a/n: sorry that this chapter took forever. I wrote it five different times and still couldn't get the pieces to fit just right. So I guess this is will have to do. Okay so I have a couple ideas that our surfing around in my head for the next three chapters. Also I know that Christina is going to cause some trouble. Anyways read and review.

Meredith stood waiting for Mark to answer her question. He looked at her then all of a sudden a smile creped onto his face.

"What?" she asked.

"I came to ask a question. Looking at you now I realize that I already know the answer." he lifted the glass to his mouth.

"What are you talking about?" she couldn't control the anger that was building inside of her. He was playing games and she was not in the mood for another game.

"Calm down Grey" he teased.

"I will not calm down. Not until you tell me what you are talking about" she yelled a little to loud.

Mark sat back down on the couch. He was pleased that he was able to pull out such an emotion in her. He knew that it was the only way to get her to admit to the truth. The truth to the one question that he came to ask. "I wanted to ask if you were truly over Derek. I thought that if you were I could get him to go home. You know before he wrecked your life any further."

"So are you taking him home?" she asked.

"I'm sorry that's no longer an option."

"What?" she yelled again.

"I know that you still love him. Any fool could see the love that you feel for that man. Don't get me wrong I know he hurt you beyond repair. At the same time if I dragged him home away from you. It would be the second biggest mistake that I every made. No I think that I will be staying in Seattle. Help my best friend reclaim the love of his life."

"Mark Sloan do you not realize that I am getting married?" she asked.

"It's not going to happen. You would never marry that pansy ass. Not when you love Derek. You know that he is the only man that can make you happy."

"Finn is not a pansy" she yelled.

"So your not denying the love you feel for Derek?" he was shocked. He thought he would have to fight her over that one.

"Why deny it any longer. Of course I love Derek. He was the first man that I ever loved. It's not so easy to stop loving him. That does not mean that I am going to stop this wedding. Finn loves me and I will not destroy him. You see I know how that feels. I know what it's like to wake up everyday heartbroken. I know what kind of life he would suffer at my hands. That is not something that I could do to him."

"That's funny" he laughed.

"What?" she asked.

"It's funny that your reason to get married is to avoid causing him pain. Not once did you admit to loving that man. Instead you claim that it would cause him pain. You realize Meredith that most brides marry for love."

"Yeah well most brides didn't have to live with a broken heart" she turned away.

"I know he hurt you. I realize that it's not going to be easy to learn to trust in his love again. I also know that if you walk away from the love that you two share you will be just like Derek. Trading in your love to make someone else happy. Giving up your life so that you don't end up causing someone pain."

"Is that what Derek thinks? He truly believes that he helped me?" she was the one laughing now.

"Yes"

"That is the most ridiculous thing that I have ever heard" she laughed.

"I'm not going to go into detail. I will leave that for him. Meredith you have to talk to him. Give him the chance to explain the reasons for his departure. If your not able to forgive him at least let him explain."

Meredith thought over Mark's words. She didn't know if she could talk to Derek. "I don't know"

"What do you have to lose?"

"Everything" she whispered.

Across town Christina sat in her living room. She heard that Mark was back in town. She knew that it could only cause trouble for Meredith. Mark would ride in on that white horse and try to convince Meredith to stop the wedding. Owen's words kept running through her mind. She knew that he was right that Meredith didn't love Finn the way she loved Derek. It was hard to let Meredith down when she needed her the most. At the same time she knew that if she didn't do something that her friend would get hurt once again. She cursed the name Shepherd as she picked up her cell. Why did he have to hurt her person. Why did she have to be the bad guy now. She already knew the answer before she dialed the number. She had to save Meredith from the pain that Derek would cause her if she cancelled the wedding.

Owen walked up to Izzy at the hospital. He knew that if anyone could help it would be Izzy.

"Hey"

"Owen" she smiled. She usually didn't talk to the man. He was a lot like Christina cold and frigid. Though at this moment looking at him she could see the warmth in her eyes.

"Can we talk?" he asked.

"I have to drop this chart off at the nurses station" she was alarmed by the sound of his voice. Her first thought was of Christina. Could something have happened to her friend.

"I'll walk with you" he followed her to the nurses station.

Izzy dropped off the chart and turned around to face Owen.

"I'm all yours" she laughed.

"Let's talk over there" he pointed to the chairs next to the window.

They walked over and sat down.

"Is something wrong with Christina?" Izzy couldn't wait any longer.

"Oh no"

"Good" she felt relieved.

"Actually I wanted to talk with you about Meredith"

"Meredith?" Izzy was confused. She hoped that he wasn't having feelings for Meredith. That wouldn't go over well with Christina.

"Look I know that I am over stepping my boundaries. Though for the life of me I don't understand how all of you could claim to care about her"

Izzy looked at him. "Excuse me?" she spoke a little to loud.

"I'm sorry forgive me. That's not exactly what I meant to say. Look, I didn't know Meredith when she was with Derek. I didn't see the way that they interacted. Though I have noticed them the last couple days. In this short time I can see the love that she feels for that man. I have tried to talk with Christina about this matter. Of course she doesn't want to budge. She keeps saying that Meredith is in love with Finn. You and I both know that it's not true. You have to help Meredith. She needs one of her friends to tell her that it's okay to be with the man that she loves. Izzy I know that you believe in true love and soul mates."

Izzy tried to take in everything that he was saying. Though when it came to Derek Shepherd she couldn't exactly be on his side. Not when she could still see the pain that he inflicted on her friend.

"I don't know"

"Of course you do. Do what is best for your friend. If you think that Finn is best for her. Well, tell me so that I can finally put the matter behind me."

Izzy couldn't tell him that. She knew that Derek was the only man for Meredith. "What am I supposed to do?" she asked.

"Talk to Meredith"

"Tell her what exactly"

"That she needs to take the time to make sure that she wants to marry Finn. She needs to make sure that he is the man that will make her happy. Izzy if she realizes that you are behind her she will give it some honest thought."

Izzy knew that he was right. Meredith didn't want to marry Finn. She has only wanted one man. "I'll do it" she smiled.

Owen released the breath that he held in. "Thank you Owen"

"One question though"

"Yes"

"Why does this mean so much to you?"
"Christina and Meredith are best friends. If she didn't hate Derek with a passion. She would be the one to stop the wedding. Since she hates Derek she will not get involved. If I don't step in and help Christina will end up hating herself in the long run"

"Your right" she said.

"Of course I am. Izzy your pretty much on your own. No one else liked my idea"

"It's okay"

"Well I have to get go. Let me know if I can help"

"Trust me I will need your help" Izzy would have to rely on his help.

A/N: Next chapter Meredith and Derek finally sit down and talk. McDreamy may be able to save the day!!!!!!