Author's Notes: Latest chapter! Right now there's only two more chapters of this story that I have written out, but I definitely still have some more Slexie stories up my sleeve - including a cheesy holiday romance! Will be working on that this week, in addition to the next chapter of "In a Better Light."

I always thought it was sort of interesting that the first real fight we see Mark and Lexie have never had any sort of resolution. One minute Mark isn't talking to her and the next they're just walking the hallway together like nothing happened. So here's me trying to give some us all some resolution. Hope that you all enjoy!

Lexie finally tracked Mark down in one of the on-call rooms. He was being particularly difficult to find and she knew that he was pouting. She slipped inside and flipped the lock, before folding her arms across her chest. "Mark."

He was lying on one of the beds, his hands under his head, looking like he didn't have a care in the world. He refused to look at her, keeping his eyes on the ceiling. "I'm leaning towards the 3 bedroom, rather than 4, because I like the wraparound porch."

Lexie sighed and shook her head. "Mark, will you stop it? Just for a second! Just…hear me out." He finally looked at her as she moved towards him, standing over him, wringing her hands. "I…I lose myself, in relationships. I try and mold myself into someone that I think will make my partner want to stay. Even when they're not my partner! I…give myself up. For whoever I have feelings for." She sat down on the bed and tried to suppress her smile when Mark instinctively moved over to give her space.

"It started when I was fifteen and I had a crush on Patrick Davis and I let my friend Stacie pierce my nose at a sleepover because he was punk and I thought that was punk too. And then it got infected and let me tell you what is not punk – a gross, infected nose. I lose myself when I like someone and I know that's not healthy. Or sustainable."

She took a deep breath and reached out to him, hoping he wouldn't stop her. She rested her hand on his arm and waited for a second to see if he'd shake her off. She smiled when he didn't. "I…want you to stick around. I want this to be healthy and sustainable. And I can't….give up things that I want, things that define me, to try and make you happy. Because once I start giving, I won't know when to stop. And that's a me thing, it's not a you thing."

Mark finally looked at her and Lexie felt the knot in her stomach start to loosen. "You make me happy, Mark. You make me so happy. And asking me to move in with you…I want that. Eventually. I do. And the other thing you mentioned-" Mark couldn't help but flush with embarrassment and look away when she mentioned his roundabout proposal-"I think I want that too. Someday. But you're…you can overwhelm me, if I let you. And that's not to say that you wouldn't make me happy. Part of me is screaming to just jump in and say yes and let you overwhelm me. But I know…I know it's not good for me. For us. And I want things to be good for us, Mark."

His jaw tightened and Lexie held her breath, watching him intently. A soft smile appeared on his lips and he nodded. "Ok."

Lexie smiled softly, scooting closer to him. "Yeah?"

"Yeah," he replied, his hand reaching out and reaching across her lap to her hip, keeping her in place against him. "But I think we need to be willing to compromise. I don't think this is something we can just discuss this once and then truly table it for five years. I know we're at different stages in our lives but…I want to put down roots, Lexie. With you. I love you."

She grinned, the words still new enough on his lips that the reaction was instinctual. "I love you too. And I'm open to discussion. I know that this…it might not be easy. But we both want to make it work. And it is…it's good, seeing Meredith and Derek. It…makes me think about the plans I always had and how maybe they can change." She leaned down, her hands on either side of his head as she hovered above him, looking down at him with a serious look on her face. "So are we good? Are you not mad at me anymore?"

Mark chuckled and pressed a hand against her back, urging her to sprawl against his chest. "We're good, Little Grey."

Lexie beamed happily at him, her fingers ticking at the hollow of his throat. "And…for what it's worth, I like the idea of a stone fireplace too." He smiled at her as she leaned forward to give him a soft kiss.

Lexie didn't even have to ask him to stay with her when he drove her home after George's funeral. He parked the car outside the house and immediately stepped out, gripping her hand tightly as they went inside. They were the only ones there and normally they'd take advantage of the empty house and make out on the couch as they watched a movie, but Mark knew that Lexie would never go for it, even if it would take her mind off of her grief.

So he kept a hold of her hand and led her up to the attic. He turned to her once they got to her room and wrapped his hand around her waist, pulling her close and cradling her against his chest. She wasn't crying, but her breathing was shallow, and her fingers were gripping the front of his shirt like she'd drift away if she let go. "I'm going to unzip your dress, Lex. You'll be more comfortable once you're out of it," he murmured.

She nodded; her face pressed against his neck. His hands went to her back and carefully unzipped her dress and then pulled the sleeves from her shoulders. He let it pool around her feet, before moving to her drawers and pulling out her usual pajamas. He glanced over at her and noticed that she'd bent down to pick up her dress, draping it over her arm and stroking the material gently.

Mark held out her pajamas and Lexie handed her dress over to him before taking the proffered change of clothes. He turned to her closet and grabbed a hanger, hanging the dress up again. He made a mental note to grab the dress before he left the next morning – he'd throw it in with his dry cleaning at the hotel. When he turned back around, Lexie was still standing in the middle of the room but was now in her pajamas.

She looked up at him, her eyes soft and sad and lost. He pulled his shirt over his head and unbuttoned his jeans, stripping down to his boxers quickly and then he held out his hand to Lexie. She immediately placed her hand in his and he led her over to her bed, laying down first and then smiling softly as Lexie followed him down, cuddling against his chest immediately.

His hand stroked up and down her spine, soothing her as she rubbed her cheek against his chest absently. "I'm not good at this, Lex," he whispered. "I make inappropriate jokes. I try and distract with sex. I'm not good at this."

She draped her arm around his stomach and pressed her lips against the bare skin of his shoulder. "You're perfect, Mark. You're doing exactly what I need you to do."

"Yeah?" he asked tentatively.

Glancing up at him, she smiled softly and nodded. "Yeah. I just need this right now. I need you to hold me."

He pressed a kiss against the top of her head, and she made a soft sound, snuggling against him even tighter. "I can do that, Lexie. For however long you need."

He felt her smile against his shoulder, and she shifted slightly, brushing her lips across his neck in a gentle kiss. "I love you, Mark Sloan."

"Love you too, Lex."

They were silent for a few minutes and Mark thought that maybe Lexie had fallen asleep, until she shifted against him, craning her neck slightly so she looked up at him. "Mark?"

"Yeah, baby?"

She smiled, her hand rubbing against his stomach. "I have Tuesday off. If you still want to go look at houses…I could come. "

His eyes widened and he looked down at her questioningly. She shrugged. "I haven't changed my mind. But…I'll be spending time there. And it's important to you, so…I want to be there. If you want me there."

Mark nodded, tightening his grip on her shoulders briefly before relaxing again. "Yeah. I'd like that, Lex. We can line up a few showings. I definitely want you there with me."