, his eyes widening when he realised.

He knew he loved her, he had known for weeks that he was in love with her but he didn't want to scare her so he hadn't told her except now he had. He arguably told her at the worst time possible but he couldn't take it back and honestly he didn't want to.