A/N: Well, we are in the home stretch of this story….:(. Don't get too sad though, because I have more planned for this couple and these characters.

A/N 2: Just a reminder, I am loosely following the episodes from season three, so that would explain Mer/Der. There is a story to tell for both Meredith and Derek, whether they're together or apart. Meredith did in fact almost drown in the sound, even though I haven't mentioned it.

A/N 3: Thank you to all of my reviewers, anonymous or otherwise. You guys are the best:D

Previously on Grey's Anatomy:

"Its okay, Derek," Meredith said. "I completely understand why you, as my boyfriend, wouldn't want to help me study for the biggest test of my life," She said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I have everyone here that matters anyway," She ended and flipped off the phone, gently tossing it on the kitchen counter. She smiled at Izzie. "Let's go kick some McTest ass!" She walked out of the kitchen and back into the living room.

When Mark entered the kitchen, Izzie grabbed him by the shirt and gently pushed him against the wall, kissing him thoroughly in the process. Mark's arms went tightly around her, enjoying the feel of her lips against his.

Izzie pulled away from him, looking deep into his blue eyes. "No one has ever made me feel so…"Izzie hesitated. Loved!!!! She thought, but instead said, "Well prepared." Well Prepared!!!! What kind of freaking answer is that! God Iz, could you be lamer? The man moves heaven and earth for you, and you tell him you're well prepared. You don't deserve him! Stupid, stupid.

Izzie smiled at Mark and took his hand. They silently made their way up to her room, for some much needed sleep.

CH 21: Shepherd, We Have a Problem

Izzie woke up in the comfort of Mark's arms, in what should have been familiar surroundings, but they weren't. She looked at her very pink bedroom and then back at the man sleeping beside her and realized that he was home. She took a few moments to wonder how in a few short days this man had become everything to her. He has become my safe haven and my home. The realization gave her a peace and strength she hoped would carry her through the trials today would bring. She placed a soft kiss on Mark's lips and made her way to the shower.

When she returned twenty minutes later, she expected to find Mark still in bed, but the bed was empty. She heard laughter downstairs, so she threw on some comfy clothes and headed toward the voices.

Her mouth opened at the site before her. She started giggling and tried to stop herself, but it was too late. Alex and Mark had heard her and turned around to glare at her. Both men wore frilly half aprons from Izzie's collection. Oatmeal was smeared across Mark's cheek, while Alex had icing from the cinnamon rolls he had just pulled out of the oven on his chin. Meredith was in hysterics and practically fell off the stool she was sitting on. She reached across and brushed the icing off Alex's chin, both blushing at the contact. If Mark and Izzie had noticed the moment between Alex and Meredith they chose to ignore it. They were only focused on each other.

Izzie walked over to Mark and lightly kissed him on his clean check, while wiping the oatmeal off the other cheek. "I didn't know that I had Betty Crocker for a boyfriend," Izzie joked. Wait! Did I just say boyfriend? Oh My God!!!!

Meredith looked up in surprise and kicked Mark from behind the island. Say something Dirty Mistress! She communicated with her eyes.

Mark didn't actually need her help. He pulled Izzie closer to him and kissed her thoroughly, only pulling away when oxygen became an issue. "Boyfriend, huh?" Mark queried. Izzie nodded tentatively. "I like the sound of that." Izzie's smile was genuine and infectious. All four of them stood grinning at each other. Alex broke the silence after several seconds.

"Okay, enough chick crap," Alex proclaimed. That statement earned him eye rolls from Izzie and Meredith and a smirk from Mark. "Lets eat!"

The four of them sat down to enjoy their oatmeal and cinnamon rolls before leaving for the hospital.

They arrived at Seattle Grace Hospital with fifteen minutes to spare. They almost made it to the conference room, but were intercepted by one Dr. Derek Shepherd.

"Mer," He started. "We need to talk…"

Izzie and Alex started to move in front of Meredith, as if trying to insulate her from Derek, but she just shook her head at both of them. They moved back so they were walking in step with Mark just behind her. Meredith continued to stare at Derek, wondering what the hell she was going to say to him.

"Mer," Derek started, as he tried to reach for her hand but she pulled away, "I hope you understand about last night…"

"No, Derek," Meredith whispered heatedly, "You do not get to do this now. I am about to take the biggest exam of my surgical career thus far," She paused to take a breath and then continued. "We are not going to do this now. We are doing this when it suits me and not you. For the record, Derek, I was in a house full of people last night… people that would have had no trouble breathing for me." She moved past him. "Let's go, Izzie," She called over her shoulder. "Our destiny awaits us." Izzie leaned up to give Mark a kiss and Alex a hug and then glared at Derek as she joined Meredith and the Chief in the conference room.

Derek stood staring after her speechless. He didn't know how to react to her little outburst. He turned toward Alex and Mark, as if demanding an explanation.

"You know what, man," Alex said, reading his thoughts. "You don't get an explanation from me. Just know that if she would have done what I wanted her to do, she would have kicked your McDreamy ass to the curb a long time ago."

"You know, Karev," Derek reminded. "I am your boss."

"Do I look like I give a crap right now, Dr. Shepherd," Alex replied.

Derek turned to Mark for backup. Mark just cocked one eyebrow up at him as if to say 'you must be kiddingrigh?'

"I am not leaving," Derek stated firmly. "Neither one of you can make me leave." Mark and Alex both smirked at him, but said nothing.

"Maybe he can't make you leave, but I sure as hell can," Cristina yelled from directly behind Derek.

Mark, seeing that everyone was distracted by Cristina's arrival, took the opportunity to pull Alex aside.

"I need your help with something for Izzie, Alex," Mark said as they walked out of earshot of the storm brewing.

Alex nodded. "I would do anything for Iz."

"Good," Mark replied. "Do you know her dress size?"

Alex would have burst out laughing at his question had he not looked so serious. "I think she is a six."

Mark nodded at this. "Her favorite color is pink, right?"

Alex did laugh at this. "Did you not sleep in her room last night, Dude?"

Mark just glared at Alex. All right, dumb question He thought"Can you hold down the fort here, without killing Derek, while I go and get things ready for Izzie?"

Alex nodded begrudgingly. "I promise that I won't kill him. I make no such promises for Yang."

Mark chuckled at this, as he watched Derek getting reamed by Cristina, over Alex's shoulder.

"YOU'RE TIRED OF BREATHING FOR HER!!!" Cristina yelled. "WHAT KIND OF A BOYFRIEND SAYS THAT TO HIS GIRLFRIEND THAT NEARLY DIED!!!!"

"Cristina," Burke interjected. "That's enough." He then turned her away from Derek.

"Thank you, Preston," Derek said.

"Don't thank me, Dr. Shepherd," Burke replied, placing emphasis on the use of his title. "I am absolutely appalled by your treatment of Dr. Grey. No woman deserves that."

Mark and Alex made their way back to the little group that was forming outside the conference room. "You guys remember that they're in there taking their exams right?" He said, pointing to the conference room. "Keep it down, or you all can get the hell out."

Derek rolled his eyes at Mark. "We should all listen to you, because you always have everyone's best interests at heart. A real paragon of virtue," He said sarcastically.

If Cristina didn't want to castrate him before, she did now. She leapt out of her chair and lunged at Derek. Mark stepped in front of Derek, to prevent Cristina from doing something that could jeopardize her career. Preston caught her around the waist and pulled her back.

Mark looked over at Alex. "I am leaving this mess in your capable hands, Karev." Mark looked around the room, staring at each person before speaking. "Anyone that interrupts Meredith and Izzie will answer to me." He spun on his heel and started back down the hall.

"I never thought I would ever say this, but you could learn a thing or two from Mark, Dr. Shepherd," Cristina hissed.

"HA!" Derek hissed back. "You're joking right."

"No, Shepherd," Cristina yelled back. "I wasn't joking."

"ENOUGH!!!!!!" Bailey boomed.

"Finally, the voice of reason," Derek said triumphantly.

Bailey rounded on Derek, standing toe to toe with him. "You may not think so when I get finished with your McNasty ass." Derek slowly sank into the couch, putting his hands over his face, awaiting the wrath of the Nazi. I am just not having a good day. He thought miserably.

When Mark returned to the hospital an hour and a half later, he found Derek getting lectured by Yang and Bailey on how he should never hurt Meredith again.

Mark finally felt sorry for him. He looked beaten and battered. "Okay troupe," Mark interrupted Yang. "I think we need to leave Derek alone and let Meredith fight her own battles." He said it with such finality that the entire room went silent. Derek looked up at Mark in thanks.

"How much longer, Alex?" Mark asked.

"Fifteen minutes," The younger man replied.

"Give this to Izzie when she comes out," Mark explained, handing Alex a garment bag and shopping bag. "The note will explain everything." Mark handed Alex a pink rose. Alex looked at him strangely, so he rushed on to explain. "Please give this to Izzie when she is all ready." Alex nodded.

"No problem, man," Alex said confidently. "I'll take care of it." Mark nodded and left the same way he came.

"Come on, Evil Spawn," Cristina taunted. "What's in the pretty bag?""Not a chance, Yang," Alex countered. "I promised Sloan."

"Promised Mark what, Alex?" Izzie asked. Unbeknownst to the rest of them, Izzie and Meredith had come out of the conference room.

Alex brightened immediately. "Promised him I would give you this," He said handing her the garment bag and note. "Maybe the girls can help you?" Alex finished helpfully.

Izzie laughed, giving him a kiss on the cheek and taking the packages off his hands. She was suddenly both nervous and excited at the same time. She had a feeling that whatever was in this note was going to be life altering. They got to the locker room and Izzie stopped to read the note.

My dearest Kat,

I know that you are probably wondering why I am not there in person to take you back home after your exam. I promise all will be explained soon. I have taken the liberty of choosing your attire for our little celebration. Take your time getting ready. You should have everything you need. When you are finished, Alex will know what to do. I will be waiting for you at the hotel with bated breath.

Mark

Izzie kept the tears that were pooling in her eyes at bay. She stood and opened the garment bag and saw the most beautiful dress she had ever seen. It was a simple, yet elegant strapless A line dress. It was white with matte light pink flowers and a pretty pink bow attached at the waist. The dress was simply breathtaking. Cristina and Miranda helped her with the dress, while Meredith did her hair in a simple twist. Izzie applied very little makeup, because she knew Mark liked her best that way. She slipped on the white pumps Mark had bought to go with the dress and made her way out the door. Meredith, Miranda, and Cristina followed closely behind her out of the locker room.

Alex was waiting on the other side of the door. He let out a low whistle when he saw her. He walked up to her and handed her the pink rose, which she accepted. "Mark asked me to give you that when you were all ready," He explained. He also offered her his arm so she could take it. "Say goodbye everyone." Alex instructed.

"Goodbye," They all called.

Alex and Izzie walked toward the exit of the hospital.

"Alex thinks Izzie looks beautiful," Alex said.

"Izzie thanks Alex," Izzie replied.

"Alex thinks Izzie deserves to be happy and should grab it with both hands," Alex murmured.

"Izzie thinks the same things for Alex," Izzie whispered back.

The exited into the cool Seattle night air and walked toward the awaiting limo.

"Oh, my God," Izzie whispered. "What did he do?"

"Don't fight it, Iz," Alex said as he helped her in the car. "He's in this, Iz."

Izzie sat back in the plush seats of the limo and decided to take Alex's advice and grab happiness with both hands.

A/N There is a picture of Izzie's dress on my avatar page of my bio. Please read and review. It would mean so much to me. Thanks, Bethany