Looking at you side ways

74

They were all sitting around the table laughing and having a great time. Mark and Derek had moved the dining room table to the living room so that it was in front of the fire place. They had polished off appetizers, salad, steaks, baked potatoes and bread. There were numerous empty wine bottles littering the table. Meredith stood up and said, "I'm going to make coffee and get the dessert."

Derek started to stand up to help Meredith clear the dishes, but Cristina stood up and said, "Don't worry Shepherd. You did most of the cooking. The least we can do is clean up."

Derek sat back down and said surprised, "Thanks Yang."

Izzie stood up too and said, "I'll help you Meredith."

The three girls cleared the table and went into the kitchen.

Izzie said, "Oh Meredith. This is a great kitchen. Look how big it is!"

Meredith laughed and started the coffee. "Yeah. It is big. I don't actually cook though."

Izzie asked enthusiastically, "Oh do you want lessons? I could teach you."

Cristina grimaced as she loaded the dishwasher.[i] She didn't mind sharing Mer with Shepherd. A girl has to get some sex. But this bubble head? How was it possible that someone could be so bubbly for so long and smile that much? She seriously had too many teeth![/i]

Meredith caught Cristina's look and winked at her.[i] Izzie was overly bright and shiny, but Meredith needed some of that to rub off on her. Derek had called from the bakery and had asked her opinion of inviting Izzie over for dinner. Maybe she and Mark would hit it off. Meredith had thought it was a good idea. It had been a fun mix at dinner.[/i]

"Um...No. I don't think so. I am actually swamped at work and have no free time. Derek actually does almost all of the cooking."

Izzie said, "Really? He's quite the catch isn't he?"

Cristina said sharply, "Hands off Barbie. Shepherd only has eyes for Meredith."

Meredith got the cheesecake out and frowned at Cristina.

Izzie laughed and said, "Um...yeah I can see that. And she only has eyes for him. I accepted that a while ago."

Meredith poured the coffee into the cups and looked quizzically at Cristina who shrugged her shoulders.

Izzie cut the cheesecake and laughed, "You don't know?"

Meredith asked, "Know what?"

"I'm gay Meredith. I thought you guys knew that."

Meredith said, "Crap!"

Cristina said, "Fuck. Here I was worried my new boyfriend would fall all over you and I should be worried that you are going after my person!"

Meredith, Cristina and Izzie all laughed loudly.

In the living room Mark asked Derek, "What's up with Izzie? She's not responding to my charm."

Derek replied, "Maybe she's just not that into you."

Owen said, "Maybe she has a boy friend."

Mark scratched his beard. "I mean nothing? She's friendly enough but she is completely not getting my subtle sexual overtones if you know what I mean."

Derek said, "Subtle like a freight train."

Owen replied, "Maybe you should stop trying so hard."

Mark scowled and admitted, "I've never had to try this hard before."

The girls brought in the coffee and cheese cake and were still laughing.

Mark assumed they were discussing him and asked, "What's so funny?"

Meredith bit back a smirk and said innocently, "Nothing."

Cristina winked at Owen and silently mouthed[i] gay.[/i] Owen laughed heartily.

Mark and Derek looked confused as they had dessert and coffee.

Owen stood up and said, "I should get going. I have a very early shift tomorrow. I can't thank you enough for a most enjoyable evening."

Izzie stood up too and said, "Me too. I need to be baking in just a few hours."

They all got up to walk Owen and Izzie to the door. Meredith said to Owen, "Thanks for the flowers Owen. They are beautiful."

"You are welcome Meredith. Your home is beautiful. Derek. Great dinner. Thanks."

Owen turned to leave and Cristina said, "I'll walk you to your car. I'll be back in a second Mer to help clean up."

Izzie said, "Thanks for inviting me. I completely understand if you don't invite me again. But please come back to the bakery."

Meredith said, "Oh Izzie. We will see you again. Maybe not for the next five weeks, but later. After our big exam. And thanks for the chocolate cake. It won't last long believe me."

Mark said confused, "I'll walk you to your car Izzie." [i]He wanted one last shot.[/i]

As they walked out Meredith burst out laughing. Derek asked, "What's so funny?"

"She's gay Derek!"

"Who?"

"Izzie. Izzie is gay."

Derek laughed and said, "Oh shit! Well, that's okay. She's nice and we can all be friends anyway."

"Yeah we can, but we set Mark up with a lesbian!"

"Oh fuck! He is going to kill us!"

"Let's hide Derek. Let's just go up to our room and lock the door and hide."

Derek laughed and asked, "What about Yang?"

Meredith said, "She'll figure it out. Come on!"

Just then the door opened and Cristina was laughing hysterically and Mark stood there with his hands on his hips glaring at them.

Mark pointed at Derek and Meredith and asked loudly, "You two set me up with a lesbian?"

Derek and Meredith burst out laughing again.

Derek said, "Man. I had no idea. We just thought you two would hit it off. I just found out!"

Mark asked incredulously, "I made a fool of myself all night hitting on her and she's a lesbian?"

Cristina scooted around Mark and said, "Serves you right! You manwhore. And Shepherd. I don't know why you're laughing. If I hadn't been in the kitchen, Izzie might have put a lip lock on Mer!"

Derek frowned and said, "She wouldn't."

Meredith said, "No. She wouldn't have. Cris is just joking."

Mark said, "Well this explains everything! No woman can resist me."

Cristina walked towards the kitchen and said, "Yeah. That explains the horror on her face when you tried to kiss her."

Mark scowled at her when Derek and Meredith broke up laughing again.

Meredith tried to contain her laugher and said, "Seriously Mark. I had no idea until she said something when I went to make the coffee."

Mark headed towards the kitchen and grumbled, "I am eating that chocolate cake she brought. I need some more dessert."

Derek gave Meredith a quick kiss as they headed for the kitchen. "I think our first dinner party went well considering."

Meredith giggled and said, "Yeah. It did. This fun evening is going to have to last us for awhile." They walked into the kitchen and Cristina was unloading the dishwasher.

Mark took out a large knife and started cutting Izzie's cake while he muttered to himself. He wasn't paying attention and the sharp knife slipped and cut his wrist badly.

The knife clanked to the floor with a loud thud and bounced a little and Mark said, "Fuck!"

He shook his wrist and blood poured out onto the floor. Derek said, "I'll get the first aid kit." He ran to the laundry room. Cristina searched frantically for a clean dish towel to apply pressure. Meredith slid down the wall and hugged herself and rocked slowly. She cried softy, "No...no....no....no."