If Im Not In Love

54

A guys night out at the bar had been one of the furthest thing from Derek's mind since the beginning of Meredith's pregnancy. He had wanted to spend every moment with her, knowing what she was feeling and that she was okay. But when Mark called that night, Meredith had insisted that she was fine and that he go out and have a good time with his friend.

It had been a long time since he had been to Joe's with Mark. Most of the most recent nights he could remember had been spent talking about Meredith and Bradley and it felt good to go and not be preoccupied.

"So...did you and Lexie ever get that dog you were talking about?" Derek asked, taking a sip of his beer before putting it back on the bar.

"No." Mark groaned, scratching at the hair on his chin. "I put my foot down at a small dog she could slide in a purse."

"And you wanted a big guard dog?" Derek chuckled.

"I want a man's dog."

"You could just do the baby thing."

"I...." Mark coughed as beer spewed from his mouth. "No...No. You and Meredith can do the baby thing but not Lexie. Not us right now."

"I knew that would get you." Derek laughed, patting his friend on the back. "Relax."

"I'm always relaxed."

"I thought you were going to have a stroke."

"I just believe in taking things one step at a time, okay?" Mark pointed, spinning his beer around in front of him.

"Okay." Derek laughed, shaking his head before taking another drink from his beer.

"Is Lexie a platinum or white gold kind of girl? Or what about just gold?" Mark asked.

"Is her birthday coming up? Meredith hasn't mentioned anything."

"No...not her birthday."

"Then...Oh!"

"There is nothing to oh about."

"You're going to propose!"

"Could keep your damn voice down?" Mark looked around the crowded bar.

"Sorry..." Derek chuckled. "It's just...I don't talk to you for awhile and you turn around and decide to get married?"

"Well you've been caught up with Big Grey and your baby."

"You should see her...you wouldn't...well you would recognize her but she looks different."

"Dude her boobs are gigantic."

"So you're proposing..." He rolled his eyes, changing the subject.

"Yes."

"How are you going to do it?"

"I'm just going to ask her. I don't need a special way do I?"

"You don't need one..."

"But you think I should?"

"It's supposed to be romantic...like...a grand gesture."

"Ah shit."

"Just get some flowers and candles...make her dinner." Derek suggested.

"I have to make her dinner?"

"Or buy it...just get a bunch of stuff that she likes."

"Stuff she likes..." Mark whispered.