chapter sixty

here's to future days.season five, episodes twenty one,twenty two, and twenty three.

. "What happened?" she questioned urgently, only to freeze in her steps at the sight of George, Meredith, Alex, Cristina, and Bailey standing calmly around Izzie's bedside.

"You're here!" Izzie smiled, holding out a fork with a piece of chicken on the end. "Come on, I need help choosing the main course for Meredith and Derek's wedding."

Cassie took a deep breath, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Izzie, you paged me 911."

Bailey turned to Izzie accusingly, her hands on her hips. "Isobel Stevens, you paged her 911 for ?"

Izzie shrugged innocently. "She wouldn't have come otherwise. Besides, you can't yell at me. I have cancer." Everyone in the room rolled their eyes as Izzie turned back to Cassie. "Seriously, just try it."

"I'm a vegetarian," Cassie deadpanned.

"But I have cancer."

"That sucks, I'm a vegetarian."

Izzie sighed in defeat, turning her gaze back to Alex expectantly, who spoke through a large mouthful of food. "Chicken," he nodded. "Good chicken."

"Yeah, it's chicken," she scoffed. "I know it's chicken. I want to know what it like."

"Tastes like chicken."

Izzie gave him a look. "I'm having surgery today." Bailey raised a brow. "Maybe. If the mets have shrunk. I am having surgery today, and as such, I cannot taste the chicken for myself, so I really need you guys to tell me what it tastes like."

Cassie shook her head. "Not gonna happen."

"I to nail down this dinner, so I can announce it on Meredith and Derek's wedding website—"

Meredith made a face of disgust. "There's a website?"

"Can you all please be a little more articulate than just ?"

George took a bite of the meat, making a sound of approval. "Wow, can you plan my wedding?"

"Are you kidding?" Izzie scoffed, as if it were completely obvious. "Of course I'm planning your wedding. Cassie's your best man, I already have her tuxedo picked out. Small venue, probably at the church off of Chestnut street if they have openings. Black and purple theme, no fish because Lily's allergic. Have you set a date yet?"

"Not yet," he shook his head. "Lily wants to wait until after her intern year. Don't worry, we have a long time to plan."

Cassie raised a brow. "The end of her intern year? That's in like, two months, Georgie."

George's eyes widened in alarm. "Crap."

Cassie snorted, patting him sarcastically on the back. Her attention was stolen as the bathroom door opened, revealing Derek wearing a morning coat, looking vaguely like he just came out of a Jane Austen novel.

"Oh," Izzie gasped. "That's the one."

The residents laughed as Bailey looked him up and down. "Very dapper, Dr. Shepherd."

"You're serious about this?" Derek asked, fiddling with the gold cuff links on his sleeves. "It's not some cruel joke?"

Cassie couldn't help but crack a smile in his direction, withholding her laughter for the blonde's sake. "All you need now is a top hat, Mr. Darcy."

Derek playfully narrowed his eyes as Izzie pointed at Cassie, completely serious. "Oh, I should definitely get on that." She held up her phone, snapping multiple pictures of the outfit. "You look fantastic. He looks fantastic, right?"

"Yeah," Meredith lied.

"Uh, whatever," Cristina shrugged.

George leaned in to whisper into Cassie's ear. "Please, for the love of god, do make me wear one of those."

Cassie smirked at him. "No promises."

☆

Walking down the hallway to help in the ER, Cassie ran into Derek, who had his head down as he checked his pager.

"Oh, sorry," she apologized, feeling a bit awkward around him.

It had been a few weeks since she refused to forgive him, but after thinking about it for days on end — in typical Cassie fashion — she'd already changed her mind. Not that he knew, of course.

"Cass," Derek breathed out. "I was actually looking for you."

"What's up?"

Derek hesitated for a moment, tucking his pager back into his pocket and focusing his full attention on the conversation. "Look, I know we've already talked about it, and I know that what I said was awful, but—"

"Derek, I forgive you—"

"—can you be my best man?" he finished his sentence, before pausing at her words. "Wait, what?"

Cassie sighed, giving him a reproachful look. "You were an ass. No, scratch that, you were such an ass, I'm genuinely shocked there isn't a toilet seat looped around your neck." Derek furrowed his brows as she continued. "But, you apologized, and I hate holding grudges. So, in the spirit of your wedding day tomorrow, I guess I forgive you."

Derek didn't speak, only staring at her for a long moment. Suddenly, he reached out, bringing her into a bone crushing hug. "I'm sorry," he whispered as Cassie hugged him back. "I am so, sorry."

Cassie smiled, releasing him and crossing her arms over her chest with a shrug. "I know you are. And to answer your question, no."