Recovery

Part XIII

Before heading to Addison's house, Mark and Aubrey decided to get something to eat, since they were both starving. They decided on Pirate's Cove a family style seafood restaurant. The hostess seating them asked, "Do we need a children's menu?" Aubrey rolled her eyes. "Okay that's two adult menus," and then she had the nerve to ask, "Do you want the crayons?"

"No thank you," Aubrey said stiffly, still annoyed about the children's menu, really she was thirteen.

The hostess seated them in a booth with a window view of Lake Washington, the sun was still shining and you could see the paddle boats gliding across the lake. "Your server will be with you shortly," the hostess informed them and left them to their menus.

"So other then getting drooled on how was your flight?" Mark asked looking over the top of his menu.

"It was ok, the movie was pretty good . . ." Then she was completely distracted, "Oh my god it's soooo cute, I want one!" she squealed.

Mark looked around the restaurant trying to figure out what she was talking about then saw her grinning at a little girl with brown curly hair who seemed about five, she was wearing a pirate hat. He grinned at her and chuckled, this was the girl not five minutes ago who was so insulted that the hostess had the nerve to ask if she wanted a children's menu. "Well I bet they give them to all the kids, if you ask nicely," he tried to stifle another laugh.

Just then their server approached. "Hi I'm Katie and I will be your server this evening. Would you like something to drink?" she looked at Aubrey first smiling at the redheaded girl.

"I'd like a Dr. Pepper, please," replied politely.

Then Katie turned to Mark and gave him a big smile, "And you sir?"

"I'll have the same," Mark said then added, "We'd also like a bucket of steamed mussels for an appetizer." He looked over to Aubrey to see if she would approve, she was smiling back and gave him a nod, happy he remembered she loved steamed mussels.

"Great I'll put that right in," she smiled. Then looked from Mark to Aubrey and asked, "Is there anything else you need?"

Aubrey's eyes widened as she looked at him with expectation so he said, "Oh could we get a pirate hat, too?"

"Certainly," Katie said with a smile.

"Could we get two?" Aubrey asked grinning at Mark.

"Sure thing," Katie said with a smile and left to put their order in.

"Two?" Mark raised an eyebrow at her; she grinned back at him giggling and nodded.

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Izzie and Addie stood side by side looking down on their newest tiny patient. Baby boy Jenkins might have come early into this world, but he was a fighter. He needed to be on a CPAP for the time being, but he was strong and should be breathing completely unassisted in the next 48 hours. "I have scheduled a cranial ultrasound and an aEEG as requested. We should have both results with in the next hour. The labs should also be back by that time as well." Izzie smiled up at Addison looking for her approval.

Addison nodded at the young blonde intern and smiled, "Thank you Stevens, great work. Seriously I'm impressed," she gave her intern another smile. "I'll be going to the operating gallery to observe Mrs. Jenkins' surgery. If Mr. Jenkins arrives or the test results come in before I'm back, page me." Izzie smiled as she watched Addie leave the NICU and head to the elevator. She wrapped her arms around herself and gave herself a hug; it was so amazing to be back.

Addie made a detour to her office before heading to watch Mrs. Jenkins' surgery. She wanted to make sure Mark had fed Aubrey, since she was definitely not going to be home for dinner. She sat down at her desk picked up the phone and dialed Mark's cell phone. She leaned back in her chair, propped her feet up on the corner of her desk, as his phone rang.

Mark and Aubrey sat back in there seats, still wearing the pirate hats. Both were finishing off the last of their meal and they were discussing their favorite movies.

"You really like scary movies?" he asked in surprise.

She nodded vigorously, "I love The Ring, but Psycho is still my favorite."

"Oh a classic, I love Psycho too. Hitchcock is my all time favorite director."

"Mine too!" she agreed whole heartedly.

"But all these scary movies, don't they give you nightmares?" he gave her a sideling glance, questioning her ability to sit through a scary movie.

She shook her head grinning back at him, "Nope, no nightmares." Mark's phone started to ring; he picked it up and answered. "Is it Aunt Addie?" Aubrey asked excitedly when Mark answered his cell, he nodded.

After assuring Addie that he had indeed feed her niece, he passed the phone over to Aubrey, who took it eagerly. He watched her animated conversation with her Aunt and smiled on. Finally finished she handed his phone back to him. "So," he said, "We have another hour to kill before going to the hospital anything in particular you would like to do?" he noticed her glazing at the lake outside the window and the groups of paddle boats gliding across the lake, her eyes lit up as she watched them. He gave her a small nod and signaled for their server.

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Izzie walked up behind Meredith, she had seemed entranced by something, Izzie followed her gaze and saw what had caught her attention and frowned. At the end of the hall were Derek and Addison standing outside Mrs. Jenkins room. They were deep in conversation and definitely had no clue Meredith was down the hall intently watching their interaction. "Meredith?" Izzie startled her out of her reverie.

"Oh Izzie you scared me," she said out of breath.

"What are you doing?" Izzie questioned her accusingly.

"Noth . . . nothing," she stammered. "Do you think they will get back together?" she looked up at Izzie distress showing on her face.

"Honestly Meredith I don't know, but considering she is pregnant with his child, probably." Meredith pursed her lips and looked away from the couple as Derek brushed a lock of hair out of Addison's face, they were both smiling. That was something that hadn't really occurred between the two of them for a long time. "Meredith," Izzie began, "You realize when she divorced him; she was still in love with him. She divorced him because he refused to let go of you and give their marriage a fair chance," she said reproachfully.

"I know," she said with a sigh.

"Meredith pleeeease tell me you are not still in love with him," she said with concern.

She looked up at Izzie with hurt showing in her eyes then quickly turned away, her back facing both Izzie and the couple down the hall.

"Oh my god Meredith," Izzie whispered, "What about Finn?"

"I like Finn, he is a good man, and I really like him," Meredith sighed.

"But?" Izzie questioned her.

"But I don't know," she said in exasperation. "I Just don't . . ." her voice trailed off.

Standing behind Meredith she stepped closer then wrapped her arms around her. "You know you have two choices here," she gave her a squeeze. "Either you tell him right now, before things start up again with him and Addison or you keep this buried and never ever let him know how you feel and try to move on with Finn." She shook her head worrying that her friend was going on this rollercoaster again.

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Addison was going over last minute instructions with Izzie for the evening, before she left for the night. Both their attention was drawn to the opening elevator; they looked on and smiled at the exiting passengers.

"After you milady," Mark stood holding open the elevator door for Aubrey. "I may be a black hearted pirate, but I shall see that you come to no harm while in my charge," he said removing his pirate hat with a bow.

"Thank you kind sir," Aubrey replied. "They tell me you are a black hearted pirate, but you have rescued me from those scurvy scoundrels and shown me nothing but kindness. Rest assure, I will let the Queen know that you rescued me from my captors and I am sure she will happily reward you handsomely for my safe return." After exiting the elevator she turned to Mark and curtsied. They both burst into a fit of laughter.

As they looked on the two exiting the elevator Izzie said with a smile, "They seem like they are having a good time."

"They usually do," Addie said grinning back at her; she held her arms out to her niece who was now rushing to her.

"Auntie Addie," she exclaimed as she closed ground, she reached up to hold her hat in place. Once she reached her aunt she hugged her tightly and grinned up at her aunt.

Addie hugged her back tightly then put her at arms length so she could get a good look at her. "You've grown," she said with a smile. She had noticed her niece had grown a good three inches since the previous summer; she had to be at least five foot five. Her mother was right when she told her Aubrey was just like her, from the red hair and braces to her niece's growth pattern that seemed to mimic her own. She had always been very thin and tall and continued to grow through high school, and she even grew an inch after she had graduated. Besides being a band geek with braces, she was what they called a late bloomer and the boys had always teased her about her height and lack of body form.

She smiled at her niece again and gave her hand a squeeze. "Aubrey I'd like you to meet my intern, Dr. Stevens," she directed her niece to Izzie, "Dr. Stevens my niece Aubrey."

Aubrey reached out to shake Izzie's hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you Dr. Stevens," she said with a smile.

"The pleasure is mine, and please call me Izzie," she smiled back at the young girl. Izzie could see in the young girl's eyes how much she adored her aunt and in turn how much Addison adored her niece. They definitely had a mutual fan club going on.

Izzie looked up as Mark interrupted holding the pirate hat out to Addison. "Excuse me milady I see my mission has been accomplished and my charge has once again been reunited with her family," he said with a grin and bowed. They all laughed.

Aubrey realizing that Mark was going to leave turned and gave him a hug. "Thanks Uncle Mark I had a lot of fun," she said grinning up at him.

"You're welcome squirt, I had fun too. I have to get going though I have an early morning surgery scheduled and you and your aunt need to catch up." He broke free of the hug then leaned over and gave Addie a quick hug. "You guys have fun and I'll see you both later."

"Mark thanks again," Addie smiled at him.

"It was my pleasure Addie," he smiled waved at the three women and headed for the elevator.

Addie turned back to Izzie and said, "Do you have any other questions before I take off?"

Izzie shook her head, "No, I think you covered everything and if an emergency comes up I'll page you." She smiled and added, "It was very nice to meet you Aubrey."

"It was nice meeting you too Izzie," she smiled back.

Izzie gave Addie a shooing motion. "Now get out of here and have fun!" she said with a laugh.

"Okay, okay we are out of here," Addie grinned back. "I'll talk to you in the morning," she put the pirate hat on, grinned at her niece and put her arm around her and they headed for the elevator.

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I hope you enjoyed this installment, please let me know what you think.