(Shattered...) Dreams Fulfilled

In like a lion...

In like a lion out like a lamb, usually applied to the month of March, but this year in Seattle it could easily apply to October and November, and more than one comparison could be made in that regard.

"I can't recall ever getting snow in October," Amy Lynn said, "I hope it's not going to get any worse and ruin Lisette's baby shower this afternoon. Wimp drivers can't handle snow flurries and end up in the ER."

"Amy Lynn," Tracy laughed, "I think this is worse than snow flurries, there's still a build up of ice around the building."

"Let's just hope it doesn't last long," Stephanie said.

"Good morning," Mark drawled as he walked up to the counter and handed Tracy a cup of coffee. "Do you all need any help for tonight?"

"I think we have it all covered," Tracy told him. "You're going to drop by?"

"Wouldn't miss it," he smirked. "I told her she was pregnant before..."

The phones began to ring, and the rest of Mark's comment was interrupted.

"Mer," Derek asked a bit concerned over how quiet she'd been on the ride to work, and now as they got out of the elevator, he saw her become a bit tense as they approached the nurse's station, "are you ok?"

"Yes," she smiled at him, one that did not reach her eyes.

"Meredith..."

"I'm ok," she told him. "Just tired, it was a very long day yesterday."

"Good morning Dr. Shepherd, Dr. Grey," Tracy said. "You should know, even though it's been over a week, the buzz is still about your romantic overture in the OR," she smiled, "no pun intended...overture you know...since you had music, never mind, I've been around Mark too long."

"You've never minded," Mark pouted, "until that fat, short ...balding..."

"Short...fat," Amy Lynn choked on her coffee, "are we talking about...the same man...her hunk?"

"Be that way," Mark's little boy pout was more pronounced, "slay all my self esteem...calling him a hunk..."

"Wait," Derek said, "you're old college boyfriend is short...balding..."

"He is not," Lisette said as she walked to the counter.

Meredith's gaze immediately focused on the way Lisette gently rubbed her very pregnant belly, and Derek noticed and put his arm around her and to his relief, Meredith relaxed against him and reached for his hand squeezing it gently.

"You've met him Lisette?" Meredith asked.

"We all have, even Dr. Sloan," Lisette joked, "he's just in denial...but the man is beautiful..."

"Beautiful???" Mark and Derek said simultaneously.

"Real men aren't beautiful," Derek said.

"This one is," Amy Lynn laughed. "Dr. Shepherd...he's ...one could say Mcgorgeous."

"Something's got to be wrong with him," Mark mumbled under his breath.

"Mark," Tracy said, "you know you like him, you already told him."

"I know," he said, "but...still...he's everywhere...and he hasn't even moved here yet."

"He knows we're having dinner tonight," Tracy told him. "He knows we're friends."

"Yeah, he says that now...but later...we were friends Tracy, he's not going to..."

"He knows we're friends," Tracy told him. "Nothing will change that."