Yay! I am so glad that this week is over so I can finally write! Well, here it is, my final chapter of this story. An epilogue will follow tomorrow.

Also, I want to comment that I have so enjoyed writing this fic, as well as the reader responses. There are no fans like Slexie fans. Thank you all for your wonderful support.

*

Saturday morning dawned clearly. The anxiety that had surrounded Lexie during the week seemed to evaporate as she prepared for her wedding in the vestry of St. Michael's. Molly, Meredith, and Cristina were all in the room with her. Her sisters were helping her get ready, and Cristina was providing the commentary.

"I can't believe you are marrying McSteamy," Cristina said, drinking from her flute of champagne which she and Meredith had brought with them.

"McSteamy?" Molly repeated.

"Derek is McDreamy, Mark is McSteamy," Meredith said.

"Ok-ay," Molly said, dusting blush over Lexie's cheeks. "Whatever that means."

Lexie smiled. "Don't worry, you will get the Seattle Grace speak eventually."

"Whatever," Cristina said. "The point is that you have neutered McSteamy. He was all sex and hotness, and you made him all domesticity and boyfriend of the year. I do not approve."

Lexie smiled. "Don't worry, Dr. Yang. I think Dr. Hunt might be taking over as the new McSteamy of the hospital."

Cristina blanched. "Never mind, new topic."

Lexie grinned triumphantly as Molly finished with her makeup.

"There!" Her sister said. "You are all ready."

Lexie turned and saw her reflection in the mirror. She hardly recognized the woman staring back at her. Instead of simple and sweet Lexie Grey, a vision had taken her place. Her hair, which defied style, was gently curling about her face with it loosely pulled up into a topknot which her veil was secured to. Her face was glowing, and Molly had only added enough makeup to enhance her natural beauty. But it was her dress which completed the transformation. The corset bodice was cinching in her waist and the dress billowed out into a full skirt with a simple bustle in the back.

"Oh my God," Lexie murmured. "I am getting married today."

Molly stood to her sister's side as she looked in the mirror and smiled. "You're just now figuring that out?"

"It hadn't sunk in yet," Lexie replied. She then turned to all the women. "Would you mind giving me a moment?"

Christina, Molly, and Meredith left the room. Once they had, Lexie continued gazing at her reflection as the weight of what she was about to do hit her. She was committing to one man for the rest of her life, and it should have scared her. She should have been panicking, and questioning everything. But she wasn't.

Nothing had ever felt so right.

She was marrying the man of her dreams today.

***

"What if she doesn't show up?"

"Relax," Derek said with a grin, clapping Mark on the shoulder. "She will be here."

"But what if she isn't?" Mark asked anxiously.

Derek shook his head as he looked at his best friend. He had never seen him so nervous. Usually, Mark was brimming with self confidence, but not this day. As they waited in a little room to the side of the altar, Mark had begun pacing, only to stop every few minutes to ask the same question again.

"Don't worry, Mark," Derek said reveling in his friend's nerves. "If she stands you up, I have a fast car. You can go out the side door and no one will know."

"Thanks, that's helpful," Mark said sarcastically.

"Just being the best man," Derek said.

"You're a crappy best man," Mark replied.

"Bite your tongue. Did you or did you not have a good time at your bachelor party?" Derek asked.

"Beers at Joe's with you, Callie, and Hunt does not a bachelor party make," Mark replied.

"I thought it was preferable to the bachelor party you threw me," Derek said. "I figured that you would agree we were past the age of strippers."

Mark nodded, not ceasing his pacing. "As if I would ever pay to watch a woman to take her clothes off. Please," He said, his voice disdainful. "Besides, it is not as if Lexie wouldn't be totally cool with it." His sarcasm was evident.

Derek just watched him with an amused grin on his face.

"Is it hot in here?" Mark asked, tugging at his black tie. "I feel hot."

"You're not hot, you're obsessing. Stop tugging at your tie," Derek commanded, "It will pass."

"Why is this taking so long?" Mark asked. He checked his watch. "Shouldn't it have started by now?"

"These things never start on time," Derek said.

"Oh God," Mark said, suddenly stopping his pacing. He cradled his face in his palms.

Derek felt fear congeal in his stomach. He tried to find the right words, "Mark … are you sure you want to do this? I can go and tell everyone … if you like."

Mark dropped his hands and looked at his best friend in shock. "What? Are you crazy?"

Derek laughed. "Sorry, I thought you were panicking."

"I am panicking," Mark said. "I am panicking that she won't show up. I am panicking that she will get up there, take one look at me, and change her mind. I am panicking that I won't make her happy. And I am panicking that I won't be a thoughtful enough husband. But believe me Derek, no part of my panic will keep me from getting married today."

There was a knock on the door to the small room, and Carolyn Shepherd came inside. "Here are my boys," She said.

"Hi Mom," Derek smiled. "Mark is panicking."

"Over what?" She asked, her face settling into a gentle frown.

"Nothing…" Mark began.

"That he won't be a good husband," Derek replied.

"Derek!" Mark exclaimed.

Carolyn came over to her surrogate son, and smoothed his tie and brushed lint off of his coat. "As well he should be nervous. Lexie is going to be my daughter in less than an hour Mark," She said. "You will treat her right."

"Mom, he's edgy enough," Derek said.

"That's fine," Carolyn replied. "It means he is finally expecting more from himself. High expectations are not a bad thing, Mark Sloan." Her eyes met his as she conveyed her meaning.

Mark felt his eyes fill with suspicious moisture. "Thank you for being here today, Mom."

"Of course," Carolyn said. "Like any of us would miss this."

"Us?" Mark repeated. "Who's us?"

"See for yourself," Carolyn replied. "It is time to take your places anyway."

When Mark and Derek left the room, Mark felt his breath catch in his throat. The entire Shepherd family was in the church, waiting for them along with all Mark and Lexie's guests. Addison, Naomi, and Sam were there as well, sitting with Callie in the second row. Meredith and Cristina were waiting in the first with Owen sitting uncomfortably next to them.

"Come on," Derek said, as he and Mark went to take their places at the altar on one side of the minister.

Then the music began to play.

"Are you ready for this?" Derek asked.

"You don't get ready for this," Mark said with a smile playing about his face.

Molly's two-year-old daughter came down the aisle, scattering rose petals as she went and amazingly made it to the end where her dad, Eric, grabbed her and sat her down with him. She was then followed by Molly, who gave Mark a saucy wink as she took her place on the dais across from him and Derek.

Mark grinned in response. His soon-to-be sister was amazing.

Then the music changed. Pachelbel's Canon filled the air as Lexie came down the aisle on Thatcher's arm.

His breath caught in his throat, and Mark dimly realized in that moment that he had been right. You do not get ready for this.

***

Lexie felt as though she was dying and being born, all in one instant. As she walked towards Mark, the look of reverence in his eyes took her breath away. She had been born for this man, for this second. Lexie felt her father's arm tremble under her own, but she continued walking.

As she passed the faces in the church, Lexie could hardly focus on them. Her eyes were locked on the man she was about to marry. He looked so handsome in his suit, standing there, waiting for her.

When they reached the altar, Thatcher gently kissed her cheek and his eyes conveyed an apology for all that had come before this. Lexie smiled at him, happy to have her father back, even if it was just for a moment.

He gently led her to Mark, and clasped their hands together, conveying his approval. Mark helped Lexie step up, and then they turned to face each other.

Then the minister spoke.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join Lexie and Mark in Holy Matrimony."

Mark gazed steadily into Lexie's eyes, and suddenly all of his fears left him. He could do this. He was going to be a great husband, and he would make sure that, one day, he was a great father, as well.

Complying with Lexie's request, the minister began to read from Corinthians. "If I have all faith, as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and I deliver my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; Love is not jealous or boastful, it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not delight at wrong but rejoices in the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends."

Mark looked tenderly at Lexie. These words were their vows, but they did not even need to be said. They were felt.

The minister continued on until he came to the part: "And if anyone knows why these two should not be joined let them speak now, or forever hold their peace."

Mark's eyes flicked up to the ceiling, as if to see if God would strike him down. Lexie fought off the laughter which had bubbled up inside her. Only Mark could make her laugh during her own wedding.

When the minister had no takers, he turned to Mark. "Repeat after me: I, Mark Sloan…"

Mark then followed after him. He squeezed Lexie's hands tighter and said, "I, Mark Sloan, take you, Lexie Grey, to be my wedded wife. To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, for all the days of my life."

Mark then turned to Derek and took the ring from his waiting hand. "With this ring, I thee wed." He gently slid the ring onto Lexie's fourth finger.

The minister then turned to Lexie. "Repeat after me: I, Lexie Grey…"

"I, Lexie Grey, take you, Mark Sloan, to be my wedded husband. To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, for all the days of my life."

After taking the ring from Molly, Lexie slid it home onto Mark's finger. "With this ring, I thee wed."

The minister began to speak again, but neither Lexie nor Mark heard him. They were married. Though the minister had not said the final words, it had never been truer.

"…by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Mark smiled down at Lexie. "Mrs. Sloan," he murmured.

"That's Dr. Sloan," Lexie whispered with a loving smile.

"You are always arguing with me," Mark said as he leaned in.

"You love me," Lexie said.

"I do," Mark said, smiling at the rightness of his words.

He kissed her then.

If there was anything else said, Mark and Lexie missed it. They simply kissed with the dull roar of applause in the background.

As he kissed his wife, Mark thought of the verse which had been read during the ceremony. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.

Yep, that sounded about right.

*

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