I Love You In a Pick Me, Choose Me, Love Me Kind of Way

All For the Both Of Us

Friday came faster than Meredith hoped it would. Her and Derek had gone on a date to the movies on Wednesday but they never talked about Friday. Derek told Meredith the plan Mark had said and Meredith was okay with it. Derek was surprised about that. "I just want us to work," was Meredith's exact words.

On Friday when Meredith woke up she put on a blue dress, it wasn't form fitting by any means but it was cute and casual. She put on her usual makeup, a gold necklace, a bracelet, her favorite ring that she wore on her and Derek's first actual date, and a pair of gold sandals. She stopped to get her coffee, not spilling it on a hot guy that she turned out to be in love with and went to work. Just a normal day Meredith.

Derek put on a really nice pair of jeans and a nice shirt. He really wasn't dressed up but it wasn't his normal everyday wear. He stopped to get coffee, he was secretly hoping he would see Meredith there but he didn't. After he got his coffee he drove to the school, checked into the office, and went to Meredith's classroom.

"You're here early," Derek said leaning against the door. "So are you," Meredith said standing up. "You are all dressed up, don't get me wrong you look hot," Derek said looking her up and down. "Well, you look pretty handsome yourself," Meredith said smiling. "I put on a nicer pair of jeans than usual," he said with his dreamy smile. "Here are the rules, no flirting or showing any kind of attraction. You can't give me the dreamy smile either, and no staring at me," Meredith said being serious. "Dreamy smile?" Derek asked laughing a bit. "That smile you always give me," Meredith said. "Okay, got it." Derek said walking closer to her. "I mean it," Meredith said trying not to give in to him. "You are really hot when you ramble," Derek said. "You are making this difficult, stop," Mer said walking over to sit at her desk. They talked for a while before all the students got there, "Uncle Derek," Morgan yelled giving him a hug. "Hey there Morgan," Derek said kissing her head. Meredith couldn't help but smile.

Derek sat at a chair next to Meredith's desk during the day, "Okay students, we will get started with the presentations, Derek can go first," Meredith said trying not to make their chemistry obvious. "Well kids, I'm Morgan's uncle and I'm a mechanic down the street at S&S Auto Shop..." Derek continued to talk about his job and the schooling he had to have. When he finished everyone clapped and they went on to the next presentation and so forth.

At lunch Meredith sat in her normal spot with Izzie and Alex, "So McDreamy is here today for your career day," Izzie said raising her eyebrows. "Speaking of McDreamy," Alex said as Derek came over to sit by Meredith. "What are you doing?" Meredith asked trying to keep her cool. "No room with the kids," Derek said smiling. Izzie and Alex looked at each other waiting for the two to start flirting. "You are breaking the rules," Meredith whispered. "I'm sitting next to you," Derek said. "What are the kids going to think," Meredith asked. "They are 3rd graders," Derek said laughing. Izzie and Alex finally started laughing at the two. "Fine," Meredith said bumping his shoulder. "Izzie and Alex are dating and they work together," Derek said. "He has a point," Izzie said chewing her food. Meredith stayed quiet. "No one is going to care," Alex said. "He's not Morgan's father," he continued. "I know," Meredith said. "Stop stressing about it, Kathleen will be the only one that cares," Derek said rubbing her back. "I know," Meredith said with a sigh. "I would kiss you but we are in the lunchroom," Derek said laughing. They all laughed. "I gotta go back to the classroom," Meredith said getting up. "See ya later," Izzie said. "Don't do it on the desk," Alex said with a smirk. "Shut up," she said laughing. Derek and Meredith both went back to the classroom. "I'm going to stress about it until at least your mom knows," Meredith said sitting down. "We will make it work no matter what, Kathleen will just have to deal with it," Derek said kissing her. "Okay," Meredith replied as the kids started coming back.

The rest of the afternoon they finished up the presentations and then it was time for all the students to go home. "Well, hey Derek," his mom said coming into the classroom. "Mom?" he asked turning around. "I came to get Morgan so she didn't have to ride the bus, what are you doing here?" she asked confused. "Career day," he answered. Meredith looked at the two of them, "And you must be Miss Grey, Morgan speaks very highly of you," she said as Meredith stood up to shake her hand. "Morgan why don't you go play at the playground," Derek said. "Yayyy!" Morgan screamed running outside. "Umm, Mom this is my-uh girlfriend," Derek said nervously. "Miss Grey?" she asked puzzled. "Yeah, we were dating before we knew she was Morgan's teacher, don't tell Kathleen yet. We wanted you to know first," Derek said defensively. Meredith had the deer in the headlights look. "Oh honey, your dad always told me you couldn't help who you fell in love with," Carolyn said sympathetically. Meredith breathed a sigh of relief. "Do you think Kathleen would have a problem with it?" Meredith asked hesitantly. "Tell her to deal with it, you guys didn't know." Carolyn said chuckling a bit. "Thank you mom," Derek said hugging her. "Meredith, you must be something special, he's never cared this much about a girl before," Carolyn said rubbing Meredith's shoulder. "Thank you Mrs. Shepherd," Meredith said smiling. "We should be on a first name basis, you could become my daughter in law, please call me Carolyn," she said with a smile. "Meredith," Mer said smiling at Derek. "It was nice meeting you, I should take Morgan home," Carolyn said leaving.

"I told you it would be okay," Derek said taking Meredith's hand. "Thank goodness," Meredith said hugging Derek. "We are fine, Kathleen doesn't need to know till Thanksgiving," Derek said wrapping her in a tight hug. "Thanksgiving?" Meredith said surprised pulling away to look at Derek. "Well, I was thinking you could come to Thanksgiving at my mom's place." Derek said. "Umm, okay," Meredith said. "Think about it?" Derek said with his dreamy smile. "Sure," Meredith said smiling back.

I've never done Thanksgiving. Kathleen will find out, and Morgan. My favorite student, what will she think? I have a month to figure this out. One month Meredith. I love Derek and I want to make this work. I will make it work for the both of us.