A/N: Hey guys just to clear something up, Addison is staying in Seattle Grace instead of leaving to California. I decided to expand more on her character and to have her and Derek's marriage last a little while longer. Enjoy!

Meredith woke up with a sigh and a dull pain in her ankle. She turned her head to the side and opened her eyes, expecting to see her alarm clock on her nightstand. Instead, she saw the walls of the hospital coated in a sheet of darkness. It must be night. She turned her head to the other side and her eyes fell on Mark Sloan who was snoring away while sitting on a chair beside her bed. He looked so peaceful while he slept. So innocent. Meredith was pulled out of her thoughts by the pain in her ankle. It seemed to hurt more the longer that she was awake. She hissed and tried to sit up straighter so that she could check it herself.

"Here, let me." Meredith almost jumped out of her skin at the sound of Mark's voice. She didn't realize he woke up. Mark moved and helped Meredith into a sitting position and added a heavier dosage on her IV. She should have received another dosage ten minutes ago but the nurse on-call must have been busy with other patients. Mark wrote down the dose in Meredith's chart and sat down beside her bed again. He grabbed her hand with one hand and the other was pushing her hair back. Meredith smiled at him and tried to keep her mind off of the pain.

"How are you feeling?" Mark asked. Meredith sighed and bit her lip.

"Well, I feel like someone smashed an axe into my ankle, which really hurts." She laughed at the end but it came out more pained than she meant it to sound. Mark stood up and carried Meredith so that he could place her on the right side of the bed.

"What are you doing?" She asked as he shifted her around.

"I'm going to lay with you until the pain goes away." Mark smiled his 'McSteamy' smile at her and kicked off his shoes before joining her on the small hospital bed. He placed one arm around her and the other he used to prop his head up and look at the gorgeous woman beside him.

"I can feel you staring." Meredith said as Mark continued to gaze at her.

"Sorry you're just incredibly beautiful." Meredith blushed and stayed quiet. Mark took this as his queue to close his eyes and rest. He fell asleep in a peaceful state and while he dreamed, Meredith recalled an event similar to this that took place around two years ago.

FLASHBACK

Meredith woke up in her hospital bed and looked around. She was all alone, finally. She loved her friends but they hung around her every second of the day and it was starting to annoy her. She could understand the pressure with the merger and all, but she wasn't as involved as they were. They all had to fight for surgeries but she couldn't even leave her hospital bed without a nurse helping her. She sighed and was just about to turn on the television when she heard footsteps nearing her room. She assumed it was Izzie so she pretended like she was sleeping while whoever it was entered the room. The door shut and the person laid down next to Meredith and held her hand. That's not Izzie's hand.

"Meri, it's me. You're probably knocked out from the drugs and everything but I just want you to know that I love you. You are one of a kind and if Addison wasn't here, we'd still be together. I know this isn't fair but I'll find a way to make it work. I promise." Derek kissed Meredith's hand, stood up, and walked out. Once she couldn't hear his footsteps walking down the hallway, she broke down and allowed herself to cry. Damn him and his stupid promises. She wouldn't lie and say it didn't hurt. Meredith felt as though her heart had been ripped out and torn to shreds. She loved Derek, she probably always would, but how could she betray Addison and destroy his marriage? She would just have to learn to stay away. That was the only practical solution.

The door opened again and Meredith tried her best to wipe her tears away quickly. She looked up and found Mark looking down at her. He gave her a solemn look and climbed into the bed with her. He knew the effects Derek had on women. Mark held her as she cried her heart out and showed her what it was to care for another person.

The next morning when Meredith woke up, she was faced with an empty bed and her and Mark never talked about that moment again. It was an unspoken understanding between the two of them. No matter how much Derek had hurt her, Mark would be there to lend a shoulder and pick up the pieces.

Meredith woke up and smiled as she looked over at Mark. He had stayed the entire night simply holding her. She turned so that her entire body was facing his. She couldn't describe what had possessed her to do it, but she decided to lean in and kiss him on the lips to wake him up. She leaned back and looked at him as his eyes opened.

"Morning McSteamy." He smiled and propped his head up.

"Morning McGorgeous." Meredith laughed and copied his action in propping his head up. They both leaned in and met in a kiss that left them both gasping for air. Mark pulled Meredith's body closer and placed his mouth on hers once again. He flipped them so that he was hovering over her as she laid flat on the bed. She placed her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss. They continued their hot make out session for a few minutes until Mark's pager went off. They both laughed as they pulled apart and Mark stood from the bed.

"Duty calls." He have her a quick peck on the lips before heading for the door. He stopped suddenly, turned back to her, and placed his mouth firmly on Meredith's to leave her with a kiss much more passion filled than the one before. When they pulled apart, Meredith's heart was racing and her face was flushed .

"That's a goodbye." Mark smirked and then left the room. Meredith touched her lips gently and smiled. No one had ever kissed her the way he did. Not even Derek. She looked up at the ceiling and fell back into her bed. She wasn't usually an optimist, but it was hard not to imagine a future with Mark. He was just so... different. He made her feel alive and protected and like she was the only woman in the world. She could only hope that she didn't screw up this relationship like she did her others. She didn't want to find out whether or not she could handle another heart break. She just wanted a forever. Is that so much to ask?

A/N: Hey guys I hope you enjoyed it! Please feel free to review this story and give me suggestions on what you want/think might happen next. I don't really have a set plan for where I want the story to go but I'm just taking it one step at a time. Have a nice morning/afternoon/night!