A/N: I reference Meredith's mom and step-mom, and infer they are still alive. Because I do what I want. Poor woman has suffered enough.

Chapter 32. Stay Free

Mark heads back to Seattle Grace with Derek following the senior trio's coffee date, and for a myriad of hospital-related reasons (and a long conversation with Richard Webber, who was trying to convince him and Addison to relocate and join Seattle Grace full-time), he does not arrive back to The Archfield until around seven.

"Hey," Mark says quietly as he steps into the dimmed room, suspicions confirmed when he sees Kate already sleeping peacefully in the hotel's Pack 'N Play. Addison gives him a friendly wave from where she is sitting on the bed, mindlessly flipping through television channels, also looking a bit sleepy.

"Hey," she whispers. "I'm gonna fall asleep soon. At least with the time change I can justify being in bed before eight?"

"You and me both," Mark grins, peeling off his jacket – still slick with rain droplets – and stripping down to his boxers. He points out Kate's hat, floral bodysuit, and light purple leggings as he walks over to the bed, the items folded neatly on a nearby chair. Addison sometimes lines up Kate's next-day outfit the night before, and today is apparently no exception. "You're repeating an outfit?"

"I'm just repeating the hat since we're having dinner at Derek and Meredith's tomorrow. She'll probably only wear it for a second anyway since she's taken to yanking them off lately, but I still want Meredith to see her in it. Just the hat though. Those are different clothes than what she wore today. I am not a second-day outfit repeater, Mark Sloan."

"I should have known." He joins her under the covers, copying her by pressing his back to the mahogany headboard. Addison frowns when she studies him a bit closer. Something is off.

"Are you okay?" She asks.

"Yeah. It's just…part of the reason I went into Plastics…I could never stomach death, you know."

Her eyes widen. "Your patient…?"

"Oh God, sorry," Mark shakes his head quickly. "No. She's fine. That was a terrible way to start that. I just meant, like, in general I could never really stomach death very well. Not that I don't experience it as a surgeon, but for the most part…"

"I know," she finishes quietly. "I get it. A lot of your patients sign up for the pain they get. I always suspected that was part of your drive to pursue a more cosmetic specialty. I didn't think it was just…shallowness."

He manages a chuckle. "Contributing factor though."

"But your patient is doing okay…?"

"She is. She's recovering and everything looks good. But it's just…really hard to see her like that. Her eyes are swollen shut. She's bandaged up, and she has bruises from being poked and prodded so much recently. She's just a baby. She's still so little."

"You're right," she scoots closer to lean against him, and bends her hand around his elbow. "That part is hard, and it never stops being hard. But the flip side is that when a baby heals and you're able to improve their quality of life and give them a chance – or for me, when I do something that ensures a baby gets to make it into the world – it's the most incredible feeling. It makes the hard part worth it. You get to see a baby heal and they get to go home and you just imagine this whole life that they're going to live. You're giving this patient the chance to have a whole life, Mark. And that's incredible, even in the midst of the hard part."

He swallows thickly. "Yeah, I know. Addie? I'm sorry."

"For what? Wanting to talk about this? We're in Seattle-Vermont. I'm glad you're telling me how you feel."

"No, for…" he shakes his head. "I've made hundreds of comments about your specialty before. Nothing about what you do is easy or soft. You're an amazing surgeon and I've always thought that of course, but I know I've made a lot of snide comments about your field in general before. Some of them probably aren't even that old of comments. You know, gynie squad, pink and squishy…things like that. It was rude. And condescending. And a lot of other shitty things. So I'm sorry. Surgeons save lives, but you save lives sometimes before they're even really considered lives. Most surgeons' second and third chances with patients are your first chances. You make sure your patients get to have a life at all."

She smiles gratefully and kisses his cheek. "Thank you, Mark. I really appreciate you telling me that. Now go ahead and lie down. I'm gonna rub your back for a little bit, okay?"

"Addison -"

"Who is the boss in this relationship, Mark?" She interrupts, raising an eyebrow.

"You are. And Kate, actually. So really, the boss is just anyone who isn't me."

"That's correct."

"My patient…" Mark begins once he is lying down and her fingertips are moving soothingly along the knots of his spine. He clenches his teeth, trying to fight against the tightness in his throat. "She's wearing arm restraints right now so her hands don't go near the surgical site. Those limb holder things…they're not hurting her and it's for her own good since it's a safety thing, but…" he pauses, and he knows that Addison is thinking about Kate as well. "You know how much babies like to put their hands on their face."

"What's her name?"

"Luna."

"Luna," she repeats softly. "That's a really pretty name."

"Yeah." He doesn't complain when Addison holds him a little tighter.

"Should I distract you with five questions? I mean, at this angle my breasts are essentially in your face. That has to be nice, at least."

"Oh, believe me. It is," he kisses her near the top of her sternum and she swats at him lazily. "Nah, no questions. Distract me with wedding stuff."

"Because you want to discuss wedding stuff or because it'll put you to sleep?" Addison says with a laugh, scooting back to look at him while she speaks and to ensure he is paying attention to her, not just her breasts.

"Both."

The "bigger" details have mostly been arranged (Addison is nothing if not a planner, and they are working with a relatively short timeframe), and their guests have been casually notified to save the date via text message. They intend to have an unfussy ceremony when they get married this December at a luxury boutique hotel off Madison Avenue (unfussy perhaps, but expensive) and then adjourn to the hotel's restaurant for dinner.

None of what Addison envisions for the "subdued winter wonderland vibe" of the room where the ceremony will take place makes much sense to Mark from a visualization perspective, but he listens anyway to her ideas: rich green garland and chiffon twisted around an arch; a bouquet of cream-colored roses, eucalyptus, and brunia berries; silver wood Chiavari chairs; a small accent table near the wedding arch that they can place her bouquet and the rings on for safekeeping, since they aren't planning on having a bridal party; ornate tabletop lanterns filled with fairy lights lining the aisle; and maybe hand-blown glass ornaments as wedding favors.

"And let's see…what else. Oh. Dresses. I'm not planning on wearing a white dress, just so you know."

Mark smirks at this, a joke already brewing. "Pretty sure you weren't a virgin when you married Derek either. Also, there's a baby over there who looks exactly like you. People are gonna know, Addie."

"Ass."

"I'm just kidding. What do you want to wear?"

"Something more…second wedding-ish. Simple. Nothing sparkly or bead-ish or veil-ish. A color that isn't blinding white. Does that sound okay to you?"

"Honestly, it's really hard to envision what the hell you're talking about. But wear what you want, Addie. It doesn't matter to me, provided I get to take whatever it is off later that night. Now, what do you want me to wear?" Mark grins in anticipation. "I'm assuming you have a preference on my attire?"

"Yes. Dark blue tux. Gray tie. I think that will go nicely with some of the dresses I've been looking at and the dress I'm thinking about for Kate," she scoots away to swipe her phone off the bedside table, and then pulls up a dress she recently saved to her home screen. She shows Mark the current frontrunner for Kate, a long-sleeved, tulle and lace white dress with a silver flower sash.

"Cute. Assuming this is for our daughter though, not you," he teases.

"Correct," she sets her phone aside. "Along with a headband or bow she'll probably tear off right away. And as far as myself…I may not plan on being a traditional-looking bride, but I still want to do the thing where we don't see each other before the ceremony."

"Okay. And what about a…Honeymoon thing? Are we doing that?"

"I think we should. Do you want to just be predictable in a good way and do Cape Cod? With the third wheel? After we get married I'm still all for the two of us having a night at the hotel and giving our kid to Savvy and Weiss overnight – or Lauren if she's available because three babies sounds awful – but I don't think I can be away from Kate for more than one night. That would be a lot of crying, and there shouldn't be any crying on one's Honeymoon."

"I was kind of thinking the same thing – after the hotel night, go up to Cape Cod for a few days with Kate. We won't be able to have screaming-loud sex if she's there, but -"

"We don't have screaming-loud sex."

Mark smirks. "Oh, I beg to differ. I may not scream, but there have definitely been a few times where you have."

"I guess that's kind of true. Well, it's gonna suck for whoever shares a wall with us at the hotel then."

"There are as many toys and stuffed animals in here as there are actual diaper products," Mark comments, slinging the diaper bag over his shoulder as they approach Meredith Grey's house Friday evening, located on a high hill in a quiet neighborhood with large houses.

"You'll thank me during dinner when we attempt to keep Kate occupied to ensure some semblance of table manners on her behalf," Addison says as she rings the doorbell. She can hear shuffling inside, and a few moments later, Derek opens the door with Meredith hovering close behind him. The petite blonde ends up being the one to speak first.

Meredith grins, appearing absolutely delighted when she sees what Kate is wearing. "The hat," she says simply.

Addison smiles back at her. Everything about having a child has made her more maternal and sentimental towards most human beings, so this expression from Meredith is so damn cute she almost wants to squeal in response.

"The hat," Addison confirms as they step inside. "It's a favorite of ours. It's good to see you again, Meredith. This is my fiancé, Mark. He's, um, Derek's best friend. We -"

"She's familiar with the backstory, Addison," Derek interjects with a strained laugh, and then glances at Meredith. "Dinner about ready?"

"You know I don't cook. Go ask Izzie," Meredith says, waving Derek off. She smiles at Kate, who gives her a smile in return.

"Would you like to hold her?" Addison asks softly.

"Oh. Yeah," Meredith says. She might be dark and twisty at times, but she does like babies and would like to have one or two someday. And the baby in front of her right now in the hat she worked so hard to make is really, really adorable. "I'd love to."

"So tell me what you're all thinking for specialties," Addison says. It's odd, to be eating dinner with her ex-husband and his girlfriend, as well as a handful of residents she doesn't know well, but it's also a relaxing dinner in that Meredith and Izzie have been happily passing Kate back and forth between them, which leaves Addison with both hands to eat her dinner with. It's been a minute since that was an option.

"Cardio," Cristina answers immediately. No surprise there.

Meredith goes next, clasping her hands together. "I'm kind of waiting to be inspired, but most likely General. Or Trauma."

"Fetal and Neonatal for me," Izzie says with a slow grin, adjusting Kate in her lap. "I promise I'm not just saying that because I'm sitting across the table from a world-class one."

Alex, who is on Izzie's right, provides his answer. "Plastics," he replies with the absolute certainty that Cristina Yang holds for her specialty, but then his brown eyes narrow when Addison's expression changes ever-so-slightly. He is the only one who catches this. "Hey, what was that look for?"

"Oh, nothing," Addison shakes her head and offers an apologetic smile. "I'm sure you'll be a great plastic surgeon. I was honestly just thinking you might go for Pediatrics, that's all."

Someone's fork clatters aggressively against a dish in surprise, and then a simultaneous response echoes from every Seattle Grace doctor present at the table: "Seriously?"

Addison shrugs, unfazed by the group reaction. "Just a feeling. I think I'm right though. Derek, Mark – aren't I always right?"

"Yes," both men dutifully answer.

Alex rolls his eyes. "As though there is any other answer to that question," he says, which is completely accurate.

"Ohhh, back talk," Addison laughs. "I would have loved to have had you as an intern. By the way," she directs her attention to Derek. "I thought your nickname was McDreamy."

"It is, sadly."

"It's just that when I stopped by the hospital today – I was talking with Miranda, and I heard someone say McSteamy."

"Oh, God," Derek mumbles. "Okay, weirdos. Who's McSteamy?" He looks at Meredith, who blushes and lowers her head, and then at Izzie, who is making herself very busy with stroking Kate's wispy hair to the side.

"Mark is McSteamy," Cristina says when it becomes clear no one else at the table intends to answer.

Mark smirks and glances at Derek. "I have a nickname. I'm…honored, I guess?"

"That's not fair," Addison says with a frown. "I want a McNickname too."

"Oh, you have one." Izzie smirks, lightly nudging her boyfriend. "Alex? Care to share with the group?"

"Dude, I don't know what you're talking about," he answers with a lazy grin as Kate reaches towards him. He holds his index finger out in response, and she curls her hand around it.

"Dude," Addison parrots. "Tell me what my nickname is. And my McBaby is looking at you right now and attempting to bribe you with her cuteness, so obviously she wants to know too. Please?"

Alex smirks again. "Fine. I might have said it first, but others agreed. McHot."

"McHot," she repeats, starting to laugh. "I love that. And like Mark, I am also honored to have a part in your guys' weird 'Mc' thing."

"Yeah, we're quite the bunch at Seattle Grace," Derek says. "Well, the old people at the table have been toasting to a lot of weird, sentimental things lately so…" he holds his half-drunk beer up. "To McFriends and McFamily."

"McFriends and McFamily."

Mark lifts his beer. He knows there is no going back from that night in New York. Everything has forever changed. His relationship with Derek, no matter how much it has improved and been rebuilt since last winter, will always, always be a bit different, a bit lacking in sameness when it comes to friendship and surrogate brotherhood. But when Derek laughs and gives him a one-shouldered shrug before taking a long pull of his beer, Mark thinks that, maybe, they are McBoth again.

The plan is to leave early on Monday, after a final check-in with Luna and her parents the day before. The little girl is expected to be discharged soon, and Mark is agreeable to monitoring her progress from New York, and returning in the future if needed.

On Saturday morning, Mark and Derek secure tickets to an afternoon Mariners game (after Mark has received permission from Addison to attend). And while the gentlemen are off at T-Mobile Park, Addison comes back to the hotel room after a play date for Kate and Tuck at Miranda's house, ready to put Kate down for a nap. Kate is not particularly interested in this though, so Addison and her daughter are playing on the floor when a light knock is heard, so light Addison thinks maybe it didn't actually happen. She goes to the door to check anyway though, leaving Kate playing with one of her musical toys. She glances through the peephole and is surprised to see Meredith.

"Hey," she says, opening the door.

"Hey," Meredith responds. She is clutching Maggie the elephant in her hand – it occurs to Addison they must have left it at her home yesterday. "I got your room number from Derek, who asked Mark. I think one or both of them were supposed to text you to let you know I was coming. But, uh, you seem surprised, so I'm guessing that didn't happen."

"It probably did happen," Addison says in their defense. "I have my phone on silent because my kid is supposed to be napping right now, but…" she pulls the door open wider and moves to the side so Meredith can see. "That's not happening at the moment. Do you…um. Do you want to come in?"

"Oh I…I don't have to. It's okay. I just came by to drop off the stuffed…" Meredith trails off when Kate notices her. The little girl lets out a joyful shriek and wiggles the upper half of her body. "Well, I'll just come in for a minute. I don't want to take up too much of your time."

"Oh, you're fine. It's nice to hear another adult voice, or anything other than that," Addison says when Meredith takes a seat on the floor next to Kate. She gestures to the toy Kate is playing with. "This toy has different volumes, and sometimes she inadvertently finds the button that makes the music louder. It's not my favorite thing about her, honestly."

"I get that," Meredith replies with a laugh. "So you guys head back Monday?"

"We do. Thank you, again, for dinner by the way. That was a lot of fun."

Meredith smiles her agreement. "Yeah, it was."

Addison inhales, feeling surprisingly nervous, although nothing is really intimidating about Meredith Grey. "Is it weird that – well, parts of this will always be weird because of all the history and how you and I met, I know that – but is it weird that I…kind of want to be friends with you?"

Meredith tilts her head, a shy smile tugging at her lips. She has Cristina, her person and her soulmate. She has Derek, the love of her life. She has an Alzheimer's-stricken mother who things weren't easy with even before the disease began tunneling its way through her mother's brain. She has a strained relationship with her father, a developing relationship with her…well, step-mother is the appropriate term, even though she doesn't really think of Susan that way quite yet. And the bomb (the metaphorical one, not the other one) dropping that was Lexie starting her residency at Seattle Grace no longer feels as unsettling, so she has a sister. And she already has friends, good friends: George, Izzie, Alex. But she doesn't have an Addison friend, and she thinks that, weirdness aside, she might like one.

The flight back is much, much better for Kate (which makes it better for her parents). There is crying during take-off, but a few minutes after hitting their cruising altitude, Kate falls asleep in her mother's arms. Addison and Mark both breathe a sign of deep relief.

"Hey, Addison?" Mark asks. "As far as the Honeymoon, I'm definitely still down for a hotel night and then Cape Cod, but I had an idea…"

Oh God, she thinks.

"…of something else we could do afterwards. Maybe a handful of days at the beach house, and then one other thing? I was sort of hoping it could be a surprise for you though."

"That makes me very, very nervous, Mark."

"But it would be a good surprise," he insists. "And a funny one. A good-funny one."

"Now that just scares the hell out of me."

Mark deliberates for a moment and then grins sneakily, still determined. "If I run it by Savvy and she tells you it's a good idea, then can I have your permission to plan it?"

"Yes. That I can live with."