Izzie returned to Dennys room, phone in hand, she smiled as he looked at her, a look of gratitude and love, a look that she began to think that maybe she didnt deserve. Denny didnt know everything about Isobel Stevens, trailer trash, baby abandoner..

'Here you go'

She handed the phone, smile still evident even with all the thoughts playing on her mind as she thought of her future.

'Thanks Iz, do you mind..?'

Denny was very kind as he subtly asked for privacy and Izzie being the ever perceptive was happy to oblige, she nodded and turned to leave, stating that she will be back later on.

Denny watched her leave and smiled as he thought of how she had manged to change him in such little time, of how he used to be, of who he used to be, the ever so happy go lucky guy that never got ill, never had to worry for his future, never thought of settling down, and when he did have girlfriends, they were nothing like Isobel Stevens, how could fate have brought him her, was this karma, did he do something so incedible in a past life that he deserved such an angel? He dialed the number for his parents house and sighed as he got the answer machine, he took a deep breath, and allowed his heart to give him the words that he needed to explain and apologise to his parents.

'Dad, Mom, its me. Im calling from the Seattle Grace Hospital where the beautiful, talented and incredibly stubborn Dr Isobel Stevens has, well shes just given me a brand new heart and Im going to ask her to marry me one day, You'll meet her soon, we are flying over next week. I know we've had our differences and I'm sorry for what happened last year and not staying in touch. Believe it or not I was.. I was trying to make everything better, I know your angry and I hope you'll forgive me. As it turns out, sometimes you have to do the wrong thing, sometimes you have to make a big mistake to figure out how to make things right. Mistakes are painful, But they are the only way to find out who you really are. I know who I am now, I know what I want, I've got the love of my life, a new heart... and I would rather if you guys could get on the next plane out here and meet my girl, everything is gonna be different now, I promise from here on out, nothing is ever gonna be the same. I love you, bye'

He dropped the phone to his side and covered his face as he allowed the emotion to fill him, he was finally alive, he could finally start planning for the future and hopefully that future will involve a beautiful surgical intern.

Izzie returned the next morning, scrubs on, hair tied back, a smile on her face. She knocked on the door gently as she watched Denny stirr, looks like he finally managed to get a good nights sleep.

'Hey'

She spoke softly as she walked over to his side, checking his monitor, her smile widened as she noted his strong heart rhythm on the ECG, perfect oxygen saturation at 98%, if he kept this up then he could go home tomorrow.

Denny smiled as he watched Izzie perform the checks, he chuckled as he remembered the message he left his folks and hoped they wouldnt bring it up to Izzie if they did come to see him, knowing his parents they probably got on the first flight and would be here later today.

'Do I have the pleasure of your company today?'

Izzie blushed from his formal way of asking and giggled as she bit her lip and shook her head.

'Im afraid not, Bailey suspects that theres.. something...'

She chuckled nervously as she realised she was pointing her finger between him and herself and decided to place her hands on her hips as she laughed again from embarrassment.

'Anyway.. she has me working on other patients today'

Denny smirked as he realised she came to his room early, before the morning rounds just to check on him.

'So you decided to get a quickie in before you start work?'

His smirk was one that even the devil had to compete with, he was so handsome, cocky, confident, kind, loving, caring and just genuine that Izzie had to stop herself from falling into the pool of genuine wanting for this man.

She composed herself, grinned and turned on her heel as she went to leave.

'Afraid not Mr Duquette, that heart just cant handle me yet.'

Denny suprised by her blatant retort laughed and realised she didnt even offer him a kiss.

'Wait! One boob?'

He smiled as he heard her laughter from down the hall. Everyday seemed to be a great day with Isobel Stevens nursing his now mended heart.

'Denny Duquette'

Dr Bailey smiled as she entered the room with the 5 interns following her tail, Denny looked to Bailey and then Izzie, his smile widened as he realised this might be the last time he would see Izzie inside a hospital room.

'Hey Doc, am I finally ready to be discharged?'

Bailey smiled and turned to Meredith for his update.

'Mr Duquette has shown amazing improvement since his heart transplant, his stats are all great, his oxygen has stayed to a steady 98% and his body has shown zero signs of rejection or stress'

Bailey smiled, looked at his chart and tutted as she realised there would be one thing that Denny would not be too pleased with.

'Ok Denny, one more night, we need you to keep taking the anticoagulants and today, if your up to it, then I want you to start walking, no running, taking stairs, I just want you on your feet. Lets be sure we dont miss anything before you go, alright?'

Denny sighed and nodded his approval.

'Good, Dr Grey will be taking care of you today'

Meredith stood forward and smiled to Denny, who smiled in return, he looked to Izzie and nodded, giving her a wink as she walked out with Bailey and the other interns.

Bailey stopped by his window, Denny couldnt help but notice the elderly flustered couple who came up to them and decided right there that he had wished he had never phoned his folks.

Izzie watched as the frantic parents rushed to Dennys side and smiled as she realised he was indeed loved by his folks and that they would help him with his recovery.

'Denny!'

His mother called as she raced to his side, his dad slowly entering behind her.

'Hey ma'

She engulffed him in a hug, tears falling from her face down to his bandaged chest.

'Im sorry ma..'

They stayed like that for a while, his dad placed a hand over his eyes as he was losing his composure, Denny could not help the feeling of guilt for making his parents believe he has already died, he held his mother tighter and held a hand out for his dad to take, Meredith left, giving the family some privacy.

'So, do you want to tell us who this girl is that you've met?'

Mrs Duquette, now feeling a bit better had been sitting by Dennys side as he attempted to get out of bed, he needed to walk, he needed to be sure he can get out of here, before the doctors changed their minds.

'Nope, well, not yet anyway'

His dad frowned as he watched his son, stand on weary legs, he had lost so much weight, his hair was a tangled mess and his scraggly face made him look much older than he his.

'Shes not a hussy, is she? Out to get your money?'

Denny chuckled as he realised Izzie had no idea what sort of family he is in, or the amount of money he has to his name, making her even more desirable as she cares for him and him alone.

'Nope, not a hussy. She has no idea who I am or what I have, she only knows that im a family medicine doctor'

His dad nodded, his face filled with disapproval as he believed his son was being deceived, his mother however was over the moon by her sons health and happiness, they decided to walk together around the hospital, his mother taking random guesses at any dark haired and smart looking woman that walked past, something that caused Denny to laugh uncontrollaby as he realised just how different Izzie is compared to the usual women he went for.

'No ma, its none of them..'

Izzie had been keeping herself busy all day, too scared to go to Dennys room as she wasnt ready to introduce herself to Dennys parents, they would clearly disapprove of her, she was far too dumb, a bimbo, who clearly knew nothing of their dearly loved son.

'Dr Stevens, you've been requested by Dr Burke to do a final exam for Denny Duquette'

Bailey said as she walked over to Izzie, she nodded and turned to leave.

'Good luck'

Bailey said as she watched Izzie leave for Dennys room.

Izzies heart had lodged itself in her throat as she stood outside his room, hoping, praying that his family did not know who she was or what she wanted to be. She is his doctor and thats all that she is until he is outside this hospital.

'Dr Stevens, why are you not going in?'

Dr Burke asked as he stood next to her, watching her eye the unopened door.

'His parents are with him'

'And that is a problem, how?'

'No no its not a problem, I.. I just havent met his parents, so I dont know what to expect'

Burke frowned and cleared his throat, turning to look at Izzie and saying with a lowered tone.

'Why does that matter Stevens, your his doctor, act like it'

And with that Burke opened the door to Denny and his parents mid discussion.

'.. Just tell us who Izzie is?'

'Ma, stop, the doctors are here'

Izzie bit her lip as she noted Burke look at her from the revelation on his parents looking for her, and why that would be, she kept her head down and stuck to Burkes back, hiding herself from Denny and his family.

'Mr and Mrs Duquette, Im Dr Preston Burke, I am the one who operated on Denny'

Burke held his hand out to shake with the now standing parents, who obliged as they greeted the doctor, overjoyed by their sons full recovery.

'Thank you so much doctor, our Denny is finally able to have a life again thanks to you'

Burke chuckled glancing behind him to Izzie and nodded his understanding to the family.

'No problem, we have been treating Denny for a while now, so we are just glad to see that hes getting better'

Denny looked to see Izzies form behind Burke and chuckled, causing all to look at him in confusion.

'And whats so funny Den?'

Denny smiled and shook his head

'Nothing Ma, just thought I saw an angel in Dr Burke'

Izzie turned crimson, Dr Burke frowned, turning himself so that Izzie could be seen by the family.

'And who have we got there?'

Mrs Duquette asked as she eyed the blonde suspiciously.

'Oh uh.. Im... a doctor'

Denny chuckled under his breath and Burke couldnt help but smile as he watched her squirm as she was debating what to say to the family.

Remember, your his doctor, be his doctor.

'Im Dr Isobel Stevens, I have been looking after Denny pre and post his operation'

She smiled and nodded to each parent before landing her eyes on Denny who had the most content look on his face.

'Ohhh... so you're Izzie?'

His mother asked instantly, her obvious eyes trailing Izzies body in judgement.

'Ah, yes I am, its a pleasure to meet you both'

Izzie held a hand out to shake but was suprised to see that Mrs Duquette would not take it, an awakward moment of silence and just when Izzie was about to take her hand away, Mr Duquette took it gently in his hand, Izzie was suprised to see an older face full of emotions, a face so close to Denny that it took her by suprise.

'Thank you, Dr Stevens, you gave Denny his life back'

Izzie smiled and nodded her head.

'Ok so Denny, you can go home today, you've been up, your heart is doing tremendously well and your stats have not dropped once, honestly its a miracle to see you so well'

Dr Burke smiled to Denny and his family before turning to prepare his discharge papers.

Izzie went to follow Dr Burke but Denny calling to her stopped her in her tracks.

'Iz, come here'

She smiled at Denny, trying to stop herself from looking at his folks as she walked over to the end of his bed.

'Yes Denny?'

'Im staying in Seattle'

His mother was shocked by this and stood to speak but Denny stopped her, stating that this was his and Izzies time to speak and they needed to speak in turns to avoid getting angry.

'Dont you think it would be better if you went back home with your parents'

Denny chuckled and held his hand up

'Now Ive got to stop you there, I finally get a chance to choose. For the last 5 years Ive had doctors choose for me, and now its finally time for me to choose and by god I am choosing Seattle and you'

Izzie stood frozen for a moment as she processed what he had just said.

'Me?'

'Im not asking you to marry me... I think we would need another 2 months to reach that point.. But what I am saying is that I want to take you on a date, I want to date you so hard it hurts, and I am saying this infront of my folks because I need them to see just what you do to me, after 67 hours in a hospital with you, I am head over heels for you and I want to date you, outside of this hospital, if you want'

Izzie smiled as she heard his words ring through her mind, she nodded and turned to leave.

Denny smiled and turned to is parents as they eyed him skeptically

'What? Shes a doctor, she can look after me'

His dad chuckled and shook his sons hand before turning to prepare his items to take home.

His mother looked back to the door where Izzie could be seen by the nurses station, she looked back to her son and sighed

'I dont like her'