Hey guys! So I am back! Sorry it has taken so long. Work has been kinda crazy lately and when I get home, all I want to do is be lazy and go to sleep, which doesn't leave a whole lot of time to write in my Mark and Lexie world. I hope all of you are still following this story and I have to say that after reading Chyler Leigh's statement on her exit and hearing that Eric Dane knew and understood, I am starting to feel much better about the fate of Lexie. However, I have no intention of killing her, at all. I have more fun things to come your way so stay tuned and...ENJOY!

Meredith answered the door, wearing a disturbingly happy smile and a terribly bright apron.

"There you are." She sighed in relief, as she let her younger sister inside. "Come here, Haley bug! Auntie Callie is here, wanna go say 'hi'?"

Lexie took her coat off and hung it near the door as she followed her sister into the living room.

"Where's Mark?" Meredith asked over her shoulder.

"I'm not sure. He got some weird phone call and then said he has something he had something he had to take care of." Lexie explained.

"Take care of?" Callie repeated, confused.

"I know." Lexie sighed. "I don't get it either...What is that smell?"

"The chicken!" Meredith shrieked, before running out of the room.

"Chicken shouldn't smell like that." Lexie whispered to Callie, who was sitting on the couch, holding Haley in her lap.

"You're telling me." She responded. "You weren't here for the meltdown over the baked potatoes."

"Why isn't Arizona here?"

"Emergency surgery. Pediatric kidney transplant." Callie said.

"Okay, guys." Meredith said, returning with a smile. "Let's eat. Jackson! April! Alex!"

Everyone slowly migrated into the dining room where Meredith proudly displayed her chicken in the middle of the table. After everyone had taken their seats and made themselves comfortable, they all stared at Meredith, as if waiting for further instruction.

"Well, dig in." She said, tossing her apron to the side.

"So, Torres." Alex started. "How did that badass knee surgery go?"

"It was amazing." Callie said with a raise of her eyebrow. "Avery over there was able to get accustomed to the bone saw."

"Gotta locve the saw action, man." Jackson said, nudging him, with his elbow.

"Oh, my God!" April said quietly.

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

"Um... I- Uh-" She stuttered.

"Spit it out, Kepner." Alex shot.

"Meredith. Chicken shouldn't taste like that."

Derek dropped his piece on the plate and linged for a napkin, causing everyone to slowly push their plates away.

"What?" Meredith asked. "What's wrong with it?" She took a heaping bite. "Nevermind. Don't answer that."

An hour later, after everything had been tossed out and cleaned up, everyone began heading out, including a seemingly bummed Lexie, who still had not heard anything from Mark. She was standing in front of Meredith's couch, getting Haley's toys packed away.

"Still no phone call?" Meredith asked.

"Do you really have to ask?"

"Honey. I am sure it's just surgery."

"If it was just surgery, then he could say so." Lexie pointed out.

"You don't think he is cheating on you, do you?" She asked.

"Not really." Lexie shrugged. "But with him acting like this, I'm not ruling anything out."

"Okay, well let me know if you need anything, like a babysitter, or a body bag." She said with a playful shove.

"Thanks." Lexie threw her bag over her shoulder and picked Haley up and held her on her hip. "I'll meet you at work tomorrow at the coffee cart for breakfast?"

"Absolutely."

"'Kay. Thanks again...for everything."

It was about 2:30 AM when Mark finally made it back to the dark, quiet apartment. He carefully crept through the darkness and into his bedroom, where Lexie was out like a light. He silently changed his clothes and carefully slipped into bed, next to her, rolling over so that he was holding her close.
"Baby?" He whispered.

"Hmmm?" She responded.

"Sorry I missed the dinner."

Lexie rolled over, so she was now facing him. "Where were you?" She asked, sleepily.

"Don't worry about it. I was just-"

"Taking care of something?" She finished. "Mark, please don't be cryptic. You know how I hate when you hide things."

"Shhh..." He tried to soothe her. "There is nothing, and I mean nothing, to worry about."

"So, tell me where you were."

"Lex..." Mark sighed. "Seriously, just let it go."

With a sigh and a roll of her eyes, Lexie threw the covers to the side and got out of bed.

"Where are you going?" He asked her.

"Okay." She said, taking a breath, standing at the foot of the bed that Mark was still laying in. "Are you seeing someone else? Is that what this is? Because if it is, please just tell me."

"What? No!" He said, shaking his head.
"Then what is it?" Lexie pressed, on the verge of panic. "Is it drugs? I will help you get help."

"Lexie." Mark said, laughing.

"Why are you amused?"

"I don't have a drug problem." He said, getting out of bed and moving toward her.

"Gambling?"

"You are insane." Mark chuckled, pulling her closer.

"Don't call me crazy." Lexie pulled back. "This is not me being insane, this is you hiding things from me. I am tired of the secrets, Mark."

"Fine, if I tell you where I was, will you relax?" He walked over to the dresser and pulled out a small box. "I knew your birthday was coming up and since we spend alot of time together, tonight was the only night I could get away."

"Mark-"

"Just open it." Mark asked, as he handed it to her. "Please."

She slowly opened the box to reveal a tiny silver locket engraved with the letter S. She opened it to a small picture of Haley on one side and an empty space on the other. She found herself breathless.

"Mark." She let out.

"I thought S for Sloan was appropriate." He said with a smile. "Haley is there and this side." He said pointing to the empty spot. "This is reserved for our next addition."

"Mark." Lexie shook her head.

"It will happen." He took her hand. "When the time is right, it will happen. You have to believe that with me, okay? We will have another baby. I promise, it will happen. And when it does, that's going to be an amazing day."

"Yeah." She answered, stumbling on tears. "Will you put it on?" She asked handing it to him.

He fastened the clasp and draped his arms around her waist. "So do you feel better?"

"Stupid, is more like it." She corrected.

"No, not stupid." Mark comforted her.

"I'm sorry I'm such a raging loony. I really went to the worst." She explained.

"I understand." He said, kissing her neck. "If you weren't crazy, I wouldn't love you half as much."

"Gee, thanks." She said with a giggle.

"So can we go back to sleep?" He asked her.

"Yes." She said kissing him. "But no more secret phone calls."

"Deal."

"You seriously asked him if he had a drug addiction?" Meredith asked, laughing, the next day at the coffee cart.

"I know." Lexie shook her head in shame. "My mind just went there."

"What did you think he was getting into? A cocaine laundering ring?" Meredith laughed at her sister, as they walked into the hospital.

"Yes, I know." Lexie said, nodding her head. "I'm an idiot. Get it all out."

"I'm sorry." She stopped. "I probably would have accused Derek of worse. I really can't talk."

"When am I going to just stop, Mer?"

"Stop what?" She asked.
"Second guessing him. Wondering what he is doing, who he's with, is he thinking about me?" Lexie explained.

"If you figure out how to turn it off, will you let me know." Meredith said. "I still have those thoughts about Derek. It's not giving into those thoughts that is the real trick. Remember that they are just thoughts. The reality is that he is so in love with you."

"I kinda caught on to that." Lexie smiled.

"Then you'll be fine." Meredith said, linking their arms together.

Another chapter completed. I hope you guys enjoy and leave your thoughts. Also, if you have any suggestions on what you would like to see in the story next, feel free to share them. Love you guys, and until next time, Peace, Love, & Grey's Anatomy!