I was going to wait and post this in the morning, but I got such a great response in a short time, I thought, why not. . . so here ya go. I am also wanting to get this caught up to where this is over on another board. . . i do have pictures posted on the board of people. . . in this story. . .

"Something smells good in here." Mark said as he rounded the corner to see what was cooking. "Oh . . . and you are whistling . . . the call must have been a good one last night." He said raising his eyebrows.

"Just happy, Mark . . . that is all."

"So, it went ok. . . "

"I think so."

"Alex isn't going to kill you?"

"Not right now. . . " He said smiling. He knew things could have gone much worse last night, but Meredith really seemed happy and glad to talk to him. He smiled even bigger thinking about her going to sleep, snoring over the phone.

"Man, if that would have been one of your sisters, you would have killed the guy. Remember the time you walked in on Candace and her husband . . . you almost killed him and they were married."

"Correction: they were engaged . . . " Derek said remembering the situation.

"Still . . . you were so pissed." Mark reminded him.

"You were also when I told you about it." He said laughing, "I understand where he is coming from." Derek said a few seconds later getting a serious look on his face.

"I guess, but still. . . Anyone who can't see . . . the spark or whatever it is between you two . . . is blind."

"Wow, Mark that is deep coming from you. I would even say there is a spark or two coming from your direction with Izzie."

"I don't know what to do Derek. I couldn't sleep thinking about it. The rules. . . I just want to say screw the rules, but I have worked too hard getting here to med school and being one of the top students. Man, what in the hell is wrong with me. . . I would consider giving it all up . . . is I fucking nuts?" Mark said shaking his head in disbelief.

"Mark . . . are you ok? Are you sure you are my brother? Did you kidnap him or something?" Derek said laughing.

"I am trying for once to be serious and that is all you can say." Mark said really not sure what to do.

Derek looked at him and knew he was being very serious, "Ok, Mark. . . I am sorry man. Do you want to know what I think?"

"Do you think I am just talking to you about this for your information, of course, I need to know what you think?"

Derek knew this was big for Mark . . . he would never admit that he needed Derek's help unless he was desperate. "I think you should go for it. . . I never thought there would come a time where you even talked about dating a woman or doing anything with a woman other than having sex."

Mark sat down at the bar. . . "I think you may be right. I think I have to go for it. Rules are always made to be broken."

Derek just looked at him with disbelief, "I can't believe it man, I just never thought. . . you are really. . . " Derek said almost laughing at this point.

"Shut the fuck up. I need to see Izzie. I don't have her number. . . " Mark said cutting Derek off from saying anything too crazy.

"You forgot to get her number." Derek asked laughing even harder.

"Yeah . . . new at this, remember, asshole." Mark said looking miserable really not sure what to do.

"You know where she lives." Derek said reminding him they took her home last night.

"Is it ok for . . . me to just . . . show up unannounced or something?"

"She seems like the kind of girl who would be ok with it." Derek smiled.

"Should I take something over to her?" Mark asked looking completely lost.

Derek started to laugh even harder, "You really have no clue."

"Shut up, asshole. . . I do have a clue. . . " He thought for a second, "Ok, I really don't. . . I am in some kind of trouble. She will never want to go out with me. I will screw this up so much."

"Well, you won't ever know if you don't try."

"You are right, I am going to go and shower . . . figure out what I am going to do."

"Ok, man . . . good luck. Maybe you should take over some lunch. . . She did say she was going to be studying today."

"Good idea." He said as he started to get up to go take a shower.

About 30 minutes later, he came back all showered and ready to go.

"Ok, man. . . I think I am going to . . . um . . . go." Mark said nervously.

"Calm down, man." Derek said trying not to laugh at his friend. Derek was enjoying watching his friend uncomfortable . . . this was definitely the first time he had ever seen him like this. Mark was confident at everything they ever done—more confident than Derek at times, but, this . . . it was different.

"What should I get to take over there? I mean . . . chicks . . . what do they eat for lunch?" He said with a serious look on his face.

"First of all, don't call her a . . . chick. Women don't like that! Secondly, get a variety of things and tell her you didn't know what to get her so you came prepared with whatever she may want . . . she will love that . . . romantic and all."

"That is good, Shep. . . how do you know this shit? Oh. . . I forgot . . . you are the king of romance."

"No, I think it was having 4 sisters and a mom who made sure I knew how to be a ladies man . . . too bad it didn't work on you."

"You are lame and for the record, no one can tame Mark Sloan."

"I hate to break it to you my friend, but I think you are being tamed as we speak." Derek said grinning.

Mark sighed, "I think you may be right. Damn it. . . I am going to turn into you."

"And that is a bad thing?" Derek asked.

"Yes, you act all stupid and all . . . the way you look at Mer. . . And whistle . . . and sing in the shower and when you are cooking . . . you can't carry a tune at all! I am stalling and I need to go. How do I look?" Mark said looking back at Derek before heading out the door.

"You look great, snookem's. . . now, leave. . . " He said laughing heading back to the kitchen to clean up his mess.

A few minutes later, he heard the doorbell ring. He shook his head and grinned. As he was opening the door, he said, "Hey Man, I can't believe you are already. . . " He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw who was on the other side of the door.

Derek stood there speechless . . . he had no idea what to say.

"I guess you weren't expecting me."

"I . . . um . . . what you are doing here?" He was shocked to see him.

"We need to talk. . . "

Derek sighed. He knew this was coming, but he wasn't ready. . . "Yeah . . . "

The starred at each other for what seemed like eternity.

"Um. . . you should come in." Derek finally broke the hard stare they both were giving.

Alex stepped through the door taking in the apartment. It was nice like the condo—not like the typical bachelor's pad. It was definitely masculine, but had nice things which made Alex feel a little more comfortable knowing Meredith would be spending time here.

"Look man, I know you are probably wondering why I am here."

"You want to beat my face in . . . " Derek said hopeful Alex would see this as a joke.

"That thought has crossed my mind, but I am pretty sure my sister would. . . " He stopped knowing he didn't want to give Derek too much information, but knew for sure Mer would kill him.

"Well, in that case, do you want a beer. . . I know I could use one." Derek said knowing it would be easier to talk over some beers. It was a man thing.

"Yeah. . . I will have one. As long as you don't drink cheap or light beer." Alex said . . . a man can tell a lot about another man given the kind of beer they drank.

"Only the best." Derek nervously smiled realizing Alex knew his beers which is something Derek knew a lot about as well.

Derek walked back in the room with the beer and motioned for Alex to sit down.

"Look Shepherd, I am not exactly sure what to say to you, but I know we needed to talk. Brad knew where you guys lived. I am sorry to drop in on you, I was going to call, but I thought we needed to talk man to man. Meredith doesn't have a clue I am even here." Alex said eyeing Derek.

"Yes . . . we do need to talk." Derek said wanting Alex to lead this conversation. Being a brother, he knows a little about what Alex is feeling; however, none of his sisters had gone through what Meredith did. He also wasn't as close to any of his sister's as the twins seems to be.

"Meredith told you." Alex said not quite sure how to start this conversation.

Derek couldn't believe he just jumped in with something so big. "Yes, she did." He stated.

"And you are ok with it." Alex said, not as a question, but as a statement.

"Yes. . . I am. She deserves . . . she needs someone who is going to . . . she doesn't need that again . . . she deserves . . . happy." Derek said still nervous where this is going.

"Oh god, she is already rubbing off on you." Alex said almost laughing at Derek and his rambling. He couldn't laugh though; he was still upset about things and needed to talk to Derek about those things.

"What. . . I mean . . . no rubbing or anything . . . " He said unsure about what Alex meant.

"Rambling man . . . you are rambling. I feel like I am talking to Mer."

"She does ramble doesn't she?" He said smiling thinking about how cute the rambling was. She did it when she was nervous and now, he was doing it and was incredibly nervous. He took a deep breath. He needed to talk man to man with Alex and quit being so nervous.

Alex wasn't sure what to say next, things were swirling around in his head. He had so many different emotions. He wanted to be angry with Derek, but he couldn't be. He knew this man was going to be around and he needed to try and figure out how to be ok with it. "I am going to be honest with you. I want to hate you and be angry at you, but Meredith. . . I would do anything for her and right now . . . she wants me to try . . . to be ok with you and her. So, I am going to try, but we need to come to an understanding where she is concerned."

"I wouldn't expect anything different." Derek said a little relieved but still cautious and decided to let Alex continue before saying anything big to him just yet.

"I asked you not to see her . . . that she had enough to deal with right now and still you did." Alex said wanting to see Derek's reaction.

Derek sighed. This was something he hoped Alex wouldn't bring up. "I wanted to. . . I wish I could tell I could stay away from her, but there is something. . . I don't even know how to describe it. She is. . . " He said taking a breath and to see how Alex would react.

"You really like her." Alex said stating a fact realizing more and more that Derek really was in this . . . she wasn't really just a toy for him to play with. He was glad Derek responded the way he did. Meredith needed someone who would fight for her.

Derek smiled thinking about her, "Yes. . . Yes, I do." He said sipping his beer.

"You know, right now, I am more pissed that she didn't even tell me. We tell each other everything. When I saw you guys last night, I was pissed, but talking with her at home . . . she feels the same way about you."

Derek couldn't help but feel the happiness swell up inside of him thinking about her feeling the same way. "I am sorry. . . I never meant to . . . things shouldn't have gotten that carried away in the parking lot . . . you never should have had to found out that way."

"No, I shouldn't have had to see that, but, it is ok. I think I wouldn't have listened if she would have tried to tell me sooner. Maybe it was better this way. . . I was able to see you guys and there is something between you two even I can't deny. I didn't want to admit it and maybe that is what made me that much more upset."

"Alex, are you ok with me dating your sister. I mean. . . I think you realize we have a connection that is . . . strong, but I know how much you mean to her and she needs you to . . . for us to get along . . . and for you to accept us."

"You can't hurt her. . . EVER." Alex looked straight in his eyes warning him. . .

"Alex. . . I do not ever want to hurt her. But, there will be times. . . I think we both can be stubborn and there will be arguments and possibly rough times, but I can promise her and you, I will do everything I can to make sure those times end with great memories." He said with seriousness in his eyes.

"Make sure you do just that." Alex said standing up and extending his hand to Derek.

Derek was shocked at this, but nervously shook his hand with both of them having a look of caution in their eye.

Alex sat down the empty beer bottle and walked out the door.

Derek sat down and let out a big sigh of relief. That had gone much better than he expected. They were not friends, but were definitely taking a step in the right direction.