So it has been a few days. I have been brainstorming just exactly where I wanna take this story and I think I have some good ideas and of course, some drama. Wouldn't be right without it. Has anyone else heard that Oct. 27th will feature the docs in a baseball game. I am pretty stoked. Anyway, here is the next chapter, guys. I hope it was worth the wait.

Disclaimer: All rights belong to Shonda Rhimes.

It had been three months of planning and it was finally here, the day they had been waiting for. Lexie stayed at Meredith's that night while Mark stayed in the apartment, as it was customary for the couple to be apart the night before the wedding. Lexie woke up that morning feeling ready and excited. This was the day she would get to stand in front of all their friends and family and declare that she would spend the rest of her life with Mark Sloan. Things could not be better. She slowly got up and made her way downstairs where Meredith was sitting in the kitchen with Haley while Derek made breakfast.

"Wow, something smells good." Lexie said.

"Good morning, Sadie." Meredith said with a smile that made Lexie step back with caution. "Do you want some coffee?"

"Sadie?" Lexie asked, confused.

"Sadie." She explained. "Sadie, Sadie, married lady."

"Streisand." Derek said from his place at the stove.

Lexie laughed to herself as she took the coffee and sat at the table.

"Hey girlie girl." Lexie said as she pinched at Haley's cheek.

"How do you feel, Little Grey?" Derek asked. "Today's the big day."

"Yeah." She answered. "I feel kinda nervous, but strangely safe. I feel like a kid again."

"Okay." Meredith said clapping her hands together, nearly scaring Lexie half to death. "Derek is keeping Haley and then we are going with April to the salon to get our hair done. Callie, Arizona, and Cristina are meeting us there."

"Fine." Lexie said, sleepily. "But I'm bringing this with me." She gestured to the coffee.

"I can live with that. Let's go." Meredith ushered her out the door.

Derek sighed and began cleaning the kitchen. About twenty minutes later, he gathered the baby's things and prepared her carseat.

"What do you say we go see how your old man is doing, huh?" Derek said. "He might be feeling a little nervous and I think a visit from you might help."

Meanwhile, Lexie sat at the salon having her hair brushed and pulled at while listening to all the girls' incessant chatter.

"I love weddings." Arizona said, cheerfully. "Love, music, cake; all things that make me happy."

Callie laughed, "What about you, Kepner?"

"What?" April asked, not really paying attention.

"Weddings?" Callie clarified.

"Mm-hm. Weddings, super." She said, focusing on her phone again.

"She's a little busy. She's been getting busy with Avery." Meredith said.

"Meredith!" April squealed.

"Ooh, Avery. He's yummy." Arizona said with a grin.

"Can I just say, I knew it would happen." Lexie said. "You guys were way to close to each other to not care."

"Okay, can we talk about something else?"

"Okay, when we finish here, we have to go find something for Little Grey to wear for her man tonight?" Callie said. "Huh, you won't be Little Grey after today, or will you?"

"No. I will change my name. I'm traditional." Lexie answered.

"Anything you want to add over there?" Meredith called out to Cristina who seemed to be watching in amusement.

"Nope. I am perfectly content right here." She said as she took a bite of a candy bar.

After the girls had finished their appointment at the salon they stopped at a lingerie boutique where they indured about an hour of "yes, no, too trashy, too safe" before finally making a purchase and heading to the church to get dressed. Meanwhile, Derek had arrived at Mark's apartment, baby in tow.

"Hey man." Mark greeted. "Hey there, pumpkin. Come here." He picked up his daughter and sat down with Derek on the couch.

"So how are you doing?" Derek asked.

"Honestly, I think I am better than I have been in a while."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. I feel like it is all coming together. Finally. I didn't think I could feel like this about anyone." Mark said.

"Addison?" Derek asked.

"What? Mark asked, slightly thrown.

"You said that you were in love with Addison. Remember?" Derek said.

"Yeah. That was a long time ago. Besides, Addison never gave me anything even close to this." Mark answered, gesturing to the infant resting in his arms. "This is more. Much more."

"Okay...so we're doing this, huh?" Derek said with a smile.

"Yeah. We're doing this."

Lexie stares at herself in the mirror. She wore a classic white strapless wedding gown with a beaded bodice. She had her hair styled like her mother's; curled, the top half pulled back with loose tendrils that framed her face. She went easy on the makeup for a more natural look and she wore a long, sheer veil. She began to fidget nervously.

"You are gorgeous." Meredith said.

"Really?" Lexie said, with a smile. "The dress might be a little much, but..."

"You're perfect. I promise."

Lexie heard a gasp. "Oh my, gosh. You are stunning." Callie gushed. "Arizona come look."

"Lexie, you look amazing." Arizona said. "Really..." She began to tear up.

"Oh, no." Callie said, escorting her away.

"Mark won't know what hit him." April chimed in.

"Thank you." Lexie said. "Thanks to all of you for doing this with me. You guys, are the best."

There was a knock on the bridal suite door followed by the best man entering.

"Hey, is everyone ready?" Meredith asked.

"Lexie, you look beautiful." Derek said with a smile.

"Thank you." Lexie said with a smile.

"Actually, Meredith, I need to talk to you." He said.

"Okay." Meredith looked at Lexie with a smile. "I'll be right back. You look great."

Meredith followed Derek out to the hall. She could tell he was nervous and that something with him just wasn't quite right.

"What is it?" Meredith asked.

Cristina ran up the hall to where Meredith and Derek were standing.

"Everyone is ready to go. The only thing missing from this shindig are the two lovebirds so what is taking everyone so long?" She asked.

"We'll be right out. Just tell everyone five minutes." Meredith said.

"Alright, but if you guys aren't out there in six minutes then I am taking Derek as a peace offering." Cristina stated, walking away.

"What's wrong?"

"He's not coming." Derek said.

"Who? The pastor? Owen? I don't understand." She said.

"Mark." Derek continued. "He called. He said he was going for a drive and when I pointed out that he should be here...he said he's not ready, Mer."

"Seriously?" Meredith said. "I can't break her heart, Derek."

"I know. I was thinking I could tell her while you and the girls help with everything out there." Derek suggested.

"Are you sure?" Meredith asked.

"Yeah." Derek said. "I should do this."

As Meredith and the rest of the wedding party cleared out, Derek went back in to Lexie.

"Hey." Lexie said. "I know this is last minute but my dad can't make it and I was hoping that maybe you would give me away."

"Lexie."

"It's okay. You don't have to do it."

"No, Lexie. It's Mark. He called…and I don't know how to say this…but…"

"He's not coming, is he?" Lexie finished.

"I'm afraid not." Derek said.

Lexie looked down with a sigh.

"Why am I not surprised?" Lexie asked.

"That's not fair." Derek said.

"You're right. I'm sorry." Lexie paused. "Can you and Meredith take Haley back to your house with you? I have to run back to the apartment and get some stuff and then I will be there, too."

"Sure. Whatever you need, okay?" Derek said, taking her into a hug.

"Thank you." Lexie said, walking to the door. "And thank you, for not lying to me. You're a great big brother."

"You're an amazing little sister. Anything for you." Derek said with a smile.

Lexie walked into the empty, dark apartment, still in her wedding dress. Her hair was disheveled and her makeup was smudged. Crying in the backseat of the cab on the way over had left her looking worn and tired. She turned the light on and slowly made her way into the bedroom they shared and began packing a bag. She made sure to grab the essentials; she didn't want to waste time and raise her chances of running into Mark. She grabbed her toiletries from the bathroom and added them to her bag. Zipping the bag up, she heard the front door close, causing her stomach to drop. Mark appeared in the doorway, but she couldn't find the strength to look at him.

"Lexie, please." Mark began. "Try to understand."

Lexie sat down on the bed and continued to look at the floor. The silence filled the room and made the tension even that much greater.

"You left me there." Lexie said softly, never looking up. "You left me there. I waited for you and you left me there."

"Lexie."

"I thought this was what you wanted." She said, a single tear escaping. "Why did you ever ask me if you didn't want to?"

"I'm sorry." He said. "I don't want to break up. I love you so much. I just don't know if I can get married yet."

"It's not that simple." Lexie told him. "I got all pretty for you and you were going to leave me standing there."

"Lexie, please."

"I have to go." She said, grabbing her bag and rushing past him, the rustle of her dress filling the room.

"Where's Haley?" Mark asked, when he saw the diaper bag on her shoulder.

"We are going to Meredith's. It's the only place I feel like we belong right now." She told him.

"No, Lexie, you belong here…with me. You can't keep her from me. She's my daughter." Mark said, on the verge of tears.

"You can see her whenever you like, but right now I think this is what's best for both of us." Lexie explained. "I have to go."

Lexie opened the front door and put her bag down as she turned and walked back to Mark. A tiny part of him had hoped that she changed her mind, but his head knew better. She slowly removed the engagement ring she wore and handed it to him, before kissing him on the cheek. With a small sniffle, she turned around and picked up her bags and stopped.

"You know," Lexie said, without looking back. "I would have loved you forever…and the worst part is, I think I still will."

With that she closed the door. Mark was left alone, trying to hold what was left of him together while Lexie did her best to keep breathing.

So I am pretty sure that this wedding did not go the way most of you would have liked, but if everything was happy and hunky dory then you would get bored and the story would be over. What did everyone think of this week's episode? In other news, I received a tweet on my Twitter from Jesse Williams (Jackson Avery) as he live tweeted during the episode. Pretty-freaking-amazing! Anyways, read and remember to review, because it makes me smile.

P.S. Sorry for the long chapter.

Peace & Love xoxo