A/N:
I stopped writing because I was busy watching Private Practice - terrible excuse, I know. I haven't started writing the chapter following this one yet but hopefully I'll get to it. I am so very happy with the recent reviews and follows I've gotten, and I hope to live up to you guys' expectations with what I have coming.
Also, ThereAreMuchWorseGamesToPlay: That was a moment of Zero creativity where I used the name of a character from Stephanie Meyer's the Host xD I just used the name though, so you can definitely imagine any face for him. So yeah, haha.
Hit me up with those reviews! I hope you enjoy the chapter. Also, I'm putting up a poll for you guys, because I can't decide whether Baby Sloan-Grey is a girl or a boy, so you should pick! I want to see votes you guys. Enjoy!
Meredith parked her car in front of the old Grey household. Not hers, not the frat house – but Thatcher's other home. She knew the address, but she'd never been there. However, after Derek had met Mark at the cemetery and told her that Lexie wasn't there, Meredith was hit by the only place she could be in right now.
Meredith knew exactly what kind of girl Lexie was, before she got caught up in the Grey curse that is. She was a normal girl, quiet brilliant – loving parents, a sister to bicker with. She would have had the closest relationship with Susan, because she was the eldest daughter, and she had no big sister at the time to seek out in times of trouble. She was a normal girl. A girl who right now needed her mother more than ever. Meredith winced a little as she stepped out into the cold rain – her cheek stinging despite the chill in the weather in memory of the slap she'd gotten from her own father.
She opened the back seat door and picked Zola up to ease her down on the ground gently, adjusting the hood of her little rain coat on her head before she took her hand and led her beneath the shelter of the porch. Meredith curled her hand around the knob, and twisted it, lifting a brow when the door clicked open. She exhaled and pushed the door, walking in.
Her eyes wandered along the interior of the household, and she sighed. It was warm and cozy, family-like. She remembered what George had said about the frat house, about how the house wasn't 'homey' and a small smile curled on her face at the memory, before she sighed once and proceeded, tugging her three year old along as she stared around curiously, before she followed her mother.
Meredith searched the living room and the kitchen, but Lexie was nowhere to be found. However, Meredith was almost too sure that her sister was her. With a hand on the railing to balance herself, and the other holding Zola close, she made her way up the stairs. Once Meredith had stepped in the hallway, she saw one door left ajar and sighed a little, relieved, before she made her way toward it.
"Lexie?" Meredith muttered as she pushed the door open, and her eyes met her sister's wide brown, and also bloodshot, ones when she glanced over her shoulder. She sighed again, her heart that was clenched in her chest relaxing, before she pulled her phone out and sent Derek a quick text. Meredith let Zola run in towards Lexie, and the little girl went around the bed that Lexie was sitting on to try to climb on it and sit beside her. Lexie smiled a little before she sniffled and helped her niece up on the bed.
Meredith moved and sat beside her sister, laying her feet on the ground to let them relax from carrying all that pregnancy weight around. However, the blonde remained very silent and stared ahead, allowing her sister the privacy and serenity she desired. Zola too remained silent, curling up into Lexie's side, and even taking her hand in both hers. The brunette sighed and looked down, closing her eyes. Her mind played out everything that happened over the past five years – ever since she'd come back to Seattle, ever since her mother died.
Lexie Grey never had in mind that she was going to fall in love so soon. She didn't plan to fall in love with her boss. She didn't plan to become a step-mother oh-so suddenly or even a grandmother. She didn't understand how could anyone walk into a hospital and shoot the people inside it. It was so hard to understand, yet it'd still happened. Lexie opened her eyes again and her eyes focused ahead on the wooden floor boards, "I.." She started slowly, glancing sideways at her sister, her wide brown eyes glistening with tears. Meredith sighed and reached out to wrap her arm around Lexie's shoulder, pulling her closer to hug her tightly. "You know I'm good at listening, so go ahead, talk to me." Meredith said, her voice tentative. Lexie glanced up at her and let a weak laugh leave her lips before she rested her head down on Meredith's shoulder. Lexie remained silent for a long while, before eventually she started, "He's really bent on the abortion."
Meredith frowned and nodded slowly for her sister to go on, her hand moving over her arm to offer any comfort that she could possibly offer. "When I told him that I couldn't be with him for that, he said that he didn't want to be responsible for my death." Lexie's voice broke at the end, "I don't want to do this on my own, Meredith. I want to have this baby, and I will need him by my side. I don't want to push him away, but he doesn't want to stay, Meredith." Lexie told her slowly as she turned to her sister, seeking out advice. Meredith bit her lip and looked down. She'd heard how terrified Mark sounded, despite the fact that she was ready to reach out into the phone and tear out his ear drums when Derek told her what happened.
"I won't tell you to give him a chance, especially since your mind is made about this baby." Meredith started slowly, "But I won't tell you completely give up on him. He'll come around. He's Mark. He loves you, and wants nothing more than to have a family with you. But Lexie you have to understand," Meredith stopped to swallow thickly. It'd not been easy to talk about the crash, even they've all been over it – it won't ever be easy to summon the image in her mind, "He saw you under that plane debris. I saw you under it. We..it was.." Meredith sighed and looked down, "He just doesn't want to lose you."
"But you're agreeing to stand by me on this." Lexie countered, pulling her brows together, confused.
"That's because we're sisters, and you're my family – and I'm pregnant and fetus is turning me into a softie." Meredith grumbled and rolled her eyes. Lexie lifted a brow at her sister, "Fetus?"
"I still have a hostile uterus. And that's not our topic; our topic is what you are going to do." Meredith countered quickly, refusing to explain her own thoughts as she stared at Lexie pointedly. Lexie bit her lip when her mind refocused onto the matter at hand and she took a deep breath, "So I'm keeping the baby, and giving Mark some time. Right?"
Meredith nodded slowly and pursed her lips into a small smile, before she placed a hand on her seven months bump and sighed heavily, "What are you going to do with this house?" Meredith asked and tilted her head. Lexie pursed her lips tightly as she flickered her gaze across the lavender walls, then shrugged, "Sell it, I guess." Meredith lifted a brow at Lexie, "You're aware that you're pregnant, right?"
Lexie turned her gaze towards her sister and stared at her, "What's your point?"
"My point is, you'll need a place bigger than the apartment to raise a child. And this house, it's beautiful. I think, I haven't seen much of it." Meredith started to babble on for a minute before she caught her tongue and shut her mouth, turning to tilt her head towards Lexie pointedly. Lexie was silent – she had never thought of that, but now that the idea was on the table, it sounded very tempting. Lexie smiled to herself before she took a deep breath. "I like that."
"And Mark would have come around to the idea." Meredith said again and nodded once at the brunette, before her phone buzzed. Meredith's eyes cast down on the screen and she smiled when she saw Derek's name on the screen. She picked up and started, "Hey." She sighed softly, and heard Derek sigh in return. "She's okay?" He asked, and Meredith nodded once – as though he could see her, before her eyes flickered sideways to Lexie who had picked up Zola and set her on her lap to play with her, "She's okay."
"We're a few minutes away." Derek said again, and Meredith frowned, "We? Is Mark with you?"
"Yes he is. He's tugging his hair out, Meredith." Derek defended his friend, and Meredith lifted a brow, "And you shouldn't be out of the house at this time of the night and in this weather." Derek continued, and Meredith couldn't help the scoff that left her lips.
"Initially, she doesn't want to see him. And second off, Derek I'm fine." Meredith pressed, and narrowed her eyes when she saw Lexie eyeing her with a hoisted brow. She focused back on the phone call, "She doesn't want to see him and you better drop him off and make him take a cab home."
"He needs to see her." Derek scowled into the phone, his eyes flickering sideways to his friend who was holding his head in his hands. He couldn't leave him to drive when he was in this frenzied state. Derek stared at the road again, "I'm in the street. Come on, I'm driving you home and we can pick up your car tomorrow. I'm not letting you drive in this weather." Derek muttered as his blue hues flickered across the nebulous windshield, and he turned on the sweepers. Soon enough, Meredith's car came into view, and he pulled his own into a park, before he glanced sideways at Mark, "I'm outside." He told Meredith, before he hung up.
"Mark," Derek started and sat up, resting his elbow onto the steering wheel when Mark lifted his head to turn to him, "I know, I know. I'm in the same car." He said as he took a deep breath and sat up, before he glanced around, "Do cabs even pass in this place at this hour?" He muttered, and Derek frowned at how dejected his friend sounded. Derek remained silent, thoughtful, "Take my car, I'll drive Meredith's. Because I'm sure as hell she won't let you drive her car." Derek said, and Mark glanced sideways at him as he ran his hand along his face, "With a good reason."
"Okay." Derek sighed as he left the car running & got out just as Mark did. The other man rounded to the driver's side and got into the car, pulling it out of park to get ready to pull out of the driveway when he saw Meredith and Lexie exit the house. Watching them from where he stood, a seven months pregnant woman, another on crutches, and a tumbling toddler was a sight to inspire amusement. However, the smile that stretched on Mark's face wasn't of amusement – not really. He was just glad Lexie was okay. When her head turned towards him though, he looked down, and started the car to pull out of the driveway and leave.
Lexie stared off as Mark left, and she sighed, looking down. Derek frowned, exchanging worried glances with Meredith before he knelt down and picked up Zola, "Let's go home, Zo. Yeah? Let's go home. Time for bed." Derek smiled at the girl in his arms, and rubbed her back gently when she laid her head on his shoulder sleepily. Derek placed a small kiss on Zola's forehead, "You two stay here. I'll help you both to the car." Derek warned as he went down the porch stairs carefully and set Zola in the car seat, before going back for Lexie, then Meredith. Once they were all settled in, Derek took off to their home.
Two weeks later…
Lexie was literally stumbling on her feet as she struggled with the crutches and the stairs all at once. She didn't imagine that such a small baby bump would create so much effort for her to handle, but was being extra careful with every move she was making. Derek was leaving the kitchen when he saw her, and he sighed, "Lexie, I told you not to leave your room unless I came to get you." He complained as he took double-staired steps to reach her, and held out his arm for her to lean onto as he helped her downstairs.
"I'm nervous. I couldn't stay still." Lexie laughed it off weekly as he sat her on the couch. "I mean, it is the last day of first trimester, and also the last day of my residency, ever." Lexie pointed out as she looked up at her brother-in-law. "Thank you. For talking to Owen for me. I will really need that year off." Lexie said, and Derek nodded once with a smile, shrugging it off.
"It's for the best. Then you could convince Meredith to take a leave as well." Derek pointed out just as Meredith wandered slowly downstairs. She shot him a glare on her way, "I'm perfectly fine. I will take a maternity leave after fetus is born, so a leave before is not necessary Derek. We work in a hospital. Isn't it better if we're there and not here?" Meredith complained and Lexie groaned, grabbing the pillow beside her to place it over her face. They argued about the leave – every single day.
Meredith rolled her eyes when she saw Lexie's reaction and stomped her way to the kitchen. Derek shook his head and Lexie withdrew the pillow from her face slowly as she looked up at both of them, before taking a deep breath. "If you're arguing in the car, call me a cab." Lexie warned them as she leaned forward to pick a banana from the fruit bowel.
"We can't argue in the car. Zola will be in the car. And we're not arguing." Meredith complained as she stepped out of the kitchen holding a sandwich in her hand. Lexie rolled her shoulders into a shrug, and Derek just laughed at the situation he was in before he climbed upstairs, heading to Zola's room. Meredith and Lexie exchanged glances as they chewed on their food before they both started laughing, and Meredith moved slowly to sit down beside Lexie.
"I'm nervous." Lexie muttered.
"Why?" Meredith said as she glanced sideways at her sister, her voice muffled by the sandwich she was chewing.
"I have an appointment today. It's the last day of my first trimester." Lexie pointed out as she turned to Meredith, lifting both brows at her. Meredith shrugged once, "The last day of my first trimester was the day you shot down the lawyer for the trial. I had bigger matters on my mind."
"Meredith!" Lexie exclaimed as she turned to her sister in disbelief, "Nothing should be a bigger matter than your baby boy!" Lexie shook her head as she stared at her, shaking her head. Meredith smiled at her sister as she placed her hand over her pregnant belly and took a deep breath before she shrugged once.
"That's not why you're nervous." Meredith started as she turned to look at Lexie, who shook her head firmly, "Don't even start with this, Meredith. He has been avoiding me. Whenever he sees me in the corridor, he runs into a supply closet and hides. He won't show up."
"You say that now. And I'll be saying I told you so." Meredith shrugged as she got up with so much effort, just as Derek was walking down the stairs carefully, holding Zola's hand as she skipped over the stairs. Meredith face brightened when she saw the little girl, "Here's mama's little girl." She muttered and reached out for her and squatted to kiss her nose. Lexie stared at the interaction between the three – and their future fourth, and she smiled, tilting her head.
Meredith, of course, was right. Lexie wanted more than anything for Mark to show up to the OB's appointment today. She didn't want to go alone, and she didn't want him to miss out. And most importantly, she knew that she wanted him back more than ever now. She missed him terribly. Lexie sighed and looked down, remaining silent as she let the scene before her play out, busying herself with the banana in her hand. Right about now, Mark would scoff a comment about how hot she looked eating a banana, and she smiled slightly to herself as she pressed her free hand against her belly.
Finally, it was time to get going. The trip to the hospital was silent, as the couple had promised, and Lexie busied herself – playing with Zola on the way. She walked with Meredith to the day care to drop her off, and the sisters parted ways on the floors as she headed to the resident's locker room, and Meredith headed to the attending's lounge. Lexie was decided to take a leave for a year once her last year of was done, and apply for the neuro fellowship when she came back. It worked out well.
Lexie bumped into someone as she limped her way out of the locker room, and looked up immediately. "Oh, hi." Lexie breathed out, but her voice was barely audible as she stared up at Mark. His hands immediately shot out underneath her elbows to steady her, "Easy." He muttered, and Lexie softly – it has been way too long without hearing his voice. He moved to her side and helped her out of the door way, before they stepped sideways and he turned to look down at her – and they remained very silent.
"You have an appointment today, I just checked." Mark muttered, crossing his arms over his chest as his eyes cast down to the ground. Lexie nodded slowly, "It's the last day of my first trimester." She said, and tilted her head as she craned her neck – trying to look at his face, "Mark?"
"I'll come with you." He said quickly, turning his face away, before he sidestepped to her side again and held his arm out so could lean on it. Lexie sighed and looked down, before eventually nodding once and hooking one arm through his as she started walking – and she could tell that Mark was literally carrying most of her weight as they went. The eyes followed them as they walked; apparently they were all that everyone talked about now. Lexie tended to ignore the stares and the rumors, but now it was just intruding. A matter that should strictly not be all over the hospital.
They waited silently in the waiting room, Lexie on one of the seats and Mark pacing around like a mad man. Part of Lexie took pity on him, and the other part just found this whole situation amusing. She didn't speak though – if he wished to sit down beside her, he could go ahead, really. She sighed, relieved, when she heard the nurse call for her name and she slowly got up, followed by a hovering Mark, as she made her way to the exam room.
"Hello, Doctor Grey. Doctor Sloan." Amanda nodded towards them with a smile before she got up. "Lie down on the table please – were you taking your vitamins regularly, Doctor Grey?" She asked as she started setting up the ultra sound whilst Mark helped Lexie get onto the table.
"I have. And I switched most of my medications to what you've prescribed too." Lexie smiled at her as she lay down slowly, "Also, I can't eat peanut butter." Lexie told her, pouting slightly as she'd have to wait six more months to taste her glorious peanut butter and banana toast sandwich again. Amanda chuckled once, "You may be able to eat the food you like again before the pregnancy is over. Every pregnancy is unique." She explained as she sat down. Mark stood by Lexie's head, his hands on his hips as he waited silently.
"This will feel cold." Amanda told her as she squirted out the gel onto Lexie's lower abdomen, which ran a shiver up Lexie's spine. She eased it out with the scanner then turned towards the screen, tilting it down so Lexie can see as well. "Oh my.." She breathed out softly when she saw the screen light up, and her baby now looked like a baby even more. Tears filled her eyes immediately, "Look at that." Amanda started as she zoomed in, "There's your baby. And his face, and arms, and legs. And there's the heartbeat's flutter and..." Amanda stopped talking and suddenly the fluttering heartbeat echoed in the room. The tears fell from Lexie's eyes as she listened to her baby's heartbeat, "Here's the heartbeat."
When Lexie turned to look up at Mark, she saw the tears in his eyes well. His eyes flickered down to hers again, before a small smile stretched onto his face and his hand reached slowly to take hers. Their fingers intertwined, and their eyes both flickered back to the screen as they listened to the heartbeat and watch their baby wriggle restlessly.
"I'll give you two a moment." Amanda said as she stepped out, and Lexie slowly sat up to get a better look at the screen. Mark's free hand splayed onto her back and he pressed a kiss to the side of her head, "I'm sorry, Lex. I'm sorry for what I said. For what I did. I want this baby, and I'll help you through with everything." He whispered as his hand wrapped around her torso and held her close to his chest. Lexie sighed gently and leaned back into his chest as she stared at the monitor for a long moment.
"It's okay." She whispered as she looked up at Mark, surprised when she saw him actually crying. "Mark, it's going to be okay." Lexie told him as she reached up to hold his face gently and wipe away his tears. He smiled down at her, "You got me tearing up, Lex, for fourth time in a year." He chuckled, and she rolled her eyes. "I think the hormones are taking a toll on you." She whispered before she pulled his face down to press her lips to his, and then he just held her as their eyes remained at the screen. It was going to be okay.
Hopefully.