Chapter 26

Three days later, the Stevens-Sloan family, Meredith, Derek and Chris returned to Seattle. Until they could finish the new house on Derek's land, Meredith and Derek settled Chris into Izzie's old room in Meredith's childhood home. He was still very sad and confused by his parents' deaths, but he lit up whenever he walked into the daycare at the hospital to find Katie there. They had talked about putting him in pre-school, but decided to give him a little time to settle in before they left him somewhere that wasn't easily accessible to someone from their mixed family.

One night, about a month since their return from New York, Meredith and Derek were cuddled up on the couch with Chris, listening to him practice reading a book. Meredith had zoned out, lulled by the sweet drone of Chris's little voice. The rumble of Derek's voice interrupted her musings.

"Great job, buddy," Derek encouraged his nephew. "You're going to be an expert in no time."

"I like reading, Uncle Der," Chris replied. "I get to go on all sorts of adventures. Have you ever been on adventures, Uncle Derek?"

"Sure I have," Derek replied.

"What was the best one?" Chris asked eagerly.

"Hmm," Derek pretended to think about it for a minute. "Well, I'd have to say it would be the night I met a beautiful woman and fell in love with her. We had some bad things happen that kept us apart for a while, but in the end we ended up together. But the adventure didn't end there."

"Is the beautiful woman, Aunt Meri? What's next on the adventure?"

"Well, somehow we ended up with this wonderful little boy to love," Derek replied. "But what comes next is the best part." Shifting Meredith off his chest into a sitting position, Derek got down on one knee in front of her. Giggling, Chris did the same thing. Then, Derek pulled out a pale blue box and held it open, displaying a simple, classic Tiffany's engagement ring.

"Meredith Grey, will you continue on this adventure and marry us?" Derek asked.

"Yeah, Aunt Meri, will you marry us," Chris echoed, giving her a charming smile identical to Derek's. "Pretty please with sugar on top?"

Meredith waited for the terrified feelings to come, but they didn't. She looked into the matching blue eyes and felt nothing but peace. So, she nodded. "Yes, I will marry you."

Grinning madly, Derek swept her and Chris into a hug and twirled them around the living room.

MIMIMI

Later that same night, after the twins were sound asleep in their nursery, Mark and Izzie lay curled up together in their bed together, skin to skin, enjoying the silence.

"Hey, Iz?" Mark whispered.

"Mm?" Izzie was too content to muster up more of a reply.

"My birthday's coming up soon, and I've figured out what I want," Mark said softly.

"What?"

"For you to marry me," Mark whispered against her ear.

"What?" Izzie exclaimed, sitting up and swiveling to face him.

"We're already living together and have a family together, so I know it's really just a formality," Mark said. "But, going back home, remember how happy Derek's parents were, how happy Amy and Craig were, made me want to share everything in my life with you, including my name. You are my world, Izzie, and I adore you and our kids. I want the world to know that. So, will you, Dr. Isobel Stevens, marry me, Mark Sloan, flawed, stubborn human being that I am?"

Izzie couldn't help tearing up. "What took you so long?" she murmured, giving him a watery kiss.

"Hey, I never claimed to be the fastest learner, but I do catch on quick," Mark protested. "I don't plan on ever letting you go."

"I don't plan on letting you go, either," Izzie pointed out. "When do you want to do it?"

"On my birthday?" Mark asked. "If that's ok with you. I know it's only 2 weeks away, but I don't want all the pomp and circumstance. I just want you."

"I think since we put the cart way before the horse, two weeks is plenty of time," Izzie agreed. "I don't want to make a huge fuss. I just want our friends and the kids and any of our family that can make it."

"I knew there was a reason I love you," Mark murmured, smiling wolfishly as he pulled Izzie into a passionate kiss.

MIMIMI

Meredith was working on charts in the residents' lounge when Izzie came breezing in, glowing, the next day. Meredith glanced up at her, trying to be her normal suspicious self, but failing miserably. She joined her friend in the land of the glow.

"Mer, I have something-" Izzie started, but broke off when the light caught something shiny. "Meredith Grey, is that a ring on your finger?"

"Yes," Meredith muttered, suppressing a grin.

"A brand new, shiny, engagement ring?" Izzie persisted, bouncing onto the couch beside Meredith.

"Yes," Meredith confirmed, louder this time. "Derek and Chris proposed last night and I couldn't help but say yes."

Izzie squealed softly and threw her arms around Meredith. "Congratulations!"

"Thanks," Meredith said, returning Izzie's hug. "Now, what has you so glowy? You're not pregnant again, are you?"

"Not that I'm aware of," Izzie replied, smirking like the cat that ate the canary.

"Well, spit out before you explode," Meredith ordered. "Because I'm not cleaning up your bits and pieces if you do."

"Mark proposed last night!" Izzie exclaimed.

"Well, let me see it," Meredith demanded.

"See what?" Izzie's brow furrowed in confusion.

"The ring," Meredith said, rolling her eyes impatiently.

"I don't have one yet," Izzie admitted.

"Mark Sloan, ladies' man extraordinaire, proposed to you, after almost two years of being together and he didn't have a ring?"

Izzie looked slightly deflated. "No." Her eyes growing stormy, she flounced out of the room.

MIMIMI

Mark had just finished scrubbing out of a 3 hour surgery when Izzie found him. He didn't pause to gauge her mood, he just drew her into a deep kiss. Only she didn't return it for very long. Instead, she pulled back and glared at him.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Why does Meredith 'terrified-of-commitment' Grey get a ring and I don't?" Izzie demanded. Mark winced.

"I was hoping you wouldn't notice," Mark explained. "I'm supposed to pick it up this afternoon."

"So, you have at least bought one?" Izzie clarified.

"Yes. Katie, Riley, and I picked it out. It just needed to be resized," Mark replied.

"You took our one-year olds to a jewelry store?" Izzie asked.

"I took our angelic one-year olds to Tiffany's, along with Derek and Chris," Mark corrected. He searched her face with a persuasive smile.

"So, am I forgiven?"

Izzie pretended to mull it over for a few moments. "I suppose."

"To make it up to you," Mark replied. "I will take care of all the wedding arrangements, except for your dress, if you want. I will give you a fairy tale wedding with the minimum amount of fuss."

"You will?" Izzie said, perking up at the sound of that idea. "All I would have to do would be to pick out my dress?"

"That would be it," Mark promised. "And show up, of course."

"Dr. Sloan, you've got yourself a deal."

A/N: So, to make up for a month w/o updates, here's another one. The story is moving a little faster than I would like, but I want to finish it and still give you all the happy ending you deserve. Please review and let me know if it's going too fast or if you like it.