DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN GREY'S ANATOMY, I wish I did.
Derek ended up being in surgery longer than expected. Meredith went ahead without him. They both had cars at the hospital, since they had taken a cab home the night before. Meredith took a shower and then headed to the dining room table. She had a lot of plans to make. She pulled out all of her wedding plans and the plans for their house. The table was completely covered. She looked at it all and sighed. She didn't even know where to begin. She was thinking about where to have the wedding. Somewhere warm, somewhere far away. Then it hit her. The Italian Riviera. It was beautiful, and far away. She knew how to speak italian, Derek has italian in him. She pulled out her laptop and started researching. It was beautiful there. She knew everyone was going to be mad, but it didn't matter. Just she and Derek. That's all that matters. She heard the door open.
Meredith: So I was thinking the Italian Rivera. That's where we'll get married. Just you and I. The beach. No one else, no family. So what do you think?
Cristina: Oh, honey. It's wonderful.
Meredith: What are you doing here? I thought you were going home...
Cristina: I'm here to get my stuff.
Meredith: It's in your room. You can go get it.
Cristina: You aren't getting rid of me that easily. Besides, you are not getting married alone! I can't believe you! I'm your person.
Meredith: Cristina. I had the big wedding.
Cristina: Okay, so I'm not a let's have a pink, happy wedding. But come on, you can't do this. Besides, what about McDreamy's mom? She is not going to take this lightly. You are going to start a war. When it happens, don't complain to me! (She runs upstairs. After a few minutes, she comes back down.)
Meredith: My wedding, it was horrible. My mom made it horrible.
Cristina: Well, this is your chance to have a good one.
Meredith: (She groans.) Why do you have to do this? I was all happy, and now I'm... not.
Cristina: Maybe you should stop.
Meredith: Stop what?
Cristina: Running. Maybe if you stopped running, and looked around, you would see that your life isn't crappy anymore. Anyway, I have to go.
Meredith: Bye. Maybe she is right. (The phone rings.) Hello?
Lynn: Meredith! How are you, dear?
Meredith: I'm good.
Lynn: How is the planning going? Did you pick a date yet?
Meredith: Not yet.
Lynn: I can't wait to see you marry my son. I can't wait for you to become my daughter!
Meredith: Me too. Derek isn't here, he's still at the hospital.
Lynn: I can't call you?
Meredith: Of course you can. I just-
Lynn: I just wanted to see how you guys were doing.
Meredith: We are great. We've both been working a lot.
Lynn: Well, don't work too hard. Besides, you need time to plan your wedding. I could help.
Meredith: Well, honestly, I didn't get to plan my first one, so I kind of wanted to do it this time!
Lynn: I understand. See, I'm already acting like a mother-in-law! You sound tired. Are you tired? I'll let you go. Tell Derek I called.
Meredith: I will. Bye. (Meredith sighed. How on earth was she going to be able to pull this off?)
Derek: I'm home.
Meredith: Is it really you?
Derek: Yes, why?
Meredith: Earlier I thought it was you, and it was Cristina. She knows. I can't pull it off. Oh my God...
Derek: Pull what off? I can think of things we can pull off...
Meredith: Get your head out of the gutter. And your mom called. So, what now. I can't do this to everyone. (She is slightly panicked.)
Derek: Calm down. What are you talking about?
Meredith: The wedding. (She begins to ramble.) It can't be just you and I. Everyone will be upset. Your mother will never talk to me again! Then who do we invite? Okay, so your mom. But then what about my mom? I can't have her there. She ruined my wedding with John. Then if I don't invite her, then I am not trying to fix things. I don't want a disaster. She spells disaster. It's going to be in the Italian Riviera. So then what about George and Izzie and Cristina? How are they going to get off work? And Alex, do I invite him? He and Izzie are, well, you know. Then there's Addison and Mark. And Callie, she and George are together, she has to come. And Burke. He can't leave. And the Chief. So who do we invite and who can come? This is too much.
Derek: Meredith!
Meredith: What?
Derek: Calm down! Besides, this is great. Think about it. You don't want a big wedding. All of these people will not be able to come. It's perfect.
Meredith: You're right... wow. This may work!
Derek: That's what I'm saying... So are you looking at the houses?
Meredith: Yes, there's so much to do. I just want to get it done.
Derek: Thanks...
Meredith: No. It's not like I just want to get it done so that's it's over. I want to be there. Married, in our new house. I want to just be there, at that point.
Derek: So let's plan...
Meredith: Let's plan... I'm thinking three bedrooms.
Derek: Three?
Meredith: This house is too big...
Derek: I have sisters and you have friends. We need a big enough house. Four bedrooms and a master, at the least.
Meredith: Fine. But we don't have a ton of time to keep a house that size clean. But that's two less than what we have. Look at these plans...
Derek: I think you were right. Timber framed is the the way to go. Perfect for the land. Rustic, yet nice.
Meredith: When are you going to realize that I am always right?
Derek: Soon, very soon.
------------------------
Izzie was less than happy to be going on a date with Matt. She, Derek, Alex, George and Cristina decided that they were going to do whatever they could to get rid of him. They made sure that Meredith had no idea what they had planned. He was like a toxic gas. Meredith was the only one that didn't see it coming. She thought he was harmless, he was an old friend. Friends are trustworthy, right?
Izzie drove to Joe's wondering what this night was going to be like. Matt was good looking. Really good looking. If she hadn't seen how he really was, she would have definitely considered going on a real date with him. She wore a breathtaking dress. She looked phenomenal. Any man would love to be the one with her. It was all part of the plan. She was going to try and lure him in, see how he acted. Any man would want to take her home. Especially someone known as the 'man-whore' in high school. When Izzie walked in, several men took notice. Matt was sitting at the bar, sipping a drink. He was wearing a pair of kakis and a nice polo shirt. She walked over and sat next to him.
Izzie: Hey.
Matt: Hey. You look nice. (He said unenthusiastically.)
Izzie: Thanks. So where are we going?
Matt: I was hoping you'd know. I'm not familiar with the area.
Izzie: Well, there is a nice restaurant down the road. It's semi-casual.
Matt: Sounds good. (They head down to the restaurant, making small talk. They arrive and get seated right away.) So how long have you lived here?
Izzie: About a year. Since I started at the hospital. I like it, a little rainy. You get used to it. So we never did ask, where do you live?
Matt: I was in Boston, then I moved to New York. I'm back Boston for a while. I kind of like it here.
Izzie: (Her eyes widen.) Here? What's here?
Matt: Oh, it just seems nice. Meredith is here. I could see myself here.
Izzie: I can't believe you flew all of the way out her for you sister. That's great. Very supportive. So the accident, it happened a year ago?
Matt: Yeah. It really damaged her face.
Izzie: That's tough. Mark Sloan is good. He's Derek's best friend.
Matt: (Almost chocking on his appetizer.) He is?
Izzie: Yeah. I'm sure he'll be the best man at his wedding. She was lucky,your sister, that you were there for her, when the accident happened.
Matt: Well, I wasn't really.
Izzie; Is that wen you moved to New York?
Matt: No, I moved to New York right after high school. I was in Boston then.
Izzie: Oh, I thought you were there. (She knew he hadn't been.)
Matt: I'm here now. So, how long have you known Mer?
Izzie: Since we started the program.
Matt: She's a great person. She has always been that way...great. I mean, God, could I tell you stories.
Izzie: Oh, really?
Matt: I've known her since grade school. Since John had. Actually there was always a disagreement there. I know I saw her first. John was nervy, if he wanted something, he got it. He was poor, I wasn't. We always had that competition. I always won. Except for once. He won once, the one that mattered.
Izzie: What one?
Matt: Oh, nothing.
Izzie: So, man-whore, huh?
Matt: Yeah. I hate to admit it. I was just filling a void. Hiding my secret pain, ya know? (He smiles.) So, Derek...he seems...
Izzie: Dr. Shepherd- Derek is great. He and Meredith... He loves her.
Matt: So how did they meet?
Izzie: Um, at work. He's our boss. Our boss' boss, and our boss.
Matt: So they were all friends?
Izzie: Kind of. (He has turned the tables. She knows it.)
Matt: They were more than friends, weren't they? He isn't the type, to get along with John.
Izzie: They did...
Matt: It's funny. Derek said something abut him being her 'special friend'. Meredith's reaction was...it was more, they were more than friends.
Izzie: I don't really- You should talk to her about that. (She has to get away from this subject.) So tell me something about yourself. What do you do?
Matt: I work for my Dad's investment firm.
Izzie: That sound like fun. (She laughs.)
Matt: It's not bad. Not what I thought I would be doing. We were all friends, John, Mer, Jackson and I. John and Jackson, they were close. That left Mer and I on the sidelines. Just us, friends, that was it. John was great. He loved her. (He started to drift off.) He loved her more than anything, but so did- Never mind. Meredith was tough. There was this time, when we were playing pool in my basement. Jackson called her a slut and she walked right up and punched him in the face. That was Mer. John changed her. She was always free and bold. Then she was whatever John wanted. Maybe it was love, I don't know. I know the real her. I miss that. It was refreshing.
Izzie: Mer is pretty bold now. Derek brings out the best in her. They complement each other. There is no, and I mean no tearing those two apart. (Izzie was getting a little irritated.)
Matt: I know Meredith. I know what she needs. Derek he's- he's not the guy. Not at all.
Izzie: You think you're that guy?
Matt: Maybe I am.
Izzie: They're happy.
Matt: I don't doubt that. But things change, sometimes people just need to be woken up. I can do that.
Izzie: Listen, I know what you are up to! It's never going to happen. You aren't here for your sister. You are here to see Meredith. You are some kind of stalker. It will never happen. I know, we all know. Just go home while, while you still have your dignity. (He is shocked.)
Matt: I, uh. I'm not leaving.
Izzie: Have it your way. (She throws her napkin down.) Thanks for dinner.
Izzie walks out. She ruined the plan. She couldn't help it. He was smug. He was determined. But why. Why did he want her? If he cared, he would just be glad that she was happy. It was the competitiveness. He was a spoiled rotten person. He always got what he wanted. Meredith was the only thing that he didn't get. John was dead. Now he was going to get her too. Not if her friends could help it. Besides, he was bold. There was a big chance it would all blow up in his face. Izzie called Derek and let him know what was going on. Luckily Meredith was in the bathroom, so she didn't hear. Derek was going to have to watch Matt like a hawk.
Meredith: So, we're doing good. Getting things done...
Derek: Yes we are. Moving along...it's a good thing.
Meredith: Especially with you. I'm getting tired. Not really tired...I want to go to bed. (She raises her eyebrows.) We can work on this tomorrow...
Derek: Hmm. Bed. Not sleeping. Sounds good to me. (She starts running up the stairs. He chases after her, tackling her on the bed.)
-------------------
I'm not boring you guys, am I? I hope the story isn't losing momentum. So I didn't think I had gotten any reviews. I was all upset. I thought "Oh crap that chapter really must've sucked." For some reason my reviews and story alerts for the ones I'm reading (All 22 of them!) aren't getting e-mailed to me. Is anyone else having this problem?