Running in Circles - Lexie Grey x OC

Already Home

Late Afternoon — Christmas
Harper Lane — Meredith and Derek's House

By the time Eric and Lexie reached Harper Lane, the house was already loud.

There was music somewhere in the living room that kept disappearing beneath conversation, the smell of rosemary and butter had taken over the downstairs, and somebody had left a trail of wrapping paper from the stairs to the dining room.

Lexie stepped inside first.

"Mer?"

"In here!"

She shrugged out of her coat.

Eric took it from her before it could slide down her arms and added it to his over one forearm.

Lexie glanced back at him.

"Thanks, babe."

He bent and kissed her temple.

"You're welcome."

She smiled and went toward the kitchen.

Eric followed with both coats.

He made it three steps before Lexie came back.

"What?"

She reached up and straightened the silver chain looped through the button of his shirt.

It didn't need straightening.

Eric looked down at her fingers.

Then at her.

Lexie smiled.

"There."

"You've adjusted that four times."

"It keeps moving."

"It hasn't moved once."

"Then I'm doing a really good job."

Her fingertips stayed against his shirt for another second before she disappeared toward the kitchen again.

Eric watched her go.

Then hung up their coats.

"Grey!"

Alex's voice came from somewhere near the dining room.

"Which one?" Meredith called back.

"Little Grey."

"I'm right here," Lexie said.

Alex appeared carrying something already half eaten.

"You brought dessert?"

"I brought two."

"Where?"

"No."

Alex looked wounded.

"What?"

"You're already eating."

"It's Christmas."

"You can eat at dinner."

"That's not how Christmas works."

Eric passed him.

"It does when somebody else cooked."

Alex glanced at him.

Then stopped.

His eyes narrowed.

Eric kept walking.

Alex turned slowly.

"What the hell are you wearing?"

Lexie, halfway into the kitchen, froze.

Eric looked down at himself.