Warning: None. Rated T.

A/N: Enjoy! ;)

Chapter 19 – Moving Out

Mark

As the front door clicked shut behind me, the silence became deafening.

How the hell was I going to explain this to Lexie?

My hands ran through my hair, as I looked around the house. For the first time, it was clean and tidy. Everything was in its place. What would happen to the house? Was it paid off? Would Thatcher sell it or rent it when he got to wherever it was, he was going?

I cursed. I wanted to ram my fist through the wall at the predicament Thatcher put me in. Realizing I couldn't put it off any longer, I pulled out my phone and hovered over Lexie's name. Her shift would be ending soon.

Mark: Meet me at your dad's house when you get off.

It was a couple of minutes before the three dots appeared and then came her reply.

Lexie: Okay. Is everything ok?

There was no easy way to tell her any of this. She was a surgeon and needed to focus on building her career. More importantly, she was an intern that couldn't let anything get in the way of ensuring her success. I had to do the one thing I dreaded doing. I had to lie to her.

Mark: Everything will be fine.

It was a stretch. Everything would not be fine. Not today. In time, her pain would fade. Her grief would get locked away and she could move on.

Lexie: See you soon. And…thank you!

I closed my eyes. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt her. I knew this was going to tear her apart inside. She had endured a lot when it came to her father. She took a lot—emotionally and physically—and to have things end this way…it would be devastating for her.

While I disagreed with Thatcher's decision, and thought he truly was a coward, part of me was glad that he was gone. He could no longer physically hurt Lexie anymore. While emotionally his choice to leave would scar and hurt her, he wouldn't get the chance to do it any longer.

It felt like hours, walking around the empty residence before I heard the sound of Lexie's car pull into the driveway. Exploring the place, she had grown up. Knowing that for most of her existence, it was filled with happy memories of the parents she loved so much. Now, it would be tainted just as my own had been.

Because I could guarantee that Lexie would remember the minute, hour, weather, and every detail about the today, knowing that a huge portion of her life would change forever. Unlike myself when I was younger, Lexie would have me at her side. I wouldn't let her go through this alone.

The door to the front of the house opened, but I forced myself to stay in the family room. She would get here soon enough.

"Mark! Dad!"

Her voice reverberated around the walls of the home. She had deposited her pursue on the entry table, but as she came around the corner, she was still wearing her coat. Fall in Seattle was cold. Mixed with the rain; at this point, jackets were almost always needed wherever you went.

"Hey," she said, a slow lazy smile greeting me. She glanced around the room, noticing her dad wasn't present with me. "Where's my dad?"

I swallowed. "We need to talk."

Her smile was gone in an instant at the dip in my tone. Her lips turned downwards, her forehand scrunched together, as her hands fell limply to her side.

"What's going on?"

Her look was already tearing me to shreds. Because deep down, she didn't really need me to say the words to know that something was amiss. That everything she thought she knew was no longer going to be the same.

"Your dad…he left," I announced, knowing there was no easy way to get the words out.

Her expression transformed to one of confusion. "What do you mean he left? Did you two get in a fight?"

She looked around the room as if I was mistaken. That at any minute her father would come stumbling out of a room in the house. Or maybe he had just gone down the street for another drink and would be back soon. She hadn't seen what I had.

Thatcher Grey was never coming home.

I took a step forward. Each step closing the distance made her face crumble even further. It was like when you so desperately tried to hang on and not let your emotions take over, but each time a person tilted their head and looked at you that way, said those words, or patted your back—the damn of emotions you tried to hold back came rushing out anyway.

Her eyes started to water. She sucked in her bottom lip, as she started to shake her head back and forth. She was trying so hard to hold it together, but as I made that last step to where I could reach out and touch her…she willingly flung herself into my open arms and buried her head into my chest. Her free-flowing tears already starting to seep through my shirt.

I rested my cheek on the top of her head as her body raked with sob after sob. I held her tighter, trying to will all my strength into her as I placed a kiss on top of her head every couple of minutes. I didn't bother telling her things would be ok, because right now wasn't the time. Right now, it wasn't what she wanted or needed to hear.

I released her so that I could walk her over to the large chair next to me, sitting down and pulling her down towards me so that she could sit on my lap. She came instantly, her body snuggling into mine, her head resting just under my chin as I rubbed her back in soothing circles.

I launched into everything that happened from when I pulled up to the house, to the words that we exchanged, before he ultimately picked up his suitcase and walked right back out the door.

"He wanted me to tell you that he loves you."

She pulled back and sneered. "Now, he wants me to know he loves me? You call walking away from me without even saying good-bye, love? It's cowardly," she cried.

"I know, baby. I'm so sorry."

She leaned into me again, my arms wrapping around her and holding her tightly. We sat there in the silence for a while, Lexie just taking comfort with letting me hold her as she worked through her emotions. I understood how difficult this was. Losing a parent you loved, and then the other someone you didn't ever recognize before they too felt you weren't worthy enough to stick around.

"Mark?"

Her voice was so small it crushed me and made my own heart ache. I hated seeing her this upset. "Yeah, Lex?"

"My dad's never coming home…is he?"

My arms tightened on instinct, pressing her just a little closer to me—if that was even possible. I felt her head give a slight nod understanding what my actions were saying. I still needed to say the words, because as horrible and crushing as they were, they were words that she needed to hear.

"No, Lex. I don't think he's ever planning on coming back."

I sat there holding her for a little longer, until she picked her head up and looked around the place, a wistful expression crossing her features. She was no doubt remembering the good times just as much as the bad times. After a moment, she looked down at me, her lips turning downwards.

"Will…will you take me home?" she asked.

"Of course," I said immediately. "I'm sure being around your friends after a day like this, is just what the doctor ordered."

The palm of her hand flattened against my chest, making me pause as I started to lean forward to rise. She gave me a slight shake of her head, as her eyes looked at me seriously.

"No. Take me home."

My eyes tried to convey how hopeful and excited I was about what she was saying. "Are you saying…"

She lifted her chin. "I want to move in with you. If you still want me."

I adjusted her on my lap as I leaned forward, taking her hands in my own. "Lex, I would want nothing more."

"But…"

She must've seen the hesitation on my face. I wanted to make sure my response wasn't questioning per say, but just confirming that this is what she wanted. She was in a vulnerable state after her father abandoned her. I didn't want her to make a decision as big as this one, because she might be feeling like having comfort would be the best thing. She could stay every night and I would hold her, kiss her, until I could try and take that pain away.

I wanted her to move in because she wanted to move him. She was ready to move in with me. Because she loved me, and the thought of going back to a place where neither of us laid our head at the end of the night, was unbearable.

"Lex, I just want to make sure you are ready for this. That your decision—"

She squeezed my hands back. "Mark, I'm ready." She held my gaze, her voice so strong and sure, when it had been cracked and crushed before. "You asked me about this before and I told you I wanted some time to think. I've thought about it, Mark. Before my dad called, I had made me decision. In reality…I already knew what I wanted. I just wanted to be sure there was no doubt in my mind."

"And what you want is to live with me?"

She nodded. "Yes. My home is with you."

I cocked my head to the side, drawing in a long breath. Your home has never been a place, my son. It's a someone. Lexie hadn't ever heard Andrew say those words to me, but her uttering those five words to me, was as if our souls had somehow bonded together. I could no longer argue or fight that my former patient had a gift.

I leaned in, making the last of the space between us nonexistent, my hands releasing hers so I could bring them to her face, and hair, pulling her towards me so our lips met together in a feverish kiss. When I pulled back, her eyes were blazing, her lips parting slightly.

"I love you," I said, my voice gruff.

She wrapped her arms around my neck. "I love you, too."

Lexie

We weren't going to actually start the move tonight, but it was going to start as soon as possible.

I wanted nothing more once we got back to the apartment building, to just strip off all my clothes that now felt dirty and disgusting and take a long bath in Mark's very spacious and fancy tub. The thing had over ten jets with pressure that could be changed based on the type of comfort you were looking to have.

Tonight, I needed to tell my friends my decision. Things had been a little awkward ever since Jackson had aired all of my dirty laundry. I was honest that I did not hate Jackson, but that I had needed time. After seeing how easy it was for my dad to just walk away from me without even a second glance back, I didn't want to leave anything unsettled between us.

I had already forgiven Jackson. I was still mad at him for how he handled it, but I could understand that his heart was in the right place. I still didn't know where Mark stood when it came to Jackson. He didn't like when anyone put me in a position to hurt me—even if they thought they were doing good by it—but anytime I brought it up, his reply was always the same: he's your friend, I support whatever you want to do.

On the drive over, I sent out a quick group text asking if all of them could meet me at the apartment. Surprisingly, all of them had responded they would be there by the time we had made it back.

"Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?" Mark asked, once he parked the car and opened my door for me.

"This is something I need to do alone," I replied.

He nodded, even if he still felt uncertain. It was why I loved him so much, it was hard to even put it into words for him. He might be hesitant, he might disagree that I needed to do it on my own, but he trusted me to make that decision. To know what was best for me. He treated me as an equal and not some fragile thing that couldn't make her own decisions.

As we got off the elevator, I gave him a quick kiss, stopping at my apartment door first, before he kept going to our place. My smile came instantly, almost making his shoulders relax. Our place. Just the thought of it, mixing our things together and coming home to him every day, only confirmed my decision on wanting to live with him. There was no doubt in my mind that we were ready for that step. That being with him was what I wanted.

When I opened the door to my apartment, all three of my friends were in the great room waiting for me. There were wine glasses on the coffee table, each of them already in the midst of their first glass. I noticed a full glass already poured for me.

As much as I wanted to live with Mark, as certain I was to want to be with him, I was going to be sad leaving my friends behind. We had only lived together a couple of months, but those months were ones that I would treasure forever.

"Hey Lexie," April beamed as she saw me enter.

"Hey guys," I said shutting the door behind me.

Jackson was still looking at me cautiously. Things had still been a little tense between us. Outside of a 'hi' here and there, we hadn't gotten back on track with our relationship. I could feel the weight of his stare on me trying to decipher if anything was going to transpire between us.

I placed my jacket on the hook next to the door, and found the empty chair and sat down, easily grabbing a hold of my glass of full wine, and took a long sip.

"Is everything ok?" April asked.

I let out a harsh breath, leaning forward as my elbows rested on the top of my knees. "My dad left," I said.

All of my friends' eyes went wide. Jackson—like Mark—eyes narrowed a little bit at hearing the news. I think it must be some male protective trait. April looked absolutely crushed at the news just as how I looked when I learned about it. Jo's expression was stoic. There was a flash of recognition across Jo's face, which only made me wonder more about her childhood and background. If I didn't know any better, she might be closer to home with my current feelings.

"What do you mean, he left?" April asked.

My voice grew colder. I had never heard my own self sound like this before. Even though my heart was crumbling into pieces as I said my next words, I pushed forward anyway, because it was the truth. As much as the truth could hurt, it was the still the truth. The more I said it, the more I think it would help me to come to terms with it.

"He called Mark. He didn't even have the guts to tell it to me himself. To look me in the eyes before he left. He told Mark he wasn't strong enough to beat his addiction and that he was only making things worse by being here…so he left," I said with a shrug, taking another long gulp of wine.

April scooted closer, her hand reaching out to take hold of mine. "I'm so sorry, Lexie."

"I don't mean to sound insensitive, but your probably better off. At least he can't add any new wounds or heartache to you anymore," said Jo, her hands resting on her lap, her brows knitted with a bit of disgust and sadness.

"I'm sorry, too," Jackson said softly.

My eyes flickered up to him and I nodded. "I asked you here, because I had a couple of things, I wanted to talk to you all about. You guys are my friends, and I know that you care. I know you only wanted to help, and that you probably have questions with everything that has come out in the last couple of days."

"It sure has been interesting," commented Jo.

"I know you guys have lots of questions, and I will be happy to answer any questions you have, but…" my words trailed off as I looked up and settled my gaze on Jackson. "Jackson, I forgive you. I may not have liked how you handled the situation, but I believe your heart was in the right place. All I ask, is that in the future, if you have questions, suspect anything is wrong, please come and talk to me first."

For the first time since all of this happened, the corners of his mouth quirked upwards into a smile. "Thank you, Lexie. I promise I will."

April clapped her hands together excitedly. "Thank god all of that is behind us."

I chuckled, because next to me, April hated tension just as much as the next person. Even if she wasn't directly involved in the fight. April and Jackson were close and best friends, and April and I were becoming fast besties. I could see how torn she had been during this conflict in wanting to be by her best friends' side, but also understand my side of things.

"Why does it feel that for something that should take the thickness out of the room, there is still something left unsaid," Jo added, ever the perceptive.

"Well…that's because I also brought you here to tell you that I'm moving out." I announced.

There were collective gasps all around the room. "I don't understand…you just said you forgave Jackson. Are you really moving out because of what happened?" April asked.

I shook my head. "No. I mean it when I forgive Jackson," I replied looking directly at Jackson so he understood I meant it. His brows were furrowed and he didn't look happy with what I had just disclosed. "Mark and I are going to live together."

"Wow…" Jo choked, wine dribbling down her chin. She had taken that exact moment to take a drink just as I let that huge piece of information drop. "That's so soon."

"It's what we both want," I said.

April frowned. "Are you sure you're ready for something like that? I mean, I know with your dad and all…I could see why you might want to…"

"Mark and I discussed this before everything happened with my dad. I am not using him as a crutch because my dad decided to up and leave me."

I looked up towards Jackson who was the only one who hadn't said anything yet on the matter. He may have been wrong when it came to Mark hurting me, but I sensed he still wasn't that happy with the fact that I was dating Mark. Like the rest, he thought that Mark was using me, or that our relationship wasn't really because we loved each other…more that it was something ugly. I don't really know if many actually understood how much we really did love each other. How well we worked together.

"I agree with Jo, I think it's a little soon," Jackson added.

I let out a breath. "I know you guys might not agree. I know that to everyone it is soon, but I promise you that I have really thought this through and it's what both Mark and I want."

"And your happy?" April asked.

I nodded. "I am. I really am."

"I guess it makes sense. The Mark Sloan I had heard about when we first started hasn't been anything like that," Jo observed.

I smiled, because it was hard not to. I know that very much had to do with me. Everyone had their own ideas of how much time you needed to be with someone before living together, getting engaged, or even married, but to me none of that mattered. I only cared about what being with Mark felt like. For once in my life, I wanted to do something for myself and not for anyone else.

"I think it's just so soon for a guy that has practically lived his life one way for so long," Jackson added.

"It's not our place to decide," April said coming to my defense.

"No, but we are her friends. If you want to swallow your opinion and sugar coat; be my guest, but I want to lookout for my best friend's interest."

"It sounds to me your more jealous," said Jo.

April's eyes went wide at that comment, before her face fell a little bit. It was the first time I had ever seen her look like that, and it made me question why. Would she be upset if Jackson did have some romantic feelings for me? It didn't make much sense... she had always said that Jackson and her were best friends…unless…

"I'm not jealous," Jackson snapped. "I'm just saying what everyone in the room is too afraid to say."

I exhaled, feeling more and more deflated. My ability to continue to deal with more emotional baggage was getting more and more tiresome. I took a look about the room, making sure I met each of their gazes before I landed on Jackson last.

"I promise you; this is what I want. I have no reservations or concerns. Am I nervous about living with a guy? Hell, yes. I have never lived with a boyfriend before, but I love Mark. I love him. I want to live with him."

"You really do love him, don't you?" April asked.

I nodded. "I know it doesn't make a lot of sense to most." My eyes flickered to Jackson in that moment. "But Mark makes me feel safe. He makes me feel protected. He loves me, and he pushes me when I am too afraid to push myself. I never expected this to happen, but he makes me happy."

Jo's back leaned against the couch. "Damn. Now I am jealous."

I chuckled. "I don't know…I think your closer to finding something similar," I said, giving her a knowing glance.

She looked at me for a brief second, before hiding her grin behind her glass of wine as she took another step.

"If Mark makes you happy, then that is all that matters. I will miss you like crazy, but I'm happy for you."

I grinned, forgetting the one positive to this. "Well, you might like this. Um, Mark lives in our building. Not just in our building but on the same floor. Only four doors down from us."

Everyone's eyes went wider again. "What? When did you find this out?" Jo asked.

I gave her a sheepish look. "I might have found that out since day one."

"You've been in a relationship since day one?" Jackson asked, clearly surprised.

I shook my head. "No." I still wasn't going to tell everyone what exactly happened on the first day. "Remember, when I was running late?" Everyone nodded. "I happened to run into Mark out in the hallway on the way to the hospital."

"Wow…it's almost like fate," April said.

If she really only knew.

"Actually, it made him only be harder on me," I said. "I made the mistake that by thinking because I met him before all of you, and well since he is my sister's boyfriend's best friend, that maybe I could use that to get him to hate me less," I said with a chuckle.

Jo laughed. "I remember how mad you were with him the first day. That's just wild."

The conversation seemed to relax. I could tell that Jackson still seemed a little guarded and probably still felt that it was the wrong decision, but it was nice to be friendly again with everyone. We spent the rest of the night drinking and just chatting and answering questions.

I was going to miss living with these guys.

Mark

2 days later….

It was moving in day with Lexie.

She had spent the last two days in her downtime packing up as much as she could to start moving things in to my place. She had told me about her conversations with her friends and letting them know we were moving in together. They had their reservations at first, but in the end were happy for her.

We were planning on meeting Derek and Meredith for dinner later to fill them in on our plan too, before word got around what we were doing together.

Lexie was in her bedroom with Jo and April finishing up packing last minute items, leaving just Jackson and I in the rest of the apartment to start grabbing some of her boxes to lift into my place.

Things were still odd between Jackson and I. Outside of the simple nod we both offered each other when I had showed up this morning, not much had been said between us.

We both grabbed a box that was in their living room, and started making the way over towards my apartment setting it down in the middle of my living room floor.

Jackson straightened up, his hand rubbing at the back of his neck. "Uh, listen, about what happened…"

I stood myself, my hands clasping together to swipe off the dirt from the box I was carrying. "I know Lexie's your friend."

"She is," he confirmed. "I can't apologize for believing what I did was right, but I'm sorry about how I handled the whole thing."

I studied him for a moment, because I had often thought about after the whole thing happened if how aggressive he had been was because of the fact that he really was just protectiveness he felt for his friend, or because there was something more. Either way, I wanted to clear the air. Lexie cared about him as a friend. She made peace with him. I didn't want to add anymore to her stress by holding on to any feelings when everything worked out in the end. That didn't mean I wouldn't be keeping an eye on him.

I walked over to my fridge, pulled out two bottles of water. I strode back and tossed him one, which he easily caught. "I can't blame you for wanting to protect her. If I were in your shoes, I'm not sure if I would have reacted much differently."

He nodded. "I'm glad you understand."

"But…" –because even though Jackson thought the conversation might be over, I was not done with what I had to say, "—I am still you're attending and boss. You ever try to pull something like that again at the hospital in front of everyone, I don't care what your last name is or who your mother might be. Do we understand?"

Jackson looked at me like he wanted to argue another point, but instead, pressed his lips together and nodded mutely instead.

"While we're clearing the air," I said a moment later looking him directly in the eyes, "I love Lexie. There isn't anything that I wouldn't do for her, or protect her from. I know you care about her. I know she is your friend. But she is the woman I love."

We held each other's gazes for a moment, and then he nodded. "Lexie's a good friend. I understand," he said.

"Good."

"One last thing since we are clearing the air," Jackson said, just as I was turning to walk back to their apartment making me stop. I turned back to him. "As her friend, if I find out that you did anything to hurt her…I will hurt you."

I would never hurt her. I knew that he could see it in my eyes, but at least we both were at a mutual understanding.

"Then I say we put the whole thing behind us."

If I had to guess, Jackson actually looked impressed. Maybe he thought I still wanted to pummel him for what he did—and sometimes I did—but I think even he was starting to come around to see that not everything he had heard about me was all true.

"Let's," Jackson agreed, as he strode past me and back to his apartment.

Lexie

"I'm going to miss you," April said, as we packed the last of my items in the last box and closed it shut.

I frowned. "I'm only going to be down the hall."

"But it's not the same," she cried.

I sighed. "I know." I looked at the two of them. "But I promise I will still make time for you both. Maybe once a week, we can just hang out here and have a night to ourselves."

April and Jo beamed at the idea. "That would be great. We can talk about all the hot men and the great sex you are having."

I laughed. "I see what you did there."

Jo grinned. "Did you really think you would be able to get away without telling us how hot the sex is between you and McSteamy?"

I flushed at the question. "It's…it's…ok it's amazing," I said, leaning back against the wall.

Jo swooned. "I figured, based on his reputation. I am officially jealous."

April looked a little uncomfortable, but her interest was piqued. "I mean, is he really like sex god good?"

I giggled a little, well aware that I was acting like I was more a teenager in high school than an actual woman. "Not even the half of it. I never knew that sex could be that good. I guess it just takes finding that right person."

A wistful look shot across April's expression. "That's why I so want to wait. I know everyone laughs at that…but why worry about going through all the bad apples when I can find that with the person, I want to spend the rest of my life with."

"Because you don't know that is how it will be until you actually do it. Even if you marry that person," Jo said. "Love and chemistry are two different things."

I hated how deflated April looked. "They are two different things, but some of the other guys I have been with…we had chemistry, but I didn't feel half of a fraction for what I feel with when it comes to Mark. So, love does play a major role in it."

"You know," Jo perked up, "I remember telling April the night of the gala that I could swear Mark looked mad that you were going with the senator."

I laughed. "He was mad."

"Oh…a jealous Mark Sloan," said April.

"Senator Whitman never stood a chance," I replied.

We all laughed, and I was really going to miss these girls. "So, Jo, are you still going to sit there and deny that you don't have feelings for Alex?"

She stilled as if someone had just hit her with a taser, and then looked at the both of us. "Ok, I like him," she admitted.

April sat down on the bed opposite of her. "It sounds like you don't want too, though."

Jo shrugged. "Alex really isn't the kind of guy that does relationships, and he's, my resident. I don't know…I just worry about getting involved and then things not working out and then I lose him as my friend. He's been a pretty great friend to hang out with."

If anyone could offer any advice here with Jo, I felt like it was me. Alex and Mark were similar with regards to commitment, and both had complicated backgrounds when it came to their parents not being the kind of parents they should be.

"Don't hold it against him," I offered up. "Mark and Alex are pretty similar, but sometimes it takes just finding the right person to want something you didn't think you could ever want before."

She picked at her nails. "I guess that makes sense." She blew out a breath. "Some of it is me as well."

"What do you mean?" asked April.

She looked up at the both of us, her expression hesitant. "I have a pretty similar background," she divulged. "Actually worse. I never knew my parents. I have been bouncing from foster care to foster care until I no longer had to worry about running away and being sent back there again."

I sat down on the opposite side of Jo so April and I were sandwiching her in. "Your worth more than your upbringing Jo. Not everyone walks away. If you think Alex is worth it. If you think he can make you happy…then let yourself be happy. I spent way too much time myself worrying about what everyone else might think or what could happen. I'm glad I overcame that, because I could have let something special just slip through my fingers."

She smiled. "You're right."

I turned my attention to April. "And you…" I pointed my finger in her direction, Jo looking at her as well. "Do you like Jackson?"

Her brows scrunched together. "Of course, I like Jackson, he's my best friend."

"No, do you like Jackson?" I clarified.

She looked at Jo and I and seemed like she was going to protest, but then her lips pressed together and her face gave her emotion away. "It doesn't matter, Jackson would never look at me what way."

"Why would you say that?" asked Jo.

She scoffed. "Because he thinks and acts like the Mark's and the Alex's. Jackson is hot. Extremely hot, and he likes sex—a lot. There is no way he would be interested in a self-conscious virgin that wants to wait until she gets married."

"That's not true," I argued. "Jackson cares about you."

She shot us a look. "Yeah. His dorky best friend. Not as a woman or as a potential partner."

"Or maybe he just doesn't have any idea, and you should tell him," countered Jo.

"Yeah, how about I tell him when you say something to Alex."

Some of the confidence drained out of Jo's face.

"Do you really want to leave it as never knowing?" I asked.

"Better than being laughed at or turned down," April rebutted.

"Jackson would never laugh at you. He isn't like that," I said.

"What am I not like?"

All three of us looked up in that moment to see Jackson and Mark standing in the doorway.

"Nothing," April said quickly.

Jackson looked at all three of us suspiciously, not buying that it was nothing. It didn't help matters that April was all fidgety and giving away that we had definitely been talking about something.

"Okay…" he said.

Mark cleared his throat. "We, um, just came by to get the last of your boxes."

All three of us stood, allowing Mark and Jackson to grab the last couple of boxes I had here in the room, before walking back out.

"You're really moving out, aren't you?" April said, once she turned back around the now empty room with the exception of the bed that was in here.

"I am," I said starting to get teary-eyed. The three of us moved in together, each of us putting our arms around each other's shoulders. "You guys are my best friends."

We all hugged, before I reluctantly had to pull away so I could head out to Mark's place. Our place now. I reminded them I was just down the hall and that we would make those plans to get together at least once week.

"Go," said Jo wiping at her eyes. "Go and have awesome, mind-blowing sex."

I grinned. "I'll see you gals later."

I walked out the door and closed it behind me, excited about what new opportunities living with Mark would bring.

A./N: Thanks for reading.