All I want is this

Chapter 10 – I need you

Meredith woke up hearing a light snore next to her ear. She opened her heavy of sleep eyes and looked at the sleeping face of the little girl. Meredith giggled hearing her cute snore and couldn't resist not to kiss her nose. Alicia stirred a little and slapped lightly Meredith's face to banish the harassment.

Meredith caught her hand and placed it back along her body. Then she slowly slid out of bed. The curtains had remained open, so Meredith still could see the rain pouring over their window. It was still dark outside, but the sun had been starting showing its light from behind the clouds. Another gray and rainy day for Seattle was ready to start.

Meredith checked her watch. It was a little passed 5:30 and her shift was starting at 7 o'clock. It was cheerful and refreshing to wake up with Alicia by her side, to watch her sleeping and hearing her snoring for the first time. Once that she checked her watch and the daily routine was about to start, all the good and bad things returned to her mind. She sighed remembering Mark. She really believed that after the pleasant evening they spent together, Mark would be nicer and friendlier with her, but proved again that he wasn't capable of such great things. His presence was getting harder to stand each time he was throwing malicious and offending words to her spitting his venom, but there was Alicia, that little girl who always seemed to do everything to keep Meredith close to her and her daddy.

She leaned against the windowsill watching Alicia's sleep. After Mark confessed their story with that woman's abandonment, Meredith tried to imagine what kind of person Mark was before that. Alicia had a total different behavior than her father; always cheerful and fondly. Meredith thought at Alicia's mother; probably Alicia was looking more like her mother, physically and not only, but then she put herself the question what could make that woman leave her child? And this brought her again to the same question: what kind of person Mark used to be?

Then she realized she should return on Earth and she would better go and get ready for work before Mark to wake up and meet his strange behavior again.

Creeping out of the guest room, Meredith let it half-open. The wooden floor let a light creak under the first step she made. Meredith winced and froze for a second checking if her noise disturbed anyone. Since the apartment continued to sleep in the same perfect silence as before, Meredith picked up her track to bathroom.

-------------------

Mark startled when Meredith stepped outside her room and slowly opened his eyes. Immediately he could guess Meredith's presence on hall. He sighed and shifted on his back in a perfect discretion. Through that silence, Mark could even hear Meredith's breathe as she passed by his door.

As soon as he heard the bathroom door closing, Mark decided to leave the bed. He had to admit that he was grateful for Meredith's discretion. She was avoiding him for the rudeness he showed once again toward her and he was avoiding her just for the simple fact of having her in his life.

Same as Meredith, Mark crept out of his room and walked in the guest room, which his daughter had shared with Meredith. Mark found Alicia sounding asleep in the middle of the bed, so in silence closed the door and approached the bed. He slowly lifted the quilt and slid under it next to his daughter. Settling comfortable on pillow, which was still holding Meredith's warmth and the smell of wet hair, Mark rested his forehead on the girl's head.

A smile showed up on her lips and with a giggle, her blue eyes met his gaze.

"You weren't sleeping?" Mark was surprised to find his daughter awake. That was something uncommon for her. Actually, it was uncommon for him too, but this new turn that his life took in Seattle, had brought a few changes already.

Alicia simply giggled and snuggled against her father's chest, asking like that for her well-deserved cuddle. Mark welcomed her taking her in arms and kissing the top of her head.

"Daddy?" She said with her muffled voice from his now dressed chest.

"What is it?" Mark asked as he pulled back a little to loose the hug and have a better look at his daughter.

"Why don't you like Meri?" She asked with shades of sadness in her voice but still carrying the kindness in her eyes as she looked up into Mark's eyes.

Mark sighed. He ran his fingers through her hair brushing it out of her face. "What makes you think that I don't like Meredith?" He asked curiously.

"I heard you yelling at her last night again." Alicia retorted sounding a little bit nervous this time and reproachful. "She was upset last night, you know." She informed him with grave voice trying to make him feel guilty.

Mark closed his eyes trying to wipe Meredith's picture out of his head. Alicia did manage to fill him with guilt.

"Why don't you like her?" Alicia insisted after she saw her father's silence. "Daddy, are you sleeping?" She shoved him gently as she stood up propping on her arm.

Mark opened his eyes and looked at her smiling. He also rolled to a side facing her. "Why do you like her?" He asked her.

"Because she is pretty and because she very nice with me." Alicia replied immediately as convincing and honest as she could.

Mark let out another sighed. Those were the reasons he didn't like Meredith. He leaned to Alicia and gave her kiss on forehead. "Let's go and eat something for breakfast, ok?" He proposed as he jumped up at the edge of the bed.

"You didn't answer." Alicia stood up as well kneeling in the middle of the bed and watching him disappointed.

Mark ran a hand through his hair before he leaned to her ear. "I am going to tell you a secret. Promise you won't tell anyone!"

"Daddy, I can't tell anyone a secret." Alicia giggled delighted by what she considered as being her father's silliness.

Mark smiled widely at her and pressed his lips on her forehead. "I think I like Meredith." He whispered to her ear.

"You are not sure?" Alicia looked at him stunned. "Why?"

Mark rolled his eyes smiling. Alicia seemed to be as nosy as he thought about Meredith. "Because …" He started hesitated over his answer unsure of a reason. "Because I don't know her that well yet."

Alicia gave him another confused look, but then she smiled and crawled to set on his lap. "You should like her." She said hanging on his neck.

"I should?" Mark chuckled. "Why?"

"Because she is nice." Alicia answered simply and hugging her father's neck, she put her head down on his shoulder.

Mark took her in his arms and picked her up to carry her outside. As he reached to door ready to grab the doorknob, the door flew open and it took him less than a second to react and jump back to avoid a harsh contact with the door.

Meredith showed up in the doorway holding one hand over her chest as sign of her own scare.

"Is this a way to enter a room?" Mark snapped nervous.

"I- uh- I am sorry!" Meredith trailed shocked to find Mark in there. She was being honest in her apologizes because she was aware of the fact that her entrance in room wasn't quit proper especially when the house was still asleep. In the hurry of not meeting Mark on her way back to room, Meredith omitted the discretion. Now being caught by Mark's reproach, Meredith also omitted the fact that she was wearing a big navy blue towel around her.

Mark was the first one who noticed her clothing after the scare of her sudden appearance passed. In that moment, Mark couldn't hold out of his head Meredith's image sitting on his bed unbuttoning her shirt. Cold sweats of perspiration were ready to invade his forehead while pictures of his dreams were getting hotter.

Meredith felt Mark's gaze over her body like a fire heating it. Then it was when she followed his gaze and looked down at her body to find herself more exposed than ever in front of him. What she didn't know was that Mark had already seen her in all her shame, though he did it only in his imagination. She didn't know how, but her hand grabbed the first clothing item it could reach to and brought it to cover her body.

"You should try wearing some clothes while you are in my house." Mark said dryly unable to keep his eyes away from her chest, which was now partially covered by Alicia's small beige denim jacket. "Preferably not my daughter's." He chuckled more to himself and passed by her carrying Alicia outside.

Meredith's cheeks flushed of embarrassment and irritation in the same time. She closed the door right after her host and twisted the latch to lock it for more safety.

Meredith sighed as she threw Alicia's jacket back on chair and unwrapped the towel from around her body. "Stupid, stupid, stupid." Meredith mumbled under breath annoyed by Mark's impertinence while fumbling after her clothes.

-------------

As Mark put Alicia down on counter in bathroom, he met her glare. He already knew that glare. It was her glare for when she had something to reproach him.

"I know" Mark said fast before his daughter could say anything. "I'll apologize, I promise." He added as he turned on the water and picked Alicia up to lean her over the sink.

Mark splashed cold water over her face a few times and then put her back on counter. He took a face towel and handed it to her to dry herself.

Alicia took the towel and with clumsy movements wiped her face. "Don't you think Meri is pretty?"

Mark gasped caught off guard by Alicia's surprising question. "Do you think she is pretty?" He asked back delaying his answer. Avoiding an eye contact with his daughter, he bent over the sink to wash his face as well.

"I think she is." Alicia stated with innocence as she kept playing with the face towel. "Will I have breasts like hers?" She asked almost causing her father a drowning.

Mark took the towel from his daughter and wiping his face looked at Alicia. "Have you seen her breasts?" He asked with embarrassment in his voice incapable to understand how he and his daughter reached to that subject.

Alicia nodded very convincing. "Didn't you see them through her blouse?" She asked him.

Stunned, Mark jerked his head up and watched himself in mirror. For the first time his daughter made him blush.

Mark picked her up again and put her down.

"So will I?" Alicia asked him with excitement in her voice.

"Yes, you will." Mark replied defeated. "When you will grow up more." He said taking her hand.

"And will I be pretty?" She asked him with the same excitement in her voice and attitude.

"You will be very pretty." Mark chuckled complimenting her.

"So Meri is pretty too, isn't she?" She giggled as she came to her own conclusion.

Mark groaned smiling and led her outside.

"Daddy" She tugged his arm to make him answer.

"She is pretty too." Mark stated staring ahead.

"Can we eat now?" She asked.

Mark smiled down at her and nodded. "What do you want to eat?"

Alicia grinned showing him her white tiny teeth. "Peanut butter and jelly."

Mark groaned and led her to kitchen. In there, he turned on the light and let Alicia go choose a chair to table. "Make one for Meri too." She said struggling to climb up and sat comfortable on a chair.

Mark complied without any comments and took out from refrigerator two jars: one with peanut butter and another one with jelly.

While Mark was preparing Alicia's snack and Alicia was smudging the jelly from jar with her finger, Meredith came out from the bedroom she had shared with Alicia that night. Both Mark and Alicia stopped from what they were doing to look into the direction of Meredith.

They saw her already dressed for outdoors and gathering her things from living room. A shade of panic washed over Alicia's face as she watched that. She hopped from her chair and ran to living room.

"Meri?" she asked with her voice trembling of panic as she stopped by the couch's side. "Where are you going?"

Meredith had thrown her cell phone in bag when she heard Alicia. She put the bag aside on the small table and walked over to her. "I have to go to work." Meredith kneeled at Alicia's level brushing her hair behind the ear. "Have fun today at kindergarten."

Alicia frowned worried and shook her head. "Come with me!" She pleaded in a whisper.

Meredith sighed sad to see the girl's sadness.

In that moment, Mark joined them in living room. "Do you really have to leave now?" He asked looking away from her.

His question would have impressed her if hadn't kept her out of his sight. She pressed her lips on Alicia's forehead smiling lovingly at her before her mood switched fast as she jumped on her feet clutching her hands into fists. "Why?" She retorted with obvious anger in voice glaring Mark. "Didn't I receive my ration of humiliation for today?"

Mark glanced at her with embarrassment from the corner of his eye. "You don't have to act like this." He said keeping the calm in his voice.

Meredith laughed with sarcasm. "Now am I something too disgusting to look at?" She asked pointing out the fact that besides the moment when his eyes caught the sight of the towel from around her body, he didn't his best to avoid any look toward her.

In desperation, Alicia shook her head immediately. "He said you are very pretty." She said in attempt to bring the grown ups to warmer feeling towards each other.

Meredith looked down at Alicia with confusion. She was about to tell her that lying was bad when Mark interfered unconsciously. "I told you secrets shouldn't be shared." As the last word left his lips, Mark realized how loud and clear he had said it in front of Meredith. He glanced up at her and met an expressionless face staring at him.

"No you didn't." Alicia retorted in defense. "You said you like her… that was a secret." She innocently let out their secret.

Mark closed his eyes hoping that the ground would open and hide him.

Meredith smiled discreetly biting her lip to muffle a giggle. "Did he say that?" She asked kneeling back down at Alicia's level.

Alicia answered with a nod. Now Meredith wasn't sure if Mark had said it just to look good in his daughter's eyes, but she couldn't enjoy more seeing him embarrassed.

"Please stay with us, Meri!" Alicia threw herself at Meredith's neck.

Meredith brought her arms around Alicia without breaking the daze she had brought over Mark.

Mark glanced at her and meeting her smile, shot her a glare sniffing annoyed.

"I'm not sure if your father likes me enough to have me here at this hour." Meredith told Alicia still holding her curious eyes on Mark.

Alicia pulled back from Meredith's embrace and made a gesture that amused Meredith madly. Alicia hit the floor with a leg as she propped her fists nervous on hips glaring her father. "Do something!" She commanded with anger in her voice.

Mark's head titled to one side shocked by the girl's reaction. A frown creased on his forehead and clutching his hands in fists, he walked over to them.

Meredith returned on her feet protectively bringing Alicia to her as she saw Mark's mad look.

"Go eat!" He commanded in a harsher tone than it was necessary.

Alicia startled and without any comment, she ran from Meredith back to her seat at table.

"Come." Mark calmed his voice a little as he took Meredith's arm and gestured her to follow him in a further corner of the room.

They stopped by the small fireplace and Mark looked into the direction of kitchen to check on Alicia. Seeing her attempting to make herself some appetite to bite from a sandwich, Mark turned to face Meredith.

"That wasn't necessary." Meredith whispered reproachful. "You can yell at me as much as you want, but she is a child. She meant to do what she thought it was nice."

Mark's lips creased to a smile. Propping his elbow on the fireplace, Mark fixed his gaze on Meredith. "Thank you!" He said honestly. "Thank you for helping us yesterday… with everything!"

Meredith looked at him with disbelief. Her first impulse was to believe him, but he had proved already that he could be false, so a seed of doubt was in Meredith's mind.

"I am also sorry for… what I did." Mark mumbled nervously hitting the edge of the fireplace with his foot. He stopped as he straightened and looked into her eyes again. "I know I was inappropriate… rude and believe me that I am ashamed for the way I behaved last night. I am sorry!" He apologized.

The fact that he said it all looking into her eyes, helped him gain points of trust in Meredith's eyes.

"I am sorry too for…" Meredith muttered now staring at her feet. "I don't know for what." She giggled looking up at Mark.

Mark smiled and leaned to her ear. "For walking naked around my house."
Meredith gasped still holding a bright smile on her lips and made a step backwards. "I wasn't naked."

"You were." Mark retorted. "For a male… you were naked." He stated and chuckled.

Meredith blushed instantly and brought her cold hand to take from the heat of her cheek. "So you are definitely not gay."

Mark laughed short and opened the mouth to say something. He shut it back in the next second. "I'm keeping this for when we'll be friends."

"Will we ever be friends?" She asked him curiously.

"Maybe" Mark answered simply still smiling sheepish at her as a teenager. "Please stay now!"

"I have to get to work in time." Meredith retorted.

"Aren't you resident yet?" Mark asked.

"I am, but I still have a chief that watches our schedule."

"Please stay." Mark insisted making hesitantly a step towards her. "Alicia already hates me and I really could need some help with her kindergarten. You already know most of the people there and the most important you already know the address so…" Mark stopped watching for Meredith's reaction. Meeting her smile, Mark dared more. "So I need you…" He paused analyzing the way he made it sound. "… I need your help." He corrected his previous confession.

Meredith giggled and made a step towards him increasing the space between them. "I am not… Alicia's mother." She paused a little realizing that she didn't know Alicia's mother name. "You can give me all the discredit you want because you have this right, but don't treat me as a whore." Meredith looked straight into his eyes as her words made the conclusion.

"I'm sorry… for that." Mark apologized for his kiss again.

"Will you talk to Bailey?" She asked him.

"Sure" Mark smiled and nodded. "Breakfast now?" He asked.

Meredith smiled and walked ahead towards kitchen.

Alicia grinned cheerful as she saw her grown ups walking together in kitchen with a more friendly mood. "This is for you, Meri!" Alicia picked a sandwich from her plate and handed it to Meredith.

"That's nice of you Ally, but I think I will have something else for breakfast." Meredith giggled gently pushing Alicia's hand back to plate.

"You can make the coffee." Mark said heading to refrigerator. "I will make some fried eggs with bacon."

"Thanks" Meredith replied grateful and walked over to counter to make some coffee.

"Nobody wants sandwiches?" Alicia asked disappointed.

Meredith and Mark looked at each other and smiled. "You should try some cereals, Ally!" Meredith looked back at Alicia.

"No" Alicia stated shaking her head. "I like these." She said taking with more appetite this time another sandwich.

Meredith let the machine filter the coffee and went to sit down at table. "So your daddy said I am pretty and that he likes me?" She asked amused looking at Alicia.

With her mouth full, Alicia answered with a nod.

"Can we forget about that?" Mark snapped without looking back at them.

Meredith laughed at him. "I don't think so! You are not totally forgiven."

Mark glared back at her and sniffed before taking care of their breakfast.

----------------

I hope you liked it! Reviews are always refreshing!