Warning: Some mild sexual content.

A/N: Special shoutout to Leann for the review and for all of you that have taken time out of your day to read so far. Hope you enjoy this next chapter.

Chapter 2 – The Truth

Mark looked down at Lexie as she snuggled closer to his side a soft snore escaping her lips. Even after he brought her home and they had sex multiple times before Lexie yawned and passed out, he couldn't seem to sleep. His mind was still reeling from their earlier conversation.

"So, what will it be?"

Like it was any other choice then yes. The answer would have been yes after the first night they were together, but he didn't—couldn't—tell her that. Even though he believed what she felt for him was real, this—these feelings he was experiencing—were still new to him specifically.

The only other time in his life that he was interested in anything more than a simple hookup was when he had an affair with his best friend's wife—Addison. He had thought that she loved him, that she wanted the same things as him—but he had been wrong.

Addison had just been using him because she was too much of a coward to tell her own husband that she was unhappy with their marriage. She had been willing to use his own feelings against him by sleeping with him and hurting Derek in the process. Thinking back, he felt even more like an idiot for following her to Seattle to try and win her back. To convince her that they were the real deal, that they meant something together.

Lexie stirred draping her arm over his stomach, making him pull her closer to his side. She sighed contently in her sleep, and he couldn't love the feeling that the only time she fully relaxed and let all her stress and anxiety of Derek, Mer, her internship—everything—fall away when he pulled her into his arms.

"I can hear you thinking even in my sleep," she said groggily.

He looked down as she blinked away the sleepiness. She placed a kiss on his bare shoulder. He turned to place a kiss on her forehead in return. "Go back to sleep."

She yawned. "Trying…but can't when something is on your mind."

"I'm fine," he whispered.

"Then sleep with me," she rebutted.

He grinned. "Mission accomplished."

She bit his shoulder and smiled. "Yes, but that's not what I meant."

She lifted her head, her eyelashes fluttering before opening so she could look up at him. He looked down at her and he could see worry behind those big brown eyes of hers.

"Is it me? Are you regretting wanting to tell Derek and Mer?"

He shook his head and pulled her closer to him. "Never," he answered automatically.

She pushed herself up so that she was resting on her forearm. "Then what is it?"

"I'm worried about the fallout. I don't care about what people say about me. I'm an attending. I have built my career and my work speaks for itself. People come to Seattle Grace for me because I am the best at what I do," he breathed. She smiled. "What?"

"If you are waiting for me to argue that you aren't the best at what you do…you can keep waiting." He grinned, his fingers trailing up and down her bare hip. "But I do care about what people say about you. They don't know you like I do."

"Lex…I'm not a good guy," he admitted.

Her eyes narrowed, and she sat up, pulling the sheet with her. "Yes, you are."

"Does a good guy sleep with his best friends' wife? Does a good guy sleep with his best friends' future sister even after he promised he would stay away? Does a good guy have the ability to count on his single hand the number of times he has actually done the right thing?"

"Mark, where is this coming from?"

His hand rubbed at his face. "I'm worried that you haven't thought about the total repercussions about going public with the fact that you and I are in a relationship. That you don't understand how hard it is really going to be?"

She shook her head. "Your unbelievable. It's not enough for Derek or Mer to tell me what to do or how to feel, but now you?"

"No, that's not what I am trying to do."

She threw the sheet off her and climbed out of the bed. He tried not to groan at seeing her completely naked. Was it wrong that he was getting completely turned on seeing her nude and all riled up? His thoughts were sobered when he watched her start picking up her discarded clothing from the floor.

"Well, I'll help you out. Let's forget it. Let's forget everything," she hiccupped, shoving her panties back on and looping her arms through her bra strap.

Mark climbed out of bed in an instant. Unlike her, he made no move to put on any clothes or hide himself from her either physically or emotionally. "What are you doing?"

"What's it looks like," she snapped.

"It looks like you're running away," he observed.

"Isn't that what you were doing a moment ago when you were trying to convenience me to change my mind?" she asked, pointing a finger to his chest.

"No, that is not what I was doing."

She huffed. "Then tell me, wise teacher, what were you doing?"

"Don't do that," he warned. She crossed her arms, but nodded knowing it was a bit of a cheap shot at him. "What I was trying to say is, you weren't here when Mer and Derek basically started the same way we did. She was an intern and he was an attending. Then, when Addison came back around it made things worse. People called her all kinds of names, belittled her ability as a doctor. Hell, they tried to throw her out of the damn program, Lex. If it hadn't been for Chief Webber and their past, I am not even sure she would be here right now."

He watched as she let her hands fall to her waist seeing the visible anger rolling off him in waves. He felt his shoulders shake at how mad he was getting just reliving his best friend and her sister's history. He wouldn't—couldn't let that happen to Lexie. As much as she tried to present herself that way, Lexie was nothing like Meredith. She wasn't dark and twisty. She was kind, sweet, and would give the shirt off her back if it meant helping someone else.

She took a step towards him, the anger in her melting away, concern taking its place. "Mark, no relationship doesn't have its rough patches. Those rough patches are what makes the good times that much better. Besides, Mer and Derek have come out stronger and they are now engaged to be married. I am sure if you asked them, they would say it was all worth it if it meant they are where they are today."

"You aren't Meredith, and I'm not the good guy like Derek. What people will say, what they will do…it will be ten times worse," he confessed.

He saw her swallow slowly. She reached out and took his hand, and squeezed it in her own. "You're right. There will be tough times ahead. I'm aware that there will be gossip and even mean comments hurled our way. I know they will most likely even question my skills and abilities as a doctor..." she held up a hand when Mark was about to open his mouth to let him know she wasn't finished. "I'm an intern, Mark. They do that already. Can't be worse than being called pathetic."

He winced, his eyes flashing with sorrow, regret, and hurt. "Lexie…"

"Stop!" she cut him off. "It was a joke—albeit a bad one." She stepped closer to him so her free hand was placed directly on his chest where his heart thundered underneath her fingers. "All the rest, I have thought about it, Mark. I didn't come to you tonight on a whim without thinking about everything that comes with it. I want to be in a relationship with you. I want to be with you. I can handle all the rest, all the bad, all the tough times, as long as I have you by my side fighting it with me."

He sighed, his left hand covering the one on his chest and squeezed tightly while his other pushed a strand of hair back behind her ear. "You sure?"

He watched her brown eyes meet his and he couldn't stop himself for letting his insecurities show. That what he was really worried about was that one day she would wake up and realize that all that laid ahead for them wasn't worth it. That he wasn't worth it. Like everyone from his past showed him time and time again.

"Your worth it, Mark Sloan," she whispered, leaning forward and placed a kiss on his cheek.

God, this woman was amazing. How did he get so lucky?

He kept her close not allowing her to pull back. "You're amazing, Little Grey," he said trailing kisses all down her cheek and chin.

She giggled. "So, are you."

He placed a soft kiss on her lips as he yanked the bra, she had been clutching to her chest back off, letting it slip to the floor. "You deserved to be worshiped."

"Oh." She cried, when his fingers trailed down her sides, allowing her to wrap her arms around his neck. "I won't argue with you there."

He bit her collarbone and then blew in the same spot sending a shiver up and down her spine. His hands moved to her waist and shoved back down the panties she had pulled up during their fight. He suddenly hated the purple fabric keeping her from being bare to him.

"Mark…"

"Yes?"

"Stop teasing me. I had enough of your teasing for one night."

He chuckled glad their fight was done and over it. He much preferred a pliant and aroused Lexie in his arms. "Then consider it punishment for making me flirt with someone else tonight," he said, playfully smacking her on the bottom before lifting her so her legs wrapped around his waist meeting his very hard arousal.

She gasped. "It's not like you were the one that had to watch it," she groaned as his mouth continued to do wicked things to her.

He pulled back. "Lexie Grey, were you jealous?"

Her eyes narrowed into slits as she bit her lip. When she didn't answer, he pinched her bottom and she yelped. "Fine! Yes, I was jealous. I wanted to rip her hair out," she confessed. He grinned and laughed out loud. She slapped his shoulder. "It's not funny. I'm not a violent person." He laughed again, and started to nibble at her neck. "Mark?"

"Yeah."

"I'm trusting you here. You potentially have the power to break me. So, I'm asking you…please don't."

His features set to a determined demeanor. He did everything he could to show her with his eyes that he wouldn't. He shouldn't have said the words out loud, because he was never good at keeping promises, but then again, he and Lexie were different.

"I promise."

Callie walked up to the nurse's station, smiled, and threw her arms around her best friend.

"You did it! Thank you!" she beamed.

"Hugging why?" Mark asked, his eyes traveling around them as other roaming eyes were looking in their direction.

Callie released him and pulled out her chair and sat down. She was sporting the widest smile he had ever seen from her. "You kept your promise."

Mark grinned. "Oh. That."

She nodded and started bouncing in her seat. "Guess who approached me as I was walking into the hospital this morning and asked me on a date?"

He was in a good mood, so he decided to play along. "Let me guess, Arizona?"

"Yes!" she shrieked. "We are going out tonight for drinks."

"Good. I'm happy for you, Torres."

"Me too. Maybe I can get lucky and be just as lucky as you in the bedroom department," she jested with an elbow to the gut.

"It's more than that," he said lowering his voice.

She took a sip of her coffee. "I know."

He arched his eyebrow and nodded. "No, I mean more than that. Like, we are in a relationship."

Her brows shot up in surprise. "How much of a relationship can it be if you are keeping it a secret?" He stared at her and when he didn't say anything else, she groaned. "You're an idiot."

"What? I thought you would be happy for me."

"I am. But I am wondering if you are thinking with the proper head in this situation."

He glared at her. "Not that it really is any of your business, but Lexie and I have discussed this and we both want to go public. She wants me and I want her."

She sighed. "And I want a million dollars and to be the best orthopedic surgeon there is. I want a wife and kids and the whole house with picket fence," she rebutted.

"So?"

She rolled her eyes. "So, that doesn't mean what I wish can happen is actually going to happen."

"It could if you wanted it bad enough," he argued.

"You don't think I do," she sighed. "Mark, I am not trying to rain on your parade or make it seem like I don't want for you what you want…but it's Lexie Grey we are talking about."

He gritted his teeth. "Will everyone stop saying her name like she is some fragile china doll that is incapable of making her own decisions."

"What I am saying," she said ignoring his last comment, "is that she is not Big Grey. She isn't dark and twisty and 'I don't care what any of you say' kind of Grey. She is the kind of Grey that can get her heart broken if they run out of her favorite snack in the vending machine."

"That's not fair, Torres. She isn't as weak minded as you are making her out to be."

"I am not trying to tear her down. I like her. I like what she brings out in you. I just don't want to see either of you get hurt. I wasn't here for all of the Derek and Meredith stuff, but I was here for a good portion of it and I even saw Meredith break a few times. You and I both know that when it comes to Meredith and Lexie she isn't as strong as her sister," she pointed out.

Mark was about to open his mouth, but then closed it. It was the same fear he had had last night when he mentioned his concerns to Lexie. He didn't doubt that she cared about him or her decision to want to take things public, but he was concerned that she fully didn't understand what would come about because of their decision to be together.

"You see it too," Torres said, when he hadn't responded.

"Yes, but we talked about it last night. We both want to do this. We're both ready to deal with the repercussions of going public," he replied.

Callie let out an exasperated sigh. "I hope you're right. Cause the last thing I would hate to see is both of you throw away something that has the beginnings to be something great," she said, patting him on the shoulder.

"Me too, Torres. Me too."

"Three," Cristina barked, "You're with Hunt today in the ER."

Lexie balked. She wasn't going to plastics today. This had to be some kind of mistake. Mark and her were working so well together, and she generally did have an interest in Plastics and was excited about some upcoming cases on his schedule. Now she was being reassigned to the ER.

Lexie bounced and waited until Cristina finished out assignments and then approached her. "Cristina, is there any reason why you are sending me to ER today instead of plastics?"

Cristina didn't even spare her a glance. "You don't always get what you want, three. Move along."

"But I have an interest in plastics and there are some upcoming cases I was hoping I could scrub in on if I can continue the mentorship."

Cristina slammed her files on the nurses' station and turned back to her. "Look, this isn't about what you want. Besides, Chief Webber wants all interns to rotate and get a feel for all specialties. Now, I have work to do…so stop bothering me."

She stormed away and left Lexie gapping after her. She had nothing against her boyfriend Owen Hunt, but she really wanted to be with her boyfriend and learning about plastics.

"So, looks like I am on plastics today," Jackson said, once Lexie returned to her group. "What can you tell me about Dr. Sloan?"

Lexie kicked her shoe against the desk. "He's a good teacher. Listen to what he says, but don't let him boss you around too much. If you have any value to add, just speak up. He might seem off putting at first like he doesn't care about your opinion, but he does if it really can help the patient," she replied.

Jackson nodded. "Sounds easy enough. All attendings think they are gods around here. Although, I will say that Dr. Hunt happens to be the easiest going out of everyone, so I am sure it will be nice and fresh change for you."

Lexie shrugged. She looked up into her friend's pale green eyes and friendly smile. He was an attractive fellow intern, and exactly the kind of guy she thought herself to want to have gone after…until Mark.

"No fair, I was hoping to get on Dr. Sloan's service," Dani her fellow intern said with a pout. "I mean we are talking about McSteamy here."

Jackson rolled his eyes, as the rest of the females swooned, including April agreeing with them like she had the previous day at lunch. Lexie tried not to let the comments get to her.

"Lexie, I don't know how you did it. I would have had no problem agreeing with anything Dr. Sloan needed," Dani added.

Lexie gritted her teeth. "Well, maybe that's because I am here to learn and do a job and not worry about a booty call."

Liar. You're doing both.

Dani huffed. "Well, not all of us can do both at the same time." She winked in Lexie's direction. "Besides, I heard he's back. Heard he was hitting on the derm nurse yesterday, and was pretty cozy with Dr. Torres this morning."

Lexie's interest peeked and she couldn't stop herself from responding. "Ma—Dr. Sloan and Dr. Torres are best friends," she clarified.

"Oh, really…so the nurses' saying that she was hanging all over him and hugging on him is just because they are friendly?"

"Jackson and I hug all the time and were friends," April chimed in. "I'm in agreement with Lexie. Besides, isn't she a lesbian now or something?"

Lexie grinned and was thankful for April. They hadn't connected much in medical school, but ever since they entered into the internship program, she liked the young intern and showed just as much progress. Besides, April was more of an outcast like Lexie—for different reasons in that the other interns had a hard time with understanding her faith playing a huge part in her life, while she was reserved and book smart. It was how she earned her nickname—Lexipedia.

"Yes, she is," Lexie affirmed. "Having been on Dr. Solan's service the last week…that I can confirm."

Dani rolled her eyes. "Even better. Less competition then."

More like none, Lexi thought.

She really could not wait until this evening, until they got to sit down and with her sister and Derek and tell them that they were seeing each other and in a real relationship. She couldn't wait to come in tomorrow and see the look on Dani's face in particular when she realized that Mark Sloan was officially off the market. That idea made her smile even bigger.

"Why are you all standing around?" Izzie demanded having seen all the interns still chatting. "Go. Save lives. Make yourselves useful."

After a long day in working in the ER with Dr. Owen Hunt, Lexie was glad to be done with her shift for the day. She quickly changed out of her scrubs and into a pair of jeans, red turtle neck sweater, and jacket and was waiting just outside the hospital doors for Mark.

They would both be taking their own cars to Joe's to avoid any suspicion. They had agreed that she would wait at the bar until Mark sat down with Derek and her sister and then she would join him. He had tried to talk her out of needing to come, telling her it was his responsibility to let them know and take the hits from Derek. She had to remind him they were in this together, and that her sister was the other half of the equation and needed the same understanding.

"Hey." Mark treated her to a smile as he met her outside.

He was wearing jeans a black button down top and his infamous black leather jacket that he loved so much. He looked so tempting and should come with a warning sign for erratic breathing, heart palpations, and feelings of dizziness when he came near.

"Hey," she replied.

The eyes he was giving her right now made her cheeks flush to a new level of pink, causing her to look away. They started walking to their cars, and even though they couldn't hold hands or show affection, he continued to find ways so their hands or arms would graze in passing as they walked along.

"How was your day?" she asked.

"Not as fun without you," he answered as they started towards her car.

The attendings had nicer covered parking spots closer to the hospital. Mark never complained walking her to her lowly parking space even though it would take him a bit longer to get to his car after dropping her off.

"Same. Dr. Hunt is great, and ER trauma cases can be interesting…but I missed working with you today," she admitted.

"Why, Dr. Grey…are you trying to tell me your smitten with me?"

She shook her head. "Shut up."

"Now, that is not a nice thing to say to your boyfriend or you're attending."

She grinned as they reached her car. "Well, as my boyfriend, I wish I could kiss you right about now."

His look turned feral. "I wish you could too."

She leaned against her door, not quite ready yet to walk away. "And…and your sure your still ok with telling Mer and Derek about us?"

"I'm sure, Lex. As long as you are?"

She bit her lip trying to contain her excitement. "I'm sure. It will be nice when the rest of the interns stop talk about you and being all McSteamy and everything."

Mark chuckled, and leaned against the car with her so their arms were brushed against each other. "Oh, yeah?"

She looked down, shaking her head. "Shut up. You know they do."

"What do they say?"

"Let's just say things that only I should have on my mind."

He bumped his hip into hers. "Are they on your mind now?"

"You're shameless," she answered, turning to her car and opening the door. "I'll see you at Joe's."

"Yeah. See you soon."

As soon as Mark entered Joe's his eyes immediately scoured the bar until he saw Lexie propped on a stool nursing a drink. He sighed in relief since the time it took him to get from her car to his, the weather had already turned causing a down pour.

Lexie turned in her stool and looked at him, offering a wink before she turned back to her drink. Her hair was down, loose around her face, but even then, he could see her stolen glances every few seconds.

He turned back towards the front of the bar where the tables and booths were and spotted Derek and Meredith sitting down already waiting with drinks in their hands.

"Mark, come and join us," Derek said upon seeing him.

Mark shrugged out of his jacket, placed it on the back of his chair. "Let me just grab a drink and I'll be back."

He walked over the bar, purposely inserting himself next to the empty seat by Lexie. There was another man occupying the seat by her and based on the looks he kept sending to her almost every ten seconds, the man was interested. It made him want to not leave her alone.

"Hi Mark. You want the usual?" Joe asked.

"Yes, thank you." He kept looking at Joe but his voice was low and meant for her. "I forgot to tell you earlier how sexy you look."

She blushed and it made her that much sexier. "I think you have bigger things to be worried about right now," she hissed.

Joe grabbed the scotch off the shelf and was walking back towards him. "Do me a favor?"

"What?"

"Ignore the guy to your left. He likes you," he observed.

Lexie turned to discreetly look at the man next to her who happened to just look back at the same time offering her a toothy grin. It made Mark's fist clench.

"Maybe I should keep my options opened," she teased.

Joe dropped his glass of single malt scotch in front of him. "You're going to pay for that later, Lex," he warned.

She grinned. "Counting on it, big guy."

Mark shook his head walking back to the table where Derek and Meredith were laughing together. They turned to him once he approached and sat down at the table.

"Was that Lexie?" Meredith asked looking past him.

Mark looked back over and then back at her. "Oh, yeah, it is. Said that a few of the other interns would be getting together for drinks tonight," he lied.

"So, what did you want to talk to us about?" Derek asked changing the subject.

Mark sighed. He was just going to go right into it. He guessed it was better to just rip the band aid off and get it over with then beat around the bush.

"Well, my personal life. My relationships to be exact," he replied.

Meredith laughed. "Relationships, right," she said taking a drink of her beer. When he arched his brow at her, she stopped laughing. "Oh. Oh, you're serious?"

"Yes, I am."

"I didn't realize you were dating or even serious about anyone. Is it that derm nurse you were flirting with yesterday? Emma?" Derek asked.

Mark shook his head. "There is absolutely nothing going on between me at that nurse," he clarified.

"You know, that would explain why some of the nurses were wondering why you weren't flirting with them and trying to get laid," Meredith added.

"You know, now that you mention it…that makes sense," Derek added.

"The point is…" Mark cut back in to get a hold of the conversation. "I am seeing someone and have been seeing them for the past month."

Meredith hiccupped. "Well, shit. I don't think I have ever been this surprised before."

"Me either," added Derek. "That's great man. I'm happy for you. I guess that is why you were getting so mad at us when we kept bothering you about Lexie and everything."

Mark took a long swig of his scotch his other hand rubbing the back of his neck. "Well, that's part of it," he agreed.

"We didn't mean to upset you. It's just as long as I know you—and I am sure Derek would agree—you really ever haven't been a one-woman kind of guy. More a wham bam thank you ma'am," said Meredith.

"What are you eighty?" Mark rebutted. "Besides, people change."

He took another sip of scotch as both of their eyes widen in surprise.

"Ok, now I have to know who this mystery woman is if she's got you talking like that," Derek said.

"Agreed," added Meredith.

"Well, that is just it…you do both know her."

Meredith bounced in her seat. "Who is it? Izzie? That new pediatric attending…what is her name…Arizona something…"

"Robbins," Mark answered.

"Yeah, Arizona Robbins. Is it her?"

He shook his head. "No. I don't have the right equipment for what she is looking for, and besides she is on a date over there with Torres."

Derek and Meredith both followed the direction of his gaze, and sure enough Callie and Arizona were in the opposite corner having a drink.

"So, if it's not Arizona or Izzie—who is it?"

"Me."

All three of their heads looked up to see Lexie was standing at their table. She looked to her sister first, then Derek, and finally offering him that smile that he looked forward to every night before he closed his eyes. She pulled out the chair and slid into the seat next to him.

Mark looked over to his best friend whose eyes were murderous as they looked back at him.

"You promised," Derek snapped.

"I know," Mark said calmly.

"You said you wouldn't go after her," he added.

"I didn't."

Derek shook his head, his hand gripping his bottle of beer tightly. "You're a shitty liar and a damn shitty friend," he muttered.

"Derek…"

"Don't. Don't talk to me. Not a word," he said through gritted teeth. "After everything with Addison, everything I forgave you for…we had just gotten back on track that I could let you back in again. To trust you. I asked you one simple thing and you couldn't even do that. You betrayed my trust—again."

"Derek." Meredith murmured seeing that other patrons were looking in their direction.

"How are you ok with this?" he asked turning towards her.

"Just stop!" Lexie shouted.

All three of them went quiet and turned towards her. She looked at Derek first. "Derek, Mark didn't lie to you. He didn't pursue me. I pursed him. I went to him and basically threw myself at him. He deserves a damn medal in my opinion because he only snapped after I was practically naked in his hotel room."

"Lexie!" Meredith admonished.

"Oh, please. Let's not. You two slept together on your first night together," she reminded them.

"That's different," Meredith said.

"Why? Why, Mer? Why is this any different?"

"Because Derek wasn't and isn't like Mark."

"What? Warm? Caring? Accomplished?" Lexie shot back.

"Try faithful or loyal," Derek muttered in response.

Mark's eyes narrowed at his best friend. He knew that Derek was going to be mad, and even prepared to take a few hits because of it, but the constant bashing of his character and what Lexie means to him was starting to piss him off.

"He's been all those things to me," Lexie affirmed.

Derek huffed. "For now."

"Derek!" Meredith scolded.

"What? You want me to sit here and actually believe this is real. That this is going to go anywhere. That eventually he won't go back to being the Mark he always is and always will be…leaving her with a broken heart because of it."

Mark downed the rest of the scotch in his glass and stood from the table. "Yeah, I guess that is all you would see."

Mark took off towards the bar, but Lexie turned back towards the table. He could still see and hear what was being said but he couldn't sit in front of Derek any longer for fear that he would end up in a fist fight right in front of everyone at the bar.

"Hey."

"What are you doing here?" He answered in surprise grabbing Joe's attention for another round. "Aren't you on a date?"

Callie smiled. "I am."

"That bad?"

She slapped his arm. "No, you idiot. I came over here for you."

"Why would you do that?"

She frowned. "Because I knew this was going to be hard for you. And it looks like you could use a friend," she said placing her hand over his.

"Thanks, Torres. Don't waste your chance on this date on me. I'll be fine," he said.

She ignored him and stayed anyway. "From what I can hear, Derek wasn't taking things to well."

"That's an understatement," he muttered.

Joe put another scotch down in front of him.

"Is she worth it?"

Mark brought the liquid to his lips and paused before nodding. "She is."

Callie smiled. "Then fight for it. Fight for her. Don't let anyone else tell you differently."

He turned towards her, smiled, and kissed her on the cheek. "When did you get so wise and start giving out good pep talks?"

She laughed. "About the same time my best friend reminded me that it was ok to be comfortable in your own skin. That even if others can't accept me, or my lifestyle, others will and they will love me for me. People like you, Mark Sloan."

"I do love you, Torres."

"Yeah, yeah. I love you too. Go. Go get her," she said before walking away.

"How dare you!" Lexie ground out as soon as Mark walked away.

"Lexie, they have history that you don't understand," Meredith warned.

"Save it, Mer. We all have history. You have a mother that cheated on our dad with the Chief and then put her career ahead of you. You have a father who couldn't bother sticking around like he did for me." She turned towards Derek. "You had a wife that couldn't bother being faithful so she turned to your best friend instead of dealing with your problems head on."

"Yeah, and it was my best friend who was more than happy to step in and stab me in the back," Derek said.

"I know," she said sadly. "I know that he regrets it. I see how much it bothers him that he hurt you that way, Derek. You have no idea how much this past mouth being with me has made that even worse because he didn't want to break that promise he made to you. That he didn't want to hurt you."

"And, yet, he did. Again. Because that is who Mark Sloan is and always will be," he replied.

She shook her head. "Then I feel really bad for you, because you are missing out. He never wanted to hurt you and neither did I. We aren't just sleeping around. We are in a relationship." She looked back towards Meredith. "That's what we came to tell you. We didn't want to sneak around anymore. We wanted—no we hoped—that you both would be just as excited for us, but I see that isn't going to happen."

"Lex, it's not that we wouldn't be happy. We are just concerned that…"

"That I would get hurt? That I would be making the wrong decision?" Meredith nodded. "Then that is my decision, Mer. Just like it's your decision to be with Derek and to marry him. If Mark and I are wrong for each other, then we will figure that out. If he breaks my heart…that is my cross to bear. I am a grown woman. I don't need you, Derek, or anyone else telling me who is or isn't good for me. I am asking if you can accept that. If you can be in my life without trying to control it or his. Can you do that?"

Derek and Meredith looked at each other and then nodded. "We just worry about you," Derek relented.

"And I appreciate it. I do. I care about the both of you. Mer, I was so glad when I found out you were my sister. I know you may not have at first been glad to know me or Molly existed, but I was glad to know I had a big sister that I could look up too. Especially one in the same field as myself. I want to share things with the both of you and ask for your opinions. But, if you can't respect that I choose Mark and want to be with him, then I guess we have nothing else left to discuss."

Their eyes lifted when Mark walked back over to the table. "You ready?" he asked turning towards Lexie, downing the rest of his scotch and putting the glass on the table.

"Yeah," she said, standing to grab her coat.

"Mark, wait."

Mark finally looked up to meet Derek's eyes. Lexie watched the silent battle between them as they stared at each other. After a couple of minutes of silence, Derek raised his hand and extended it out to him.

"I see now that Lexie wants this. I can't say I am extremely happy about it or that it was done behind our backs, but she's right in that it's your decisions to make. Can we agree to put this behind us?"

Mark looked at Lexie who offered and encouraging smile. He didn't want to disappoint her, especially if there was an opportunity to forge ahead, but there was a lot of things that were said tonight that he didn't know if he could let go so easily. He looked back at his best friend's hand.

"Yeah. Sure," he agreed.

"How about a celebratory drink?" Meredith asked to break the tension.

Lexie smiled up at Mark who put an around her shoulder and pulled her close to his side. "We have other plans," she said.

"Oh. Well, then I guess enjoy your evening."

"You too."

For the first time, she and Mark left without having to hide what they really were to each other.

Hope you enjoyed chapter 2. Welcome all reviews and feedback.