I am back! Thanks for the positive reviews! This time around I would like to thank Jime-GA-Lover, polkadot-scalpels, BekaRoo, and Ankaz123 for always being so positive and supportive. You guys rock! So, did everyone watch tonight's episode of Grey's with the softball game? Lexie hitting Mark's girlfriend in the boob really made my night. They may not be back together yet but they are on the right track. Without further ado, here we go.

Disclaimer: Nothing is mine, all property of Ms. Shonda Rhimes

It had been two sleepless nights for Mark and Lexie. Haley had begun teething and it was not easy on anyone. Lexie stayed up with her all night and Mark did what he could to help, which most of the time was trying to calm her down and just calling Lexie to help him later. They were both beat and it was starting to take its toll. The pair began bickering over just about anything and then spend hours in awkward silence. Most of this they blamed on the sleep deprivation. On the rare occasion that Haley fell asleep, both parents used the opportunity to catch up on their own rest. Lexie walked into the bedroom after putting Haley down for the night and collapsed on the bed where Mark laid flipping through television channels.

"She is finally out." Lexie said with a sigh.

"I didn't realize the power of a baby's lungs until now." Mark said.

"I just don't know what to do for her?" She told him.

"It will pass. We'll get through this." He said, squeezing her hand to comfort her.

Lexie nodded, crawled under the covers, and turned the light off.

"We should probably grab some sleep while we can." Lexie told Mark, hoping he would catch the hint and turn the tv off. After about five minutes, Lexie rolled over.

"Seriously?" Lexie said.

"What?" Mark asked, confused.

"Seriously?"

"Seriously, what?"

With that, Lexie grabbed the remote and turned the tv off before throwing the remote off the side of the bed. With a sigh of relief, she turned over and began trying to go to sleep.

"Lexie, what the hell?" Mark asked, baffled.

"We need to go to sleep." She explained.

"You know lately we have been bickering a lot." He told her.

"I know." She sighed before rolling over and resting her head on his chest. "I'm sorry. I don't want to fight with you. I don't mean to."

"Baby, I know." Mark replied. "I'm just saying we have been bickering, like an old married couple."

"Yeah. I know, and like I said, I am sorry-"

"No, Lex, we are acting like an old, married couple." He said, raising an eyebrow. "We could make it official."

"Mark."

"No. Wait. Just hear me out." Mark started. "I know I wasn't there for you before, but I am now. I am here and I'm not going anywhere. I want you. You're my forever, Lexie."

"I don't think I'm ready to go down that road again." She answered.

"Lexie-"

"We've been doing really good, taking it slow." She said, carefully choosing every word. "I don't want to screw it up by trying to move faster now."

"Okay." Mark said hesitantly. "You're right. I'm sorry."

"Mark." Lexie said, apologetically. "Please don't be upset. I do love you, you have to believe that."

"I do." Mark said.

"Good. The rest will fall into place when it's right, I promise." Lexie said looking into his ice blue eyes.

"I know it will. Everything will be fine as long as you are here." He said. "I love you."

"I love you, too." She said kissing him deeply. The crying baby on the baby monitor broke them apart. Mark groaned slightly before Lexie giggled.

"I'll go." She said.

Lexie walked into Haley's room and picked her up.

"Hey there, little girl. Whatcha doin'?" She said, feeling inside her mouth.

Her gums were swollen. Lexie headed with the baby to the kitchen where she took a rubber toy out of the freezer and eased it into Haley's mouth. Haley immediately grabbed it and seemed to calm herself as she soothed her teeth with the frozen toy. Lexie returned to Haley's room and sat with her in the rocking chair.

"You look so thoughtful." She said. "I wish I knew what you were thinking about."

Haley made a strange noise that caused Lexie to giggle in return.

"I hope I'm doing this right. Being a mom." She said as she held her baby's little hand, rocking back and forth. "I thought I had everything worked out when you arrived, but I think you're probably aware that things got a little messy."

Mark quietly appeared in the doorway, Lexie remained oblivious, deep in conversation with her daughter.

"Now, Daddy wants to make everything right. He wants to really be there for me, for us. All I want to do is say yes, but I can't because I want to be sure that you and I don't get hurt again." She just stared at Haley. "Oh, don't look at me like that. It's not as easy as you might think. I don't know if it's right. It needs to be right. You know what I mean?"

Lexie looked at her daughter for a reaction and found her fast asleep.

"Sweet dreams, jellybean." Lexie said kissing her forehead, slowly getting up, and placing her in her crib. She made her way to the door and gasped when she noticed Mark.

"How long have you been standing there?" She asked after she closed Haley's door.

"Long enough to know that you look to our daughter for relationship advice." He said with a chuckle.

"Hey." Lexie said, pointing to Haley's room. "That baby knows her stuff, alright?"

"Yeah. I bet." He said, taking her into a hug. "What do you say we try and grab some sleep, Momma?"

"Whatever you say, Dad." Lexie laughed.

The next morning, Lexie woke up, sprawled across the bed. Mark was nowhere to be found, but in his place laid a note.

Lex,

Took Haley to the park for a walk. We didn't want to wake you.

Be back by 10:00.

-Mark

Lexie sighed and gathered some clothes before heading to the shower. She let the hot water wash over her. It was the one place, the one moment in the last few days, where she actually had peace. She stood there for a while before her eyes shot open. She got out of the shower, grabbed her towel and dressed quickly. She was drying her hair with the towel when she walked in the living room, greeted by her boyfriend and child walking in the front door.

"Hey, how was the park?"

"Great." Mark answered. "I took Haley and we fed the ducks."

"You saw ducks?" Lexie said crouching down to Haley's stroller. "Did you see ducks?" Lexie stood back up.

"Yes." She said.

"Huh?" Mark responded.

"I'll do it. I'll marry you." Lexie told him.

"Seriously?" Mark said, picking her up and spinning around.

"I just have two conditions." Lexie said.

"Of course. Anything." Mark said, listening closely.

"No wedding. I want to do it down at city hall." Lexie said.

"Deal." Mark replied.

"And second. We do it tomorrow. I don't want you to have time to chicken out again. If we are going to do this, then we are going to do this now."

"Okay." Mark said, smiling at her.

"Okay." Lexie said with a sigh, placing her hands on her hips. "So what now?"

"You tell me."

Lexie just kissed him. Madly, deeply, passionately. Mark reciprocated and pulled her closer to him. Lexie pushed him back, both gasping for air as they broke apart.

"What?" Mark asked, concerned. "What's wrong?"

"Baby." Lexie said, pointing down.

"Well, isn't it naptime?" Mark said with a grin.

"It can be." Lexie said, walking to the bedroom. "I'll meet you in here."

Mark picked Haley up and carried her to her bedroom.

"Okay, princess. I promise, ten bucks if you just go to sleep for Daddy, okay?" He said as Haley giggled.

There it is, another chapter. I tried to include more interaction with Haley and I think I did pretty well. Seriously though, who else has seen the preview for next week's episode. Looks like we are going to have some tense Mark and Lexie interaction. I cannot wait. Please read and reviews. Reviews make me smile. And thanks again for reading. Love. xoxo