A/N: Three reviews? Well, I'll take what I can get. Thank you for them! My internet isn't working, but my brother taught me how to put what I save on a disk, so I did that and am on the laptop (which internet that works every once and awhile, and luckily it did this time). Until it's fixed, the chapters might be taking a little longer, hopefully not much. MclovinMcDreamy, you said you were a tad confused, and I just want to say if you have any questions, I'd love to answer them, but some I might have to tell you wait and see, but only if it is important for further chapters and something I don't want to give out.

Please R & R..

Summary: Completely AU. One lawyer, one baker, one science professor, one real estate agent, one architect, and now one upcoming fashion designer. Drama is bound to catch up to them. (not all of the characters will be in it) McStizzie, Mer/Der, future Addex

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"I can't believe she's actually back." Mark said sipping the cup of coffee in his hands in Izzie and Meredith's kitchen.

Izzie nodded in disbelief. "I know. After we threatened to get some kind of restraining order, I thought she'd left for good."

Mark shook his head. "We can't tell anyone about this."

"I agree. I mean, Alex and Addison, she told me about her dad, and I don't want her going through more stress, and Alex wouldn't not tell her." A curious look graced her features. "They've gotten close haven't they?"

Mark raised an eyebrow. "And?"

Izzie sighed. "Yeah, I get it. I know." She said understanding what he meant, with his tone. They can understand things like that about each other, it's been progressing for years. "Back on topic, Meredith would freak out, and we as sure as hell won't let Derek find out about this." She looking at him.

Mark nodded in agreement. "I agree."

Izzie glanced at him, then looked down at the large bowl she was just stirring ingredients in. "I should be making breakfast."

Mark gave her a smile and stood up. "You don't have to make breakfast. They can make things themselves." He released her hand from the large spoon handle. "Stop baking. You're stressed, but you have to get to work soon. You can bake later."

Izzie looked at Mark, then back at the bowl and sighed. "They're going to find out."

Mark shook his head. "No, they're not. Stop panicking." He tilted her chin up so she would look at him. He kissed her softly on her lips.

XXXXXXX

"Hello?" Alex asked into his cell phone as he made himself some coffee in his and Mark's kitchen.

"I took off today."

Alex furrowed his eyebrows. "Why?"

"My dad almost died last night."

Alex stopped midway in pouring coffee into the mug in his hands. "What do you mean? What happened?"

"I don't know. I got a call after leaving the hospital. He's stable now, but he flat lined, and they revived him."

"He's still alive though. Focus on that." Alex said trying to brighten things up.

"I know, but he still almost died."

"But he didn't." Alex pointed out.

"That doesn't mean it won't happen again."

"Doesn't mean it will either." Alex reminded her.

"Are you making coffee?"

Alex nodded. "I am, and don't worry, I mug will be waiting for you once you get here."

"I'll be there in a few minutes. Thanks."

"No problem." Alex said before hanging up his cell phone and getting another mug to fill with coffee.

XXXXXXX

Derek heard and knock on his front door, and opened it. He smiled when he saw who it was. "Hey. What are you doing here?" He checked his watch. He had to leave to get to his job in less than ten minutes. He was pressed for time.

Meredith sighed and walked in. She looked at him. "I want the truth. Tell me the truth."

Derek closed the door. Then he furrowed his eyebrows at her. "Truth about what?"

Meredith stood up straighter, thinking that would give her more confidence to tell him straight. "Are you really going to be there when I'm ready?" She finally asked.

Derek was surprised. He wasn't sure why she thought this way, unless she's been talking to Izzie about it, but I doubt that Izzie said anything. "Of course."

"Are you positive?" Meredith asked, not believing him, even if he had said he would try again. She just didn't believe he would keep trying, and frankly, if he was even questioning on waiting for her, he shouldn't be waiting at all.

"Yes. Why would you think I wouldn't?" Derek asked not even sure where that had come into her mind.

Meredith took a step closer to him. "I heard you talking to Izzie and Mark. Honestly, can you actually wait for me?" She asked wanting a truthful answer.

"Yes. I may have had a moment of doubt about it, but I'm going to wait, until you're ready, I'm going to wait." Derek told her honestly.

Meredith shook her head, thinking he was lying. "You know what? Don't wait for me. I don't need you to."

Derek started to get angry himself. "Fine then."

"Fine." Meredith said walking past him and opening the door, and slamming it behind her.

Derek rubbed a hand over his face, not believing that just happened.

XXXXXXX

Mark gently pulled Izzie into a tight embrace.

"What if she comes back and messes our lives up?" Izzie muffled into his chest, remembering how bad everything got when she arrived into their lives the first time.

Mark kissed the top of her head. "She won't, and if she does, we'll call the police." He released her enough to brush the hair that was in front of her face gently with both of his hands, cupping her cheeks along the way. "Okay?"

Izzie gave him a small smile and nodded.

Mark used the hands cupping her cheeks to lower her head so he could kiss her forehead.

XXXXXXX

Without knocking, Addison opened the front door, walking in and closing it behind her.

Alex glanced at Addison who walked into the kitchen, handing her a mug of coffee.

"Thanks." Addison said taking the cup from Alex. "He'll be fine." She said sipping the mug of coffee.

Alex sipped his own mug of coffee and looked at her. "Yeah, he will."

Addison nodded, trying mostly to convince herself. "He's a tough guy."

Alex nodded. "He is." He looked at her for a brief moment before speaking again. "You okay though?"

Addison looked over at him. "As long as he's okay, I'm okay."

"Okay, just tell me if you need anything." Alex offered.

Addison gave him a small smile. "Thanks Alex. Maybe you're not as much of an ass as I thought."

Alex raised an eyebrow at her. "And you're just figuring this out?"

Addison gave him a non-serious glare. "Don't push me."

Alex held a hand up in defense before taking another sip of his coffee.

XXXXXXX

Mark and Izzie turned their attention to a pissed off Meredith Grey who had just walked into the kitchen.

"He's not waiting for me." Meredith said looking at the two.

"What do you mean?" Izzie asked her, turning herself to face her friend.

"I heard him, and you two talking." Meredith told both of the them. "I told him I don't need to wait for him, because I don't. He doesn't want to wait for me fully, that's fine."

"But he does." Mark told her. "He had a moment, but he still wants to be with you, and he's still going to wait."

Meredith sighed. "It's too late, just too late."

Izzie glanced at Mark, then at Meredith. "What do you mean by that?"

Meredith shook her head, sighing once again. "It's just… Too late." She looked at them one more time before turning and walking out of the kitchen, upstairs.

Izzie looked at Mark. "Even without that stalker, our lives are still getting screwed up."

Mark gave her a reassuring smile. "Our lives are not getting screwed up. Things happen. Everything will be okay in the end." He pulled her into his embrace again.

"Are you sure?" Izzie asked tilting her head up to look at him.

Mark nodded. "Positive." He said leaning down and giving her a kiss.

XXXXXXX

"Did you call your mom yet?" Addison ask taking another sip of the mug of coffee in her hands.

Alex shook his head, looking at the table. "No. I should, but I haven't."

"Why haven't you?" Addison asked.

Alex sighed. "She's been through a lot of crap, and I don't want her to think I'm worried about it if he might be getting out."

"You still have to find out. If you don't… Something bad might happen." Addison said gently.

Alex glanced at her. "I know. I'm going to, but I'm not sure when yet."

"You still have time, just don't take too much." Addison said taking a sip of her coffee.

Alex responded by nodding.

XXXXXXX

Derek sat in his car, looking at his cell phone. He had tried calling her cell phone, but she didn't answer. He needed to talk to her, to figure things out, though he knew that he had to get to work. He couldn't fight the feeling of wanting to make up with her and talk to her about it, but right now, he had to ignore it. His students were the only thing important right now. He had to get to work. He closed his cell phone.

XXXXXXX

Meredith had purposely ignored Derek's calls. This wasn't her fault. He didn't want to wait. That's what she kept telling herself. She blamed him for what happened between them. He didn't want to wait for her. She had to try to move on. If he didn't want her, she'd find someone else who did.

XXXXXXX

"Derek's not waiting for her." Izzie said confused at why he would say that, to Meredith herself nonetheless.

Mark was back to sitting in the seat he was sitting in before. "I don't completely get it, but it's his decision."

"I just don't get why." Izzie said running a hand through her hair.

"I don't get it either." Mark said taking her hand in his.

Izzie looked at Mark. "I can't help but feel responsible."

Mark furrowed his eyebrows. "Why? You didn't have anything to do with Derek not waiting for Meredith anymore."

"I know, but I told Meredith to tell him why she didn't want to date him in the first place, and now he isn't even going to wait for her." Izzie said taking her hand out of his to run it through her hair again.

Mark sighed. He put that hand in his again and gently pulled her onto his lap. He wrapped his arms around her waist. "This isn't your fault." He kissed the side of her head. "It's his decision to wait for her or not, and though I think that's a dumb ass move for him and Meredith both, he decided to not wait for her. It's not your fault." He brought up one hand to gently lift her chin with his fingertips to turn her to face him. "Got it?"

Izzie nodded with a small smile.

Mark gave her a small kiss on her lips.

XXXXXXX

"No!"

"Yes!

"No!"

"Yes!"

"Yes."

"No!"

"Ha!" Addison said grinning triumphantly.

Alex frowned. "You tricked me."

"So?" Addison said innocently.

Alex grunted and took a sip of his second cup of coffee. "Still yes." He muttered.

"You said no." Addison said in a sing song-y voice.

"You tricked me." Alex said mimicking the sing song-y voice she had done just before.

Addison then rolled her eyes, but glad to have her mind off of her father. She didn't want to cry in front of him.