Title: Sunshine Boulevard

Category: Grey's Anatomy

Pairing: Denny/Izzie

Denny thinks, that in a perfect world, he and Izzie would live in a big white house slap bang in the middle of Sunshine Boulevard, making love every night and watching cars go by in the dewy golden daytime.

000

Arguing foolishly over TV shows and whether cock rock tops indie and pop, and then he'd pull her into his arms, her back to his chest, chuckling warm in her ear, and she'd giggle like a blushing schoolgirl and dance with him. She'd smell like roses and apples and he'd reek of cheap soap and weak deo, but she'd love him anyway.

000

He'd remember her birthday but he'd buy her the wrong gift—a ring too small; a necklace too tacky; a piggy bank that, when he looked back on it, is actually hilariously ugly—but she'd just chuckle and say, 'Hey, maybe we can pawn it off.' He'd tackle her, grinning, onto the bed and they'd have delicious birthday sex and forget about the frosting coated giant cake sitting in the kitchen.

000

At night, they'd lie in each other's arms. And he'd rest there, sunken into his pillow, breathing in the scent of her and their heartbeats would thrum against one another's. D-d. D-d. D-d. As the remnants of sex and adrenaline washes away by their rhythmic, soft breathing, he'd kiss her delicate lips and whisper, husky and honest, I love you, y'know that? She'd snuggle closer and he'd feel her broad smile against the pulsing in his neck.

000

When the honeymoon stage faded and she grew tense around him, snapping at the smallest thing, he'd yell and storm out and come back hours later, tear-stained and drunken, telling her over and over how sorry he is, how he shouldn't be like this to her. And Izzie would squeeze his hand and remain silent as she apologises with the sheen of tears in her eyes. It wasn't meant to be like this.

000

Maybe one day he'd come home and find her crumpled up on the floor in their bedroom, sobbing about this patient she tried so hard to save but—but messed up. Something like that because her wails would become unintelligible but he'd kiss at the wet tracks down her cheeks and cradle her until she fell asleep on the floor. Even snotty and exhausted and neurotic, even like that, Denny loves Izzie.

000

Denny thinks he'd rather have those worn fights and unnecessary sobbing sessions rather than standing here, secluded in the cold spotlight in a painted hospital hallway, waiting for Sunshine Boulevard to present itself in those rare moments where he can escape into a dream.

000

'I love you, y'know that?' he says to her, grinning widely in the front lawn, freshly soaked from the hose she sprayed him with—in his tie and everything! 'Even when you're an annoying...' Takes a step closer, watches the pink flood her dimpled cheeks, 'hose-spraying...' Another step, 'secretly evil Isobel Stevens!'

Clothes sodden, he chases her into the back yard, loving the sound of her musical laughs, the resounding slap of her sneakers against the glittering grass, and wraps her arms around her.

'No, don't!' she squeals happily when he gets her all damp, eyes sparking when he backs away, smug grin plastered uncontrollably on his face, arms outstretched as if saying come and get it and she runs towards him and when she catches him, he lets her streak dirt over his face like he's a canvas. He doesn't mind because this means shower sex, and when he tells her that she laughs like a rabid dog and ends up throwing food at him when they trudge, giggling, into the kitchen.