So I need to update. Like everything. I'm working on it. I love you.

She knew she would eventually have to answer that question. She remembered the ecstasy of their first time together. The before was routine and the after was heartbreaking, but the act its self was immaculate.

Mark walked in and threw his keys were they usually resided when he was at Izzie's. His visits were becoming longer and more frequent and he sometimes wondered why he had an apartment at all. He found her eating ice cream and watching When Harry Met Sally. He really didn't agree with her taste in film, but he watched them with her. Jumping over the back of the couch and half landing on her, he came to rest in his favorite position on the couch.

"God Mark. Could you at least get your feet out of my face."

"You love my feet."

"Love wasn't the word I would use."

"So…how many times have you seen this movie?"

"You can never see this movie too many times."

"That many? Wow."

"Shut up. So are you packed for your big trip to the big apple?"

"Just finished packing last night."

"I can't believe you are going to leave me here for a whole month."

"I'm not leaving you. I'm going to help lure other surgeons down here. It's a hard job Iz. I'm the only one who can do it properly." He wiggled his eyebrows at her.

"I had no idea that the medical world was so corrupt. Luring poor unsuspecting surgeons with sex."

"There will be no sex. Well hopefully some sex, but not with them. The question is what are you going to be doing down here without me to monitor your behavior?"

"Have sex. Finally. That and perhaps do some drugs, deface some public property the usual."

"Good I was starting to worry. Wow so do you really think that kissing someone like that could be comfortable?" He was referring to the stage kiss between the lovely Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal. He had never kissed a girl like that, and it didn't look like it would do much good. He looked to his right only to see Izzie smirking at him.

"You are so strange. It's a stage kiss. It's supposed to make it more dramatic. Don't you ever watch movies?"

"Why don't you show me?"

"Show you a stage kiss? Do I look like I was in drama club? I don't know the first thing about stage kisses. Even those kids were to cool for me."

"Awwww. You were a social outcast. It's cute. Come on, you have to kiss me goodbye. It's protocol."

"You went to Orlando for three days and I was drunk. You don't get to hold that against me."

"You have been holding me hostage lately. I have gone without sex for two weeks. You owe me."

"You are such a girl. Fine. Come here."

He sat up and scooted across the couch closer to her. They had kissed a million times before, but had been careful to avoid lips. They had succeeded until that one night before he went to Orlando. But like she said she was drunk. He leaned in super close to her and smirked in his special way. She quickly kissed him. He was shocked that she seemed to think that constituted as a kiss.

"That's it?"

"What did you expect?"

"Something with a little more oomph would have been nice. I mean a girl as pretty as you shouldn't be a bad kisser."

"I am not a bad kisser."

"It's ok Iz. I get it. Not everyone is good at it."

"I'm a fantastic kisser."

"Right, right. It's fine really." He sat back and focused on the television, knowing how pissed she was right now. He was praising himself for winning until he realized she was straddling him and it became abundantly clear something was different.

"I'm a damn good kisser, Mark Sloan."

Not a single word was uttered. She kissed him in a slow sensual way that let him know that she was in control and she knew everything while he knew nothing at all. It was alarming how much passion was flowing between them. At the very moment her lips touched his something between them shifted. Platonic went flying out the window and it was replaced with something much more real and raw. She pulled back and a triumphant grin was etched across her face. He stared up at her. All he knew at that moment was that something had changed within him and he needed her to feel it too. His hands snaked up behind her head and pulled her to him. It was clear she was shocked, but it didn't take her long to respond. The rest was history. She couldn't remember how many times or how many places, but she did remember feeling full. He completed and satisfied her every need and desire. She understood the world so much better when she was with him and seeking a release only he could give her. That's why she had been so devastated the next morning when she woke up and he was gone.

"Wait he just left? After that? Why?"

"He told me later that he needed to make sense of things. Running away had always been his best option. He just didn't realize that this was the kind of thing you run toward not away from."

"What happened? When did you know that it was love?"

"I knew from the second I woke up without him. You don't know exactly what it means to be complete until it's taken away from you."

It had been three weeks since he had left for New York without so much as a note. Izzie had been a ghost of a person as she went to work and came home. She had lost ten pounds and slept a lot more than usual. Ringo was constantly by her side watching to make sure she was fine. At least she hadn't been lying on the bathroom floor. She gazed out the window at the setting sun, as she absentmindedly ran her fingers over Ringo's big floppy ears where he laid beside her. Her eyes closed slowly as she fell asleep.

She woke up to the sun shining in on her face. She started to roll over, but realized she couldn't. There were two very strong arms wrapped around her holding her like she was the only thing in the world that mattered. She closed her eyes and let his familiar scent fill her senses. She should yell at him and scream about how much his leaving had destroyed her, but all she could do or feel was the overwhelming love and joy at his return. Mark was not the guy that was comfortable with love. He had to come to terms with it on his own and obviously he had. He had sensed her trying to turn and had woken up. He loosened his grip on her waist and she did turn into his chest.

"I'm sorry I left like that."

"I don't need to know that you're sorry. I just need to know you are here."

"I'm supposed to be in New York right now, but I needed to see you. I needed to tell you that you are under my skin, and I don't think that we can just be friends anymore. I…"

"I love you."

"You have to say it first don't you."

"For once in your life let me win."

After that they had spent the day in bed nurturing the bond forming between them. They talked for hours and for hours they didn't say a word. It was the most crucial time in their relationship and in the haven that was her bedroom they started what would be the love that lasted the rest of their lives. Around seven that night he announced that he had to return to New York for the rest of the week."

"Mark, you can't leave again."

"I'm coming back and then we can be blissfully happy for the rest of our lives. We do need jobs. I'm coming back to you."

"I know but I don't want you to leave again." He wrapped his arms around her waist and with his chest pressed against her back he softly whispered a favorite song to her. It had never seemed more fitting.

"Close your eyes and I'll kiss ya. Tomorrow I'll miss ya. Remember I'll always be true. And then while I'm away, I'll write home everyday. And I'll send all my loving to you."

"Is it possible for you to let me hate you for five seconds?"

"I'll pretended that I'm kissing the lips I am missing, and hope that my dreams come true. And while I'm away I'll write home everyday. And I'll send all my loving to you."

"Seriously Mark."

"All my loving I will to send to you. All my loving darling I'll be true."

"Fine." Giving up she rolled in his arms and kissed him silencing his whispered singing.

Blame Across the Universe.