Author's Notes: Thanks so much for all your sweet comments! They truly make my day. This next chapter is short, but I promise that I'll update over the weekend. :)

The cab dropped them off and Mark grabbed both of their bags before Lexie could protest. She was playfully trying to take her bag back from him as they walked up the drive to the front door. Mark rang the doorbell while playfully swatting at Lexie, keeping her away from her bag. "You really don't have to be such a gentleman, Mark! I can carry my own bag!" She reached across him for one last attempt to grab her bag.

Derek opened the door and his face immediately clouded with confusion as he looked back and forth between the two of them. Lexie's arm dropped and she smiled up at Derek. He smiled at both of them, still looking a little confused. "Lexie! Mark! Do you two…know each other?"

Lexie shrugged and Mark chuckled. "We do now. We just spent six hours on the plane together! And we shared a cab," Mark replied.

Derek's brow furrowed as he opened the door wider and stepped to the side, letting them in. Lexie practically launched herself at her brother-in-law. "I've missed you! It's so good to see you! It feels good to be back in Seattle."

"Well, we can't wait until you pass your boards so you can be back here on a more permanent basis," Derek teased, and Lexie grinned at him. He then turned to Mark and they embraced briefly, thumping each other on the back. Lexie grinned at the typically macho display of affection. "What about you, Mark? Think you'd ever move here?"

Mark shrugged. "That rain is killer, man."

"Oh, but it's so great when the rain stops, and everything feels so refreshed and renewed. There's nothing like it," Lexie was quick to protest and Derek watched with interest as his sister-in-law and his best friend smiled sweetly at each other.

Derek cleared his throat and both of his guests' attention snapped back to him. "Meredith is picking up the kids from daycare. They had a party today – I stopped in for a little bit in the morning after my surgery and then she caught the last bit. They should be here any minute."

Derek showed them both to their rooms so that they could relax and unpack a bit before Meredith and the kids got home. Lexie took advantage of the moment alone and freshened up, before laying down. She sighed and then laughed slightly to herself, rubbing at her face. Spending the holidays with her family and the most beautiful man she'd ever met. Great. Absolutely nothing to worry about.

Mark and Derek were sitting at the island, sipping at coffee and catching up. There was a lull in conversation and Derek examined his best friend, who somehow seemed lighter than he had in quite a few years. "So…you and Lexie?" he asked, his eyebrow raised curiously.

Mark took a sip of his coffee and pulled an all-too-innocent face. "We were sitting next to each other. Like I'm not going to talk to a beautiful woman when I'm sitting next to her for six hours?"

Derek gave Mark a knowing look and shook his head. "I'm just saying…no sneaking into her room tonight. We have children in this house."

Mark laughed. "I have some self-control, Derek."

"Mhm…sure you do, Mark."

Mark was about to reply when they heard the garage door go up, and a few minutes later, the door into the house flung open. Mark grinned as he heard the pitter-patter of Zola's little feet running into the house. "Is that my little butterfly?" he called out, just as Zola rounded the corner.

Mark stood and then crouched down, holding out his arms. "Uncle Mark! Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!" Zola exclaimed as she wrapped her arms around Mark's neck. He chuckled and swung her up into his arms, pressing a kiss against her cheek.

"Merry Christmas to you too, Zo. I'm so happy to see you!"

Meredith followed her daughter in, carrying Zola's little backpack in one hand and Bailey in the other. "Mark! You're here!" She walked over to him and kissed his cheek briefly, before setting Zola's backpack down. She turned to Derek and gave him a quick kiss. "Did Lexie get in too?"

Derek nodded, taking the baby from her. "She did. They were on the same plane. Seated together. For six hours."

Meredith's eyes narrowed. "Mark, please tell me you did not hit on my sister."

Mark chuckled. "Well, Mer, I could tell you that, but it would be a lie."

Everyone heard footsteps on the stairs and Zola's head swung around, a grin appearing on her face when she saw her aunt. "Aunt Lex-Lex!" she squealed.

"ZoZo!" Lexie exclaimed, making a beeline for her niece. She lifted Zola out of Mark's arms with a soft smile that Mark eagerly returned. Her attention turned back to Zola and she smiled brightly at the little girl. "You've gotten so big! How old are you now?"

"Two and half, silly Lex-Lex."

Lexie grinned and booped her niece's nose. "Two and a half! I knew that! I was here for your birthday party. Silly me." She looked up at Meredith. "Hi Mer! I've missed you!" Meredith came over and wrapped her arm around Lexie's shoulders in a half hug, since Lexie's arms were full. "It's so good to see you. Thank you for having me. It's been good to get out of Boston for a little bit."

"And make new friends?" Meredith murmured, raising an eyebrow and shooting a look at Mark, who was chatting with Derek and playing with Bailey.

Lexie laughed and shook her head. "Yes, and make new friends. Mark is…very charming."

"Mhm…he sure is." Meredith gave her a knowing look and Lexie laughed, shaking her head. "What do you feel like for dinner? We can order something for delivery and just stay in tonight, if you want."

"That sounds perfect!"

Meredith looked over to Mark and Derek. "Sound good to you, boys?"

Both Mark and Derek nodded, and it didn't escape Meredith's notice that Mark's gaze seemed to linger on Lexie. She shot Derek a knowing look and he smiled and shrugged slightly.