Chapter XIV

They had decided to wait in the hotel lobby instead of their room. Each time someone would enter they would held their breath, hoping to see Oliver.

"The wait is... horrible" said Kate. "I'm starting to get..."

"I know. Me too."

He tenderly kissed her lips before pressing his forehead to hers.

"I'm so scared, Mark."

"I'm here, babe. You don't need to be scared anymore. I'm here to stay."

Tears filled her eyes and she kissed the corner of his mouth.

"Thank you... For being there for me. I love you so much."

"I love you too, babe."

The door opened again and this time it was Oliver. In his arms was a pink bundle. They both got up, Kate clutching at Mark's arm.

"Dad..."

Oliver smiled, whispered something into the baby's ear and then, for the first time, Mark and Kate saw their daughter.

"Hey Emma, say hello to mommy and daddy."

Mark was speechless. His daughter was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. She had Kate's tiny nose, her plump lips and long eyelashes, but her eyes were the same one her saw when he looked at himself in the mirror.

"Do you want to hold your daughter?" asked Oliver to his son.

The plastic surgeon looked at Kate who nodded and smiled through her tears. Oliver gently put the little girl in his son's arm. Mark felt awkward at first and the little one felt it.

"Hey there sweetheart. I'm... I'm your daddy. And this amazing woman is your mommy. And we're here to stay."

"We'll never let you go, baby. Never."

"And when you'll be older... When you'll be as pretty as your mommy... Daddy is going to keep you lock up" said Mark, tears falling down his cheek.

"She got your eyes Mark... And look at her little nose..."

"She looks like you, Kate... She's a mini-Kate!"

The baby yawned before putting her head on her father's shoulder.

"Thank you, dad. Words can't express how grateful I am, how grateful we both are."

"The pleasure's all mine, son." He looked at his watch and sighed. "It's not that I don't love spending time with you, but my pilot is waiting for me back at SeaTac." He kissed Emma's forehead and Kate's cheek. "Hope you'll come and visit me. Son, I'll call you later."

Mark smiled and gave his dad a hug. It took Oliver by surprise, he couldn't remember the last time he had hug his son.

"Thank you dad. Just... Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Mark hold the two women of his life in his arms and sighed. Emma was chewing his shirt collar and Kate laughed.

"She's teething..."

"There's a lot of first that we're going to experience in the next couple of weeks. You think you're ready?" he asked.

"Are you?"

"As long as you're with me, always."

******

Two hours later, they were in laying in bed with Emma between them. The baby had finally fell asleep, exhausted. The two new parents were in awe with their daughter. Mark was completely amazed by the baby and couldn't stop smiling. This little being was his. Kate and he had created this little perfection.

"I can't believe we... She ours. A part of you and me."

"Did you see how she reacted when I was talking? It's as if she recognized my voice... I was so afraid she would... I don't know... I was afraid she wouldn't like me."

"She's her daddy's little girl, it would be impossible for her not to like you" he said, dropping a kiss on Kate's lips.

"I... I'm still having trouble believing it. It's so unreal."

"But she's here, Kate. She very real."

"I know... But you've got to admit... I had made peace with the fact that she was... gone. And now she's with us. It's a miracle."

"Not a miracle, babe. That's how it should have been from the beginning."

"I know. Nothing will ever be the same, ever. You're a family man now."

"And it feel great. I never imagined myself settling down... But now I can." He took a deep breath. "Kate... I won't lie to you, I never believed in marriage..."

She stopped him with a kiss. "Then don't. We're good. We don't need..."

She was interrupt by Mark's cell phone. He quickly grabbed it from the bedside table and answered it.

"Hello? Derek... Yes, she's here..." There was a long silence. "Okay, I'll tell her."

He hang up and looked at Kate, suddenly very serious.

"Kate... I think we should go back to the hospital... Derek... I know how... It's your last chance... You... You need to make peace with him."

The young woman bit her lips and nodded. "Will you come with me?"

"Yes, of course."

They slowly got up from the bed, dressed Emma in her little pink coat, trying not to wake her, and left the hotel. The cab ride to the hospital was silent with only the sound of the radio and Emma's soft breathing. When they made it to surgical floor they were welcomed by several staff members. Kate easily spotted Derek, the interns, Bailey, the Chief and Addison.

"Is he...?"

"Not yet... I rushed the surgery to this afternoon, but when we started... There's nothing else I can do, Kay. I think he's waiting for you to... to go."

She turned to Mark, squeezed his hand, kissed Emma's forehead then walked to her father's room. A nurse was with him and the minute she saw Kate she smiled before leaving. He looked nothing like the tyrannic financial tycoon he was. She closed the door and sat down next to the bed. She took his hand in his and was surprised to feel tears running down her cheeks.

"I'm here, father. I'm here now..."

He looked so vulnerable with the breathing tube and the machines hooked to him.

"I lied to you, you know? I do give a damn about you dying... It hurt so much... I don't think I ever told you... I... I love you, father. I know you might not... No, I know that you do love me. If you didn't you wouldn't have made sure that Emma was well taken care of... I just... I want you to know that... I do love you, father. You can go now."

As soon as she said those words, he flatlined. She closed her eyes and cried. Taking a deep breath she kissed his hand and went to shut the machines. She sat down and said a silent prayer for her father's soul. Several minutes later she opened the door and told the people waiting for her.

"Time of death, 2348."

They were all surrounding the nurse station. The Chief was holding a sleeping Emma in his arm, Mark standing next to him. She walked to him and he pulled her roughly against him in a fierce embrace.

"Kate..." he said quietly.

His voice pulled her out of her trance. She rubbed her face against his chest and hold on to him. He lifted her chin and looked at her eyes, now a deep shade of blue.

"He's gone... It's over... My father is dead."

She burst into tears and Mark did the only thing he could do. He hold her and let her cry.

Author note: So that's chapter 14... Leave a review - Lara K.