2 months later…
"I agreed to the joint engagement party, but I'm still saying no to a joint wedding, Mer. It's our day…we've waited a long time for this," Derek explains.
"But I hate being the center of attention, and sharing it with Lexie will take some of the focus off of me," Meredith says.
"Nope. You're going to be a beautiful, blushing bride in a big white gown with a veil. And you're going to even let Izzie do your hair and makeup and help you plaster on a cheesy smile," Derek teases.
Meredith grumbles, "You're lucky I love you so much!"
Lexie runs over to Meredith. "Hurry up! We have to get ready. Izzie finished putting out all the food and Cristina set all the tables and put out the centerpieces. Everything looks beautiful! Come look with me!" she says, grabbing Meredith's hand and pulling her into Joe's Pub.
When she reluctantly enters the familiar bar,Meredith gasps at the transformation. The place looks beautiful and all of a sudden, she is in the spirit of the night.
"I can't believe it! It's perfect!" she says, as Izzie and Cristina rush around setting things up.
"It is…isn't it!" Lexie replies.
"Cristina! You're folding the napkins wrong. Look…corner to corner…like this," Izzie says, demonstrating the correct way to fold.
"If you think that just because I'm Asian I know how to fold Origami, you are sadly mistaken. After I stab you with this steak knife for being so incredibly annoying, there will be a napkin to wipe up the blood with. You won't care how it's folded!" Cristina says, flatly as she walks away.
"Wow! That was harsh. What's up with her?" Lexie asks.
"Oh…that was nothing. You should have seen what she said when I told her that the salad fork and the dinner fork were reversed," Izzie says.
"Derek said no to a joint wedding," Meredith says.
"No offense, Mer, but it wasn't your best idea. I mean, you didn't really think he was going to say yes. Mark laughed in my face," Lexie says.
"I know…I'll just have to suck it up and wear the veil…" Meredith says.
"Mark promised me a fairy tale wedding with a chocolate fountain for dessert," Lexie says.
"Oh my god! I love chocolate fountains!" Izzie says, happily.
"While you two are swimming in your chocolate fountains, Meredith and I have a few things to discuss," Cristina says, pulling Meredith off to the side.
"I know it's your engagement party, and it's your night and everything, but I need my person right now. Owen's breaking up with me," Cristina says.
"What?" Meredith asks.
"Yeah. It's over. He left this morning for rounds and was supposed to meet me at the house before I came here. He texted me that he got held up and had something to do and that he'd meet me here. It was all weird. He wouldn't tell me where he was going. I don't understand what happened. We had a great night and then this morning he was all nervous and jumpy when he was leaving. Do you think he's cheating?" Cristina asks.
"Cheating? No. I think we're going to get to the bottom of this. Can I tell Derek? Maybe Owen said something to him?" Meredith asks.
"No! I don't want anyone to know that Owen's cheating!" Cristina says.
"We don't know that he's cheating!" Meredith says.
"Who's cheating?" Lexie and Izzie ask in unison.
"No one!" Cristina snaps.
"Cristina thinks that Owen's cheating on her," Meredith explains.
Izzie and Lexie are silent and Cristina glares at Meredith.
"Wait…maybe Alex knows something…the two of them went out somewhere this morning," Izzie says.
"What? Owen told me he had rounds! That liar!" Cristina says.
"Rounds? Alex told me that they were going to some electronics store and that Owen knew a lot about speakers and that we needed new ones for the surround sound," Izzie says.
"Owen can't even check his own email! He's technologically challenged. You're lucky if he can figure out how to work his pager!!" Cristina replies.
"So Alex is a liar too then! Oh my god…do you think he's cheating on me too?" Izzie asks. "Maybe they went to meet interns together or something" she says, horrified.
"Hey! Why does everyone assume that interns are just out to date superiors?" Lexie says, defensively. Then she looks at Meredith and Cristina and remembers that she is marrying an attending as well and says, "I hope they're not meeting interns."
"I'm asking Derek!" Meredith says.
"And I'm asking Mark!" Lexie echoes.
"Wait! Stop. This is your engagement party. Let's just wait until they get here. Let's not get all dramatic," Cristina says.
"You're right. It's your night Grey sisters. Nothing should take the spotlight off of you," Izzie adds, smiling a little too sweetly at Meredith.
"You better do something to take the spotlight off of me. I feel like I might throw up," Meredith says.
As Cristina and Izzie walk away, to finish setting up the room, Lexie grabs Meredith's arm before she can rush off.
"You're really nervous. Why?" Lexie asks.
"These types of parties make me uncomfortable," Meredith says, evasively.
"But Mer, it's just going to be your friends, our families, and Derek's family. Mark invited his family, but they're not coming. I can't believe them!" Lexie says, her focus drifting from Meredith's dislike of parties and towards Mark's family not coming to the engagement party.
"That's just it. Derek has this huge family who can't wait to celebrate his happiness. You have Thatcher, who even with all his faults loves you and is thrilled for you. Besides, you have Molly and her family who, by the way, sent a huge bouquet of flowers. Izzie put them at the entrance. And then there's me…I have no one. Do you know that outside of Cristina, Izzie, Alex and George, I didn't even have anyone to invite? I did not send one invitation out. And even the people who will be here, partially for me, are here partially for me. The chief, for example…he's here for me…and for Derek and for you and Mark. He'd be here, even if I didn't show up. Same with Dr. Bailey. Parties just reinforce how few people actually care whether I'm alive or dead," Meredith says.
Lexie immediately feels terrible for Meredith and knows that her own happy upbringing highlights Meredith's lack of family. She says, "Listen…there are a lot of people who love and care about you…and…" Meredith cuts her off.
"No offense, but I'm not really in the mood to hear about all of the people who love me. Yes…I have great friends. But who is going to walk me down the aisle. Who is going to cry and give me motherly advice? I don't have those people in my life, and I never will. I'm sorry. I don't mean to rain on your special day, but I just want to get through this engagement party and go home," Meredith says, surprising herself as she gets choked up.
Lexie is at a loss for words. She notices that anything she says on the topic seems to make Meredith more upset. She feels her voice catch as she says, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry I made you have this party. I didn't know it would upset you…I'm just…sorry!" Lexie runs away before Meredith can see her cry.
Derek sees Lexie and grabs her. "Woah…Little Grey! What's the matter?"
Lexie is shocked by the intensity of her sobbing as she says, "It's Meredith…she's upset…I don't know what to do! She doesn't want to have this party because I have a family and she doesn't…and I can't find Mark anywhere and maybe he doesn't want to marry me…and Izzie and Cristina think Alex and Owen are cheating on them…and I wanted today to be perfect, but I'm scared my dad is going to show up drunk and I miss my mom!" Lexie says.
Derek gives her a big, brotherly hug and says, "One thing at a time, Lex…You and I were very lucky to have what we had growing up. But we don't have to feel guilty about it. We didn't take it away from someone else…" he explains.
"YOU didn't. I took my father away from Meredith," Lexie says.
"No…you didn't. Your father left Meredith's mother. That's not your fault," Derek says, definitely.
"Okay…" Lexie says, nodding solemnly like a child.
"Next item…Izzie and Cristina are crazy. They always have been and always will be. Owen and Alex will be at the party and they are not cheating on them. I spoke to them this morning when they called to wish me luck. Don't get sucked into their drama," Derek says, laughing.
"But they lied to…" Lexie begins.
Derek stops her. "You lie too sometimes. So do I. Sometimes we do it with good intentions and sometimes with bad ones. Trust me. This lie is for good reasons," Derek says.
Lexie nods again.
"Mark…well. He didn't want to be here early. He's upset about a lot of the same things that Meredith is, but he's Mark so he can't admit them to anyone, so he went golfing this morning, with Callie. That's why he's not here. But he will be here. He didn't want to upset you on your special day. He wants today to be wonderful for you," Derek explains.
"I do too," Lexie says, her lip trembling.
"You can't control how your dad shows up, Lexie. But whatever happens, no one here will judge you for it. No one's life is perfect and free from embarrassment! I have 5 sisters! Wait til you meet them…" Derek points out.
Lexie thinks about this. "You're right…" she says.
"And as far as missing your mom…I don't know what to tell you there. I wish I had advice for you. But…well…I miss my dad every day. It doesn't go away and it's worse on days like today. But well…you have a father who loves you, a sister who loves you, a husband to be who adores you and a brother in law who thinks you're not so bad," Derek teases.
Lexie narrows her eyes at him. "Not so bad?" she says.
Derek smiles back. "Seriously, you've been through hell and back these last few months. Enjoy today. Don't let anything ruin it for you," he says.
Lexie smiles. "Thanks, Derek. For the record…you're not so bad either."
(Break)
"So, you're ready to do this?" Callie asks as she begins to putt.
"I don't know. I'm not a party kind of guy. I'm more of a one on one person," he says.
"It will be fun…right?" Callie asks.
"Parties like this aren't fun. My parents opted out of coming because they were skiing. Watching Derek and Lexie's happy families only reminds me of that. But what can you do…I'll put on a smile for Lexie's sake," he says.
"You really love her…don't you?" she says.
"I do. Does that bother you?" Mark asks.
Callie shakes her head. "I don't love you, Mark. I mean not in that way. I love you as a friend…but I found my own happiness…I mean…I need to find my own happiness," she says.
"Wait! Did you just say you found happiness, Torres? Spill it!" Mark demands.
"You can't tell anyone," she says.
"Do I ever?" Mark says.
"I'm back with George," she admits.
"Really? O'Malley? Are you happy?" he asks.
"I think I am," she replies.
"Do you think Lexie and I will be happy?" Mark asks.
Callie nods. "I do."
"Do you think my parents will come to the wedding?" Mark asks.
Callie thinks for a moment. "No. I don't. I'm sorry, Mark. But we don't lie to each other," she says.
"I don't either…I guess I'll walk down the aisle alone. I've done everything else alone my whole life," he says, bitterly.
"But you won't be alone from then on. You'll have Lexie," Callie points out.
Marks face brightens. "You're right," he says. He thinks for a minute. "Hey…I had a crazy idea…" he says.
"What?" Callie asks.
"You could walk me down the aisle…you know…like family," he says.
"Wow! Mark! I'm flattered. I'd love to…but do you think Lexie would be okay with that?" she asks.
"I don't know…I'll ask her," Marks says, looking at his watch. "Oh man! I better get going. Little Grey will kill me if I'm late!"
"Soon she'll be little Sloan!" Callie says, laughing.
Mark turns to leave before turning back to Callie. "Hey Torres!" he calls.
"What?" she calls back.
"Does this mean we can never sleep together again?" Mark asks, with a smile.
Callie glares at him. "Never again!"
"Just checking," Mark says, flashing her a smile.
Callie laughs as she runs to go get ready.
(Break)
Mark sees Meredith as he walks in. She is sitting in the lobby of Joe's looking out the window.
"What's up, Big Grey? You look less than thrilled to be marrying Shepherd. Is he really that bad in bed?" Mark asks.
Meredith turns to him. "Doesn't this bother you? All of this? I mean…the big parties and happy families and all of that bright and shininess that you're not a part of?" she asks.
Mark thinks for a minute. "Yeah. It does. But I can't ruin today for Lexie," he says.
"Too late. I already did that," Meredith admits, guiltily.
Mark glares at her. "What did you do?" he asks, his tone growing harsh.
"I told her how much I hate these parties and how they make me remember how I have no family…outside of her, of course. Then I gave her the grand finale of telling her that I just wanted to get this over with and go home," Meredith says, knowing she was wrong to ruin this night for her sister.
Mark grabs her by the shoulders and turns her around to face him. "Were you in that O.R. with me? Did you see your sister suffer? Are you really that selfish? Tonight is going to be perfect for her. Whatever you did…fix it!"
"I don't know how…" Meredith says.
"Figure it out!" Mark says, storming away.
(Break)
Izzie and Cristina see Lexie sitting on a chair in the large empty room waiting for the guests to arrive. Izzie runs over.
"Oh my god! You look great! The outfit is perfect…and your hair looks…" Izzie squeals.
"Awful. I wanted to put it up, but I have to wear it down to cover the scars on my hairline, and Derek tried to make me feel better about Meredith, but I think this whole party was a mistake. Meredith doesn't want it, and now I don't think I do either…Maybe Mark and I should just elope…" Lexie says, glumly.
"Elope? No way! You are the only other non-wedding scrooge I know. Don't take away my fairy tale wedding…please?" Izzie begs.
"What did Meredith say?" Cristina asks.
"Just that she hates these parties and it makes her realize she has no family…Who's going to walk her down the aisle? If the engagement party makes her feel this bad, how awful is she going to feel at her wedding?" Lexie asks.
Cristina turns away. "I'll be back in a minute. Izzie…you stay with Little Grey…I'll knock some sense into Big Grey…" she says, exasperated.
Cristina storms over to Meredith who is still sitting in the same spot that Mark left her.
"You self-centered brat! I don't care if Daddy left you and Mommy was mean. They don't matter. Lexie does and you hurt her feelings on what is supposed to be a perfect night for her. You wanted to do this for her. Don't do her any favors and then make her feel guilty about them. Get your act together and put a fake, Izzie-like smile on your face and then we can down tequila shots later and make fun of everyone," Cristina says, sternly.
"Mark already yelled at me. You're right. Now I just feel guilty. After all Lexie's been through…" Meredith says.
"And another thing…stop acting like she's a charity case. She's been through it. It's over. She's just Lexie now. Stop dwelling on the past. She is recovered. Her biggest problem is that her hair is down to cover her scars. Stop feeling sorry for her and treating her like she's pathetic. She's out there all ready and you're in your ugly sweatpants. Go get dressed." Cristina says.
"Wow. A, and Derek tried to make me feel better about Meredith, but I think this whole party was a mistake. Meredith doesn't want it, and now I don't think I do either…Maybe Mark and I should just elope…" Lexie says, glumly.
"Elope? No way! You are the only other non-wedding scrooge I know. Don't take away my fairy tale wedding…please?" Izzie begs.
"What did Meredith say?" Cristina asks.
"Just that she hates these parties and it makes her realize she has no family…Who's going to walk her down the aisle? If the engagement party makes her feel this bad, how awful is she going to feel at her wedding?" Lexie asks.
Cristina turns away. "I'll be back in a minute. Izzie…you stay with Little Grey…I'll knock some sense into Big Grey…" she says, exasperated.
Cristina storms over to Meredith who is still sitting in the same spot that Mark left her.
"You self-centered brat! I don't care if Daddy left you and Mommy was mean. They don't matter. Lexie does and you hurt her feelings on what is supposed to be a perfect night for her. You wanted to do this for her. Don't do her any favors and then make her feel guilty about them. Get your act together and put a fake, Izzie-like smile on your face and then we can down tequila shots later and make fun of everyone," Cristina says, sternly.
"Mark already yelled at me. You're right. Now I just feel guilty. After all Lexie's been through…" Meredith says.
"And another thing…stop acting like she's a charity case. She's been through it. It's over. She's just Lexie now. Stop dwelling on the past. She is recovered. Her biggest problem is that her hair is down to cover her scars. Stop feeling sorry for her and treating her like she's pathetic. She's out there all ready and you're in your ugly sweatpants. Go get dressed." Cristina says.
"Wow. Are you standing up for Lexie over me?" Meredith asks.
Cristina thinks for a moment. "Yes. I am. She earned my respect when she let Izzie light her on fire," she says.
"Cristina?" Meredith asks.
"What?" Cristina asks.
"Who's going to walk me down the aisle? Like a mother and a father?" she asks.
"I would have…but you made me wear the dress. We'll work on that one…okay?" Cristina says, sitting next to Meredith as Meredith rests her head on Cristina's shoulder.
"Okay. I have to go get ready. Should I go tell Lexie I'm sorry?" she asks.
"She doesn't want sorry…she wants happy. Go get happy. This night is about you and Derek. I've heard you whine about him for years…now you're finally engaged to him. Even I'm happy." Cristina says.
Meredith smiles and gets up to go get ready.
(Break)
Izzie puts the last pin in Lexie's hair. "Perfect! And all the scars are covered," she promises.
"Good. I didn't want anyone to remember all of that. I'm trying to put it behind me…" she says.
"I totally forgot until you reminded me. Oh yeah…and until I see my name in print in the article Mark is publishing about the success of the procedure!" Izzie beams.
"I know…he's so excited. I'll try to have another freak accident so you guys can get famous again…" Lexie laughs.
"You look great! Let me go make sure Meredith puts herself together…okay? We don't want her to look like she rolled out of bed," Izzie says.
"Okay. I hope she's feeling better about this whole party thing," Lexie says.
(Break)
Izzie blow dries Meredith's hair. "How do you do it?" Meredith asks.
"Hair? I had a job in a salon for a little while before I started modeling," Izzie replies.
"No. Maintain your bright and shiny attitude. You didn't have a perfect childhood either," Meredith says.
"No. I sure didn't. You don't even know the half of it. But I wake up every day and think, I can become my mother or I can be the person I always wished she was. I try really hard to be the person I wished she was," Izzie says.
"The person you wished she was…that's a good way to look at it," Meredith says.
"Your hair looks great. The guests will be arriving soon. Everything's ready!" Izzie says, smiling.
Meredith smiles a big smile. "Here I am…the person I wished you were, Mom…" she says, looking at Izzie, who smiles back.
(Break)
The guests arrive. Meredith and Derek stand next to Lexie and Mark. "I'm sorry about the way I acted," Meredith whispers to Lexie.
Lexie shakes her head. "Forget about it…" she replies.
"No. Really. I'm excited about this party. Just a little nervous about Thatcher being here, but I'm excited," Meredith says, convincingly.
Lexie smiles broadly. "I'm so glad. And for what it's worth, I'm nervous about Thatcher coming too…" she says.
Derek puts his arm around Meredith protectively. "Thank you for doing this," he says.
"No. Thank YOU," Meredith says.
"Sorry I freaked out on you…" Mark says to Meredith. "For what it's worth…we're in the same boat," he says.
"It's all in the past, Mark. Let's enjoy the party. You're going to be my brother-in-law. We'll probably fight a lot!" Meredith says, smiling.
"That's just because I got the better Grey," Mark teases.
Meredith hits him playfully and then turns to Lexie. "There are Alex and Owen! Let's find out where they were all morning!" she says, pulling Lexie by the arm.
****
There are 4 more chapters.
This is epilogue 1
Epilogue 2 will be the actual engagement party
Epilogue 3 will be Meredith and Derek's wedding
Epilogue 4 will be Lexie and Mark's wedding
Epilogue 5 will be the conclusion…
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