Chapter Two

The first two days of internship had been stressful for Lexie. She worried constantly about the twins. It was the longest she'd beeen away from them since she'd gained custody of them. Her only consolation was because they were in the hospital nursery, she'd been able to see them intermittedly but it was enough for her to reassure herself that they were ok.

It wasn't only the time away from the twins which had made the two days so hard, it was also Meredith. Her half sister that until Molly had her baby last year she hadn't even known existed and now well with Molly and her family so far away, Dad a raging alcoholic and Mom dead well Lexie had been hoping that maybe Meredith would be open to the idea of being even passing acquaintances but that didn't seem to be the case. Lexie kind of understood. She'd had a dad who was good and loved her but Meredith hadn't. However, Lexie knew if it had been the other way round she wouldn't have held it against Meredith but then again she didn't know what Meredith's home life had been like. And if it was one thing single motherhood had thought her was that circumstances were everything. They made and broke how you dealt with each situation. If Meredith wanted nothing to do with her Lexie was not going to throw herself at Meredith hoping for a family. She had a family and the twins had to be her priority.

Then there was the second reason for the stress, the realisation that the man she'd pretty much acosted and flirted with in front of the lift and handed her son over to was not just her boss but the Head of Plastics, the renowned Mark Sloan, one of the best plastic surgeons on the East Coat. That was a bit embarrassing but Mark didn't seem all that embarassed in fact when he'd met all the new interns he'd winked at her and smiled that ever so lovely smile of his.

Lexie had been delighted to be able to take the twins out of nursery and bring them to the cafeteria for lunch just to spend some time with them but she'd been surprised when Mark Sloan had once again helped her with the carriers and sat down beside her.

Earlier that day .... Flashback

Lexie entered the cafeteria with the two baby carriers and was surprised to see it was very very full. She had thought that maybe she might miss the bulk of the lunch rush and be able to find a nice calm seat to spend some time with the kids but apparently that was not to be. Lexie looked for a seat with someone she might trust but then again she didn't trust anyone lightly especially not with the kids. Now came the next big problem, how to get food for herself and carry the babies. Suddenly, someone bumped into her and she tried to catch herself before she fell with the babies. As she started to fall two strong tanned hands came up beside her. One arm settled around her waist catching her as she started to go down and the other grabbed one of the carrier's which had started to slip slightly from her hand.

"Thanks. I was starting to get really scared I'd hurt the babies there." Lexie said as she turned carefully to one side to look at her saviour. "Dr. Sloan, once again you get left with a baby carrier. Thank you though."

"Your welcome, Lexie. Karev, you should look where your going. What are you a moron?" Mark replied.

"Sorry. I didn't see you." Alex said looking at Lexie.

" I accept your apology, but just be careful. It could have turned out very differently than it did." Lexie replied looking back at Alex.

Mark had just about managed to catch Lexie as she fell but he still hadn't removed his arm from around her waist. It felt right there. That was not something that should happen. She's too young and she's got kids she must have a boyfriend even if she doesn't have a husband. I'll help her with the baby carrier's then go on my merry way.

"I'll take one of those Lexie. Where do you want to sit?" Mark asked taking his arm away from Lexie's waist and taking the baby carrier that he had stopped from falling from her.

"Dr. Sloan. You don't have to do that." Lexie started to say only to be interrupted by Mark.

"Lexie. Outside of the OR and ER. I think you should call me Mark. After all I did just save you from falling." Mark smirked as he said this. "I did have my arm wrapped around your waist. That should at least entitle me to call you by your first name and me by mine."

"Well, if your going to be like that. Then maybe I ." Lexie smiles at him and Mark who had been about to turn away looked at Lexie just as she smiled and stood still. When she smiled like that her whole face lit up and if she was pretty before she was beautiful now.

"So, where do you want to sit?" he asks looking away from her quickly. Hoping that maybe she hadn't noticed that he was staring at her.

Lexie hadn't noticed him looking at her, she was trying very hard not to stare at his body as he stood beside her. He was her boss, nothing could happen, why would he want something to happen. She was a single mother intern. She didn't really have anything to offer to the handsome single doctor who didn't seem to like entanglements. But she could be his friend. That should definitely be enough.

"Well, there's a table over there close enough to the food counter that I don't have to be too worried about laving them alone for two long." Lexie replied smiling at him. "After, all I have to sort out food for myself and feed them."

As Lexie led the way over to the empty table Mark followed her still carrying the second baby carrier. Lexie placed her carrier on the table but as she reached for the other carrier Noah started to cry. She put down the carrier and picked up Noah. "Shush, Noah sweetie. Mommy'll get you food now. Good boy. Mark, I'm sorry to ask you this but could you stay with Jessy while I go and get food for myself. I'll take Noah with me." Lexie asked him as she turned to have a look at Jessy who was still sleeping soundly.

Lexie didn't like asking for help but with Noah awake and clinging she had no choice. He wanted mommy and no one else would do. At least with Jessy still asleep she could be left wtih Mark for a few minutes leaving him with a screaming Noah would not be a good thing.

"Me and babies don't really go well. I've never been around them and wouldn't know what to do but if you'll tell me what you want I'll get it for you." Mark replied looking at the crying baby as if it was a snake about to strike.

"Are you sure? Cos that would be a really big help. And if you are sure just a salad and a orange juice." Lexie replied with a smile. Even though Mark didn't mean it as anything. It was nice to feel cared for if only for a little while.

Mark meanwhile was standing in the cafeteria line and wondering exactly what it was about that woman that seemed to captivate him. Maybe it was just sex. He'd have to go and find Callie later. That would stop it. In the meantime he'd be a friend and give her a hand. She didn't treat him like a manwhore or like the guy who slept with his best friend's wife. She just treated him like a friend and a doctor, with her he thought he might be able to be just Mark.

After getting the food and paying for it he went back to the table where Lexie was feeding one of the babies. It was a nice sight one he had hoped to have with Addison when she had told him she was pregnant but then again she didn't want his children, she wanted Derek's children or maybe anyone else's children but his. He wasn't good enough. He probably never would be after all she was the one who broke the sixty days not him. He'd tried dammit ,didn't he deserve to be happy, didn't he deserve more than to be Mark Sloan Manwhore.

Mark reached the table as Lexie finished giving Noah his bottle and placed him back in the carrier. She reached for the salad and juice on Mark's tray. He hadn't set it down yet and was still hovering beside her.

"You know considering you picked up lunch. You should be allowed to sit down. Don't you think so. What do I owe you for lunch?" Lexie smiled.

Mark looked at her wondering even now why she was being so nice tohim, waiting for the other shoe to fall, like it always did where he was concerned. Instead he sat down beside Lexie, confused and intrigued.

"Don't worry about it you can buy me lunch some other day. If you don't mind me asking, how old are the twins?" Mark asked.

"Three months." Lexie didn't know what it was about this man that made her want to confide in him. Maybe it was because of Meredith and her not wanting anything to do with her really. Lexie felt like she had no family. Molly didn't even call that much anymore, preferring to pretend that she had the perfect daddy so far away. No need to deal with it if it's not going impact her perfect life I suppose.

"You look damn good for someone who had twins three months ago." Mark said with a smirk. "You could probably market that and get a good price for it."

Lexie didn't reply. There was a story there but did she want to tell it. It was much better that everyone believed that the twins were hers. The rest of the story was so scary and unbelieveable and yet she wanted to tell someone. Not even her dad and Molly knew. But she wanted someone to talk to about it. The only other person who knew all the details was dead. Maybe if I just tell him something vague but not lying. I don't want to lie anymore.

"Actually, there's a story there but I don't want to talk about it. At least not yet. You don't need to be burdened by my life story. But you could tell me how you ended up in Seattle." Lexie replied quietly. She really didn't want to lie to him. She didn't have many friends anymore maybe Mark could become a friend she could rely on. But none of this was something that you dropped on someone with no warning.

"There's a story and you don't want to talk about it. What does that mean? That your going to lie to me." Mark asked almost angrily.

"If I was going to lie to you I would have said I'd lost the weight with a lot of exercise and a very busy move from Boston. But I didn't. I think we could become friends but telling that story is not the best way to start being friends. I don't want to lie to you but I'm not sure about telling that story just yet. If you don't want to speak to me that's up to you but I don't want to lie to you. The next step is up to you" Lexie answered his anger calmly but inside she was scared she didn't really have anyone and she would like a friend who didn't judge and Mark didn't seem like he judged people or if he did he hadn't shown it.

"So there is a story that you don't want to tell yet but you'd like to be friends." Mark asked almost scared of what her reply was. People didn't ask to be his friend usually they had sex with him and just wanted sex but friends. The only person he counted as a friend was Callie and maybe Derek although probably not.

"Yes. The choice is up to you but at some point I will tell you. When I know you better." she replied.

Mark thought of himself as a good judge of character. Ok he may be a little harsh but generally he was usually right when he thought about people. Lexie seemed to be genuine. She was beautiful, sexy, very loving as was shown by the two babies. While he'd been thinking the other baby had started to cry. Lexie had picked her up and was now feeding her. She hadn't lied to him. She'd said there was a story that she would tell him soon. He could be friends with a woman and not sleep with her, even if she was as pretty as Lexie was. It was while looking at Lexie that Mark made a choice.

"Right, so you tell me when your ready. In the meantime, I came from New York and basically to get my best friend back. And I have another question. Do you have a boyfriend, husband or in any way other half? " Mark replied.

"No. There is no other half of any kind." Lexie smiled and she and Mark had a nice conversation about Medicine and general things. Neither one talking about anything too serious.

End Flashback

Lexie had finally reached the car and was opening the door. The conversation with Mark after that was really nice. Friendly and they talked about lots of stuff. Until Mark had been paged 911. It had been hard to pack up the twins and take them back to nursery but she had. Now it was time to go home and then back to work in a couple of days, who knew what could happen then.