A/N

I had troubles getting the momentum going on this chapter. I was all fired up the past two chapters but with this one had some troubles. So I apologize if it seems choppy or jumps through dialogue and such. Feel free to give suggestions or if you have any comments :)

"So this is where all the doctors hang out?" Mark asked, taking in the bar in front of him. He led Meredith to an empty table towards the back corner.

"It's close and Joe is great," Meredith answered. "If we get lucky we might see other doctors or nurses," she joked.

"What can I get you to drink?" Mark asked.

"A tequila sour, please."

"Coming right up" He winked and walked to the bar. Meredith surveyed the bar, looking to see if she knew anyone. There was the usual regulars, a few new faces and some nurses. But at the bar she spotted Izzie, Alex and George. Poor George looked like he had a rough day, and it didn't seem to help that Alex was poking fun of him. Meredith watched how George's demeanor changed when Mark came to the bar. George mumbled something to Alex causing them both to turn about and look at Mark. From where she was sitting, she couldn't hear what they were saying but they obviously were saying something to Mark. He gave them his usual smile and chatted with them. Meredith could only imagine what they were saying, and she only hoped that they weren't embarrassing her or talking about Derek. Finally Joe gave Mark the drinks and he began to make his way back to Meredith. She watched as all three of her friends turned to look at her. She gave a little smile and wave before turning her attention back to Mark. "Your friends over there are really something" he said, sitting down.

"Oh no, what did they say?" Meredith was concerned.

"Alex babbled on about his interest in plastics. Izzie was checking me out and George attempted to explain to me that you didn't need your heart broken again" Mark laughed.

"Oh George" Meredith shook her head. "He is just trying to look out for me."

"Enough about them, tell me more about you" Mark grinned. "Who is the lusty intern who stole Derek's heart?"

"She was a foolish girl in a bar" Meredith said. She really didn't want to talk about Derek tonight. "And who is the dirty mistress who drove Derek to Seattle?"

"A man who thought Addison was the woman for him" Mark answered. "But he was terribly disappointed."

Their evening continued full of laughter, smiles and a lot of flirtation. It was about twenty minutes when Meredith felt Mark gently nudge her foot under the table. Without breaking eye contact she nudged him back and they continued their conversation all the while gently touching feet. Eventually their hands had met over the table and Mark was drawing lazy circles across the back of Meredith's hand. Izzie and Alex had left over an hour ago, both of them staring as they walked out. Meredith noticed George still sitting at the bar, a beer in hand, watching her. "Do I have to worry about you and George?" Mark asked, pulling Meredith's attention back to him. Meredith just shook her head.

"No," Meredith stood up. "I will be right back."

"Don't be gone too long" Mark winked. "The night is still young." Meredith walked over and sat next to George.

"Why do you keep staring, George?" She asked.

"I don't think he's right for you, Mer" George answered.

"You don't think anyone is right for me" Meredith laughed. "But it's just one date."

"Just one date after McDreamy broke your heart. And he's someone who just swooped in. Maybe you need a guy who has always been there for you and who knows you."

"George, I'm fine. Really I am. It's you who is not fine," Meredith put her hand on his shoulder. "Go home George, get some sleep. We both know that work had been crazy lately so go home and sleep before you get paged"

"But Mer…"

"George, go home. I will be home soon too," Meredith stood up and pushed him gently to the door. "I'm okay George." He reluctantly got up and slowly made his way to the door. He gave her one last look where she nodded and he finally opened the door, leaving Meredith with Mark. She went back to her table where Mark was waiting patiently, a small smile dancing on his lips.

"Are you sure there is nothing between you two?" Mark teased. "He seems awfully concerned about you." Meredith laughed.

"No, Mark, there is nothing but friendship between me and George" Meredith reassured.

"Good," Mark said standing and moving closer to Meredith. "Because I don't want an involved woman again."

"Well," Meredith placed her hands on his chest, looking up at him with her blue green eyes. "I am a free woman right now. So have no worries."

"Let's get out of here" Mark moved his hands to her waist, pulling her closer. "My hotel isn't too far from here. I can have champagne waiting for us." Meredith stepped back. She was wanting to go spend the rest of the night with him but memories of her last time going home with a guy were invading her mind. The way Derek looked at her with his dreamy eyes and held her close, his hands through her hair as he kissed her with pressure. And how she let him take her home and sleep in the living room together, tangled in each other's arms and sheets. How she felt on fire when they talked at the hospital in the stairwell, and kissed in the elevator all those times. The heartbreak when Addison walked in that night, when he chose her over Meredith.

"I can't, Mark. I want to but I can't" Meredith whispered, looking away.

"Are you sure?" Mark asked.

"Yes, last time it didn't work out for me that well so…"

"Okay. Let me at least walk you back to the hospital to your car" Mark took her hand and they began their way to Seattle Grace. Meredith got lost in her thoughts the whole way back and was quiet. It was still baffling to Mark that Derek let Meredith go. She is absolutely gorgeous with her enchanting eyes. She was also incredibly intelligent and she was destined to be a great surgeon. She was witty and charming, able to hold a conversation, make fun of him and flirt all at the same time. Meredith was much more than Addison was. It was a feeling that Mark couldn't quite explain, just that Meredith was better for him than Addison was. And Mark had been so sure about Addison, so confident that she was his true love. It had bothered him after awhile that his best friend hadn't caught onto Addison's affair, that Derek didn't find out for months. Derek was blind to what he had. Mark had truly loved Addison and that's the reason he was here in Seattle, to find the love of his life. And it seems that Meredith was filling that spot in his heart more than anyone before.

"Thank you, Mark" Meredith said as they arrived to her car, sad that the night had to end but knowing that she had work early in the morning. Mark reached to her and gently pushed her chin up, leaning down and kissing her softly like they had years of practice. He pulled back, looking into soft eyes.

"Let's do it again sometime," he whispered. "Goodnight Meredith."

Meredith drove home with the kiss on her mind. She always thought a good kiss would be passionate with an upbeat tempo and one that left her gasping for air, fireworks excitedly going off in her head, the chemistry creating an unbearable heat.

But this changed her idea.

This was a good kiss. No, a perfect kiss. It held enough passion to be of lovers, the tenderness of a couple and the chemistry of love. It was like no kiss she had ever experienced before, not even with Derek. This kiss made her feel giddy and smiley, like a teenager in their first relationship. What made her more excited was the fact that he said they should do it again sometime. It meant that he was there for her as a person. She hoped it meant that he would be honest with her, and she wished that he might be her forever.

"How was your date with McSteamy?" Cristina asked as they got ready at their lockers.

"I bet it got steamy" Izzie giggled. Meredith rolled her eyes as she shrugged on her lab coat.

"It was great," Meredith smiled, hiding her face in her locker as she grabbed her stethoscope. "We had drinks at Joe's then he walked me back to the hospital to get my car." She was quiet as she finished grabbing her things and shutting her locker.

"That's it?" Izzie exclaimed. "No hot making out in the bathroom? No feeling each other up on the way home? No hot sex?!"

"Just a kiss goodnight" Meredith replied.

"He must really like the chase" Alex said as the interns left the locker room, making their way up to meet Dr. Bailey for morning rounds.

"Or he was letting her down easy" Cristina suggested. Meredith lightly smacked her arm.

"Hey!" She said. "He wants to see me again. I guarantee he asks me out again."

"It's about time you all showed up" Dr. Bailey grumbled as the interns arrived. "O'Malley, you're on Shepherd's service."

"Oh, not again" George muttered to Meredith. Poor, George. He hated working with Derek ever since he broke up with Meredith.

"Do you have a problem, O'Malley?" Bailey asked sharply.

"No ma'am" George shook his head.

"Good. Yang, you're with Burke. Stevens, Montgomery-Shepherd. Karev, you are with me" Bailey delegated. Everyone but Meredith started to leave, going to find their superiors and start rounds.

"Dr. Bailey," Meredith asked. "Whose service am I on?"

"The Chief requested to see you in his office this morning, and then the E.R."

"Yes, Dr. Bailey" Meredith made her way to the elevators, pressing the up button. The doors opened to allow other staff and visitors to pour out. Meredith stepped into the empty elevator, worried about why the Chief wanted her. She didn't get to think more about it because just as the doors were beginning to close, a hand stopped the door. It was the one person she absolutely did not want to see. Derek. He made eye contact with her as he stepped into the elevator, only breaking it to turn and press the button, but then he turned right back around to look at her. "Good morning, Dr. Shepherd" Meredith greeted him politely, hoping desperately that he would treat her kindly or at least professionally.

"You went out with Mark last night" he accused.

"Dr. Shepherd, that respectfully none of your business" Meredith crossed her arms, knowing he wasn't going to let it slide.

"I think it is my business. You were my girlfriend and he's my best friend" Derek said sharply.

"Ex-best friend. You said so yourself many times that he is no longer your best friend" Meredith countered.

"That doesn't matter, Meredith. He was still with you. And you know what he did to me."

"And I know what you did to me! You humiliated me, Derek! I begged you to chose me. I don't do that for guys but I did it for you because I thought you were the love of my life. I thought I had found my forever with you. And you pulled that all out from under me the night that Addison walked into this hospital and the day you chose to stay with her. I was here for you Derek and you left. You walked away, so now I get to move on with my life. I get to make my own choices, even if they mean going out with Mark" Meredith explained, exasperated that Derek didn't get it and thought that she was still his. "I can't believe you. I can see why Addison cheated on you" she knew it was a low thing to say but she was so frustrated she didn't care. And luckily for her the elevator doors opened, so she was able to push past Derek before he could reply.

Taking a deep breath, Meredith knocked on the door to the Chief's office before slowly pushing the door open. Chief Webber sat as his desk, and a lady from HR sat next to the desk. "Dr. Grey, come in and have a seat." Meredith's heart rate sped up, nerves filling her as she wondered what this was about.

"Hello, Chief" she smiled weakly.

"Dr. Grey, tell me about Mark Sloan."