Title: Days Like This
Summary: A little one-shot drabble about Mark and Lexie's first child, post-crash. Fluff.
Author's Note: I know we're all upset about the episode. I, personally, have begun to realize that I've run out of ways and words to describe my feelings. I may come off as cold or distant, but just know that's not really who I am or how I'm feeling. To give you a peek: I'm angry, I'm hurt, I'm worried and scared, I'm sad and heartbroken… But you know what? I'm going to forget all of that. I'm going to put that episode and its horror behind me and pretend it didn't happen. And I'm going to live in a world where Mark and Lexie both survive that plane crash, and continue to live; getting back together, getting married, having children… Let's not let Shonda take everything from us, huh? They're fictional characters; well, guess what that means—I can write my own ending for them, too. And it will be just as valid because even though she holds the rights to the show and characters, she does not have jurisdiction over what others imagine and believe to be real or true for them. This is what I'm hoping for/ thinking about, please enjoy:
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Some days, Mark Sloan couldn't quite believe his luck. How had he, the guy who had made almost all the wrong decisions in life, ended up here? How had he survived both a shooting and a plane crash, coming out virtually unscathed? But more importantly, how had he found her again, and how had they finally figured out how to make it work?
Some days, Mark Sloan couldn't quite believe his luck.
And today was one of those days.
He feels a smile lift up the corners of his mouth as he loiters in the hospital room's doorway, watching his wife cradle their newborn son with a happy grin lighting up her face. He had purposely hung back when he arrived; too preoccupied with her newborn, she hadn't seen him cross the threshold. He took the opportunity to drink in the moment, to soak it all up.
But she must've sensed his presence, because a moment later, she looks up to meet his eyes. "Hey," she calls softly, beckoning him closer with her warm smile. "You're back."
He smiles back, walking to her side. "And you're up."
"I thought I should walk with him a bit after he ate."
"Want some company?" Mark asks, falling into step beside her.
Lexie smiles, and nudges his shoulder with hers gently. They pace back and forth in the small room for a few minutes. "Hey," she whispers finally, pausing for a moment to lean against him.
"Hey," he replies, wrapping an arm around her back and pulling her close. "How are you?"
She turns her head and smiles up at him. "I'm good," she replies. "I'm very good."
"And this little guy?" Mark asks, looking down. His eyes meet the infant's for not more than a split-second, but already, Mark's completely captivated by his son's animated face.
Lexie smiles back in her husband's direction, even though he isn't looking at her anymore. "He's good, too," she whispers, leaning more heavily against him.
"You're tired," Mark observes immediately, tightening his grip on her waist. Lexie nods, yawning against his shoulder. "Let me take you back to bed," he whispers, gently leading his wife across the linoleum towards the hospital bed. Lexie settles back between the sheets with a sigh; Mark cradles their son with one hand as he supports his wife with the other. His eyes continuously flicker between the two, unwilling to surrender more attention to one over the other. "You okay?"
She nods, leaning back against the pillows with another yawn. "I'm great."
He smiles, watching her eye fall closed. "Good," he murmurs, shifting his weight and quietly moving to walk around to the other side of the bed. He's halted in place when Lexie's arm shoots out to stop him.
"Don't go," she mumbles, her hand already growing slack from exhaustion. "Lie here with me for a while."
Mark can't help but smile. "You're almost completely asleep," he replies in amusement. "Just go to sleep; you won't miss me."
"Yes, I will," she returns stubbornly. Her eyes open a crack to seek him out. "I want you with me."
His words are kind and warm when he speaks. "I'm not going anywhere, Lex."
"But that's not the same as being with me, now, is it?" She pauses, shifting in bed and opening her eyes a bit wider to meet his more fully. "Please, Mark?" She murmurs in a whisper.
She holds her breath until he lets out a long sigh. With it, she knows she's won. But with her eyes already starting to fall closed, she can barely celebrate the victory. She only has time to scoot over in bed to make room before the yawns start again.
"There," she mumbles as she settles herself back against the pillows. "Now there's room for all three of us."
Mark smiles to himself for a moment before finally giving in and following her instructions. The bed shifts slightly when it begins to bear his weight, but it far from unmanageable. He reaches an arm out as he lies down beside her; he wraps it around her shoulders as he holds their son with his other. "Going to go to sleep now?" He wonders, tucking her head beneath his chin.
"Already gone."
He smiles, silently relishing the way she nestles her head closer to his heart. "Good."
"See you when I wake up."
He leans over to kiss her forehead. "See you when you wake up," he promises. He pulls back only a few centimeters before leaning back and resting his head against hers. He firms up his grip on their newborn, taking a second to smile at the tiny child before letting himself slip off into sleep as well.
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Author's Note: Reviews are greatly appreciated; please leave me one! If you guys want me to continue with this, I'd be happy to. Leave me a prompt or idea, if you like, and I'll see if I can make it come to life :)
Thank you, guys. Love you all.
And just remember that Lexie is alive in our imaginations, and that's all that's really mattered (considering how poorly the show treats her and every character).
Thanks again :)