March 10, 2014
I Want You—Buckcherry (3:41)
Grey's Anatomy
The Dirty Mistresses
Meredith
The sound of the waves was soothing. She didn't know why she was down here on this beach when she could be back up at the house enjoying the warmth and companionship but she felt strange tonight.
It wasn't that she was uncomfortable with the people back at the party. She didn't mind them at all. They were all her friends. She liked spending time with them.
It wasn't the noise giving her a headache even though it was. She could handle a headache. A bit of aspirin and it'd be gone and she could go back to laughing and joking and celebrating the season.
But she just couldn't seem to get into the party mood tonight. She kept thinking about Doc and George and Izzie last Christmas. They'd been so close then. Such good friends. And then it had all blown up in her face and she still didn't altogether understand why.
"You look freezing, Mer, shoulda brought a jacket with you," Mark's voice interrupted her melancholy memories. "Lucky for you, your boyfriend is amazing and brought one out for you." He wrapped the cloth around her shoulders and then wrapped his arms around her. "And I brought me too so that I could help."
Meredith leaned back against him and soaked up his warmth. "I didn't realize it was so cold," she murmured. "I was…just remembering."
He could hear the sorrow and loss in her voice and tightened his arms around her. "What were you remembering?"
Meredith shook her head. "It doesn't matter."
Mark rested his chin on the top of her head and sighed. "It does too. Remember we've talked about this. Neither of us are good at talking about things so we agreed to always try to communicate. So tell me."
"I just…Growing up I always wanted a dog, you know? And last Christmas I had a dog. Doc. He was a good dog. He was mine and Izzie's. I got him to help her get over Alex and the death of the baby quint. When I moved I brought him with me and he died last spring. He was old when we got him and he had bone cancer. I was just thinking about laying under the tree with Doc and George and Izzie and looking up at the lights. It was the best Christmas I ever had. And this year I don't have Doc and I don't have Izzie and I don't have George. I just…I don't know."
Mark sighed again. "You're forgetting that you have better friends now. And a boyfriend that isn't married. And is amazing."
Meredith snickered. "He's also so very humble. Seriously. It's amazing that anyone even knows his name he's so shy."
Mark grinned out at the moonlit ocean. He'd made her laugh at least. "Exactly." He held her for a moment longer. "Wanna go back now?"
Meredith nodded. "Yeah. Yeah I do. You know…I think I'll get myself a puppy. What do you think?"
Mark took her hand and turned her to face him. "I think that's a great idea." He started to lead her to the path back up to the house. "Wait until about the middle of January though. Lots of dogs in need of adoption after parents have realized that even though Lucy and Joey want a dog they don't have the first clue about taking care of one."
Meredith giggled. "You forgot to mention that my boyfriend is an absolute genius."
Mark kissed her knuckles. "How remiss of me." He let the darkness hide the smile on his lips. She wouldn't have to wait for January for her puppy. She was already hidden at Jessie's house just waiting for Mark to pick her up Christmas Eve.