A/N: So this is my first fic.. I've always wanted to post, but I never really got around to writing. I own nothing, and reviews would be lovely :)

"They'll never last."

Mark softly whispered into Meredith's ear with one of his infamous smirks plastered on his face. Yeah, there was a patient directly in front of them, but it wasn't as though the two of them were doing anything inappropriate.

She shrugged and felt as her lips formed into an almost visible smile in one corner. Derek and Rose. DeRose? Rosek? Whatever she thought of, no 'nickname' even compared to MerDer. They were simply meant to be. Not just because their names fit, either.

The more Meredith thought about her friendship with Mark though, the more she started to wonder when and how the two of them became such good friends. Buddy-buddy. It was weird, almost. Mark seemed to keep a close eye on her, almost as a protective older brother, yet he still had his moments where he couldn't help himself but hit on her. He was Mark. The manwhore, after all. But he changed for Mere. Not for her exactly, but around her. She had that affect on him, and he had no idea why.

"I'm over it. Ov-er it."

Meredith mouthed back to Mark as he made his way out of the patient's room. After she explained to the patient, Whitney Sherman, the surgery in more detail, she gave a warm smile and headed out of the room as Mark had done so moments before.

It was a slow day in Seattle Grace that afternoon and Derek was nowhere in sight. Well she saw him once, but from a distance. They had a moment though, when their eyes just happened to meet. She honestly hated the fact that she had difficulties with moving on, but how could she simply move on? Maybe it was denial, but when it got to a certain point, she thought she had found the man that she was going to spend the rest of her life with. There was no way she could erase that, even with therapy. Therapy, issues. It's crap.

Letting out a barely audible sigh, she slipped her patient's chart into the appropriate slot and turned on her heel to head toward the cafeteria. She was in definite need of caffeine, a cup of coffee specifically, even if it was the weird-tasting hospital 'blend'.

Maybe she was lost in her thoughts, but Meredith hadn't noticed that Mark met up with her and easily matched her strides. She glanced up at him as she kept her walking pace and quirked a brow a little.

"Mark. Hi."

"Grey," He responded nonchalantly.

They continued on walking, silently for a few moments. It wasn't one of those awkward silences, it was one that showed they were comfortable in each other's presence without having to fill in the silence with conversation. Besides, neither of them were fans of conversations that were dull and forced.

"You aren't thinking about Derek and that chick, are you?"

"No?"

"Good," Mark stated.

"It's weird, but it doesn't bother me as much as it used to."

Actually, the weird thing was Mark seeming to really care, and Meredith talking about.. well, things. Openly.

"I should be on your mind, not him," Mark responded with a wink, not exactly kidding, as he playfully nudged Mere.

Meredith giggled softly and rolled her eyes. "Oh you are, all the time,"

"Don't be thinkin' dirty thoughts about me, Dr. Grey."

"But it's so difficult, Dr. Sloan..."

And with that said, the two of them couldn't help but laugh a bit. As they did, they rounded the corner into the cafeteria to find Derek sitting alone at one of the tables. What a coincidence, definitely.