Christmas In London, Part IX - December 27
By: Lori (SixteenOzs)

DISCLAIMER: "ER," the characters and situations depicted within are the property of Warner Bros. Television, Amblin Entertainment, Constant c Productions, NBC, etc. They are borrowed without permission, but without the intent of infringement. The story presented here is written solely for entertainment purposes, and the author is making no profit.

Please do not post or redistribute without the disclaimer above, or without the consent of the author.

Feedback is welcome. Please send all questions, comments or criticisms to SixteenOzs02@yahoo.com

SUMMARY: Follows Christmas In London, Part VIII.

RATING: PG-13

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: I would like to take this opportunity to thank Trigg for ALL of her help with information on London. I could NOT have done this without her. Thank you so much for putting up with my endless barrage of questions! I would also like to thank Jen for constantly giving me feedback on the scenes as I write them. THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH!

PART IX - Wednesday, December 27, 2000

Elizabeth turned over the next morning and looked at the clock on the bedside table. It was almost four-thirty. "We should soon get up," she commented.

"Do we have to?" Mark asked, kissing the back of her neck.

"Only if we want to be on that plane back to Chicago," she laughed.

"I guess that would be a good thing," he chuckled.

She turned to lay on her back and looked up at him. "Very," she agreed with a smile.

After a few moments, she sighed softly, prompting him to ask, "What are you thinking about?"

She smiled. "I was just thinking about how wonderful tonight was. It's been a long time since we've done this."

"What's that?" he questioned.

She gently caressed his cheek, "Since we've spent all night making love, exploring each other's bodies."

"Tonight WAS wonderful," he said quietly. "We'll have to make sure we don't wait so long next time."

"I like that idea," she whispered as she kissed him tenderly.

As the kiss ended, she rested her head on his shoulder and he ran his hand along the length of her arm.

"We really need to get up, huh?" he questioned.

"Yeah," she nodded, but didn't make any effort to move.

After a moment, he suggested, "We could always start with a shower."

She laughed. "You're full of good ideas this morning."

"So, you like?" he wondered.

"Yes, I do," she nodded, just before kissing him again.

He slipped out of bed and reached for her hand. Smiling, he said, "Come on, we've only got an hour and a half before we have to leave."

"Is that everything?" Mark wondered as he closed the suitcase that was lying on the bed.

"I think so," Elizabeth nodded, "just let me take one final look around."

After checking the bathroom, the closet and the bureau, she walked back to him and confirmed, "I couldn't find anything."

"Good," he nodded while pulling on his coat.

"Need any help with those?" she asked, gesturing to the two suitcases, as she put on her own coat.

"I've got it," he assured her. "If you could just get the carry-ons."

"No problem," she replied. Walking to the door, she turned back and gave the room one last look. As her gaze fell on the door to the balcony, she couldn't help but grin. "One thing is certain."

"What's that?" he questioned.

"I'll never look at that balcony quite the same way again," she said with a mischievous smile.

"That makes two of us," he chuckled as they walked into the hallway and started down the stairs.

Charles met them in the foyer.

"Daddy, I didn't know you were home," Elizabeth commented.

"I just got here," he admitted.

"You look tired," she said in a concerned tone.

"I'm fine," he said with a smile. "All I need is another cup of coffee."

"Why don't you just stay here and get some sleep? Mark and I will have Parker take us to the airport," Elizabeth suggested.

"Nonsense!" Charles replied. "I wasn't able to pick you up when you arrived, so I'm certainly going to see you off."

"But you didn't get any sleep last night," she tried to argue.

"Elizabeth," he said with an amused expression, "I'm a doctor. Do you know how many nights I've gone without sleep and been perfectly fine?"

"But..." she began, then trailed off.

"But what?" Charles questioned. "But I'm getting old? Darling, I think you know better than to say that."

Elizabeth smiled sheepishly. "If you're sure you want to come. If you want to stay here and get some sleep, I will completely understand."

"I am sure," Charles assured his daughter. "Now, I'm going to the kitchen for that cup of coffee. Would either of you like anything?"

"I'm fine," Elizabeth replied.

"No, thanks," Mark said, shaking his head.

"Shall I meet you at the car?" Charles wondered. "I left it out front."

"Sure," Elizabeth nodded. "We'll go out and load everything."

As they started down the sidewalk towards the car, Elizabeth muttered, "He can be so bloody stubborn at times!"

Mark stared at her a moment, then chuckled. "So that's where you get it from," he concluded.

She looked up at him and grinned. "You'd better watch it," she warned. "There's still quite a bit of snow around here, and I'm sure you wouldn't want to spend the entire flight back to Chicago in snow-soaked clothes."

"Very funny," he said sarcastically as he began loading the suitcases into the car's trunk. With a grin, he added, "But I did have a question for you."

"What's that?" she asked skeptically while sitting the carry-ons next to the other luggage

"You said your father should stay here and get some rest, since he didn't any last night. I don't seem to recall you getting any sleep last night either," he teased.

Her face flushed to a bright red. "There are some things that my father does not need to know. That is most certainly one of them."

He just laughed as he closed the trunk.

Slipping her arms around his waist, she pulled him closer. "You just love the fact that you have this effect on me, don't you?"

"And what effect would that be?" he grinned.

"The fact that you can make me blush faster than practically anyone else I know," she grinned back.

"You want me to stop?" he asked, his breath brushing across her cheek.

"Never," she whispered, smiling softly.

Rebecca Avery made her way effortlessly through the aisles of the Boeing 747 as it cruised over the Atlantic Ocean. Normally, she was one of two attendants assigned to the first-class cabin on flights between Heathrow and O'Hare. However, on the current flight, there were only four passengers in first-class, so she volunteered to assist in the economy cabin.

She walked through the first-class cabin, and stopped at the businessman in the back row, who was hovered over his laptop. "Sir, is there anything I can get for you?"

"No, that's fine," he muttered, without even looking up from the computer's display.

Moving up one row, she stopped at a woman wearing a tailored cranberry-colored suit with a silk blouse, who appeared to be looking through various manuscripts. From Rebecca's eight years of experience with the airline, her best guess was that she was an editor for one publishing company or another. "Is there anything I can get for you, ma'am?" she inquired.

"A cappuccino, please?" the woman requested as she looked up and removed her glasses.

"Certainly," Rebecca nodded.

"With a touch of cinnamon," the woman added.

"Yes, ma'am," Rebecca replied. She continued through the cabin and stopped as she reached the couple in the second row. She had to smile. They were both asleep, her head resting on his shoulder, his arm wrapped protectively around her.

Walking into the gallery, Rebecca said hello to Helen Thayer. The two had flown numerous flights together over the past three years and quickly became good friends. "How's everything going?"

"Pretty good," Helen replied. "I can handle only having four passengers in a flight."

Rebecca chuckled as she walked to the cappuccino machine. "Did you see the couple in the second row?"

"The bald guy and the redhead?" Helen wondered.

"Yeah," Rebecca nodded. "They look so sweet together, asleep in each others arms."

"Aww, Bec, you're not going soft on me, are you?" Helen teased.

"You know we're both hopeless romantics," Rebecca countered.

"I was talking to her earlier," Helen commented.

"Really?" Rebecca questioned. "What happened?"

"It turns out they just got engaged yesterday," Helen explained with a smile. "They were in London visiting her parents for Christmas. He took her to the Eye and popped the question."

"That is so romantic," Rebecca sighed. "But that still leaves one question."

"What's that?" Helen asked curiously.

"Did she get the last one, or is there still hope for the rest of us?" Rebecca asked with a chuckle.

Helen smiled. "At the moment, I'm willing to say there's still hope. But I'll warn you, that's subject to change in a few months, if I'm spending another Valentine's Day alone."

Rebecca grinned mischievously. "You could always spend it with Ben and Jerry."

"Very funny," Helen said sarcastically. "Now, don't you need to get someone her cappuccino?"

Elizabeth woke up slowly, but smiled as she recognized the familiar warmth to her right. Opening her eyes, she looked up. "Hi," she said softly.

"Hi," Mark replied, gently brushing her hair back from her face. "Did you have a nice nap?"

"Yeah," she nodded. "Where are we?"

"A few minutes ago, the pilot came on and said we were about an hour outside of Chicago," he explained.

"Did you get any sleep?" she wondered.

"Some," he shrugged. "I guess I really just want to get home, and sleep in our own bed."

"I know what you mean," she smiled.

"Do you want to go straight home from the airport, or swing by the hospital first?" he asked.

She thought for a moment. "I don't know. I don't want to go back to the hospital until I absolutely have to, but I don't want to walk in Friday and be overwhelmed by the mountain of paperwork on my desk."

"We could stop by, for a few minutes, today," he suggested. "Just to see what's been going on while we were gone, so we've got some idea of what we're in for on Friday."

"Yeah," she agreed, "that's probably the best idea."

"Do you want to tell anyone?" he questioned with a smile.

"Yeah," she nodded, smiling broadly. "I want everyone to know how happy I am right now, how happy you've made me."

"I love you," he whispered.

"I love you, too," she replied softly as she rested her head back on his shoulder.

They stayed like that, in a comfortable silence, until the pilot announced they were beginning their descent into Chicago.

"Ugh," Elizabeth lamented, "I just had an awful thought."

"What's that?" he wondered.

"Telling Romano about our engagement," she said with a heavy sigh. "He's going to make both of our lives miserable."

He gently caressed her cheek. "There's only so much he can do. Yes, we'll have to put up with the smart-ass comments and rude remarks, and I know most of that will be directed at you, but it's not like he can fire us because we're getting married. Besides, he'll eventually get over it."

"I know," she nodded. "And I also know that it will all be worth it. It would just be really nice if I didn't have to put up with him."

"You know you love the challenge," he commented with a grin.

She laughed and shook her head. "You're crazy, but I do love you."

He watched her for a moment, then softly said, "I love the way you laugh." Smiling, he added, "I still remember the way your laugh seemed to fill that ballroom after we missed that conference."

"You're doing it again," she chuckled.

He looked confused. "What?"

"Making me blush," she grinned. "But you did give me a great idea."

"What?" he questioned.

"What would you say to having the wedding reception at that hotel?"

He just smiled. "Perfect."

"Should we divide and conquer, or would you rather stick together?" Mark asked as they walked through the hospital's parking garage towards the elevator.

Elizabeth chuckled. "How about divide and conquer? I'll stop off at surgery, see how bad my office looks, then meet you in the ER. Sound okay?"

"Sounds fine," he nodded. "You sure you don't want me to there in case you run into Romano?"

She sighed. "I was afraid this would happen."

"What?" he questioned suspiciously.

"My father rubbed off on you," she grinned.

"Okay," he laughed. "I guess that means you can handle it on your own."

"I think so," she nodded with a smile. As the elevator stopped on the surgical floor, she kissed him gently and said, "I'll see you downstairs in a few minutes."

"Bye," he said softly as she stepped out into the hall.

Elizabeth walked up to the nurses' station. "Hi, Shirley. I see you all were able to survive without me for a week."

Shirley looked up and smiled, "Dr. Corday, it's great to have you back. How was your trip?"

"It was wonderful," Elizabeth said with a huge smile.

"Really?" Shirley questioned suspiciously. "Is there anything I should know about?"

"Well, let's see," Elizabeth grinned. "We went shopping, did a bit of sightseeing, attended a party for my father's practice, spent Christmas Eve with my mother, Christmas Day with my father, and then, yesterday, Mark proposed."

"He WHAT?" Shirley asked with wide eyes. "What did you say?"

"I said, 'yes.'"

"Congratulations!" Shirley said as she stepped out from behind the desk and hugged the doctor. "So, let's see the ring."

Elizabeth held out her left hand.

"Did he pick this out? He's got excellent taste," Shirley remarked admirably.

"Of course he's got excellent taste," Elizabeth commented with a laugh. "He asked ME to marry him."

"Marrying a divorcee, Lizzie? That can't be a good move. There must have been a reason the first wife got rid of him," Romano said smugly as he made his presence known from behind her.

"Actually, Jennifer was having an affair with someone else," Elizabeth explained as she turned around to face him.

"Hmm," he shrugged, "guess she wasn't getting what she wanted between the sheets at home and had to go looking elsewhere."

Elizabeth smiled triumphantly as she remembered the night before. "Well, I can personally verify that isn't the true, at least not as far as Mark and I are concerned. I'm having the best sex of my life."

Romano stared at her in shock for a moment. "Well, while some of us have been off gallivanting half-way across the globe, the rest of us still have work to do," he finally said in a huff as he stormed off.

Turning to Shirley, Elizabeth laughed. "Gee, was it something I said?"

"Dr. Corday, I can't believe you said that to him!" Shirley said, trying to control her laughter.

"Why?" Elizabeth questioned. "It's the truth. Besides, I just spent the last week with Mark and my father, neither of whom like the fact that I have to work with him."

"Somehow, I get the feeling he'd not going to let go of this news too easily," Shirley warned gently.

"I know," Elizabeth nodded, "but I'm happy and I'm not going to let him stand in the way of that."

"Good for you," Shirley smiled.

Elizabeth sighed softly. "So, do I want to know how bad my desk looks?"

"It's not too bad," Shirley assured her, "you should be able to dig out from all of it in a day or so."

"Thanks," Elizabeth chuckled as she started towards her office.

"You told him WHAT?" Mark asked later that afternoon as they entered their apartment.

"I told him I was having the best sex of my life," Elizabeth repeated with a grin as she hung her coat by the door.

He sat the bags on the floor, then took off his coat. Turning to her, he slipped his arms around her waist. "I can't believe you actually said that," he laughed.

"Why not?" she questioned. "It's the truth."

"Well, yes," he agreed. Chuckling softly, he added, "And just so you know, the feeling's mutual."

"I know," she nodded with a smile. Grinning, she teased, "It's actually your fault I told Romano."

"I wasn't even there, so I can't wait to hear how you figure this one," he laughed.

"It's your fault that I can't stop thinking about last night," she said seductively.

He chuckled, "After seeing the effect last night has had on you, we definitely shouldn't wait so long to do that again."

"I love the way I feel right now," she admitted softly. "I never want this feeling to end."

"As long as I have anything to say about it, it never will," he promised.

"Thank you," she whispered.

He stifled a yawn.

"Jet lag catching up with you again?" she asked with a laugh.

"I think so," he admitted. "How about you?"

"A little," she agreed. "Why don't we go to bed, get up later tonight, unpack and order Chinese?"

"That sounds great," he agreed as he took her hand and they walked into the bedroom.

"Remember last night, when I said I didn't want to come back?" she questioned as she pulled her sweater over her head and let it fall to the floor.

"Yeah," he nodded as he started to unbutton his shirt. "Why?"

"The truth is, as much as I enjoyed being in London again, I'm really glad to be home," she smiled.

"Even if that means we'll be ringing in the New Year at the hospital?" he questioned as he took off the shirt and pulled his tee shirt over his head.

She laughed while walking over to the closet, then stepped out of her shoes and took off the rest of her clothes. "Maybe we can sneak up to the roof around Midnight," she suggested.

"That sounds very nice," he smiled as he stripped down to his boxers.

Crossing the room to the dresser, she began rummaging through the drawers, she wondered, "Have you seen my Cubs sweatshirt? The one I got when we went to the game this summer."

He thought for a moment. "I think I saw it in the suitcase this morning. Didn't you take it with us?"

"That's right," she sighed. "I wanted to sleep in that, but I don't feel like searching for it."

"Why don't you just get one of my shirts?" he suggested as he reached around her and retrieved a clean tee shirt from the dresser.

"That'll work," she said, walking back to the closet and taking one of his flannel shirts from the hanger.

After pulling the tee shirt over his head, Mark turned back the comforter and climbed into bed.

Elizabeth removed the clip that held her hair loosely at the nape of her neck, then carefully ran her fingers through her thick red curls, letting them fall around her face. She sighed softly as she slipped into bed next to Mark.

"Tired?" he questioned while taking off his glasses and placing them on the nightstand by the bed.

"Yeah," she nodded as she shifted so that the back of her head rested against his chest.

A few moments later, he spoke. "I was thinking about something on the plane today."

"Really? What?" she wondered.

"How would you feel about buying a house?" he suggested.

She smiled. "I'd like that. I'd like that a lot."

"Rachel could have her own room, and if we have a child of her own…" he trailed off.

"We'd have room for a nursery," she finished for him.

"We could even use the money I got from the sale of my parent's place in San Diego," he offered.

"If you're sure that's what you want to do," she said cautiously.

"I am," he nodded firmly.

She reached across her body for his hand and laced her fingers with his. "Think we can manage house-hunting and planning a wedding at the same time?"

"Of course," he grinned confidently. "There's nothing we can't handle together."

"I know," she said softly. "When should we have the wedding?"

"I don't know," he shrugged, "maybe late spring, early summer?"

"May or June?" she questioned. Laughing softly, she said, "Yeah, I think we can pull this off in five or six months. I'll probably ask Carol to be my maid of honor."

"That'd be great," he smiled. "I was planning on asking Doug to be my best man."

"I was thinking Rachel might like to be a bridesmaid. She's a bit too old to be a flower girl," she commented.

"Yeah, she'd love that," Mark replied, trying to stifle a yawn.

"So, then you'd need another groomsman, to even things out. Maybe Carter?" she suggested. "I don't think we really need a large wedding party, since I don't think it'll be a huge wedding. Just our family, friends, coworkers. And since we both work at the hospital, that should cut down on the number of coworkers we need to invite, right?" she asked with a chuckle.

She waited a moment, but he didn't reply. She lifted her head slightly and turned to look at him. He'd fallen asleep. Smiling, she softly said, "I guess we'll just have to save this for later."

With her free hand, she pulled the comforter closer around her shoulders and sighed softly as she closed her eyes. "I love you," she whispered just before sleep took over.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed it! Please let me know what you think: SixteenOzs02@yahoo.com LLP

September 19, 2000

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