"Do you think Derek will kill us?" Bella asked Mark as she sat on her bed. Mark was shirtless. Bella bit her lip. "You need to stop looking so good."
Mark shrugged. "I don't think he'll kill you. More me," he said as he took a bite of the pizza.
The door opened and Grace walked in. "Hey. Are you okay with Derek moving in? I know he's your brother. And you've lived with him before. But now you're having a lot of sex with Sloan."
Bella grinned. "I'll be fine. He's big brother. And we're telling him tonight. About us being engaged. I personally think he's going to kill us. Mark thinks he's only going to kill him," she said.
Grace rolled her eyes. She smiled. "He won't kill you. I think he'll give Mark the protective brother speech," she told her.
"True."
Bella smiled. Mark looked to her and kissed her lips. "I should go. I pay for the hotel and I'm not even there half the time," he said as he stood from the bed and got changed.
Bella stood from the bed. She wrapped her arms around Mark's neck. "I'll see you tomorrow," she said as she kissed his lips.
Grace grinned. Knowing she had never seen Bella looking so happy. She was happy for her. And she hoped Derek would be as supportive as Bella hoped.
****
Bella walked into her bedroom. She had just been having a gossip with Meredith and James. "Wow! Big brother."
Derek turned to his sister and smiled. "Oh, sorry," he said as he turned his back to her.
Bella rolled her eyes. She sat on the bed. "What are you doing here? This is my private space. Away from Izzie who pisses me off."
"It will be my new office when you're gone," Derek told her with a smile.
Bella blinked a couple of times. She nodded. "And where will I be going to?" She asked.
"Oh. I don't know. But will it be soon?"
Bella scoffed. "Well you're just rude. You need to remember I am your little sister. Who is your favourite," she said.
"Make it soon."
"Rude!"
****
"When were you planning on telling us we had to move out?" Alex asked Grace.
"Yes. When were you planning on telling them they had to move out?" Derek asked.
Grace looked confused. She saw the look on Bella's face. "Why do they have to move out?"
"Grace! Hey look, I made this. Especially for you," Izzie said as she all but shoved a cake in her face.
Bella rolled her eyes. "I'm Grace's best friend. I've been there since day one. And she loves me more than she does you. She knows it too. But just cause she gives you sex doesn't mean anything," she said.
Derek looked to them. "It's a zoo. A frat house. Alex and his parade of women-."
"His parade of skanks," Izzie said.
Bella rolled her eyes. "Isobel... you're just jealous. Alex actually has taste. And you're not that taste," she said as she turned to Grace. "Think of the tequila nights we've had when Derek was with his ex wife. Just think."
Grace smirked as she looked to her. "You're making a good point Isabella," she said. She turned to Derek. "I like my roommates. Especially Bella."
"I like them too. That was your life. This is our life. And I'm excited to build our lives together," Derek told her. He kissed her lips. "Come on. It will be great."
****
"Little sister."
Bella turned to see Derek. She raised her eyebrows. "For the foreseeable you have lost the right to little sister me. You're chucking me and everyone else out."
Derek sighed. "You can have the trailer..."
Bella blinked a couple of times. She shook her head. "You want me to live in your trailer... the trailer where you've had sex with my best friend. With Addison? No thanks. I'd rather not," she told him.
Derek smiled. He knew Bella was winding him up. But she was taking delight in it. Derek had seen a change in Bella and he didn't know what it was.
He knew she and Mark had been together for over a year now. And he knew that Mark had changed. But he didn't want them rushing into things.
****
Bella was standing by the nurses station. She looked up as Mark stood by her. "Hey."
"Oh. Hi. Did you know Derek wants me to move out? He said he's going to make my room into his study. What the hell is that all about?" Bella ranted.
Mark smirked. He was about to speak when Lexie walked over. "Dr Sloan. I'm... I'm working with Dr Shepherd today. On a pain patient. And I read this article while I was helping George study-."
"Pathetic," Mark said as he turned and went to walk off.
Bella grabbed his hand and pulled him back to Lexie. "Speak Lex," she said. She smiled. "I think it's cute how you're helping Georgie. Got a little crush?"
"No! But yes. I know it's pathetic. I did read this article. I have photographic memory. And the chief is on his new thing where he wants the interns to be heard, not just seen," Lexie rambled.
Bella raised her eyebrows. She smirked. "I'd use fewer words if I were you Lex. He seems confused," she said.
"I think he needs an ENT. And you're an ENT right?" Lexie asked, looking to the attending.
Bella smiled. "I'll see you later Lex. Mark, be nice. Okay?" She said as she kissed his lips and walked off.
****
Mark walked over to Derek. He smiled. "Dr Shepherd. A word?" He said.
"Excuse me one second."
Mark looked to Derek. "Can I run a quick test on your patient?" He said as he shared a glance with Lexie.
"He's in a lot of pain. I don't think he needs a tummy tuck Mark," Derek said.
Mark nodded. "That's funny. No, Dr Grey came to me with an interesting idea. And unlike you, I'm taking the chiefs new teaching protocol serious," he said.
Lexie smiled. Knowing she had a small crush on Mark. "I-I read something on the swelling of the brain. And compression of the ethmoid nerve. I think if you put a lift in his nose..."
"In his nose?" Cristina asked.
Mark nodded. "If Dr. Grey is right, the patient will tell. Mr. Patmore, I'm Dr. Sloan. Chief of plastic surgery and ENT. I would like to make a quick test if I may," he said.
Mr. Patmore sighed. He nodded. "I saw ENT 16, none could help me."
"Breathe normally. I'll get this from this angle. Tell me if you feel ... Pain or other ..."
"That's it! This is pain! That's what causes the pain! Oh, my God!"
Mark turned to Derek. "Anterior ethmoid neurovascular complex. A simple turbinectomy fix it. Unless you still want to take out his little brain," he said.
Derek turned to the youngest Grey sister. "Well done."
****
Grace looked up as Bella walked towards her. Her hair was slightly damp. She smiled. "I heard you got drowned. You okay?" She asked.
Bella nodded. "I'm fine. I got changed. I'm all good. I talked to Derek. He told me I could have the trailer. Like I'm going to want to live there when he's had your naked ass there. I could stay at the hotel with Mark," she said.
Grace shook her head. "You're not moving out. You're the one person I'm fighting for," she told her. She grinned. "Derek will just have to accept the fact that you'll be sharing my bed sometimes."
"Don't say it like that. Makes it sound like some weird crap," Bella said. She smiled. "I want to make it work. With Mark. But... don't take this the wrong way. I think Lexie has a thing for him. And I'm worried that he's going to stray."
Grace smiled. "I'll talk to her. Okay? I promise. Your renowned man whore won't go near little Grey. Okay?"
"Okay."
****
Bella walked over to Derek. She had decided with Mark that she was going to tell Derek about them being engaged. She smiled. "Hi."
"Hey."
Bella took a deep breath and smiled. "I have something to tell you," she said as she placed her hands in her lab coat.
Derek turned to her. He knew his sister. He smiled. "You're pregnant?"
Bella shook her head. "No! I'm not pregnant. Mark and I are careful. No. Erm... well. Mark proposed to me. And I said yes," she said.
Derek frowned. "He proposed?"
"Yeah. I'm happy Derek. I really am. And he's changed. We're happy. Please be okay with this," she said.
Derek sighed. He knew he wasn't expecting this. Especially when part of him still didn't trust Mark. "Bella..."
"I know. I know you think he's going to hurt me again. But he won't. This proves he's serious about me. And he loves me. I need my big brother. I want you to give me away. Dad is dead. And you're the only father figure I've got," Bella told him.
Derek knew that he didn't want to upset Bella. He nodded. "I'd be happy to. Just be careful," he said.
****
Bella was sitting on her bed. She knew Mark was on call. She missed him. Grace walked in and smiled. "I told Derek that no one is moving out. He's gonna have to deal with it," she said.
Bella sighed. "I told Derek that Mark and I are engaged. He doesn't seem too thrilled. But he agreed to walk me down the aisle. So I can't complain about that."
"Do you think he's against you and Mark being together?" Grace asked.
"I do. And it sucks. Mark makes me happy. He really does. And... I can't imagine not being with him. Which makes me sad. Because if it came down to it, I'd choose Mark over my brother. I just don't want that to happen."
Grace could see how conflicted and upset Bella was. Knowing how she just wanted her big brother to be happy for her. "It won't come to that. I promise."
"I hope not. As Derek is my brother. But Mark is the love of my life. And I don't want to be without him. But I don't want to be without my brother too," Bella told her.
****
Bella was pacing the hallway outside of Grace's bedroom. She knocked the door and drowned as Derek opened it.
He was standing there with a cushion covering him. "Oh crap!" Bella said as she turned away. "Where's Grace?"
"She's not here."
Bella nodded. She smiled. "So you're just in there by yourself?"
Derek rolled his eyes. "I'm not. I'm ... I'm waiting for her," he told her.
It was hard for him to be around Bella knowing how she was engaged to Mark. And part of him still didn't trust him to not hurt his little sister.
"Love the outfit."
"What do you want?"
Bella sighed and turned to him. "I need cash. I ordered a pizza. And Alex owes me 20 bucks, but he's not speaking to me because I saw him crying over his crazy girlfriend. And there was a minute a week ago that I actually thought he was gonna be a human being, and now he won't open the door," she said.
Derek sighed. He nodded. "Run into the bathroom. Just go. Go!" He said. "Karev. Give me a $20."
Alex came out the bedroom and gave him the money. He walked back into his room. Derek handed the money to Bella.
Bella smiled. "Thanks big brother. Wanna share some pizza?" She asked as she slipped the money into her pocket.
Derek said nothing as he shut the door. Bella frowned. But thought nothing of it. Knowing that things were hard.
****
Grace walked into the bedroom. She saw Derek there and smiled. "Oh? You're naked?" She asked.
Derek nodded. He smirked. "I'm waiting for you."
Grace grinned as she sat on the bed. She kissed him. "You keep a diary? How did I not know you keep a diary?" She said as she kicked off her shoes.
"No. I don't."
"Aw. Don't be shy. I think it's cute. Not many men keep a diary," Grace said as she smiled.
Derek sighed as he looked to her. "It's not mine," he told her.
Grace smiled. She wrapped her arms around his neck. "I won't read it. Whose is it?" She asked.
"Your mother's. It was in a big box full of old issues of "the new england journal of medicine," Derek told her.
"Did you read it?"
Derek shook his head. He sighed. "No. I brought it up here for you," he said. He saw the look on her face.
Grace frowned. "Why were you going through her things?" She asked.
"I was trying to find space for my clothes. Your closet is full."
Grace just nodded. She stood from the bed. "I have to, um, shower. I've been hauling Cristina's boxes. Mer asked me to help," she said as she walked off into the bathroom.
****
Bella and Mark were in the bath together. Bella smiled as she leant back into him. "I told Derek. I asked him to walk me down the aisle. He said he would be honoured. But I think you and him both need to have a talk about things," she said.
Mark nodded. He started rubbing her shoulder. "I think he's just worried I'm gonna hurt you. It's understandable. I have hurt you. More than anything. But I'm gonna do what I can to make it right," he told her.
Bella turned her head to him. "You already have. Whatever happens, I choose you. I will choose you always," she said.
"Baby."
"No. I love you. And I want to be with you. And when Derek made the worst decision of his life to stay with Addie when he was clearly in love with Grace, I stood by him. So if he can't support me with wanting to be with you, then I'll choose you," Bella told him.
Mark kissed her lips. It made him feel good that Bella felt that strongly about him that she would choose him over her own brother.
****
Derek met with Mark. He sighed. "You hurt my sister, I'll put you 6ft under. I can't fix her again if you break her."
"I'm not gonna. I love her."
Derek nodded and smiled. "Grace is mad with me. I found her mom's diary. I didn't read the diary. I just found it and put it on the table," he told him.
Mark shrugged. "I would've read it," he said as he took a sip of his coffee.
Derek nodded and sighed. "Every time I actually do something to move into the house, she freaks out."
Mark looked to him. "What are you gonna do with the trailer?" He asked. Knowing he wanted to find a place for him and Bella.
"No."
"Come on."
Derek shook his head. "Cause there's a very real possibility she kicks me out in a week. I'm not letting go of the trailer. I'm not letting go of it just for you to have sex with my sister there. Not happening," he said.
****
Bella was in the clinic with Cristina and Lexie. She was bored and tired. But she was happy to be given an easy day. Well, as easy as it got in the hospital.
Cristina however wasn't impressed. She wanted a proper surgery. Lexie walked over. "Erm Dr Yang. Mrs Borsokowski needs your loving attention," she said.
Bella smiled as Cristina walked over. She was reading the chart. "Redness, itching, inflammation... a rash. You're giving me a rash?"
She asked.
Lexie opened the curtain. The patient looked to Cristina. "No. She's the mean one. Can't I have the nice looking one over there?" She said.
****
Mark walked into the clinic. He winked to Bella and looked to Cristina. "Somebody paged me?" He asked.
Cristina nodded. "Oh, I have a patient with tenderness and erythema extending from her upper chest to her left arm. I'm thinking she needs irrigation and debridement," she told him.
The patient turned to look at Mark. "She said you may have to amputate my arm?" She asked.
Mark shook his head. He sighed. "No. That's a simple rash. It's not a flesh-eating bacteria. It's probably dermatitis," he said.
"No, no, no, but look how the skin is denuded. It could be surgical, right?" Cristina asked.
Mark shrugged. "It's possible... it's a rash. If it's dry, wet it. If it's wet, dry it. Go to derm, get a tube of cerave cream, and don't ever page me to hustle a surgery again," he said.
Bella walked over to him. "I did tell her it was probably nothing. But she never listens. Surgery hungry that one," she told him.
"Doll. I don't have time to be down here sorting rashes."
"I know. You have butts to lift," Bella joked as she kissed his cheek before walking off.
****
Mark and Derek were discussing a patient. Derek spoke. "So I'll make an incision ear to ear then peel down the face," he said.
Mark nodded. "And I'll crack open his forehead, pull the tumor right out."
"And we need to keep a close eye on the optic nerve. Somebody twitches, and this guy's blind."
Mark smirked as he looked to the computer. "Which one of your roommates will be assisting?" He asked.
"Karev."
"Oh, great."
Izzie came bursting into the room. "Dr. Shepherd, I want back on this case. This is my patient. Alex stole him from me. Remember when I was telling you that..."
Derek had enough. He sighed. "Dr. Stevens, let's be clear. In this hospital, I am not your roommate. I don't give a crap about your personal problems. I have a resident. I don't need another one," he said.
Alex walked in. He smiled. "Dr. Shepherd?"
"Yes?"
"Patient's in his room if you want to go over the procedure with him," Alex told him.
Derek nodded. "Great," he said as he turned and left.
"You son of a bitch," Izzie spat as she looked to Alex. She was pissed at how he was acting.
Alex shrugged. "Go cry to somebody who cares. This is my case."
"It isn't fair."
Mark shrugged. He smiled. "Surgery's like the wild west. You didn't get your claim in montana from the bank. You got it 'cause you put a fence around it and shot the ass off anyone who walked by. Karev's a cowboy. You're not," he said as he stood and walked off.
****
Bella and Grace were talking. Grace needed to rant. She took a handful of fries Bella had bought for them to share knowing they couldn't drink tequila. So they would do the next best thing and eat.
"So I came back from helping Mer with Cristina and moving in. Derek found one of my mom's diaries. And he's left it on the side. He's told me he hasn't read it. But I'm annoyed. And I don't think I should be," Grace said.
Bella smiled. "Do you think he did it on purpose?"
"I don't know. But I feel annoyed. He's trying to move in like I wanted. But I just keep pushing him away. I have commitment issues. I was in therapy for tequilas sake. Maybe I shouldn't have quit."
Bella shrugged. "Maybe you're worried. I know things haven't always been easy for you both. Him choosing Addie, losing a baby. Almost dying. You and Derek... you've been through too much to let something like this come between you," she told her.
"I just don't want all of this to have been for nothing. I mean, he was practically living with me anyway. But all his stuff there, it's just official. I want it to work. Don't get me wrong. But I have these doubts. Doubts I don't need or want," Grace said.
"You'll make it work. You're Grace Grey. You make everything work," Bella said as she hugged her.
"Thanks Bella. Don't think I can survive all of this without you."
****
Later on that evening, Bella was sitting in Joe's. George had finally passed his internship. But all Bella wanted was to be back with Mark.
Lexie walked over to her. "Hi."
"Hey Lex. Did you tell George how you feel?" Bella asked as she smiled.
Lexie shook her head. "No. I can't. He's got other friends."
"Find him. And tell him. You'll regret it if you don't," Bella told her as she downed her drink. "If you'll excuse me, I need to find my Mark."
****
Mark groaned as he woke up. Bella was climbing into bed. "Thought you were at Joe's?" He asked as he kissed her.
"I was. But I found myself wanting to be here with you. I don't need to be drinking. You're my everything," Bella said.
"I love you doll."
"Love you too."
****
Grace swore as Derek pulled out of her. He collapsed on the bed next to her. "You're amazing," he said as he took off the condom. He kissed her. "I can go back to the trailer."
Grace shook her head. She cuddled into him. "No I want you here. You can have my mom's study. Make it your own," she told him.
"You sure?"
"I'm sure. Derek, we've spent too much time going back and forth. I just want us to look forward. I want us to build a life together," Grace told him.
But she had no idea how she was soon going to be given some news that would send her whole world crashing down.