Author's Note: Now that I have laid out the groundwork for our Mer/Der and Maddison reunions, it's time to focus on the George/Izzie element.
This will take place in Grey Manor with our favourite DMs throughout.
Enjoy the chapter.
Disclaimer: NOT MINE. REALLY. LEAVE ME ALONE.
"...So, McDreamy's after you again?"
Her companion sighed and bit off a chunk of blueberry muffin.
"Yeah. He's like stalking me. He keeps watching my surgeries."
"Didn't you tell him to leave you alone?" she inquired with confusion.
"For now. Signed papers or not, I don't trust him and I'm not getting tangled up with him again until I'm sure he won't ditch me. Enough about my crazy love life, what's up with you and George?"
Izzie blushed and continued pouring her cake batter in the pans. She knew that Meredith would notice the tension. Ever since her transformation from "dark and twisty, tequila swilling avoider" Meredith to "dark and twisty but older, wiser, and sober" Meredith, she had become freakishly observant. She noticed things that people didn't or refused to accept. It made her a better surgeon, leading to a falling out with Christina.
"You are hogging the good surgeries!" she accused loudly, drawing all eyes to the nurses station.
"I am not! You just need to get used to the fact that you're no longer the Queen Bee of the interns! I'm just doing my job and doing it well! If the upper tiers want to take notice, then fine, I'm not going to protest! They like me!"
"It's just because you're Ellis Grey's daughter!"
That had been the wrong thing to say. Meredith just looked at Christina icily. The ambitious Korean woman actually looked afraid as she looked her dead in the eye. Then, Meredith let a small, mirthless smile curve her lips, surprising the onlookers.
They expected a slap, after that.
"I will not now nor will I ever use my mother's name to get ahead. The fact that you could even suggest it pisses the hell off.", she said in a deadly calm voice.
"Meredith, I...I didn't mean..." Christina stammered.
"Yes, you did. If anyone's like Ellis Grey, it's you. All you care about is yourself and surgery. You're going around tearing people down and for what? A 3 hour surgery? Being the best is not important. Helping the patients is. Being human is. You really do need to pull your head out of the sand and take a look around. You and I both know that one little slip up with your curling iron or some non driving asshole running into you could wreck any chance of you being a surgeon. No man is an island, Dr. Yang and until you realize that, you are going to be a very sad, very lonely woman. Find yourself a new person because I am done."
Ever since, they had been at odds, their friendship shattered beyond repair.
Which is what I risk with this thing with me and George... Why can't I just let it go, though?
"Izzie!"
She jumped and then sighed, noticing that she had been staring off into space for the last few minutes.
"Sorry. I was just thinking."
"Okay. Seriously, what's the thing between you and George? The tension is thick and I'm tempted to lock you two in a closet so you can work it out."
Izzie sighed and then confessed, "I think I have feelings for George. Distinctly non-friendly ones."
Meredith looked surprised but then accepting.
"Well, that could work. You two are already close."
"That's the problem! I...I can't let what happened with Alex happen with me and George! He's my best friend and I can't lose him!" she told her earnestly.
Alex's betrayal had hurt but she was over that and him.
She had been able to bounce back.
If something like that happened with George, she didn't know what she would do.
In a short period of time, he had become the most important person in her life. He gave her strength and focus and most of all kindness, something that she had experienced so little of in her life...
She would break without him.
"George would not be idiot to cheat on you, for one thing and for another, who's to say that it would fail? Friendship is always a good jump off point for stuff like this. You already know and trust the person." Meredith brought out sagely.
She was too calm for Izzie's mood.
"This new Meredith isn't good for freaking out! You're trying to un-freak me out!"
"Is it working?"
"No! Okay, maybe a little. What am I supposed to do?"
"Tell him and put yourself out of your misery before you give yourself a stomach ulcer. Believe me, they absolutely suck."
"You okay, O'Malley?"
George startled and looked at his roommate before nodding.
Sloan was actually pretty cool. He stayed quiet, he cleaned up, and he was a Plastics guru.
"You don't look okay. You look like a deer in the headlights. Does Stevens have something to do with it?"
He could feel himself stiffen and tried to focus on the surgery on the screen. Ellis Grey's tapes were always cool to watch. Tonight, however, George was distracted. Izzie certainly was on his mind. The feelings he had for her had hit him like an asteroid. He now knew that he had been unconsciously suppressing them, focusing on Meredith.
If Mere hadn't changed, he'd still be hiding them in his subconscious.
Now, his person had become so much more to him, scaring him.
"No...Yeah." he admitted.
"You like her."
George sighed and put his hand in his hands.
"She's my best friend and I'm falling for her! I'm such an idiot!"
"No, idiot would be falling for your best friend's girl and then having an affair with her. She's divorcing him, though." Mark replied.
He sat back up and looked at the plastic surgeon, noticing that even though he seemed to be watching the procedure, he was miles away.
"That's good." George pointed out. "You going to get back with her?"
"Eventually. I...I'm going to wait a while, though. She's hurt me before. How do I know she won't do it again? Ugh, I sound like a chick. As for you and Dr. Model, I say you go for it. Seize the day and all that shit. Since you're already friends, it should be easier."
"What if it doesn't work out?"
"Then, at least you tried. Go tell her and don't come back until you do."
Both of them entered the hall and froze, looking at each other.
One was in a pink nightgown, the other in red flannel pajamas.
Two sets of wary amber eyes met, communicating more than words ever could.
At the same time, they moved forward, meeting in the middle.
Their breaths mingled and their body heat called to each other.
As one, they closed the distance, their lips meeting in a shy kiss.
When they parted, their eyes met again.
Then...she smiled.
"What took you so long, George?"
He smiled back.
"Fear, Izzie. Fear."
Their lips met again, longing and seeking to devour.