Be Be Your Love: You Do It To Yourself - Ch. 3
Now. I’m not sure how people felt about the last chapter. Generally the feeling I got was ‘meh’. I’m going to try to make up for that… however I’m not really sure that this is the chapter to do it with. Personally I am in love with it… but I can think of at least 3 reasons why some of you might disagree. I can think of 2 reasons why this chapter is awesome. I can think of like 9 if one thing gets counted more then once.
I think it’s good though. Funny, romantic… there is a “fight”… there’s some football. There is a “hidden” football analogy and phallic symbols which I love and don’t use enough.
And inappropriate methods of parenting. Those are my favorites.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
“No,” Meredith groaned as she trudged into the locker room, “What are you doing here?” she groaned and gripped the front of his shirt and dropped her forehead into the crook of his neck.
“I’m working,” he chuckled as he kissed her temple and gently pushed her away.
“You aren’t supposed to be working today,” she wearily opened her locker, “Not today.”
“It’s only for a few hours,” he assured her, leaning over and kissing her cheek as he adjusted his stethoscope around his neck. “Go home and lay down. I’ll be home before you know it. I’ll get take out or something.”
Meredith watched him leave, jaw slack. He forgot. She sighed and reached for her street clothes. It looked like she’d be celebrating their 3rd anniversary by herself.
XXXX
“You are going to love this,” Sydney dropped two opened packages on the table, “Look,” she held up a tiny cheerleaders outfit.
Mark leaned over the counter and began peeling his banana, “You’re petite but your not that petite. But, I appreciate that you’re coming around and supporting my team.”
She threw the tiny red and blue New York Giants dress at his chest, “They are for the babies,” she grinned as she rummaged through the other box, “See, I got a Seahawk’s one too. We can dress our babies up as cheerleaders for the game tonight.”
“But not you?” He took a bite of his banana and grinned at her.
“I’ll tell you what,” she leaned across the counter, “I’ll dress up like a Giant’s cheerleader,” she broke off half of his banana, “If you dress up like a Seahawks quarterback.”
Mark groaned.
“Thought so,” she winked, “I’m going home. Bring some food when you come. Chinese and nachos. And applesauce for the cheerleaders.”
“You’re going home?” Callie asked as soon as Sydney disappeared around the corner.
“Yeah.”
“I thought you were going to watch the game with me.”
“Oh shit. Cal, I forgot,” Mark apologized, “Come over and watch it with us.”
“I can’t. We were suppose to go to Geoff’s remember.”
“So bring Geoff.”
“If I bring Geoff he’ll have to bring Daisy because Addison is going out and can’t watch her.”
Mark sighed, “We could bring the twins to Geoff’s, I guess…”
Callie shook her head, “No, it’s fine. I’ll go to Geoff’s by myself,” She punched him in the arm, “You owe me. Next time there is a good game on you are keeping me fed the entire time. Buffalo wings, nachos, pizza, beer, chips; whatever I want, you better have on hand.” She slapped him one last time, “You suck.”
XXXX
“Oh,” Sydney teased as she lifted one of the twins out of her bath seat and wrapped her in a towel, “You are so cute when you’re clean,” she cuddled her for a moment then settled her in the carrier on the floor before reaching for another towel then back to the tub for her sister, “And it happens so rarely.”
She gathered up both babies and carried them into the bedroom, drying them off, smoothing on powder and changing them into fresh diapers.
“What fat babies you are,” she grinned and blew a raspberry on the tummy of one and kissing the bottom of the others foot, earning giggles and shrieks from both, “We are going to have to ask Daddy to give you lipo-suction. Would you like that?” She picked up one and settled her against her chest then reached for the other and held her under her arms, “Wouldn’t that be a fun first birthday present? Now don’t squirm or Mommy will drop you. That wouldn’t be fun would it. No. We need to keep all those brain-cells intact. Yes, we do. ‘Cause Mommy and Daddy gave you silly names. Yes, we did. So now you have to be extra smart so people will take you seriously.”
She was entering the kitchen just as Mark walked in the door, “Hey,” he greeted setting the food on the counter, “Hey!” he exclaimed again lifting one of the babies out of Sydney’s arms, “You’re clean! What’s the occasion?”
“The bathroom had to be cleaned anyway,” she peeled the lid off of a container of Chinese, “Three birds one stone,” she reached for a fork and took a bite, “This is cold.”
“Sorry,” he lifted the baby over his head, twisting and turning and letting her pretend she was a bird for a minute.
“Take this one too,” she handed him the other baby so he was holding them both under the arms like they were footballs, “Do something with their hair while I make this edible.”
“Hair,” he turned towards the living room, “I can’t do hair.”
“Well, you can’t cook either.”
“I have other skills,” he called back.
“Which is how we ended up with the twins. Now you have to take care of them,” the microwave began to whirr, “There are barrettes and clothes by their brush on the chair.”
Mark plopped both babies in the playpen and stood in front of the TV watching the coin toss, “You won,” he called to her dejectedly.
“You bet your ass I did.”
XXXX
“We won the coin toss!”
“Of course we did,” Callie poured some chips in a bowl.
“I’m leaving,” Addison breezed through the kitchen.
“No,” Geoffrey pouted and wrapped his arms around her waist, “Stay and watch the game with us.”
Addison smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck, “I hate sports.”
“But you love me and I want you to stay.”
She laughed and kissed him softly, “I don’t love you enough to watch sports,” she teased as she unwrapped herself from his arms.
Callie rolled her eyes and searched for dip.
“Besides,” Addison grinned stealing a chip right out from Callie’s nose, “I have a date.”
XXXX
Meredith stepped through the front door and dropped her yoga mat to the floor. An impromptu three hours of exercise really had her feeling better. She stepped into the living room and let her eyes take in the new couch and cream coloured walls.
She paused and bit her lip, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. She sat down on the couch and gazed at the vase of wildflowers and colourful lilies and orchids sitting in the middle of the coffee table. She gingerly reached for the card and pulled it out along with a long stemmed white and pink orchid.
I feel so lucky to have found you,
Happy Anniversary Meredith.
I love you.
Derek
p.s. I didn’t forget. Take a bath and relax. I’m picking you up at 8 and we will celebrate yet another year together. I love you. -D
Meredith grinned and picked up the vase, carrying it with her up the stairs. She passed through the bedroom and pushed open the door to the bathroom. Her smile grew.
The room was filled with more flowers just like the one in her hand. Single lilies and orchid stood in tall vases around the bathtub and along the window sill surrounded by tiny candles.
“Oh Derek,” she whispered as she turned on the bath water and lit the long tapered match and began lighting candles around the room. Returning she picked up her bathrobe, smelling the single flower resting on it, and discovered a box of decadent chocolates hidden underneath. She lifted the lid and pulled out the note laying on top of the candy.
Forgive me yet?
She chuckled and popped a chocolate in her mouth.
Moments later she was sinking in the warm bath water; splashing her toes and laughing to herself as the water quickly flushed her skin and started melting the chocolate in her hand. For the next hour she floated blissfully, eating chocolate and tearing the petals off flowers to let them float in the water.
As the water cooled she regretfully dragged herself from the water and dried off, taking her chocolates with her to the closet. She shook her head and smiled as she reached for her favorite blue dress, hanging inside a dry cleaners bag with a red rose.
At 7:43 the doorbell rang. Meredith groaned and pressed her lips together to even out her lipstick, and hurried down the stairs, cursing whoever was at the door and interrupting her anniversary.
“Derek,” she grinned.
“Happy Anniversary.”
She squealed a little and wrapped her arms around him, bouncing a bit in his arms.
“Hey come on. You are squishing my tux.”
Her eyes widened and she pulled away, “Is that a limo?”
He glanced over his shoulder, “Yup,” he grinned, “You ready?”
XXXX
“I can’t believe that you didn’t have a date tonight.”
“I can’t believe you didn’t have a date tonight,” Alex shot back, “You have two boyfriends.”
Addison smirked, “And yet I’m spending my Friday night with you.”
“Because one of your boyfriends is showering his girlfriend with love and affection and the other would rather watch football.”
“With my best friend.”
“So you settled for me.”
Addison stuck out her lip mocking his pout, “You know you’re my favorite.”
“Then why am I the only one you aren’t sleeping with?”
Addison grinned and speared some salad, taking a bite as she smirked.
“How’s that going this time around?”
Addison shrugged and pressed her napkin to her lips, “Fine. We started playing tennis.”
“Tennis?”
Addison nodded, “He’s suppose to be exercising more,” she rolled her eyes and took a sip of her wine, “Oh, and, the idiot; we met this couple at the tennis club, right. Fine. He insists that we have lunch with them, then he lets them think that we are married and then he lied about our jobs. He said that he was retired and that I was an obstetrician. What is he thinking? Now we have to play doubles with them on Tuesday. And, Derek sucks, I don’t want him on my team.”
“Get out Addison,” Alex stabbed at a gob of ketchup with a french fry, “Get out now.”
Addison was silent, pushing food around her plate slowly, “I can’t.”
“Why not?”
She glanced up and met his eyes, “I love him.”
“Damn it Addison,” Alex tossed down his napkin.
“What?” she exclaimed defensively, “It’s not my fault.”
“Not your… you weren’t suppose to fall in love with him again.”
“I didn’t fall in love with him, I always loved him.”
“Addison…” he closed his eyes and pressed his palms hard against his eyes, “What about Geoff?”
“I love him too,” she admitted softly.
“You can’t love them both.”
“Why not?”
“You, just… fine. Just pick one. Who do you love more?”
“Well… Derek. But, that’s only because I’ve loved him longer,” she rushed on, “It’s not a fair comparison.”
“You hurt my head,” Alex ran his hands over his short bristly hair.
“But it’s not fair,” Addison protested again, “It’s there with Geoffrey. We just haven’t been together as long. It’s growing. I need time. I know that eventually it’s going to be the other way around. I just haven’t had enough time with him yet.”
“Do you hear yourself Addison? When you talk are you actually listening to what you are saying? You need to get out of this mess with Derek or you need to break up with Geoff.”
“But I love Derek,” she argued weakly, slumping back in her chair.
Alex shook his head, “But does he love you?”
She sighed, “I don’t know. I think so.” She shrugged, “I know he loves me, it’s just not the same as he loved me before. We just don’t love each other as much as we did. But it is still there. I can’t just walk away from that.”
“You won’t walk away--”
“Fine. I won’t. I’m not. I don’t want too.”
“You’re being petulant today.”
Addison wrinkled her nose and stuck her tongue out at him.
“I need to ask you something.”
“What?” she asked as she resumed eating her dinner.
“Do you think Callie would go out with me? If I asked her.”
“Why would you do that?”
Alex rolled his eyes, “Because I like her.”
“Why?”
“She’s like you,” Alex smiled, “But she’s not an adulteress whore and she has this somewhat admirable ability to keep her legs closed in inappropriate and usually scandalous situations.”
“Low blow, kid.”
“I just like her Addison. Okay? Should I ask her out or not?”
XXXX
“Barrette?”
“Barrette.” Sydney handed Mark the red barrette without taking her eyes off the game, “You are getting your ass kicked.”
“I’m in denial,” he secured the barrette around the wispy ponytail and lifted the baby up to kiss her pudgy cheek, “We still have a chance don’t we Rox?”
Sydney laughed as the baby started to cry and reach out for her mother. “See, even your 9 month old knows when to give up and switch teams.”
“I think she’s horrified that her mother dressed her up like a cheerleader for her own sick amusement,” Mark carefully balanced the toddler on his knee and gently bounced her up and down, “We are going to get the next fieldgoal and she’ll come around.”
“Mark. She is trying to fit her entire fist in her mouth; she is not going to ‘come around’ until she’s fed.”
“You are unduly influencing our daughters,” he muttered handing over the baby who instantly stopped crying.
“With boobs? They aren’t you. She just loves her mommy,” she cooed, “Don’t you. You’re my baby. Your my favorite. You are. You’re my favorite pudge-ball.”
“Then wean her. Do you know how much fat is in breast-milk?”
“I like her fat,” Sydney kissed the babies forehead as she suckled, “She can eat all she wants. If she wants to be completely round by the time she’s one I’ll gladly help. I want to dress her up as a Christmas ball for the holidays.”
“You’re going to give them complexes.”
“I wasn’t really counting on a mother of the year award.”
Mark went back to his game, no longer cheering excitedly, there was no point. He sighed. Seattle was in the endzone, again, “Don’t even…”
Sydney smirked, “I don’t have too. Look at the peanut gallery.”
Mark glanced at the playpen where a mini Seattle Seahawks cheerleader was gripping the side and rapidly bending and straightening her knees, trying to jump and grinning ear to ear. “I should be raising you in New York,” he told her, “This city is brain washing you.”
XXXX
“What are they doing?”
“Seattle is about to try to kick the ball through the goal posts.”
“Why?”
“So they can get another point.”
“Oh.” Daisy paused and watched a few seconds of the game in silence, “Now what are they doing?”
“Huddling.”
“What’s that?”
“They are talking about how they are going to score their next goal.”
“Oh.”
Callie picked up the bowl of cheezies and offered some to Daisy who was laying across the couch and using Callie’s leg as a pillow.
“Why is the ball shaped like that?”
“I don’t know,” Callie admitted, “I think because it’s easier to run with and easier to throw.”
“Wouldn’t it be more fun if it was harder?”
“Maybe.”
“I think I like the red team better,” Daisy said decisively as Geoffrey re-entered the living room and balanced a bowl of flavored popcorn on Daisy’s belly and lifting her feet to rest on this lap.
“Why?!?” both adults demanded, the ‘red’ team was New York.
“Their outfits are nicer. Addy said you shouldn’t wear green and blue together unless you are absolutely sure that they match and you can never be sure so you just shouldn’t. But, red and blue are okay.”
“Oh come on,” Geoff exclaimed throwing his hands up in the air.
“What happened?”
“Our team lost 5 yards.” Callie explained patiently.
“Why?”
“The quarterback was dancing.”
“Why?”
“He was happy. He just got 6 points for his team.”
“He lost points for being happy?”
“Not points. Just yards. They have to start from a different line now.”
“Did that man just touch that other man’s bum?”
Callie and Geoff exchanged looks, “Yes,” Callie admitted.
“Why?”
“That’s how you say good job when you are playing football.”
“Oh,” Daisy chewed on her lip, “Is that why their pants are so tight?”
“Probably.”
“This game it stupid.”
“Daisy.” Geoff reprimanded sharply, “ In this house, we don’t say that football is stupid.”
Daisy giggled.
“You think that is funny?”
Daisy laughed and nodded as Geoff’s hands descended on her and started tickling her mercilessly until she squirmed and screamed with laughter and rolled off the couch.
Geoff balanced one armed on the couch as he watched his daughter rolling on the floor clutching her stomach as the laughter subsided, “I think she learned her lesson about bad mouthing sports,” he grinned at Callie, accidently grazing her leg as he straightened up.
Callie inhaled sharply and stood, “Want something to drink?”
“Beer.”
“Chocolate milk,” Daisy requested from the floor where she still lay laughing.
Callie chuckled and returned moments later with the requested drinks. Geoff was half standing and staring at the TV in shock. “What happened?”
“New York just intercepted and scored.” he turned to stare at her, his eyes gleaming feverishly, “This is intense.”
Callie took a long swig of her beer and set to pacing behind the couch, “It certainly is. Damn New York.”
XXXX
“Dessert?”
Meredith peered at him through her eyelashes and smiled, “What kind of question in that?”
Derek smirked and nodded at the waiter, “Could we have two pieces of the Vanilla Bean Cheesecake?”
Meredith’s smiled widened, “My favorite.”
“I’m sorry sir, we only have one piece left.”
Derek glanced at Meredith, “She can have it,” he nodded again and turned to Meredith.
“Did you just give me the last piece of cheesecake?”
Derek nodded sheepishly.
She raised an eyebrow and leaned forward, “Are you going to stand outside my window holding a radio over your head and pretend to like my taste in music too?”
“I try to do something nice and you make fun of me.”
“You’re telling me that you didn’t plan that whole ‘last piece of cheesecake’ thing?”
“Well, I didn’t think that you’d call me on it.”
Meredith chuckled and sat back in her seat.
“But, now that you’ve ruined that, and the speech I had prepared to go with it…” He grinned and pulled a small box out of his jacket pocket, “I guess I’ll just give you this now.”
She stared at him, her eyes wide and reached out her hand.
“Now hold on,” he pulled back, “I want to say something first,” he wrapped his hands around the tips of her fingers and leaned towards her, “I love you. And I know that I have sucked at showing it sometimes,” he smiled gently at her, “But, I do. And all the bad things that we have gone through to get here just make me realize how lucky I am that you gave me a chance to make it up to you. We were lucky to have found each other in the first place, and when you kicked me out without even knowing my last name -- or really my first name -- I never thought that I would ever see you again. I didn’t deserve to find you again, I didn’t deserve to win you back, I don’t deserve to have you love me. But I’m very, very,” he grinned and gently kissed her, “Glad that you do.”
Meredith turned over the jewelry box that Derek pressed gently into her hand, her heart beating wildly in her chest and tears already threatening to spill down her cheeks.
“I hope you like diamonds.”
XXXX
“Why are we still talking about this?”
Addison shrugged and looked away.
“I’m not asking to marry her. I just want to buy her a coffee.”
“Then buy her coffee.”
“Fine.”
“Fine.” Addison crossed her arms and stared hard at Alex across the table, “What if it’s more then coffee.”
“Cart,” Alex slammed down one hand, “Horse,” he slammed down the other.
“Okay,” Addison’s face flushed, “Not to be selfish here, but you are my best friend, and Callie is my best friend. So if my best friend starts dating my other best friend and then breaks up with her. That’s awkward for me.”
“I haven’t even asked her out yet and you practically have me leaving her at the alter.”
“Plus… you know things. About me. And how can you have a relationship with Callie when you have to keep all my secrets. How can you build a relationship on all those lies.”
“Coffee!”
“I don’t want you dating my best friend!”
“Why!”
“You’re my back up. And I don’t want to share you.”
“You have two boyfriends.”
“I know! And there is a very real possibility that someday Geoff will find out about Derek and dump me. And then where will I be? Alone. And if you are dating Callie…? A-- thats probably how he’d find out and B -- I wouldn’t have you to turn to. You are the most stable relationship I have, and I’m loosing you to Callie.”
“That is selfish Addison. Even for you.”
“I don’t care. I don’t want you to date her.”
“I don’t care,” Alex said firmly, standing and nodding towards the door, indicating it was time to leave, “I’m asking her out.”
Addison frowned and reached for her jacket, “You just want to get laid.”
“Yes. That would be nice.”
Addison glared at him.
“Addison!,” he exclaimed as they walked out on to the street, “I just want to ask her out for coffee. She’s smart, funny, beautiful and she doesn’t hate me. I even like that she’s your friend. That’s it. I’m not in love with her, I’m not trying to ruin your life, I’m not looking for a wife. I’m not even looking for someone to take to Christmas dinner. I just want someone that I like as a human being to sit down and have a cup of coffee with. You of all people should understand that.”
XXXX
Meredith leaned against the footboard of the bed and twirled the jewelry box between her fingers.
“What are you doing?” Derek asked groggily, rousing himself and shifting down to the end of the bed, “Are you crying?”
Meredith wiped a few stray tears off her cheeks and smiled, “Yeah,” she leaned down and kissed him, wrapping the sheet tighter around her frame, “I love my earrings.”
Derek smiled and pulled her down to him, cuddling her against his chest. It was a few moments before he was awake enough to realize that she was still crying. “Hey, what’s wrong?” he asked, pulling away to look at her face.
“Nothing. I love them.”
Derek cupped her damp cheek in his hand and studied her face. “You thought it was something else,” he stated finally.
Her eyes drifted away for a second, then returned to meet his, “Yeah.”
“A ring?”
She nodded. “I want to marry you, Derek.”
He held her face in both his hand, “I love you,” he whispered, kissing her forehead, her eyelids and the bridge of her nose, “I want to be with you. Forever.”
Tears started pouring down her face.
“But I don’t want to ask you like this. Not when you are crying and mad at me for screwing up. I can do better then that.”
She laughed through her tears, “I know. Today was prefect.”
“Except for the earrings.”
“No,” she kissed him, “I love the earrings. I just want a ring to match.”
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Okay. Don't kill me.
But this is really your own fault. I mean I was always planning on having the MerDer anniversary in this section, and it was always going to be cute, but then I got the feeling that none of you believed that Derek really loved Meredith that things escalated. And, the scary thing, I think they are adorable in this. I really enjoyed writing it. I.... like MerDer.
Who knew.
Don't worry to much about it though.
And the next chapter....