"Now You Know"

Author: NCIS1990

Rated T

Disclaimer: I don't own "Grey's Anatomy" or it's characters.

Summary: After 8x22. Another way it could have gone.

A/N: I know, I'm starting another story but I don't think we could have enough rewrites.

SCENE: MEREDITH'S ATTIC

(Lexie is lying in bed awake just staring at the wall when Meredith walks in.)

Meredith: Lexie, why aren't you up yet we're supposed to leave for the hospital in an hour, what are you doing?

Lexie: Just lying here, dying in shame and humiliation.

Meredith: What's wrong?

Lexie: I finally told Mark how I feel last night, actually I went into a rant and said "I love you" like a million time. Do you know what he said afterwards before he left with his girlfriend?

Meredith: No, what?

Lexie: All he said was "Thank you for your candor."

Meredith: Are you kidding me?

Lexie: No, now I just feel stupid.

Meredith: C'mon, I'm sure it wasn't that bad.

Lexie: I told him I was infected by Mark Sloan. I told him he was a disease, I should just never say anything ever again. I'm a doctor, I can always just sew my mouth shut.

Meredith: No you can't, one of the things I've always admired about you is that you are always up front with people.

Lexie: But the thing is I wasn't up front with him. I tried to shove away my feelings for months and now he's in the perfect relationship with perfect Julia who's going to have his perfect kids.

Meredith: No he's not.

Lexie: Julia wants to have kids with him and he's seriously thinking about it.

Meredith: Lex, the thing is he's thinking about it. If he thought Julia was the great love of his life he would want to have a baby and a future with her without a second thought. He truly loves you Lexie, everyone can see that.

Lexie: Maybe love just isn't enough anymore. (Sighs) I should probably get ready for work.

(Lexie gets up and walks past Meredith. Meredith watches her go and sighs.)

LATER AT THE HOSPITAL

(Mark and Derek are in the attending's lounge watching TV while trying to pass the time when Meredith marches in.)

Meredith: Good, I've been looking for you.

Derek: What's up?

Meredith: Not you, (Turning to Mark) You. What the hell is wrong with you?

Mark: Meredith—

Meredith: No, I'm going to talk which shouldn't be a problem because I think my sister can attest to the fact that you are a man of few words. Like I was saying, what the hell is wrong with you?

Derek: What's going on?

Meredith: Your best friend's an idiot, that's what's going on. (Back to Mark.) You know, when you first came to this hospital 5 years ago I thought you were just an egotistical ass who thought he was god's gift to the entire world. I didn't think you could go past one night stands and you didn't have a heart. That's why I tried to get Derek to get you to stay away from my sister. Even though we weren't close at the time in the back of my mind I didn't want to see her get hurt. But when I saw you with her, when I saw that for the first time probably in your entire life you were committed to making a relationship go past sex my thoughts about you changed. But I was wrong maybe you're not an egotistical ass anymore but you're worse, you're a coward. Instead of being honest about your feelings you are looking for the easy way out. Maybe if you did have kids with Julia you'd be happy. You'd love those kids but if you had to wake up the rest of your life next to Julia you would feel like there was something missing and do you know why that is? Because no matter how great she may be you and I both know she's not the one you really want. I know you love my sister Mark, and so do you, but because you and Lexie have hit so many road blocks in the past you won't face up to it. You just want things to be simple. You want to know how I know, because Derek was also an idiot. When he went back to Addison he was looking for the easy way out but he would have never been as happy he would have been with me. But he didn't want any conflict but he learned that is no way to live life and now look where we are. We are happily married and have a beautiful daughter and we know we are with the people we were always meant to be with. If you can look me in the eye right now and tell me Julia is the one you truly want to be with then I will let this go.

(Mark just stares at her.)

Meredith: That's what I thought. I'm going to go now, I have surgery, and don't worry Mark, you don't have to say "Thank you for your candor." this time.

(Meredith walks out.)

Derek: Please god tell me when Lexie told you she loved you, you didn't say "Thank you for your candor"?

A/N: Well, there's the first chapter. This is just something that popped into my head, let me know what you think and if I should continue.