A/N: Chapter 7 is up. Thank you so much for all the reviews.

I don't own Grey's Anatomy, or its characters. Please review.

"Dr. Montgomery-Shepherd, I need to talk to you about something." Meredith approached Addison on the catwalk. She had been meaning to talk to the attending for quite sometime, but wasn't able to.

"Dr. Grey, how can I help you?" Addison asked, turning to face the resident.

"Umm… I injured my uterus that day right, which you operated on?" Meredith started awkwardly. She knew that the both of them were doctors, but she didn't feel along about that subject with her.

"Yes…." Addison didn't know where Meredith was going with this. Her recovery was on track, without any complications.

"Is the damage permanent?" Meredith asked, dreading the answer.

"What? No! I am good at what I do, Meredith. Your uterus will be back as before in just a couple of months." Addison explained.

"Okay, that's good."

"Is there a reason for this… are you and Mark…" Addison wondered. She hoped that Meredith and Mark would finally get together. Grey was good for Mark, she knew tat much and wanted her friend to be happy.

"Oh, no. I was wondering. I needed to know. And whenever the check up has taken place it's been all three of you together… I didn't want any awkwardness or anything." Meredith explained timidly. She didn't want to bring up topics like pregnancy with Mark, Derek and Addison, in the same room with her.

"Because you dated my husband? And are the one person that Mark, the one person who comes after Derek to me, would give this life for?" Addison asked in a serious tone.

"Umm… I…" Meredith was shocked at the question and had no clue as to what she should reply. She hadn't expected Addison to be that blunt with her about their past.

"Calm down, Meredith. I was just teasing. I know you didn't do anything wrong. In this whole scenario, you're the most innocent one." Addison said, laughing at the expression on Meredith's face. She thought it was time to pull her out of misery.

"Oh, thank god. Because I did not know that Derek was married. If I'd known…" Meredith started explaining.

"Hey, I have an idea. Let's go to dinner. The four of us." Addison interrupted Meredith, not wanting her to continue.

"You want Derek, Mark, yourself and I to go to dinner, together?" This was the las thing she expected Addison to say to her. Dinner, the four of them... Bad idea.

"Yes. It'll help break the ice and we can become friends. All of us."

"Uh, sure. I'm going to be here tonight, there is a surgery I want to observe, tomorrow?" Meredith was shell shocked and had no idea what she was agreeing to. It seemed like her mind had no control over her mouth.

"Sounds good. You tell Mark, I'll tell Derek. God, I need to tell Derek." Addison groaned, walking away. She just hoped Derek would be on board with the idea.

Meredith entered the intern locker room, still shocked from the previous conversation. The reality of it had just began to sink in. She had no clue how to proceed next. Thankfully she saw Cristina there and went over to ask for advise and vent.

"I think I agreed to have dinner wit Addison, Derek and Mark. At the same table." Meredith said as she plopped down on the bench in the locker room, next to Cristina.

"You think… or you did?" Cristina asked amused. It was totally like Meredith to find herself in awkward and weird situations.

"I did. And to be friends with Addison." Meredith groaned. What was wrong with her. She wanted to bury herself ten feet under.

"Really? Man, your life is never boring, is it?"

"Nope. Never. God, what have I done?" Meredith was dreading the dinner. If both Derek and Mark of them came out of there unscathed, she would consider it a success.

"Why did you agree in the first place." Cristina asked her person. She could see that Meredith was stressing a lot about the dinner.

"She was all, teasing me and forgiving for dating Derek and I don't know, she suggested and I agreed… I agreed, Cristina. Do you have any idea how horrible it will be."

"I so want to be there to watch the scene unfold. By the way, what did Mark say?" Cristina thought the best way here was to lighten the mood and get Meredith to calm down, but it had the opposite effect on her.

"Oh God, Mark. I haven't told him. I mean, I know they were being cordial and all, but dinner is too much too soon. Cristina… help." Meredith begged her best friend for a solution.

"I can't… this is your mess… you deal with it." Cristina said, putting her hands up in air and moving out the locker room.

"Thanks for the support." Meredith deadpanned.

Saying this Meredith left the intern locker room. She entered the elevator and groaned when she saw Derek and Mark. She needed to tell Mark about the stupid dinner she agreed to. This was the chance, both of them were there. Rip of the band-aid, repercussions be damned.

"We're having dinner." Meredith blurted.

"What?" Mark and Derek asked confused. Mark was confused as they had dinner together everyday. Derek was confused, having no idea what she meant or who she was talking to.

"The four of us. You both, me and Addison." She said, turning to face them. She didn't know what came over her. She instantly regretted opening her mouth.

"Since when?" Derek asked. She knew he wouldn't be on board with the idea. She just hoped Mark won't add fuel to fire.

"Since an hour back." Meredith replied timidly. She wanted to leave. The elevator was moving too slow for her liking.

"Okay." Derek replied, going over the charts of his patient. "You want to observe this procedure?" This was a difficult tumour removal, and such cases didn't that often.

"Okay, when?" Mark asked at the same time.

"Tomorrow night and yes, I'll like to observe. What is it?" Meredith said, and Derek passed the chart over to her.

"Fine." Mark agreed without any arguments.

"Sounds good." Derek replied as well. He didn't bother too much with the dinner. His next surgery was occupying most of his thoughts.

"Yeah." Meredith said, utterly confused. She expected some for of resistance and objection. Was she the only one freaking out? Did she even need to freak out? Meredith was shocked. She expected shouting and arguing. The both of them being so cool about this, she didn't expect. They were seriously trying. She was proud of them, her concerns were not needed. Thank God!

"You want to scrub in?" Derek asked, interrupting her thoughts.

"I can?"

"Umm, yeah. It'll be long though. Be there for as much time as you can."

"That sounds good. It'll be a nice case to start again from."

"You sure you want to start with a long procedure like that?" Mark said, glancing on the chart.

"Yes. Problem?" Meredith asked in her strict voice, causing Mark to back off. She stopped caring about the dinner for the moment and her surgeon mode took over. She was starting to get back in the groove. Stupid concerns wouldn't deter her. "You want me to prep the patient?" Meredith asked the neurosurgeon as she stepped off the elevator.

"Yes, thank you." Derek told her, himself becoming professional. "Don't worry, I wont let her exert herself too much." He told his once best friend, when he saw the concerned look on his face. "She is interested in neuro, and has the talent for it. Let her be." He added, when he saw he hadn't convinced the other doctor.

"I know, just... look out for her." Mark said, backing down.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Cristina asked as she and Izzie came to Meredith.

"Uh, prepping the patient for surgery. I'll even get to scrub in." Meredith said, working on the patient.

"What's the procedure?" Izzie asked.

"Tumour removal with Dr. Shepherd."

"You up for such a long operation?" Cristina asked, wanting to make sure that Meredith was comfortable.

"Yeah, and Derek told that I can be there for as much time as my body allows, I'll leave if it becomes too much."

"Of course" Izzie snickered. Meredith chose to ignore the ill-hearted comment. She was genuinely excited about the surgery and nothing would deter. She looked up at Cristina, who smiled slightly, showing Meredith that she was on her side and had no hard feelings.

The procedure was going smoothly. She was being able to assist Derek throughout the surgery and he was constantly involving her. Whether it was providing suction, or telling Derek what the next steps should be in her opinion, to answering his questions about the specialisation in general, she was kept busy throughout. This was one of the major reason she loved working with Derek, he made all procedures interesting and worthwhile for the interns. He followed this with almost all of them, at least the ones in which he saw potential. Meredith, in his opinion, was exceptionally good at near, so he went a step further for her. All attendings did that with the resident they take in under them. He was thankful that their history did not damage their professional relationship. This was another reason he admired Meredith, her ability to keep her personal life out of her work as a surgeon, even though it followed her to the hospital since day one. There was a mutual sense of professional respect between the two, and that did not go away.

"You were good in there." Derek told the resident as they were scrubbing out.

"Thank you. I'm glad I was able to be there till the end." Meredith said, recalling Izzie's remark.

"Something bothering you?" Derek asked her, seeing the look on her face.

"Do you favour me?" Meredith asked, facing him.

"Okay, listen. Most attendings, especially the heads, get a sense of interns and residents who are best suited for their department. You are amazing in neuro. So, yes. I favour you. But the reasons are not personal, strictly professional. After two years, I dont need to tell you have the stuff, you know. I makes working with you way easier."

"Okay, thank you. It's just Izzie sometimes says things..."

"Cristina gets most cardio cases, right? Alex, Peds?"

"Yes."

"See, just because Cristina and Burke's relationship is not so public and because Alex doesn't have history with someone down there, no one raises any objections. Don't let these things get in the way of your career. I told you this your first day as well, remember?"

"Ah, yes. Katie Bryce." Meredith smiled at the memory.

"That day itself I knew that you were going to be excellent in the department." Derek told her, giving her the patent McDreamy smile.

"Thank you, Derek. I needed to hear that." Meredith told, truly thankful. "And, by the way, that smile won't work on me anymore." Meredith teased, lightening the mood.

"Ouch, I'm hurt." Derek played along, laughing with her. "I'll see you around."

"Why are you smiling like that? Did something happen between you and McDreamy?" Cristina badgered Meredith with questions she she exited the scrub room.

"What? No nothing like that. We spoke."

"About?"

"Izzie's remark. Don't want to talk about it anymore, though."

"Okay, just one thing. I think she is oscillating between being jealous and insecure. You have neuro, i have cardio, Alex has Peds, George has general. She hasn't been able to make her mark yet." Cristina said, echoing Derek's words.

"Derek told me the same thing. So for now, I'll just ignore. Hopefully it will die down." Meredith said, as she walked away. The only thing that minutely bothered her was that Izzie didn't comment on Cristina or Alex, just her. She would let it go for now, hoping that it didn't escalate.

Meredith entered Mark's office, where the two of them were having dinner. Mark was also on-call as all other plastic surgeons were out. Meredith saw him sitting on the couch and the pizza box on the coffee table in front of him. She just went and sat down, close to him and snuggled in his arms. It was a long day and she wanted the comfort he provided.

"You okay? How was the surgery?" Mark asked, putting his arm around her.

"It was good. I'm just a bit tired, though." Meredith put her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes, wanting to rest until her pager beeped.

After ten minutes, Mark lightly shook her motioning her to eat. "So, about the dinner tomorrow..." He started as the ate the pizza.

"Shit, I completely forgot about it... Addison asked me... I got dumbstruck and first, then I didn't even realise and agreed. Do you not want to go? Because it'll be completely alright. I'm not sure if I.." Meredith started rambling.

"Meredith.. calm down. The dinner will be no problem. We are all adults. It'll be okay." Mark said, soothing her. Derek and Mark were making conscious efforts to improve their friendship, and the others were cordial enough with each other. Meredith just hummed in response, her head still resting on his shoulder and nibbling on her dinner. He made the best pillow according to Meredith, she loved sleeping on him. Her wandered to her conversation with Cristina the other day, could her and Mark be a couple? Should they try? She had feelings for him, that much she was sure... she didn't know if they were romantic or only for a best friend...

Just then, her pager rang indicating a trauma in the pit. She groaned and got up, heading down there.

A family came in, one of them being attacked by a bear because his elder brother had provoked it. Both of them were injured, the younger having more serious wounds. He was taken by Bailey, George and Callie. Leaving Meredith to tend to the other. She stopped his bleeders and took him for an abdominal CT, which thankfully was clear. As she was taking his history from his wife, she found out about his recent impulsiveness. Soon, Callie came in and took the patient to check and mend his fractures.

Meredith couldn't let go. She needed to find out the reason behind her patient's rash decisions. She waited for Dr. Torres do be done with her part. Mark too had come in to check his wounds. It was early morning by the time Meredith was allowed to check on the patient again. She examined him, just as she was taught and then proceeded to take him for a head CT. Her predictions were correct. He indeed had a tumour.

She messaged Derek about the case, who told her he would be at the hospital soon.

"See, this right here. It's called a malignant glioma. It causes behavioural changes and has the kind of inappropriate affect you said." Derek explained to Meredith, showing her a blob on the scan.

"I hate it when I'm right about such stuff. Can we operate?" Meredith asked, hopefully.

"No, it's too invasive." Derek replied solemnly. He hated when medicine didn't have answers to save lives.

As they were leaving the CT room, Mark caught up to them. "Hey, you ready to leave?"

"Uh, no. I have work here. You go ahead." Meredith knew she couldn't give up. She had to do something, she wasn't satisfied as of then. Mark confirmed, but got the same answer. Meredith headed to the library. She wasn't on call, so she could devote her entire time to research and reading.