AN: So it's been about a week since I've updated. It's been crazy with mid-terms and everything else. But I'm on spring break now and here's another chapter.
Monday morning, Erica ate lunch in the cafeteria with Callie. The two friends discussed everything from rumors of Dr. Webber trying to retire again, to the current goings on of their love lives.
"How are things going with Miguel?" Erica asked.
"Things are going just fine. I do feel like I'm missing a lot though. The two of us have not just hung out in a while, and I think I've also missed a few bar nights."
"That you have."
"So I was thinking you and I could do a girl's night Friday. We can go to a bar and then hang out at my apartment, or yours, watch movies. All the girly stuff." Callie suggested.
Erica looked at Callie and shook her head. "Not gonna' work. I have a date on Friday night."
"I thought he usually took you out on Saturday mornings."
"Well, he's changing it up. We're going to some downtown five-star restaurant."
"Really, then we should go shopping Wednesday or Thursday," said Callie.
"Why do we need to go shopping?" Erica asked confused.
"You need a killer dress Erica."
"I have a killer dress. I was planning on wearing the same one I wore on Valentine's Day."
"Are you serious? Didn't you run into him at a bar that night?"
"Yes."
"Were you wearing that dress?"
"Yes."
"So he's seen you in it. You need something that he hasn't seen you in yet Erica. Are you following me?"
Once again Erica screwed up her face and looked at Callie. What Callie was suggesting seemed like nonsense to Erica. Why let a perfectly nice dress she'd only worn once go to waste? "Not really."
"That's okay. Wednesday after work we are going to the store and getting you a dress. No ifs ands or buts about it." Callie said definitively.
Erica rolled her eyes and got up from their table. "I have a surgery I need to prepare for, and first year residents to humiliate and torture." Erica smiled.
Wednesday evening, Callie and Erica arrived at the mall and went right into one of the more expensive boutique stores. The two friends perused the overpriced dresses on the racks, in search of the "perfect dress."
"I still don't understand the purpose of us being here." Erica said pulling a red dress from the rack.
"That doesn't matter. As long as we get you a dress, our mission will be complete. By the way the dress you're holding is hideous."
"I was thinking the same thing. All of the dresses in here look just as hideous."
"On that point, I agree. Time for store number two." Callie said pulling the blonde out of the store.
The dresses in the next store looked very different from the first. They were more classy and elegant while, at the same time they were fun. Callie immediately picked out four dresses for Erica to try on. "Here," she handed Erica the four dresses, each a different color—red, black, blue, and green.
Erica rolled her eyes. "Gee, thanks." She said as she walked to the dressing rooms.
Callie sat outside in one of the comfortable chairs and waited for her friend to come out. When she came out with the first dress on, Callie shook her head. Erica tried on the black dress and then the green one. Callie gave both dresses thumbs down. When Erica came out in the blue dress, Callie smiled. "That is the perfect dress, Erica. Mark will love it."
"You think so?" Erica asked looking at herself in the mirror.
"Of course I'm sure."
Friday night came much faster than Erica expected it too. She was running late, and she hated running late. Earlier the hospital had taken a number of patients from a thirteen car pile up that morning and Erica had not been able to leave the hospital until six thirty, which meant she did not get home until seven o'clock, an hour before Mark was supposed to pick her up for their date. She was running around her apartment trying to be ready when he knocked on the door. As she put her other earring into her ear, there was a knock on the door. Erica smoothed her dress out and picked up her clutch.
When the door opened fully, Mark got a full view of the woman he was taking out to dinner. Erica wore her hair down in the same style she wore to work; she did not have time to try and pull it back. Her dress was a deep dark blue, almost like the night sky. It was a v-neck and appeared to be a halter. The dress was empire cut and flowed nicely out from her body. "You look amazing," Mark complemented.
Erica smiled, "Callie thought you'd say that."
"Are you ready to go?" Mark asked.
"Let me just grab my coat." She turned around and walked back into the apartment to get her coat that was hanging in her closet. When she turned away, Mark was able to see the back of her dress was not what he thought. The straps crossed in the back.
After helping her into her coat, Mark took Erica by the arm and the two walked into the night.
About thirty minuets after Mark got to Erica's apartment; the pair arrived at the fancy five-star Italian restaurant. Erica smirked as the two walked in, "You must have a thing for Italian food Mark. Last week we had pizza and today we're eating here."
Mark shrugged his shoulders as they followed the maitre-d to their table. "Have you eaten here before?" Erica asked as she perused the menu for something that sounded good.
"No, but everyone I've asked said it's one of the best restaurants in the city."
"Ok then. Do you know what you want?"
"I'm not sure. What do you plan on getting?"
"I think I'll order the Turtei con Aragosta," Erica said.
"That looks good; do you want to try their calamari for an appetizer?" Mark asked.
"Sure why not."
Shortly after they had decided what they were going to order, their waiter arrived and took their orders. The two looked at each other for a while, before either of them broke the silence.
"Are you an only child?" Erica asked Mark.
"I have a step brother and a half sister."
"Oh, what are they like."
"My sister is twenty-five and she jus finished up with her Master's degree in marketing. I actually talked to her earlier this week; she's received job offers from all over the country. My step-brother is three year older than me. He is a partner for a law firm in North Carolina. He is also married with three children, a four year old, an eight year old and a ten year old. I don't know how he does it. I've baby sat for them a couple of times and my niece and nephews are not the best children in the world." Mark laughed. "Do you have any siblings?"
"I have a twin brother."
"Really?"
"Yes. He got married two years ago and they are expecting their first child. I think my parents are more excited than they are." Erica said taking a sip of her water. "Did you grow up in New York?"
"No, actually I grew up in Vermont and Massachusetts. When my parents got divorced, my mom moved to Massachusetts and my dad stayed in Vermont. I spent the school year with my mom and the summer with my dad. Where did you grow up?"
"I am from Wisconsin not too far from Greenbay."
"Let me guess you're a huge Packers fan then?"
"Born and bred. I've been to quite a few games. I would love to get season tickets but the wait is years long and some people are willed season passes."
"If you got them you'd go back for the games?"
"Of, course. I would fly back for every home game."
"You truly are a die hard fan. What do you think about Favre retiring?"
"I got a little emotional, he's been with the team for so long and he's been playing football for so long that it's hard to believe he won't be playing in the future. But everyone's got to retire at some time right?" Erica smiled, "What is your favorite football team?"
"The New York Giants," Mark smiled.
"I could've guessed that. You must have been excited when they won the Super Bowel this year then."
"I'm not gonna' lie to you Erica, there were a few tears of joy that night."
"You're kidding?!" Erica asked disbelieving.
Mark smiled and shook his head. "Not many mind you but a few."
"Wow, the big bad Mark Sloan crying over a football game. I have got to tell Callie."
"If you tell Callie, I'll have to kill you." Mark joked.
"Fine I won't tell her."
As they finished up their conversation about family and football, their food came. They ate and continued talking about their childhood and favorite sports teams. After they finished and Mark paid for dinner, they got in the car and made their way back to Erica's apartment.
On the ferry ride home, the two stood by the railing, looking out into the night. "So Dr. Sloan, did you always want to be a plastic surgeon?"
"What do you mean?"
"When you were little, did you want to be a doctor?"
"Not really. When I was little all I wanted to do was be a racecar driver. My room was modeled after a pit stop on a race track. I eventually grew out of that though."
"Not completely, you still go out to the track and drive the cars." Erica pointed out.
"What can I say; I'm just a big kid at heart. What about you, what did you want to do?"
"Promise you won't laugh when I tell you."
"I can give you no guarantee."
Erica rolled her eyes. "All I wanted to do was to be a cashier at a grocery store so I could press the buttons on the register."
Mark looked at her, and tried very hard not to laugh.
"I thought the buttons were so cool. Needless to say, I never worked at a grocery store."
"Do you still want to be able to press the buttons?" Mark laughed.
"Making fun of me will get you no where Mark Sloan."
"I can't help it. It's so easy to do."
Erica punched him in the arm, hard enough to leave a bruise later on. "That hurt." Mark said.
"Yeah well, it's your own fault." Erica then walked away to the other side of the ferry.
Mark followed her and stood next to her when she stopped. She stared down in the water and watched the waves hit the boat. Even though Erica felt his presence beside her, she ignored Mark.
"If I apologize will you look at me?"
Erica continued to ignore him and watched as the lights on the other side of the shore grew closer.
"I'm sorry for making fun of your love of grocery store buttons." Mark said.
Erica smiled and turned around, "and…"
"And it will never happen again."
"And…"
"And what?" Mark asked.
"And I'm the best doctor at Seattle Grace and your skill can never be compared to mine." She smiled evilly.
Mark shook his head, "I don't think I can comply with the last part of this apology. How about instead I do this…" Mark lifted her chin so that their lips met in a tender kiss.
"I think I can live with that, for now. But one day Mark, you will recognize my superiority in everything and comply with all my wishes." Erica said.
"Whatever you say, oh powerful one." Mark mocked her as they walked back to the car before the ferry reached the dock.
AN: So may or may not be updating as much as we move more into March beause of March Madness! Tarheels #1 and we're going all the way! Ideas are welcomed. And thanks for reading, as always, please review.
