Chapter 56: Nervousness

Mark woke up feeling many emotions that he wasn't used to feeling. He was disappointed he didn't get to see Izzie last night. He hadn't seen her in 2 weeks, and he knew when he saw her later this morning, he would want to wrap her up tightly. Hannah... this was him meeting Hannah, but not as her mother's boyfriend or whatever they were. They still had not had that talk yet, both were waiting to see how this progressed once Hannah did know exactly who Mark was... and they weren't sure when that would happen. He just knew his body naturally reacted to hers but somehow today... he would have to tell it not to. He had NO idea how that would work.

Walking in the living room he thought about his and Derek's brief conversation when they went to get Derek's stuff. Jill was calling him, but he had yet to answer the phone. Derek had no idea what she wanted and didn't want to find out. Mark listened and wasn't sure what to suggest to Derek. He had been around Meredith and Derek enough now and thought if Derek just talked to Meredith about Jill, things would be okay. Mark wondered what she wanted... she said she was going to move when he saw her right after Derek moved. He figured Derek would eventually have to talk to her if she continued to call.

Right before getting to the living room, he heard Meredith giggle with Derek following her. He walked on in and found Meredith sitting between Derek's legs on the couch with her back pressed up against his chest. His arms were fastened tightly around her, and his head nuzzled up against the side of her head.

"Are you guys always like this? I mean, damn, it is one thing to put on an act but this... you two really do this shit when no one is around." Mark groaned knowing he wishes it was Izzie he was snuggled up to.

"Well, good morning to you too Mark." Derek laughed, looking up and leaning up from Meredith's ear where he had been whispering sweet nothings to her.

"Yeah, good fucking morning." Mark groaned knowing he didn't need to take anything out on his best friend and girlfriend. He just needed to see Izzie; she had suggested Mark sneak over last night, but they decided it wasn't the best idea.

Meredith looked up at Mark and realized Mark wasn't trying to be a smart ass, but she could tell he was nervous. She turned her upper body to face Derek, "I am going to go and get ready. We need to be at your parents in an hour or so."

"No, you have to be over there in an hour to help with the cooking. Ms. Sullivan is probably there now, and I bet Dr. Sullivan and dad went out riding this morning. They always do on Thanksgiving morning for some reason while the women are cooking... I guess to get out of their hair." Derek laughed, knowing they didn't want to be put to work.

"Your mom told me 11, should I go over there now and help? Izzie said she gets there at 11 as well." Meredith acted panicked but knew the plan...

"You had to mention her name." Mark groaned.

Derek looked to Mark almost shocked at how his best friend was acting, "Sorry man... but, soon enough. I think Hannah has plans tonight to stay at a friend's house."

"On Thanksgiving night?" Mark asked curiously.

"Yes, I guess another mom is taking the girls shopping at 5am; crazy as hell if you ask me." Meredith responded.

"And Izz isn't going? She loves to shop." Mark questioned.

Meredith giggled to herself thinking about how clueless men really were. "She has gone with them the last few years, but not this year. She has plans." Meredith smiled big at Mark.

Mark got a huge smile... one very uncharacteristic for him, "She does."

Meredith turned to Derek and whispered in his ear, "I am going to go and get ready. Mark needs you. He is nervous as hell and Izzie should be here in about 10 minutes. At least he has showered and is ready. I love you." Meredith said and kissed him rather quickly on the lips.

"Not nice telling secrets." Mark said.

"She was telling me all of the things she is planning on doing to me tonight. Do you want to hear?" Derek smirked at Mark and then saw Meredith roll her eyes as she tried to shift herself to get off the couch carefully.

"No, that is okay." Mark said as both Derek and Mark watched Meredith trying to get up, trying not to laugh at her. She attempted once and lost her balance and fell back down quickly. They couldn't suppress it any longer and just busted out laughing.

She looked at them, "Seriously, I can't get up and you asses laugh. See if you get any of those things tonight." She said to Derek as she worked very hard to get up and limp to the bedroom with the cast on her leg.

When she was out of the room, Derek looked to Mark, "Mark... it'll be okay man. Calm down."

"Shep, I am about to see her in an hour, and I will not be able to touch her. How would it be to not see Meredith in two weeks and have to keep your distance?" Mark asked putting it back on him.

Derek thought for a second and seriously said, "I couldn't do it."

Mark let out a huge breath, "I have no idea how I am going to. I have to; I know that, but... damn."

"Well, I think it will be okay." Derek smiled and patted him on the back as Mark sat down beside him.

"I may just go take a walk around the ranch. I need some time to think." Mark said getting up off the couch.

"Let me go with you, but I will need to change real quickly." Derek said quickly hoping he would wait on him, he should burn enough time doing that.

Mark sighed, but said, "Yeah... hurry your ass up though."

"Ok." Derek said thankfully.

After about 5 minutes, Mark hard a knock at the door and wasn't sure if he should get it. "Hey, Shep, someone is at the door." Mark yelled loud enough for them to hear.

"Will you get it?" Derek yelled, back knowing it had to be Izzie.

He walked to the door to open it, grumbling to himself, "God, you two are probably back there getting..." He stopped mid-sentence the second he saw her... by herself it seemed.

"Will you pick up your chin off the floor and kiss me... once we close this front door." Izzie smiled hugely at him.

"You are... what? Hannah... where is she?" Mark said in shock.

"Shut up and kiss me." Izzie closed the door and quickly wrapped her arms around him, and her lips were immediately on his.

He groaned at the feel of her hands... the feel of her lips. He had no idea about anything, but wanted to make the most of whatever time they had together before going over to the Shepherds.