A Day Early, Right On Time

The next few weeks went by, surprisingly fast. It had been a month and the wedding was in two weeks. Meredith was dealing slowly with her father's revelation and death. Mark let her take it at her own pace and was more than happy to help her through it. She still hadn't cried about it anymore. He didn't think she was going to.

Lexi and George had officially become a couple. No one was really surprised; they had been acting like one from the start. Lexi and Meredith were doing well too. Lexi had even introduced her to the rest of her sisters. Things seemed much easier without parents around. Meredith wasn't eager to get close to any of them; it was going to take a long time to trust any other Grey.

"You are a sad, sad man Sheppard." Mark shook his head as he chuckled and took a seat next to Derek on his porch. He had officially finished building his house. It was…huge. There was still a lot of land and forest to revel in. It was Derek's dream home.

Derek looked at his friend and then back out to the scenery. "So what."

"How long are you going to keep flying there?"

Derek scoffed, "I've only gone once Mark. You act like I go there every weekend."

"You want to," he huffed. "You, my friend, are whipped."

Derek didn't respond right away. "I told her I love her," he blurted.

Mark spit his beer out. "You don't know slow, do you?"

He chuckled, taking a swig. "No, I guess not."

Mark looked at Derek and did the same. "Well, by the grin on your face, I'd say she feels the same way."

Derek nodded. "Yup."

The two sat in comfortable silence. Mark spoke up.

"I hope your happy this time." Derek looked at him, searching for motive. He found none. "Really."

Derek nodded, gesturing his bottle towards him. "Thanks." He paused, "You too."

It was Mark's turn to grin. "I am." He crossed his feet and put them up. "You know, when you're gone, Mer and I can keep an eye on the house."

Derek stared disbelievingly at Mark. "You are just…wrong."

"I don't see why I just can't go to City Hall and get this over with." Christina lied across the couch, arm above her head. "It would be so much easier; less…dainty."

Meredith smiled. She was used to Christina's anxiety. She'd suggested the same proposal five different times. Meredith got up from lying on the floor, leaning against the couch her friend occupied.

"You're doing this for him." She shrugged her shoulders. "Besides, you'll look back and be glad you did the whole thing. It also may be the only other time I get to see you in a long, formal dress. Heck, it might be the last time you see me in a long, formal dress."

Christina paused, her response not directed at the previous statement but acknowledged in continuance. "And mama is a nightmare. You can't imagine how horrible she is to me. She's like the freak'n evil step-mother who…" She stopped at the far-away look on Meredith's face. "Oh, my bad."

Meredith smiled and shook her head. "It's okay. Not everyone is like my parents. Moving on, remember?"

"Right, so yeah, you know how about the crappy parent stuff. She's a different kind of crappy. All…I don't know. But I'm not looking like someone from Moulin Rouge. If that happens Mer, fix me."

Meredith chuckled. "Don't worry, I got your back. Anything you need, like a last minute escape, extra underwear…I got you."

"That was…gross."

Meredith huffed, lying back down. "But you got the point. I'm your person."

"Yeah. Now, as my person, could we enjoy this day off?"

Meredith nodded. "Sounds like a plan."

"Oh," Christina added as an afterthought. "Derek wants you to stop by. He wants to give you your birthday present a day early."

"Okay, but could we take like, a thirty minute power nap?"

"What are we, like, in pre-school?"

"Mark," Izzie said, joining the two men on the porch. "What time is she supposed to be here?"

Mark checked his watch. "Christina said she'd call, but she's supposed to be here in two hours. Why?"

Izzie shook her head. "Nothing." She wandered back inside, mumbling to herself, "Just have to time this icing right."

Derek shook his head, "That woman, she's a weird one."

Mark laughed in agreement, "Yeah, but her food is good."

"Was that a-"

"No Derek, I really meant her food."

Derek chuckled, hands up in defense. "Okay, okay. Just thought I'd check."

"Since this conversation is headed no where fast," he nodded inside, "how 'bout a game of pool?"

Derek nodded. "You're on."

"Now why the heck are we going to Alex's house?"

Christina focused on the view in front of her as she drove. "Because, we're picking up Addison."

From the passenger seat, Meredith shifted. "And why are we picking up Addison?"

Christina racked her million-dollar brain. "Because, she and Alex had a fight."

Meredith furrowed her eyebrows. "Why would Addison call you?"

Christina didn't squirm. Christina, who did not squirm, was close to squirming. 'Why, of all the times, is she perceptive now.'

"Because, she's my bridesmaid."

Meredith looked pensive for a moment. "That still doesn't make sense. She's more my friend than yours."

Christina looked at her, incredulously, "So, what, you're the only one she can call?"

"No, I wasn't saying that; it's just, weird."

"Well," she scoffed, "if it makes you feel better, she called your house while you were getting ready, so, technically, she did call you."

A smile crept on Meredith's face.

"What?"

"She called me. We're friends."

Christina shook her head. "I still don't get it. You're friends with your exes' ex; it's weird." She thought for a moment, "Then again, you're still friends with Derek. You even hooked him up with Grace." She glanced at Meredith. "So I guess Addison calling you isn't so…unusual."

"Are you jealous?"

Glad that she steered the conversation in another direction with ease, she ended with the usual banter. "Shut it."

"Lexi?"

She backtracked, responding to her name. "Yes?"

Mark watched as Derek racked the balls. "Did you get in touch with your sisters?"

Lexi shifted the six-pack she was carrying to her other arm. "Yeah."

"Are they coming?"

Lexi nodded.

"And they'll be here before-"

"She gets here," she confirmed. "Yes."

Derek smirked. "Anxious much?"

Mark stepped up to break the ball formation. "I just want her to have everyone here."

Derek and Lexi smiled, as he asked, "What, no comeback Sloan?"

Mark grinned. "No, not tonight." He looked over at Lexi as she shifted hands again. "George didn't bother to carry that for you?"

Lexi laughed as they heard a tumble. "No; that would be him right now. He was carrying the projector and stuff."

The men nodded in understanding. "Got it."

"Hey Addy."

Addison got in the car, smiling and carrying her Armani bag. "Hey Mer."

Addison watched as Meredith stared at her expectedly and Christina looked as if she were trying to tell her something.

"Yes ladies?"

Meredith paused before answering. "Are you okay?"

"Why wouldn't I be," she replied, looking between the two women.

Christina cleared her throat, "You know, because of that fight you had with Alex and then called Meredith to pick you up."

Meredith looked at Christina oddly while realization set in for Addison.

"Oh, yes; that. Everything's fine now, but I still needed to get out. We need our space."

Meredith nodded. "Understandable. We're gonna run an errand and then stop at Derek's." She got excited. "He's giving me my birthday present early."

Addison smirked. "Does it involve him naked?"

"Addison!"

"She wishes," Christina further commented.

"Double-teaming: not fair." Meredith chuckled as she continued. "We're gonna get a bite to eat after if you still want to hang out."

Addison nodded, finishing putting on her lip gloss. "Sounds good to me."

Meredith took a look at Addison. "You look nice."

Addison stole a glance at Christina. "Thanks.

"Dude, sit down. You're acting like you're going to propose or something," Alex said. He watched as Mark paced around the room.

"He's right," added Derek. "I just got this carpet and you're already wearing it out. You're paying for it."

George smiled as Mark took a seat.

"What if I was?"

The group looked at him confused. "What if you were, what," Preston asked.

Mark took his time answering. "What if I were to ask her?"

"If you were to ask her what Sloan? Will you say it already?" Alex said.

"Oh my gosh," Derek said, standing up. "You're thinking about asking her to marry you."

The room went silent as the men stared at Mark. He didn't deny it.

"Well; are you," George asked.

Mark nodded. "Yes. But not tonight. I don't want to force it. Her dad just died, she's trying to rebuild her life—"

"Not to mention you've only dated for a couple of months," Alex interrupted.

Preston sided with Mark, "But they've been friends for a year before that. It's not so sudden," he added, clearly empathizing with Mark's situation.

Mark nodded in gratitude. "I don't want to rush her though, so I might not even bring it up."

Derek chuckled.

"What?" Mark asked.

Derek continued to chuckle, "I don't think I've ever seen you this nervous. That includes the first time you asked out Sherry Arrowhead in ninth grade and went out on a date with her and her senior twin brothers."

Mark sighed. "Yeah, well, you'd be nervous too if you wanted to marry someone who you weren't sure wanted to marry you and had to worry about ruining the best thing that ever happened to you and losing the love of your life. I know she's the one."

"One of the ones, or the one?" Alex piped.

Everyone just kind of scoffed and ignored the comment. They all knew he knew Mark meant it. He was just playing the obligatory protective friend card.

George laughed. "Well, you got her rambling down."

Alex finished his beer and stood up. "Sloan confessing love for anybody; this is getting way too chick-flicky. I'm getting another beer. Let me know when the testosterone levels in this room go back to normal."

"All right guys, I'll be right back. I'm just going to run inside and get it," Meredith said, getting out of the car and shutting the door.

Addison turned quickly to Christina, "What do we do?"

"What do you mean?"

"Shouldn't we go in with her?"

She nodded, "Yeah, but we have to wait a few seconds. She's going to wonder why we're following her."

Addison nodded, excited. She watched as Meredith was halfway to the door. "Did you call Mark?"

"Yeah, I called and hung up five minutes ago. They should be ready." Meredith was practically at the door. "Okay, let's go.

"

Meredith knocked on the door. She could've sworn she heard running in the house. Wishing she would've called before she came, she decided to ring the doorbell. She didn't notice Addison and Christina walk up behind her.

"Mer?"

"Geez!" she squealed, holding her chest. "You scared me!"

Christina apologized. "Sorry." She turned to Addison, "She needed to use the bathroom."

Meredith composed herself. "Then why are you here?"

Christina looked at her incredulously. "Seriously? We're in the freak'n woods. People die in the woods. People go and get killed, and no one finds them. You want to know why? Smart people don't go into the woods."

Meredith shook her head and knocked again. No answer.

"I don't think he's here guys."

The two exchanged glances. "Why don't you try to open it?"

"And do what Christina? I don't even know what the present is."

Christina waved at her. "It doesn't matter. At least Addison could use the bathroom."

Meredith thought for a moment, "Okay."

Meredith tried, and to her surprise, the door was open. She felt her way through the familiar house in the dark and flipped on the switch. For the second time in two minutes, her heart stopped.

"SURPRISE!"

A/N: Okay, so weird place to stop, but I felt so bad about not updating for two days that I decided to give you SOMETHING! Please, don't stone me! Lol. I just quit my job and have been celebrating the last two days. So, I'm doing the unusual and updating on a weekend. One more chapter ladies and gentlemen, but don't worry…it'll be a long good one! Thank you so much…muah!

Onlyone-Chance8720: I love you! Thank you so much for that review! Happy face! (I will keep you posted about a sequel or another one.)

KB22: Lol. I think you have your answer!

Surgery-Girl: Haha…I love them too! And no, Thatcher being dead and rejoicing is not evil. 

Punkchick18, Lovelavender: Thank you! Hope you stay tuned!

Merderdreamy5: Thanks for the compliment on the character development. I appreciate it. And I enjoy MerAlex friendship too. Had to get it in there!

Katherine Austen: Lol. Yup, Gexie, only for you! I'm glad Meredith made you proud here; she made me proud there too! Consider this the blessing for your second ribbon. Muah!

TVHollywoodDiva: Thanks a bunch!

Aries03: Lol, yeah, I like how you noticed I haven't done a sex scene. I LOVE Grey's but am also a Christian…sex scenes are little morally conflicting if you know what I mean! Thanks, I love the MerMark too! Eric Dane is HOT!

Murgy31: Thanks for always reviewing, no matter what my story!