A/N: Thank you for the reviews: Maureen, superficialcynic, buddy and Amie Rosenberger. They eally do mean a lot to me.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything you know from the show. Maddie, yeah she belongs to me.

Just a little warning, this story is un-beta. All mistake are mine and I apologize a head of time.

They've noticed…

Meredith and Maddie have been in Settle for a little over a month now and Meredith didn't even wish that it would turn out as good as it has. Cristina, Izzie, Alex and George turned out to be pretty good friends and Maddie adore them, even Cristina ,who tried her hardest not to like the little girl, soon found herself smitten with her. The only kid she would ever like, as Cristina had put it many times.

Izzie was like Maddie's new best friends, not that Meredith mind. It was a nice change to have someone around that was bubbly and happy instead of dark and twisted, like her. And Alex had become like the big brother to the young child. Often accompany Izzie when she would come over to baby-sit Maddie. Playing video games with her and watching sports, which until recently Meredith had no clue that Maddie even liked sports.

Then there was George. It was more then obvious that he was Maddie's first crush. Whenever they were in the same room, Maddie would get this goofy smile on her face and get as close to him as she could. He was always the one she offered to share her snack with or if her and Alex were playing a game, she would take the controller out of Alex's hand and offer it to George. Also, she always requested that it was George to watch her if Izzie couldn't.

The only problem with that was, George seem to have a crush on Meredith. She would always tell people they were crazy, when someone pointed it out to her. That was until Cristina said something. She simply wouldn't let her deny it. It was after that conversation that Meredith decided she need to talk to him. She told him that although she was very flattered that he like her, she wasn't looking for a relationship and wouldn't be for a long time.

Sadly, George took this information like any other man would and stopped coming around, which crushed Maddie and he was avoiding Meredith at the hospital at all cost. It wasn't until Alex cornered George and told him to get his head out off his ass. Just because Meredith didn't like him like that, didn't mean he had to hurt an innocent five year old that thought the world of him. That night, he showed up on Meredith's door step, simply shrugged his shoulders and said he was sorry. Meredith told him he couldn't just walk in and out of Maddie's life like before letting him in and it was worth it, to see Maddie's eyes light up when he walked into the living room. Ever since then, thing's returned to normal.

It was about a week before that the gang started to notice something about Meredith. First it was Izzie. She had dropped a tray and burst out laughing at the way Meredith nearly jumped out of her skin. Meredith brushed it off, saying it just surprised her before walking way. Then it was Alex. He went to put his arm around her shoulder, one day when he walked up behind her and Meredith instantly froze in her place. When he saw the fear that quickly passed through her eye, he pulled his arm off of her and asked if she was okay. Once again, she just brushed it off, saying it had surprised her.

Next was Cristina, she walked into the locker room, ranting and raving about something. She stopped when she saw the way Meredith seem to have backed herself in the corner. This time she didn't make an excuse up, she just pushed pass Cristina saying something about having to get to surgery. Last was George. One day he walked into the kitchen, after finding the front door unlocked, which was unusual and Meredith screamed, dropping the pan in her hand when she turned around and saw him standing there. He laughed at first, until Maddie ran into the kitchen, screaming for him to stay away from her mom. Meredith quickly picked Maddie up, making up some excuse as she pushed him out the front door.

"She pushed you out the door?" Alex asked George as they sat down at a table for lunch.

"Yeah, she said they had to go some where and pushed me out the door. But what was weird was the way Maddie was clinging to her. Like she thought something was going to happen to her."

"Happen to who?" Izzie said sitting down at the table with Cristina.

"Has Grey ever told you guy's why she moved back here?" Alex asked before George could say anything.

"She wanted to move back home." Cristina said before taking a bit out of her sandwich.

"She said that?" George asked

"Well no. But I kinda figured that was why."

"I think she's on the run." Alex said

"What?" Izzie asked "On the run from who?"

"Whoever has her so scared that she jump's at the slightest sound."

"Oh come on. So she's a little jumpy. That doesn't mean she's on the run."

"Okay," Alex said with a nod of his head "How much do you know about her life before she came back to Seattle?"

"Well…" Izzie trailed off looking at Cristina.

"Why are you looking at me?"

"You've spent a lot of time with her, why'd she come home?" Izzie said

"She's never really said. When ever we start to talk about her, she gives vague answers before changing the subject." Cristina answer

"See, she's on the run. But now the question is from who?" Alex said

"Maybe it's Maddie's Dad." George said.

"No, Meredith said Maddie doesn't have a Dad." Izzie said

"The rules of life would tell you that she has a Dad. Maddie couldn't exist if there was no guy involved and from her telling you that, I would say that it's defiantly a possibility."

"I know that." Izzie said, glaring at Alex "Meredith said Maddie was the result of a one night stand. That's why I said Maddie doesn't have a Dad and as far a Meredith is concerned Maddie's hers and no one else's."

"She'd lie about it if that was who she was running from so what you just said makes me believe it even more, that she's hiding from him."

"We don't know that guy's."

"Well, there's always one way to find out." Cristina said causing everyone to look at her "We take her to Joe's and get her so drunk that she tells us what's going on. Drunk people always tell you the truth. Courage in a bottle."

"That would work but you know as well as I do that Meredith isn't going to leave Maddie at the daycare center all night and the only people she'll leave Maddie with is one of us." Alex said before they all looked at George.

"What?"

"Well, you're the only one that has to work early tomorrow." Izzie said

"Cristina has to work in the morning too."

"Yeah but I can work with a hangover, you not so much." Cristina pointed out.

"Fine," George said "I'll offer to watch her but if you find anything out, I want to know."

"God, you a such a girl." Alex said before getting up and walking way.

"What's he mean by that?" George asked confused.

Cristina and Izzie shared a laugh before saying "Don't worry we'll fill you in on everything."

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"Hey" Izzie said as she walked up beside Meredith, pretending not to notice the way she jumped a little as she hocked their arms together "We've decided you need a night out."

"We?"

"Yup. So, we're taking you to Joe's tonight."

"You know I can't just go out." Meredith said lowering her voice "I have to find a-"

"Already taken care of." Izzie said as Meredith raised an eyebrow at her "George. Be ready by 8" and with that she walked away, leaving a speechless Meredith behind.

Her beeper going off brought her out of her thoughts and she quickly made her way around the corner, neither of them noticing Mark standing in the doorway of an empty room, intrigued about the conversation he had just over heard.

For close to a month now, he's been trying to break down the invisible walls Meredith had built up around her. He's watched her for a far and she had seem to let nearly everyone in except him. It was more then obvious she made fast friends with Izzie, Alex, George and Cristina but she's also seemed to be making friends with Addison and Derek. But when it came to him, she shut herself off complete.

He's tried to ask her to lunch, only to have her turn him down every time. At least the times he could find her but on more then one occasion, he's seen her eating with her friends and even a couple time with Addison and Derek. Every time he requested her or offered her some kind of surgery or consult, she would turn in down or find someone else to do it for her, saying she was busy with something else.

On top of that, the smooth words and macho guy act complete failed when it came to her. Even when he pulled out his best work, she would barely acknowledge him before walking away. He had ran out of idea's and sunk down to the lowest of lows. Pulling out the best friends card, he pretty much blackmailed Derek into find out some information for him. Addison was the one to report back to him, telling him to give up and move on because Meredith wasn't interested. Unbeknown to anyone, this only added fuel to the fire and now, he had an in.

"Hey Shep," he called out as Derek walked by the door "Feel like going to Joe's tonight?"

"Sure." Derek said as they started to walk down the hallway together.

Mark tried to concentrate on what Derek was talking about but the only thing running through his head was why she felt she couldn't go out and what she need to find before she went out.

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"You're beautiful, Mommy." Maddie exclaimed when Meredith walked out of the bathroom.

Meredith looked herself over in the mirror before sending a skeptical look in Maddie direction. All she had on was a pair on jeans and a simple black shirt but non the less, she smiled and said "Thanks Munchkin."

Maddie got off the bed and walked towards the dresser, grabbing Meredith bottle of perfume and looking up at her, indicating that she wanted to spray it on her.. She bent down and helped Maddie so she wouldn't go over broad before kissing her softly on the forehead "Are you sure you're going to be okay with George. Because if you want me to stay home, I can."

"Go have fun, Mommy." Maddie said with a giggle "I'll be fine."

Alex had some how convinced Meredith to let him pick Maddie up from her daycare today and he explained, the best he could to a five year old, that her mother need a night out and went over what he wanted her to say if Meredith offered to stay home with her, all the way home. The ten dollars he gave to her helped a little to but Meredith didn't need to know any of that. When the door bell rang, Maddie took off down the stairs and Meredith gave herself the once over in the mirror before making her way downstairs.

"You ready?" Cristina asked impatiently.

"Yeah." Meredith said as she grabbed her jacket, looking over at George "You have my cell phone number and if there an emergency, Richard's number's on the fridge. If you have to get a hold of me and I don't answer, call the bar. And if-"

"Meredith, I've watched her before. We'll be fine." George interrupted

Meredith just nodded her head as bent down to give Maddie a hug. When she pulled away, she said "I'll be home early, okay?"

Maddie nodded her head as Cristina mumble yeah right under her breath causing Izzie to elbow her.

"I love you, Munchkin."

"I love you to, Mommy." Maddie said before kissing her on the cheek.

She stood up and followed everyone out of the house. She waved from the back seat when she saw Maddie and George standing on the porch, waving at her. She didn't know if it was because it had been so long since she actually went out for the night or if it was nerves of leave Maddie home but she couldn't shake the feeling that something was going to happen tonight.

Meanwhile, at the bar…

"So, are you going to tell me why it was so important we came out tonight?" Derek asked as he sat a beer down in front of Mark.

"I never said it was important. It's just been a long week and I thought a beer sounded nice after work." Mark said, send Derek a glare.

"Right," Derek laughed as he took a sip of his beer "That's why you freak when I tried to back out before I left the hospital."

"I didn't freak out."

"Yes, you did." Addison said, joining the table.

Mark brought his beer to his lips, to stop any smart ass comment and took a drink as his eye's traveled to the door.

"What are you up to?" Addison asked, raising an eyebrow.

"What makes you think I'm up to something?"

"The way you keep watching the door." Addison said, letting him know his little eye movement didn't go unnoticed "So again, what are you up to?"

"Nothing." Mark said as a pretty blonde waitress walked past. Just to prove a point, Mark stood up and started to follow her as Addison let out a groan.

"Oh Mark. I thought I told you to back off."

He immediately turned to look at the door and saw Meredith making her way towards the bar with Izzie, Cristina and Alex in tow. Mark instantly sat back down at the table, bring his beer back up to his lips.

"Alright, so you go us here and she showed up. What are you planning to do about it?" Derek asked

"I really have no idea what you're talking about." Marks said with a smile as she watched them at the bar.

"Two shot's of tequila." Meredith told the bartender as her eyes traveled around the bar. When they landed on a certain table, she said "Make that three."

"That's what I'm talking about Grey." Alex said before ordering a beer.

Cristina and Izzie followed suit and were surprised to see Meredith had already downed hers by the time the bartender had set their drinks down in front of them. Ordering a beer, deciding she should take it easy for a minute, seeing that they just arrived.

Once the beer was placed in front of her, she took a drink before asking "What do you guy want to know?"

Cristina and Izzie looked at each other before stuttering over their responses as Alex laughed before taking a drink of his beer.

"Look, you came up with this entire plan, got George to watch Maddie and brought me to a bar with the intention of getting me drunk. You want to know something, so what is it?"

"Why'd you move back home?" Alex asked getting to the point.

"To be closer to family." Meredith said with a shrug of her shoulders.

"Okay, see I really don't believe that because your Mom's lived back here for close to a year but yet, you didn't come home until after she died but I'll let it slid." Alex said

"I wasn't that close with my Mom." Meredith weakly pointed out.

"Okay, fine, whatever. Are you on the run from Maddie's Dad?"

"Cristina!" Izzie exclaimed. Yeah, she knew the plan was to find out what was going on with Meredith but she didn't except Cristina to ask her like that. What stood out even more was the fact that, that question seemed to have hit a nerve.

Taking a long drink of her beer to gather her thought's, she set it down on the bar, picking at the label, saying "I told you, Maddie doesn't have a Dad. It's just us."

None of them pointed out that she didn't deny that she was on the run only that it wasn't from Maddie's Dad. But judging from the look on her face, Izzie quickly changed the subject.

"Where'd you live before you came back home?"

"North Carolina."

"For how long?"

"I moved there about a year before Maddie born."

"Did you have a boyfriend?" Alex said

Again, Meredith seem to instantly tensed up for a second. A quick second but the three of them noticed.

"No." she said quietly "Where's the bathroom?"

Cristina pointed to the back and they watched as she walked away. Once she was out of ear shot, Cristina turned to Izzie, saying "Oh yeah, there's something going on that we don't know."

Alex just shook his head. He was pretty sure he knew what was going on. The sign's were more then obvious and the more he talked to her, the more the puzzle seem to fit together. He pushed his beer aside as his stomach turned because of the thought's that were running wild in his head at what hell not only Meredith could have been dealing with but Maddie to. Cristina and Izzie looked at him confused.

"You can't honestly tell me you don't understand what's going on?" he finally asked them

"And you're telling me, you do for that two second conversation we just had?" Izzie said

"Not just from that. Add it all up. The long sleeved shirt's she constantly wore when she first started, the way she jumps at the slightest sound, how secretive she is. It's like she doesn't want anyone to know what happen before she came to Seattle We've known her for a month now. We should have known, well at least one of you should have known, where she moved from." he paused to take a drink of his beer as Izzie and Cristina digested the information he just laid out on the table. He nodded his head towards the end of the bar, saying "And how about the way she won't let Mark near her."

"Yeah but if what you're saying is true. She would be weary of any guy. Not just Mark." Cristina pointed out.

"Oh she was weary of all of us at first." Izzie said watching as Meredith awkwardly stood by the table Mark, Derek and Addison sat at, rubbing the back of her neck "besides, she isn't attracted to George or Alex."

"And what makes you think she's is to Mark?" Alex asked, slightly offended.

"She's wanted to jump him since the first time she's saw him." Cristina said "I'm surprised you didn't notice that."

"Oh, I noticed." Alex said "I just don't see why that mean she's not into me. I mean I understand George but me. Come on."

Cristina rolled her eyes as Izzie glared at him, saying "Shut up. She's coming back."

"Can I get three more shot's of tequila?" she said to the bartender as she sat down.

"And what was that?" Izzie said with a smile on her face as she nodded towards the table

"Small talk and awkward conversation. Derek stopped me on my way back."

"Why don't you just give up already? It's be a hell of a lot easier if you did." Alex said causing Meredith to glare at him.

Izzie quickly changed the subject and the atmosphere seemed to have lighten. The three of them all came to the silently conclusion that they really didn't want to approach the subject of Meredith's mysteries past. Realizing that if they were right, she really did need a night to just sit back and relax. The drinks kept coming and about an hour later they were all feeling pretty good. Not drunk but buzzed enough that Izzie some how got Alex on the dance floor. Cristina had said she need to use the bathroom and as Meredith looked down at her watch, she realized that was twenty minutes ago. She jumped a little when someone sat down next to her, letting out a deep breath. She looked up to see Addison sitting there with her head in her hands.

"I can't believe I'm about to do this." She said before looking over at Meredith "look, I'm not trying to play match maker or push you into something but you've broke him. Mark Sloan just gave up. You've rejected everything he's thrown at you and no women has been able to do that." Stopping to look her in the eye, she said "Trust me. No women. Not for this long at least and I don't know, I've never seen him this defeated. He honestly doesn't know what to do."

Meredith just nodded her head, not really sure what to say. Sure, she was somewhat friends with Addison but she wasn't liking the direction this conversation was going and she defiantly didn't like the guilty feeling slowly creeping over her.

"Deep down inside Mark is a really good guy. He has a really big heart. Sure, he a jackass most of the time and he's full of himself but it's all an act. I've never seen him fall over himself to impress a women before. I mean he actually begged Derek to come out tonight. Do what you want but it wouldn't hurt to just talk to him."

"Hey Meredith." Derek said walking up to them. Looking over at Addison, he said "Are you ready to leave?"

"Yeah. She said sending a smile over at Meredith "I'll see you at the hospital."

Meredith smiled as she nodded her head, saying "Night guy's."

Derek sent her a smile as he put his hand on the small of Addison back, leading her towards the door. She stopped suddenly, turning back to Meredith and said "When he's in, he's all in. You could be missing out on something really great. Trust me, I know."

Derek sent her a question look but she simply smiled and gave him a quick kiss. Saying good night one last time, they made their way out of the bar. Meredith's tried to avoid looking at the table where Mark now sat alone. She saw him stand up and scan the bar before throwing some bill's down on table, reaching for his jacket. It annoyed her to no end when she realized she had her beer in her hand and was walking towards the table but she had to admit, he did look pretty defeated. Later, she would blame it on the alcohol she had in her system but now, she kept telling herself that it wouldn't hurt just to talk to him.

"Hi" she said as she sat down at the table.

He raised an eyebrow before looking around. Once he realized she was indeed talking to him, he said "Hi?"

"You always say you want to get to know me better when you ask me to lunch." she said as she took her jacket off, setting on the back of the chair "Here's your chance."

Mark found himself staring at her. This was the first time he's seen her in street clothes and he had to admit, she looked pretty damn good. He took a seat across the table, motioning for another beer. They stared at each other until the waitress set a beer down in front of him.

"Well, are you going to say something?"

"I was just enjoying the view." he said, sending her a wink as a smile crossed his face. She rolled her eyes as she started to stand up. When she felt him grab her hand, she quickly pulled her hand away and almost took a defensive stance. Immediately, he pulled his hand back, saying "Sorry."

Letting out a deep breath, she sat back down and looked him in the eye, saying "Don't hit on me. If you want to actually talk, then okay. But don't just sit here and hit on me because I'll get up an walk away."

"Alright." he said before taking a drink, nodding his head "So, tell me one of your secret's Meredith Grey."

She looked at him for a second before shaking her head, saying "I don't have any secrets."

"You, of all people, have secrets. That much is obvious." he said pointing a finger in her direction.

She brushed his comment off as she took a drink of her beer. Honestly, she wasn't in the right frame of mind to keep all her lies strait so instead, she directed the questions at him.

"Why'd you come to Seattle?"

He let out a laugh, clearly understanding that she didn't want to talk about her but she didn't deny the fact that she had secrets, either. But still when smile lit up her face, he decided he could play her little game of getting to know only him. Once in a while he would get a question in and she would either give him a some what vague answer or simply brush the question off like he hadn't asked anything. The tension slowly fade and they hadn't noticed how much time had passed until Cristina walked over to the table.

"We're going to take off." she said to Meredith before looking over at Mark "Hi,"

He nodded at her as Meredith looked down at her watch, saying "I didn't realized what time it was."

"I can give you a ride home." Mark casually offered.

Before Meredith could say anything, Cristina said "Yeah, whatever but I'm not going to stand here while you two play the whole you hang up, no you hang up game. So, I'll give you ten minutes but then we're gone."

Once again, she didn't give either of them a chance to reply. She'd been keeping an eye on them for the past hour and she knew that Meredith would deny it, but she actually looked like she was having a good it. Cristina didn't come right out and say it, but she just silently gave Meredith the choice to either go home with them or go home with him. If they were right about what had happen to Meredith, Cristina figured it was the least she could do. Besides those two had so much sexual tension between them that it would be a shame if the sex wasn't mind blowing. If they would just give in.

"She's not coming?" Izzie said when Cristina got back into the car.

"I told her we'd give her ten minutes." she said as she rested her head on the back of the seat "So, wake me up in ten minutes. If she's not out here, he can take her home."