A/N:
This is officially the longest chapter I've written! This was the one I had a writer's block in, so I had to rewrite it a couple of times to make sure it didn't come out as choppy as the first draft was. Anyways, I'm so glad with how it turned out. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Also - As of 18th of May to the 27th, I'll be sucked into the whirlwind that is final exams of sophomore year. I'm not sure of whether I'll update daily like I did last exams, but I will be working on some chapters to put in store so I could post after the exams. If I disappear within that time, you'll know why. But then it's going to be SUMMER!
As for the last Grey's episode - WOW. Flash mob proposal was my favorite moment. But I'm more than sure that Matthew's dying the next episode anyways, because Shonda Rhimes is an axe wielding murderer. Other than that, the episode was great! CAN NOT WAIT FOR THE FINALE!
Also, don't forget to watch all Slexie episodes and the season 8 finale on May17th (This Friday!) It's a tribute to Lexie Grey!
Enough with the rambling! Enjoy the chapter~
"Upper East Side, 206 East 95th Street…yes, the building's called The Omni. Deliver them to Jefferson. Here," Mark extracted an extra twenty dollar bill from his pocket and stared down the taxi cab into submission, "I'll find you if these bags don't arrive there safely and complete." He threatened as he placed the bill into the driver's hand. The guy nodded once, placing a firm look on his face. A seven hour trip from the Hilton to Mark's place was what the guy signed up for – but he had a good pay to compensate for the lost work hours.
He turned back to Lexie and grinned at her, "Come on." He said as he held his hand out for her so she could move into the protective bow his arm formed. She smiled and stepped into it, before he put his arm around her and towed her along – away from the hotel, and into the street. They had one day left in New York, and Mark promised they'd make the best of it. At that she'd smile, but her lips quivered when her mind went back to the pink box that was still lying beneath all her stuff in her bag.
Lexie has had the worst cramps this morning, and she'd thrown up again. Not only that, but she all also had a slight dizzy spell for the fraction of a second inside the bathroom. However, she'd managed to answer Mark with a voice that wasn't so concerning when she'd dropped the tooth brush. He still didn't know of the little conjectures. She couldn't tell him – not yet, not when she wasn't sure. Not when she had no idea what the hell she would do if it was true.
Two times she tried to walk out of Mark's life because of something that he so much desired and almost had but also gave up for her sake. Two times Lexie pushed Mark away because he was ready for a life, for a family – and she wasn't. But that was all different. After the crash, after what he'd said about getting married and having a family, well Lexie would be lying if she'd ever denied that she wanted that more than ever with him now. Even more when she spent more time around Zola, even more now that she could see the happiness on Meredith's face whenever she looked down at the bump that carried her growing child. Lexie wanted that – she wanted it more than anything.
Lexie took a deep breath and smiled broadly at him as they got into a cab and Mark gave the man instruction before he leaned back and wrapped his arms around her. "How would you like a good old New York lunch?" He asked and lifted both his brows, nudging her shoulder playfully. She grinned and shrugged once. "I'll love to try it."
"Good. Because there's this amazing place in Queens, you won't even believe how good their food is. It's like a small apartment turned into a restaurant, but you'll love it." Mark explained with a grin at her.
"You live in Upper East Side, how come you know a place in Queens?" Lexie inquired and lifted a brow at him curiously. Mark shrugged once, "I like to disappear. Going to Queens or Bronx or SoHo would be the last place anyone would think I'd be." Mark grinned once at her and pulled her into his chest. On their way, he named places randomly. Lexie smiled and leaned into his chest, pursing her lips – no need to be nervous now, right?
"Right." Lexie breathed out shakily as the cab stopped and Mark looked down at her, "What?"
"Oh, nothing, nothing." She said quickly and smiled as she watched Mark get out of the car and take her hand to help her up on her feet. She balanced herself on the crutches as Mark paid the driver. As the man drove off, Mark wrapped his arm around her waist again, towing her forward along the sidewalk. They walked silently, but they were enjoying each other's company. Truth be told, Lexie had a new perspective of every moment she'd spent with Mark. After the crash, she realized how obtuse she was being about Mark's desire for having children. Every girl in her late twenties roams the world looking for a guy so ready to start a family and take responsibility. And Lexie had that, on many, many occasions. Yet, she let go.
But now, it all seemed so different. She'd lay awake at night, holding Mark's hand tightly close to her heart. Their eyes would meet, and they'd stay silent, just enjoying each other's company. Just enjoying the fact that they have survived. They made it.
"Lex?" Mark asked, and Lexie shook her head once – snapping out of her epiphany as she focused again on the present day to see Mark holding the door open for her. She laughed a little and walked in. Mark was right. The restaurant was the type of a hole-in-the-wall type of thing. It was tiny, pretty adorable actually, but also pretty busy. She smiled to herself and glanced back at Mark as he led her towards a small table that was beside the window. As he helped her sit down, a waiter came up from behind Mark with a grin on his face, "Doctor Sloan! It is so good to see you here again! It's been a very, very long time." The man greeted him with an accent, and Mark turned to him so the two of them could shake hands.
"I'm only here for a while, but it's good to see you too, Faran." Mark laughed a little and patted the man's shoulder. Mark turned to her and smiled, "This is my fiancée, Lexie." Mark introduced, and Lexie held her hand up to shake the man's hand with a gentle smile on her face before she settled back quietly into the seat. Faran fetched two menus for them before he left, and Mark sat down on the seat opposite from hers.
"It's been…seven years and they still remember you." Lexie commented once and lifted a brow as she tilted her head. Mark chuckled and shrugged once, "I used to venture here a lot. The best places are always the quiet ones." He said as he pushed a menu towards her. "Pick something. They literally have everything." Mark nodded once towards her encouragingly as he looked down at the menu. One thing Mark Sloan learned going out with Lexie, is how much she values food. So instead of picking out something for her, he'd let her pick and save himself the odd glares he'd get for any suggestions that he may make.
"I'm gonna go with…" Lexie pursed her lips again, narrowing her eyes at the pages before her as she tried to decide. Mark watched her with amusement before she cleared his throat and set his menu down. He was going to have his usual – which really was just a steaming cup of French coffee and an éclair. It was a French Restaurant after all.
Faran appeared again with a notepad in his, "So what will you be having on this fine morning?" He asked and smiled, turning to Lexie first. Lexie looked up and pursed her lips – since her allergy to eggs limited her selection of food, French toast was out of the mix and that seriously saddened her. She looked up at Faran and smiled, "I'll have hot chocolate and salted butter crepe." Lexie said with a grin as she set the menu down – she shamelessly just ordered from the dessert part of the menu, but who cared? She was starving and she craved something sweet. At the thought, Lexie looked down at her flat belly and scowled a little, before she sat up again with a grin on her face, placing a hand over her belly as she stared at Mark. "You will have the usual, Doctor Sloan?" Faran asked, and Mark nodded once towards the man who scribbled it down and hurried off.
"Mark," Lexie started as she looked up at him and took a deep breath. He looked up from his phone at her and tilted his head, "Back at the plane," She started, and Mark frowned a little as he sat up a little straighter, genuine concern coloring his face at the mention of the crash, "When you said we'd get married and have children." Lexie said nervously as she toyed with the hem of the table cloth. Mark lifted a brow as he leaned his elbow onto the table, "What is it, Lex?" He asked, urging her to speak as she fell silent.
"Mark, I…" Lexie started and looked up at him, "I think I'm…pregnant." She said slowly, finally deciding it was better to do it.
When Mark didn't react and stared agape at her, Lexie gulped, "Mark?" She pleaded softly, "I'd love it if you said something."
Mark took a deep breath and leaned back into his seat. His head was doing cartwheels. "Are you sure?" He asked as he looked up at her, his face blank. Lexie pursed her lips and shook her head slowly, "I bought a test…but I didn't use it yet." She muttered quietly as she peered up at him with hesitant eyes. She couldn't tell where this reaction came from. He should be happy about the slight possibility of her carrying his child, but his face had turned grim immediately. Did having Sofia satisfy his needs of being a father? Did he not want to have any other children? Did he not want to father her children? The thoughts made Lexie's face loose color.
"Should I…try it now?" She said carefully as she looked up at Mark, who shook his head once. "No. Let's go to my place." He finally said after a long minute. Lexie took a deep breath and nodded slowly as she looked down. The both remained very silent, very awkwardly silent as they waited for their food. Once it was here, they both stared at it for a long moment. But Lexie couldn't keep herself any longer, and she immediately indulged into her breakfast. Mark watched her, a joke dancing at the edge of his tongue, a smirk dangerously tugging at the corners of his mouth. But he couldn't. He couldn't just enjoy this, not when he was stricken with the horror that Lexie might want to leave him again. She said before, twice. She wasn't ready for children. Not now, not yet, not after a plane crash. Or at least, that's what he thought.
Lexie was done with her food faster than Mark was, and she leaned back into the seat, tapping her nails against the table nervously. Mark closed his eyes and gulped down the rest of his coffee quickly, regretting it a few seconds later as it burned its way down his chest before he placed the money into the bill book and got up, helping Lexie up on her feet again. He kept his distance, but at the same time hovered close. And they remained very, very silent as Mark managed to stop a cab and guide her in. The trip was long and dull. Lexie looked down at her lap, blinking furiously as the tears threatened to well up in her eyes. But she held them in, because there had to be a logical explanation for this.
It was midday when the cab pulled up in front of the tall building, and Mark immediately got out after paying the driver so he could help Lexie out. He kept her at arm length as he guided her into the fancy lobby – however, Lexie had to break the silence as she marveled at the luxurious interior of the building. "This…is a lobby." Lexie muttered in amazement as she glanced sideways at Mark, who gave her a simple shrug and small smirk, "Just wait till you see the actual place."
Mark led her towards an elevator and extracted a key from his pocket – apparently, one that hasn't been used for a while since it wasn't in a key chain, and he shoved it into a keyhole right above the number thirty-two and twisted it. As he did, the elevator came to life and started ascending. Lexie looked up and around. At least this elevator didn't illicit the need to just jump each other's bones, so to speak. Which was a good thing.
As the doors opened, Lexie's eyes widened, "Your elevator opens in the apartment?!" She exclaimed as she turned to Mark, then back to the vast…what she could call a living room. Lexie blinked once as she hobbled into the marble clad ground and glanced around at the black and white that decorated the place. "You haven't been here in six years and yet this place still looks perfect." She muttered quietly a she ran her fingers over the leather couch and sighed. The place smelled like new furniture – it was intoxicating.
Mark stepped into the living room and stared at her silently, before he took a deep breath. "Why don't I show you the bathroom?" He asked hesitantly, and Lexie turned to him, before she nodded slowly. Mark started towards the far end of the room and Lexie followed him, hugging her bag to her side. As she passed the door, the first thing she saw was their luggage, huddle neatly in the corner of what seemed to be the bed room. Lexie wanted to stop and stare so badly, and gawk over the beauty of this place, but her mind was prepossessed by something of more import and vast proportions now.
Mark held the door open for her and smiled a little, before he looked down immediately. Lexie almost huffed at the attitude he was giving her as she tried to stomp her way in, which really was a futile attempt because she ended up almost tripping. Mark closed the door and took a deep breath as he moved to sit at the edge of the bed, leaning forward to bury his face into his hands, the internal conflict tugging at the edge of his brain and literally giving him a headache – but what could he possibly do now? He decided that he could start planning a speech for either case scenario.
Lexie was sitting at the edge of the toilet cover, staring at the pregnancy test that was resting on the edge of the sink. Lexie looked up when she heard the knock on the door – Mark must have been counting the minutes too. Lexie didn't answer him, but instead she stood up and grasped only one crutch so she could pick the test with her hand and move towards the door. "Open it, please." She said quietly and looked up at Mark's face as he door swung open. Lexie stepped outside and limped towards the edge of the bed to sit down. She took a deep breath and looked down at the test, finally. Her heart almost jumped out of her chest as she stared at the black, dark, capitalized 'PREGNANT' that appeared on the screen.
Instead of speaking, Lexie looked up and held the test out to Mark. He took it almost immediately and looked down at the screen, taking in a deep breath before he turned to look at Lexie again, his face grimmer than before. "Lexie, I…" He started hesitantly and pursed his lips, "We can fix this. As soon as we're back in Seattle, I'll schedule an abortion. We-"
"An abortion?!" Lexie exclaimed, her eyes snapping up to his as she bellowed. "I'm pregnant, Mark! I'm carrying your child!"
"I can see that." Mark pressed as he held up the test, "I can damn well see that! And I said that we can fix it. I'm sorry, okay? I didn't plan for this to happen so soon!"
"Mark!" Lexie threw her hands in the air, exasperated, "What about having two boys and a girl? What about all that stuff you said?!"
"I meant it all, Lexie, I promise you. But I didn't mean it so soon! I know you're not ready for this, I-"
"Is this what all of this is about? You think I'm not ready?" Lexie gaped at him, blinking once as her voice toned down from yelling to a hoarse whisper.
"You've made that pretty clear two times before." Mark sighed as he looked down, setting the test on the table as he paced towards her and dropped to his knees in front of her, taking her hands in his. "I don't think I can lose you again."
A small laugh left Lexie's lips as she closed her eyes, "I won't leave you, Mark. You're my disease, remember?" She muttered as she pried one of her hands to place over his cheek, caressing the smooth skin there gently, "The last two times were before I almost died and lost everything that I wanted to have with you. But now I do. I'm ready to have a baby with you, Mark. I want this just as much as you do."
Mark's gaze remained on hers for a long moment, and after he finally blinked, she could see the joy in his blue eyes. "You want this?" He said slowly, as if trying out how she would answer his question.
"I want this." Lexie repeated to allow the words to settle in Mark's mind. He took a deep breath before his gaze traveled down to her belly, and his hand moved forward to press against it gently. He narrowed his eyes in disbelief as he looked up at Lexie again, "You're pregnant." He muttered and smiled at her. "You're really, really pregnant."
Lexie couldn't help the laugh that left her lips before she leaned down to press her lips to Mark's. He slowly got up and pushed her down gently on the bed, crawling on top of her and pressed kisses all over her lips, jawline, neck. Then he pulled away and smiled at her – and she smiled back, all worries forgotten for a moment as they faded into the bliss of their moment.
Both of them were lying on the bed, Lexie's body wrapped up in the sheets as Mark was only clad in the briefs he'd worn recently. Their hands intertwined and held up together above them, Lexie smiled at the sight of them. The ring glimmered as the last rays of lights peeked through the windows and she turned her head towards the beautiful view of the New York sunset. Mark's other hand moved to rest over Lexie's flat belly again, spreading his fingers over it before he rubbed it gently and leaned down press a kiss to the side of Lexie's head. She smiled and closed her eyes, leaning into him. "I love you." She whispered and sighed softly. Mark smiled as he pursed his lips against her hair and pulled her back into his chest so he could drape his arms around her and hold her close before he whispered closely into her ears, "I love you too."
"We should make an appointment once we're back." Lexie whispered as she turned her head to look back at Mark. He smiled and nodded slowly, before a small frowned etched on his face, "What?" Lexie asked, frowning some herself.
"You think it's safe for you to be pregnant so soon? I mean, you have had a hemothorax and lots of broken bones, Lex. I don't want to put you at any risk." Mark muttered carefully as he stared down at her. Lexie smiled at him as she touched his cheek, "I will be fine. We will be fine." She corrected almost immediately as she pressed her hand over Mark's, that never left its spot over her belly.
Mark blinked once down at her before he sighed once and buried his face into her hair. Lexie closed her eyes again as well, "I'm hungry." She started after a while, and Mark burst into laughter before he propped himself up onto his elbow and moved her hair out of her face as he looked down at her, "What do you feel like eating?" He asked.
"Cake." She muttered after a long moment of thought. "Pizza and cake." Lexie decided and grinned up at Mark, who lifted both brows at her. "You're craving cake." He repeated slowly and shook his head as he got up. Lexie grinned as she sat up slowly, holding the covers around her naked body. "Cheesecake. Blueberry topping please." Lexie said with a sheepish smile as Mark picked up the phone. "And tell them to add extra cheese to the pizza?" She added quickly when Mark started dialing. He laughed at her and hurried into the other room before Lexie could mention another necessity to their dinner.
When he was back, he leaned down and picked up their clothes from the ground. To place them over the chair that rested in the corner of the room, before he extracted his shirt and moved back towards the bed to sit at the edge of it. "Wear it. We'll have dinner in the balcony."
"You have a balcony." Lexie moaned aloud as she laughed and snatched the shirt from his hand, "Can we not fly to Seattle so soon?" She pleaded softly and poked her bottom lip out in a pout. Mark rolled his eyes and leaned forward to kiss it away before he lifted a brow at her, "If we don't go back, we may actually lose our jobs." Mark reasoned as he smiled at her when she huffed and pulled the shirt over her head to pull it around her body until covered her mid-thighs. As she did so, he put on a pair of sweat pants then slid his arms beneath her and picked her up into his arms.
Lexie looked forward again when the nightly New York breeze tickled her skin, and she glanced up at the now darkened sky. A small smile stretched onto her face as Mark set her down into the seat, which was surprisingly comfortable, before he pushed another seat in front of hers and lifted her feet to prop them there. Lexie stared at Mark before she giggled a little, "Mark, I think it'll be months before my feet start hurting."
"I know." Mark answered immediately as he pursed his lips, thinking of a good come back, "You're keeping my seat warm for me." He said quickly and grinned. Lexie rolled her eyes once as he disappeared back into the condo and came back with plates and utensils to set them on the table beside them. Lexie frowned when he disappeared again, but lifted a brow when the music played around her so suddenly and she looked back as Mark walked back into the balcony and leaned over the back of her seat to peck the top of her head. "We really do have to leave tomorrow." Lexie whined again and Mark laughed at her, before he turned back when he heard the ring of the intercom and went to fetch their food.
Soon enough, Mark was back with a pizza box and the small box that Lexie guessed contained her cheesecake. Mark set two apple juice boxes on the table and Lexie lifted a brow. "You can't drink alcohol." Mark said sternly and shrugged once as he moved to pick up her feet, sit down, and lay them on his lap again. Despite having brought plates, both of them picked up the pizza and ate them without plates, staring ahead at the scenery before them.
Lexie had already gone through three pieces before she finally decided it was time to have dessert, and she pulled out the box to set it on her lap and picked up her fork to start eating away at her cake. As Mark leaned forward to pick up the apple juice box, Lexie did so too. They shoved the straw into its entrance and leaned forward to tap the carton boxes into each other, "Cheers." Lexie joked and leaned back into her seat as she sucked the juiced out of the straw and placed a hand over her belly. Over where their baby was. A smile stretched onto Lexie's lips and she looked up at the full moon above them.
Then she remembered something.
"Mark!" She exclaimed, "The boards results come out today!" Lexie almost jumped up from the seat, but Mark was already up on his feet, "What do you need?" He asked quickly, and Lexie took a deep breath. "My phone, get me my phone. I need to log onto my email. See if I got something." Lexie was speaking quickly, but Mark managed to make out what she was intending to say and literally ran back to the bed room.
Lexie's feet were still propped on the seat in front of her, but her nails were drumming nervously against the table. She shouldn't stress, she knew that – but she couldn't help it. She looked up when Mark showed up behind her, holding the phone in his hands. Lexie snatched away the iPhone and with a few flicks of her thumb she'd enable cellular and loaded her mail. And she stared at it. And she refreshed it.
"Any time now. Come on, come on, come on…" Lexie muttered through her teeth as she stared down at the phone, refreshing it almost immediately after the update was done with nothing new. "Come on you..!" Lexie shook the phone in the air, and Mark frowned as he looked down at her, "You should wait a little."
"Hush, you examiner." Lexie snapped at him and Mark lifted a brow as he stared down at her wrestling with the phone's screen, as if that'd it get to update her inbox faster or receive the e-mail faster. He remained silent as he waited, until finally, he almost jumped out of the seat when she very loudly announced that she'd gotten the email.
"I don't know what you're so worried about, I'm sure you did great." Mark muttered under his breath as he rolled his eyes. Lexie seemed to brush off his commentary as she clicked through and remained silent. Mark tried to peek at the screen, but Lexie covered it with her palm as she lowered her head. "Lexie?" He muttered, genuinely concerned now as he placed a hand over her shoulder. She didn't fail, did she?
"I'm certified by the medical boards!" She exclaimed loudly, so loud that Mark clamped a hand over her mouth when she almost exploded again. His eyes met hers, and he shook his head slowly, "You're never going to have so much sugar in one day ever again." Mark muttered as he slowly removed his hand from over her lips, and she burst into a silent fit of laughter. He rolled his eyes and leaned forward to press his lips to hers to silence her, but immediately pulled away when he saw light flashing behind his lids and he opened his eyes to stare at the dark sky. The dark sky that was now covered in all types of colors and light shows, the booming sound always coming after the sparks exploded into the sky.
"It's the fourth of July." Lexie grinned at Mark, and it all clicked in Mark's mind. He turned back to her with wide eyes, before he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, "Happy fourth of July, then." Mark muttered as he pressed a kiss to her neck and then picked her up to sit her onto his lap. His hands were resting over where their baby is as he held her close and they stared at the fireworks that colored the night sky.