Disclaimer: I don't own Grey's Anatomy

Also, disclaimer, I'm basing all medical knowledge on the show so some of this might be completely inaccurate. But, hey, it's a FanFiction.

Chapter Nineteen

It'd been so fast. It felt like something out of a movie. A couple of quick flashes that threw everyone in that room that night into a loop. Lexie Grey wasn't even sure what was happening as Arizona Robbins delivered her niece. She couldn't console Meredith because she was in a coma and she didn't know what to do. Alex had come to aid the scene, telling her they'd handle everything. Lexie could see the worry in Karev's eyes and knew how worked up he was about losing Meredith too. Arizona and Alex did the best they could– even calling Addison to make sure they were doing everything correctly. Koracick made sure that it wasn't harming Meredith's brain in any way. Everything went perfectly and it's why Lexie stood there and waited. Meredith should've woken up. She should've opened her eyes as she went into labor... But, Lexie assumes, Meredith's body didn't have the strength. Lexie felt numb and defeated until they placed a pink faced bundle in her arms.

A little girl.

A little girl born without a father and now without a mother.

Nor Lexie or Mark hadn't broken the news to many of their friends or family yet. Cristina, Molly, and Addison were still trying to reach Seattle in the midst of the storm while the Shepherd family slept peacefully in their homes in New York, without a clue that their brother's last child was born around four o'clock in the morning.

"She's beautiful," Mark Sloan said softly as he rocked the baby in his arms. She looked so small in his muscular arms. She'd been born almost a month early. Thankfully, she was perfectly healthy except for her weight and a bit of a breathing problem. However, Arizona said she was strong and was doing excellent otherwise. "She looks like Derek, but I also see so much of Meredith in her as well…"

"She does," Lexie said, trying to control her tears. "She is so much like her mother…"

"It'll be okay, Lex. I promise," Mark vowed, looking up at her with determined blue eyes. She could also see the heartbreak in them. "We'll make it okay."

"My sister isn't coming back," Lexie whispered through her tears. "And her children will never know her the way they should… We're going to have to tell Zola and Bailey. They were hoping that their mother would come back. I was too."

"I was hoping too," Mark replied as he brushed the infant's hair back. As he did this, Lexie noticed his bruised knuckles and frowned.

"What happened there?" she questioned, motioning to his hand.

"Oh. That," Mark said, biting his lip. "I may or may have not punched Morrison for insulting you…"

Lexie gasped. "You did what?"

"He was insulting you so I kind of punched him," Mark muttered as he looked back at their niece in his arms. "I know, not professional, but he was being a dick and he deserved it. I was sick and tired of him treating you and even the others in the department."

"Mark," Lexie said, shaking her head as she went to examine the bruising. She didn't want to admit it, but part of Lexie wanted to start pressing kisses all over Mark Sloan's stupid face for doing that. "Thank you, but I can fight my own battles, you know?"

"I know you can, but he was just pissing me off," Mark replied bitterly. "He deserved a good punch in the face if he wants to keep working here. You deserve to be where you are and you deserve not to get constantly harassed by him."

"Alright, but try not to get fired, okay?" Lexie said, chuckling lightly. "The last thing we need is for you to loose your job. We have three kids now. We're going to have to put them through college somehow."

"Well Hunt saw it happen. I think he kind of wanted it to happen to, if I'm going to be honest," Mark muttered.

"Men," Lexie said, shaking her head. "Let me ice it for you though."

"I iced it earlier," he insisted, but the neurosurgeon didn't care. She proceeded to grab an ice pack from the room's supplies and placed it on top of his hand. She proceeded to take her niece in the process and cradle her in her arms. The little girl slept so peacefully and so well. She remembered Bailey barely did this. He was always crying or screaming. Meredith and Derek had been on their last nerve. However, you never know. She wouldn't be surprised if they brought the little girl home and she decided she'd never let her aunt and uncle sleep for the next year.

"We're all this little girl has now," Lexie stated sadly as she rocked the baby. "She has the Shepherds, but we're her parents now….She's our daughter."

"She is," Mark confirmed, brushing some of Lexie's hair out of the way with his free hand. "Not how I pictured this moment, to be honest. I always thought you'd be sweaty and exhausted."

Lexie chuckled, turning her head to look at Mark in the eyes. She paused and grabbed his free hand in hers. "After everything that's happened…Do you still want to do this?"

"Do what?" Mark questioned, his eyebrows furrowing together in confusion.

"Be a family. Raise these kids as parents," Lexie stammered. "Be…Be together."

"Be together?" Mark's ears perked up at this comment. "What are you implying, Lexie Grey?"

"I'm implying that even though I don't know what's going to happen, I want it to be with you, Mark," Lexie declared honestly. He could tell she was struggling to speak. However, before she could say anything, the door to the hospital room opened up.

In the doorway stood Amelia with Alex, Callie, and Arizona. They looked at the pair solemnly and then at Meredith, who looked like she was sleeping, if anything

"We heard," Callie confirmed, her voice wobbling. "I'm so sorry…"

"We wanted to be here, in case you guys needed it," Alex added.

"We're figuring it out….We're going to give it a day. Just so everyone can have their goodbyes," Lexie explained, her voice cracking a bit, as she rocked the baby in her arms. "To let Zola and Bailey say goodbye to their mommy tomorrow. To let Cristina have a moment…To let us have a moment."

"I'm so sorry nothing more could've been done," Amelia told them, trying to control her emotion. "I even talked to Tom and for a second, we really thought that she was coming out of a coma, ya know? We really thought so…"

"It's okay, Amelia," Lexie said, giving her a gentle smile as she tried to control the tears in her eyes. "But, this is still the day a beautiful little girl was born and I think we should introduce her to everyone."

"A girl," Amelia gushed as Lexie stood up to place her into her other aunt's arms. Amelia looked like she was about to burst into tears as she held the baby. "Does she have a name?"

"Not yet," Mark said, walking beside Lexie and placing a subconscious arm around her waist. Lexie didn't shake it off and in fact, leaned into his embrace.

"We have a few ideas… But to be honest, we didn't put much thought into it," Lexie told their friends.

"Whatever it'll be, I'm sure it'll be good," Callie announced bittersweetly as Alex came over to coo at the little girl in Amelia's arms.

"Does anyone know where Jackson and April are?" Mark asked curiously, looking around as if he was expecting them to be there. "Do they even know what happened here?"

"I got a text from April saying they were okay, but I have no clue where they went," Arizona said. "Or what they did, to be honest."

"Oh boy," Mark muttered, causing Lexie to chuckle as she nudged him playfully in the ribs.

"I'm sure the two of them are alright."

Mark and Lexie were able to find joy as their friends met Meredith and Derek's daughter. She was a sweet little thing, already having half the staff around her finger. It was crazy how to think this beautiful little girl almost didn't come to be. However, Lexie and Mark stuck it out and now this young girl would be the last of her parents' legacy.

Lexie still couldn't quite come up with a name besides Meredith. She wanted her sister's name to be in there somewhere. However, she and Mark couldn't agree on a name that suited her. They tossed a few around, but weren't sure. Lexie wished her sister was around to give her a sign. Maybe Cristina would know what to name her. It needed to be something special. However, that might have to wait until after Meredith's final goodbyes.

Mark and Lexie had moved the baby down to the NICU where she was being closely monitored, but also away from the hustle and bustle of Meredith's hospital room. Most of their friends and family were making their final goodbyes and Mark and Lexie needed a space to be able to comfort the baby. They currently sat on the hard hospital chairs surrounding the baby's hospital crib. Lexie had leaned her head against Mark's shoulder and could feel her eyelids starting to droop. She wanted to stay beside Mark. Being with him right now kept her grounded.

"You should go get some rest," Mark suggested quietly, brushing part of her hair away from her face. "You're exhausted."

"I'll be fine."

"No. You're not. You've been up for almost twenty-four hours," Mark stated simply. "Go take a shower or get some sleep in an on-call room."

"I just need a coffee," Lexie announced, patting his shoulder. "I'll be right back."

Mark didn't seem convinced as Lexie made her way out of the NICU. She proceeded to head to the coffee station, doing her best to stay awake as she fixed herself another cup. Maybe she should sleep, but Lexie knew Mark could use sometime as well. Maybe she'd suggest taking turns when she got back. However, part of her didn't want to leave the baby or Meredith.

"Lexie?"

The neurosurgeon was not expecting to hear that voice.

Lexie turned around, spun on her heels, and found herself coming face to face with her father, Thatcher Grey. He had a nervous look on his face as he fiddled with the wet rain coat in his arms. To Lexie, he looked much better. He didn't look like he'd been drinking. His cheeks were full and he didn't reek of whiskey. No, he looked like the father she always knew.

"Dad?" Lexie questioned. "What…What are you doing here? It's been months, what the…"

"Webber called me. Told me everything that happened," Thatcher explained hesitantly. "I was doing really bad again, Lex, I had to make sure I was healthy before I could come help you."

"Well, I'm doing fine, obviously," Lexie stated icily. "I've been raising Meredith's children without you pretty well. I've been doing my job here well. Everything without you– well. Got it?"

"Lexie, I didn't come here to gravel or make you feel worse," Thatcher said.

"I think that's exactly what you came to do!" Lexie seethed. "Where were you when I needed you? I remember how much it hurt losing my mom and I felt like you were nowhere with that. You were nowhere when I got into a plane crash. You were spiraling! You couldn't stay strong to be my dad! You couldn't just…"

"I'm sorry, Lexie. I really am. I didn't mean to spiral the way I did," Thatcher apologized.

"I know it's hard for you, but I just really needed my dad, you know?" Lexie said. She could feel tears starting to trickle down her cheeks. "Meredith doesn't need you, but maybe this could've been a way for you to know her children. You have two, now three, amazing grandchildren from her and you don't even choose to make the effort and get to know them. They're incredible."

"I know and I can say sorry a million times and it won't change anything," Thatcher cried out. "What I can do now is that I can be there."

"Now? Took you long enough." Lexie huffed, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I know, but I'm here. I'm stronger and I'm here to support you and your sisters," Thatcher vowed. "That includes Meredith. I want to help you and Mark."

Lexie raised her eyebrows. "You've been talking to Molly?"

"Yes. She might have cued me in on the fact you're living with your ex-boyfriend," Thatcher explained dryly. "But, I'm not here to judge you on any of that. I'm just here to be support. To support you, these children, Meredith. Besides…this is it, isn't it? Meredith's…She's…"

Lexi nodded, wiping the tears with the pad of her thumb. "Yes. It is."

"Well, I want to say goodbye and tell her I'm sorry. I was a shitty father, but she was still my daughter," Thatcher said, swallowing hard. Lexie could see he was getting worked up. "And you are too…And even though you might not need me, I want you to know that I'm here. That I can support you from a distance."

"Okay," Lexie replied back gently. "I can allow that."

"If you don't mind, I'd love to see your sister one last time," Thatcher said, to which Lexie nodded. She took him by the hand and brought him to Meredith's room.

Lexie left her father have a few moments alone with Meredith. In a way, it broke her heart to see him like this. She doesn't know where her family ever went wrong. She used to be really close to her dad, but after spending the last few months trying to be a parent without him, having to create her own family…He felt like a stranger.

"Is that…Is that Thatcher?"

Lexie looked to see it was Mark. He was rubbing his eyes, with their dark circles, as he stood right next to her.

"Why aren't you with the baby?" Lexie asked softly.

"Karev said he could take over for a bit. I needed a walk to be honest. To wake me up," Mark confessed, shrugging as he shoved his hands into his pockets. "Besides, I wanted to make sure you were okay and well…I see your dad is here."

"Yeah," Lexie muttered. "Didn't expect him to show his face here."

"I guess some miracles happen at least," Mark commented lightly.

"I guess they do," Lexie agreed, studying her dad from a distance. "He wants to support me suddenly…I don't know how I feel."

"I think your dad finally realized he messed up," Mark said. "Maybe just see what he does. Make sure you can trust him again. Be able to forgive him."

"I don't trust him wholly yet. I should forgive him, but sometimes it's hard. Not after everything I went through without him here," Lexie replied. "But, I guess I should give him some sort of chance, right?"

"I think second chances are always nice," Mark told her sincerely. There was a playfulness to that comment. "I'm quite a big fan of them."

"They are," Lexie echoed, turning to look up at her partner in crime. Something about Mark standing there, looking exhausted and absolutely disheveled, told Lexie this was the right moment. This was it. "And I think we deserve five minutes to talk about them."

"You want to talk about it, here? Right now?" Mark asked curiously, raising his eyebrows. "Really?"

"I don't want to waste another second. Especially after the last day... Mark, these last couple of months have been insane. Coming back to Seattle and having my entire world be ripped apart in the span of a few days," Lexie said. She took a deep breath as she turned to face him. "And honestly…I couldn't have done it all without you. I'm strong. I could've done it by myself…But it was so much better having you by my side. Having you there to take care of the kids and being each other's support system. You make me happy, Mark Sloan. Whether it's you getting excited over some new recipe you found online or when we're drinking wine on the couch and watching T.V. I love mundane things with you."

"I love all of those things with you too," Mark replied wholeheartedly. "We're a family. Somehow me, you, Zola, Bailey, and the baby…We make a family. And I want us to stay a family."

"Me too because I love you, Mark," Lexie announced, grinning proudly. It felt so nice for her to finally utter those words out loud. To finally tell him how she felt. Lexie placed her hands on his cheeks so she could caress his face. His stubble felt nice beneath her fingers. "And I want to make this work, if you're willing to go four round two."

"I want nothing more than to try round two," Mark declared, chuckling as he grasped the hands touching his face in his own. He gave them a squeeze before bringing both hands to his lips to kiss them. "Because I love you too, Lexie Grey. Very much. You make me want a future. A beautiful, amazing future."

Lexie chuckled as Mark wrapped his arms around her and brought her into a fierce kiss. It surprised the neurosurgeon, but it felt so right. It felt like despite all the hell they'd gone through and everything they were about to go through…They would be alright. They had each other. They would be a family.

"Doctor! Doctor! Someone, help!"

Lexie and Mark broke apart at the sound of the yelling. They quickly turned to see it was Thatcher Grey. He looked absolutely shocked as he rushed up to them.

"Dad, what's wrong?" Lexie asked anxiously, breaking apart from Mark to console her father.

"It's Meredith," Thatcher wheezed out, jerking a thumb to her room. "She…I saw her…She's awake."

"What?" Lexie questioned as she looked towards the hospital room. She ran into the hospital room with Mark and were surprised to find two blue eyes looking up at them in surprise.

"Lexie?" Meredith questioned weakly, her voice dry and confused. "What's...What's going on?"