Chapter 25 – Together

Meredith pulled her car behind Mark's shortly after he pulled in front of his apartment building.

"Is she sleeping?" Meredith asked quietly, coming towards Mark's car and seeing him taking the girl slowly out of the car.

"Yeah," he nodded, wrapping her legs around his waist and settling her head on his shoulder.

Mark handed Meredith his jacket so that she could cover the girl and protect her from the rain. Alicia didn't even stir with all the work that the grown-ups were doing for her.

Both of them hurried inside the building, where the door attendant greeted them, holding the door opened for them. "Good evening, Ms. Grey, Dr. Sloan," the old man saluted politely.

"Hi," Meredith was the only one who answered to his salute.

"You should be nicer to your neighbors," Meredith whispered to Mark as they reached the elevator.

"First of all, he's not my neighbor; he is just an employee," Mark replied. "And secondly… whatever."

Meredith shook her head disapprovingly, while Mark chuckled quietly. They got to their floor and Meredith unlocked the door, opened it for Mark to walk inside first and take Alicia to bed.

Meredith growled as she flicked on the lights and met the mess that Mark and his daughter had made during their time alone.

"What?" Mark asked in whisper, looking back at her.

"Nothing," she smiled. "But you might need a maid," she stated.

"Why? Don't I have you?" he smiled teasingly.

"Ha-ha," she laughed sarcastically and followed him into Alicia's room.

"She didn't even have dinner," Mark muttered as he put the girl carefully down in her bed.

"You're underestimating my intelligence again," Meredith whispered as she sat down at the edge of the bed. "It's an expensive kindergarten so they serve dinner at 6 o'clock to all the children who are still there at that hour. I thought you knew that."

"I knew," he hissed.

Meredith giggled quietly. "Maybe you should go there more often and learn more about the environment that she spends her days in."

"Thanks, but again… that's why I have you," he smiled teasingly.

Meredith smiled, rolling her eyes. "I am going to go take a shower now."

"I will be right there," Mark flashed her a wicked smile.

"Not a chance," she whispered from the doorway and walked out quickly, closing the door as she saw him begin to stand up from Alicia's bed.

Mark stood up but gave up quickly as he hadn't settled Alicia into her bed.

"Where did she go?" Alicia mumbled sleepily right when Mark went to pick her up and take her out of her jacket.

"Who?" Mark asked, helping her to stand up.

"Meri," Alicia rubbed her eyes and looked around the dark room, worried. "Where did she go?"

"She went to take a shower," he answered, undressing her. Alicia looked up at with distrust. "Wait for her to get into the shower and then you will hear the water."

Alicia listened carefully. Indeed, a moment later she heard the water in the bathroom. She sighed with relief and looked at her father. "I have to put on my pajamas."

"Here they are," he said, finding the pajamas between her pillows. "Put them on," he told her.

"Where are you going?" she asked him as she saw him turning towards the door. "Help me," she whimpered.

"Al, you're a big girl now. You can dress yourself."

"But I am sleepy," she pouted.

"And spoiled," Mark groaned as he returned to her bed.

"You can't sleep with me anymore," Alicia grumbled, nervous.

"Why?"

"Because I don't like you that much right now," she glared at him.

"I don't like you that much either right now," he replied and pulled the sweater over her head.

Mark helped her put on her pajamas and prepared the sheets for her. Alicia jumped on his neck, laughing and strangling him with her short arms. "I like you now, Daddy," she giggled cheerfully.

Mark grabbed her by her waist and scooped her up in his arms, kissing her tummy. "I like you too now."

Alicia laughed, delighted. She whimpered when Mark put her down on her pillow. "No," she cried out.

"You were sleeping earlier, Al," Mark said calmly, trying to get her to lay her down on her bed and cover her with the blanket. But Alicia started wriggling her legs, laughing as she saw the stress on her father's face. "Alicia!" he shouted, nervous.

Alicia smiled, not scared by his shout. "I don't want to sleep."

"Well, I want you to sleep, so go to sleep," he demanded, in a calmer tone this time.

"Why?" she asked.

"Because I say so," Mark answered. Alicia had stopped wriggling her legs, so he drew the blanket over her.

"Why?" Alicia laughed as she pushed down the blanket with her legs.

Mark took a deep breath and sighed slowly. "Because I have some work to do."

"You're going to the hospital?" Alicia asked, her good mood disappearing instantly.

"No," he smiled. "I have some work to do with Meredith."

"I want to help," she said and stood up quickly, but her father's hands stopped her halfway.

"You can't," he said.

"Yes, I can," she answered convincingly. "What do you have to do?" she asked.

Mark couldn't help but laugh. "You don't want to know," he said.

"Yes, I do," Alicia frowned as saw that her father was too stubborn and wouldn't let her help. She managed to stand up on her feet and run quickly to the edge of the bed.

"Oh no, no," Mark chuckled, catching her when she went to jump off the bed.

"Daddy," Alicia whimpered and laughed at the same time.

Mark had her in his arms again and started rocking her with large movements, laughing at her amusement.

"Stop!!" she begged him, laughing.

Mark stopped and sat down on the bed, bringing Alicia onto his lap. "I'm hungry," she said, resting her head against his chest.

"Did you eat dinner?" he asked her.

Alicia nodded. "It's an expensive kindergarten, Daddy. They give us dinner too," she explained, smiling.

Mark's eyes widened in amazement. He slowly narrowed his eyes and smiled suspiciously at her. "You weren't sleeping, were you?" he asked her as he realized that she had listened to his conversation with Meredith.

Alicia just giggled in response.

"You little cheater," Mark started tickling her tummy, making her laugh hysterically. He stopped then and cradled her in his arms, kissing her head lovingly.

"Daddy," she called for his attention and looked up at him.

"What?" he asked her softly.

"Can I ask Meri to be my mommy?" she asked. Mark smiled pitifully and shook his head. "Why?" she asked, her eyes sad.

Mark stared at her, confused. He didn't know what to answer to that. "Because… because she's your friend," he said, finding a silly explanation.

"I don't want her to be my friend anymore," she answered convincingly.

"She can't be your mommy, because we … we have to get married first," Mark tried another explanation.

Alicia's face lightened up. "I want you to get married. We can go buy her a pretty ring and a white dress, very pretty and sparkly, and then we can buy a pretty dress for me in… pink. And then we can call grandma and we can have a big party… and then… and then she will be my mommy."

"That sounds like a good plan, Al, but first we have to… we have to love each other," he said.

"But you love Meri and Meri loves you," Alicia explained, sounding wise.

"You don't know that," Mark smiled.

"I will ask her if she loves you. Do you love her?" Alicia asked him.

"I like her, but… sweetie you can't love someone so quickly. You have to know her first."

"But I love Meri already," she said. "And I know her. You know her too. Her name is Meredith and she works with you at the hospital. She helps sick people."

"You know the answers to everything," Mark chuckled. He pressed a kiss to her temple and rubbed his face against her head, breathing in the sweet scent of her hair. "We have to wait a little longer, ok?" Alicia looked at him sadly. "Just wait, please," Mark said softly, kissing her again.

"Daddy," she said, now curious. "Babies come from their mommies' tummies, right?" she asked him.

Mark was speechless. He didn't like their new topic. "Yes," he managed to mumble.

"Whose tummy was I in?" she asked him.

Mark sighed, closing his eyes briefly. "Your mommy's," he muttered. As he looked at her, he saw her puzzled look. "Sometimes mommies or daddies don't stay with their babies."

"Why?"

"Because they are bad people," he answered.

"So my mommy is bad?" Alicia gasped, shocked.

Mark let out a sigh. He looked at the door, hoping that Meredith would enter and they could change the topic. Unfortunately, the water was still on in the bathroom.

"You don't have a mommy, because she left when you were very little. Normally a mommy has to stay and take care of her baby?" he explained.

"Why did she go? Was I a bad baby?"

"No," Mark frowned, displeased. "You were the best baby in the whole wide world."

"Was I ugly?" she asked him.

"No," he shook his head. "You were the prettiest baby and you still are the prettiest little girl," he cupped her face between his hands and kissed her on the forehead. "She was just very stupid."

"Where is she now?" she asked him.

"I don't know. She disappeared." He answered.

Alicia gasped, terrified. "She was kidnapped by an alien?"

Mark laughed at her question. "No. She ran away and she's probably hiding now because she is too ashamed of her silliness."

Alicia smiled slightly and cuddled deeper into her father's arms. Mark felt her sighing. He hated to see her upset because of that woman and now that she was he began to hate her even more.

"Meredith and I are taking things slowly," he said, caressing her forehead. Alicia gave him a puzzled look. "That means, it might take a while until Meredith will be your mommy," he smiled sympathetically as he saw her disappointment. "But as long as she behaves nicely, you two can spend a lot of time together."

"She is very nice to me," Alicia assured him.

"I know," he smiled.

"Is she your girlfriend?" she asked him.

Mark thought about it. Was she? "Can I tell you a secret?"

"Yes," Alicia nodded, thrilled to share a secret with her Daddy.

"Promise you won't tell?" he asked her cautiously.

"I promise! I promise!" she squealed excitedly.

Mark drew an imaginary zipper over his lips. He laughed as he saw Alicia's confusion. "That's an imaginary zipper. This means you are going to keep your mouth shut about this secret."

Alicia copied her father's gesture and drew the zipper over her lips.

Mark leaned over to her ear and whispered. "I think Meredith is my girlfriend now."

Alicia giggled and jumped onto his neck, taking his face between her hands, and smiled at him. Mark snapped his teeth, threatening to bite her nose and Alicia laughed with delight. Alicia did the same but the sound she made was lighter and accompanied by a giggle.

"I guess you're no longer sleepy," Mark concluded, slightly disappointed.

Alicia smiled and shook her head mischievously. "I want to watch a DVD, with cartoons," she said.

"At this hour, I don't think so," Mark shook his head disapprovingly.

"Why?" she frowned.

"Because it's late and because you have to sleep," he said.

"But I am not sleepy," Alicia whimpered.

"And it's not that late either," Meredith cut in, as she made her appearance in the doorway.

"Meri!" Alicia squealed and jumped off her father's knees, running to Meredith.

"You're not very helpful," Mark glared at her.

"I know what you're planning, but let me tell you that it's not going to happen… tonight," she retorted.

"And why is that? I thought we were ok now," he frowned.

"We are, but she is the first priority," she said, picking Alicia up in her arms. "You should be more responsible.

"Don't start," he scowled. "I'd like everything to be ok for longer than one hour."

"Ok," she smiled and carried Alicia out of the bedroom. "What do you want to watch?" she asked Alicia.

"Snow White," her answer came promptly.

Mark tarried on the edge of Alicia's bed, displeased with the turn that his plans had taken for the night. He finally stood up and trailed out of the bedroom, going after Ally and Meredith.

He stopped as he entered the living room and watched how Meredith was searching through the DVD shelve, guided by Alicia's directions. He didn't know how long it would last; a few days, until his mother would arrive, or even longer if they could keep it secret; one thing he knew for sure… he was determined to enjoy each of those moments.

"I'm going to take a shower," he told them as he passed them, heading towards the bathroom. "And don't forget to feed your fishes, Ally," he told her.

Alicia gasped and slapped her forehead as punishment for her omission. "Come, Meri!" she grabbed her hand, dragging her after her. "We have to feed Meredith and Derek."

Though the fishes were already old members of Sloan family, Alicia still hadn't found better names for them and Meredith laughed each time Alicia mentioned her swimmer friends.

"Haven't you found any other names for them?" Meredith asked her.

"Not yet," Alicia answered, climbing up onto the chair. She sat down on the table and poured food into the aquarium. "I like their names," she stated innocently.

"I like their names too," Meredith chuckled and gave up the topic.

--

Mark didn't feel how tired he was until he met the hot, relaxing water. He changed his mind and instead of a shower, he filled the bathtub with steamy water and lay down, drifting to sleep unconsciously.

He stirred and stood up minutes later. He looked around him, confused. Then he realized he had fallen asleep and the water had started getting colder.

Mark listened carefully, trying to hear Alicia or Meredith's voice, but there was no sound coming from the other room. He stepped out of the bathtub and dried himself, putting on a pair of pajamas pants.

Coming into the living room, he found the girls absorbed by the cartoons they were watching, each of them nibbling from a cookie.

"Oh look, that's Snow White," he said, announcing his appearance.

"That's her step mother, Daddy," Alicia corrected him. "And she's evil," she explained. "Drink your milk," she said then, pointing to a full filled glass of milk on the coffee table.

"I don't drink milk, sweetie," he said, ruffling her hair playfully as he sat down beside her.

"Oh you have to," Alicia said gravely. "You have to if you want to grow up and be strong."

"Taller and stronger than I am now?" Mark asked her, amused.

"Yes," she said in a serious tone.

"I don't think Meredith would like that," he laughed.

"I would actually," Meredith laughed teasingly.

Mark frowned at her answer, but then his mood lightened up again. He picked Alicia up and moved beside Meredith, placing Alicia on his lap.

Meredith smiled, surprised by his gesture.

He grabbed the box of cookies from Meredith's hand, and stuck his hand inside after one. "Al!" he groaned displeased. "You ate all the cookies!" he shouted reproachfully. "I don't want to hear you complaining of stomachache again."

"I didn't eat them all," she cried out defensively.

"You didn't? Then who emptied this box?" he glared at her with distrust.

Alicia looked towards Meredith's direction.

"I'll buy you another one," Meredith rolled her eyes and grabbed the box back from Mark.

"You're sick," Mark muttered.

"Probably," Meredith shrugged, watching the TV screen. "I usually don't like this brand of cookies."

"Just don't dirty my toilet later," he said and settled comfortably on the couch, nestling Alicia in his arms.

Meredith repositioned herself on the couch, laying her head on his shoulder. Mark waited for a moment and then put an arm around her.

As soon as the cartoons were over, Alicia jumped down from her father's arms and turned her cheerful smile towards Meredith. "You can sleep with me now," she said.

"I'm going to sleep with you now, but first we have to brush our teeth," Meredith suggested. She put the empty box of cookies in Mark's lap and stood up.

"Thanks but I don't eat empty boxes," Mark answered sarcastically to her gesture.

"Try them," she smiled at him. "I heard they're good for digestion."

"Funny," he smiled ironically.

"I know," she answered in the same manner. She took Alicia's hand then and flashed Mark a smile.

Mark watched them leaving the room, a smile crossing his face as they went out. He turned off the DVD the TV, throwing the remote control beside him on the couch. He laid his head back onto the couch, exhausted. It hadn't been only an exhausting day at work, but also a stressful one because of his questions to due with Meredith. He still wasn't sure if what he was doing was the right thing; actually, he was almost positive that it wasn't. A month ago, he would have dismissed any woman who would have come close to him and his daughter, but Alicia had the chance of meeting Meredith before he did and her friendship with Meredith kept Meredith close to them. The friendship between Meredith and Alicia had grown impressively and it looked like it was deepening. He loved to see his daughter so happy, even if it was with an imaginary mother. This friendship helped Meredith gain some respect from Mark. He had definitely missed having a woman almost each night. Meredith could be the one; all he had to do was to start trusting her.

Then his mother came into his thoughts. If she would meet Meredith, their relationship would start being serious. As he wasn't ready for something serious, he had a bigger problem. What would happen with him and Meredith when his mother would come? Again… he wasn't ready for something serious, but he wasn't ready to let Meredith go either.

Soft lips pressed against his followed by a charming giggle, and his thoughts ended. He opened his eyes and saw Alicia's smile right in front of his face. Meredith was holding her up.

"Look at me, Daddy!" she said excitedly, sitting on her father's lap. She grinned, showing him her teeth. "See? They sparkle."

Mark narrowed his eyes as if in front of a strong light. "Close your eyes! You're blinding me!"

Alicia laughed and climbed off his lap. "Silly Daddy!" she squealed, dancing out the living room.

"I'll talk to her about that," Meredith giggled as she watched the girl leaving.

"Yeah, it wouldn't be bad for you to make yourself useful," Mark smiled teasingly.

"Are you coming to tuck her in?" she asked him.

"In a minute," he said as he stood up. Meredith was right beside when he was back on his feet, inches away. He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her to him. His lips crashed against hers and she welcomed his tongue as she deepened the kiss.

Heated by the kiss, her fingers clutched his hair and his hands wandered across her back. Mark pulled back in need for air, taking her face between his hands, he ran his thumb over her lips. "Are you joining me?" he asked her, tilting his head towards his bedroom.

Meredith looked into his eyes for a moment. She was sorely tempted to say yes. "I can't," she muttered and pulled back from his arms. "She wants me to sleep with her."

"She's cuter than me, isn't she?" Mark chuckled.

"Definitely much cuter," Meredith laughed. "Aww," she patted his cheek when he acted offended. "I am sure you got used to the thought," she said and headed towards the door.

When she walked into Alicia's bedroom, Meredith found her sitting on the pillows talking to her stuffed toys.

"Meri?" Alicia asked as she saw Meredith. "Lolo and Bambi want to hear a story."

"Do you want me to read you a story?" she asked, already heading towards the bookcase.

"No, no," she answered quickly. "We want a new one."

"We?" Meredith giggled. "I thought Lolo and Bambi wanted a story." Meredith got into the bed beside her and held up the blanket so that Alicia could slide in.

"I want one too," she giggled and snuggled into Meredith. "Wait," she said and stood up. She took Lolo and put him on the pillow between her and Meredith and then she took Bambi and put him on the pillow beside her. "Lolo says that Bambi kicks him at night," she explained very seriously.

"I see," Meredith couldn't help but giggle at Alicia's innocence. "But you know what… why don't we wait for your daddy to tell you a story? I am very tired and I have a headache."

Alicia gave her a sympathetic smile. She leaned in and kissed her on the forehead. Her gesture impressed Meredith deeply. "We'll wait for Daddy," Alicia assured.

"Ok," Meredith smiled. "Lay here with me now and let's have a serious talk, ok?"

"Yes," Alicia did as Meredith told her to and turned on her side, waiting.

"You have to stop calling your Daddy silly," Meredith said softly. "It's disrespectful to call your parents 'stupid' or 'silly'."

"I respect my Daddy," Alicia said quietly.

Meredith ran her fingers through her hair. "I know you do, but your Daddy is very … sensitive. He gets offended easily if you call him that."

"I didn't mean it," Alicia muttered and looked down regretfully.

"I know and he knows it too," Meredith said softly. "But he is just a little… silly," she said quietly.

Alicia giggled, delighted to hear Meredith saying the same thing about her Daddy.

Meredith leaned in and kissed her on the forehead. "He can be very silly sometimes but you are too little and you can't call him that. You have to respect your father because he is much older than you."

"He's not," Alicia contradicted her. "He's not grandpa."

Meredith laughed. "But he is older than you, isn't he?" she asked her, Alicia nodded in response. "You have to respect people who are older than you."

"Why?" she questioned curiously.

Meredith didn't know what answer to give her. "Because you have to," then she quickly put a finger onto Alicia's lips as she saw her ready to repeat the 'why' question.

"You have to answer all their questions if you want them to learn something," Mark said as he appeared in the doorway appearing to have overheard their talk.

"You answer then," Meredith suggested and rolled onto her back.

Mark wasn't in the mood for explanations. He walked over to Alicia's side of bed and tucked her. "Sleep well, sweetie," he said, kissing her.

"Sleep with us, Daddy!" Alicia suggested.

"Am I allowed to?" he asked her.

"Yes," Alicia shifted closer to Meredith to make room for him.

"What do we do with these?" he asked, taking Bambi from his pillow.

"They sleep here with us," she said.

"And where do I sleep?" he asked.

Alicia slapped her head with an exasperated gesture. "Here," she groaned.

"And where does this rabbit sleep?" he asked her teasingly.

Alicia rolled her eyes. "His name is Bambi and he sleeps here!"

"I got that, but then where do I sleep?" Mark asked her again, muffling his amusement.

Alicia sighed exasperated again. She turned on her side facing Meredith and leaned in to her ear, whispering. "See? He's being silly again."

Meredith laughed and nodded in agreement.

Mark scowled as he heard her. "I thought you were going to talk about that."

"We did," Meredith answered genuinely. "Just get into bed."

"Give me Bambi," Alicia grabbed her rabbit from her father's hand. "He sleeps with us and you sleep with us," she explained one more time.

"Ok, ok," Mark chuckled and slid under covers beside her. "Just tell him not to tickle me with his ears."

"He won't," Alicia assured him laughing. "Say 'night' to Bambi first," she asked as she held Bambi up to him.

"Night, Bambi," Mark muttered, pretending to be sleeping.

"Not like that," she giggled and stood up. "Give him a kiss," she asked and pressed the rabbit's head against his face.

"Al," Mark growled. "I don't want to kiss him."

"Why?" she asked.

"Because we're fighting."

"Make up then," she suggested and pressed Bambi against her father's face.

"Al!" Mark snapped and grabbed the rabbit from her hands, making Alicia start.

"Mark!" Meredith snapped back. "Ally, leave him alone and lay back down," she said.

Alicia sighed resignedly and lay down, cradling Bambi under her arm. She looked at her father and saw he was sleeping. She looked at Meredith and she was watching her smiling; she smiled too. She looked at Lolo and took him. "Do you want to kiss Lolo?" she whispered to her father.

"Ally," Meredith laughed. "He's tired, leave him alone."

Alicia looked at her as she spoke and then looked at her father; then, back to Meredith. "He has to tell us a story," she whispered to Meredith.

"He's tired," Meredith whispered back.

Alicia turned to Mark. "Daddy," she patted his cheek lightly. Mark opened one eye. "You have to tell us a story," she said.

"Do I?" he asked her.

"Mhmm," Alicia nodded.

"Ok," Mark opened his eyes. "What about?" he asked her.

"About princesses," Alicia smiled.

"Ok," Mark agreed. Alicia made herself comfortable in the bed, sitting on her side, with her stuffed animals in her arms and paid attention to her father.

"Once upon a time, there was a beautiful little princess. She was living in a small palace with her Daddy. She was beautiful but very naughty. One night, when her Daddy came to tuck her in, the princess bugged him to tell her a bedtime story. Her Daddy told her the story and then she fell asleep. The end." Mark smiled at her, waiting for her to outburst.

Alicia stared at him for a moment, dumbfounded. "That's not a story," she finally concluded.

"It started with 'Once upon a time', didn't it?" he asked her and Alicia nodded. "Then it was a story,"

"Daddy," Alicia giggled as she realized he was making fun of her.

"Go to sleep, Ally, because I am very tired and I can't think of any stories tonight," Mark told her.

"Ok," she sighed. Alicia turned to Meredith and leaned in to her, "Nighty-night, Meri," she dropped a kiss on her nose.

Meredith kissed her on the nose too. "Good night, Ally."

Alicia turned back to Mark and snuggled into his chest. "Night, Daddy," she finally closed her eyes.

"Good night," Mark kissed the top of her head and rubbed circles onto her back. He reached out for the lamp and turned off the lights.

Mark waited a moment and then shifted closer to the middle of the bed, his knee touching Meredith's. He closed his eyes again and drifted of to sleep.

Alicia had a smile on her face as she slept. That was the first time they slept together.

--

N/A: I might be a little late with the next chapter because right now I am focused only on reading Breaking Dawn (which is finally happening). Stick with me and I will be back in a few days with another chapter and some... more of their story. :)

In the meantime, please review. This will remind me to get back on writing and not starting again the whole Twilight series hee hee!!

Thank you for all your great support so far,

Dana