Disclaimer: I do not own Grey's Anatomy.

When Lexie finally came downstairs, she did so only to get Michael, before returning to her room. She had glared at Mark when he had tried to follow her, wanting some time alone with her baby boy.

There was no doubt that Lexie loved her son. She loved him more than anything. He was her entire world. She had missed him terribly the night before, and wanted nothing more than to feel him snuggled against her as she held him in her arms.

But she was struggling. Her hormones were causing her emotions to be all over the place, and the added factor of constantly having Mark around after his minimal involvement during her pregnancy wasn't helping.

She looked down at her son's face as he nursed. His little eyes were closed, and one of his little fists was pressed against the skin just over her heart. He looked so content to be back in his mother's arms that it made Lexie tear up at the sight.

"I'm here, my sweet boy. Mommy's here. Mommy loves you so so much."

With all of her attention focused on Michael, Lexie didn't hear Mark enter the room. She didn't notice his presence until he sat down next to her on the bed.

"Lexie, I know that something is going on with you. I don't know what it is, but I know that it's something, and I want you to feel like you can talk to me about it." Lexie winced as he spoke. "I love you Lex, and I want to help you in any way I can. Please don't shut me out."

Michael was finished nursing, and Lexie burped him and moved to place him in his bassinet before turning to face Mark.

"I'm a wreck Mark. My hormones are causing me to be an emotional wreck, and then everything else is just adding to it."

Mark took her hand in his, stroking the top with his thumb. "Then tell me, tell me everything that is bothering you, let me help you."

Lexie closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I'm worried about my career, I'm confused about our relationship, and I'm uncomfortable with my body."

Mark pulled her closer to him, until she was fully wrapped in his arms, her head pressed against his chest. He leaned back against the pillows to allow her to be more comfortable, knowing that this would be a long conversation.

"Lex, you're an amazing surgeon. Having a baby doesn't change that. You will be an amazing surgeon and an amazing mom, you already are!"

"Even though I spent last night hiding at my dad's house away from my son?"

"Of course! Was I mad at you? Yeah. Am I still a little bit upset with you? I am. But I also know that you've been struggling, and I know that you just needed some space. I can't be mad at you for that. Truthfully, I'm just mad that you didn't call or let anybody know where you were. We were all worried about you."

"I'm sorry. I just needed to get away for a bit and wasn't thinking clearly."

"Lex, I get it. This has all been difficult for you, and a lot of that had been my fault. I wasn't always there for you when I should have been, and I will spend the rest of my life trying to make that up to you. But I'm here now, and I'm not going to leave. That's where our relationship stands. I will be here waiting until you are ready for something more between us again."

Lexie couldn't help but to smile against his chest at this. Mark continued. "And as for you feeling uncomfortable with your body, I can't tell you how you should feel, but I can tell you that you will always be beautiful to me, no matter what. I just want you to see that too, so I'm going to keep telling you until that's how you see yourself too."

Lexie chuckled as a couple of tears ran down her face. "Damn it Mark, you're making me cry."

Mark tilted her face up, brushing away her tears. As he gazed into her eyes, he slowly leaned down, before finally pressing a feather-light kiss against her lips. "I love you Alexandra Caroline Grey, and I can't imagine my life without you."

And for the first time since the night that Michael was born, Lexie and Mark fell asleep in each other's arms.