Starting From Scratch

Chapter Three

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"Much of the vitality in a friendship lies in the honoring of differences, not simply in the enjoyment of similarities."

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The best part of a friendship is the laughter. Be it from something funny, something absurd, something unexpected. Being able to laugh with somebody, knowing they're thinking the same as you, seeing their joy and feeling that same burst inside of yourself. There's nothing like sharing laughter and joy with a friend. It's uplifting. It overshadows everything else. It becomes something you live for; a moment you strive for. That next moment you'll laugh so hard you'll have to grip your sides. That moment where you make your friend laugh and feel that bolstering warmth in your chest. Sometimes, sharing that with a friend is more important than anything else. Friendship is not a goal, want, or hope, it's a necessity.

Saturday arrived quicker than expected. Mark had the unfortunate task of trying to explain the surgery he had to perform on the six year old Coby Smith, a boy who despite his disfigurement was quite inquisitive and talkative. The young boy carefully avoided talking about his parents at all and basically avoided even looking at his aunt, but Mark assumed that was because whenever he did his aunt cringed. With Meredith's help, they were able to convince Coby he'd be happier with his face later, even if he did enjoy how gruesome he looked. Only a boy could think looking as if his face was turned inside out was "cool". The aunt was still unsure about the surgery but faced with the idea that she'd have to look at him as he was every day, she was becoming less uncertain.

The surgery was marked for the end of the next week because he still needed a little time to heal from the brain surgery performed by an out-of-town surgeon that Mark hadn't met at the time. Apparently the AP always brought the same doctor in for anything involving the brain, but he wouldn't work on the staff permanently. With his job flourishing, Mark was looking forward to the weekend. It was packed with hanging out with numerous couples, but the mornings were all his and Meredith's. He habitually took the weekends off, figuring if anybody was in dire need of his assistance, they'd get a hold of him or wait for the regular work week.

Since getting back, he and Meredith hadn't had much time to wallow. They had their moments where they missed the people that had them searching for a better beginning, but they both wholeheartedly agreed that Addison and Derek simply weren't the people they were meant to be with. Not after all that the relationships had caused; the hurt, pain, anxiety, and loss. They wanted something different; something more. Mark could've just returned to New York and his old ways but he'd been so hellbent on having forever with Addison that he now couldn't think of anything but finding someone to fulfill that desire. He wanted more than just a fling or one-night stand, but he wasn't about to jump into a relationship right away. He was content in the friendships he had and the healing that was becoming his main goal.

"Mark?" Meredith's voice called out to him.

"You ready yet?" he called back, lifting a brow as he searched through the channels on their wide screen TV. He knew she wasn't. This was the designated time for her to lose a shoe and spend an ungodly amount of time searching for it. It didn't matter what pair she was planning on wearing or where they were going, she always managed to lose one of them. It was an endearing quality, oddly enough, but he wasn't about to tell her that. He thought it an amusing quirk when it wasn't happening, but when it was, he couldn't help but wish he could set up a tracking device on them so he'd always know where they were. Turning his head to one side in thought, he wondered how much it would cost to do just that to all of her shoes.

"Almost," she called back, her voice vaguely hesitant. "Uh, you haven't seen those black flats I bought a couple months ago, have you? Those ones with the pink bow on the..." She paused and then he could hear her muttering to herself and smirked to himself, chuckling lightly. He was used to this by now, which is why he told her Jake and Cassie were expecting them at six, when really they told him six-thirty. That gave her thirty minutes to rush around looking for the elusive shoe.

Settling on the news, he leaned back in his armchair and sighed at the upset somebody caused somewhere about something. The news barely changed; something was always wrong. While the world outside of his life was always in a constant turmoil, he could at least be happy that for the last six months, he'd enjoyed a relatively painless time. He still wondered sometimes, while lying alone in his bed and knowing that tomorrow would be just the same, with nobody to kiss or share a shower with or lay with on the couch for an entire morning, wasting away the time, if it was worth it. He could go out and find somebody to satisfy the loneliness at least for a night, but he knew that in the morning they'd be gone. Maybe they'd leave a note with their name, number, and a sassy, "Call me," with a smeared lipstick imprint, but they weren't interested in forever. So they enjoyed his skills in bed, he was proud of the fact, but he didn't want that anymore. It was empty and lately he was tired of how empty he'd been feeling.

At least with Meredith he knew he would see a friendly face in the morning and she more than fulfilled that little bit of companionship that he needed. She was the voice he needed to hear when he woke up, the person sitting next to him in the car as he navigated the congested New York streets, and she filled in for those little physical touches too. He wasn't waking up with her in his arms or enjoying the caress of her mouth whenever he pleased, but she naturally linked her arm with his when they walked or laid her head in his lap when she was getting comfortable on the couch and watching a movie with him. He wasn't surprised that so many of their friends thought they were at the very least a couple, they had an intimacy that was bred of six long months of spending all of their time together. He wouldn't trade it for anything, he just wished he could have that little bit more.

Lost in his thoughts, he jumped slightly when a mildly breathless Meredith appeared beside him. "Okay. Let's go," she told him, reaching down and taking the remote from his hand to turn off the TV before tossing it on the couch. She walked toward the door, her expression impatient. "We're already fifteen minutes late, hurry up," she ushered, searching through the closet for her coat quickly.

Half-smiling to himself, he stood up from the chair and leisurely walked to the door, taking hold of her coat and slipping it over her shoulders, amused with the small struggled she was having as it got rolled up behind her. She grabbed the keys off the hook and followed him out the door, locking it up tight. He held his hand out and she dropped the set of keys into his palm before he slipped them in the inside pocket of his jacket. Her arm slipped through his as she walked next to him to the elevator and he caught sight of them in the gleaming silver of the closed elevator doors. Her hair was pulled up in a pony tail, her bangs slipping over her eyes and brushing her nose. She was dressed fairly casually, wearing a nice black blouse and a pair of dark blue jeans. He looked down, seeing the black flats with the pink bow on her feet and smiling to himself. She never gave up on whatever pair she planned to wear, even if she found a pair of shoes just as good and ready to wear. Next to him, dressed just as causally with a black dress shirt left untucked and a pair of expensive jeans, they looked like the epitome of the comfortable couple. They were both wearing dark coats, hers with extra large buttons on the front, making it appear more fashionable, reaching down to her knees, while he wore his regular black bomber. They looked good together, he decided.

As they passed through the front hall, Meredith waved hello to the security guard, Jim, and then smiled warmly at the night doorman who tipped his head in greeting. They crossed to their silver car, her arm tightening around his as she shivered slightly from the chill in the air. He let her go so she could walk around to her side and briefly wondered over why his arm felt empty as she left. There was no doubt that she was the closest person in his life and he knew he shouldn't get too attached, but he couldn't help it. As he pushed the button to unlock the doors, she hurriedly climbed in and he slipped into the driver's seat, turning on the car and not surprised to see her immediately fiddle with the heat and then the radio.

"We're going to be so late," she muttered, frowning to herself.

"They're used to it," he replied, smiling to himself. He knew he could've told her that they still had time, but then she might just assume in future that he was lying about the time again and that would completely defeat the purpose.

She rolled her eyes, a rebuttal over the fact that she didn't do this every time probably sitting on the end of her tongue, instead of telling him so though, she found a song she liked and began murmuring the lyrics to herself as he pulled out onto the street and towards Cassie and Jake's condo.

The drive was just the same as it always was, which was oddly comforting for him. She refused to let him check the traffic report and he got tired of listening to the same old soft rock songs that were on every time they got in the car. New York drivers weren't the nicest bunch but he was used to that by now and drove through the hustle and bustle like a pro. They pulled into their friends parking lot with time to spare, at least to his knowledge, Meredith was still hurrying out of the car. Locking it up, he waited for her to come around the car and took her hand as they ran across the street, careful of traffic, to the front door, pushing the number and waiting. Meredith hopped back and forth from foot to foot, already cold but didn't whine. Her hand was still sitting warmly in his and he couldn't deny how comfortable it always felt there.

After buzzing in, they caught the elevator to the third floor and knocked briefly before hearing Jake call for them to enter. He was already setting up the table to play pool while the clatter of pans could be heard from the kitchen. Meredith unbuttoned her coat and out of habit, Mark pulled it off her shoulders and tossed it over his arm.

"Hey guys," Jake greeted, his eyes still on the table as he pulled a second stick down from the wall attachment.

"Hey Mer, Mark," Cassie called out to them.

Hanging Meredith's jacket up on the peg nearby, Mark pulled his own off and did the same. He kicked his shoes off and made his way over to Jake while Meredith waved at him and then left to talk to his wife. Jake and Cassie were a couple he and Meredith had met back when they'd first come to New York. While at a horror movie that turned out to be utterly pitiful, they struck up a conversation with the two as they were not so quietly making fun of the movie. Married for over three years, Cassie and Jake said they were happy to have friends who weren't into the baby fanatic going on. It seemed all of their couple friends were having kids and they just weren't interested yet. For the longest time, they had simply assumed Mark and Meredith were together and were surprised to find they were only friends, colleagues, and roommates. Cassie constantly hinted that there should be something more while Jake left it all alone, having no opinion on it. Every once in awhile, he'd comment that Mark should get himself out there to date more, but he wasn't pushy about it and didn't offer any nice single women he knew for a blind date, thankfully.

They were a nice couple; the type of people Mark didn't feel like he had to put a show on for. He enjoyed just hanging out with them on a Friday night and getting a pizza or playing pool. Jake was a regular at guys poker night and always enjoyed a good baseball game. Cassie was more Meredith's friend but he figured that was because he wasn't really used to talking to women without at least flirting. He didn't want to come off as the guy who was interested in screwing up his friends marriage, again, so he was careful around the women. It became a habit to put more focus on Meredith than them, if only to get out of coming off like he was paying too much attention to them, and before he knew it, he naturally felt inclined to pay more of his attention to Meredith than other women. He wasn't worried about slipping up and sleeping with any of them, not only because they were all secure in their relationships and just not interested in him that way, but because he found after time that desire wasn't as prominent. He didn't feel like he had to prove he could get any woman, regardless of status, but respected boundaries a little more. Especially if he'd found friendship with them and their spouses. It seemed hypocritical for him to respect a marriage between people he'd only known months when he hadn't for Derek who he'd known decades, but that was just how it happened. He'd learned from that mistake and he worked hard never to make it again.

"Ready to lose, doc?" Jake asked, grinning as he handed the stick off to him and moved around the table to set up a shot.

Laughing lightly, Mark threw him a confident look. "Care to put money on it?"

Jake's eyes narrowed suspiciously but he shrugged anyway. "How much?"

A slow smirk appeared and Mark knew he was in for a good night. If he played this right, he'd have enough to get another fish tank. His mind wandered to where he'd put it.

OoOoOoO

Licking her lips, Meredith nodded, a pleased expression passing her face. "I'd ask for the recipe, but you'd just laugh at me. I'm sure Mark will get it off you before we leave," Meredith said, grinning.

Chuckling, Cassie nodded. She was pretty in a natural way, with long wavy blonde hair and bright blue eyes. She worked as a counselor at a high school nearby and had a strong personality that sometimes looked out of place on her rather small form. She was short, quite thin, and gave off a gentle and almost meek appearance, while she was anything but. Meredith considered her an odd mixture of Izzie and Cristina, which in her mind seemed almost insane but in the form of Cassie, it worked.

"I wouldn't give it to you if you asked. A masterpiece like this, charred and burned, it'd be a mockery to food everywhere," she said bluntly.

Meredith shrugged it off, smiling all the same. "Well, Mark won't ruin it. If I get nothing out of moving to New York, at least I eat well."

"Nothing? I'm offended," she replied, lifting a blonde brow. "I'll have you know my friendship is highly sought out. You should be honored," she said, pointing the wooden spoon in her hand at Meredith who sat on the counter with a bottle of Corona in her hand.

"Oh, I am. Deeply," Meredith told her, with a mock apologetic expression and a hand pressed to her chest. "Just last night, I was telling Mark that we should send you a gift basket, we're so happy you lend yourself to our underprivileged selves." She paused for effect. "You like cheese, right?"

Laughing, Cassie shook her head, rolling her eyes. "Yes. Very much. Stinky, blue, cheddar, all of it. I'll expect it soon."

Amusement filled Meredith but she couldn't help but wonder how Cristina would like Cassie. Her Seattle person wasn't the most likable friend, nor did she take a liking to many, but she was still Meredith's best friend and she found herself missing her more and more. Phone calls were nice, but sometimes they reminded her of how much distance was put between her and Cristina. She loved being in New York, it had an exhilarating and freeing atmosphere, but she still missed her friends. If they'd move to New York, she could see herself staying permanently. It was the only subject she didn't touch often with Mark; her deliberation on whether she'd end up staying in New York or going back. She knew she still had some healing to do and some moving on to accomplish, so she wasn't leaving anytime soon. But Cristina continued to push for her to come back and she knew Izzie and George were worried about whether she'd return.

There were some mornings where she wondered if maybe she was ready, but then she'd see Mark making breakfast or napping on the couch and she'd think she needed more time. She wasn't sure if it was the leaving him part that kept her there or her own uncertainty about Seattle that kept her in New York. She loved knowing she'd see him each morning; that he'd be making her breakfast or driving her to their work or that he'd simply be sitting in his armchair, watching TV or reading the newspaper. He'd unexpectedly become somebody she relied on wholly. They'd created a routine and a friendship that she lived off of. She wasn't sure how she'd do if she returned to Seattle without him. He didn't want to go back though, she knew that, he never left her wondering on that. He thrived in New York; he had his practice, new friends, his apartment, and a city that he simply belonged in. And maybe he could have had that in Seattle but nobody gave him the chance and it just left him empty. For that, she sometimes hated Seattle. When the time came for her to decide whether she'd stay or go back, she had no idea what she'd choose.

"You think you can handle a salad or should I call in McSteamy?" Cassie asked cheekily.

Meredith smiled, reminded of how amused Jake was when he found out the name the interns had gifted Mark with. While Mark had been amused by it when he found out, he didn't like how effeminate it made him sound when the likes of Jake heard of it. Cassie enjoyed the rolling of his eyes whenever she used it though and Meredith enjoyed the little bit of home that she felt whenever the title was used.

"I'm good with salad. Just tell me what you want in it," she told her, hopping down from the counter and putting her beer down.

"Cass? You're not letting Mer cook are you?" Jake's voice called out from the pool table, hesitation and worry evident in his tone.

Mark's laughter could be heard. "She's probably only allowed to make the salad. She's never ruined one before."

"How does he do that?" Meredith wondered. She swore he had like a sixth sense when it came to her.

Cassie shrugged. "He just knows you." She smiled to herself and Meredith saw that same glean in her eye that she always got when she was about to list the reasons she and Mark would be better off as more. "You know, very few people really know each other that well. It's a sign that you two fit well together. Don't you think?" Meredith didn't reply, mostly because she knew that Cassie wasn't done. "When me and Jake first got together, I thought he was the most arrogant guy I'd ever met. I don't know why I kept dating him really, but after awhile, it was like he paid attention to things not even I noticed." She passed the lettuce, tomato, mushrooms, a box of croutons, a cucumber, carrot, and a bottle of bacon bits to her. Putting a hand on her hip, she leaned the other against the counter, her chin turned up as she fell into her thoughts. "We'd go out for coffee and he'd automatically get what I liked in it from the counter; two creams, one sugar - that real stuff, none of that Sweet'N Low crap. Or he'd pick up take-out for dinner and show up at my apartment and he'd have bought an extra egg roll or a separate Caesar salad knowing how much I like them. He learned by favorite movies or books and he'd watch or read them, just so he'd have something to talk to me about. It was things like that, the little things he noticed, that really made me realize that he was... it." She lifted a brow, staring at Meredith intensely for a moment before saying, "You got everything you need there?"

Meredith broke her eyes away and looked down at the assemble of ingredients for the green salad she was about to make. Picking up the mushroom, she handed it back and then moved to the sink to wash her hands. "Mark's allergic to mushrooms."

Cassie simply smiled.

OoOoOoO

"So what'd the missus say when you told her you want a pool table too?" Jake asked, closing one eye and lining up a shot.

Mark leaned back against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest comfortably. He half-smirked as Jake's shot missed just short by half an inch. "Something about space," he told him, shrugging. "We are short on that though. The poker area is the best place for it and there's no where else it can go." He moved across to take his shot, forcing the sound of Meredith and Cassie's laughter out of his ears so he could concentrate. His shot landed in the left corner pocket and he stood up, grinning. Jake rolled his eyes but he smiled all the same.

"You convinced her to get that fish tank back yet?" Jake wondered.

Snorting, Mark shook his head, shooting another ball into the right side pocket. "No, and even if I did, the kid likes it too much. Whenever he or his mother see me they stop to thank me profusely. I didn't want to give it up to begin with." His next shot missed but he blamed it on the fact that he could see Meredith throwing her head back and laughing as she leaned against the counter. Her face lit up and her mouth fell open, her laughter loud and joyful. Standing up, he played his folly on the table off as if it was nothing and moved to lean against the wall again as Jake moved forward to take his shot.

"Fish don't do anything anyway. They just sit in a tank. You should get a dog, at least they move." Jake managed to knock two balls into separate slots, causing him stand up and grin smugly at Mark.

Mark thought over the suggestion, wondering what it'd be like to have a dog. He knew Meredith had lost her own awhile back and wasn't sure if she'd like having another around. McSmokey was a good enough pet as it was; constantly affectionate. which Mark pretended to dislike though he did enjoy it at times. A dog would probably need more attention though. "I'll bring it up," he said, shrugging one shoulder. He'd always loved the colors tropical fish had. They were exotic and eye catching, but quite expensive. And Jake was right, they did nothing but float around, dirty the water and expect you to feed them.

"I wanted a dog but Cass didn't think we'd have enough time or space for it." His next shot missed and he moved to the side as Mark took over again. "She doesn't think the city is a good place for a dog anyway."

"She bring up moving out of the city area again?" Mark wondered, sinking a couple balls and looking over at his friend.

"She hasn't brought it up but I saw a few print outs for houses in Bayside," Jake told him, half-frowning.

"Bayside," Mark repeated, mild surprise in his voice. He and Meredith lived on the Upper East Side, just a fifteen minute drive from them. While Cassie's job wasn't the best paying career, Jake worked as a well known lawyer and had a large check coming to him every couple weeks. They comfortably lived in a privileged condo area, but they'd said before that they'd like to branch out to a more of a neighborhood. Mark assumed they meant when they were thinking of having children though, which was still something neither Cassie nor Jake had any real hurry to have.

"Yeah." Jake sighed, shrugging. "We'll probably be the only couple on the block who doesn't have children and won't for awhile yet."

"Well, at least you'll have the expected dog," Mark told him, smirking.

Snorting, Jake rolled his eyes and watched as Mark shot another ball into the pocket. The game was coming to a close and it was obvious it was in Mark's favor. He would be out fifty bucks by the end of the night, but it was fun all the same. If his wife asked, he wasn't admitting anything. Both Meredith and Cassie chastised that the two men spent money on frivolities, fun or not.

"Guys? Dinner's ready," Cassie's voice reached them.

Smirking, Mark shot the last ball and cleared the table of all of his. "What was it you said to me? Prepare to lose?" he asked, lifting a brow as he leaned back against the table. "I believe you owe me fifty well deserved dollars."

Snorting, Jake rolled his eyes. "Remind me after dinner. My wallet's in my bedroom and I don't want to explain it to Cassie."

"Wimp," Mark bugged before putting his stick up on the rack and moving toward the dining room.

"If you'd lost, would you have admitted it to Meredith?" Jake shot back, lifting a challenged brow.

"Of course," he replied, shrugging a shoulder. Under his breath, he added. "She's the only one who remembers where I put my wallet."

Hearing him, Jake laughed as they reached the table and slid into their seats. Jake and Cassie sat across from them at the rectangular table covered in a red table cloth. Mark hid his amused smile as Jake's eyes automatically went toward the salad to see if it was at all edible. Noticing, Meredith snickered. "Cassie was right beside me. She caught my hand before I dropped the arsenic in as dressing," she said, rolling her eyes.

"I don't think you can cook, I never said anything about being able to read. Besides, you're a doctor, you'd notice the skull and bones," Jake replied easily.

Reaching out, Mark grabbed the salad and handed it to Jake. "Go on then, I dare you."

Jake stared for a moment, his expression barely concealing his uncertainty.

"Double dare you," Mark added, chuckling. It was childish and he reveled in it.

Jake sighed, his eyes thinning.

"Oh please," Cassie said, grabbing the bowl and filling her plate with some and digging it without preamble. A second later she faked choking, her eyes dramatically rolling back. Meredith took it all in good humor and shook her head at the act. Swallowing, Cassie laughed and spooned some onto Jake's plate, ignoring his still wary expression.

Plates filled to the brim, the conversation flowed easily. Beer, wine, and a tall glass of water for Cassie sat amongst the table. A basket of French bread occupied the middle of the table and Mark was reminded briefly of how Cassie's table setting sometimes reminded him of a restaurant, without the stranger serving the food. Dinner was eaten leisurely, cooling over the time they spent talking about work, friends, and sharing the odd humorous story. Mark couldn't remember a time he'd really enjoyed himself so much in years. He, Addison, and Derek had shared these moments but it felt like a lifetime ago. Back before Derek was working far too much and Addison was looking for somebody to fill the loneliness. Before Mark had seen a moment of opportunity and took it despite the consequences. He didn't have to worry about that now though. He was just with friends, with the people that could make him laugh freely and loudly. There was a lightness in his chest and for once in six months, he knew without a doubt that he was well on his way to healing and had no doubt that he'd made the absolute right choice in leaving Seattle.

After dinner was finished, Meredith helped Cassie clean up, putting the dishes away in the dishwasher and wiping down the table and counters. Mark and Jake looked through the DVD collection and checked the movie listings on the satellite, looking for something to wind down to. Sunday was a sleep in day for him and Meredith, so they weren't worried about how late they stayed out. Choosing a comedy, the four sprawled out in the living room. Cassie and Jake took up a comfortable position holding each other on the loveseat while Meredith laid out on the couch, her feet propped up in Mark's lap. His hand automatically fell to slip around one of her ankles, fingers smoothing over the curve of her foot and down around her heel. Used to this behavior, she simply watched the screen, her body lying on her side, one arm propped beneath her head while the other sat across her hip.

Mark found the great part about watching a movie with Jake and Cassie was that they were the same as him and Meredith; they enjoyed talking throughout the movie, about whatever they liked or disliked. While Mark would comment to the people watching with him, Meredith was the kind of person who talked directly to the characters, as if her criticisms could be heard as they acted. Jake and Cassie followed the same ritual, so the four of them always enjoyed a movie, without having to worry about shushing or annoying each other.

By the end of the movie, Meredith had traded positions so her head was where her feet had been, while he had moved so he was leaning against the arm of the couch, his legs propped up. Her head fell comfortably onto his stomach, her arm curving across his legs, hand laying against his hip. His own arm fell around her shoulder, fingers playing with the strands of her hair after she pulled her ponytail out. He didn't question this as it had become a natural reaction that both of them had simply embraced rather than pondered. He excused it as a natural human desire for physical closeness, despite knowing that in the past he'd only ever had Addison as a female best friend and only touched her without hesitation after they'd made their dive into adultery. He'd seen other men with women as friends and he knew that they weren't as physical, probably to keep that boundary set, but he wasn't giving it up unless she told him it had to stop. It wasn't as if they were really doing anything wrong.

"You guys want dessert?" Cassie asked after the credits rolled on the movie. She stood up from the loveseat, smoothing out her shirt and looking over at Meredith and Mark as they lay with their legs entwined. Mark didn't miss the approving smile on her face and would've rolled his eyes if he didn't somewhat agree with her. There was part of him that wondered if maybe he and Meredith should just make the jump, but a more cautious part that he'd never really listened to in the past warned him that Meredith was the most important person in his life and he wasn't willing to risk that for a possible attraction. He didn't know if she was just leaning on the physical comfort because he was the only real close friend she had with him. He was the guy she spent 24/7 with, it was natural for her to feel inclined to comfort around him. They naturally moved together, arms wrapping around each other, bodies matching one another's gait, heads inclining to each other when they were speaking. There was a flow to them all it's own and he knew that others perceived it as more than friendship, but he was unwilling to make that move yet.

Lifting her head, Meredith grinned. "What do you have?"

"A strawberry cheesecake," Cassie replied, a slow smile appearing before she licked her lips.

"Ooh, I'm in." Meredith hopped up off the couch, her legs untangling from Mark's and her hands moving to push her hair behind her ears.

While they were in the kitchen, Jake left to his room to get the money he owed Mark, handing it over to him and then slipping his wallet into his pants just as the girls came back. Plopping down beside him, Meredith handed him a plate with a slice of dessert and then settled back in the couch to eat hers. "You know what's great about New York?" she asked him, turning slightly to face him.

He looked over at her, his mouth filled with the tasty flavor of cheesecake and strawberries. He tipped his head to tell her to continue.

"I have a two Izzie's to make my every meal," she told him, chuckling. "I swear, between you and Cassie, I'll be fat in no time." She took another bite of her cheesecake and then patted her flat stomach.

Mark lifted a disbelieving brow and swallowing he shook his head. "I'm a plastic surgeon, I've got the tools to save your figure," he joked.

Meredith snorted, but before she could reply, Cassie brought her into a conversation about how much space the pool table took up and how she thought it might be nice to get a bigger place. Mark sat back, only able to get through half the cheesecake before he felt too full. He challenged Jake to another game and they left the two women to their talking.

A little over an hour later, he and Meredith were crossing the street to their car. It'd be nearly midnight by the time they got home and Mark could feel the tiredness creeping in. He looked forward to spending most of the morning in his bed or on his armchair, surfing the channels on his TV and chatting with Meredith. It was nice not to be on call as much as he had been in Seattle; to have a designated day to relax. Saturdays were always filled with outings and friends and just generally out in the city, but Sundays he was allowed to laze around in sweatpants and a muscle shirt, sprawled out with no plans of doing anything.

As he pulled out onto the less busy streets, Meredith turned to him in her seat, her hand fiddling with the radio. "So how much did you squeeze out of Jake this time?"

Mark laughed. "He went double or nothing in the end," he told her, shaking his head. "An easy two hundred." He turned to her, smirking. "I told you I was good at pool."

Snorting, she rolled her eyes, but smiled as she sat back in her seat. "No fishtanks," she told him firmly, her eyes turned to his seriously.

Frowning, he sighed. Inside, he felt rather comforted in the fact that she knew him so well. As the soft rock channel filled the silence of the car, Mark's eyes moved from the road to Meredith. Her eyes were closed, her head leaned back on the headrest as she mouthed the words to the songs. Her hand rested on her thigh, fingers drumming out the beat to the music. The song was vaguely familiar, but he didn't pay much attention to it, instead he fell into his thoughts. As he drove along the streets, directing their way home, he wondered if one day all of the predictions of their friends, all of the wondering he'd done himself, would all turn out with the two of them becoming something more. It wasn't something he dreaded or even disliked for a future course. He just hoped that if they did get together, it was the right choice, and not another of the mistakes each relationship either of them had been in turned out to be. He hoped that when the time came for them to make a decision on friendship or more, they picked right.

As a new song began, Meredith reached out, her hand curling around one of his. He looked over to her to find she was still lost in the music, eyes closed, posture relaxed. He wasn't sure if she even noticed what she'd done, but he enjoyed it for what it was. If nothing changed in their relationship, he'd be happy, and if it did, he had high hopes that it would become that forever relationship in his life.

Softly, he could hear her singing, "Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road, time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go, so make the best of this test, and don't ask why, it's not a question, but a lesson learned in time. It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right. I hope you had the time of your life..."

A/N Was able to get away and to a computer. I already have the next chapter written and I'm half done a chapter to "A Dark and Twisty Happily Ever After." Hope you enjoyed this. I know some of you were interested in Mark's thoughts, so here you go. Please review, it's appreciated!