"Shut up," she said meekly as a shy smile graced her lips. It was the opening up thing. She didn't think she had it in her to open up to him, to Mark, but he had so much confidence in her. The confidence transferred over to her, she could have sworn. "I know you think it's done. That he's going to try to avoid me at all costs, but I just wonder. If something did happen..."

"If by something you mean this-," and Mark softly met Meredith's lips with his own. A gentle, meaningful kiss that contained such a great amount of emotion and meaning. He eventually pulled his head back just enough to meet her gaze, noticing the sudden change in her. "And you feel the way you do now, only with him, I'll re-think my ways. As will you."

"Your ways?"

"Well, I love you, Meredith. I do. But I also want you to be happy, and if that means bowing out gracefully... I will. If it was best for you."

Meredith angled her arm up so she could pinch the bridge of her nose between her thumb and middle finger. Her other arm wrapped possessively around her own waist, as she barely noticed Cristina staring blankly into the road.

Neither of them said anything, yet there was so much to say. But there was the underlying question: where was Mark? Better yet, why hadn't he interjected in some way or another?

"Stupid, idiotic pager. Stupid.. If it hadn't gone off, I'd be fine. We'd be fine," she muttered to herself, fighting the urge to pace. Cristina watched her and her inner battle, waiting patiently for some change or another. Positive change, that is. "If he's here, where is he."

"Meredith..." Mark breathed, and Meredith let a small sigh of relief slip past her lips. Then realization hit, and she had no idea as to how she'd tackle this situation. The most common phrase 'It meant nothing' didn't seem to fit the moment. But the kiss didn't mean anything. Not to Meredith.

It didn't make her feel safe. Calm, loved, cared for... Nothing. The only thing she received from it was the not-so-great taste of- well, a combination of a few things.

"Mark," she sighed and turned her body slightly, eyeing his figure from a distance considering he was still in the process of walking to her and Cristina.

"It wouldn't be best for me... If you left, that is. I.. You're what makes me happy, Mark. Not just happy, so many things that I can't even begin to explain," she paused. Feelings. She didn't understand them, and then there was the obvious opening up issue. Talk about difficult. "I love you and only you. Please tell me by now this has registered in your brain, past that thick skull of yours."

Mark grinned brightly, allowing the expression to take over his features slowly. They were on the balcony outside of his apartment again, spending time together and enjoying the Seattle lights and the breeze one evening. His arms were wrapped comfortably around her waist as she stood in front of him, leaning back against his chest.

Before he knew it, she had turned herself around in his arms. Meredith snaked her arms up and around his neck, where she allowed the fingers of one of her hands to trail through his hair around the nape of his neck. And for a short second, she was nervous about what Mark would say. "It has registered, babe. I just want you to be sure... This is big, and different and.. exciting for the both of us."

He slowly dropped his head down more so to place a warm kiss to her lips. Before she could respond to his kiss, he had pulled away and left her feeling annoyingly bereft. Meredith cautiously brought her gaze up to meet his own. A smile tugged at the corners of her lips, despite the vulnerability she felt. "I am sure," and she was almost surprised by the firmness and honesty of her words. Yet, she wasn't surprised at the same time. "Just... If Derek somehow involves himself and complicates things between you and I.."

"Then I'll listen to you and trust you to let me know what happens."

"Took you a while to push him away," Mark noted once he was within normal talking distance.

And Meredith's mouth fell agape.

"Yeah. Sloan," Cristina made her presence known. "It took her the extra millisecond to push him away. Excuse her for having a terrible evening, and excuse her for not expecting him to throw himself on her."

Mark felt strangely possessive. Like he needed to keep Meredith close to him and like he needed claim her once more. Things had changed and he felt as though he was sharing the woman he loved, standing now right before him. He wasn't a fan of sharing, especially not sharing his favorite person, his girlfriend, his lover; with Derek. That feeling made him nauseated.

His and Meredith's gazes locked, and from what Cristina could tell, there was nothing more she could do that evening. This was between Mark and Meredith, it was as simple as that.

"Meredith... I'll see you soon, 'kay? Call me. Tomorrow," Cristina mumbled and turned to walk toward her car. Once Meredith heard her words, she knew she had to say something. Mark's gaze was fixed on hers though, and no matter what she seemed to do or think, she couldn't bring herself to allow her eyes to wander. Her eyes were stuck on his and he made no move to distract himself from her green eyes.

"I will." Meredith eventually mumbled, not breaking her and Mark's stare. She was silent for another moment, before she remembered that she forgot a major detail that had to be addressed. "Cris?" And she waited a second. "Thank you. So much."

Cristina nodded her head and turned to walk once again. "You're welcome."

Then she was gone.

It seemed like a matter of seconds and Mere and Mark were finally, really alone. The silence continued, though. That is, until Mark decided the silence was becoming a little too unbearable. "Meredith..." He breathed again.

She sighed almost frustratingly and turned her head to stare off into the distance, finally breaking their intense stare. She was silent still, before she shook her head and suddenly found her shoe incredibly interesting.

"Not here, okay? Just, please... Not here." Her legs and feet seemed to understand the statement, and the next thing she knew she was halfway back to the building.

"Promise?" Meredith questioned quietly, feeling like a young girl all over again, simply asking for promises. It was what she needed then, the reassurance and comfort. The promise.

Mark grinned the slightest and dropped his head down once more, meeting their lips one more time. He slowly dragged his tongue along her bottom lip, before he took it into his mouth and gently nibbled on it. Meredith gave a little groan and slid her hand under his shirt. She lazily traced her fingertips along his warm skin before they reluctantly parted.

With a small sigh, Meredith leaned herself into his body a bit more and allowed her head to fall and rest on his chest. He wrapped his arms around her petite figure and pulled her even closer to him. "I promise," and he meant it.

Nodding slowly, Mark agreed to her statement, but he found himself waiting behind for an extra second. He watched her figure shrink ever-so-slightly as she walked away from him, and then he realized he had to be with her. Her and only her. And even though she was only walking back inside, it felt as though she was walking away.

They had things to discuss. Many, many things.

Once she walked through the threshold and into their apartment, Meredith gave a sigh and walked over to their refrigerator. She glanced over her options a few times before she decided on a bottle of water. Her hands worked to twist the cap off and she felt relief as the cool water slipped down her dry throat. Mere didn't realize she was that thirsty. It was kind of odd.

She leaned her head back to take another sip of the cool goodness before she took in a surprised gasp as Mark stepped in behind her. He allowed his hands to lightly rest on her hips and he bowed his head to whisper over her ear, "Talk to me, baby... Please," then he sighed.

And she couldn't find the words to explain or say anything. First off, she was incredibly relieved that he hadn't left; that he had followed her back inside. Then there was the fact that he was touching her and talking to her. He wanted to know; he really wanted to know what was going on in that mind of hers. And then there was the confusion. Mark was confused and, needless to say, he very much disliked being confused.

Meredith turned herself around in his arms and placed both of her palms on his chest. She didn't meet his gaze straight away, instead, she seemed to stare at her hands and where they were resting.

"Remember the promise?" She finally asked, quietly.

Mark took his time in replying, taking his time with each word. "We've made a few promises..."

"On the balcony. A while ago, about him.." Mere sighed, not being able to bring herself to say his name. Derek.

His eyebrows knitted together the tiniest bit, before he gave a small head nod. Mark remembered, that he did. And he would allow her to explain everything, and he'd believe every word of it.

She cautiously brought her gaze up and found his eyes; them locking on.

"I remember." He nodded.

"So, I'm going to explain..."