The rest of Izzie's pregnancy went by peacefully. She had loved the house that Mark and Addison had recommended and the pair was now living together, having settled in comfortably. She had insisted upon doing things jointly, but the fact existed that Mark made more than she did. In any case, he was happy to spoil her.
In some ways, the pregnancy had been harder for him than it had for her. She had spent most of her time in bed, which didn't cease in driving her crazy, while he had juggled work, moving, and caring for her. But, the wait was going to end soon. Very soon.
He sat in a chair in the waiting room, his head in his hands. A more nerve-wracking time was unimaginable. He wished he could do something for her, to make all of the fear and nervousness she was experiencing simply vanish away. But he couldn't… he couldn't even be near her at this momentous time.
He saw a presence move by him to take the adjacent chair and soon felt a comforting hand upon his arm. He raised his head to meet Derek's weary eyes. The other man smiled kindly at him.
"Today's the big day, huh?
Sloan let out a long sigh as he sat back in his chair. "Yeah. With Izzie's condition, she needs a C-section and Addison decided that it should be today."
"She'll be fine," Derek said reassuringly. "They both will."
Mark nodded in response. "I know that. I really believe it. I just…"
He trailed off with a groan and Shepherd looked over at him curiously. "What?"
"What if I can't do it, Derek? What if I'm a horrible parent? It's all I've ever known. What if it turns out I can't love them the way I should? That it's impossible for me to be that guy?"
"Woah," Derek said with a chuckle. "Where is all of this coming from?"
Mark glanced over at his amused friend, irritated. "From the fact that my girlfriend, for lack of a better word, is having my baby!" He dragged a hand down his face distraughtly. "Oh God, Derek, I have a kid."
This only entertained Shepherd more, but he suppressed his humor on his friend's behalf. "Yeah, you do. It's a little late for worries, though."
"Doesn't mean I can't be apprehensive. I have a right, you know," he told the other man with a pointed glare.
Derek's expression turned serious. "You don't have any reason to worry, Mark."
Sloan looked over at him, his surprise evident. "You don't think so?"
Shepherd shook his head confidently. "No. At any other time in your life, I would have wondered the same things you've just mentioned. But now? You haven't given yourself any reason to worry. You've changed and it's obvious by the fact that you have worries. I know that the last thing you want to do is to fail Izzie or the baby, but… you can't let yourself think that way. Don't think in terms of failure. Just focus on how much you want to succeed. Do it for them, Mark. Be that guy. Do it for yourself.
Mark sat silently in his chair, digesting his friend's words. When he looked up, his eyes were wet with moisture.
"I want to be that guy. I come home and there's the same woman in my bed every night who has been there every night for months now. And instead of pushing her away like I would do to any other woman… all I want to do is keep her there forever."
Shepherd gave him a warm smile. "You are that guy already. Now just keep it up. It's work, but it's worth it."
Mark nodded in acceptance. Hours passed as the two sat side by side in silence.
Izzie awoke to the sound of a baby's lusty cry.
She opened her eyes to one of the most beautiful sights she'd ever see. Mark Sloan held a tiny baby in his arms, a gentle giant she loved dearly embracing the smallest gift she'd ever been granted.
Upon noticing her awaken, he grinned down at her tenderly. "Hey, Mom. We did good."
She felt tears instantly build in her eyes. Beckoning for the infant with opened arms, she sobbed quietly as he lowered their child down onto her. She cuddled the child close as Mark took the seat next to her bed.
Watching her stare down at their baby with such adoring eyes, he felt his heart pound heavily against his chest. Feigning lightheartedness to mask how truly touched and in awe he was, he grinned mischievously. "This one's going to be a real looker."
Izzie laughed softly. "He's already good with the ladies like his daddy."
Mark winked at her. "And loud like his mom."
She scoffed gently, obviously unruffled by his remark. "What should we name him?"
Mark considered this for a while before commenting, "About that…I have an idea."
Hours later, the new family was sitting in Izzie's hospital room surrounded by their closest friends. Although it had been hard for her to let go, Izzie allowed each of them the opportunity to hold the baby; she was unable to deny anyone such immense pleasure. Derek, Addison, Meredith, and Preston had all done so willingly, while Christina had politely declined, already worried that Burke might be getting ideas. Even Callie had stopped by to give her best wishes to the pair and to see the newborn.
Mark sat upright against the bed, while Izzie rested against him, holding the baby. They whispered back and forth quietly before Mark cleared his throat, interrupting the muted conversations in the room. "We've decided what to call this handsome fellow."
He paused, drawing everyone's attention. Izzie smiled broadly as he spoke. "Connor Derek Sloan."
A murmur echoed through the room, though no one was more surprised than Derek himself. "Really?"
Mark nodded, looking at his friend candidly. "You've always been there for me, Derek. Even when you shouldn't have been. I only hope I can be as good a friend to you."
Meredith snuck her arms around Derek and squeezed gently as he whispered his thanks. "You are."
Izzie looked between the men proudly, but something else caught her eye. Standing outside of the room looking in was George. She tilted her head, motioning in, but he shook his head and smile kindly. She returned the soft smile and he walked on.
Mark nudged her, causing her to turn her attention back to him. He looked down at her affectionately and tightened the arm around her shoulders. "You know, Izzie, there's one part of our deal we haven't accomplished yet."
She raised an eyebrow curiously. "What are you talking about? Didn't I give you what you want?"
He let out a frown. "Well, kind of. But… not everything."
Her expression turn miserable, her distress obvious. She was happy. Why wasn't he? "What's wrong?"
He kissed the top of her head and used a finger to turn her face his direction. "I don't want to be a bachelor forever. Marry me."
Her eyes brightened in realization and she freed one of her hands to hit his chest. "You're mean."
He caught her hand in his and raised it to his grinning lips. "That's a yes, right? I mean… we had a deal."
It's a fact that our lives never turn out the way we expect, but that doesn't mean our wishes can't be granted or our prayers answered. They key is to realize when our lives are about to change and to accept the transformations head on. We never know who it will be that will change us… who will turn out to be our downfalls -- and our saviors. However, the only thing stopping us, holding us back from completion, is our fear to open our minds -- and open our hearts.
I want to thank every person who has read this story... and especially those who have reviewed. (An extra shout out to Team McStizzie!) Your support is a true inspiration and a much needed boost! THANK YOU! See you at my next fic, I hope! -- Amanda