A/N: Alright guys this is the last chapter so have fun with it!!!
She blinked. It felt as though time itself had completely stopped and they were frozen in that one moment. "Wh-what?" she got out, her voice barely above a whisper. "Marry you?"
"I understand this is huge," Derek began, his hands trembling, "And I want to give you time…so just take your time, okay?" He looked up, smiling nervously at the only woman he ever loved. "I'll still be here."
"Derek," she started, her head shaking. How did they go from there to here? How was he asking her to marry him!?
"No," he declared, nodding firmly, "Take all the time you need. I want you to think about this…it's a big decision…"
She exhaled deeply, a thousand questions swarming in her head. It was a simple answer; yes or no. Yet she couldn't say either. "Okay," she finally sighed, leaning back on her pillow.
"Okay," he agreed, giving her one last grin before disappearing out of the room.
She shook her head, not fully believing this was happening. He proposed. He seriously proposed. Everything was so unexpected, so amazingly hard. And he proposed!!
She glanced at the clock, knowing how late it was. But a glistening sparkle caught her eye. She took the ring in her hands, wondering why it was strung onto a necklace. She ran it between her hands, around her fingers, staring at the bright diamond the entire time.
Wow," she breathed, "Wow."
Suddenly, she heard a faint knock at the door. Jumping slightly, she quickly threw the ring under her pillow. "Come in," she announced, smoothing her unruly hair.
"Dr. Grey…" Rose began, slowly opening the door, "Sorry to wake you but I have to run a few tests."
"I was already awake, it's fine," she stumbled, her words twisted and knotted in her brain.
"Okay then," Rose began, pulling out different medical instruments. "This shouldn't take long. I'm just going to clean out your leg wound and take your blood pressure."
"Fine with me," Meredith sighed, falling back onto her bed. She listened as the springs gave off a light, delicate squeak, the pressure too much. She didn't know why but ever since the shooting, every detail, ever sound, every image was engraved in her mind. She couldn't control it but she had to capture every moment because just like that; all her memories could be taken away from her.
"Can I tell you something?" Rose interjected. Her voice was compressed and low. "I sort of have to get it off my chest."
"Uhm okay?" Meredith said carefully, hoping this conversation wouldn't be about him.
"The other night, before the hostage situation, my uhm ex called…" she confessed, biting on her lower lip. Her eyes were full of fear and she was second guessing telling her ex boyfriend's ex girlfriend something like this.
"Oh…" Meredith began, having no idea how this topic applied to her. "Sorry?"
Rose let out a laugh, a very low, thick, humorless laugh. "No, no…don't be sorry. It's just been on my mind lately and well…I don't really have many friends who don't gossip so I figured if I just told you…" her voice faded to a whisper, "It's stupid, I'm sorry."
"No, it's not stupid," Meredith stated, looking at Rose-really looking at her-for the first time.
"Thanks," she smiled. "Do you mind sitting up? I need to listen to your chest."
"Sure," Meredith nodded, pulling her body upwards. The movement caused her pillow to float to the ground, leaving the engagement ring completely visible.
"Oh my God," Rose gasped, pulling away at the sight of the sparkling diamond.
Meredith quickly snatched the ring, its hard diamond pushing itself further and further into her soft palm. "Sorry, that was nothing," she blurted out, hoping she wouldn't ask anymore questions.
Rose's hands flew to her mouth and she fought the urge to burst out crying. Her ring-her ring-he gave to Meredith?! "Oh my God…" she murmured again. The whole room seemed to be spinning around her.
"Okay…what's wrong?" Meredith asked questionably. After all, it was just a ring...or was it?
Rose shook her head, collecting her many medical tools and instruments, her hands fumbling over the equipment. "Sorry, I have to uhm…leave, so just get some rest." She gave Meredith a quick nod, a nod that was neither friendly nor cruel, and slipped out the crème colored door.
Meredith was speechless…breathless. What had just happened? A series of 'Oh my Gods' was nothing to be ignored, which was exactly what Rose had just done. She opened her hand, the indents of the ring engraved in her palm. She didn't know she was clutching it so hard, holding onto it for deal life. Sighing heavily she moaned, the pain in her leg becoming greater. She figured the morphine was wearing off. She was about to reach over and press the nurse assistant button when something else caught her eye. It was the ring, her engagement ring from Derek, but there was something-some type of saying-engraved on the rim of it. Holding it up to her emerald green eyes she studied the inscription…
To Rose, the love of my life, may death due us part.
And in that moment, the pain in her leg seemed to go completely numb.
He hated mornings. Mornings were the worst. After all, mornings were all about getting coffee, and going to work, and waking up early, and being "responsible", and buying your one night stand breakfast and all that junk he was never in the mood for doing. Looking over at his digital clock he groaned loudly. It was 5 AM, the worst possible time God could have created. He shut off his alarm clock and yawned as he let his tired body sag over his knees. He glanced out the window. The weather seemed nice, probably still cold but nice all the same. Dragging his feet across his kitchen, he poured himself a big cup of coffee, hoping the burst of caffeine would wake him up. Sipping cautiously on the burning liquid he smiled. Images of a month ago swiped into his brain. He thought of Meredith, her tiny body covered in hot coffee. He thought of how adorable she looked in his shirt and how her eyes danced with laughter every time he flirted with her-even if she swore she never liked it. He had grown to love her, and the fact that they broke up scared the hell out of him. He dumped the rest of his coffee in the sink and hopped into the shower, the warm water cascading over his body. He inhaled deeply as the steam rose, filling his nostrils, surrounding him with warmth. Suddenly, a knock on the door stirred him from his serenity. Shutting off the water, he wrapped a towel around his waist and grasped the knob, opening the door to Tessa.
"Oh sorry…I didn't mean to intrude," she blushed, noticing his half naked body. "I just thought you'd be up cause you're a doctor and all…"
Mark smiled. "Yeah, let me just throw some clothes on…"
"I'm not a stalker," she defended herself, tucking her hands further into her coat. "…just lonely."
"Me too," Mark agreed, pulling a shirt on.
"I'll just wait outside," she began, turning to exit the room.
"No that's okay, just wait in here. I'll go in the bathroom."
"You sure?" she asked carefully, slowly setting her bag on the bed.
"Definitely, I'll be right out."
She watched as he disappeared into the bathroom, his sweet scent lingering in the room. She sighed. It wasn't that she liked him, because she didn't. She barely knew him! But after all the compliments he gave her, all the smiles, she couldn't help but be attracted to him. It didn't matter though; she thought bitterly to herself, he was crazy about another girl who couldn't love him back. She hated this! She could love him, she could be there for him, she could make him happy! Yet his heart was with her…and that in itself was worth a few tears.
She was about to get up and leave, thinking she looked like a complete idiot sitting there all alone, until someone burst through the doors, startling her.
"Oh," the strange man said smugly. It was amazing how in that one syllable, he could let out so much feeling, so much emotion.
"Uhm hi?" Tessa replied awkwardly, tucking her hands inside her pockets once more.
"Alright I'm ready to…" Mark started before his voice trailed off, seeing Derek there, in his hotel room for the first time since forever. "What are you doing here?"
"What the hell is she doing here?!" Derek asked angrily, pointing to Tessa. "Way to cheat on your girlfriend!"
Mark stepped back, taken completely aback at the anger, the hurt in his voice. "WHAT are you talking about!?" he raised his voice, all of his emotions pouring out.
"Is Meredith just a fling to you? Just a game? God you bastard, to think she trusted you!"
"You have NO idea what you are talking about!" Mark screamed.
"Yeah right!" Derek shook his head, mumbling incoherent words, getting ready to leave the room…
"SHE DUMPED ME!" Mark yelled before Derek slammed the door right in his face. "She dumped me man…" he surrendered, his breath heavy. "Are you satisfied?"
Derek swallowed hard, not fully believing what Mark was saying. She dumped him?! When? Was it after the engagement? Was she really considering marrying him? "W-when?" he stuttered, walking closer to him.
"A few days ago," Mark sighed, digging his nails into his scalp.
"Oh," Derek mumbled, his heart literally breaking. "Sorry."
"Whatever, just, just leave…" Mark got out, avoiding any eye contact with him.
"Already leaving," Derek replied, shutting the door hard on his way out.
Mark shut his eyes, the stress, the lies, the betrayals becoming too much to bare.
"Okay then…" Tessa half laughed, pulling her purse closer to her. "On that note, I'm going to leave."
"No, wait!" Mark urged her, grabbing her arm. "Stay…please?"
"Mark you obviously have some issues to take care of, just do that…don't deal with me, I'm nobody," she stated, pulling his arm away. "Just take care of the people you love."
"And how am I supposed to do that?" Mark asked, knowing it was pretty much impossible.
Tessa smiled, lightly touching Mark's face. "Go after her."
Those three words, those three, simple words gave him strength, gave him courage, and led him to do the impossible. He was going after her; he was going to win her back, no matter how hard it took.
"Thank you Tessa," he grinned, pulling her into a hug. "You're a great friend."
"Don't mention it," she chuckled, holding back the many tears that were dying to pour out. "Good luck."
And with that, he pulled on his coat, slipped on his shoes and ran to the hospital, knowing exactly what he was going to do because right then, in that moment of time, it was the right thing to do, the perfect thing to do. Opening the door to her room, he let out a soft smile, a smile that changed everything.
"Mark?" Meredith began, "What are you-"
He crashed his lips against hers, wrapping his hands around the nape of her neck, letting his tongue slip through her delicate lips, kissing her-really kissing her-like she was meant to be kissed. When they finally broke apart, two words escaped his mouth, words that he wasn't even planning on saying. "Marry me."
A/N: Yayy!! The end! Don't worry though because I'm definitely doing a sequel. This was meant for a sequel and meant to end this way so keep an eye out for Broken Hearts…coming soon. (I'm so excited too cause I've never done a sequel so yes!!)
Things to keep in mind for Broken Hearts: Tessa likes Mark, Meredith knows it's Rose's ring (but she might think that little lovey message was from DEREK, so remember that as well), Derek proposed, Mark proposed…and I really hope you got the contrast in both of their proposals. Derek had a speech planned out and a ring, while Mark kissed her and had no speech and no ring. See the difference? I hope you did But yeah if you think you know who she's going to say 'yes' to…think again because the sequel is going to be a hell of a lot of fun. (and expect some new people to pop in here and there as well ) So thank you everyone who stuck out through this story, and please come back to read Broken Hearts. You guys are awesome!!!!!
PS: Review, tell me how you like the chapter, and how you like the sequel idea thingy.