I woke up to Zola's crying via the baby monitor. I gently extricated myself from Mark's arms, sliding on my robe and headed into the nursery. "Hey baby girl." She was wide awake, quieting down as soon as she saw me and in need of changing. Laying her on the changing table, changing out her diaper, she was just staring up at me. "You know...I am waiting for you to change your mind and turn into a terror on me. I know I shouldn't complain, you are being super good. Believe me...I am not complaining." She was just staring at me, smiling a bit, hanging on every word. "Silly girl..." I blew a raspberry on her stomach before dressing her and she laughed. "Let's take you downstairs and let Mark sleep." I picked her up and took her downstairs, I sat on the floor with her and we played with her toys.

It was hours before Mark found his way downstairs. He stumbled into the living room and plopped down on the couch. "Hey, how long you been awake?"

I laughed. "Since Zola decided she missed her mommy, about four hours ago." To which Zola just thew her hands in the air and gave an excited squeal.

Mark laughed and heaven help me, it was a sexy laugh well more of a rumble in his chest and he had such a joyful look in his eyes. "Sure, laugh it up the one who gets the sleep." I teased back at him.

He just smiled wide. "If she wakes up tonight, I will take care of her." He crawled off the couch onto the floor next to me and kissed me. Zola giggled and reached for him. "Well excuse me, am I neglecting you." She was looking at him with awe and he just leaned over, kissing her on the head and she laughed more.

"How are you enjoying your kidnapping experience?" I asked him playful, since I know damn well he loved it.

He leaned up, his mouth near my ear and in the sexist damn voice purred at me. "Fantastic..." His voice sent shivers straight to my groin. "You can kidnap me anytime Mer." He kissed my neck and I couldn't suppress the shudder it caused. "How about I take you two ladies out to dinner?"

"Sounds like a plan." I grinned at him, loving how easy it was between us. "Mind watching her while I get ready?"

"If I can't join you then sure..." That cocky grin of his in full force.

"You are so bad..." I kissed Zola on the head and headed upstairs to shower.

When I came out of the shower Mark kneeling next to the bed, making faces at Zola, who was eating it up. "Too cute..."

His head snapped up, not realizing I was watching them and he looked thoroughly embarrassed. "Hi." He was staring at me in my towel and I could see the lust in his eyes. "I'm going to go take a cold shower."

I just smiled innocently at him, picking up Zola and taking her to the nursery...maybe with a little more swing in my hip than I should. I can't help but love to torment him. I sat her down in the crib, quickly changing her and putting her in a cute little red dress. Since Mark was still otherwise occupied, I quickly dug out some lingerie and a sexy black dress. I went back into the nursery and was leaning on the crib looking at Zola. "Hey baby girl. So what do you think?" She was looking up at me as if hanging on every word. "He's great huh?" Her eyes were wide as if trying to grasp what I was saying. "Not sure my heart can take this again..." Zola lifted her arms up to me and I picked her up. "No worries Mama is fine, just a bit scared is all." I carried her downstairs with me and got her stuff together to take with us.

I didn't hear him come down and he startled me. "You look beautiful."

"Ooo..." I put my hand on my chest. "You scared me." I smiled at him. "Thank you." I could see something in his eyes. "You alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." He placed a soft kiss on my lips. "Let's go Mer, I'm starving." He picked Zola up and we headed out.

Dinner was fantastic, at least until we were leaving and ran into Derek. "Well..well...you just can't help but take all the women I love." I looked up startled to see Derek standing there, but more shocking was the venom in his voice toward Mark.

Mark didn't get a chance to say anything, as I held Zola close to me. "Leave us alone Derek." Mark still had his arm around me, protectively. I could see Derek move to say more and I cut him off. "Don't blame Mark for your shortcomings. You are the reason you lost Addison and you are the reason you lost me." I looked up at Mark. "Let's go."

Mark was going along with it, until Derek grabbed my arm, effectively scaring Zola. "Derek...get your hand off of her." Marks voice was a growl and I could tell he was trying to not to bring this to blows.

"That's my daughter and my wife, in case you forgot." Derek was shouting at this point and was attracting a crowd. "You just had to fuck her."

I turned into Mark's arms, handing him Zola. He looked at me completely confused and I turned back to Derek, my arms free and smacked him. "You are a self righteous son of a bitch. I am your EX wife in case you didn't get the paperwork. That is MY daughter. You stay the fuck away from me and mine." I had balled my hands tightly to resist hitting him again. "You and your double standard bullshit is what broke us, not me. Your distance and judgmental crap is what drove Addie away too. Grow up Derek and leave us alone." I turned, grabbing Marks arm dragging him with me and we left Derek standing there. I was trembling with anger, but looked up at Mark who was grinning. Instantly, I felt myself relax and let out a soft laugh. "You enjoyed that, didn t you?"

"You bet. That was sooo hot." He grinned. "Feisty...looks very hot on you Mer." He laughed. "He is going to have your handprint on his face for a few days at least."

I couldn't help it and finally burst out laughing. "God that felt good."

Once we were home and Zola to bed, Mark and I downstairs. We poured ourselves a glass of wine and Mark put on some soft music. "Dance with me Mer." He pulled me into his arms and we gently swayed to the music. I loved how relaxed he made me feel, but the words out of Mark's mouth stilled me. "You don't have to be afraid of this, us." He looked at me with such a serious expression. "I heard you talking to Zola, after I got out of shower. I...I didn't mean to, but the baby monitor was on..." I swallowed hard, knowing exactly what he heard. "I won't hurt you. I love you just the way you are. I'm not Derek, trust me with your heart." He kissed me and I melted into him. "I love you Meredith."

I could feel the tears gathering in my eyes and my chest swell at his words. "I love you too Mark."