Author's Note: A meeting of The Dirty Mistresses Club has been called to order.


Now that Meredith has put herself in the line of fire again, Mark starts to get a little bolder in his pursuit of Addison.


You'll see what I mean.

Oh, and later I'll bring back in the George/Izzie thing I introduced.

I've finally got some ideas that won't sound so cheesy so look for that within the next couple of chapters.


I'm going back to my centered text format but eventually, I'll try another one.

Centered is just easier to type for me.

Here's the chapter.

Disclaimer: NOT MINE. WON'T EVER BE MINE.

"Derek said that he loved me."

Mark looked at Meredith as she sipped her tequila and arched a brow. So, Derek was coming to his senses. It was a good thing. He shouldn't have left her in the first damn place.

"And your response was...?"

"I told him that I loved him, too. I told him that I never stopped but he's going have to give me proof that he loves me. I can't just take his word for it, not after last time."

"You know, you shatter all the dumb blonde clichés out there."

She smiled softly at the compliment and put down her glass before ordering a ginger ale.

Mark arched a curious brow and she shrugged.

"I'm trying to cut down on the drinking. My mom mentioned that my dad was an alcoholic. Now, granted Alzheimer's has screwed with her mind but I'm not taking any chances. So, did Addison come and find you after our bitch out?"

"You two had a fight?"

Mark was surprised. Addison was more of a cut with words type of woman.

In the ten-plus years he's known her, he's never heard of her being in a cat fight. Subtly, he checked Grey's face and exposed arms for scratches. Apparently, he wasn't subtle enough because she smiled.

"It was more like a screaming match. She accused me of taking Derek from her and you. Then, she said I was fucking you. Now, I'll own up to taking Derek but not you. It's not like that. I see you as a friend."

"Just a friend?" he questioned.

He wanted to know for sure because if she was interested, he'd go for it. Meredith was a hell of a girl and he'd be lucky to have her. Any man would.

"Yeah. There's only room for one cocky asshole in my heart."

Mark laughed and finished his scotch.

This was an interesting development.

If Derek had admitted where his heart laid so easily, then what would Addison do?

Needing to find out, he bid Meredith good night, paid for his drink, and set out to find her.

She sat in the gallery, looking down into the dark OR.

This was the only quiet place in the hospital and she knew Derek had gone off to do god knows what. She couldn't believe how screwed up things were. Just a few months ago, her husband had looked up at her from operating, looking at her like he used to so many years ago before the abortion and the lying and the distance...

Back then, she was sure that she could have him back and way from Seattle within 2 weeks. He wouldn't want to stay after he got his revenge and his little fling resolved. Oh, how wrong she had been.

Derek didn't love her. He didn't even love the idea of her. She was a duty, an obligation, a curse. Every day, he died a little bit more inside and looked trapped, like he was itching to gnaw his own arm off to get away from her. Meredith had him. She'd have him long after she was gone. Her marriage really was dead and no amount of denial would hide it anymore.

The door opened and she didn't bother looking up.

She knew it was him.

"What, Mark? Grey get bored with you?"

She couldn't stop the barb from coming out. Even though she had insisted that there was nothing between them, just the thought made her ill with jealousy.

"You know, that's really not any way to talk to the only man that actually loves you. Wake up, Addie. Derek's never going to love you like I do.", he replied flatly.

"I know that."

"Then, why are you still fighting me?"

That was a good question.

He walked over, yanked her up, and kissed her fiercely. Addison shuddered and went limp against him, kissing back. Why was she fighting him? Why couldn't she just let go of her stupid pride and get what she so desperately wanted? God, he felt so good, so right...

He pulled away and she let out a protesting mewl.

She felt warm and loved for the first time in ages.

"I've learned my lesson from last time. I'm not going to be the other man, Addison. You need to make your choice. Me or him. I'm done being strung along and I'm not going to tolerate not having all of you. Get rid of Derek or leave me alone.", he told bluntly.

After a last brutal kiss, he gently pushed her back into her chair and walked out, leaving her to sort it out.

The ball was in her court, now.