Mark was asleep by the time they flew over Minnesota. Their fingers were still comfortable intertwined sitting on her upper leg. Though her eyes were droopy and with every passing moment her eyelids got heavier, she couldn't sleep. Her mind was going wild with possibilities to what they might find when they get to Seattle. What would happen when they handed? Christina would be waiting for them right outside the airport, but she still had no idea about the engagement. And there was no way she'd miss the ring sitting atop her finger. Then there was Izzie, George, and Alex, who didn't know she was coming let alone with Mark as her fiancé. She hadn't spoken to them in what seemed like forever. Would they be mad? And there was Derek and Addison who were probably at the top of her list of things to worry about. They were in Seattle. She knew that much. But the details were fuzzy. She hadn't spoken much of them beyond 'Derek is the best man' with Christina since Meredith wouldn't allow Christina to bring them up. She had moved on and didn't want to dwell over the past. So she didn't know what to expect when she saw them. She didn't know how Mark would react or how they would react to them there let alone together. Neither of them knew Christina and Meredith had kept in contact. As far as Meredith knew they thought Christina was pissed as hell with Meredith for leaving and hated her for it. Why would they expect Meredith to be at the wedding let alone the maid of honor? She doubted anyone did.
She felt Mark's hand tighten slightly around hers. Pushing the thoughts into the back of her head, she smiled up at his sleepy face.
"What are you thinking about?" He yawned.
"Nothing." She sighed laying her head on his chest.
"Liar." He said quietly as his eyes shut again. She smiled to herself snuggling closer to his body. He played with the ends of her hair until sleep overtook him and his arm fell limp loosely around her. Her body relaxed against his and slowly she gave into sleep.
--
They were awoken by the stewardess instructing them to put on their seatbelts since they were landing soon. They groggily did as they were told. Meredith turned her eyes to the window after Mark took her hand. She could see the outlines of certain things below them under the thin clouds. She felt her stomach flutter with nerves. It scared the hell out of her that she was returning to her old home. The place that had broken her spirits so many times before.
Mark noticed her uncertainty and could tell that the old pain was resurfacing. He, too, was having the same issue. He was going to have to face he ex-best friend and the woman he used to love. He was going to have to face all the pain that Seattle held. Seattle had always been a temporary situation for him unless Addison took him back and begged him to stay there with her. This had been Meredith's home. But Meredith had instilled trust in that place. She had faith that her home wouldn't break her, and it had blown up in her face so many times before. He knew he needed to push his own insecurities out and stay strong for his fiancée.
Glancing over at her, she squeezed her hand supportively before pulling her closer to his body. She sighed and relaxed slightly against his warm body.
"We can do this." He spoke with his lips against the back of her head.
She nodded slightly as he kissed her forehead.
It wasn't long that they descended out of the air and were on the ground in Seattle. He could feel her fidgeting slightly in his arms, but he wasn't ready to let her go yet. He held her for a few more moments with his nose buried into the back of her hair.
"I love you." He whispered.
"I love you too." She smiled lightly before sitting up in her seat.
"Ready?"
"As I'll ever be."
"Let's go."
--
She sat outside annoyed by having to wait. The guard paced the length of the sidewalk that made up the pick-up and drop-off area. Swinging his nightstick, he was whistling a tone she couldn't quite hear from inside her car, and she was happy she couldn't. Between pre-wedding Izzie and having to wait in the car for her friends, she did not need any more happiness or annoyance in her life. He had come by quite a few times and told her that she couldn't stop there as if she didn't know that she was sitting three feet from the 'no parking' sigh. She'd drive around the block once and return to her parking space after the guard walked back the opposite direction and was chatting to another driver.
Glancing in the review mirror, she saw the guard walking towards the car with an expression somewhere between anger and frustration. She searched the car for something to make it look like she hadn't noticed him. Being in Kevin's car had proven to be an obstacle. There were very few things of her own that she could use to make her seem distracted. She glanced in the mirror again and sighed. He wasn't far away. Her eyes traveled the length of the pick-up area. Meredith picked the perfect time to be late. Her eyes settle on a blonde haired woman. She looked different than when she had left. She had gained back all the weight she had lost during her bout with depression. Her hair was a little lighter and longer, and her body had gotten much tanner than before. Mark stood behind her with his arms tightly wrapped around her waist. He hadn't changed much since the last time she had seen him. His hair was the same shade. His facial hair was well groomed. His body was still toned and muscular. The only thing that had changed was the small smile that played his lips. In the days leading up to the day the left, he never smiled.
She pushed the car door open and stepped out of the car just as the officer had reached the passenger side.
"Officer." Christina greeted with a little sarcasm in her voice.
"Ma'am as I said before you can't wait here unless your friend is physically right here." He said in a gruff tone.
"Christina!" Meredith's voice rang as if on cue.
"My friend is physically here." She said with a mocking smirk.
He let out a sigh and tuned mumbling some sort of apology before walking away. With a triumphant smirk, she shut the car door and met Meredith on the sidewalk with Mark following in tow.
After three years, they were in Seattle standing in front of her. A smile broke on her lips as she pulled Meredith in an embrace that caught her off guard to say the least. After a second to figure out was going on she returned the hug. "Hey Chris."
"Hey, Mer." She sighed and stepped away. "No more hugging. I'll break out and we'll spend the days leading up to the wedding in the hospital."
Meredith couldn't help but smiled as her friend. Mark, who had been left to get all the luggage, caught up with them and stood beside his fiancée.
"Hey McSteamy." Christina said.
"Good old Yang, I see."
"Did you expect me to change?"
"No… But I guess a congratulations is in order."
"Yeah, thanks." She rolled her eyes and popped the trunk to Kevin's car. Meredith lifted her luggage which Mark quickly snatched from her hand to save her the effort. That's when Christina noticed it.
"You bitch!" She almost yelled attracting stares.
"What?" Meredith's head whipped around as a bewildered look came across her face. Christina hastily grabbed her hand and examined the ring. "Oh… That…"
"Why the hell didn't you tell me?"
"I wanted to do it in person." Christina continued to stare at her waiting for her to continue with an explanation. "We're getting married, Chris."