I decided to skip a few states in the story simply because it just wouldn't have been practical or particularly interesting. So to catch you up, at this point they have gone through Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, both Dakotas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Nebraska. Sorry if you were excited for some particular reason about reading about their exploits in any of those particular states, but I gotta keep the story moving.
"We should probably think about finding a place stay tonight." Mark spoke up, lowering his aviators. They had just finished a week in Nebraska which didn't exactly sound like fun but in actuality hadn't been too bad. "Looks like we're back to the two star roadside motel."
"Oh come on." Lexie admonished. "You got to choose the hotel in Lincoln."
"That place was four stars at best." Mark grumbled.
"Oh, poor baby." Lexie laughed. "But you're probably right, I don't exactly feel like spending another night on the road. Where do you think we are?"
"Well if I remember my US geography, the state directly below Nebraska is Kansas."
"Anything to do in Kansas?"
"Cow tipping?" Lexie snorted. "What? Isn't that what they do out here?" He asked, only half joking.
"Can we just stop for a moment to imagine the great Mark Sloan, world renowned, double board certified plastic surgeon, getting close enough to a cow to push it over?" She threw her head back and laughed at the thought.
Mark laughed too. "Ok, so cow tipping's out. Maybe I'll find a strip club."
"You do that and I promise you, you will lose a very important part of your anatomy that I'm sure you would very much like to keep."
He chuckled and she rested her hand on top of his. "Hey." She looked at him with her big brown eyes. "Thank you for coming with me. I originally thought I needed to do this alone, but there hasn't been a day that I haven't been glad you came with me."
"I'm glad I came too." He looked at her. "There is absolutely nowhere else I'd rather be." He clasped her hand. "You are the most important person in my life." He turned his head back to the road. "Well, Sophia may be tied for that but she's my little girl."
Lexie smiled. "I'll gladly share it with her. How is the little munchkin?" True to his word, Mark was calling her once a day, sometimes twice a day, determined to be a part of her life even from far away.
"She's good. She said that 'Awizoa' was walking so that's a good sign. A really good sign actually. How're the McDreamy's?"
"Meredith's good, better now that Christina's back. And she said that Callie was working to fix Derek's hand." She reported.
Both of them knew that the other was dancing around the one very big puzzle piece that they'd left out. The current report was that their friends had rejected the out of court settlement and were now going to trial. Just one more plank in the bridge over the troubled waters.
"Oh hey!" Lexie suddenly perked up. "Guess what?"
"What?"
"Ok." She turned towards him, sitting on her leg. "But if I tell you this, you have to swear to me that you won't say anything to anyone, not even to Callie. Promise?"
"I promise, I promise. Scouts honor." He raised his hand. "What's the big secret?"
"Meredith's pregnant."
"Really? That's great!" Mark exclaimed. The idea of his fellow dirty mistress finally having the family she always wanted, not to mention with his best friend, was fantastic!
"Yes it is!" Lexie gushed. "They've been trying for so long and now she's finally pregnant!"
Marks smile faltered just for a moment. He was ecstatic for his friends, but he couldn't help but wish that he could have it too. He couldn't push Lexie, but he couldn't wait forever. He cleared his throat.
"Let's find that hotel."
It was shortly before dark when Mark found a place that didn't look too offensive. It looked like it'd been built sometime in the 50's and the large house on the hill behind it gave the place a very Norman Bates Psycho vibe, but it was clean and looked well cared for. It also, according to the neon sign out front, had a vacancy.
As they pulled into the gravel parking lot, Lexie turned to Mark.
"How's your mother Mister Bates?"
"Uh-uh, Mother-m-mother, uh, what is the phrase? She isn't quite herself today." Mark said in his best Norman Bates impression. Lexie have him a look of surprise. "What? You think because you've got a photographic memory you're the only one who can quote Hitchcock?"
"I learn something new about you every day." Lexie smiled as they walked into the front office.
"Welcome to the Gates Motel." A chipper woman in her mid-forties greeted them. Mark and Lexie exchanged a look. "I'm Rhoda Gates, the owner of this fine establishment. Checking in?"
"Yes please." Lexie nodded.
"Ok, how long?" Rhoda looked from one to the other.
"Umm, probably just one night." Lexie looked at Mark.
"Alright, that'll be $43."
Mark took out his wallet. "By the way," he asked. "We don't really have a map, all we know is we're somewhere in Kansas. Can you tell us where exactly?"
"Sure thing honey." Rhoda replied. "You've found yourself in the town of Xonia, Kansas, just about the friendliest town you'll ever find.
"Good to know." Mark smiled. The woman handed them their key and they went back out to the car to retrieve their luggage.
"At least this one didn't ask you to feel her boobs for lumps." Lexie joked, earning a laugh from Mark.
"Ah, but the night is young." Was his witty reply as they carried the bags to their room.
Once unpacked, Lexie voiced her desire to eat which sent them back to Rhoda.
"So Rhoda," Mark asked to the woman as they walked into the office. "Where do you suggest we go if we want to get some food?"
"Cats." Was her quick reply.
Mark looked at Lexie but she looked just as confused as he was. He turned back to Rhoda. "Um, Cats?"
"Cats." She nodded with grave sincerity. "If you're only in town for the night, you gotta go to Cats."
We'll be staying the Xonia for a few chapters but that's because I've got something very big planned that I think y'all're gonna love! Please review, LexieMcSteamy is wonderful about it, follow their example!