Title: The Rules of Attraction

Author: greyeyedgirl

Disclaimer: This fanfiction is in no way affiliated with Grey's Anatomy.

Summary: Burke and Cristina have been dating for a year, and Burke's starting to want something more.

Author's note: This chapter is kind of like a prologue, and if you can get through it, I promise the rest of the story will be better :D

Edit: I have edited this story, including this chapter, to make it not vomit-worthy. Please reread and review.. Thanks! ;)

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"Hey, sunshine." Joe's voice called out to Cristina as she sat down at the bar next to Meredith.

"Hey," she said lowly, nodding to them.

"You look tired," Meredith said, looking amused and slightly tipsy.

"I just worked a 32-hour shift after getting 3 hours of sleep in the third floor on-call room. Right before that I'd had a 14-hour shift. I had a guy with a tumor, then a bowel obstruction, and then had to scrub in with McDreamy for a kid with TN. All with Bailey riding me."

Meredith laughed. "Sounds great."

Cristina smiled. "It was." She looked at her watch and grimaced. "Do rounds really start in 6 hours?"

Meredith laughed again. "Yep."

Cristina sighed. "I should go home. Burke thinks I've been working too much. He's taking me out to dinner tomorrow night. Tonight. Whatever." She exhaled. "We're going out this weekend, too. Burke's developed a serious love of gourmet."

Meredith made a face. "Is that really something new?"

Cristina shook her head. "No. But he keeps wanting to do things with me." She changed the subject. "What are you doing here, anyway? McDreamy's off call, I got off the same time as him, right after the lobotomy."

Meredith shrugged. "I should probably go too, then. He'll be heading to my house."

They both stood up, handing Joe some cash for their drinks as he picked up Meredith's shot glass. Cristina looked at her skeptically. "Mer, you want a ride?"

Meredith wavered. "Yeah, mabbe," she slurred. Cristina led her out to her car, watching Meredith fumble with the seat belt. She dropped Meredith off at her house on 613 Harper Lane, watching Meredith's face light up at the sight of Dr. Shepherd's car. She drove home, yawning as she turned off the ignition and stepped out of her car.

She stumbled to the elevator in her apartment building, unlocking the door to her apartment. She yawned again as she took off her jacket and headed to her bedroom, kicking off her shoes as she went.

She laid down in bed still in her clothes, careful not to stir the sleeping figure of Burke curled up on the bed. She tapped him with her arm accidentally though, and he turned, looking at her groggily. She saw his eyes travel to the clock, but was grateful when he didn't say anything.

"I had a little girl that needed surgery, what was I supposed to do?" She whispered, not letting on that the little girl had been in her teens and the surgery would have been okay happening a few hours later. Better to make him feel guilty for making her feel guilty.

He smiled, laughing almost as if he could hear her thoughts. He yawned as he muttered a response, rolling towards her slightly to kiss her forehead. "G'night," he murmured. She smiled even in her exhausted state. "Mmhmm. Good night." She settled in under his arm and was instantly asleep.

The alarm went off four hours later, and she instinctively reached her arm out to knock it cruelly off its stand. She sat up in bed, blinking wearily. Burke rolled over. "Mmm," he said, wrapping his arm around her again. "G'morning."

She sent him a quick smile, climbing out of bed and stripping her shirt off. "I have to take a shower. How about you make breakfast while I do that, and then we can eat together."

Burke sat up, smiling a genuine smile. "That sounds fine." "Kay," she responded, heading into the bathroom as she picked up her hairbrush from the nightstand. She showered quickly, before slipping into fresh clothes and heading into the kitchen. There wasn't any point drying her hair, she could hear the rain pouring outside. Besides, she didn't have time.

"Date night," Burke said, putting a pancake on her plate as she sat down. She nodded. "I made the reservation for 7:30, you get off at six, right?"

"Yeah," she said, yawning. She nibbled at her pancake, pouring the cup of coffee Burke had made her into a travel mug. He watched her, looking disappointed and slightly frustrated, and said, "I thought we were going to eat together."

"We are eating together."

"You're leaving."

"No I'm not. I'm pouring coffee to go. I'm drinking the orange juice right now." Burke was still watching her. "I'm tired, okay?" Her voice came out crankier than she'd meant it to. "Burke, I'm sorry. I really am just tired." Her voice was softer. Burke looked relaxed for a moment, but then he sent her another look. "Preston," she said resignedly, remembering the conversation that they'd had the week before. He smiled at her.

"So where are we going tonight?"

"The French restaurant we went to a few months ago. You remember?"

Cristina nodded, trying to check her watch without him seeing. "And this weekend we're going to that restaurant you like that's by the coast. It's your favorite, right?"

Cristina felt herself perk up. "Right," she said. Burke smiled at her.

Cristina glanced at her watch. "Seriously, though, it's getting late. I have to go. If I'm late for rounds-"

Burke nodded, looking resigned. "Fine. But do you want to drive in together?"

Cristina glanced at him. "Uh...sure."

He smiled. "Good."

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Cristina tugged on the dress as she stood in the locker room, feeling the uncomfortably tight fabric stretch across her skin. "Mer, do I look like a whore?"

Meredith glanced up from where she'd been taking her shoes off and laughed. "No."

Cristina pouted into the mirror. "Liar."

Izzie and George came through the door, Izzie pulling her hair loose from its ponytail.

She caught sight of Cristina and whistled. "Knockout."

Cristina sent her a Look. "I hate dresses."

Izzie smiled at her. "George, tell Cristina she looks great."

"Uh, Cristina, you look great."

Cristina glared at him. "Oh, very convincing." She bent down to fix the strap on her heel. At that moment Alex sauntered into the room and laughed. "That's hot, Yang."

Cristina turned from her spot bent over and sent him a look of death. "I could do hot in my sleep."

"Cristina has another date," Meredith explained. Izzie smiled. "Burke's a lucky guy," she teased. Cristina was silent as she stood up and grabbed her purse and keys from her locker. She shook her keys at them good-bye as she walked out the door.

Burke stood outside the hospital, waiting patiently donned in a dark suit and tie. He smiled when she walked out the door. "You look beautiful," he said, leaning forward to kiss her. "Thank you," she said as they broke apart. He led her to his car, opening the door for her as she got in. "Thank you," she repeated.

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Yuck, Cristina thought to herself as she pushed around the food on her plate with her fork. Burke was watching her.

"Are you all right? I thought you liked this restaurant."

"I do. I'm sorry. I think I caught a virus, I'm a little tired."

Burke looked genuinely concerned. "Do you want to go home?"

She really did, but she knew he'd been looking forward to this date for awhile. She had too, to be honest. "No," she smiled.

He looked pleased. "If you're sure..."

"I am." She attempted to take a bite of her filet mignun. "Did you have a good day?"

"Uh huh. My patient was in post-op when I left, but he was doing well." Cristina smiled.

"That's good."

"Is the little girl recovering well?"

"Yep. She was a neuro-patient."

Burke nodded. "I was just wondering..."

Cristina glanced up at him. "What?"

Burke smiled uncomfortably. "Well, my mother usually flies up for a few days to visit me this time of year. Do you want to meet her?"

Cristina stared. "You want me to meet your mother?"

Burke nodded, studying her face.

Cristina shrugged. "Uh, yeah. Okay. Sure." She forced a smile.

Burke smiled. "Good. She's coming in a few weeks. She usually stays at that hotel on Giston Lane."

Cristina nodded. "I think I'm done." She said, setting her fork down.

Burke inspected her plate, where most of the food laid untouched. "Are you all right? Are you nervous about meeting my mom? You've talked to her on the phone, you shouldn't be..."

"It's not that. I'm just not all that hungry." She looked at him apologetically. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay. We can go."

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Cristina was quiet on the drive home, and Burke watched her out of the corner of his eye, concerned. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Mmhmm."

"Do you want something? A glass of water? We can stop somewhere and get you something."

"I think maybe I'm just tired."

"Okay." Burke parked the car and led her to the apartment, gripping her hand firmly. She smiled up at him, leaning in to kiss him as they laid down on the bed. "Cris, are you gonna sleep in that?"

Cristina glanced down at the expensive red dress she was wearing. "Mmm."

Preston sighed and opened the bottom drawer of her dresser, pulling out a pair of PJs.

"Come on," he said softly, unzipping the back of her dress and putting her into her pajamas. She yawned. "I'm fine, Burke," she mumbled. He pushed the hair off her sweaty forehead, frowning at its warmth. "Shhh. Lay down," he instructed.

He curled up next to her, putting his arm lightly around her. "Good night…"

"Mmmhmmm."

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The apartment was silent as Burke slipped in the next night. "Cristina?"

He walked into their bedroom to find her knocked out on the bed. "Hey," he said, stirring her. "I stopped by the pharmacy. Do you want to try some medicine? I got stuff for your fever and your stomachache."

Cristina nodded, sitting up. "I scrubbed in on a liver transplant today." She sounded proud. He nodded. She yawned. "I think I'm hungry." Burke lit up. "Do you want me to make you something?"

"Maybe soup or something?"

"Kay." He leaned forward and pecked her forehead. "Feel better," he said quietly, pushing her hair out of her face and behind her ear.

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"Are you sure you want to go?" Burke looked at Cristina, concerned. "If you don't feel well-"

"I want to go. And I promise I won't ruin it like I did our last date." She turned around so

Burke could zip up the back of her stringy white gown.

He kissed her neck. "You did not ruin out last date." He fingered the small box in his pocket.

"Of course I did."

"You didn't."

"I did."

"Cristina!" Burke laughed, turning her around. His breath caught in his throat. "You look beautiful."

"Thanks." She smiled.

"If you start to feel sick, just say-"

"I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow. We'll see what's up then, okay?"

"I'm going with you."

"Burke, you don't have to-"

"I want to." He kissed her softly on the forehead, and she smiled at him. "Ready?"

"Ready."

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Burke sat nervously at the table, watching Cristina pick at her food. She glanced up.

"You okay?"

Burke smiled. "Yes." Cristina went back to her food.

"Cristina-" She glanced up at him again. He tried to smile.

"You know I love you, right?"

She swallowed the bit of food she'd been chewing. "Um. Yeah. Uh huh."

He was studying her. "Um..." She took the fork out of her mouth.

"I love you too, Burke." Him looking at her like that was making her nervous.

He took a deep breath, deciding to take another shot. "Cristina, people say they love each other, and they mean it, but with us, it's...different. Bigger, maybe."

She stared at him, one eyebrow crinkling up. "Uh huh."

"I think you're…I mean, I…" His voice trailed off nervously.

"You're amazing. I mean…ever since I first met, I knew you were…I mean, I think you are very…" Burke looked pained.

"Um...thank you. I think you're pretty good, too."

"Cristina, I was wondering. I mean, I wanted to ask you. If-"

"You're asking me...?" She sounded genuinely confused.

"I love you. Will you-" He stood up and went around the table. He bent down, pulling out

the box he'd purchased a couple weeks before and snapping it open. "Cristina, will you marry me?"

Cristina stared down at him. A billion thoughts raced through her mind, but none of them would slow down long enough for her to think them.

"Yes."

He leapt up, taking her into an embrace, grinning as he slipped the ring over her finger.

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a/n: I knooooooooooow it's fluffy. That last part. It was kind of gag worthy. Seriously. I know, I'm sorry. I couldn't get it right. Okay? Okay. Fine. Whatever. :P Just leave a review, I hope you like the changes I made…I think it makes it better, I really do. ;)