Can't Help Falling in Love

6

"Mer, I'm making some sandwiches, you want some?" Lexie yelled up the stairs the next afternoon.

"No, I'm going out with Derek," Meredith yelled back. "He'll be here soon."

She turned back to the mirror, wondering if she was dressed okay. It was a rare sunny day in Seattle, and she'd dressed in jeans and a lavender sweater that dipped low enough to reveal just enough cleavage. Derek hadn't told her where he was taking her, but she figured this was appropriate enough for most all afternoon dates.

The doorbell pierced into her thoughts, and she ran a brush through her hand one last time before she grabbed her bag and headed down the stairs.

"Hi," she said as she opened the door and let Derek inside. "Come on in."

"Thanks," Derek said, flashing her a smile. "You look...amazing."

"Thanks," Meredith blushed slightly, taking in his jeans and sweater, the bottom of his white button down hanging from the end of his sweater. "You do too. Look good."

Derek smiled as he reached out to grab her hand. "Are you ready to go?" he asked.

"Yeah, I just have to grab my coat," Meredith said, reaching for the coat that had been thrown over the banister when she'd come home the day before. "Where are we going?"

"You'll see," Derek laughed, reaching out to help her adjust her collar. "Ready?"

"Yeah," she nodded, following him out the door. "Do I even get a hint?"

"There's food," Derek offered as they settled into his car.

"That's not a hint," she argued. "I knew there would be food yesterday when you told me not to eat lunch."

"Well, that's all you're getting from me," Derek nodded.

Meredith sighed as she turned to look out the window. "Seriously, Derek, I've never even seen this part of Seattle before," she said.

"It's nothing bad," he laughed.

"You're not like...an ax murderer or something, right?" Meredith asked. "Not that you'd tell me if you were, but...you're not just taking me into the woods or something where no one can hear me scream?"

"Well, I'm not an ax murderer," Derek laughed, reaching over the gear shift to lace their fingers together. "But...I can't promise not to make you scream."

Meredith swallowed hard as she felt a rush of heat wash over her body. She had a sudden flash of Derek lying on top of her, his dark curls falling over his forehead as he moved into her and felt a shock of heat spread through her entire body. She closed her eyes tightly as she tried to calm down, turning to Derek with a smirk.

"You're presuming a lot, Derek," she laughed. "What makes you think I'm going to sleep with you?"

"Hmmm," Derek breathed, glancing at her quickly and offering her a wink. "I think you'll break eventually."

Meredith shrugged, smiling coyly at him. "Think what you want," she said softly.

Derek took a deep breath as he slowed the car down and parked it in the middle of an open area of grass. "This is it," he said. "Come on."

"Where are we?" Meredith frowned.

"This land has the best view of Seattle," Derek smiled, getting out of the car and reaching for a cooler in the backseat. "My dad and I go fishing here."

"It's...amazing," Meredith breathed, looking at the open grass area, surrounded by trees.

"Are you okay with walking a little?" he asked. "Because I want to show you something incredible."