Author's note: Me loves you all! Me now wants to keep writing forever!!!!!
Chapter 12! Hope you enjoy it! We're getting closer and closer to the end, people!
Chapter 12: A Visit from Seattle
"Can I come in?" Mark asked her, looking slightly out of place.
"Umm…of…of course!" Lexie stuttered nervously, taking a step back to let him in. She couldn't take her eyes off of him as he walked into the apartment. She shut the door and took a step forward, grimacing at the state of the apartment. Their bags were still in the kitchen, and there were toys and dirty clothes all over the place. Sean and her simply hadn't had the strength to pick up everything after they'd come back from the airport. "Sorry for the mess… I… we didn't…"
"It's fine." He interrupted her, turning to face her.
Lexie lifted a hand up to her hair, wishing she'd taken the time to at least get a comb through it before she'd come out of the bathroom. "This is a surprise." She stated, breaking the silence.
"Sorry I didn't call first."
She shook her head. "It's okay!"
He glanced down and let out a long breath. "And… I'm sorry I didn't call you back. I… I couldn't have this talk over the phone." He told her, his face still showing no emotion.
"You're absolutely right."
They stayed quiet, still standing in the kitchen awkwardly. "Where is he?" he finally asked, glancing around the apartment.
"He's playing in his bedroom."
"Can I go see him?"
"Of course!" She led him down the hall to Zack's bedroom. The little boy was sitting on the floor, playing with his race tracks and toy cars. She was about to announce their presence when she felt Mark put his hand on her arm, stopping her. He shook his head, silently asking her to let him talk.
He walked in the bedroom, looking more nervous than he ever been. "Hi, Zack!"
The little boy looked up and smiled an identical smile to his own. "Hello." He said a little shyly.
Mark approached him and sat on the bed. "That's a cool race track you got there, buddy!"
"Mommy got it for me. Wanna play?"
"Sure!"
Lexie stayed quiet, watching them until she heard a knock at the door. It must have been the delivery boy with her pizza. She left the two boys alone and went back to the front door to get their dinner. She paid for it and put it on the table. Her stomach growled, reminding her how hungry she was.
She heard her son laugh, making her heart tighten in her chest. She'd never heard a more beautiful sound. She'd heard him laugh before, but never had it been because of his father. She set the table for three and went to the bathroom to fix her messy hair. Satisfied, she went back to her son's bedroom and leaned against the door frame, watching her son and his father play.
Zack looked up when he saw her. "I'm hungry, mommy."
Lexie gave him a shaky smile and nodded her head. "Go wash your hands, the food's here." She didn't have to tell him twice as he was already running towards the bathroom. She looked at Mark. "Would you like to join us? I mean… if you're hungry… it's nothing fancy… I ordered pizza."
Mark gave her a small grin. "Sure." He stood from the ground and followed her out of the room.
They all sat at the table and Mark snorted when he saw the pizza. Lexie grimaced, realizing what had made him laugh. "Zack really likes mushrooms… I mean he REALLY likes it." She explained.
Zack nodded his head, smiling proudly. "It's my favoritest!"
Mark smiled at his son and brushed the small boy's hair back. "Mine too!"
Lexie grinned at the exchanged and started eating. They made small talk, mainly asking Zack questions and laughing at his silly answers.
She left the two of them at the table when the phone rang, grinning when she saw who the caller was. "Hey! Where are you?" she asked Sean, realizing how late it was getting.
"Hi, babe! You won't BELIEVE where I am." He told her excitedly.
"Well you won't believe who's here." She whispered, not wanting Mark to hear her.
"Oh yeah? You go first."
"No, you go."
"Ok! I am sitting in hot-intern Jason's living room." He announced.
"FINALLY! He invited you over?"
"Well, you're gonna be proud of me. I'm the one who made the first move. I asked him if he wanted to get a drink with me after work and he offered to go to his place."
"Nice."
"What about you?"
"Mark is in Boston. He's actually sitting at the table, and we're having dinner."
"OH MY GOD! You didn't cook him Kraft Dinner did you?"
"Of course not! Do you think I'm stupid?"
"No. I just know there's nothing eatable in our fridge. I had a conversation with a left-over of meat loaf this morning."
"Anyway… I've got to go."
"OH! By the way… I don't think I'm gonna make it home tonight. So if you want to have fun…"
"Shut up."
"Alright. I'll see you tomorrow, Lex."
"Bye!" She hung up the phone, shaking her head at her friend's stupidity. Mark was here for his son and nothing more. She turned her attention back on the kitchen table and had to keep herself from whimpering she was seeing. She'd never seen anything more beautiful. Her son, the love of her life, was chatting animatedly with his father, the other love of her life.
She sighed and went back to the table. "Did you leave me a slice at least?" she asked, making them both smile.
Zack shook his head. "Nope! I ate aaaaaall of it!" he announced, trying to hide his plate with his small hands.
The two adults laughed and exchanged a glance. Lexie blushed a deep crimson as Mark stared at her for longer than necessary.
They all finished their meal and Lexie told Zack it was time for his bath.
"I'll do it!" he gave her a sheepish look. "If it's ok with you." He added, not wanting to cross any lines.
Lexie grinned and nodded her head in agreement. "If it's ok with Zack, I'm fine with it!"
Zack jumped up excitedly and ran to the bathroom. "I'm gonna show you my submarine!" he shouted, apparently seeing no problem with it.
Mark laughed and took his shirt off, leaving him in his black t-shirt as he followed his son in the bathroom.
She could hear happy laughter and splashing water as she got busy clearing the table and putting the dishes in the dishwasher. When she was done, she went to check in the bathroom to make sure everything was alright. She gasped when she saw the state of the small room. "ZACK!" she choked.
Mark, who was sitting on the bath, raised his hand up, stopping her from saying anything more. "It's fine, Lexie. We just got overly excited. I'll take care of everything." He told her, not looking bothered by the state of his clothes. Zack looked at her and gave her a huge smile, his wet hair sticking out in every direction.
"Ok… if you say so." She mumbled, still shocked. She went back to the living room and decided she could always fix up the place. It was almost twenty minutes later when the two boys finally made it out of the bathroom, Zack was dressed in his favorite Scooby-Doo pj's. Mark's clothes were drenched with soapy water, but what she noticed the most was the large smile that still hadn't left his lips.
"Zack, go brush your teeth, it's time for bed."
"But, MOMMY!!!!"
"No complaining! Do as I say, Zack."
The little boy pouted but humored his mother, going back to the bathroom to brush his teeth.
"I can tell him tonight, if you want." She told Mark, knowing he probably wanting to get it over with.
He shook his head, grimacing slightly. "Nah, I think we better wait till tomorrow. He's had enough excitement for one night."
Lexie looked at him, realizing he'd said 'tomorrow.' Was he staying in Boston? "So you're staying…"
"For a couple of days." He finished her sentence. "I rented a hotel room just after I got out of the airport."
"You could have stayed here… I mean… If you prefer."
Mark smirked and glanced down, shaking his head. "I think it's a better idea if I Ieave."
"Ok." She answered quickly. "I mean, it's fine. I'm gonna go right to bed after I get him settled for the night."
"Can I tuck him in?"
She smiled and nodded her head in agreement, just as Zack was padding back in the living room. "Alright, buddy! Give mommy a kiss. Mark will read you your story tonight."
Zack grinned happily and jumped in her arms, giving her a huge toothpaste tasting kiss. "Good night, mommy! I love you!"
Lexie closed her eyes in delight as she hugged her little boy. "Good night, baby. I love you too." She let go of him and watched him disappear in his bedroom. Mark gave her a small grin and followed his son in the bedroom. She sat on the couch and sighed, listening to Mark's soft voice as he read Zack his favorite bed time story. She grinned when he stopped reading after a less ten minutes, knowing Zack must've fallen asleep before the end, as he always did. Mark stayed in the bedroom for a little longer and finally walked out, shutting the door behind him.
"He's fast asleep."
She nodded her head, suddenly feeling nervous again. She stood up and started playing with the hem of her tank top nervously. "Do you want… to talk… I mean.. I.." she stuttered nervously, not knowing where to start.
Mark took the decision for her. He lifted his hand up and shook his head, stopping her. "I don't want to talk about it tonight. You're exhausted, I can see that. You were nice enough to let me stay for so long."
"I would've never said no."
"If it's okay with you, I'd like to spend the day with Zack tomorrow. You probably have to work anyway…"
She nodded her head, biting on her lower lip. "Yes, I do. And there's no problem. He'll be happy to spend the day with you. I usually leave here at a quarter to eight. So you could come here and pick him up…"
"I'll be here at 7:30."
"Alright."
He picked up his shirt from the chair he'd left it on earlier and folded it over his arm, not wanting to get it wet like the rest of his clothes were. He walked up to the front door, Lexie following him.
He opened the door and turned his head towards her. "Good night, Lexie." He bid her.
Lexie gave him a shaky smile and watched him walk out and shut the door behind him.
I know I know... another short chapter. But HEY I promise, next chapter is gonna be WAYYYY longer!!! At least you didn't have to wait long!
DON'T FORGET TO REVIEW!!!!!!!!!
