(Shattered...) Dreams Fulfilled

Sadness Overcome

"Derek," she said as he opened the car door for her, "I just realized, it's not practical
for us to drive in together."

"Why not?"

"I have my appointment, and that will probably run till after seven, and I was wondering," she hesitated, "maybe we could sleep at your place, and have some privacy, after my ..."

"After your therapy session, we will drive home, that's not a problem," he said and waited for her to get in the car.

"But, I have to be in at eight tomorrow and you don't, so I should have my car."

"Meredith, you're going to be late, let's go. I'll drive, I have a lot of things to catch up with at the hospital, especially with the time off..." he stopped before he told her about their upcoming trip, he wanted to make sure all the arrangements were made first.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Ok," she said unable to hide her smile.

"Does that smile mean you've been manipulating my response this entire time?" he teased her.

"What...no...how could you think that," she sounded offended.

"I don't, relax..." he said and kissed her softly, "I'm happy you're smiling..."

"I like this time with you," she admitted when he got behind the driver's seat.

"So do I...ideally we'll be doing that a lot together, when we have the house built."

"That may not always work Derek, our schedules are really all over the place."

"When we can we will, I used to love the time with you on the ferry."

She reached out her hand, "you don't enjoy that as much anymore."

"Not since the crash," he admitted, lacing their fingers.

"We'll have new memories...from now on...good memories Derek."

"Meredith, are you ok with us building on the land, I've been thinking, you haven't brought up the house plans again, and if you really don't want to, we can always look in the city, we don't have to build on Bainbridge."

"What? You love that land, and it's beautiful...you don't really want to give that up."

"I want to build our home where you'll be happy, and not worry...about cliffs and bears."

"Derek, the bears...and the cliff...I've been sort of teasing you. But Derek, are you now saying you think it could be a problem, and you're worried about it too," she said so seriously, he wasn't sure if laughing would be appropriate.

"No," he said and in just in that one word was not able to hide his amusement.

"You're laughing at me...again," she said.

"No, I'm not...I meant what I said, we don't have to build there, our home can be wherever you want, and where we're not totally dependent on the ferry schedule or the very long drive around, but Meredith, to hear you ask if I was worried too, about bears and cliffs, it was funny that was all."

"I don't think it's funny at all...and if you're worrying about it too...we have to think about it, and the ferry is not a problem...I prefer that to sitting in traffic."

"I am not worried about bears and cliffs," he insisted while caressing her hand, "do you think I would ever jeopardize the safety of our family? Your safety or our kids?"

"No," she admitted, "but..."

"I can live anywhere Meredith, as long as you're happy."

"I feel the same way, and I love your land Derek..."