Disclaimer: No. Don't own anything. Just wish I did.

AN: First fanfic. Will most likely end up Mer/Mark. Enjoy!

Derek Shepherd. The love of her life. Or he was. Until lately.

He was offered Chief of Surgery six and a half months ago. He became Chief of Surgery six months ago. It was his dream job, who was Meredith to tell him no. Except she wanted to, all the time. She knew how demanding the job was. She saw how Richard was never able to go home to Adele. She wanted to tell him no. But she couldn't. She didn't have the right to.

At first it was fine. At first he tried to come home and be there for her. But then came the third month. And the fourth month. She saw him less and less as the days went by. She barely even saw him at work. He was always in his office, "too busy to talk," as he always told her. Then one day, he stopped coming home at night. He came after she went to bed to pick up a change of clothes and went right back to work. He was always working.

They had now been married for almost two years. She was surprised how fast that went by. Happiness, she figured. Because they were so happy and in love more than seven hundred thirty days flew by. But now, days and hours, and even minutes seemed to drag on. Right before he was offered Chief, Derek suggested they start trying for a baby. Meredith was onboard and even excited which shocked her completely. But that didn't last long because he stopped coming home enough for them to even have sex. She kind of wished that she was pregnant because at least she wouldn't be alone. There would be someone to occupy her time and distract her from all of the problems clouding her mind. Or would a baby just add to those problems? Probably she guessed. Maybe it was good she wasn't pregnant after all.

She knew it was his dream job. She knew that was why he came to Seattle in the first place. She guessed that was why he stopped trying with her. She couldn't blame him. Or at least she tried to. She tried to understand what he was doing and going through, except she was so damn lonely. Everyday, her loneliness and his actions slowly tore her apart inside. It pulled at her heart. She tried so hard not to be mad at him but it became increasingly difficult. She felt so guilty about how she felt but she couldn't help it. And with this loneliness and guilt, she found herself at the Emerald City Bar. At least Joe could keep her company.

And there at Joe's is where she began talking to Mark. All of her friends were oblivious. They thought everything was fine, and she didn't tell them otherwise. But Mark noticed. Mark noticed her increased visits to Joe's. He noticed the more tequila she drank. He knew something was up. He always did seem to understand her more than anyone else. He was her fellow dirty mistress after all.

She didn't try to tell Mark. She didn't want to tell him anything. But of course, he came up to her and asked if the seat next to hers was taken. And of course she said it wasn't. So he proceeded to sit next to her and offer to buy her a drink. And she wasn't about to turn down free tequila so of course she accepted that too. And with a little tequila she became tipsy and with a little more she became drunk and with being drunk came loose lips. And those loose lips spilled all the secrets about her failing marriage, the secrets she didn't want to reveal to anyone, especially not her husband's best friend. Or was it ex-best friend? She still wasn't completely sure.

She didn't end up taking him home that night, thank God. She could never forgive herself for cheating on Derek, even with the way he was treating her lately. She tried to stop talking to Mark after that first night, but that first night turned into a second and that turned into more and more. Mark understood her, he listened to her, and he made her feel important. He made her feel less lonely especially. They began to get to know each other and both enjoyed each other's company. They quickly became close friends, even best friends if she was being honest with herself. She could talk to him easily and could confide in him, while he could do the same with her. He hadn't tried to come onto her yet, for which she was grateful for. She really only needed a friend during this time and figured he needed the same.

It had been two months since that first night and they spent about equal amounts of time at each other's house. Derek had surprised Meredith with a ready to move in dream house as a wedding present so she had since moved out of her mother's house. Mark and Meredith had keys to both places so they openly barged in whenever they pleased. Today was a rare time where they both had the day off. They planned to go to lunch and then go back to Mark's house to lounge around and watch movies. Meredith decided to meet Mark at his apartment. She barged in and yelled, "Mark, I'm here!"

She heard water running and then heard Mark faintly reply, "I'm in the shower. Be out in five."

Meredith decided to head to the kitchen to raid his fridge while she waited. That's where she stood exactly five minutes later when she heard Mark clear his throat behind her. She turned around abruptly and smiled sheepishly at him. She couldn't help but notice how attractive he looked with his towel hanging low on his hips and traces of water droplets coming down on his chiseled chest and abs. As soon as those thoughts entered her mind she made them quickly disappear when realizing what exactly went through her mind.

Mark couldn't fight back a chuckle when she turned around. After seeing how she was looking at him he smirked and with a glint of amusement in his eyes, asked, "Like what you see?"

Meredith just scoffed and rolled her eyes at him. She asked back, "Are you going out like that?" with the same teasing tone.

He laughed heartily and turned back to his room to get dressed. He walked back out a few minutes later, dressed casually in jeans and a t-shirt. He found Meredith relaxing on the couch waiting for him, munching on a granola bar. He inwardly chuckled at her antics and asked her, "You ready to go?"

She replied with an enthusiastic, "Yup!" as he followed her out the door to start an amusing and entertaining day with his best friend.