This is the wrap up to The Race and The Slave, with Alex and Meredith and the five interns. This little fic was different, I know, but I enjoyed it. I hope y'all did too. I want to thank my loyal little band of readers who commented. You've been very sweet to the story and to me. Also, if you've never commented, now is your chance! Go for it.

The Slave

Chapter 10: Pretend Boyfriend

"Alex, George and Izzie are sitting out this dance. Wanna sit out with them this time? Then we can still fit in a few more dances before the end," Meredith asked, not wanting her precious night to end, but also needing a break from standing in her high heels, "We can get a couple of plates of food too."

Meredith looked so cute, Alex couldn't resist her, and they didn't have the morning shift, so why not? He was hungry. It seemed with working eighty hours a week he was always hungry. The food he'd already eaten tonight hadn't been substantial enough.

"Izzie and George, it is, then," Alex turned Meredith towards their table.

Izzie and George welcomed them when Alex and Meredith walked over.

"If it isn't the dancing duo," Izzie said, both admiringly and jealously.

Alex said nothing, just pulled her off her chair and onto the floor. He pulled Izzie into his arms, swaying to the music without a lot of movement. He was getting closer to forgiveness with her, for sure. Until then, he'd take what he could get. He winked at Meredith over Izzie's shoulder when Iz gave a sigh and let him hold her. Mer smiled at Alex, happy for him. He held up two fingers to her behind Izzie's back. She nodded and asked George to please get her a beer and a plate of chicken wings and cheese sticks for Alex. She asked for a club soda for herself knowing her stomach wouldn't be able to handle much on top of the champagne cocktails. Meredith gave George a fifty and told him to get whatever he and Izzie wanted too.

"So, a hand signal and you know what Karev wants now?" George tried to sound casual, instead of jealous.

"I did this time, anyway," Meredith answered complacently, ignoring his squishiness, "Thank you so much for getting all that, George, my feet need a break from the heels."

Cristina plopped gracelessly in the chair next to Meredith. Her beautiful white dress spread around her outspread legs in gorgeous, expensive folds.

"Hey, Burke had an emergency, but he wouldn't let me scrub in because of that stupid eighty hour limit rule," she griped, "Could one of you give me a ride home? George, if Mer's buying drinks, I'll have another champagne cocktail, okay?"

George gave Cristina a disgruntled look and then hurried away to do Meredith's bidding. Cristina and Meredith had a private moment together to catch up with each other. They laughed over Burke's wonderful old fashioned sense of etiquette that he insisted Cristina obey. The song ended and Alex and Izzie rejoined them at their table.

"What's with you two? Haven't you had enough tippy toeing yet?" Cristina asked.

"No, Alex and I are staying to the end," Meredith said firmly, "Right, Alex?"

"Yes, Cinderella, were staying even if you've already lost both shoes," he said, noticing that she'd slipped out of her heels.

She giggled and wiggled her relieved toes.

George came back carrying a tray with everything on it. Everyone was hungry and thirsty enough not to make any waiter jokes. Meredith breathed a sigh of relief at the lack of discord.

Alex pulled a chair around next to his date and tipped his beer back for a long, cold pull. He thanked Mer with a salute. She winked back at him. He quirked a brow at her drink and when she answered, "Club soda," he nodded, satisfied.

"What is with you two?" George exploded irrationally.

"What?" they asked together.

"You're like... twins, or something."

"...or something," they wryly said together, and then looked at each other and laughed.

"You have gotten way too close to Evil Spawn over the last six weeks, Meredith. That's just not good for you. It is a good thing I'm your BFF. I'll make sure it doesn't get any worse," said Cristina officiously.

Alex looked amused, but Meredith laughed and said, "Aw, Cristina, Alex is sweet. He's genuinely sweet."

Everyone's faces had varying degrees of appalled looks on them, including Alex'.

"Nah, you got that wrong. I'm salty with a heavy dollop of sour, never sweet," he grinned his beautiful sweet smile at her.

Meredith smiled back at him and said nothing. He was wrong. Alex had an incredibly sweet side that he hid most of the time. She knew that she and Izzie were probably the only people to ever see it. She liked Alex. It was so cool to be on an actual date with someone she knew fairly well and trusted. This was such a rare thing in her life.

Alex put his beer aside and leaned into the table, "You want sweet, it's Izzie. She's sweet and creamy and fruity and vanilla with a punch of pepper sauce, just to liven her up. She's dessert."

Izzie didn't quite know how to take that, but Meredith and George smiled.

"And you, Genie Eyes," Alex had a devilish grin on his face as he turned to Meredith, "you're fusion cuisine. A little of everything all mixed together with crunchy veggies into a delicious taste all its own," Alex let his eyes heat as he remembered holding her all night.

Alex paused as he and George helped themselves to the chicken wings and cheese. Both of them felt starved as usual.

Meredith ignored the food and shook her head at her naughty partner, "So tell us, oh tasty one, what's Cristina?"

"Stale, half and half bitter and sour, with a dash of pepper and a dash of salt – an acquired taste," he grinned evilly, "you asked."

"Thanks," said Cristina sarcastically, secretly pleased at the assessment, "and George?"

"Plums, prunes, prune cake. Pepto Bismol, Ex-lax, Kaopectate. All that stuff that relieves in both directions. You know," Alex waved his long neck wickedly at George.

"Alex!" came from Izzie and Meredith, who both wanted to laugh, but didn't. They both knew that Alex was still telling his truth.

"Yeah, I get your point," said Cristina looking at George speculatively.

"Karev, eat dirt, like the worm you are," said George defensively.

Alex laughed, glad he'd gotten a rise out of old Georgie, "Then, you say, Meredith. What's O'Malley's flavor?"

Meredith considered George for a minute and then said, "He's sticky melting cherry popsicles and rum raisin ice cream."

"He's also white rice and white bread," added Cristina.

"He's meat and potatoes," said Izzie, unable to resist joining in, "Nothing wrong with that."

"Okay, okay, enough!" muttered George, "Izzie, would you like to dance?"

"Sure, George," Izzie stood and stepped away with him.

The orchestra played a run of slow pieces at the end of the night. Meredith's shoes had rubbed her feet raw in two places. She'd slipped them off and didn't bother putting them back on to keep dancing. It lowered her height so when Alex snuggled her close and just swayed her, her head fit perfectly under his chin. Meredith felt happy and warm. She'd had a great time, full of fun and friends and music and dancing. She and Alex were the last ones in their group still here. Not many hospital personnel remained, she thought drowsily. Good thing. It was a good thing Derek and his She were gone. She was way more relaxed.

The dance with Derek had not dampened her enthusiasm for the ball at all. In fact the dance with him had topped it off. Meredith had danced with Derek. Her fantasy prince had held her and hadn't wanted to leave her. She'd felt his love and regret, even though he'd never admitted it. Then she'd moved on with Mr. Sandage and it had barely hurt. Okay, it hurt, but not devastatingly. Meredith was getting better. She'd had so much fun with Alex and the others that it carried her through. She'd also made it through without ever having to deal with the Adder or the He-She together. That made her very happy.

Pleasantly tired, Meredith smiled and turned her face into Alex' throat. He smelled delicious. He smelled all warm man, and was that an Armani scent? Mm. His familiar arms around her made her feel safe and comfortable. She relaxed to the music and gave him more of her slight weight. She lifted her arms higher around his neck and sighed contentedly, blowing warm, moist breath across his sensitive throat. He shuddered.

"Meredith, remember I'm your pretend boyfriend. If you do much more of that it won't be pretend for much longer, Angel Eyes."

"Okay," she murmured and snuggled closer, closing her eyes.

"Whoa, dude, was that 'okay' you'll stop, or 'okay' no more pretense!?" Alex pulled away slightly and looked down into Mer's pretty face. He didn't know which way he wanted her to answer, really. He knew she'd had a few drinks, but not too many. Meredith and he had a great friendship. He didn't want to screw it up. He winced at his own pun.

"Alex, sh," Meredith studied his beautiful, chiseled mouth just above her own. She tightened her hands behind his head and drew him closer.

"Meredith, we're playing with fire..." Alex was surprised at how disappointed he felt when Mer tucked her face away under his chin again, murmuring that she knew he was right.

"Aw, Genie Eyes, let's burn."

Alex found her pretty, pouty lips with his own, in a sweet, soft, lovely kiss, while swaying to the music, that left them both longing for more. Alex turned his head and pinned hers against his shoulder. He shifted her so that he could hold her closer. She parted her lips and welcomed his tongue firmly penetrating the moist cavern of her mouth. Her head whirled with pleasure. His kiss was so sweet and so darkly male. Not sloppy or too hard. Her eyes closed in bliss as he deepened the kiss. Evidence of Alex' interest grew against her tummy. Meredith pulled partially away and looked up into her partner's eyes.

"We could," she stated, misty eyed and flushed pink.

"Yes, we could," he acknowledged, his lips moist and red.

"It wouldn't suck," she asked and stated at the same time, panting slightly.

"No, it wouldn't suck, or maybe it would suck the good kind of sucking," his smile was both naughty and sad on his handsome face.

She touched a mock fist to his chin for that.

"It could be..." she started and then stopped.

"You're right..." he knew it.

"But..." she said, regretfully.

"But..." he agreed, regretfully.

"Derek. You?"

"Izzie."

"Yeah."

"Yep."

They stopped dancing and she stepped out of his arms. He held his hand to her and they left the floor hand in hand, better friends than they'd been when they'd entered it.

"Thank you, Alex," Meredith said sincerely, "I had such a great time tonight."

She gave a skip beside him.

"I did too, Meredith. Somehow, I don't think we'd have had as much fun afterwards, if I'd won the Race," he wryly grimaced at her. She laughed and nodded. It was time to head home.

Alex turned in their claim checks for their coats, and held Meredith's vintage mink jacket for her to slip on. He slid into his own overcoat and held out a hand. She clasped his hand and swung it between them as they walked to the car. The personal space between them was smooth, easy, and quiet while Alex drove towards Meredith's mom's house.

Alex walked Meredith to her door.

"Meredith, I had a great time with you these past six weeks, and that kiss knocked my socks off. I want you to know, that even if the timing just isn't right for either of us, I am interested. If ever you and I are free at the same time, I'd like to see what could happen between us," Alex paused to see what affect his words were having.

Meredith reached up and softly kissed his perfect lips and then his cheeks.

"You are one of the best experiences I've ever had with a man, Alex Karev. I want you to know that. And I'll remember what you've said. In the meantime, good night, be free, leave me, no more fee. Alex, I am your friend. And... I love you."

Thank you, samsolace