The Man Next Door

Chapter 10

Present day…

She woke up on a Sunday morning to the sound of her alarm beeping terribly. But, unlike other days Meredith was happy. In fact, she was ecstatic! Today was the first day in two months that she had off and she was planning to spend it with Derek and Tallulah on another one of their 'Days of fun'. She couldn't wait.

"Urrggg…can you turn that freaken thing off?" groaned Finn from next to her on their bed.

"Chill, I'm about to," she replied, annoyed. Ever since the day he had come home to see Meredith, Derek and Tallulah in what looked like a very close, loving embrace he had been acting differently. He had suddenly began to make more of an effort to spend time with Meredith. Which, at first, she found to be good because in truth, she had missed him. But as time went on, it only reminded her more of how much she would rather be spending that time with a certain someone with black perfect hair and deep blue eyes. Finn's acts were desperate and he even questioned Meredith, many times, whether or not she was having an affair with her costar after their weekly family dinners together. She would deny it, because she technically wasn't. But emotionally…emotionally she knew deep down that she was. Every time Derek walked into a room she lit up. This never happened with Finn. Every time Derek smiled she smiled and every time he looked at her she got lost in his eyes. This never happened with Finn. She didn't really know what to do. She was honestly tempted to leave him but then she didn't want to be alone. She knew Derek would never leave his wife and daughter, even if there was the slightest change that he did share the same feelings. Pushing those feelings aside Meredith quickly got ready for her day.

"Do you know what time you'll be back? I want to take you out to dinner," Finn asked as she was just about the leave the bedroom. A jolt of nerves filled his entire body. This was the night. This was the night he was planning to propose to his girlfriend of three years. He realized he had been a little distant when they first moved to LA because of work. And he did see the effects it was having on her, seeking friendship with that neighbor of his, but ever since he saw them together that day on the porch it was a big wake up call to him. After lots of screaming, and fighting he realized what he had done wrong and fought like hell to fix it. She had been better lately, a little distant at times when she got home after a long time at work or one of their dinners at the Shepherd's house but other than that Meredith was much happier. And he decided it was all because of his actions.

"Ummm, no, I don't know, we'll see," she said quickly, trying to get out of the room.

"Just, please try and make it back sweetie. You're lucky I'm letting you go with that man, you see so much of him already." 'Whoops! Wrong thing to say' he instantly thought when he saw a shocked look mixed with anger on her face. "Sweetie sorry, I didn't mean it like that. I just meant that I want to spend more time with you, I love you." He quickly added. After that day he soon discovered Derek was a sore subject around Meredith and was trying really hard to keep his thoughts about him to himself.

"I'll see what I can do," she replied a little coldly before quickly retreating to meet Derek and Tallulah at their house. As she walked down the steps she felt sick in her stomach. She, yet again, had not told her boyfriend that she loved him. She couldn't. Her heart was falling for someone else.

"Tallulah! Are you ready to go? Mer will be here any minute!" Derek called out to his daughter from the other side of her bedroom door. She had been awfully quiet, which she usually never was when she was going to see Meredith. He smiled at the thought of his daughter and his friend and how well they got along. Tallulah looked up to Meredith, and he couldn't think of a better role model for her. Ever since his wife had returned home the day after his 'day of fun' with Meredith she had become a different person, someone she hoped his daughter wouldn't become. She was keeping an eye on everything he did, the people he associated with and the places he went. He felt like he was under surveillance 24/7. The only thing he could think of was jealousy. The show was becoming popular and with girls everywhere of all ages calling him 'McDreamy' his wife was beginning to become over protective.