A/N I never expected such a good reception for this story but I was pleasantly surprised. Hopefully, I can meet expectations with the second chapter. I'm finding it a little difficult to get inside Lexie's head but I'm getting Grey's Anatomy Season 4 for christmas so I'll probably sit down and absorb her character over the next few days. These first couple of chapters are really just establishing the drama so the ball won't be rolling until maybe chapter four or five? I'm debating whether to sit down and actually write a plan - I've got one in my head, but it'd be helpful to have it all out. Anyay, I'm going to stop soliloquising. Or monologuing. Whichever. Enjoy! :)

Chapter Two – Popular Mechanics for Lovers

It took a week before Lexie had enough strength to actually book an appointment with the acting OB/GYN. She spent a good deal of that week staying quiet and avoiding Mark, Derek and Meredith. It wasn't difficult – Mark was already trying to avoid her and Derek's mother had come to town so she had monopolised a great deal of his and Meredith's limited time.

It had also occurred to her in that isolated period that perhaps she had some serious illness that resulted in positive pregnancy tests. She tried not to guess at any – she was emotional enough. An optimistic voice in her head gave her some solace, convincing her that she might leave the appointment with only some minor illness that could be treated in a matter of days. That would have been the best case scenario – something that could be flushed out with antibiotics and rest.

She refused to make plans surrounding an impending pregnancy. Not until you're sure. She chanted to herself. Not until you're sure.

The day of the appointment it took her five attempts to get in her car before she finally decided to get a cab. Her hands were shaking wildly and she wasn't sure that if she got behind the wheel she wouldn't drive straight into the bay or something equally crazy.

She also made a few attempts at calling Molly. They hadn't spoken in a while – they'd both found it easier to avoid each other than to face the truth of their grief ravaged father – and Lexie thought she might have some advice in this area. She realised though, when she got to the fourth ring and Molly still hadn't answered, that the only person she really wanted to speak to was her Mother. That had had her in a crying fit for a good hour. She hadn't made any attempts at calling anyone after that.

"Where're you going lovie?" The cab driver asked when she'd shakily stepped into the warm confines of the vehicle.

"Seattle Grace." The reply was strangled sounding and she quickly tried to clear her throat. "Seattle Grace Teaching Hospital."

It was one of her limited days off and she knew if she was recognised at the hospital she'd get a lot of attention. She tried to tell herself it would be easy. After all, all she had to do was avoid the surgical wing. And the cafeteria. And the coffee cart. And the elevators. And the stairwell. And the main entrance. And the lab… And probably the clinic. And any nurses stations in between because nurses were infamous gossips. She swallowed thickly and wondered how long she really expected to keep it all a secret.

Not until you're sure. She thought unsteadily. Don't worry about secrets until you're sure.

Mark was already suffering when he ran into Lexie in the elevator. He hadn't slept in thirty hours having had a sixteen year old motorbike accident victim come in with third degree burns. It was cold and that had aggravated what had been a perfectly innocent twelve hour virus and turned it into a three day fever extravaganza. The cafeteria had made staff changes and consequently he hadn't been able to find his favourite sandwich type – his stomach was grumbling from the all day hunger strike. Being in a confined space alone with someone he was trying hard to resist, well… It gave a whole new meaning to 'bad day.'

"Dr Grey."

She glanced up nervously and gave a hesitant smile; "Dr Sloan."

He frowned. He had been watching Lexie from afar for days and he had pegged today as her day off. Why was she at the hospital? Coming to see Meredith? The questions plagued him until he relented and continued conversation; "Seeing Meredith?"

"Oh no." She said quickly, glancing at him nervously; "I… Well, I left… my car keys in my locker and I… Needed to go to the grocery store and I thought I'd… Well I need my keys so…"

"Oh."

Silence enveloped them as the elevator made it's slow descent. Mark tried to think of something to day – anything to say – that Derek would consider platonic and professional. Nothing sprang to mind. All he wanted to ask about was her state of fluster. Had she had a fight with the toe rag O'Malley?

"Made any progress with O'Malley?"

She looked up with a frown. "Why would you ask?"

"Well…" He struggled. "We're friends. We haven't talked in a while and-"

"The thing with George… It's not going to happen. But I told you that weeks ago, months even. And we haven't talked because you said that we shouldn't."

"I said that we should keep things professional."

"Actually, you said it would be better if it didn't happen again."

"That doesn't mean we can't talk. We can still talk." The words escaped him without permission. Talking wasn't considered avoidance. Talking was considered taking an interest – a big interest. Talking was the thing they had avoided in months - since the hotel incident. Talking was not what Derek would consider normal.

Without a glance his way she replied quietly; "No offence intended Dr Sloan but I don't think we can."

The elevator came to a stop and Lexie walked out of it with her head bowed. It took him a few moments to realise that he was supposed to be getting out too, making his way back to his big, warm hotel room.

The thought seemed less appealing than it had one elevator ride ago.

In the cab ride home Lexie was torn between obsessing over her appointment and obsessing over her elevator ride out of the hospital with Mark Sloan. In the end, the Mark Sloan encounter was – as she reminded herself every few seconds or so – less important. The appointment though wasn't something she really welcomed thoughts about. Not now… Not now that she was sure.

Dr King was a pleasant faced man, although not overly endowed with good looks like so many of the doctors at Seattle Grace. He had a solid reputation as an obstetrician and the well earned respect of his colleagues. Lexie didn't care about any of that though; all she cared about was whether he ran in the same hospital circles as plastic surgeons like Mark Sloan which, to her delight, he didn't.

"I took a few home pregnancy tests." She wondered idly how many different ways 'a few' could be received and decided not to elaborate any further; "They were all positive but… I mean there are other causes. Right? I mean… I might not be pregnant."

"No there's a possibility that you're not." He said softly, "But we'll take a look first."

She was glad he didn't delve into her emotional state too much. She didn't think she could handle questions like 'Are you keeping the baby?' Or 'Is your husband coming in later?'

The testing procedure was mildly uncomfortable but she found it easy to block that out. She didn't care how uncomfortable it was just as long as it didn't emit a positive result.

"Okay…" He murmured, looking at the screen intently. She liked that there was a frown on the man's earnest face. It suggested that there was something more morbid than a baby appearing on the monitor.

She found that oddly comforting.

But then he turned to her with a broad smile; "There's the heart beat." He turned the screen towards her and pointed out the pulsating mass; "I'd say you're about eleven weeks along."

She stared at it dumbfounded.

There was a baby… An actual real live baby inside her.

She suddenly felt very ill.

"I… I think I need a…"

He waited patiently for coherence to bless her.

"A… bag." She motioned wildly.

"Oh…" He reached over towards the sink and produced a plastic bag. She didn't have time to gauge whether he was disgusted, or to understand why she was vomiting – morning sickness or just because she'd received such bad news?

She hadn't eaten a lot that day so there was nothing really to vomit. Only a bit of spit and the new found knowledge that she was carrying Mark Sloan's baby.

She cringed as the moment replayed in her head, the details of the office and Mr King's concerned face crisp and defined. In school photographic memory had been such a blessing. Now it was a freaking curse. A curse sent by some lunatic God trying to torture her further. As if that was possible. As if that was even freaking possible.

She couldn't think. She couldn't plan. Nothing made sense. All she could see clearly was the image of her surrounded by bottles and diapers and prams… And it scared the hell out of her. She was a surgeon. She was the smart girl. She had always been the smart girl. Children had never factored into her life plan. Well, they had but only when she had reached her late thirties. Her sister had always teased her about that. "You'll be barren and then you won't be able to have kids." She'd said. Barren. The word seemed inviting. She knew it was horrible – wrong of her to wish for something so many women suffered through – but she couldn't help it. She didn't know how to be the pregnant girl. She didn't know how she would even manage it. Could she? She wasn't married or in a serious relationship. She didn't have the right kind of salary for a nanny. Being a surgeon wasn't exactly conductive for raising children.

She groaned. She needed advice. The time had come to share the secret. But with who? Molly would encourage her to ditch work and experience the joys of motherhood, which was fine for someone like Molly but… Not entirely for her.

George? Oh god no. He'd be more torn up about it than she was. Or he wouldn't give a damn – too caught up in his own personal life and the dramas of Izzie, Cristina and Meredith…

Meredith.

With a sigh she leant over the console and changed her destination.

She knew who she had to tell.

When Meredith finally answered the door after Lexie's eighth knock she looked flustered and preoccupied. Not something unusual but it put Lexie off straight away.

"Lexie… Hi." She smiled guardedly; "What are you doing here?"

"I…" She shrugged and averted her gaze to her feet, "I just needed someone to talk to. But if you're busy I can…"

"No… No, I'm… Come in."

Lexie shuffled into the hall gratefully. She was uncertain where to head from there but Meredith decided for her.

"Izzie's in the kitchen and Alex is watching TV so do you want to come upstairs, to talk?"

She looked mildly uncomfortable. Lexie didn't feel right imposing on her older half sister so blatantly but she knew she'd go crazy if she kept it to herself any longer. She needed someone to tell her what to do. The uncertainty was killing her.

"Sure." She breathed.

It was a nice house, Lexie noticed. A place fit for raising children. Maybe with less room mates and dirty clothes in the hallway but still… Fit.

"So." They entered Meredith's bedroom and she turned to Lexie expectantly. "Talk."

She took a deep breath.

"I'm pregnant."

I am willing to provide misteltoe, Mark Sloan and a setting appropriate for snogging for reviews ;)