Author's Note: Another installment of happiness. Thanks for all of the support so far – you guys are amazing!

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Derek Shepherd had been planning this day for months, and now he wanted to tell someone about it. When he originally decided to propose to Addison over a dozen years ago, he confided in Mark days before he actually followed through on his idea. He solicited his friend's help in choosing the ring and the perfect locale to execute the proposal. And Mark had gone along with everything in good spirits, knowing that he was years—maybe decades—away from having to plan something like this for himself. But this time, Derek was a little apprehensive about sharing such a big secret with Mark. While they were better friends now that Addison was gone, he didn't trust Mark like he once had. He didn't know if he could trust Mark. Still, friends were in short supply at Seattle Grace. All of Meredith's friends were off-limits since they would somehow find a way to spill the news. And the chief was someone who should hear it from Meredith instead, given his fatherly relationship with her. Miranda was another candidate, but she was likely to be completely dismissive of him, boss or not. And that left Mark – ex-best friend, man-whoring, Mark – to be the keeper of the news that Derek was dying to share.

He reached into his pocket and felt the velvety box inside. Choosing a ring had been relatively painless as he was immediately drawn to a 3-carat emerald cut with a platinum band. It was simple, elegant, and stunning – perfect for Meredith's long, sleek fingers. He couldn't wait until later in the evening when he would get the chance to give it to her. He knew she'd say yes – that they were finally ready for that next step. They'd talked about it a couple of times, and the transition to living together had been seamless.

They were ready.

He was certain.

She would say yes.

But none of that knowledge could keep Derek's heart from racing a little at the prospect of proposing. He was anxious about how he would do it, and he was desperate to share his thoughts with someone. And it just so happened that Mark would be the wingman. Again.

Derek nervously ambled towards Mark's office, desperately hoping for once that he didn't see Meredith along the way. He didn't know if he would be able to contain his excitement if he saw her. He was a little fidgety and giddy all at once. And Dr. Derek Shepherd, head of neurosurgery and co-chief of surgery at Seattle Grace was never nervous, fidgety, or giddy. Ever.

Better to get this out of my system now. You'll be fine. This will be fine. It will be perfect. Just tell Mark. He'll be supportive.

Mark's door was cracked open, and he sat inside at his desk entranced by the computer screen. The room was small, but surprisingly well-organized. Unlike Derek, Mark actually managed to control his paper messes or, at the very least, hide them from plain view. Still, it felt largely uninhabited. There were no personal effects or plants or decorations to make it feel like the room was anything more than a temporary office.

He secretly hoped it wouldn't be temporary. He liked having Mark back around.

Mark quickly clicked at his mouse to close something as he saw Derek walk in, and he looked up at his friend, trying not to appear too guilty. Derek immediately suspected that Mark had been looking at porn online, but decided not to say anything too explicit about it.

"You know, the hospital has set up filters so that they can track web activity and trace sites back to certain offices," Derek remarked.

"If that were the case, I would have been sent back to New York long ago," Mark replied quickly, admitting that he had been up to no good without having to say anything more. An impish grin settled across his lips. "What's going on with you?" he asked, changing the subject. He motioned for Derek to have a seat in one of the cushiony chairs across from his desk.

Derek nodded and closed the door to the office, signaling that this would be more than just a casual visit. "I wanted to talk. I hope you don't mind," Derek said, suddenly a little uncomfortable.

"Um, sure," Mark said, joining in the discomfort. Even though tensions between them had thawed substantially, it was unusual for Derek to make a visit like this. And closing the door – he had no idea what that meant.

"It's Meredith," Derek said quickly, almost whispering as he sat across from Mark.

"Are things okay between you?" Mark felt a little relieved knowing that Derek was confiding in him rather than preparing to start an argument. Still, he was concerned. He knew Meredith well enough to know that her relationship with Derek wasn't always standing on solid ground, and he hoped that nothing had happened to threaten their streak of happiness.

"Yeah," Derek smiled. "Great, in fact. So great that I'm…I'm going to propose…tonight…I'm going to propose to her," Derek confessed.

Mark immediately lit up with excitement. "Are you serious? That's fantastic, man! Really!"

"Thanks," Derek grinned, feeling proud of himself.

"And you had to tell someone…" Mark thought aloud, suddenly even more excited that Derek was sharing the news – with him.

"Yeah, well…" Derek replied as awkward feelings beat him like a drum.

"Well, I'm glad that you came back to me. I promise not to sleep with this one," Mark reassured as he let off a nervous laugh.

Derek laughed as well. They were okay, he thought. Damage done, and now mostly repaired. He could actually consider Mark his friend again. Maybe even close to the surrogate brother he was to Derek for over 30 years again.

"Did you get the rock already?" Mark continued, knowing that his job was to press for details and boost Derek's confidence.

Derek reached into his pocket and pulled out the box, offering it to Mark for inspection.

"I slipped away this afternoon to get it. It's good, right? She'll like it?" he asked anxiously, desperate for approval.

Mark looked at the diamond, watching as waves of light bent and refracted in the cuts of the stone. Even in the bad fluorescent lighting of his office, the ring sparkled and glistened, demanding attention.

"She's going to love it, Derek. What woman wouldn't?" Mark encouraged. "What inspired this decision?" he continued to prod.

"Well," Derek started, relaxing into the chair. He loved talking about Meredith, especially as things were going well, but he rarely found an opportunity to do it. His family was still sensitive about his divorce despite how much he affirmed that Meredith was here to stay, and he didn't really have other friends in Seattle that he felt comfortable talking to about her. Mark was it, really, and they talked so infrequently. "I've known for a while that she was it, mostly I've just been waiting for her to figure that out too. And things have been so good since we've moved in together…I just think it's time…and we're having a party tomorrow night – a housewarming party with her friends, so I was thinking we could tell everyone then. You're invited, of course," Derek responded confidently.

"I wouldn't miss it. My best friend is marrying his dirty mistress," Mark sighed. "Perfect, really. To think, if I hadn't fucked your wife, you never would have found her."

"That is one way to look at it," Derek replied. It didn't bother him to talk or even joke about it anymore.

"So, more details? Where are you going to propose? Have you figured it all out?" Mark pressed.

"I'm going to do it tonight after work at our apartment. I have some ideas for wording, but I'm still playing around with those," Derek sighed, feeling nervous again.

"You'll be fine. You're smooth. And even if you botch it, she'll be so wowed by the ring that what you say will be unimportant," Mark said convincingly. He truly was a good wingman.

"I hope so," Derek mumbled as he took the ring back from Mark and returned the box to his pocket. "So anyway…"

"I won't tell anyone. I promise," Mark agreed, preempting Derek from making any comments.

"Thanks," Derek nodded before standing up. He had done it – he had told someone his plans. Now he just needed to carry them out.

"Good luck, Derek, not that you'll need it," Mark encouraged as he stood up and moved towards his friend. For the first time in months, they hugged quickly, much like brothers would do.

"I appreciate it, Mark. I'll call you tomorrow. Maybe we can go fishing in the afternoon before the party or something," Derek said as he pulled away.

"Yeah, it's taken you long enough to invite me out for that," Mark teased.

Derek smiled broadly, causing the corners of his eyes to crinkle slightly, as he nodded in agreement.

It felt good to have his best friend back.

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The hours before the end of their shifts ticked away slowly. The hospital was unusually quiet. The boards were empty, at least for Derek. Nothing was happening to distract him from the plans awaiting execution. He paced up and down the halls worrying over the details while trying to avoid drawing too much attention to himself from the interns and residents. He didn't want anyone to suspect that something was different about him. He saw Mark once after his meeting, but Mark seemed busy and merely winked at him encouragingly. And Meredith had worked her way into another neurosurgery with Dr. Weller in the early evening, keeping her occupied. Now, as the time neared nine, he was practically frantic with anticipation as he sat waiting for her in the hospital lobby.

His fingers gripped the arms of a taupe vinyl-covered chair as he steadied his breathing, regaining composure for her arrival which was certain to happen any minute now. He shifted a little in the seat, feeling the ring box press up against his leg as he leaned against the arm of the chair.

You'll be fine. She'll say yes. You are happy together. She's happier now.

The elevator announced its arrival on the lobby level, and he inhaled deeply as he watched its occupants exit. Meredith moved casually out of the elevator, a navy colored trench coat enveloping her body and a brown satchel swaying against her hip. She didn't notice that he was already in the lobby watching her, and despite the tired circles lining her eyes, she took his breath away.

"Meredith," he shouted, drawing her attention towards him.

She jumped a little at the sound of her name but smiled immediately as she recognized the voice and turned in his direction.

He stood up and moved towards her.

"Hi," she whispered as she stood in front of him.

"Hi," he whispered back. He reached his hands up to help her fix the collar of her coat and ran his fingers gently through her silky hair in the process. He could tell that she had just brushed it, probably after changing out of her scrubs to get ready to go home.

He leaned in and kissed her briefly but passionately on the lips, relishing in the nearness of her. His anxiety melted away as he pulled away from her mouth and watched her look lovingly upon him. She was happy, and as long as they were together, he didn't think that would change.

He reached down and grabbed her hand, squeezing it gently as he escorted her out the hospital doors.

"I don't know about you, but I'm exhausted," Meredith sighed.

"Not too tired, I hope," Derek pouted.

"Too tired for what?" she asked, arching her eyebrow at him.

"Well, I was hoping that we could spend some quality time together tonight. Maybe order in some food, take a bath, relax a little," Derek said, trying his best to be cool and persuasive.

"That sounds amazing," Meredith sighed. She had been dreaming of the bathtub all day long. "Did you drive here this morning?"

"No, I walked so we'd only have one car to take back," Derek explained. It was only a little lie. He had driven his car in the morning, but he used it during the afternoon to go ring shopping. Only later did he drop it off at their apartment so he could prepare the apartment for her arrival.

"Good. You can drive," she said, passing him her keys. He smiled warmly at her as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, hugging her close to him as they walked to her SUV.

She moved her own arm to idle around his waist, savoring the sensation of having him so close to her. As long as she could be with him and fulfill her promise of sex from the morning, she didn't care what else was on the agenda.