-1

Nothing had changed, yet everything was different. She was different. Two weeks on a beach with nothing else to do but think had a way of doing that to a person. Meredith returned from her de-stressing post non-honeymoon because there was no wedding trip with a golden tan and a sense of clarity on how she wanted to handle her maybe nonexistent relationship with Derek.

The house was quiet at first when she entered, then she heard the laughter from the kitchen. The burst of laughter was followed by a silence. Raising both of her eyebrows, Meredith pushed the swinging kitchen door open with her foot. Whatever she had been expecting, it wasn't this. Dressed in sweaty jogging clothes, her two roommates stood on opposite sides of the kitchen island staring. It was the look that kept her from making herself known. She knew that look, the one that held such a profound longing and sadness it was enough to break a heart. She knew that look all to well.

"Hey," she says softly. Izzie broke eye contact first, blinking when her gaze focused on Meredith. "I come bearing gifts and.." she does a small circle hands held up, " a tan! Yes, that's right, my scary white skin is no more!"

"Mere! You should have called. We would have met you at the airport." Izzie circled the tiled island, embracing Meredith in a brief hug. She looked down at her sweat soaked t shirt and grimaced. "Sorry. Went running this morning."

"I didn't know you jogged." Meredith scooted onto one of the stools, plucking a still damp grape from a bowl in the middle of the counter. She tilted her head back, hair falling from her face, and dropped the semi-sour, semi-sweet green globe into her mouth.

"Alex talked me into it while you were gone," Izzie shrugged, glancing back towards Alex then away just as quickly. "I'm going to go take a quick shower. Then I expect to hear all about your honeymoon with Cristina."

"It wasn't a honeymoon," Meredith called after her. Izzie had already disappeared through the swinging door, her footsteps echoing on the stairs. Meredith looks back toward Alex, one eyebrow arched. "So, what was that all about?"

"What?" Alex scoops a small handful of the grapes up, tossing them directly into his mouth. He refuses to look in Meredith's direction.

"You know what. That look. The one between you and Izzie. The one I walked in on. Are you two involved again?" Rolling a tiny, mushy bit of fruit between her thumb and forefinger Meredith kept her steady green gaze on Alex's face. He showed no emotion, not that she had expected him to.

"Not hardly. We're friends. Nothing more. Rebecca came back. We're making a go of it, you know? I really care about her, think she might be the one."

Meredith continues to stare. He was lying. Whatever he felt for Izzie it wasn't friendship, and Rebecca wasn't the one. "Hm. Okay. So, I guess this is where I say I'm happy for you. Which I am. If you're happy. You are happy, right Alex? Rebecca makes you happy?" She searches his face. Still nothing. He was to good at hiding.

"Yeah. I'm happy. Why wouldn't I be?" Another handful of grapes were tossed into his mouth. Only a few remained. Meredith hooked her finger onto the edge of the bowl, dragging it towards her. She picks each remaining grape up, popping them one at a time into her mouth. Her interest remained fixed on Alex. He still showed nothing as far as emotions went, but the lack of enthusiasm in his voice said so much more than a look ever could. "Will you stop staring at me like that?"

Meredith grins, still chewing the last grape. She swallows before laughing softly. "Why? Does it bother you?" She was partially teasing. "I got you a dorky hat. It's one those stupid straw one's. Thought you could wear it when you're really drunk. Or throw darts at it." That got a smile and a deep throated laugh from him. "I got Izzie one of those shell necklaces. I suck in the gift department." He chuckled again, shaking his head. "Listen, I need for you to do me a favor. I need you to put a note on Derek's car for me and I need for you and Izzie to stay gone until I call you."

"You know Grey it isn't like we haven't heard your headboard hitting the wall before," Alex teased. She sticks her tongue out at him. "Fine. Write the note while I'm showering and I'll stick it on his car. I've got plans with Rebecca tonight anyways. Going to the aquarium. I'll just invite Izzie along." He wiggles his brows before backing towards the doorway. "Sure you're going to call? Sure we don't need to rent a hotel room?"

"If you and Izzie rent a hotel room it won't be because of Derek and we. We need to talk, and I can't do that with you guys here. To many things to use as an excuse, know what I mean?" She slid off the stool, following him into the foyer. "I kinda told him we were over. And we're not. So, I have to fix it. Tell him how much I love him. Life's short Alex. We have to tell the people we love that we love them before it's late." He stares at her, an odd look on his face before muttering something about needing to take shower. She didn't bother to remind him that Izzie was in the shower, he looked to deep in thought to hear her. She would be willing to bet everything she owned that her words were what he was thinking about, and that Rebecca wasn't anywhere near those thoughts.