Discliamer: And here we go again. I know that this time I don't own Grey's…which sucks. Seriously. Because Shonda kills the wrong people. But at least I get to play with them now. And hopefully keep them from getting dead. Anyway…yeah, not mine.

A/N: You know…I really don't think anyone's reading these author's notes. Cuz I only got a few people giving me ideas for what to name this sequel. So I'm gonna dedicate this one to two harts because that's where the idea came from and my daughter really liked it.

A/N2: I have no idea when Mark or Meredith's birthdays really are but I like the peridot for them so they're both born in August. I like the properties of the stone as its vibrations bring about an increase of good stuff. Personally, I think Mark and Meredith need all the help they can get on that score. Yes, they have a good solid relationship but every little bit of luck will help it stay that way. Sorry if this is wrong but hey, it's my story. And word of warning…this chapter is fluffy and sappy and basically a filler to start out with. The first episode will be the next chapter. I needed a bit of transition between last season's finale and this one's start.

So…onto…

Heart of the Matter

Dr. and Dr. Sloan

"Hey, Dr. Sloan," the voice said huskily in the dim room. "Gotta get up. We have work." That voice had always given her shivers. It worked this time too but she ignored the shivers and kept her eyes closed. "Angel," he called to her again.

Giving a grumpy huff the lump on the bed moved a bit and then a hand found its way out of the tangle of blankets and smacked at the space where the voice had come from. "I'm shleepin'. Not gettin' up, dammit." The hand retreated and the cocoon of blankets that covered his wife curled tighter around her form. The sun wasn't even close to rising yet…and it was cold with the breeze off the bay. She was warm under the covers and it would be so much better if he'd just come back to bed.

"Angel," Mark chuffed out a laugh and stroked a hand over the light blue blankets where he thought her back was. He wasn't quite sure as she had a tendency to move after he'd left the bed. She'd huddle into the warm place where he had been and curl up into a ball. "We have to see the chief before he gives his speech to the new interns," he reminded her. "Papers to sign. Married papers. And…You get your own interns to torture today. It'll be fun…and I'll let you scrub in on my burned fire fighter. Come on," Mark wheedled in the Sex God voice. "Please? Besides…you get to show off your new lab coat and stuff." He wasn't sure if his wheedling would work of if he'd have to pull out the big guns this morning but he was willing to try and he still had a few ideas before he got desperate. Meredith was so not a morning person.

Meredith's head finally poked out from the beneath the light blue blankets that they had chosen together and she peered at him from one sleepy green eye. Her face creased in a smile that held just a hint of smugness. She was very happy with the way her vacation had turned out. "I do, don't I?" Her left hand appeared and she stared happily at the back of it and the small peridot set in a platinum band on her ring finger. Mark had chosen this ring because it was small and elegant and not flashy and it was their birthstone. "And my ring. I get to show that off too." She reminded him with a grin. She loved her ring.

Mark smiled smugly back and leaned down to lay a row of kisses across her jaw. He was utterly content with the way their vacation had gone too. "That too," he agreed easily. "But you can't if you stay in bed all day, Angel. So get your ass up and let's go be doctors." His lips left her jaw and he bounced himself out of the bed and to his feet again. He turned to the bed and held out his hand for her to take.

Meredith nodded, threw the covers to the side and took his hand in her own. "I can't wait," she claimed as he pulled her towards the bathroom for a shower and maybe something more…it was very early after all and they were newlyweds.

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Alex and Cristina were waiting right by the doors for them. They were huddled close together and their shoulders were hunched as though their bodies had forgotten the chill in Seattle while they'd been away. Alex's new beard didn't cover the ruddiness of his cheeks and Cristina's tan didn't quite cover the paleness that being back had given them both. Neither of them was really looking forward to this first day back either, though for different reasons.

Still, they were both there, waiting at the doors for she and Mark. Of course they were, Meredith thought with a roll of her eyes. The both of them were complete and utter junkies, drama junkies but junkies all the same. They thrived on the drama that seemed to infect Seattle Grace. And they wouldn't miss the great revelation of Meredith's new status if someone offered them a million dollars. They might miss it for a good surgery though. Then again if someone offered her a good enough surgery she'd skip out on the revelation herself…maybe. Well, at least for a few hours.

She shook her head at her own thoughts and grinned at her two best friends. "You're both so tanned," she exclaimed in awe even as she threw herself at them for a quick hug before Cristina pushed her away with that look on her face. She loved unbalancing Cristina. Alex accepted the hug with an ease that hadn't been there before and she smiled happily at him before she stepped back and into the warm welcoming arms of her husband. "It looks even better now than it did three days ago." And it truly did. They both looked relaxed for the first time in a long time too though Meredith could see the tension beginning to creep back in and the sadness infecting Cristina again now that they were home.

Cristina grinned back at her and if it looked a little more forced than usual none of them were going to point it out, and Alex smirked at she and Mark, his hand unconsciously smoothing over Cristina's shoulder in comfort. The two had grown close while they were on holiday, nearly as close as Alex and Meredith had always been. "Well, you're both still pale as paper," he snickered. "Should have spent more time on the beach with us and less between the sheets."

Mark cuffed the back of his head, even as he wrapped his arm more securely around Meredith's shoulders. "Well, when you get married then we'll see how pale you are," he retorted. "And those sheets were very happy to have us and they will never be the same again." His icy blue eyes twinkled at his best friend. Alex grinned back and glanced at a movement behind them as a few of the nurses passed them to enter the hospital.

Meredith smacked Mark's arm in reproach even as she giggled in amusement. "Bad," she scolded him. "Seriously." Cristina rolled her eyes at them. They were both so smugly happy it was sickening.

Mark grinned down at her unrepentantly and stole a kiss from her smiling lips. He loved that he could do that right there in front of the doors to the hospital and no one could say anything about it. Not that they could have or would have before but now…well, the illicit thrill of doing something slightly naughty might be gone but now he knew he had the right to kiss her anywhere and the only person that could stop him was Meredith. As long as they didn't take it too far no one had any right to say anything about their actions. They were married. "Yes," he agreed with her assessment of his character. "Always. And you love it." He gloated happily.

"I love you," she corrected him with her own gloating smile. "Even when you're being an ass," she sighed as though greatly put upon.

He gave her his special, just for her, smile. "Love you too." He shook off the spell that she always wove around him and pulled her towards the door. "Now get to work you three," he ordered them in his best boss voice.

"You know," Cristina scowled, proving that particular voice didn't work on them anymore, not that it ever really had. He turned his attention to her for a moment. "We're not interns anymore; you can't boss us around like that." She shook a finger at him even as she followed them to the door. She liked that Mark was a friend and a boss. It made everything so much easier. And got her some good surgeries when she played her cards right…if only he was a heart surgeon instead of a plastic surgeon.

Mark arched an eyebrow at her and pulled open the door in an effort to hurry them along. Not that he actually thought it would work. They always did as they liked and to Hell with everyone else…mostly. "I'm still an attending and you are residents. I still get to boss you around," he reminded them with a smug grin.

"Mer," Cristina whined childishly though her brown eyes crinkled at the corners in suppressed laughter. "Tell your husband to be nice."

Meredith laughed aloud and shook her head in denial. "I'm his wife not his mother. If he hasn't learned manners and politeness by now there's no way I can teach him." She reached over once they were through the door and took Mark's hand in her own. It felt strange to be back and she liked the connection of flesh to flesh with him.

"You two really like those terms," Alex mused quietly and grinned at the girls. They both grinned and nodded. Meredith had a glow about her that eased something tight in his chest. He hadn't realized that he'd been worried about her until it had gone away. Mark would take care of her. He always had anyway.

"At least in reference to them," Cristina hooked a finger at Mark and Meredith. Her eyes darkened a bit and she seemed to blink something out of her eyes. "Not for me though." Her voice dropped a bit on the last part and a look filled with bone deep sorrow crossed her face. "Not for me. I'm not a wife."

Alex reached over and gave her shoulder a supportive squeeze as they stopped in front of the elevator. There was a softness to him that he only allowed a few select people to see. She glanced at him gratefully and he let go to push the call button for the elevator. "Hey, I offered and you turned me down flat." He told her with a comforting smile.

Cristina, suddenly her old self again like a mask thrown over her face to hide her pain from the world, shoved his shoulder, hard. "Okay, one: that hula girl had just blown you off for the guy with the crappy dreads and surfboard. Two: you were totally plastered. And three: ew!" She made a disgusted face at him.

"Good call," Alex agreed easily, not the least bit offended by either her words or the look she'd directed towards him. "Marriage to you would definitely be worth an ew or twelve."

Mark and Meredith held their breaths in concern that Alex's words would wound Cristina with the memory of Burke's abandonment, but Cristina only rolled her eyes and pushed past Alex and into the elevator. "Ass." She muttered the word at him as she leaned back against the rail.

Meredith pushed the button for a different floor from the one Alex and Cristina were headed to and shrugged when they gave her questioning looks. "We have to go see the chief and sign some papers." She explained.

"What kind of papers?" Cristina asked suspiciously. Webber and Meredith had worked out their differences for the most part but Cristina wasn't one to easily forgive or forget any slight to her person. No matter that Meredith didn't really care anymore about what Webber had done with her mother back in the day.

Meredith grinned and wiggled the fingers on her left hand. The green stone flashed in the light. "Married papers." She told them smugly and then slipped her hand back into Mark's grip.

"You're so happy you're making me sick. I think I'm going to throw up." Cristina groaned and shoved both of them out of the elevator as soon as the doors opened. "Catwalk in twenty," she ordered with a mock scowl.

"Sure," Mark nodded their agreement and then tilted his head and a wicked look came over his face. "Think you could puke on Derek or something?" He asked with a smirk. The doors closed on Cristina's answering scowl. "What?" He exclaimed innocently when Meredith smacked his arm. "It'd be funny." He protested. "I think it would anyway. Can you imagine his face?"

"You're awful," Meredith accused, though her eyes told the lie of her words, and tugged him down the hallway.

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Patricia, Dr. Webber's long time secretary, stood as soon as she saw them round the corner and held out her hand imperiously. "Lemme see," she ordered in a stern voice.

Meredith, knowing exactly what the woman wanted, obligingly held out her hand to the older woman with a smile. "Why doesn't anyone want to see mine?" Mark complained in his best pouting child voice. "I mean come on! Just cuz it doesn't have a pretty stone in it does that mean it doesn't mean anything?" He knew the answer but he liked to see his Angel smile.

"Girls like sparkly," Patricia told him with a grin and his Angle rolled her eyes though her lips twitched. "So…yeah, who cares about yours?" Patricia continued absently as she stared down at Meredith's ring and nodded. "Very pretty. Very tasteful. Is that a peridot?"

Meredith nodded happily, glad that someone else had finally recognized the stone for what it was. "It's our birthstone. He's seven years and one day older than me," she explained. "So it's…special." She wasn't sure how else to explain it. There weren't really any words that could describe what the ring meant to her.

Patricia let her hand go to grab a tissue and dab at her wet eyes. The look on little Meredith Grey's face as she stood there just got to her. Little Meredith Grey was all grown up and happy too. "Yes, it is," she nodded and kept back the sigh that the romantic part of her wanted to let go. "Very special. Congratulations." Her voice was sincere and her eyes shone with joy.

Mark smiled easily somehow aware of where Patricia's thoughts were leading her. "Thank you," he murmured and then cleared his throat. The soft look in Patricia's eyes was making him uncomfortable. His eyes darted to the door to Richard's office. "He in?" He asked and hoped Richard hadn't had an emergency or something that would have taken him from his office and delayed the meeting.

Patricia nodded and waved them towards the door as she blew her nose. "He's expecting you. Go right on in." She watched them go with a smile and then reached for the phone on her desk. Sally in accounting was a sucker for a good romance story. And she'd been placing bets on Mark and Meredith's wedding for months. Come to think of it so had Jan in Human Resources.

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"I have one question," Webber said slowly and uncertainly as they finished signing the papers that would officially designate them to Human Resources as a married couple. He wasn't sure how they were going to take this question but he had to ask.

Meredith looked up with the bright happy smile that had graced her face for two weeks straight. She couldn't seem to get rid of it. And she didn't mind in the least. Webber wasn't exactly sure whether he wanted to ask his question. He didn't want that smile to leave her face…ever. "Ask," she said and gazed at him with light, happy green eyes.

"I'm not interfering and I'm not disapproving," he stumbled over the words and then sighed heavily. "It's…I really think it's a nice thing to do but…why the name change?" Webber tried not to cringe at Mark's sudden frown. He'd better continue before the younger man took it into his head to do something about that anger that was always simmering under his skin when he looked at Richard these days. "I'm really not," he continued in an effort to placate Mark's temper. "It's her choice and I know you well enough by now to know that you didn't push her into it, Mark. I'm only curious. That's all. I promise."

Meredith placed a hand on Mark's arm and shook her head at him. She had forgiven Richard for everything he'd done…mostly. There were still a few sore spots but they didn't seem so bad now. Just a little painful sometimes, like a healing bruise that you might bump in the wrong way at times. "It's okay." She told her husband softly and smiled at him. "I was expecting someone to ask." She drew in a breath. In a way she was glad that it had been Richard. Here she could explain it and she didn't have to worry about other people overhearing her. "I was never…happy as a Grey. I know my mother was…is a legend. And I should be proud to be her daughter and I am. I am proud of the things she did as a surgeon. But…I'm not her. I will do my own great things. I…" She shrugged helplessly and shook her head, unable to explain in words the things that seemed to be engraved on her heart.

"You want them to be your great things," Webber said understandingly with just a hint of wistfulness. He had thought he would do great things too…and then he'd just…settled. It had nothing to do with Adele or Ellis he just got…tired and didn't want to strive anymore. Looking at Meredith Grey, now Sloan, he knew that with her new husband at her side that she wasn't going to get tired, not anytime soon but she also wasn't going to be as driven as Ellis had been. Meredith Grey had grown up and she was going to take on the whole world. They were still gazing at him and he decided to finish the thought that he knew she couldn't put words to. "And not have people think 'Well of course, look who her mother is', right?"

Meredith nodded eagerly. "Besides it's not like it was her name originally either. And I…" She stumbled over the word and had to draw in another breath. Mark wrapped a hand over her shoulder as though sending her his strength. He needed her to say these things to someone nearly as much as she needed to let them out. "I don't want anything to connect me to him. I…just want to be me."

Webber nodded sadly. He felt his body sinking into his chair heavily. He wished so much that he could change things if only so that she would smile at him the way she had as a child. "I can understand that," he said though he wasn't sure that he really did. Then he seemed to draw into himself for a moment and looked at them both with regret. He regretted so many things in his life and he felt compelled to try and fix at least one thing if he could. "But…he's not a bad man. I don't condone what he did but…your father…I'm sure he didn't mean it." He knew the instant the words came from his mouth that they were the wrong ones.

Meredith shrugged and her eyes shuttered. The light that had seemed to come from deep inside dimmed. "I think he did," she said softly with an unhappy sigh. Then she straightened her back and those green eyes met his. "And we're not going to agree on this, Chief. However…if Derek had smacked Addie when she showed up here would you believe he didn't mean it?" It was the closest example she could think of.

Webber blinked, in shock at the thought. Derek was one of the least violent men he knew. So was Thatcher, a small voice whispered. And Derek punched Mark that time, remember? Webber sighed heavily. "No…" he finally admitted to both himself and to them. "And I wouldn't have tried to make Addie see his side either. I just…I hate that you and Thatcher are so…distant." He knew that part of it was his fault and he hated that he'd ruined this woman's relationship with her own father because he was a greedy man.

Meredith, her forgiving heart aching at the self-loathing in Richard's eyes, stepped forward and placed her hand over his. "It's not your fault," she told him in an earnest voice. "You didn't make him the way he is. You and my mother hurt him but…he chose to do what he did and become what he has. It's not your fault. I wish I could blame you. It would be so much easier but I can't. You didn't do this. You didn't have anything to do with him hitting me." She believed that with her entire soul. Richard Webber wasn't blameless in the farce that was her childhood but he wasn't the villain of the piece. Her parents had made their choices and she wasn't the only person that had paid the price for them.

Webber turned his hand over and gripped her fingers with his own. How had that child, so scared and lonely, become the woman before him with her compassion and ready forgiveness? "Thank you," he told her in a choked voice. His brown eyes were wet but no tears fell from them. "Thank you, Meredith Sloan." He drew in a breath and shoved himself to his feet. "Now I have to go give a speech." He had to get away from the couple before he gave into the urgings of his heart. The ones that told him to gather Meredith in his arms and promise to keep her safe forever. That was Mark's job now and it had never been his, even when it had been offered before. Some days he mourned his choices more than others.

Mark grinned suddenly, wanting to lighten the somber mood that had fallen over them. "Have fun with that. I am so glad I didn't win the Chief race. I hate speeches." He helped Meredith to her feet.

Webber shook his head with a smile, his heart lighter. Meredith Sloan's heart and soul were in very good hands now. "And that would be another reason you didn't get it," he told the younger man and waved them from his office. Mark would protect her and tease her and treasure her better than any other man could. "Oh! Meredith," he called out as a thought struck him. The couple was just passing the threshold but paused at his call. She turned around and tilted her head at him questioningly. "O'Malley didn't get into Mercy West. He's here again. And he's yours." Yes, he'd maneuvered that but he didn't feel the least bit guilty. The others wouldn't be able to chivvy O'Malley along with the gentleness and firmness that Meredith would.

Meredith nodded not showing any surprise at all. "Good. Mercy West is crap anyway." Callie had said that she thought George had failed the test and Meredith had known that if he did actually fail he'd be hers. The others would torment him endlessly. Well, Cris and Alex would anyway. Izzie would just…coddle him.

Webber and Mark both laughed at her assessment of the other hospital.

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"It's deliberate," Meredith said in a half-awed, half-horrified tone five minutes later and leaned into Mark's side. Her head shook almost of its own accord. She truly couldn't believe this complete non-reaction. "It has to be. There is no way they're that oblivious." They were supposed to be some of the most observant (and gossipy) people in the world and yet…no one seemed to have heard or cared.

Alex, standing beside her on the catwalk overlooking the lobby, snickered, tossed an arm over her shoulders, shoving Mark back a step in a joking manner and put his cheek on the top of her head. "I think they are," he disagreed with her easily and rubbed his cheek in her hair to mess it up a little. "Either that or…they really don't care." He grinned down at the floor below them. He was kind of glad that no one had noticed yet. Mark and Meredith would appreciate the breathing room they had now when everyone did eventually find out and start bombarding them with questions and opinions.

"We're going to go with the obliviousness," Mark put in and shoved Alex away from his wife. The two men shared a look that spoke of comradery and mocking. Meredith sighed at them both and moved over to shelter against Cristina's side. Alex just shook his head and put his hands against the railing his shoulder brushing Cris's. "Cuz if it's deliberate then they're trying to drive Angel nuts and that would just piss me off and if they don't care then that would really piss me off." He pulled Meredith around and put his arm over her shoulders again.

"They're stupid," Cristina piped up from between Mark and Alex. They're antics amused her but her heart still felt heavy and sad. She pushed the pain aside again and frowned down at the stupid people below them. "Seriously. They're all stupid. We've been in the hospital for nearly half an hour and none of them have even glanced our way." She couldn't believe this situation either. Had Seattle Grace completely forgotten about them and their drama over the past two weeks? How was that even possible?

"You fools got five minutes until you're supposed to be meeting with your new interns," a strident female voice informed them. "Why are we congregating up here?" She smirked to herself. She just loved making her kids jump the way they did.

Mark, Meredith, Alex and Cristina all whirled around to face the short woman in almost exactly the way she'd imagined they would. "Dr. Bailey," Mark smiled, his best innocent smile if she wasn't mistaken. The man was almost too good looking, not that something like that had ever affected her. "Good morning. You're looking well."

Bailey scowled at him. He was charming but she was immune to it. "Don't try that charm on me," she told him evenly. "Why are you even here? It's not even five o'clock and you haven't got anything scheduled until nine." She waved off anything he was going to say and stared hard at her three former interns. "Your chief resident is waiting on you three," she informed them. The confusion in their eyes made her instantly feel better. At least these three were as stunned as she had been. "Callie O'Malley was chosen for chief resident." She ignored the shock on their faces and held out a hand imperiously to Grey. "Lemme see it and then get to work." Meredith grinned happily and held out her left hand. Bailey whistled under her breath. It was a perfect fit for the girl. And it wasn't flashy. Sloan certainly knew his Angel. "Careful you don't blind anyone with that bling, Grey." She said anyway. "And I want pictures of the wedding, understand?" A part of her wished she could have been there but from what she heard she was staring at the entire wedding party and guests. A private wedding suited Meredith Grey, she decided and she hadn't felt insulted in the first place. Pictures of it would soothe any regrets she might have had about missing something so important.

"Of course," Meredith nodded. "Webber's an idiot," she claimed in staunch support of the doctor before her. "Don't get me wrong. I like Callie. She's just…not going to be very good at being chief resident." She wasn't sure how to say it without sounding like an idiot. But it didn't really matter how she said it, she knew Bailey would understand the feelings behind the awkward words.

Bailey speared her with a hard look, as much as she appreciated the words and the feelings behind them she couldn't let any of them disrespect the position that should have been hers. "No matter anyone's personal feelings she is chief resident and you will do your best for her or I'll know the reason why." She turned to the other two former interns and pierced them with the same look. "And that goes for the two of you as well. Understand?"

"Yes ma'am," they both nodded with alacrity. She loved the affect she had on these children. It made her feel much better about losing out on chief resident. At least these three still feared and respected her.

"Good," she nodded back, pleased with their easy acceptance. "Get to work then," she ordered them.

They scrambled away as though she'd threatened them. "That's why you're the Nazi, Bailey." The deep voice had her turning back to the remaining doctor on the catwalk. "They're still scared of you," Mark laughed and shook his head as he watched the three race away to do as she'd ordered them.

Bailey snorted at him in amusement. "And don't you forget it. Go do your job, Sloan," she shooed him off too and grinned behind his back as he scurried away as quickly as her former suck-ups had. Seemed not only the interns feared and respected her. But then she knew that particular doctor had been programmed to respect her before he'd ever arrived. She was sure that Meredith had indoctrinated him from across the country. "It's good to be the Nazi," she murmured to herself and then turned away from the catwalk to start a new day of work and a new year of interns. With any luck these ones wouldn't be nearly as troublesome.