Jumping right into it here, guys! Thanks for the continued love and support. It honestly means the world to me.

"Yes." Lexie said, laughing into the phone. "Yes. I can't wait. Okay, see you soon."

"Who was that?" Mark asked, taking a small sip of coffee as he sat next to Lexie on the couch.

"My best friend from college is going to be in Seattle and I thought it might be a good idea for us to catch up." She said.

"That's great."

"I know." She said, taking Mark's coffee and taking a drink. "We just lost touch after we both left Harvard and it's just hard to let go of a friendship like that, you know?"

"Yeah. I know." Mark said, he mind drifting to Derek and all he had put him through in the entirety of their friendship.

"So when does your friend arrive?" Mark asked.

"Mm." She let out, trying not to choke on the coffee in her mouth. "The flight actually lands in a half hour and I want to be waiting at the airport, so I should probably get moving."

"Okay. Be careful though." Mark called as Leie grabbed her bag and headed out the door.

Lexie stood at the arrivals gate anxiously toying with her hands for what felt like an eternity, when she saw the person who gave her a huge smile.

"Josh!" Lexie squealed, as she ran and jumped into a huge hug, causing Josh to pick her up against him.

"The famous Alexandra." He greeted, putting her down. "You look...eighteen."

"Shut up." She giggled. "You look amazing. It has been far too long since we last talked."

"Well, you know, you do have a phone, too, Alexandra."

"You know you are the only person who is allowed to call me that?" She said, playfully punching him in the arm.

"I know." Josh answered. "That is why I exploit it every chance I get."

Lexie just smiled.

"So Seattle is like home court for you, right?" He asked. "Where's a suitable hotel for a crazy guy like me?"

"Hotel?" Lexie asked. "Nuh-uh. You are coming with me." She said, taking his duffel bag from his shoulder.

"Alexandra-"

"Shut up." She said, holding her hand up. "Let's go."

Lexie led Josh into the apartment and placed his bag off to the side as she closed the door behind them.

Josh whistled lightly. "Nice digs, Alex. Time certainly has been good to you."

"It sure has." She said with a smile. "Just make yourself at home and I will grab a couple beers and you can tell me everything I have missed out on with you."

"You haven't really missed much." He told her, sitting on the leather couch. "I'm still me."

"How weird." Lexie walked toward him, carrying two beers, handed him one and sat next to him. "I'm still me, too."

"I missed you, Scrappy." He said, nudging her.

"Shhh...Don't call me that." Lexie said, laughing, soliciting a laugh from Josh in return.

"Lex?" Lexie turned to find Mark in the doorway with a confused look on his face.

"Oh!" Lexie hopped up from her spot and walked over to Mark. "Mark, this is my old friend, Josh. Josh, this is Mark, my husband."

"Husband?" Josh said, nearly spitting out the beer in his mouth. "Wow. You didn't tell me you were a Mrs, Alexandra."

"Alexandra?" Mark whispered.

"Yeah." Lexie answered. "Like I said, it's been far too long."

"Lex, honey." Mark stepped in. "Can I have a moment with you, in the bedroom, please?"

"Sure." She placed her beer on the coffee table. "I'll be right back."

Josh nodded and took another swig.

Lexie closed the bedroom door behind her and followed Mark to the middle of the room, rubbing her hands together.

"What's up?" She asked.

"What's up?" Mark repeated. "I thought your college friend was a girl."

"I told you that-"

"No. You never mentioned that the friend in question was a he." Mark pointed.

"Okay, so maybe I neglected a couple details. What's the big deal?" She asked.

"I have some strange man in my house, drinking my beer and calling my wife Alexandra." He explained.

"Mark." Lexie started. "I have known him for years. He is harmless."

"Alexandra?" He said, peeved.

"It's my name!" She defended. "Mark, come on, please don't turn this into a fight. Just give him a chance. He really is a great guy."

Mark sighed. "Fine. But I don't have to like him."

"Oh, Mark." She scolded as they walked back to the living room.

"So, Josh." Lexie asked. "What do you feel like for dinner?"

"You're a mom, too?" He asked, holding up a picture of Haley.

"Yeah, she is almost a year and a half." She answered, smiling.

"Wow." Josh said, disappointed.

"What?"

"What happened to you, Alexandra?" He asked lightly.

"What are you talking about?" Lexie responded, confused.

"Seattle ruined you." He started. "We swore we would never turn into these people. Married and stiff and boring before we hit thirty."

"Josh-"

"You and me, Scrappy." He paused. "We were supposed to see the Eiffell Tower and backpack through Spain, sleep on a park bench in London...What happened to that girl?"

"She's still here." She tried.

"No she isn't. She's too busy changing diapers and cooking dinner." He spat.

"Are you seriously pissed at me for having a family? For growing up?" Lexie threw. "Josh, we can't stay eighteen forever."

"We were gonna have a good run of it, though, remember?" He pointed out. "Look, I'm sorry. I should go."

"Josh, come on." Lexie tried.

"It's cool, Alexandra." He said, kissing her forehead and embracing her tightly. "I'll be in touch soon, okay?"

Lexie just stood in what was left of the silence that filled the room after the door closed behind him. A few moments later, Mark approached.

"Lex-"

"Don't say it." She begged. "Please don't gloat about this one."

Lexie walked over to the desk and pulled out a phone book.

"What are you doing?" He asked.

"I'm going to wait an hour and call the hotels, see where he is staying." She explained.

"Lexie, sweetie-" Mark tried.

"He is my best friend, Mark." She told him, looking him dead in the eye. "He is the closest thing I have to a big brother...I can't lose him."

"He doesn't want you to have a family of your own, Lexie. What kind of a friend is that?" Mark argued.

"He feels like I am leaving him behind." She said, sighing. "Before you, Mark, I was...independant. Fiercely independant. I had plans and dreams, goals, and I made those plans with Josh. He dreamed them with me and planned with me how we would make them come true and-"

"And what?" Mark asked.

"Me leaving him behind...it wasn't part of the plan" She nodded, hoping he would somehow just understand.

"Okay. I'll leave messages, see if we can get a phone call if he checks in somewhere." He said, squeezing her shoulder comfortingly.

"Thank you." She whispered.

"If he is family to you," He said. "Then he is my family, too."

This was incredibly different for me, but I hope you guys enjoyed it nonetheless. I wanted to introduce someone that in some ways, knows Lexie better than Mark and poses a threat to him, without actually being a threat. No romantic chemistry whatsoever. I had so much fun writing this chapter and I hope you guys enjoy it too! Love! XOXO