I'm so bad at writing fluff I'm sorry! Enjoy though!

—

January 15th, Seattle.

It has been a couple of weeks since Mark and Lexie decided to give their relationship another try. They're determined to make it work this time, so they both agreed to take it slow. Lexie was honest about her reservations about diving too deep too fast into this relationship and Mark knew she didn't need more distractions before her boards.

Distance hasn't been a problem so far. They've regularly called and texted each other as much as they can. Last week, Mark even had an intern hold up his phone in front of him for three hours during surgery while he Facetimed Lexie.

They fell back into old routine fast, and started acting like an actual together couple again. She'd often call him when she's upset or stressed out or when her neurosurgeon ex was giving her crap. He'd kicked her off his service when she broke up with him, and she cried to Mark on the phone. He offered to call her Chief of Surgery and fix it but she said she'll find a way to deal with it herself. He figured she did, because a couple days later, she was back to cheerily telling him about the big aneurysms she clipped herself.

Mark misses her so badly. He's been planning to take a few days off to fly to New York to see Lexie, but the hospital's still understaffed due to budget cuts and Hunt has them all working doubles.

"So, my friend from New York said that Little Grey is one of the most in demand residents this year. Apparently, she's like the Yang of Neuro. That's amazing." Arizona says at lunch, breaking Mark from his little trance.

He nods in agreement as he takes a bite from his apple. "Mount Sinai offered to give her international rotations and pay off her student loans."

Arizona gasps, putting her fork down. "That... wow. Way to go, Lexie!"

Jackson sets his tray down on the table and Mark and Arizona look at him in surprise. He sits down. "Uh, Doctor Sloan could I take the rest of the day off? I have to fly to New York for this benefit gala tonight. It's an Avery thing."

"New York, huh?"

—

Mark steps out of the elevator, holding a bouquet of daisies like an idiot. He tried avoiding the eyes and the slight brush of the shoulder the nurse in the elevator gave him. He usually doesn't mind, but... not today. Not when he's about to throw up from excitement and anxiety. He's only here for three hours, since he's flying back with Jackson after the gala.

He's been here before, so he knows the surgical wing of the hospital well. He may have fooled around with one of the doctors here when he was in med school, who he's sure is the Head of Plastics now.

"Mark Sloan? Is that you?" A tall, blonde doctor gasps at the sight of him. She gives him a hug and he hesitates. "Long time no see!"

Mark smiles awkwardly, and nods. "Yeah, well... I live in Seattle now."

"So I've heard. What are you doing here? Do you wanna operate? I can get you privileges."

"Actually, I'm here to visit my girlfriend. She works here." He waves up the bouquet a little, and smiles a little sheepishly.

Mark was starting to get impatient and just wants to go find Lexie, with what's left of his very limited time. He nods politely at everything the doctor says (he doesn't even remember her name), and excuses himself the first chance he got.

He was walking around when he finds her standing in a nurses' station, talking to someone. She was smiling, her face animated as she makes little gestures with her hands.

"Lex." She froze when she heard his voice and turns to look at him. She just stares at him for a a few seconds before rushing to hug him.

"Oh my god!" She laughs, closing her eyes as she breathes in his scent. "You're here. You're really here!"

Mark smiles, the widest he smiled has all week, and pulls her closer. "I brought you flowers."

"Whaaaat?" Lexie pulls away and takes the bouquet from him. Her face lights up even more. "Daisies are my favorite! You're amazing." She scrunches her nose at him endearingly. Clichés and little gifts were never Mark's thing, so she never got these before. She didn't really mind but she secretly loves them.

"I missed you." He kisses her temple as she instinctively smells the flowers. She looks up at him and smiles. "You happy?"

"Very." She holds his hand and pulls him to the cafeteria.

—

Lexie throws her head back in laughter.

They're in an on-call room by themselves, catching up on the things they've done the past two weeks and Mark was just telling Lexie about that time he changed Sofia's diaper and she projectile peed onto his face.

"She's so badass. I'd really love to get to know her, if I could." She rests her chin on Mark's chest, her eyes focused on his.

He smiles, pushing strands of hair away of her eyes. "In four months, you can. You'll love her, Lex."

Lexie hums in acknowledgment and lies her head back on the pillow beside him. As soon as they stepped in the room, Mark started taking their clothes off but she refused. His face dropped. She's been celibate for two weeks and she wants — actually, needs — to have sex so bad, but she's sober and thinking straight and just wants to take the relationship slow. She doesn't want to pin her hopes and dreams on it this time by diving in headfirst, just like the last two times, only to find it crashing and burning right in front of her eyes. This time, she wants it done right. To protect her sanity.

"Do you think this could work? The long distance? Flying every couple weeks to see each other?" She looks at him.

A frown starts settling in Mark's face, and he continues to look up at the ceiling. "It's just for a few months."

"But..."

"But nothing. Callie's already doubting us, I can't have you doing that too. Please. We can do this."

A smile teases on her lips before she fully gives in to it. "Okay. I'm sorry."

Mark kisses her hand in response. His confidence on the relationship eased her worries. Lexie remembered being like this the first time they were together, even fighting for what she and Mark have when they were doubted by her father and the other interns in her class.

She was afraid of what she was about to say. It was just a question, but she doesn't want him to flee. She almost whispers it. "What if I decide to do my fellowship somewhere other than Seattle, will we still be okay?"

He looks at her then, eyes laced with confusion and worry. "Do you want to?"

"I don't know." Lexie replies honestly. She knows she wants to go to Seattle, but the other options have given her big offers too.

Mark turns his body towards hers. "Lex. Listen. Do what you have to do. A fellowship's just two years long. I don't want to hold you back. Your career comes first, I know that now. We'll be fine."

She pulls his face towards hers and kisses him softly. "You promise?"

He nods and gives her a reassuring smile. "Just don't forget me when you're some bigshot neurosurgeon."

Lexie laughs, and playfully shoves Mark's shoulder. "It could still be Seattle, you know."

"I know. Mount Sinai may be giving you a trip around the world but Seattle has me. Hard bargain." He smirks, and leans forward to kiss her neck.

Lexie's giggles drowned them back into their little bubble but Mark's phone beeped almost half a minute later, earning a groan from his mouth. He pulls away from her and checked his phone.

Mark sighs and sits up slowly. "I have to go."

"No no no no." Lexie pulls him back to her and kisses him. He laughs into her lips.

The contact brought her back into their little bubble and she wanted to just stay with him in there. It took everything in her to pull away and let him go again. He looks at her, caressing her cheek. He muttered words of comfort, and hugs her tightly.

Lexie knows she was being such a baby, but she couldn't help it. Her chest clenches as she watches him put his shirt back on. Can she just tell him to lie in bed with her all night? Even just this one night?

"I'm glad you came." Lexie says, pulling her legs closer to her chest and hugging them. It's a thing she does to protect herself when her emotions get too much for her. "Thank you."

"I'm glad I did too." Mark turns to face her, smiling. He notices her stance and rubs her knees to comfort her. His fingers find their way through her hair and he kisses her forehead. "Walk me out?"

Lexie gratefully smiles at the suggestion of more time together, so she picks up her flowers from the ground and holds his hand. Her group of friends looked at her as she passed by them, their eyebrows raised. She rolls her eyes and pulls Mark to them. "Oh! Hold on. These are my New York friends."

"Oh! You must be Lexie's Seattle boyfriend." One of them says, offering her hand out for Mark to shake.

"Non-boyfriend." Lexie corrects and glares at one of her friends who countered with a yeah right.

Mark laughs and shakes each of her friends' hands. "Mark Sloan. Lexie's Seattle non-boyfriend."

Their eyes all pop out of their sockets. He's lived and worked in New York most of his life, and he kind of is a bigger name in the east coast than he is in the west coast.

"The plastic surgeon Mark Sloan?! Oh my god?! Lexie!"

Lexie laughs and pushes Mark away from her friends and towards the elevator. "That was Heather. She wants to be a plastic surgeon so bad, she idolizes you. She's gonna kill me."

The elevator dings open and they're on the lobby, all in what felt like a blink of an eye. Jackson waved at Mark by the front doors of the hospital and they stop in their tracks.

"I guess... this is it." Mark sighs before pulling her into his arms and she closes her eyes. "I love you."

"I know. I love you. Text me when you're home, okay?" Lexie picks at the collar of his leather jacket. His eyes were locked with hers when he nodded.

Mark just stood there for a minute, looking at her, not making a move. Her eyes were starting to gloss over with tears. He didn't want to leave. Seattle and surgeries suddenly sound so unappealing to him now.

She forces a smile and kisses him for the last time before letting him go. "Go. Before I change my mind and keep you here."

Mark laughs, kissing her cheek before turning to leave.

As the car drives out into the main road, he watches Lexie stand as she wipes a tear away. He sighs deeply. It was hard on her to watch him leave and he mentally scolds himself for coming to New York and throwing her whole emotional balance off. He could almost jump out of the car and stay with her until her residency's over.

Four months. Four more months, and he has everyday with her. He decided he'll hold on to that to get through, even though he knows deep inside that what'll happen in four months holds no guarantee.