Author's Note: Hello, everyone. Now, that I've gotten enough balls to post my NCIS work, it's time to start on Grey's.
My favourite season of them all was the second one but I would've changed some things.
Other than the obvious "keep Mer/Der together" thing, of course.
This little "What if?" explores the possibility of a love quadrangle.
What if Mark had not left after Yesterday and Meredith decided to let him stay with her?
How would the already fragile Shepherd marriage have held up against that?
This fic is darker and Meredith will be OOC in a good way.
She's going to have a spine.
Anyway, here's the first chapter.
Tell me if you want more.
Disclaimer: NOT MINE. I'D BE LOADED IF IT WAS.
She sat down next to him and he looked at her with bloodshot, defeated eyes.
That look of defeat took her back to her own heart break at the hands of a Shepherd.
She knew exactly what happened. He put himself out there, practically begged, but left the decision to her, said he'd wait for her.
That was his mistake.
"She's not coming."
"No, she's not. I'm really sorry. I know what you're going through."
He downed his scotch and sighed deeply.
"Yeah, you do, don't you? I don't know why I'm surprised. They're Derek and Addison and they don't quit. Even at the cost of their own happiness."
She nodded. She knew all about that.
Meredith Grey wasn't stupid.
She knew that Derek loved her, knew it deep in her soul, but he was an idiot.
He went back to a loveless, cold marriage out of a sense of duty and obligation. She also knew that if she made a concentrated effort, she could have him back within a day.
She wasn't going to do it, though.
Nope, she was the innocent in all of this shit.
Derek had chased her, made her fall for him, made her lose any respect she had gotten from her peers, and had hidden his wife. He had jerked her around and left her high and dry when it came down to it. She was the innocent victim and she was going to keep that label by any means necessary.
Mark Sloan was not an innocent victim but a victim all the same.
The Shepherds had ripped their hearts out, stomped on them, and spit on them, leaving them broken and shattered. He was in the same boat that she was.
He understands me. He's not judgemental like everyone else. He gets me... I don't want him to leave.
For the first time in almost 6 months, she didn't feel so alone.
I don't want him to leave me alone in this. I need reinforcements.
"Stay.", she blurted.
"What?"
"Stay in Seattle." she insisted. "There's nothing left for you in New York and Seattle Grace needs a solid plastic surgeon. And...And I need a friend. Some back up against Derek and Addison."
He considered it and then smirked dirtily.
"Just a friend or a naked friend?"
She couldn't help but laugh.
He really was McSteamy but he was such a blatant flirt.
He had proved that earlier.
"Just a friend, you McPervert."
"I like McSteamy better. Okay, say I did stay, where would I live? I'm not going to live in the sticks in a trailer or in a hotel."
She knew it was a bad idea.
She knew it would raise all sorts of hell.
Downing her shot of tequila, she said it anyway.
"I have an attic with your name on it, if you clean it out. Rent is $250 a month with food and laundry included and I have roommates but they're pretty cool. And Izzie wants do you, so she'll be all over you staying."
"She hot?"
"Former underwear model."
"Mmm... I'm more attracted to petite blondes who can down tequila like it's water. You interest me, Little Mistress. I want to get to know you and raise hell. You're on. I'll be there in the morning. "
She smiled and firmly shook his hand.
The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
Meredith and Mark had just laid the first stone.