Title: We Are Family

Authors: Lori & Toni

Disclaimer: We don't own either show. Blah blah biddy biddy blah.

"The Montecito is having a New Year's Party," Meredith said as she down with Izzie and Cristina.

"And hello to you too," Cristina said sarcastically.

"Sorry, sorry," Meredith rolled her eyes.

"So the Montecito is having a party," Izzie said to get Meredith to continue.

"Yep and by some miracle I am not working so I am getting on a plane after my shift on the thirty-first and I will be home for my shift on the second."

"I hate you," Cristina sulked.

"You don't have to. Come with me," Meredith invited.

"I can't. I'm working and Burke wants to spend the night with me, so he's working."

"Sweet," Izzie smiled.

"Iz, what about you?"

"Working."

"Should I ask George?"

"He's afraid of Ed and he's working too," Cristina informed her.

"Am I the only one who got off?"

"Actually I seem to remember Alex gloating that's he's off," Cristina said.

Izzie rolled her eyes.

"Really? Think he'd want to go," Meredith questioned.

"Meredith!" Izzie sounded horrified.

"What? Look, you're all working I don't want to go alone."

"Can't you find someone other than the guy who cheated on me to ask?"

"Like who? Bailey?"

"Well," Izzie hedged.

"A, I am not George and B, I am not asking my pregnant boss to go to Vegas with me."

"Isn't there-"

"Izzie. Stop. It's a trip to Vegas, not a walk on the moon. Knowing Alex he'll hook up with some showgirl the minute we get to the casino and I won't see him until we get back on the plane to come home.

Izzie frowned. Even though she had helped Alex study to retake his boards she still didn't forgive him for cheating on her and she hated the thought of him going to Vegas with one of her closest friends.

"Iz, don't look so upset. Trust me, I'd much rather go with you, George, or Cristina but all things considered, Alex isn't a bad fourth choice."

Cristina snorted.

"What about him being dirty Uncle Sal?"

"Well, if tries to pull anything I have Big Bad Uncle Ed to kill him and trust me if that happens, no one will ever find the body."

"But he's-"

"You know what? He's probably already got plans for the night so he'll most likely say no and then I'll have run out of people to ask and I'll end up going alone anyway."

Izzie sighed. "Okay. Maybe you're right."

"I'm gonna go find him. See you guys later," Meredith got up headed in search of Alex.

"Cheer up Iz. The worst he can do is say yes," Cristina said sardonically.

"You're a great help, thanks," Izzie said sarcastically.

"Alex, just the man I wanted to see," Meredith said cheerfully.

"Should I be afraid?"

"Not really. I hear you have off on New Year's Eve."

"Yeah. Why, you need a date?"

"Sort of," Meredith hedged.

"What?"

"Okay, here it is. How would you like a free trip to Vegas?"

"Vegas?"

"Yes."

"What happened? You win a radio contest or something?"

"No."

"Then what's the catch?"

"No catch."

"Seriously?"

"Seriously."

"Izzie know you're asking me?"

"Yes."

"So, let me guess, I'm the only other one who is not working besides you," Alex grinned at her when she started to squirm.

"Fine, okay, yes, you and I are the only ones who are not working on New Years and I don't want to go by myself. Look, there's going to be a huge party and it's Vegas, Alex. You can't go and not have a good time. Something for everyone."

"What about the free part? How'd you swing that?"

"My uncle is President of Operations at the Montecito Hotel and Casino so even if he didn't give me an apartment in their residential area as a graduation present we'd still have free room and board."

"What about getting there?"

"God, you ask a lot of questions. Ever consider police work?"

"All the time," Alex smiled.

"Okay. The owner of the hotel is sending a jet for me."

"Why?"

"He thinks very highly of Uncle Ed."

"Oh." Alex tilted his head a little and thought. "Okay, yeah."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah. New Years Eve in Vegas? I'm in."

"Yes. Oh, one more thing."

"What?"

"The party? It's a costume party. But don't worry 'cause I'm calling Delinda right now and she's going to set us up with amazing costumes, I promise."

"Who's Delinda?"

"My cousin. Bye Alex."

"Mystique."

"Is Delinda Deline there?"

"Can I say who's calling?"

"Meredith Grey."

"Just a second."

Meredith waited to the music of Frank Sinatra for a moment or two and then, "Meredith?"

"Hey Dee," Meredith smiled. "So, I am bringing a guest with me for the party."

"Oh yeah? Who?"

"You haven't met him yet."

"Him? Oh don't tell me McDreamy came crawling back."

"No. I'm bringing Alex Karev."

"The one who cheated on Izzie?"

"You have way too good a memory."

"It's the genius I.Q.," Delinda said nonchalantly.

"I'm sure it is," Meredith shook her head. "Anyway, is the party still a masquerade?"

"Yeah. Don't worry, I will take care of you and Alex."

"Okay, just nothing weird."

"Someone would think you don't trust me."

"I have known you too long to trust you Dee," Meredith smiled.

"Very funny," Delinda smirked. "So, how are you, really?"

"Really? I'm getting past it, I think. Sometimes it's just harder to breathe than others."

"Dad's offer still stands you know."

"Oh, I'm sure it does but I'm not interested in having anyone killed on my behalf." Meredith looked up and saw Miranda Bailey coming her way. "Uh, Dee? I gotta go. Talk to you later okay?"

"Alright Mer. Love you."

"Love you, too. See you soon."

"Bye."

"I've never been to Vegas," Alex told Meredith as they sat eating lunch in the hospital's courtyard.

"There's a first time for everything," Meredith replied. "The Montecito is so awesome! And you'll get to meet Delinda."

"That's your cousin, right?"

Meredith nodded.

"Is she hot?"

Meredith rolled her eyes. "Why is that the first question you ask?"

"Is she," Alex persisted.

"I don't know," Meredith exclaimed. "I don't look at her and think, 'Whoa, hot chick,' she's my cousin! But yes, she is very pretty."

Alex grinned, "Cool." He drank some of his coke. "So, the Montecito. I bet there are heaps of chicks there."

Meredith rolled her eyes, "I'm going to ignore you now."

"Alright, alright, I'm sorry," Alex laughed. "I can't wait – a few days without sick people and all the trouble that comes with working here."

Meredith sighed. "Yeah, it'll be a nice change."

Suddenly, both their pagers rang.

"The brain guy," Alex said, and they put their rubbish in the bin and walked off.

Derek Shepherd sat under a tree nearby having lunch with his wife.

"Derek, are you even listening to me," Addison asked.

"Of course," Derek smiled at her. But as he went back to his lunch he couldn't help but wish it was him going to Vegas with Meredith.

"Bright light city gonna set my soul, gonna set my soul on fire," Meredith sang to herself as she jotted down some notes on a chart for Dr. Burke.

"Someone's happy," Preston commented as he came up next to her.

Meredith smiled, "Yeah. I'm just excited I guess."

"Why's that?"

"Cristina didn't tell you?"

"About?"

"I'm going to Vegas," Meredith said happily.

"When?"

"Uh," Meredith checked her watch, "in about two hours. I'm going straight to the airport."

"By yourself?"

"No. I'm going with Alex."

"Alex?"

"Lack of options, right Mer," Alex said from the other side of the counter.

"Izzie was right. You do have an annoying way of sneaking up on people," Meredith teased.

"Gift. I'll meet you in the lobby at 5?"

"Sounds good," Meredith smiled.

Alex walked away and Preston gave Meredith a look.

"Don't look at me like that."

"I didn't say a word."

"But I know what you're thinking."

"Oh really?"

"Yes. You've got that same look Bailey had on her face when I told her that I was taking Alex with me. Then she said something about calling all the casinos and warning them that I was bringing a rabid dog into the city limits."

Preston had to laugh at that. "Dr. Bailey's got a way with words."

"Yeah well I am going to tell you what I told her. Alex is not going to cause any problems once I introduce him to Montecito's President of Operations."

"Really? You know the man personally?"

"Yeah." Meredith smiled, "He's my uncle. They call him Big Ed. George is terrified of him. I think it's because the first time they met, Ed pulled a gun on him. Bye Dr. Burke."

"You okay," Alex asked, looking over at a jittery Meredith, who was sitting beside him.

"Huh," she asked. "Oh. Yeah, I'm fine."

They were on the plane that was taking them to Vegas. From the way Meredith was acting, Alex had a sneaking suspicion that Meredith was a little scared of flying.

"So…." he said. "Tell me about your Vegas friends."

Meredith glanced at him, "Why?"

"I've gotta know about them sometime, don't I, "Alex asked. "I don't want to see someone and go, 'Hi…who are you?' Do I?"

"Good point. Well, firstly," Meredith began, "there's my uncle Ed. George is freaked out by him because he used to be in the-" Meredith quickly remembered that nobody was supposed to know about Ed being in the CIA so she said, "army. And he's tough and George…well, George isn't." She laughed.

"Right. So Ed is army dude."

"Army dude," Meredith rolled her eyes with a smile. "Nice. And yeah. Then, there's Auntie Jillian. She's great. Then there's their daughter, my cousin, Delinda. You know about her…."

"Yeah, she's the hot one," Alex grinned.

Meredith frowned. "Um, moving on. There's Danny McCoy, my uncle's right hand man, really. Head of security, used to be in the Marines. Served in Iraq for the second time not to long ago, actually. He's pretty funny, and good with the ladies, so you might have some competition," she smiled at Alex.

"Yeah right," Alex rolled his eyes. "Who else?"

"There's Mike Cannon, Danny's best male friend. He's got an engineering degree but he's claustrophobic so he was working as a valet but now he works in surveillance with Danny. Then, there's Sam Marquez. She's the best casino hostess in Vegas. She's tough and doesn't show people her weaknesses," Meredith explained. "Then, there's Mary Connell. She's in charge of entertainment and music acts. She's Danny's oldest and best friend. They were high school sweethearts and even got engaged after he came back from serving in Iraq the second time but it didn't work out."

"Too bad," Alex said, not sound that sad at all. "Next?"

"That's it," Meredith told him. "No, wait. There's Casey. He's the owner of the Montecito as well as this fine jet we're flying on. He's also Sam's ex-husband. Last I heard he had a crush on Mary. Oh, and well she's not in Vegas anymore but, Nessa Holt. Uncle Ed and Auntie Jill took her in when she was small and she and Dee grew up like sisters. The three of us were pretty close," Meredith said sadly. "But she left a while ago."

Alex nodded, "So that's it?"

"Yeah."

"So there's army dude, aunt woman, cousin girl, Marine dude, dude who doesn't know which job he wants, music girl, tough chick, and girl who ran away," Alex said summing it all up.

Meredith smiled at each one and nodded, "Yep. That's it"

"Sounds fun."

"It's Vegas. It's always fun."

"Anything else I should know?"

"One thing. If the name Monica Mancuso comes up, just smile, nod, and change the subject."

"Got it," Alex nodded. Then he frowned. "Wait a sec. Isn't she the one I heard you telling Yang about? The old owner of the Montecito?"

"Yeah, that's her."

"Didn't she…"

"Literally get blown away? Yeah. Big gust of wind just swept her right off the top of the Montecito. She went through the window of a shoe store."

"That's weird."

"That's Vegas."

"Gotta say I wasn't expecting a limo," Alex said as he and Meredith walked into the Montecito.

"I told you we'd be well taken care of."

"Yeah. See, I'm thinking your uncle was like Michael Corleone. You know, he did the army thing but he also was in the 'family' business. You sure you're telling me everything Mer?"

"He's more like Sonny. But no, my uncle was not in the mob, Alex," Meredith rolled her eyes.

"You sure 'bout that, Doll? Ed's got a lot of connections," a voice from behind them asked.

"Mike," Meredith turned around. "Hey," she gave him a hug. "God it's good to see you. I got all your postcards by the way. Sounds like you kinda did and kinda didn't have a very good time on the road."

"Right on both counts. You know," Mike took Meredith's hands in his and held them out to the side as he looked her over, "I think you get prettier every time I see you."

"Thanks Mikey." Meredith noticed Alex just standing next to them. "Oh God. Sorry Alex. Alex Karev this is Mike Cannon."

"Nice to meet you," Alex shook his hand.

"You too," Mike nodded. "So you wanna go up and lose your bags or go see Ed first?"

"Lose my bags and take a shower. Then I'll go see Ed. Alex?"

"I'll go upstairs too. I could use a shower."

"Okay," Meredith dug in her purse until she produced a key. "Mike, you wanna come along?"

"Nah. I got some things to check on before the big party. See you two later."

"Okay, if you see Delinda, let her know I'm here, okay?"

"Will do."

"Bye."

"Nice guy," Alex commented on the way to the elevators.

"Mike? He's great."

As they stepped onto the elevator Alex asked, "So, what do you have a permanently assigned room here?"

"No. See last summer they blew the Montecito up and when they rebuilt they included a couple of residential floors."

"So, there are people living in the hotel full time?"

"Well, some do. Most of the ones who keep apartments on those floors are ones who come to Vegas on a regular basis and don't want to pay for a room so they buy an apartment."

"And you have one of these apartments?"

"I do. Ed gave it to me as a belated graduation gift."

"Nice."

"I thought so."

"Uncle Ed!" Meredith ran into the huge office and hugged the man behind the large wooden desk.

Ed Deline smiled and replied affectionately, "Hey, kid." He looked past his niece and saw a man standing at the door. "Who's that," he asked Meredith.

She turned around and smiled. "That's my…" she paused, "friend, Alex Karev. He's an intern at Seattle Grace with me."

"Oh," Ed nodded, and then gestured for Alex to walk in. Alex did so, and walked up to Ed's desk.

"I'm Alex Karev," he said, holding out his hand.

Ed looked at it then extended his own and they shook while Meredith tried to not to burst out laughing. Her uncle was way over protective. "Sit down," he said to them, and they did. "So," Ed began, leaning back in his chair and looking at Alex. "How long have you known Meredith?"

Alex glanced sideways at the other doctor. "Uh, about a year, I guess."

Ed nodded, "Right."

Meredith felt a bit sorry for Alex - she knew he was going to get a pretty intense grilling session from her former CIA uncle. But then again, it would be kind of fun watching him squirm uncomfortably under Ed's gaze.

"So, Alex, where are are you from?"

"Iowa," Alex answered.

"Nice place."

"Yes, it is," Alex nodded.

"Parents still there?"

"Yes."

"Hmm," Ed focused his gaze on Alex and the younger man swallowed hard. "Married?"

"Uncle Ed!"

"What? Just checking."

"We're not that kind of friends," Meredith clarified. "Besides he's into someone else."

"Is he?"

"Yes," Alex spoke up. "I am. Your niece is just a friend. A good friend who asked me to come to Vegas because we were both off duty for the holiday. That's all."

"Good," Ed nodded. "Let's go have lunch. Delinda and Danny want to see you."

"Good idea."

"So, what'd you think of everyone? And I don't just mean the girls," Meredith asked as she and Alex entered Meredith's apartment.

"Not bad," Alex smiled. "Danny's a nice guy. Why do you call him Vegas?"

"'Cause he is from Vegas. Born and raised. Him and Mary," Meredith flopped onto the couch. "God this is comfy."

"It's ugly though. Why does everything in this apartment look like something out of an old lady's house," Alex sat down next to her.

"Because that's the way it was supposed to look for the old lady whose house the Montecito wanted to buy."

"What?"

"Well, there was this little old lady who owned a house smack in the middle of the Montecito golf course. She'd lived there since the forties or something. Anyway this was the latest in a long line of ideas."

"And it didn't work?"

"Oh no, it worked. But see after they tore her house down and started their construction they found something that wasn't supposed to be there."

"And that was?"

"The body of her husband."

"Self-defense?"

"Not according to Mary. Anyway since there's no statute of limitations on murder and it doesn't matter how old you are to the law she was arrested and taken off to jail. So then Ed bought her apartment and gave it to me." Meredith frowned as she looked around. "I haven't done much with it. I haven't had the time. If I let her, Delinda would decorate it for me but I want this place to reflect me. My mom's house still feels like it's waiting for her to- I'm sorry."

"What?"

"You can't possibly be interested in this."

"I don't mind. I'm here. I'm awake. I can hear. Use me."

"Seriously?"

"Seriously. So your mom's house?"

"It still feels like it's waiting for her to walk back into it. Even with Izzie and George there it doesn't feel like my space."

"So change that."

"I don't think I can," Meredith looked at the ceiling.

"Why not?"

"Truth?"

"Yeah."

"Because even though I know in my head that she's not going to get better and come home and be the her that lived in that house I can't bring myself to do something that means I know it in my heart." Meredith sighed.

"You ever talk to Ed about it?"

"My grandpa had Alzheimer's. He and Uncle Ed were really close and it tore him up inside watching him go through that. I don't want to bring those memories back anymore than I did the day I told him about Mom."

Alex couldn't really think of a response and luckily he didn't have to because there was a knock at the door. He looked at Meredith, "You wanna get it or should I?"

"I'll get it. It's probably our costumes for tonight," Meredith got up.

"Oh goody."

Meredith giggled as she opened the door and thanked the woman who handed her the bags. Then she closed the door and came back in. "Okay. This is marked Alex K. so it's yours," she handed it to him. "I wonder what they are."

"You don't know?"

"No. I made Dee promise nothing to weird though."

"Why doesn't that make me feel better?"

"'Cause you met her?" Meredith smiled and opened her bag. "Oh dear God."

"What?"

"I'm the Angel of Death."

"What?"

"I must have told Dee that when we're off, Iz, Cristina, and I watch One Tree Hill and that after careful consideration we decided that Izzie is Brooke, the fashionable one who is surprisingly sensitive and very intelligent, Cristina is Haley, the smart one who got really lucky in her first serious relationship, and I am Peyton, the one with monumental parental issues, who is unlucky when it comes to guys and who on Halloween dressed up like the Angel of Death. I am going to cut out my tongue and then kill Delinda."

Alex snorted and then opened his bag, "Well, I think I may help you on both counts."

"Why?"

"I'm Satan."

Meredith giggled. "Oh this is too funny. Two doctors going to a party dressed as Satan and the Angel of Death."

"Let the good times roll."

"I feel weird in this," Alex muttered as he and Meredith walked into Mystique, tugging at his costume.

Meredith rolled her eyes. "Stop doing that, you'll wreck it," she told him. "And you'll be fine. Stop grumbling."

They saw the gang at the bar, all dressed in various costumes and talking.

Delinda, looking fabulous as a flapper, turned around and spotted the two doctors. "Hey!" she exclaimed. "You two look great!"

Meredith laughed and kissed her cousin on the cheek. "Sure. You look awesome, Dee."

"Aw, thanks," she grinned. "Now come on! Drinks are being served!" Delinda practically pulled the two to the bar. Everyone said hello and took a drink.

"Hey!" Delinda frowned, looking at Sam. "Put that phone down!"

Sam, dressed as a Playboy bunny, gave her a look. "Who are you? My mother?" she snapped, and paused. "No, not you…" she muttered into her mobile.

Meredith grinned, and then noticed Alex sitting silently beside her. "What's up?" she asked quietly.

Alex didn't seem to hear her, so Meredith poked him. "Huh?" he asked.

"Are you okay?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" Alex replied, a little defensively. "Yeah, I'm fine."

Meredith nodded, not quite believing him. "Alright, well you should go hang out with Danny and Mike. You know, talk…" she frowned. "Guy stuff."

Alex managed a smile, then drank the last of his drink, and walked over to the two surveillance men. Meredith watched him go, and then turned back to the girls.

"Sam, I swear!" Delinda was saying. "Give me the phone!"

Sam was shooting daggers at the blonde woman. "Yeah, I can have that for you by tomorrow…"

Mary, dressed as a fifties girl with a poodle skirt and sweater set, was looking from one to the other and laughing. "Mere, you're so lucky you're not in Vegas all the time."

Meredith took a sip of her drink. "I bet," she grinned.

"Check her out," Mike said, looking over at a tall blonde who was across the other side of Mystique. He turned to Alex. "She seems like your type."

Alex laughed lightly. "You don't know my type."

Danny shrugged. "No, I agree with Mike. She seems cool. Why don't you go talk to her?"

"Uh…" Alex set his glass of beer down. "I've kind of got someone back home."

Danny and Mike exchanged a look.

"Explain kind of," Mike said.

Alex sighed. "It's a long story."

"Hey man, we have time," Danny reassured him. "Besides, it can't be any more screwed up than me and Delinda or Sam and Casey or something."

Alex shook his head. "You'd be surprised. Days on end in a hospital without rest can make people do weird things, and I've done some pretty crazy stuff."

Mike and Danny both laughed.

"This is Vegas, man," Mike grinned. "We've seen weirder."

Alex took another swig of his drink and looked at Meredith, who was talking animatedly with Delinda and the others. "Well," he began. "Her name is Izzie."

Meanwhile the girls were eyeing the boys.

"So, that's Alex, huh," Delinda looked him over. "He doesn't look the type to go for slutty syph nurses."

"He does look like the type of guy who would cheat though," Sam offered her opinion. "I wonder if he's good in bed."

"Well, I think if Olivia was willing to do it with him again after the whole syphilis thing he must be mind blowingly good in bed," Meredith said. "And he I know he goes for redheads and blondes, so Mare, Dee, have at him."

"You don't think he'd go for the hottest casino host in Vegas," Sam adjusted her ears with a smile.

"I don't know if he likes brunettes. Cristina sorta scares him."

"Cristina scares everyone," Delinda pointed out. "She'd scare the Pope, Mer."

Meredith giggled. "Good point. Sam you're welcome to try."

"I'm still having trouble believing he cheated on your friend Izzie," Mary spoke up. "Delinda showed me that ad campaign she did. That girl is hot."

"Wait, you showed me that one," Sam said suddenly. "He cheated on the girl in the Bethany Whisper ad? She gave him the time of day and he cheated on her?"

"Yep."

"Idiot."

"Yeah, I probably am," Alex agreed with Danny.

"No probably about it," Danny said. "I've seen pictures of her laying around Mer's house in her PJ's with no make-up and her hair pulled back into a ponytail. She's still gorgeous. You blew it buddy."

"Yeah. Now I just have to figure out how to unblow it."

"Well," Mike checked his watch, "it's almost a new year so take heart. Maybe things'll be different."

"Yeah, maybe."

"Hey guys," Meredith smiled as she, Delinda, Mary, and Sam walked up. "So only half hour left 'til 2006 starts. Anyone have any resolutions?"

"None, that I want to share," Danny said with a grin.

"Me either," Alex said.

"Anyone wanna dance," Mike asked

"Yeah," Mary said. "C'mon."

"What do you say Dee," Danny asked.

"Sounds fun."

Sam's phone rang and she wandered away to take the call.

"So this is a pretty amazing party. I can see why you like Vegas so much."

"This isn't the Vegas I love."

"No?"

"No. The Vegas I love has to be seen from a great height like the top of the hotel."

"What?"

"C'mon, I'll show you."

Meredith led Alex out of Mystique and they made their way through the casino and over to the service elevators. Meredith pressed the the up button and they got on the next elevator. They rode to the top floor and then went up a flight of stairs. Meredith opened the door and they walked out onto the roof of the Montecito. She went over to the edge and swept her hand over the view, "This is the Vegas I love. It's amazing right now but it's even more amazing when the sun's going down and everything just starts to light up. It's like watching someone wake up."

"It is amazing. It's like..."

"The world is at your feet. I know. See over there? That pink building?"

"Yeah."

"That's the Pink Flamingo. That's the one Bugsy Siegel built. They say it's haunted."

"Cool."

"Yeah. Pretty much every building in Vegas has some kind of story attached to it."

"So is that why you come up here? For the history reminder?"

"No. Not always," Meredith looked down at the city.

"Meredith?"

"Once. It was right after my mom told me she was sick."

"What happened?"

"Delinda and Nessa called me. Reminded me that I may be an only child but I had two sisters who loved me and would be there when I needed them."

Alex nodded. "But you still come up here?"

"Just to think. It's a good place to be alone and gather your thoughts."

"Yeah."

"And it's a great place to watch a city-wide party. Look at everyone down there. You'd think this was the last night on earth for everyone."

"It is pretty cool," Alex agreed. "Hey, listen."

"5, 4, 3, 2, 1! Happy New Year," could be hear from a floor below them. Auld Lang Syne started to play.

"Happy New Year Alex."

"Happy New Year Mer."

"No tongue."

"You got it."

One kiss and a hug later and Meredith and Alex were headed back to the party.

"I'm going to miss you!"

Meredith hugged Delinda tightly. "Aw, Dee, I'm going to miss you, too. Make sure you come visit soon, yeah?"

Delinda grinned, "As if you could keep me away."

Meredith turned to the rest of the Vegas gang. "And that goes for you guys as well."

"We'll come soon," Danny promised, and hugged Meredith. Mike gave her a kiss on the cheek and then looked at Alex, who was standing nearby. "You take care of her, man," he said.

Alex nodded. "I will."

"And, hey, good luck with getting Izzie back," Danny said.

"Thanks," Alex replied.

Sam looked at Alex. "And if she does take you back, don't blow it."

Mary laughed. "I hope it goes well, Alex."

"Meredith!"

She turned around. "Hey, Uncle Ed."

"Can't you stay for a few more days?" Ed asked as he hugged his niece.

Meredith sighed. "I really wish I could, but Alex and I have to start our new shifts tomorrow, and this time of year's usually really busy, and with Bailey about to have her kid at any moment…"

Ed smiled. "Oh well. You'd better be back here soon, kid."

His niece grinned. "I will."

Everyone was silent for a while, before Alex said, "Well, it's been great but we'd better get going."

"Right…"

"Yeah…"

The guys started to pick up the bags that Alex and Meredith had brought, while Delinda, Mary and Sam talked to Meredith.

Finally, Alex and Meredith were about to get into a taxi that would take them to the airport.

"It's been great guys," Alex said, shaking hands with Danny and Mike. "See you soon, right?"

The two surveillance men nodded. "Yeah."

Meredith hugged her friends one last time, and then she and Alex got into the taxi.

"Airport, please," Alex told the driver, and with one last wave out the window, they drove off.

"So, did you enjoy Vegas?" Meredith asked.

Alex grinned. "Yeah, it's great." He paused. "Thanks for taking me along, Mere."

Meredith smiled. "I'm glad I did, actually. I really hope that you and Iz make up."

"Yeah me too."

They were silent for a moment.

"I bet I can spot more landmarks than you on the way to the airport…"

"Yeah, right! You're on…"

"Hey," Meredith tossed an envelope onto the table Alex was sitting at and then put a box down next to it. "Presents from Vegas," she sat down

"Oh yeah," Alex opened up the box and smiled. "I like this."

"Read the bottom."

"Satan and His Angel," Alex grinned. "Dee's idea?"

"Mary's actually. I got one too."

"She put it on the mantel," George said as he sat down. "I gotta say, you look good with black and white hair, Meredith."

"Thank you, George," Meredith rolled her eyes.

"I think the wings are a nice addition. You should think about making them a permanent part of your wardrobe," Alex said.

"You two are hilarious," Meredith told them dryly.

"Burke's being a guy," Cristina announced sitting down.

"Again?"

"I don't wanna talk about it."

"Good. Here," Alex handed her some pictures. "This is what we did on New Year's."

"Oh yeah, I heard you got pictures from Dee. Izzie was going on about some picture you stuck up on the mantel. Oooh, who's he?"

Alex leaned over and answered, "Mike. Former valet, now in security. Has an engineering license and is claustrophobic."

"So you were paying attention."

"Nothing much else to do on the plane ride except watch you fidget. You know I think you're scared of flying."

"Am not."

"Are so."

"Who's the bunny?"

"Sam," Meredith and Alex answered George at the same time.

"That's just creepy," Cristina traded stacks with George. She flips a picture over to show Meredith, "Is this Danny?"

"Yeah," Meredith says looking. "Not bad huh?"

"Damn Delinda's lucky she got there first."

"Story of my life."

"What are you guys talking about?"

"The rule," Meredith said. "Dee, Ness, and I made a rule when we were teenagers and we've stuck to it. If any of us goes out with a guy, be it one date or a serious thing or even just a one night stand, the other two can never go anywhere near that guy."

"I think it's crazy," Cristina said.

"That's your right but it's kept me, Dee, and Ness together because no matter what our hormones may want, the rest of our body wants to keep our sisters more." Meredith and Alex's pagers went off. "Bailey."

"Me too," Alex collected his pictures. "Hey, George you going by the locker room?"

"Yeah, I'll take them down and put them in my locker 'til later."

"Thanks."

Alex and Meredith left the cafeteria and got in an elevator. Just as the doors closed Alex noticed Derek Shepherd running down the hall and something occurred to him.

"Mer?"

"Hmm?"

"Ed's overprotective right?"

"To the extreme."

"So, when the whole thing with Shepherd went down he…"

"Offered to make sure no one found the body," Meredith finished the thought.

"See, that's sweet."

"I thought so."