"I don't want to go to the hospital." Mark pouted. "We have this big comfy bed right here. Why are we going to the hospital instead of utilizing it?"
"Because we agreed to meet Alex, Izz, Christina, and George for lunch." She replied with a smile as she locked her fingers behind his neck. "Then, we can utilize the bed."
A smirk spread across his lips as he bowed his head to meet her lips. He pulled back and sighed. "Let's get this over with."
"So impatient, Sloan." She giggled as she grabbed her bag. He grabbed her hand and allowed her to lead him into the hall of the hotel. They got into the cab that was waiting for them. The ride there was quiet as they both thought about Seattle Grace and their past there. When it pulled up in front of the hospital, he got out and helped her out. Giving him a smile and a peck on the cheek, she intertwined her fingers and looked around.
The hospital was almost exactly as it was when they left beyond the few landscape changes around the path to the entrance. Taking a deep breath, he gave her a light tug indicating they start making their way to the entrance. He didn't know what lay ahead of him. But even though it sounded cheesy, with her by his side, nothing could stop them.
"I love you, Babe." He kissed her temple and walked beside her towards the door.
"I love you too."
When they walked into the waiting room of the hospital, sick people were bustling around. Nurses and doctors were walking with charts in her hands. Meredith noticed Olivia before Mark since she had worked with the gossipy nurse longer than Mark had. She stopped what she was doing to gawk at the couple. Meredith rolled her eyes and glanced at Mark. His eyes were cautiously moving the length of the room. She gave his hand the best reassuring squeeze she could muster up. But to be completely honest, her stomach was doing tumbles. They waited at for the elevator.
"God so many memories." He mumbled.
"They suck." She sighed.
He chuckled pulling her closer. "Yeah they do." They stepped on. Mark leaned against the back wall, and she leaned back into his chest. His arms wrapped around her waist as he planted a kissed on her shoulder. She couldn't stop a smile from appearing on her lips. They hardly pulled apart when the elevator stopped on the second floor. It wasn't until they realize her auburn hair and shocked gazed did they straighten their posture. Meredith could feel him stiffen and his muscles tense at the same time she did. Addison Forbes Montgomery stared back at them shocked at the sight before her. Her ex-lover and ex-husband's ex-lover stood (getting pretty cozy, might she add) before her. It had been three years after since she laid eyes on Meredith Grey and Mark Sloan. She was still pretty awestruck when the elevator dinged indicating that it would be clothes. She stuck her arm out causing the buzzer to ring. The doors opened the rest of the way again, and slowly she stepped on. Mark stepped further into the opposite corner pulling Meredith along with him.
"Wow." Addison sighed trying to keep up the same composed demeanor she always tried to uphold. "It's a surprise to see you two here." Her eyes lingered over them for a few seconds before hitting the sixth floor. Neither said anything, but Meredith quickly dodged her gaze as she always used to. Mark tightened his grip but his face didn't relax or change. "So… you're back for Dr. Yang's and Dr. Lewis's wedding?"
Meredith gave a small, mute nod as she moved her eyes from the floor to the screen displaying the numbers of the floors as they passed. Finally, the doors dinged on the forth floor. As soon as the door opened enough for them to get through, they were gone.
--
They were quiet. Unusually so. Mark's eyes were trained on the clock over Izzie's shoulder on the wall, and Meredith's gaze was straight down on her salad that she picked through but hardly at. After ten minutes of sitting there watching Izzie, Alex, and George give each other uncertain and worried looks, Christina decided it was time to ask the unavoidable question.
"What happened?" She asked uncrossing her legs and sitting forward to listen to their story. Mark hardly acknowledged the question, and Meredith gave them a halfhearted glance and weak sigh before returning her eyes to her salad. "What happened?" She asked a little louder. This time Meredith sat up gave Mark a sideways glance. He hardly seemed to be aware to where they were or what was going on. She rubbed his arm tenderly for a second and turned her gaze back to her friends.
"We saw Satan."
"How'd that go?" Christina asked almost sarcastically.
"Didn't go so great." She mumbled. Her eyes once again returned to Mark. "Babe?" He didn't move. "Mark?" No response. She squeezed his hand causing him to look over. "Babe, you okay?"
He gave her a weak smile and unconvincing nod. Her worried gaze hung on him for a second after his eyes returned to the clock. But reluctantly, she sighed and looked back at her friends with a quickly fleeting smile. "The fitting is today?"
"Yeah, Izzie and I can come pick you up at the hotel."
She gave them a short nod but found her eyes wondering back to Mark. "When?"
"Four." Christina answered.
"We better go." She sighed and stood. "I'll see you at four." Izzie and Christina nodded. "Mark, are you, ah, ready to go?" He glanced at her and gave her a stiff nod. "See you guys later." They all said their goodbye as the couple got up and walked away.
--
Sorry it's been so long since I've updated. I've been so busy.