Chapter Ten: Let the Darkness Fade Away
Derek was paged for an emergency at the hospital but Meredith said she would be fine. She said she would go drop in and see how Joe was, but she promised him she wasn't going to drink anything. Before she left to go to Joe's her doorbell rang. She looked out the glass door to see a face she hadn't seen in so many years. She opened the door, "Thatcher?" she asked.
"Yes it is me Meredith"
"What are you doing here?"
"I heard about your mother and I wanted to see if you were alright"
"I am fine, I am actually on my way out so if you don't mind"
"Is there anything I can do for you? I know this must be such a confusing time"
Meredith stopped in her tracks, "No there is absolutely nothing you can do for me, unless you have a time machine that can rewind the past 20 years of my life and try harder to make your marriage with my mom work."
She locked her door and stormed passed him and then drove away.
"Hey Meredith" Joe said as she walked in, "How are you holding up?"
"I am okay, I'm okay"
"What can I get you tonight?"
"Just a beer" She told Derek she wouldn't drink but it wasn't like her was her boyfriend or anything. She sat down at the bar and started to drink her beer when a man came and leaned in beside her.
"Is this seat taken?"
She looked up at him "I guess not"
"Double scotch, single malt please" Marc Sloane said
"Why aren't you with Addison?"
"Got in a fight about going back to New York, she wants to stay here because she likes working at Seattle Grace"
"Then why don't you stay?"
"I can't move here"
"Yes you can" She was going to try and seem not interested but he pulled her in.
"Meredith, you look sad"
"Well my mother was buried yesterday and today I saw my father for the first time in 20 years, I think I have the right."
He placed his hand on her thigh, "Oh I am so sorry Meredith"
"Are you hitting on me?"
"Would that be so wrong?"
"I guess not"
They continued flirting, and ordering drinks soon enough they were both a little tipsy and the flirting wasn't so innocent anymore.
"So do you want to maybe come to my hotel room Meredith?"
"Won't that just make everything more complicated Marc?"
"But your going back to Boston soon aren't you?"
"How did you know I was in Boston?"
"You may have mentioned it when you were drunk yesterday at your mom's dinner"
"Oh crap, well I was thinking of coming back to Seattle, I miss my friends."
"Then stay here Meredith. Then I will move out here too, we can start over together"
Meredith had enough alcohol in her system to want what Marc was offering her.
"Under one condition" she told him.
"Anything" he responded.
"We keep this to ourselves"
"I can do that"
He leaned in and kissed her lips ever so softly. He kissed a lot like Derek. She was starting something with Derek's long lost twin, but right now she didn't care. They both had what the other was looking for right now. Marc put some money down on the bar for Joe and led her outside.
'You know we can go to my place, we don't have to go to your hotel room."
"Doesn't like half the hospital live in your place?"
"Good point, only I have to take my own car"
"That is fine with me"
He got in his car and she got in hers and followed him to The Archfeild.
When they got up to his room they started to kiss again, and the kissing moved to the king sized bed that is when Meredith pushed him off of her.
"Is something wrong Meredith?"
She wanted to say "Yes you're not Derek," but wound up saying "No I just think we are taking this way too fast"
"There is no such thing as too fast for two dirty mistresses"
"No Marc there is, I just, I don't think I am ready"
"Ready?"
"Yes I am not over Derek yet, and if I have sex with you tonight I will only be using you to try and make getting over him easier"
Marc sighed "I guess you are right"
He got up off the bed and threw her a pair of his sweat pants and one of his t-shirts.
"You can crash here tonight, go up this on"
"Thank-you for understanding, I think we are both going through a hard time and we can help each other through it. Then maybe after once I am over Derek and you are over Addison"
Marc finished her sentence "We can try and be a couple."
"Right" she replied. She walked into his bathroom, "Can I use your shower?"
"Of course"
She took a shower in his bathroom, which was probably one of the most uncomfortable feelings ever. Then she dried off and put on his sweat pants and his black t-shirt. She really could have just worn the t-shirt and her panties but she thought if she was sleeping in the same bed as Marc Sloan that would be a bad idea. When she came out of the bathroom Marc was stunned by how beautiful she looked. Addison was a beautiful woman, she really was but she was beautiful when she was all made up. Here Meredith was standing, wet hair, no makeup (except for the little bit of mascara that had run off her eyelashes in the shower) and wearing his clothes and she just looked stunning.
"Um, where do you want me to sleep?" she asked him.
"I can sleep on the couch if you don't want me to sleep in the bed with you."
"No Marc this is your hotel room I should sleep on your couch, besides I am smaller so I will fit on it"
"No Meredith really you can have the bed"
He was insisting on it so she lay down on his bed got under the covers and tried to fall asleep. She lay with her eyes shut trying to sleep for about 10 minutes but she could feel Marc watching her.
"You know it's not very nice to watch people sleep"
He laughed, "I'm sorry you just look like an angel when you sleep"
"You are not the first person to say that" she said as she sat up.
"Why are you sitting up?"
"Can't sleep, and now this is going to sound so stupid but, can you sleep in the bed with me?"
"Only if you are comfortable with it"
"I am, I just, I need someone to hold me"
"I guess I can do that" he said as he got under the covers next to her. She lay back down and he wrapped his arms around hers and held her hands.
"Is this okay?" he asked.
"This is perfect. Good night Marc"
"Night Meredith"
With that they fell asleep.
Can I ask you a question please?
Promise you won't laugh at me
Honestly I'm standing here
Afraid I'll be betrayed
As twisted as it seems
I only fear love when it's in my dreams
Let in the morning light
And let the darkness fade away
Can you turn my black roses red?
Can you turn my black roses red?