Sorry it has taken so long for this update. I have been experiancing some technical difficulties. Anyway I still hope that you guys enjoy this chapter all the same. Thanks for all the love! XOXO

"How long is this...what is it?" Mark asked, sitting on the bed as Lexie stood across from him, folding clothes into a suitcase.

"It's the Neurosurgical Annual Conference." Lexie giggled, placing a shirt on top of her pile. "Derek invited me to tag along this year. It lasts a week."

"A whole week, Lex? Come on." He sighed, resting on his elbow. "Whatever will I do without you?"

"Well, I guess it's a good thing you will have Haley to keep you busy. She is a handful, trust me. You won't even notice that I'm gone."

"I'll notice." Mark said. "Lexie we just got back on track. Are you sure taking off for a week is wise?"

"Mark." She began. "I can't put my career on hold. This is a rare opportunity and I can't just pass it up. We will be fine. It's only seven days. It will fly by, I promise."

Lexie walked over to where Mark was laying and slowly lowered herself on top of him.

"Besides." She told him. "I can make sure you won't forget me."

"How so?" He asked with intrigue.

"I can be very creative, Dr. Sloan. I can make this small break extremely worth your while." Lexie said seductively.

"I like that." He mumbled as she kissed him deeply, earning a groan in response.

"Haley." He said, as they broke apart.

"Napping." Lexie answered, removing her shirt and kissing him again.

"Let me guess?" Mark laughed, breaking the kiss. "You want me to teach you?"

Lexie pulled his shirt over his head and began to work on his belt buckle. "I think I might end up teaching you."

Meanwhile, Derek was packing his things while Meredith held Zola as she stood in the doorway.

"So, are you sure the daycare is going to be okay for Zola?"

"Yeah, she'll be fine." Meredith reassured him. "I am just gonna miss you, Dr. Shepherd."

"I'll be home before you know it, Mrs. Shepherd." He chuckled, walking over and placing a kiss on her cheek.

"So when are you picking up Lexie?" She asked.

"In about 15 minutes. The earlier we get to the airport the better." Derek answered, zipping his luggage. "So that's the last of it."

Meredith walked her husband to the front door and hugged him tightly, Zola slightly smushed in the middle.

"You be good for your mother, you got it?" Derek told his daughter. "I love you."

"We love you, too." Meredith said with a smile. "Have a safe flight and call me when you get to Boston."

"I will. I promise." He said, kissing her and closing the door behind him.

"Okay." Lexie said, pushing her hair behind her ears. "ID, purse...oh! My phone!" She rushed to the kitchen and grabbed her BlackBerry from the countertop.

"Would you relax?" Mark chuckled, rubbing his chin with his hand. "You will be fine."

"Well, what can I say? You make me flustered." She said, Mark pinning her against the counter and kissing her again. "Stop. Derek will be here any minute."

"Okay." He backed away. "Where is this conference anyway?"

"Boston." She answered. "It's been a long time since I have seen it."

"Planning on adventuring your old stomping grounds?" Mark asked.

"I don't know how much down time I will have, but we shall see."

Just then, the buzzer for the building door went off, telling them both that Derek was waiting downstairs.

"That's me." She told him. "Hales!"

The tiny brunette bounded into the living room.

"Give Mommy a goodbye hug." Mark said.

"I love you, nugget." Lexie said, holding her tightly. "Be a good girl, okay?"

"Okay, Mommy." Haley smiled, twirling a stray piece of Lexie's hair.

"Bye, baby."

"It's see you soon." She corrected her mother. " 'Member?"

"I remember." Lexie said, standing up and hugging Mark before grabbing her bag.

"I'll call you, okay?" She told him. "I love you."

"I love you, too. Be safe." He told her, watching as she heading to the elevator, waving goodbye.

"Hey, little sis." Derek smiled as Lexie walked through the glass door and tossed her suitcase in the backseat. "You ready for some fun?"

"Let's do it." She replied.

The trip to the airport was smooth. Derek waited patiently as she removed her watch and other pieces of jewelry as she made her way through security, and made sure their tickets were correct before making their way to the small cafe and waiting over a cup of coffee.

"So things are smooth for you?" Derek asked his little sister-in-law.

"I think so." Lexie sipped at her coffee. "I'm happy. Haley is happy. Mark seems happy. I think I actually might have a grip on things, now."

"That sounds great." He said, touching her hand. "Meredith and I have been thinking about you guys lately."

"I know." She told him. "Meredith's been pretty great. I can't thank you guys enough for everything."

"It's no problem at all." Derek reassured her. "You're family."

"Thanks."

"So, are you looking forward to the conference in Boston?" He segued.

"Yeah." She smiled. "It feels weird to be going back to the place I used to call home for so long. Just a little odd, I guess."

"Harvard must have been fun for you. Really great memories?"

"Of course." Lexie said. "Alot of fun and alot of great people. Plus, Harvard got me here, to Seattle Grace."

"Yeah." He agreed.

"Flight 147 to Boston, Massachusetts is now boarding at gate 5A."

"That's us." Lexie said, taking a drink of her coffee and standing to her feet. "Shall we?" She said, holding out her arm.

"Come on, Little Grey." Derek laughed, linking his arm with hers.

The flight went completely according to plan. Lexie thanked God for that. She was always a nervous flyer and she felt that it was backed by good reason. She could barely breathe let alone move on a plane for fear that the whole thing could fall out from underneath her. She knew she was paranoid and sometimes it got the best of her, but she also knew that some things couldn't be helped. She and Derek got off the flight in one piece, waited patiently for their luggage, only to find Derek's bag while her own had been lost somewhere in transition. After 20 minutes and two annoying flight attendants, Lexie was reunited with her belongings. A long, exhausting car ride later and she found herself in a swanky hotel room with monogrammed towels and chocolate pillow mints. She could definately get used to this. She dropped her purse and suitcase and kicked her shoes off before flopping down on the king sized mattress that felt like you were laying on a cloud. She sighed and took in the heavenly bed, before pulling out her phone and hitting 1 on her speed dial.

"Hello?" Mark answered, groggily after four rings.

"Hey, honey." Lexie replied. "I survived."

"Did you doubt that you would?" He asked, amused.

"Hey, 28% of flights go down because of mechanical error, sabotage, or other error."

"I know, sweetie, you have read me the statistics a million times."

"Are you annoyed with me? Is that annoyance I hear in your voice, mister?" She giggled.

"Never." Mark replied.

"You better watch your step or I might hold out on you." She threatened.

"Would never happen. You would cave in to my charm, eventually." He told her.

"We'll see about that. " She paused. "I should let you get some sleep."

"No. I can talk to you for hours." He groaned.

"I would love to, honey, but I have an early morning." Lexie apologized. "I'll make it up to you, I promise."

"Promises, promises."

"Mm-hm. I love you." She parted.

"Love you, babe."

Lexie hung up the phone and didn't bother changing clothes, she was far too exhausted for that. She threw her jeans on the floor along with her jacket and crawled into the jumbo comforter, slowly drifting to her dreams.

I know this chapter was a little short on Slexie, but I kinda wanted to give her some big brother time with Derek like Shonda Rhimes did. It is so much fun to write. Anyway, leave your thoughts below, I love to hear what you guys think. Thank you so much for your continued love and support! XOXO