A/N: Okay! So here's my new Slexie fic. I was going to wait to post this, but to be honest I really wanted to get this up soon so viola! Here it is! It is mainly Slexie, a bit of some other couples like Calzona, Merder, Japril, and Jolex. But like I said, mostly Slexie. It is an AU/NonCannon. Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy it!
Disclaimer: I don't own Grey's Anatomy
Chapter One
Mark Sloan sighed in relief. He then wiped the sweat from his brow as he walked out of the OR. It's been a long couple of hours. He just had to tell the Johnson's their son was okay and then go home, take a nice bath, and maybe call up that girl. What was her name again? Janie? Jill? Jules? No- Julia! It was this really hot ophthalmologist Derek hooked him up with. His best friend insisted she was good for raising a family and settling down, but problem was Mark wasn't sure if he was ready to settle down. He was thirty-eight years old now and after countless of women walking through his life, he wasn't sure where he stood anymore. He still wanted a family, but he was getting old. There wasn't much time left for him to be exactly starting one.
"That was tough. Poor guy," Jackson Avery mentioned to his mentor as the two men walked out of surgery. "Burns like that, damn. He's lucky he survived."
"Well, that's why there's us, Avery. We're plastic gods. We make sure this man can get back to his normal life. Fix up scars from the past. You know all that mumbo jumbo," Mark muttered, flipping through some charts.
"Yeah, but it was still pretty ruff," Jackson added.
"But, you handled it very well. Somedays, Avery, I still can't believe you're the little resident I took under my wing. Told all my secrets too," Mark said, humming happily to himself.
"Me either." Jackson chuckled.
"Hey, are you going to Derek and Meredith's tonight?" Mark asked curiously, his eyes still focused on the charts.
"Yep. April, Alex, and Cristina are going as well," Jackson replied, nodding his head. "And I heard Callie and Arizona might come too. I'm not really sure."
"Oh, Kepner's going." Mark smirked deviously at his protege.
Right away this caused Jackson Avery to frown. "We're just friends-"
Mark rolled his eyes, "Tell that to everyone on the floor of that hotel in San Francisco-"
"Drop that. Will you?" Jackson begged, narrowing his eyes at his mentor.
"I can't, Avery. I was only three doors down from you and heard the whole thing." Mark chuckled while Jackson just rubbed his temples.
"Even if I wanted to be with her, she's with the paramedic Matt. That train has gone and left the station, my friend," Jackson mumbled.
Mark sighed, giving his ex student a pat on the back. "Alright, I'll stop teasing ya kid. Now, let's go inform the Johnson's."
As Mark was walking towards the lobby, Jackson trailing shortly behind, he couldn't help but to see a petite brunette wandering around the area. The only thing he could get a good view of was the nice round ass. He smiled to himself. He wasn't exactly exclusive to Julia yet. Might as well flirt a little. It wouldn't kill anyone, would it?
Mark made his way over to the woman, his charming smile plastered on. "Need any help? You look a little lost, Miss."
The brunette froze in her spot. He waited with anticipation for her to turn around or say something back. "Oh, I think I'm good. I don't need any help," She replied curtly. Her back still turned to him.
"You sure?" Mark confidently asked, taking a few steps so now he was in front of her. He wanted to take a good look at her from the front. "I'm one of the best guides there are-"
The girl looked up and finally he came face to face with who it really was. An amused smile graced her face as she crossed her arms over her chest, "Mark Sloan."
"Little Grey," Mark whispered in disbelief. His eyes widened and his mouth hung open. "What in the world are you doing here?"
"Well, thank for you for that cheery welcome," Lexie Grey replied sarcastically. "Look, I'm not interested in small talk, Sloan. Have you seen Derek? I need to talk with him."
"Um yeah, he's in the break room down that hall. You remember where it is, right?" Mark motioned his hand towards the direction.
"Yeah. Thanks!" Lexie called out to him before she scurried away. In the process, bumping into a few people. Mark smiled a little to himself. Only Little Grey.
"Is that who I think it is?" Jackson asked, seeing his former co-worker walking away.
"Yep. Lexie Grey alright," Mark answered sharply. It was probably the first time he's said her name out loud in a very long time.
"Wow. I haven't seen her since Zola's birthday last year," Jackson mused. "Jesus, does anyone see her anymore?"
"Nah. Only Derek and Meredith have seen her since she left. She's been pretty busy in Boston," Mark said as he watched Lexie until he couldn't see her anymore. "Lexie comes up here to visit her family, but every time she's been in Seattle it's been just to be around Meredith, Derek, and the kids."
"Doesn't she hate you?" Jackson asked.
Mark sighed and turned around to face him, "Yeah...Now, that's a long story."
Lexie Grey shivered in disgust at the thought of seeing Mark Sloan again. Mark freaking Sloan. She thought he would've moved on by now. Gone to California or somewhere more...Markish. The guy hated Seattle. Why on earth did he still want to be here?
She just shrugged, wanting to forget she even bumped into him. With that, Lexie made her way to the break room where her brother in law was currently seated at a table. Lexie grinned as she knocked on the doorframe. "Hey, Hey, Hey!"
Derek looked up from his laptop to see her there. His eyes instantly lit up seeing his sister in-law, "Why look who it is! It's the big bad brain surgeon from Boston!"
Lexie chuckled as she made her way over to her brother in-law. Derek then got up so he could greet Lexie by wrapping his arms around her in a tight hug. "It's so good to see you," Lexie said, gripping onto him.
"You too! I just read that article they published about you in the Harper Avery Medical Journal. You made a lot of big progress in Boston. You're really a rising star," Derek praised, pulling away from their embrace. "Lex, I'm so proud of you."
"Well I couldn't have done it without the best teacher in the world." Lexie grinned up at him. Derek smiled, placing his hand on Lexie's shoulder so he could give it an affectionate squeeze.
"Now come on, let's go see Mer," Derek announced, guiding Lexie out of the break room. "She's with the kids. I'm sure they'll be happy to see their aunt."
"I'm pretty excited to see them too. It's been awhile," Lexie mentioned as the two walked side by side.
"Zola can't stop talking about how she can't wait for her Aunt Lexie to visit. It's been the highlight of her week," Derek told his sister in-law, chuckling.
"Aw, my little Zo Zo," Lexie gushed, smiling fondly at the thought of her niece. "Anyway, I heard that dream house of yours is finished. I can't wait to see it."
"Yeah! After all these years it's finally done and it looks amazing," Derek explained to her happily. "The kids love it. So many places for them to play. It's a great new start for us. Meredith and I are really happy there."
"Good." Lexie smiled at the thought as they rounded the corner towards the day care. Out of the corner of her eye, Lexie could see Mark talking to a family. She instantly looked away. Derek noticed this and frowned.
"You know, if you're going to come and work here you're going to be seeing a lot more of him," Derek pointed out.
"I know...It's just I wish I wasn't," Lexie muttered.
"Then why come back?" Derek questioned inquisitively. "We're excited to have an amazing surgeon back, but why?"
"To be closer to you guys. I don't see my niece and nephew as much as I want to. Video chat isn't enough anymore, Derek," Lexie told her brother in-law. "Plus, it's not like I can avoid him for the rest of my life. He's your best friend and I'm Mer's little sister. We're also godparents...It would be impossible not to see him. It was going to happen eventually."
"Oh. Okay," Derek said, raising an eyebrow.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Lexie questioned as they then entered the day care.
"Well-"
"Aunt Lexie!" Zola exclaimed, causing the two to immediately drop the conversation. Lexie Grey looked at her niece and smiled warmly. Meanwhile a big grin had made it's way onto the young girls' face as she ran straight for her aunt.
"Hey short stuff!" Lexie chimed, swinging her niece in her arms. "You've gotten so big, baby! I can't believe it, you're six years old! You're such a big girl!"
"Yes, I am," Zola stated proudly, resting on Lexie's hip now.
"Hey, Lex," Meredith greeted her little sister. She was making her way over with a baby Bailey on her hip.
"Aw! Look at him. He's gotten so big too," Lexie gaped in awe, giving her nephew a kiss on the top of his bald head. "Why are you two so darn cute?"
"Well, they're happy to have their aunt back," Meredith mentioned, smiling at her sister. Lexie grinned too as the sisters proceeded to embrace one another in a hug.
"It's good to see ya, Mer," Lexie said, giving her an extra tight squeeze.
"You too." Meredith smiled as they pulled apart.
Over the past couple of years the two sister's have gotten pretty close. They tended to at least call each other one a week. Neither wanted to loose the relationship they formed in Seattle. Lexie loved having Meredith, Derek, and the kids in her life. They always made it entertaining. Anyway she's probably bonded with Meredith more over the past couple of years than her sister Molly. Molly and Meredith did meet, but since Eric has to move all the time because of his job she barely see's her little sister. Then there was Thatcher, but he's been on and off the past couple of years. At least Meredith was always in Seattle so every holiday she had off she's come back to the rainy state to visit the Grey-Shepherd family.
"Three! I hear you're back for good?" Lexie looked to see Cristina Yang, her old resident, standing outside the door.
"That's right." Lexie smiled at Cristina. She watched as Dr. Yang gave her a small smile in return. She wasn't much of a smiler, and kind of found Lexie irritating, but part of Cristina was happy to see her. Lexie grew into a fine young surgeon.
"Now, come on. I'm sure you want to relax after that long flight," Meredith announced, getting all the kids together.
"Yeah. It would be nice," Lexie agreed. She then turned back to Cristina and smiled, "Nice to see you again, Dr. Yang."
"You too, three," Cristina replied, nodding her head.
"Wanna come, Cristina?" Meredith asked.
"I'm good. I'll see you tonight though," She said to her best friend before departing.
Later on that night, Lexie Grey got settled into the guest bedroom at her sister's and brother in law's house. It was really nice. They were practically looking over all of Seattle. Lexie swore she could even see the hospital from up there. Plus, it was a nice place for the kids to grow up. A nice backyard for the kids to play in and there were no neighbors for miles, except Owen Hunt who was apparently living in Derek's old trailer out back.
A lot's changed since Lexie's left, that's for sure.
"Hey." Lexie looked up from her packing to see Meredith leaning against her doorway.
"Hey," Lexie replied, smiling. "Thanks again for letting me crash here for a few nights. I'll find a place soon."
"No. It's fine. Anytime, Lex. We're family," Meredith insisted. "Something you taught me, might I add."
Lexie chuckled, "If this was eight years ago that wouldn't be something I'd ever expect coming from Meredith Grey's mouth."
Meredith chuckled as well while taking a seat at the edge of the bed, "True. But a lot's happened since then."
"Yeah," Lexie agreed as she closed her laptop to give her full attention to her sister.
"Are you sure you're going to be happy here, Lex? You specifically moved to Boston to get away from Seattle. Now you're back," Meredith pointed out quietly.
"I am. I missed you, Derek, and the kids," Lexie replied. "Once Bailey was born I realized how much I missed my niece and nephew. This is my home, Mer. Ever since my mom died things with dad have been rocky. I talk to him, but our relationship isn't anything close to what it use to be. And Molly, she's always moving because of Eric. I see her at most a few times a year...But, this has always been here. You guys have always been here."
"We missed you too," Meredith said sincerely, smiling. "But what I meant was about Mark."
"Don't start-"
"Lex, he's the main reason why you left!"
"Yes, but I can stand Mark. Okay. We dated, but that's not going to stop me from doing my job," Lexie retorted.
Meredith rolled her eyes at her sister's statement. "Lexie, you two were in love. Crazy in love. Like ferry boats and post it note in love. You can't ignore that!"
"Well, I'll figure something out," Lexie insisted, shrugging. "Sure, it's going to be awkward. But this isn't something that'll drive my life entirely. It's not like I'll be with him 24/7-"
"Don't say that. You just jinxed yourself," Meredith warned, raising her eyebrows at her sister.
Lexie rolled her eyes, "Mer, I'll be fine. I promise. I have you guys, and I'm sure I'll get back into the swing of things."
"Alright. Whatever you say," Meredith replied dryly, shrugging. "But I should warn you, he tends to join us for dinner..."
"No." Lexie looked at her sister with wide eyes. "You invited him?"
"Hey, he's Derek friend. Like you said though, you're going to have to get used to him," Meredith pointed out, crossing her arms over her chest.
"God. Okay, just when is he coming?" Lexie groaned, placing her stuff together on the bed.
"In about five minutes," Meredith muttered quietly, scratching the back of her head.
"Meredith!" Lexie screeched.
"Sorry. Don't worry. Alex, Cristina, April, Jackson, Arizona, and Callie are coming too. It shouldn't be too bad," Meredith told her sister before running away.
Lexie groaned, burying her face into the nearby pillow. This was going to be a long night.
Mark Sloan bit his lip as he drove up to Derek and Meredith's home. Lexie freaking Grey was going to be in there. The woman he dated for almost two years before he screwed it up. He's the reason why she left. Now here she was. Back again and he wasn't sure how he felt.
Carefully, he approached the door and knocked on it. Derek opened it up with a big smile, "Hey buddy..."
"Hey," Mark muttered, shoving the bottle of red wine in his best friend's hand.
"Why so glum?"
"Oh you know why. Cut the crap." Mark rolled his eyes while Derek got settled in the kitchen. Baby Bailey was bouncing in his high chair munching on cheerios as he watched the two grown men talk.
"Well I'm not sorry, Mark. She's Mer's little sister and mine as well. She's my Jackson. I taught her all my nuero secrets," Derek said to his friend as he began to open the bottle of wine.
"I haven't talked to her since she ran out of here," Mark muttered, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "And of course the first time in like two years I even mention a word to her, I'm accidentally flirting with her. Way to go Mark."
"Oh will you stop. You're being a baby," Derek remarked, rolling his eyes.
"I'm being a baby? I lived with the woman, Shepherd. She was the most serious relationship I ever had in my entire life," Mark cried out, rubbing his temples. "I wanted to marry her at one point!"
"I'm sorry, but she's family. Just like you. So, just like any normal family suck it up and save all insults for after dinner," Derek said as he picked up the fidgeting baby from his high chair.
"Here, give him to good ole Uncle Marky," Mark insisted as Derek tried to multi task with the baby. Derek chuckled, handing his son to his best friend.
"Mer and I think he's going to walk soon. He's around the same age as Zola was," Derek mentioned as Mark began to make faces at his honorary nephew.
"Of course he'll walk soon. This kid's going to be a bad ass, just like his Uncle," Mark stated proudly, causing the baby to giggle.
"I hope not," Derek muttered, causing Mark to narrow his eyes at his best friend. Derek just chuckled as a squeal emitted from the other room.
"Uncle Marky!" Zola cried out in excitement as she ran straight towards her uncle.
"Zo Zo! My favorite god daughter!" Mark exclaimed, placing baby Bailey in Derek's arms so he could pick up the little girl.
"Uncle Mark, Auntie Lexie is here! Isn't that great!?" Zola cheered, motioning to the brunette walking through the doorway with her sister.
"Yeah. Totally," Mark said, forcing a smile as he saw his ex girlfriend standing in the doorway. Lexie rolled her eyes as she walked towards the kitchen island, far away from him. "Nice talking to ya, Lex!" Mark yelled back at her sarcastically.
"Yeah, like you ever talk things out!" Lexie called back at him, pouring herself a large glass of red wine.
"I did talk things out with you," Mark pointed out in his defense. "We talked."
"Mark, don't start with me right now. I have jet lag and seeing your face after a nine hour flight isn't exactly what I had in mind," Lexie retorted, rubbing her temples.
"Alright. Let's not fight in front of the kids," Derek scolded at the two adults as he picked up Zola in his arms. "Now, behave."
"Yeah Lex, behave," Mark teased, giving her a mock scolding.
"Oh shut it," Lexie snapped, crossing her arms over her chest. "You're such a child."
"And you don't ever let things go-"
"Guys!" Derek shouted, causing the former couple to stop their bickering. "Now, apologize to one another."
"Sorry," Lexie and Mark lamely muttered to one another. Zola giggled as she laid her head on her father's shoulder.
"Good. Now hug it out-"
"Oh will you stop it now," Mark hissed at his best friend. Derek just merely laughed as he brought Zola over to the dinning table. This just left the once close couple together in the room, alone.
A couple of quiet moments passed between the adults. Neither of them knowing what to say. "So...Little Grey. You're a big time brain surgeon now?" Mark asked, trying to break the awkward silence between them
Lexie rolled her eyes, "Will you stop with that nickname!"
"I don't think I ever will." Mark grinned as the doorbell rang.
"That's probably our guests. Thank god I don't have to be alone with you for another minute," Lexie grumbled as she walked towards the doorway.
"Well, aren't you a little firecracker." Mark smirked. "So glad to see ya, Lex!"
"Shut up!" She called back. Mark just chuckled as he then starred at Bailey in his high chair.
"I guess it's just you and me, kid," Mark said to the young boy. This only caused Bailey to throw some cheerios at his uncle's face. Mark shut his eyes in frustration while Bailey began to giggle up a storm.
"Oh, this is gonna be a long dinner, trouble maker." Mark sighed as he then watched Lexie from across the room. A really long dinner.
"Hey. Lexipedia. Nice to see ya again," Alex greeted her, giving his old friend a hug.
"Alex. You too," Lexie said, surprised by the slightly more chipper Alex. She looked up at Cristina who just chuckled.
"I know three. It's cause he's got a new girlfriend," Cristina sung happily.
"She's not my girlfriend!" Alex insisted, getting defensive right away. A slight blush creeping on his cheeks.
"Yeah. Right." Cristina rolled her eyes, "It's his little intern."
Alex narrowed his eyes at his friend while Lexie chuckled, "Well, that sounds really nice. I'm glad you found someone, Alex."
"Hey Lexie! Great to see you again," Callie Torres exclaimed, giving the young girl a hug. Lexie was a bit shocked by this considering Callie was always an adamant supporter of Mark. After all she was his best friend, but none the less she was surprised to get such a positive welcome from the surgeon.
"You too, Callie," Lexie replied, giving her a gentle smile. She then looked over to see the orthopedic surgeon's wife, Arizona. "And Arizona."
"Nice to see you again, Lex," Arizona said, giving the neuro surgeon a hug. "It's been a while."
"Yeah, it has." Lexie chuckled.
"Hi, Lexie. Nice to see you again," April chirped, walking over to give her a hug. "It's going to be fun having you around again. Just like old times."
"Yeah..." Lexie trailed off. She's seen April improve, but the first time she met April Kepner she was a cheery, quirky, annoying individual who had an odd crush on her brother in-law. Hopefully things would go well with her.
"Well, ditto. It's good to see you," Jackson added, going in for the hug next.
"You too, Jackson. I hear you're a plastic surgeon now?" Lexie asked.
"Yep. Sloan taught me um everything he knows," Jackson mentioned proudly.
"Oh. That sounds fun," Lexie replied dryly.
Jackson just chuckled as he gave her a gentle pat on the back, "It's great to have you back."
"Glad to be back." Lexie turned to look at everyone and genuinely smiled. She made friends in Boston, but something about the people in Seattle. These guys made a family. She did miss this- feeling like she was apart of a family. You couldn't get that anywhere else.
"Now, come on. Let's eat!" Derek announced, guiding everyone towards the dinning room.
"Let's," Meredith agreed.
"So, I see you aren't as pushy as you use to be," Mark remarked as him and Lexie tried to make their way into the dinning room, being the last two.
"Really? I hear you're still the same old man whore," Lexie quipped.
"Oh, Little Grey. That was really mean," Mark said, mocking his hurt as he placed a hand on his chest. "You wounded me."
"Oh shut up, grandpa!"
Mark's eyes widen at this insult, "Grandpa? You really know how to flatter a man, Little Grey."
"This is going to be a long dinner," Lexie muttered under her breath.
"You and me both sister, unless you want to maybe catch up somewhere else? Like the bedroom?"
"Ew! God no," Lexie groaned. "Now, don't talk to me again for the rest of the night."
"Alright, we'll see about that. Right, Bailey boy?" Mark said, teasing the baby in his arms. Bailey just grinned at his uncle.
"Will you stop corrupting my godchild?"
"I'm not corrupting him if he wants to be just like his uncle," Mark teased, bouncing Bailey on his hip, causing the baby to erupt into a fit of giggles.
Lexie just rolled her eyes as the two then took their seats.
This is going to be really a long night, they both thought as they took the only two seats left- right across from each other. A very long night.