Merder: Different Circumstances

Chapter Six

Meredith was sat in a booth at the diner waiting for Derek, she was at least 10minutes early and didn't expect him to arrive for a while but every passing minute until he arrived made her wonder if he regretted the decision of a second date. With her self-conscious and commitment afraid side deciding play-up, the moment the clock turned 10am she was ready to leave but as if it was fate, the door opened and Derek walked through.

He walked over to her booth with a shy smile on his face, sitting down ever so slightly out of breath as though he had just ran there.

"Hey, I'm so sorry I'm late. Ash got to school and realised she didn't have the project she needed for today and guilted me into bringing it for her and normally I'd tell her that she has take responsibility for it. But with us moving recently she's still seen as the 'new kid' and I know she stayed up almost all night to finish it. Anyways, sorry." He profusely apologised.

"Morning to you too. You don't have to justify your parenting to me, I'm sure Ashley is a great kid." Meredith replied.

Derek couldn't help but smile at how understanding she was being, and the moment the smile appeared on his face any trace of fear Meredith had was soon washed away. They made light conversation whilst they were deciding what to order, before a waitress took there order and replaced their menus with a mug of coffee each.

"So I was thinking the other day," Derek began hesitantly. "and I was wondering when you wanted to meet Ash because I really don't want her to find out through someone else and if she works it out herself I already know she will be pissed at me because she'll feel betrayed. But I don't want you to feel pressured because it's still really early on, but Meredith I really, and I mean really, want this to last. But for this to last I need Ash to be on board because she will always be my number one priority."

As much as he wanted to add 'alongside any of our own children' to the end of his last sentence, Derek refrained from doing so as he knew to be thinking of such a things insane and would only give Meredith a reason to run, but she too, even without his addition, knew what he meant. The idea of telling his daughter made Meredith want to run, it scared her, but she knew that she wanted this to work and go a long way with Derek so she stopped herself from screaming with her initial reaction and took a moment to process all of what it meant.

"No, it's fine, I completely understand where you're coming from. I wish my father would have introduced me to Susan earlier, it would have made it so much easier for me. I'm all for making this last. What's she like,? tell me about her." Meredith asked.

Derek found himself lost in her eyes, mesmerised by how she was willing to take such a big step and he found himself falling in love with her ever so slightly more. Love. He had known Meredith for less than a month and already she was making him happier than Addison ever had. Although he had been on a few dates since his divorce, Derek had never introduced any of them to Ash.

As he sat across the table from Meredith, he knew she was different than all of the others, knew that she would genuinely care for and accept Ashley. He just hoped that his daughter would be willing to accept the idea of her father dating. When Addison first began to date Mark, soon after the divorce, there were many screaming matches between the mother and daughter, as Ashley remained furious at her mother for doing such a thing.

"What? Tell me about Ashley." Meredith said as she placed a piece of pancake in her mouth off her fork.

Derek realised he had been so lost in his thoughts that he hadn't even noticed the waitress bring over their breakfasts. As Meredith smiled at him he noticed a streak of syrup running down her chin and he couldn't help but reach across and wipe it away with his thumb. Involuntarily, she leaned into his touch and he too couldn't help but smile.

"Ashley is amazing and smart. God she's so smart. In New York she was top of her class and from the age of like four she's had her heart set on being a surgeon herself. She has always been a daddy's girl, but don't be fooled by that if I offer her a shopping trip by the ending of it I'm holding onto my card to stop her spending another cent. What else, she is always listening to Destiny's child and even though she dropped classes some years ago she will bewailing to dance absolutely whenever." Derek began, managing to fill their whole conversation while they ate with talk of Ashley.

Meredith listened with great interest as she learnt how proud Derek was of his daughter. Besides the occasional question to prompt further information she wanted to learn, Derek continuously displayed his pride for half an hour.

"She sounds perfect. I just hope she doesn't hate me."

"Meredith she won't hate you, I promise you that. Next weekend, I have two days off and one of those days I'm pretty sure you have off. If I mention to Ashley that I have a beautiful, intelligent girlfriend tomorrow evening, then next weekend the three of us can meet up for a lunch?" Derek suggested.

"You sure know how to flatter me don't you." Meredith smirked to which Derek just flashed her his mcdreamy eyes. "Don't you have anything better to do with your time than stalk my work schedule?"

Derek just laughed and although she would never admit it, Meredith found it charming the way he looked in advance. Their breakfast continued and soon concluded as Derek's shift approached, so they left with a kiss and a promise of a meal together before Meredith met Ashley - whether that be outside the hospital or mid-shift.

The idea of being introduced to Derek's daughter continued to terrify Meredith, but after being told endless details of her today and the promise from Derek that they would get along, her concerns ever so slowly began to fade away.