AN: Chapter 20?! How is this possible?! Seriously I never saw this story getting this long or getting such great reviews. You guys are seriously the best.
I know this chapter isn't really focused on the sisters, a lot of you have been wanting Derek and Mark. I wanted to bring them in for you guys. Writing romance is not my strong suit. I wish it was. My area is writing family.. Its what I love.. :) However I wanted you guys to have a little something.
Next chapter or two will be back focused on the sisters! (Love these girls) Thanks for sticking with me.
Sorry for any errors, its hard proofing your own work.
"You're healing nicely, little Grey." Callie pushed back on the rolling stool in front of Lexie, as she fixed her gown. "Your ribs are going to be tender, for a while. As will your sternum. I am going to have you do some PT to strengthen the muscles in your chest area."
Meredith smiled, "That's great news, Lex."
"Can I go back to work?" Lexie asked with a hopeful smile.. "I am getting really tired of being home all day by myself. While you people are living your fabulous exciting lives."
Callie laughed and nodded "I am clearing you for light work, but you can come back. No cracking open anyone's chest, and don't lift anything over twenty lbs for a while. Deal?"
Lexie grinned "Deal." She slid off the table and began changing back into her clothing. She no longer cared about privacy. Meredith and Callie had seen everything she had several times over the last few weeks. Modesty was gone when it came to them.
Callie turned on the stool to look at Meredith while Lexie changed. "Has you know who, shown up or caused issues?" She asked in a slight whisper.
Meredith shook her head "We haven't seen or heard from her in over a week. Hopefully she's gone back to the depths of hell she crawled out of."
"Doubtful. she's a lurker." Lexie replied as she pulled out a brush from her bag. "Would one of you mind helping me get my hair up?" While she was feeling better the motion of holding her arms above her head caused her pain. Which Callie was hoping PT would help with.
"We have our first therapy session in the next hour, and I want my hair out of my face, for when I ugly cry."
Meredith rolled her eyes "Who said you were going to ugly cry, we are just meeting our therapist…It's a get to know you session really."
"I'll ugly cry.." Lexie promised as Callie stood from the stool and motioned Lexie to take it, reaching for the hairbrush the younger Grey had in her hand. "I mean I have to sit next to you for an hour straight, that's worth ugly crying over…"
"Oh, snap." Callie laughed as she began to gently work out the knots in Lexie's hair. "You gonna take that Grey?"
Meredith narrowed her eyes at Lexie as got closer she reached out and gently flicked her sister's forehead. "Rude." She commented before placing her hand on Lexie's shoulder and squeezing it gently. Truth be told she was happy to see her sister smiling and joking even if it was at her expense. She'd take it. "I am going to finish some rounds, see you in an hour?"
Lexie nodded "I'll be there."
"I am off after the appointment, give us the evening to spend time together?"
Lexie smiled and nodded "Can we get dinner?"
"Absolutely." Meredith nodded, thankful that Lexie's appetite was returning. "Bye ladies."
"See ya, Meredith." Callie called as Meredith waved to them both before leaving the room.
Callie continued to work her fingers through Lexie's hair as she quickly twisted and pulled it gently into a half braided ponytail "You my friend are all good to go." She replied, snapping the rubber band in place. "I want to see you in one week, I will also be keeping up with your PT, so I better hear good things."
"Or?" Lexie asked with a smile taking the brush from Callie.
"Or I'll kick your butt." She winked.
"So scary." Lexie stood, "Thanks Callie, for everything." She added quieter.
Callie winked "No need to thank me, you took care of me when I had the chickenpox, and I wasn't nice to you. Didn't I threaten you?"
Lexie laughed "Yeah.. That was an interesting time" She laughed "but seriously you really helped me and Meredith."
"People care about you Little Grey." Callie replied honestly "And not because you used to date Mark, or not because you're Meredith Grey's little sister. We love you, because you're our little Grey. Our sunshine. Our hope…Our human dictionary. Our heart…Those are all you."
Lexie blushed for a moment before wrapping her arms around Callie hugging her tightly for a minute before pulling away. "Gotta go." She called, needing to move. Needed to get away from the compliments.
"See you tomorrow, back at work." Callie winked "Good luck with Cristina. I am sure she'll have a lot to throw at you. Just remember to be kind to your body, and if anything doesn't feel right. You come find me. Understood?"
"Understood…" Lexie agreed "Do you happen to know if Arizona is in surgery right now?"
"She's not." Callie promised "Heard she was going to go get a coffee, here in the next little bit. If you hurry I am sure you can catch her."
"Thank you." Lexie called over her shoulder as she quickly headed out of the exam room to go find Arizona.
"Lexie…"
Lexie turned as she walked down the hallways of the hospital to see Mark waving at her.
She slowed her pace and allowed him to catch up to her. With a few quick strides he was where she was slowing his strides to match hers. "Hey, he greeted her. "Everything okay?"
Lexie smiled "Yes, Callie just cleared me to come back to work, tomorrow."
Mark's smile faded "So soon?"
Lexie's eyebrow shot up as she stopped walking and turned around to face him. "It's not that soon Mark. I have been out for weeks."
Mark held up his hands "I want to know you're okay." He offered.
"Mark, Callie would not have cleared me, if she didn't think I could handle it." Lexie reminded him. "Callie's your best friend, don't you trust her?"
Mark opened his mouth and closed trying to choose his words carefully. The last thing he needed was for it to get back to Callie that he was questioning her decisions.
"Meredith was also there, and she did not object." Lexie added "If Callie and Meredith can have faith in my return, can't you?"
"Of course I trust you." Mark placed his hand on her shoulder. "This has nothing to do with trust, I care about you."
Lexie's heart fluttered in her chest as she swallowed hard. Everything inside her body wanted to turn around and wrap her arms around Mark. Hold on and never let go. "I know… and I you…"
Mark sighed "I know there is a but, in there, somewhere?" He asked rocking back to his heel. He brought his hand up and gently cupped her chin with his hand.
"I love you, Mark." Lexie admitted as she grabbed his free hand. Her heart raced faster. Her chin fit perfectly in the palm of his hand. "I will always love you…" She swallowed hard, fighting back tears. "Right now I am just trying to pick up the broken pieces of my shattered world. It's all I have the energy for. I don't know how to make me Lexie again, and make a healthy romantic relationship at the same time."
Mark leaned in and planted a tender kiss to her forehead. "That comes first" He whispered "Your mental well being comes first. It has to" He insisted " I'll wait for you…"
Lexie stood on her tiptoes, tears rolling down her cheeks as she wrapped her arms around his neck and held on didn't have any words. She never had words when it came to Mark. It was all a feeling in her heart. "I want you to be happy, Mark. I always want you to be happy."
"Seeing you heal, will make me happy." Mark promised as he ran a hand over the top of her head before slowly wiping away some tears with his thumb. "And for right now, while you walk this path, it never hurts to have a friend rooting for you does it?"
"No" Lexie shook her head "Never hurts to have friends….I am so sorry" She apologized as the tears began to fall harder and faster "I am sorry that I make things so complicated for you…"
"Don't cry, Lexie." Mark wrapped his arms around her gently. "You don't make things complicated between us…You didn't bring a pregnant teenage daughter into my life…Life happened….Life is happening now." He offered "I think you're wise, to know that you need to focus on you right now, not many can admit that."
"I don't feel wise" Lexie responded "I feel like I am a train wreck, all the time." She sniffed and laughed a little "Ask my sister. She can tell you what she sees at three am…"
"Meredith doesn't see a mess." Mark smiled. "I know if I asked her, she'd tell me she saw her tough kid sister, kicking the world's ass, for trying to knock her down. Meredith is protective of you." He agreed, "And she has stepped into her role as well as your sister, and she is proud of you." He added "I see how her eyes light up, when others ask about you. Or when someone tells her something amazing you've done. She gets this proud gleam…before giving them a duh look. She then usually responds with. Yeah, well She's a Grey."
Lexie laughed, "Of course, she can't get mushy."
"Never." Mark smiled "She's proud of you, and she loves you and so do I." He kissed her forehead again. "I don't have the answers, Lexie…but I do know you don't complicate things."
"Lexie?"
Mark and Lexie turned to hear Arizona's voice. Her eyes filled with concern when she spotted the tears. "Am I interrupting something, I can come back later…" She took a few steps back.
"No, it's okay" Mark motioned her back towards them. "Lexie was actually on her way to find you." He leaned in and kissed Lexie's forehead. "I am proud of you" He whispered into her ear. "And I am right here, waiting...You focus on you now. There will be time later to focus on what we want." He wiped a tear away before pushing her out towards Arizona. "Go get that coffee, you deserve it."
"Robbins" He squeezed Arizona's shoulder "Treat her to a coffee for me." He whispered to her I'll pay you back."
Arizona opened her mouth to say something but closed it again as she watched Mark walk away before she turned to look at Lexie who had silent tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Oh, honey…I know." She said quietly as she wrapped her arms around Lexie and pulled her into a tight hug.
"It's okay," Lexie whispered as she closed her eyes and allowed Arizona to hug her. "He's just respecting where I am right now."
Arizona rubbed her hand up and down Lexie's back for a moment before pulling away and offering her a smile "maybe, but it doesn't mean, it doesn't royally suck, and hurt…"
"Hurts like hell." Lexie agreed. "I didn't think my heart could possibly hurt more, but here we are."
"I can't fix broken hearts, or offer healing words." Arizona shook her head "But I can buy you a coffee and listen, rumor has it you're free for the next forty-five minutes before you and Meredith go to counseling. Want to spend it with me and on a walk with coffee?"
"I'd like nothing more." Lexie managed a small smile as she wiped her eyes. "My nickname should be baby Grey. I swear to god, I am always crying these days."
Arizona looped her arm inside of Lexie's as she started walking her towards the coffee cart. "Lexie Grey, if you hadn't been crying recently…I'd think you were a psychopath. You have had so many crushing blows the last few weeks…This year…The tears make you a human…A healing human. I admire your strength."
Lexie glanced over at her blushing slightly as she looked down at her shoes.
"I for one am inspired by you." Arizona added "There is power in allowing your friends and family to see your vulnerability."
Lexie stopped walking as she looked at Arizona. "What do you mean?"
"You're allowing us to be there for you, you're not hiding so far behind walls nobody can reach you." She explained "You aren't allowing bitterness to consume you…and you're making more honest relationships. It shows trust, and it allows you to trust us….All of that is…" Arizona's eyes got wider, her smile growing "Is powerful."
Lexie resumed walking as she processed what Arizona was saying. "Do you think that's what happened to my aunt Tami? To Adam?" She asked. "They didn't have anyone to trust with their grief, no ways to let it out?"
Arizona nodded "More than likely…When you sit alone with grief for too long all by yourself. Not allowing others to carry some for you. It leads to very dark places for some people, for some it breaks them."
Arizona stopped in front of the coffee cart and studied Lexie closely as they waited in line. "You got quiet, okay what are you thinking right now?"
Lexie blew out some hair as she shifted her weight. "I am thinking about my aunt."
"The one that's been harassing you, making you think you're crazy?" Arizona asked "Because of some trauma she's connected to?"
Lexie raised her eyebrow.
"Something she said to Meredith and Callie the other day…and your mom having to take you to the hospital when you were little for sedation." Arizona looked over at Lexie. "Tami was connected to that, wasn't she?"
Lexie nodded as they moved closer to the counter. "My mom did have to take me to the hospital, and they sedated me." She quietly enough for Arizona to hear and nobody else.
Arizona held up her hand as they stepped to the counter "Your normal order?" She asked.
Lexie looked confused but nodded.
"You're not the only one with a good memory, or pays attention to people, little Grey." Arizona teased "I have been standing next time to you, many times while Mark and Callie ordered our coffees."
"Good ole days." Lexie muttered, but nodded to Arizona letting her know she wanted her usual. She quickly ordered two coffees and a pound cake to share.
Once Arizona had their coffees and the treat in hand she led them outside to a table under a tree. She handed Lexie her coffee and unwrapped the treat and split it in half passing half to Lexie. "I can tell you're in your head right now." Arizona stated. "I can almost see the wheels turning. What's going on?"
Lexie took the golden cake and broke off a small bite popping it into her mouth. Allowing the buttery sugary to wash over a minute. "First off, thank you." She motioned to the coffee and cake. "
Arizona smiled and nodded.
Lexie let out a sigh as she studied her coffee. "I didn't tell anyone this for most of my life. Until I told Meredith the other night." She bit on her lip. "Telling my sister, set something free inside of me."
Arizona nodded "That's great Lexie, that's what I am talking about. Trusting your people with your loads. Makes them lighter."
Lexie nodded "When I was three, Tami brought me to a drug dealers house…She allowed him to take vulnerable pictures of me." She cleared her throat "You know, the kind that is on the dark web and highly disgusting."
Arizona's stomach turned at the thought. How Meredith didn't go kill that woman was beyond her. It was taking Arizona everything she had to stay in her seat and not go find that woman. She worked with small children everyday. She saw children who had been put in similar situations cross her path. The haunted look in their eyes. Is something Arizona could never unsee. Knowing Lexie had the same haunted eyes at one point. Felt like a kick to Arizona's gut. If she was upset, she could only imagine what Meredith was feeling.
"The man taking the pictures, he was going to do more, but thank God my aunt stopped him. She stabbed him. Knife went through the whole hand. So much blood" She shook her head trying to get the image out of her head. "Since that day, my aunt and I haven't exactly had the best relationship. My mom always suspected something…" Lexie continued to bite her lip. "I think she was afraid I'd tell my dad, and her life line would be cut short."
Arizona tilted her head to the side as she studied Lexie closely "You never told him."
"No" Lexie shook her head "but he was the only person she had in her life to carry any of the burden, I guess…She carried all of theirs from childhood…" She looked up at Arizona "And now it makes me sadder for her. That she has nobody in her life…Even with Molly and dad dying I am not alone. I have you guys, and most importantly Meredith." She took a sip of her coffee. "What she did was wrong, and I could have been really hurt…and making me feel crazy to keep me quiet was wrong."
"Very" Arizona agreed "Very wrong, Lexie."
"I just realized my dad left me something better when he died, then the house we grew up in. That house isn't my parents or Molly." She went on while she had the courage to talk. "My dad gave me a big sister. Way better then a house that needs a new roof." She joked slightly.
Arizona smiled as she reached out and grabbed Lexie's hand and squeezed it.
"I am going to call Tami tonight." Lexie said after a minute. "I am going to tell her I forgive her, and to take her house and go live her life the best she can. I am going to tell her she should go to AA, and see someone." She added "So she doesn't have to the very last years of her life carrying all her burdens herself."
Arizona felt her eyes welling up with tears. "That's big of you, Lexie."
Lexie shrugged "I don't know about that, but it's freeing. The anger was consuming me. I'd rather not carry that anger." She added "I'd rather work on picking up the pieces of my blown up world. Get back into work. Build my relationship with my sister…My friends" She squeezed Arizona's hands "And hopefully at some point with Mark. There just isn't room in my world for her and the anger. I am letting her go. She's not going to be the shadow looming over me anymore."
Meredith squeezed some lotion into the palm of her hand and began to rub into her legs as Derek floated around the room getting ready for bed.
"Did you and Lexie have your appointment this afternoon?" He asked, trying to remember "I didn't see you around the hospital later this afternoon."
Meredith nodded "We did."
"How did it go?" He asked, sitting on the side of the bed. "I didn't see Lexie, when I got home."
"She's asleep." She looked up "She went straight to bed, pretty much after we got home from dinner. I haven't heard a peep out of her since."
"That bad?" Derek asked.
Meredith shook her head "No, actually we had a great first session. I wasn't sure what we were going to get with Lexie. But she showed up ready to talk and do the work. She was very open...She did a lot than I did with my first go around with a therapist." She laughed.
Derek smiled "Really, that's great, Mer."
"I think she's exhausted because she's letting out all this toxic build up from out of her body." Meredith added "She's not fully herself yet, though."
"She's not going to be. Not for awhile after that amount of trauma." Derek agreed as he sat next to Meredith and began to rub her shoulders "She's taking the steps she needs to heal" He kissed the crook of her neck "And watching you, really take ownership of your relationship with her. Is amazing" he grinned as Meredith's body melted to his touch. "You fought me hard when I tried to get you to try and reach out."
"I was young and dumb" Meredith responded with a smirk. "I can admit I was wrong. I wasn't ready for her when she showed up. I was hurt. Hurting... I think a part of me wanted her to hurt, like I was hurting. I took out my anger meant for my father on her."
Derek pushed Meredith's hair out of her face before placing a tender kiss on her forehead "And you became a victim of the power of Lexie Grey and her hopeful nature.."
"I became a better person." Meredith admitted as she wrapped her arms around Derek's neck placing her forehead against his. "Thank you for pushing me to be a sister. I almost missed out on knowing one of my new most favorite people."
"You're welcome" Derek smiled. Hearing Meredith call Lexie one of her favorite people warmed his heart. He remembered the death glare she'd given him when he brought Lexie home. How he thought he'd have to sleep with one eye open. Turns out it was one of the best things he ever did for his wife and his sister in law.
"I hated being a daughter," Meredith admitted quietly to Derek. "It wasn't a good title for me or whatever you want to call it." She smiled as Derek kept his forehead on hers. Their eyes locked. "Being your wife, being Cristina's person and her being mine, and being Lexie's sister are more me anyways. I love those titles…"I love being a doctor, a friend, a sister and I think some day…I am going to like being a mom…" She brought in her lip and bit down with a smile "Being a mom to your children." She took a deep breath "Hopefully I make a good one."
"You're a fantastic wife, a great friend and amazing big sister" He smiled "And I know that you're going to make the best mother in the entire world." He kissed her forehead again. "Your parents may not have given you a road map on how to be a parent, but you have taken a blank canvas and mapped out your own paths. You're a brilliant doctor and a blessing to those who know you, Meredith Grey." He planted another small kiss on her nose "And you never even realize how special you really are. How you make the world a better place."
Meredith blushed "Learning to be a good wife, doctor, sister and friend... still very much learning." She corrected.
"We're always learning Meredith. As humans we are always growing, learning and evolving. "We get into trouble when we stop wanting to grow, learn and change." His forehead rested on hers again "And I don't see you ever quitting on learning how to be the best you can be in all your roles, after all you are a Grey, and Grey's don't stop."
Meredith laughed as she wrapped her arms around his neck allowing him to hold her close. While his speech may have been cheesy, she couldn't deny he was wrong. She was a Grey and no matter what life threw at her she was okay. She also knew that the very same would be true for her sister too.
Life could throw punches but it wasn't going to knock the Grey sister's down.