Meredith unceremoniously drops the coffee mug in front of Mark. "You have a lot of explaining to do, mister."

Mark holds back an eye roll, partially because he's sure she'd smack him for it. He's kept them in suspense for a few days now. After his talk with Jackson, he had to help him through the hangover. The following were filled with busy surgeries and barely any time to talk to his friends. Heck, the only reason he still saw Jackson at work is given they work in the same specialty.

Now, here they are. Jackson is back at the apartment. Mark made sure to hide all of his electronics before he left. When he left, Jackson was reading. Mark didn't want to leave him alone, but he also knew he wouldn't want to be around Meredith and Derek for this conversation.

"Keep in mind that I'm not your kid," Mark says, taking a sip of the warm beverage. "Speaking of…where is he?"

"Work," Derek says, settling down beside him. "He picked up an extra shift. We have to get him in an hour, so maybe make this quick."

"Hey, you're the one that wanted to talk to me."

"Yes, and you've kept us waiting for days."

"Forgive me if I don't have the time to drop everything for the two of you." He glances at Meredith. "And really, I'm only telling you because Jackson told me to."

"Jackson," Meredith repeats, dropping beside her husband. "You are Jackson Avery's caregiver."

"Yes. Yes, I am."

"How?"

Mark runs his fingers through his hair. He remembers when he first saw the signs. Jackson was working under him. Naturally ambitious with something to prove. Yet, there were tiny moments when Mark would joke too much or they'd work a long shift. Jackson would begin whining. He'd do the rub at the nose with the thumb, just barely brushing against his lips. There was that childish beam of wonder that'd pop up when he'd get excited about something.

The biggest factor was when Mark went to scold him about the UCLA interview. It was way too easy for him to pull Jackson up by his ear. Add in the fact that when Mark threatened to drag him, he followed with very little protest.

It didn't take long for the pieces to all fall into place.

"I figured out his secret," Mark says, not wanting to go too far into the particulars.

"Yeah, some secret," Derek muses. "I thought these things were public record. I mean, when he signed on, how was this not established?"

"He told Weber, who agreed to keep it quiet. I'm assuming you didn't see it in the file?"

"I didn't look over each and every doctor's paperwork when I became chief. Especially the ones that I knew…or thought I knew."

"Look, the particulars aren't my business to share," Mark says. "All you need to know is that Harper Avery…" He gulps down more coffee so he doesn't gag over the bastard's name. "Alongside Catherine helped keep it a secret. They wanted Jackson to pass as a caregiver. It's what he's done since he was first classified."

"I don't understand that." Derek shakes his head. "Two of my sisters are Caregivers, one is Little and the other, a flip. Who cares?"

"It's all about the family name," Meredith says. He gives her a curious look. She shrugs. "I'm honestly not surprised. I'm sure Ellis would've done something similar had I classified as a Little. To prominent families, this is a big deal."

"Yes, but your mother was a doctor. Harper Avery and Catherine are too. We know all about the psychology and science…"

Meredith holds up a hand to interrupt him. "There's understanding, and there's the stigma."

Derek scoffs, shaking his head again. Mark traces the rim of his mug. He loves his best friend, truly, but sometimes he lives in a sheltered world. Derek grew up with Carolyn Shepherd. He doesn't understand what it's like to have parents like Jackson, Meredith…or Mark himself.

"What I am surprised about," Meredith continues. "Is that you're his caregiver."

Mark shrugs. "I don't know. I've been watching him grow as a surgeon over the past couple of years. He's a good kid. When I look at him, I just see someone who needs me."

"You are aware that this is a commitment, yes?"

Derek nods in agreement. "This isn't a passing project that you can drop when you get bored."

"Gee, really? Because I thought it was like when you get that sack of flour in health…" Mark trails off with an eye roll.

"I'm serious, Mark. You had all these grand plans about raising Sloan's baby. That all fell through."

"That wasn't because I got bored. I realized what Sloan wanted and gave it to her."

"You can barely keep a relationship alive."

"Single parents exist," Mark counters. "I'm sitting here looking at two people that were raised by one."

"Yes, but that's different."

"How?"

"It just…" Derek sighs. "Mark, if Jackson's had to keep this side hidden for who knows how long, there's a lot of trauma there. We've all seen the patients who kept it bottled up or God forbid went to those camps."

Mark clears his throat. Meredith squeezes Derek's hand. "He's going to need a lot of help. We went through all of this with Alex. He didn't have a caregiver until us."

"And he seems to be doing fine," Mark says. "I mean, he's still sarcastic and brooding, but he's gotten better with the two of you."

"Yes, but again, that took time. We didn't just snuggle him and play with blocks."

"Trust me," Mark mutters. "That is not what I'm doing."

Memories of Jackson staring at the toys as if they would explode replay in his mind. The fear in his eyes after he wet his diaper. It's gotten somewhat better, but there's still that tension. The overwhelming fear radiating from the guy.

"I understand your concern," Mark says. "Yes, this isn't what people would expect from me. I'm…Mark. I sleep around too much, make inappropriate jokes and I tend to jump from thing to thing. But when I look at Jackson, I know he needs me. He trusts me, for whatever reason. So, I know this can work out. Somehow. I'm learning what he likes, what he needs. And really, it's someone to get him to have more fun."

Meredith arches a brow. "Fun?"

"Sure, Mer. You remember fun? Or did you come out a surly killjoy?"

Meredith clicks her tongue and rolls her eyes. Derek shoots him a look. "Maybe we're being too skeptical," he says. "Can you blame us?"

"No. I also know that you both are friends with Jackson and you care about him. But so do I. I know what I'm doing here. He has a list of rules and boundaries. A bedtime, curfew, all that fun stuff."

"It takes more than that."

"I know. That's why I also talk to him." Derek looks amused. "I'm serious. We have discussions and I'm helping him work on using his words."

"Don't you need to first?"

Mark flicks some sugar at him. Derek laughs, brushing it off the table.

"Maybe I'm not the perfect caregiver, but I'm trying. Who knows, maybe one day I'll be an expert like you two?"

"Us?" Meredith laughs. "Experts? Hardly. We screw up all the time. It's what being a caregiver, a parent, is all about."

"You seem to have it all together."

"Again, that took time. And there's still moments where we don't know what we're doing, but we try."

"And if we mess up," Derek adds. "We own it, apologize. It took me a long time to realize that Alex didn't need me to be perfect. He just needed me to actually give a damn and try."

"If you're willing to do all of that, perhaps you'll be good at this."

Mark smiles a little. "You? Meredith Grey? You have faith in me?"

She smirks. "Not much, but I'll try."

Mark looks over at his childhood best friend. "And you?"

Derek looks at him for a moment. It's one of those looks. The kind where he's staring into the depths of his soul. He's done it since they were kids. Mark always found it a little creepy but Derek is very good at reading people.

"Somehow, I don't see him getting away with a lot," he says. "Yet, you won't be too hard on him." Derek smiles. "You'll do fine. And for the times you don't, we'll be here."

Mark snorts, ignoring the relief flushing through his body. There are very few people he could turn to with this. Even when Jackson goes public, he doesn't have many caregiver friends. Having them to turn to wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.

"Don't tell Alex yet, alright?" Mark asks. "Jackson is still kind of hesitant about all this."

"We won't," Meredith says. Mark can feel the "but" on her lips before she says it. "But, you know it'll come out eventually. I mean, what's your plan if he drops and you need to work?"

"We've already discussed this. He's agreed to go to the Little daycare but also keeps saying "we'll figure it out when it happens"."

"It's not a fun argument in the slightest. Alex cried the first day. Derek almost didn't leave him."

Derek rolls his eyes. "You weren't there. He was clinging to my arm and looking up at me with that face."

"Yeah, and you're a pushover."

"Regardless, Mer is right. That's one of the least fun parts about this whole thing. Aside from the tantrums."

"Jack's thrown a couple of those," Mark mutters. "He's very stubborn."

"Welcome to parenting." Derek pats him on the shoulder.

"Do you need anything?" Meredith asks. "We ended up buying everything just to see what Alex would like and there was a good chunk he didn't."

"Thanks, but I got a lot of it," Mark says. "Still learning what he enjoys. Plus working up to the Little outfits."

"Do you have pictures?"

Mark hides a smile as he pulls out his phone. He finds one of Jackson in his duckling footie pajamas the first time he truly dropped. Meredith softly awes. Even Derek is smiling.

"He looks very peaceful in your arms."

"Yeah, well," Mark slips his phone back into his pocket. "Hasn't tried to get rid of me yet."

Meredith glances at the clock on the wall. "Derek, we should get going. Alex will be done soon."

"I'll get out of your hair." Mark pushes himself away from the table. "Thanks for the coffee. And the advice."

"Anytime." She shoots him a smile. "As Derek said, welcome to the club."

"Honey, I'm home!" Mark teases as he walks through the door.

He expects to find Jackson sprawled out on the couch reading, but the living room is empty. Mark frowns and heads towards Jackson's bedroom. No sign of the guy. He turns to his own room and walks in.

Jackson's curled up on the bed, sucking his thumb and cuddling Hank in his arms. Mark walks closer and rubs the top of his head. The little one looks up at him with wide eyes. Mark frowns.

"Hey, Ducky," he whispers. "You feeling okay?"

Jackson shrugs, dropping his thumb. "Couldn't read my phone," he whispers.

"Ah, we'll have to fix that. I'll put my picture, so even when you're small, you can call me, okay?" Guilt wracks Mark. He should've thought of that sooner. "Hey, but I'm here now, hm?" Jackson slowly nods. "How about I get you out of these yucky big boy clothes and into something a little more comfortable?"

Jackson chews his lip. "Wet."

"You're wet?" Mark shrugs as Jackson nods. "Not a problem. How about I give this little duckling a bath."

"Bath?"

"Yup. A very special bubble bath for a very special little guy. C'mon."

Mark holds out his hand. Jackson slowly rolls out of bed. Holding Hank in one hand, he accepts Mark's in the other. Together, they head for the ensuite bathroom. Mark starts up the tap, making sure it's not too hot and not too cold. He turns to Jackson and starts undressing him. Much to his surprise, he doesn't squirm as much as usual. Mark doesn't make a comment about the wet boxers and instead takes the time to check the tub. He adds in the bubbles and swirls them around.

"Climb on in," he instructs.

Jackson does as he's told. Mark grabs the body wash he found recommended for his skin and a cloth. Jackson awkwardly swirls the bubbles around. Mark reaches under the sink and grabs the bath toys he ordered not long after this began.

"Look what I have." He produces a rubber ducky. Jackson's eyes light up. "A ducky for my ducky." Mark moves it closer to his face, squeaking it. "Quack, quack."

Jackson giggles. "Quack," he mimics.

Mark grins. He hands Jackson the duck and puts in half a dozen rubber animals, of various size and color. While the little one plays with the toys, Mark gets to work on cleaning him. He starts at his neck.

"Where were you?" Jackson asks as he pushes the duck into a cow.

"I was visiting Meredith and Derek, remember?" Mark moves down to his shoulders. Jackson tilts his head. "I was telling them all about you. They were happy to hear about it. They mentioned that maybe Alex would want to play with you." He feels him tense up. "Only when you're ready."

Jackson shakes his head. "Not now."

"That's alright, you don't have to. Meredith and Derek are here for you, regardless. You can go to them if you need anything."

Jackson shrugs. "Mer's nice," he mumbles. "Derek wanted me to work with him."

Mark grumbles. He remembers all too well. Maybe that should've been another sign. He felt way too protective over Jackson that night when he pulled up at the worksite.

"Avery, get in the car!"

He sounded way too much like a dad.

"Yes, he did, and if you truly wanted to go to neuro, you could," Mark gestures for him to hold his arm up so he can scrub. "But that's also really boring."

"Like plastics," Jackson whispers. "Wanna be with you."

Mark smiles as he continues to clean. He can still hear Jackson's voice that night.

"If I have to choose, I choose plastics."

"Then that's where you'll stay."

Something in Jackson's eyes shift as he looks down at the animals. He lifts up the horse. "Neigh."

Mark regards him for a minute. Something tells him that talks of specialties and Derek Shepherd are off the table. "That's right! Horses do say neigh. Can you tell me what the sheep says?"

"Baaa."

"Atta boy. What about the frog?"

Having Jackson list animal sounds proves as a great distraction as Mark cleans the rest of him. He doesn't even notice when his caregiver has to scrub a little harder in some areas. Jackson's eyes light up with every bit of praise while also ducking his head. A bittersweet feeling takes over Mark. Every time he says something nice to the guy, Jackson gets embarrassed. Almost in disbelief.

Humility is good, but Mark knows this surpasses that.

Praise for even the small stuff is that foreign.

He shakes it off and resumes getting him clean. Mark's read up on skincare and regimens when it comes to Jackson. It shouldn't be up to him when he's dropped to educate him. Mark wants to make the effort. Jackson did actually approve on all the products but this came after Mark spent a good week looking up the best type for darker skin.

Once he's done cleaning, Mark allows him to play for a bit with the animals. He sits back on the damp floor, getting splashed very so often. Jackson begins sorting the animals. It takes a moment, but Mark notices a pattern.

"Daddy cow, baby cow. Daddy frog, baby frog. Daddy horse, baby horse…" Jackson grins when he gets to the ducks. "Daddy ducky, baby ducky." He holds them tight for a moment before releasing them beside the other animals.

The word "mommy" never escapes Jackson's lips. He just keeps repeating "Daddy".

Mark clears his throat. He's not going to get his hopes up. Not now. It's far too soon. Sloan only called him dad a handful of times. Their relationship just wasn't there. He wouldn't expect it anytime soon when it comes to Jackson. If ever. Some Littles never call their caregivers "mommy" or "daddy". Mark is okay with whatever Jackson chooses.

Eventually, he consults his watch. "Who's ready for some jammies?"

Jackson pouts. "I'm playing."

"I know you are, but it's getting late and soon it'll be time for dinner." That seems to pique Jackson's interest. "I'm making pasta."

"Soda?"

"Chocolate milk," Mark barters.

That's enough to get a smile out of Jackson, which is impossible not to match.