Chapter 63: I'm Ready
Mark watched Hannah and Izzie in the kitchen, getting the cookies ready to bake. Mark and Izzie had the morning to themselves before Hannah came home from shopping with her best friend and mom. They made the most of their time, not getting dressed until the very last second, she was due home. Hannah had called them around 10am and told them she would be there in 45 minutes. She wasn't a child and was quite sure Mark would be staying over the night before. She was just excited her mom seemed happy and that was what mattered most to Hannah.
They went to get the tree together and decorated it. Mark wasn't 100% sure about this at first, this was big for him; but he quickly found himself on top of the world with them. They laughed a lot and had an amazing time together. Throughout the afternoon, Mark did find it difficult at times not to touch Izzie and/or kiss her. Parts of their body would touch as they decorated the tree and they would get a look, but kept them at bay... no matter how hard it got.
Hannah saw the hidden glances between her mom and the only man she had ever seen her mom look at like happy with. Hannah really couldn't be happier for her.
Mark walked up behind the girls, looking over their shoulders at the cookie batter. He quickly reached his hand between them to steal a bit of what they were mixing up.
"Stop that." Izzie giggled and swiped at his hand before turning around to look at him.
"I wanted a taste. It looked so good from where I was standing." Mark said knowing this had more than one meaning.
"It is very good I think." Izzie said turning back around to focus on the cookies before she couldn't stop herself. She was a little bummed Hannah's plans had changed and she would be staying home tonight and staying with her friend tomorrow night, but she was glad they could spend more time together.
"Mom is the best baker. She bakes cakes for Turtle Rock, and people all over town call her to do birthday cakes." Hannah bragged about her mom.
"I am not the best. I just enjoy it and really Hannah is the one that can bake. She has pretty much taken it over." Izzie smiled at her beautiful daughter.
Mark watched them and was falling in love more and more by the second, not only with Izzie, but her daughter as well. He never even wanted to date a woman with a child, especially with a teenager, but this was much different than he ever could imagine. "I can't wait to taste these cookies then if I have the best bakers in town."
"Uncle Derek says they are the best cookies ever but won't eat many. We tried to use fat free butter one time, but they were disgusting." Hannah had always called Derek her uncle.
Mark laughed, "Yeah that would be Shep, always trying to be healthy. He tried to convert me, but you're in luck... couldn't be converted."
"Derek has been like that since I can remember." Izzie laughed with them.
"Ms. Meredith loves our baking... she calls me often to find out what is cooking." Hannah laughed.
"She doesn't cook at all. Although, Mrs. Shepherd and Mrs. Sullivan have been trying to teach her for a few months now and she is learning." Izzie added.
"I don't think Shep cares very much if she doesn't cook." Mark laughed with them.
"No, I don't think he does. He is so in love with her... it is really good. Everyone deserves that kind of love and happiness." Izzie started out her statement laughing, but ended the laughter when she realized exactly what she was saying.
There was a silence, everyone thinking... everyone wondering if this was that kind of love... that kind of happiness that everyone deserved.
Mark couldn't resist... he took a step closer to Izzie and wrapped her up in his arms from behind. Quietly he whispered to her, "It is time for your happiness. I am here... I want to show you... love and happiness."
Izzie leaned into him a bit before pulling from him a bit remembering Hannah was standing right there. She looked over her shoulder at him quickly, letting him know with her eyes, she wanted this with him.
Hannah watched them and couldn't be happier. She wanted to talk to her mom at some point and tell her... she had no problems with Mark and them showing affection in front of her. She wasn't a young child anymore and loved seeing the love that was shared between them. She knew yesterday was not their first meeting, but she wouldn't let her mom in on that secret. She just wanted her happy.
Izzie coughed trying to step away from Mark a little more, "We should... get these cookies in. Derek and Meredith will be here any second." She flashed a smile to her daughter who was glowing back at her mom.
"I am going to... run to the bathroom real quick." Mark turned to walk out, trying to break up the looks that were happening between him and Izzie. This was one of those times he needed to collect himself because he felt himself wanting to be close to her and Hannah was there... he had to be careful.
Izzie immediately went to scooping up batter to go on the cookie sheet, knowing her daughter had things she wanted to say.
"Mom, he is... you love him." She said.
"I do not... I enjoy his company."
"I am not a young child anymore and I see... the looks. Mom, it is ok... if he stays here and you guys... are a couple or whatever." Hannah said with a very serious look on her face not letting her mom out of this conversation.
"We aren't... I mean – we aren't there. I don't really know him." Izzie tried to defend.
"Stop mom. Just... be happy. Does he make you happy?"
Izzie took a deep breath knowing exactly how happy she was. Her daughter was the only thing that made her happier. Izzie knew Hannah was very mature and ready for this, "Hannah... he makes me... I don't even know how to describe it. Happy... I am happy, very happy. I may even... there is something about him."
Hannah smiled big, "Go for it, mom. It is your time." She took a few steps and gave her mom a huge hug.
Izzie couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, "You are still... number 1 and will always be."
"I know mom, but you can have... another number 1... there can be two of us. It is time." Hannah said more than happy about her mom. As much as she loved her mom, she knew there would be a day that she would be leaving... and her mom needed to have this. Hannah knew Izzie has spent the last 15 years of her life providing and taking care of every one of her needs; it was now her mom's turn.
Mark walked around the corner and stopped when he saw the woman he was falling deeply for and her daughter in a tender embrace.
Izzie could feel his presence knowing he was back. She shifted ever so slightly and saw him... leaning a little up against the wall with a warm smile on his face. Her eyes lit up as they met his, showing so much love.
It was all broken up by the ring of the doorbell, "Well, it is about time they get here. I will get the door." Hannah hurried off.
Izzie walked over to where Mark was leaning and looked into his eyes... searching. She wanted to know if he was really in this because she knew she was ready... to be all in.
"Are you ok?" Mark asked.
"I am... wonderful. Hannah... she is really the best daughter I could have asked for." Izzie was so proud of her daughter.
"She is a great young lady. She... takes after an amazing woman I know. This woman is beautiful, intelligent, and…" Mark leaned down into her ear and whispered, "is the most incredible in bed."
This caused a giggle to come out of Izzie as well as Mark. "I have to meet this woman... see the competition."
"You are the competition and I love…" Mark stopped giggling when he realized what he said and was about to say but quickly saw she wasn't freaking out in anyway, but instead waiting... to know what he was about to say.
"Yes?"
"Izz... I am falling for you. This afternoon was... it was not like anything I have ever experienced... none of this is anything I have experienced before."
"We have to... they are here." Izzie said nervously after hearing him say that, but not in a typical nervous way... but, in a very anxious way. She turned around to walk into the living room to greet them before stopping and turning back around to face Mark, "This is... I want this. I want you and I am... falling for you and it scares the hell out of me... Hannah... she is ok with all of this."
They just stared into each other's eyes and was distracted suddenly when he heard his best friend, "Well, you are looking good today, Mark." Derek smirked.
"I feel good." Mark pried his eyes away from Izzie's to look toward Derek.
"Something smells great." Meredith said starting to poke around the kitchen.
"Leave it up to my girlfriend to use her nose to find the good stuff." Derek laughed as Meredith turned back to play hit him, "You are making the one's with icing? They are so yummy." Derek added when looking around to see the icing.
"You eat them?" Meredith asked surprised.
"Oh yes, they are so good, but only a few." Derek reminded.
"We tried to make them with low fat butter one time, but that didn't work so well." Hannah rolled her eyes.
"Shep is crazy." Mark added, "I can't wait to have one of the Steven's originals."
"Steven's originals... you just came up with the name of their bakery." Derek laughed, but did really need to talk to Mark and was trying to come up with an idea to get him alone.
"Maybe it could be S originals since your last name also ends in S." Hannah directed towards Mark. She was bold... Izzie taught her to be that way through the years.
There was silence, no one knew what to say until Derek coughed and said, "Well, I think I will let you ladies bake. Mark, let's grab a beer and head outside for a bit." Derek was thankful for the opportunity to suggest this... he knew he had to eventually tell Meredith about the phone calls, but needed to bounce it off of Mark... get his opinion and just talk it out.
Mark definitely could use a beer and a conversation with Derek about his recent conversation with Izzie... his mind still reeling from it, "Sounds great. I will grab my jacket."
"Good, we can bake and chit-chat." Izzie said excitedly wanting to talk with Meredith knowing Hannah would enjoy the conversation as well.
Derek gave Meredith a quick kiss on her forehead and a quick, "I love you" before grabbing the beer and meeting Mark outside.