Chapter 15: Truth Time

The party had ended pretty much after that phone call. Derek all but dragged Meredith and Zola out the door so that his wife could recover without causing too big of a scene. Owen and Cristina followed them out, being followed by Teddy, Webber, Julia, and Bailey with Tuck. All of them seemed to understand that Jackson and Mark needed to talk.

"So let me get this straight," Alex said while leaning back in his chair. "Lexie has been in some random hospital in New York in a coma and she just woke up and wants us to come get her?" Mark sat back and nodded.

"Well we obviously can't all go," Callie said while walking over to them.

"I can stay and watch the kids," Arizona said from her spot on the couch next to their little sleeping forms.

"Not by yourself," Jackson said. "I can help. You've got Sofia and I've got the twins."

"So Torres and Sloan are going?" Alex asked. "Cuz I wanna go too."

"Karev you should stay here," Mark said. "So should Torres. I need to go because she called me and I'm the father of her kids."

"And we're her friends," Callie shot back defensively. "And if we're going to be technical about it, you aren't her boyfriend or her husband so you don't need to go. Meredith is the one who should go, but she'll get too emotional."

"And that's saying something for Mer," Alex mumbled not so quietly.

"We'll I'm going," Mark said.

"Me too," Callie said, giving Mark a look, daring him to argue with her.

"Count me in," Alex said. "So it's just us three?"

"And Jackson," April said quietly. She hadn't said anything till now. "I need to go." She grabbed her purse and jacket before getting up and making her way towards the door.

"April wait…" Jackson said before he got up and followed her. She turned around and gave him a small smile.

"It's ok. You need to go. You're her boyfriend and if you don't show up, she'll feel awful. I know I would." She gave him a small nod before making her way out the door.

"I'm gonna go and make sure she gets home alright," Alex said before getting up and leaving. Jackson turned and slowly made his way back to his seat. Callie's eyes traveled from him to Mark before she walked over to the couch. She picked up Sofia and took her to her room before coming back and picked up Anna.

"Callie and I are gonna take Masen and Anna over to Mark's," Arizona said while picking up Masen, catching on to what her wife was doing. They both quietly left, leaving Mark and Jackson to have, a hopefully civil, conversation. Neither of them spoke though. Jackson stared at the table in deep thought. Mark look at the younger man and could see his inner turmoil, before he got up and went to the kitchen. He came back with two beers, and instead of going back to his seat, sat on the couch.

"Come here Avery," Mark said as he stretched out his arm, silently offering him a beer. Jackson looked at him and hesitated before making his way over and sat next to Mark. Jackson took the beer and they both sat back and took a sip. "Truth time." Jackson looked at the older man with a look of confusion.

"Truth time?" Mark nodded.

"Truth time." Mark looked over at Jackson and sighed. "I love Julia, but I know the moment we break up, I'll run straight to Lexie. I love them both, but I'm scared that I might love Lexie more. That scares me because I can't have her and she doesn't want me." Jackson nodded and took another sip of beer.

"Earlier I told you I had feeling for Lexie that weren't as strong as before and that I like April. I think I was just saying that because that's what I thought it was I was supposed to say. To be honest though, I think I'm starting to more than like April, but it feels wrong. It's like I didn't wait for Lexie, and I did. And I want to still be there for her and the twins."

"Avery even if you're not with Lexie, you'll still be there for them."

"I know, but I told Lexie that I'd be there for her. That I'd be their dad because she was scared and needed someone." Mark's frown seemed to deepen and he looked down at his beer.

"Why did she not tell me, honestly?" Jackson looked up and thought for a minute.

"She had just broken up with you and she was in the same position as Callie. She felt like a hypocrite. She felt like that's why she couldn't tell you, that you would pull her back in." Mark looked at him and nodded in both understanding and thanks. "And if we're being honest, I think she still loves you. I think she's been trying to convince herself that she doesn't but she does."

"Thanks Avery." They both looked at the wall as they finished their beers. When they were finished, they both silently left, Jackson going back to Meredith's and Mark across the hall to his apartment. As soon as Mark closed the door, Callie and Arizona came out from his room.

"How'd it go?" Callie asked.

"Did you two have like a heart to heart moment?" Arizona asked. Mark stared at them for a moment before opening the door.

"Goodnight," He said quietly. The two women looked at each other and nodded before quietly leaving. Mark closed the door and made his way to his room, where Anna and Masen sat on his bed playing with some stuffed animals. He took a quick shower and got into bed. Masen had fallen asleep and Anna was starting to fall asleep, leaning against her father's arm. Mark thought for a minute before he grabbed his phone and made a call.

"Hello?" a sleep filled voice answered.

"Derek," Mark started, "I need you to do something for me."

A month later found everyone waiting at the nurse's station by the elevator. Well not everyone, just everyone that mattered: Webber, Bailey, Teddy, Owen, Cristina, Callie, Arizona, Alex, April, Jackson holding Masen, and Mark holding Anna. They all waited patiently. Well, almost every one….

"What's wrong?" Mark asked Anna as she cried and squirmed around in his arms. She kept reaching over for Jackson, who was rubbing a sleepy Masen's back.

"Sorry Anna," Jackson, a small smile starting to form. "But I can't hold you right now." The little girl just kept reaching for him, her cries drawing attention from nurses and other doctors.

"That's it," Alex said as he moved closer to Mark and Anna, before blowing a quick raspberry on her check. Anna quickly started laughing and leaned in Mark's chest for protection. Alex smirked and tickled under chin, causing her to laugh some more, before going back over to Cristina. Everyone else was smiling and laughing.

"Nice work Evil Spawn," Cristina said while playfully elbowing Alex. "You're finally good for something." Alex was about to reply when the elevator opened and Derek stepped out. He gave them a nod in acknowledgement before reaching for someone inside. A reassuring smile formed as he helped Lexie off, gently holding her arm while Meredith followed closely behind. The trio made their way over to the nurses' station. Lexie was surprised by April when the redhead rushed over and hugged her

"I'm ok," Lexie whispered to her as she hugged her back. April held on for a moment before pulling back and wiping her tear filled eyes.

"Are you sure you're ok?" April asked. Lexie nodded and gave her hands a reassuring squeeze. April smiled and stepped to the side, allowing Callie and Arizona to walk up to her.

"We're glad you're back," Callie said as she gave Lexie a quick hug.

"Yeah," Arizona said as she hugged Lexie. "Everything is better now." Lexie's smile grew as she shook her head.

"No," Lexie said. "Everything is awesome." The three shared a quick laugh before Callie and Arizona moved and Owen and Cristina walked up.

"Welcome back," Owen said as he pat her shoulder.

"Yeah," Cristina said. "Everyone was all depressed and stuff, but now we can all focus on surgery." Lexie laughed a little and nodded.

"Thanks," Lexie said. Next Bailey and Teddy came up.

"Welcome back," Teddy said. "You're sure everything's fine?"

"I promise," Lexie replied.

"Good," Bailey said. "Because you have a craniotomy and a butterfly tumor to remove with Sheppard later." Lexie's smile widened and she hugged both women.

"Dr. Grey," Webber greeted Lexie as he stood before her. "I talked to your doctors in New York. They reassured me that you are more than capable of operating, so I won't hold you back, but I will be keeping my eye on you."

"Yes sir," Lexie said. Webber smiled and moved so Alex could hug Lexie.

"You sure you're ok?" Alex said as he pulled back. "No injuries or conditions we should know about?" Lexie laughed and hit him playfully.

"I'm fine," Lexie said. Alex smiled and looked over to his side. Lexie followed his gaze and gave a soft smile. Her tear filled eyes went from Masen to Anna. She slowly made her way over to Jackson and gently took Masen from him. The boy, who had almost been sound asleep, yawned and looked up to see who had him.

"Hi Masen," Lexie whispered. She stroked his hair and kissed his forehead. It took a moment, but the little boy soon recognized his mother and smiled up at her. He laughed and gave her, what she assumed to be, his version of a kiss. "I missed you too. Mommy's really sorry she was gone so long." The little boy only smiled and looked at her.

"Hey Lexie…." She looked up at Jackson, who was giving her a modest grin.

"Hey Jackson," Lexie said quietly. She kissed Masen again before handing him back to Jackson and looked at Anna. She walked over and stroked her daughter's hair, causing the little girl to turn and look at her. Lexie smiled and kissed her cheek. "Hi." She gently picked up Anna and held her close. The little girl just closed her eyes and yawned, starting to fall asleep with an almost smile on her face.

"I think it's time we all got back to work," Webber said. Everyone, who had been watching Lexie and the twins intently, nodded and quickly left with the exception of Callie, Mark, and Derek who was now holding Masen.

"How about we go to an on call room and you spend some time with Masen and Anna before scrubbing in?" Derek asked. Lexie nodded and let Derek lead her towards the stairs.

"She didn't even look at me," Mark said quietly as he watched them walk away. "She called me and now she won't even look at me." Callie gave him a sympathetic look and rubbed his arm.

"Give her some time," Callie said. "Maybe she'll talk to you tonight."

That night after work, they all celebrated. They went to Meredith's for a fancy dinner instead of going to Joe's, since they couldn't take the kids to a bar, but he and Walter were still invited. Everyone was having a great time and everything had gone well during Lexie and Derek's surgeries. It was a good day, except for the fact that Jackson was avoiding Lexie and Lexie was avoiding Mark, but all in all it was a good day.

"I'd like to make a toast," Derek said as he stood with his glass of champagne. "To Lexie." Everyone looked down at the end of the table where Lexie sat with Masen and Anna sitting happily in her lap. "Four months ago, we all thought we had lost you, but you proved us wrong. So here's to you, your recovery, and your survival. To Lexie." Every raised their glasses and took a sip. As Derek sat down, Jackson stood.

"I'd also like to say something," Jackson said. He looked over at April, who nodded, before looking back at everyone. "There's a thing that Sloan taught me: truth time. It's when you just say stuff, anything you want, but it all has to be true. It's when you say how you really feel."

"So basically it's when you cut the crap?" Alex asked, earning him laughs from everyone except all the moms, who were glaring at him for his language around the kids. Jackson chuckled a little and nodded. Jackson glanced at Mark, who gave him a slight nod, before looking back at everyone else.

"Truth time. When Lexie and I started going out, we weren't really going out. She needed someone to pretend to be the father of her children, and I just so happened to volunteer for the job. After a while, I started to fall for Lexie, but I always felt like there was something between us. I knew what it was. The thing that separated us was the same thing that brought us together: the babies. When you all found out the truth, I knew it was over. I felt isolated pretty much the entire pregnancy up until a month ago." He stopped and looked at Lexie. She had a look of pure guilt and sadness on her face. She motioned for Alex to take the twins before she stood up and looked him in the eye.

"Jackson…" Lexie whispered. "If we're going to be honest, then there's something I need to tell you. When I left four months ago, I was pregnant." Everyone's faces grew with concern and Jackson looked somewhere between confused and shocked. "The plane crashed didn't hurt it, but the stress that my recovery put on my body caused me to have a miscarriage." She took a shaky breath and wiped her eyes. "When I first woke up, the first think I thought about was you, Anna, Masen, and our baby. Then they told me what happened and I couldn't… I wanted to tell you earlier, but I just couldn't. That's why I didn't call you, because I knew you'd be devastated. But I don't wanna think about that anymore. I want us to move one and go back to the way things were, and can I promise you, that there wasn't anything between us." Everyone waited as they watched the conflict on Jackson's face.

"Tell her Avery," Mark said.

"What are you talking about?" Callie asked quietly.

"Avery, truth time." Lexie kept her gaze fixed on Jackson as she waited for him to say something, anything.

"Lexie…," Jackson started. "Lexie I'm with April." Everyone except Mark and April stared, waiting in distinct shock. "I like you Lexie. I'll always like you, but I like April more." He looked at April and smiled, causing the redhead to blush, before looking back at Lexie. "I held on Lexie, for as long as I could, but now it's time to move. For both of us to move on." Lexie stared at him momentarily before wiping away a stray tear and nodded, giving him a small smile.

"Ok," Lexie said as she picked up her glass. "Tonight was about me, but I think it's only fair to toast to Jackson and April. I hope you two make it. I really do. To April and Jackson." Everyone gave her a somewhat sympathetic look at these toasted and took a quiet sip. "Now, thanks for the party, but I really am tired. Despite sleeping for three months…" They all shared a quick laugh. "…I've had a really long day. So if you'd excuse me-"

"Actually…" Mark started. "There's something I'd like to say too. Truth time." He shared a quick smile with a smirking Jackson before looking back at Lexie. "Lexie, when I first found out about the twins, I was pissed. I wanted to hurt you, but then I understood. I left you behind: I wanted to be a grandfather and be there for Callie without talking to you first and seeing how you felt. I knew what I wanted and I just assumed you wanted it too. Then I saw them, our babies, and even though I was with Julia, I wanted us to be a family."

"What is he doing?" Arizona whispered to Callie, who just shook her head

"When I heard about the crash, I couldn't breathe. I thought you were dead and I didn't know what to do. But you're alive and here, and I know exactly what I want to do. It's what I should have done a long time ago. What I should have done the moment I first saw our family." He reached into his jacket pocket but stopped at the sound of a broken bottle. Everyone looked to see Julia standing in the hall, a look of hurt on her face and a broken wine bottle at her feet.

"I bet you regret inviting her now," Cristina whispered Meredith.

"Julia-"

"Don't," Julia said as she took a step back. "Mark just don't."

"Julia, listen to me." Mark slowly walked over to her. "I like you, but I love Lexie. When we met I wanted a relationship, I wanted one with you. We had a relationship, but there were times when I missed Lexie, and you don't deserve this. You deserve better, not just because of this, but because you deserve someone who will love you and only you." Mark wiped her tears. "I'm sorry." Julia nodded and nodded a goodbye to the rest of the room before leaving.

"Well that was awkward," Cristina said. Everyone gave her an annoyed look and looked back at Mark. He turned and looked at Lexie before he slowly walked around the table, speaking the entire time.

"Lex, the truth is that I love you. I've always been I love with you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you." He stopped in front of her and reached in his jacket pocket, pulling out a small velvet box. "Lex I want you to finish what you started three years ago. I want you to make me a better man. And I promise I won't ever leave you behind again." He knelt down on one knee, opening the box to reveal a diamond ring encircled by several smaller ones on a platinum band. "Alexandra Grey, will you marry me?" Everyone stared at the two in utter disbelief. After they just broke up with Jackson and Julia, he was proposing. Lexie stared at Mark, who looked up at her with the most hopeful look anyone had ever seen on his face.

"Mark…" Lexie breathed. "I… I…"

Sorry this update took so long.

I was having writers' block.

So I'm sorry this chapter is a little shorter.

So… review and tell me what you think.