"Where were you?" Lexie asks Alex in an accusing tone.
"What do you mean? I'm not late. I told Izzie I'd meet her here," he says, looking at his watch. "You look great, by the way," he says, trying to detract from the original topic.
"Don't change the subject! Izzie and Cristina think you were out trolling for slutty interns!" Lexie says.
Alex snickers. "Nah…I already had you once. It was enough," he says.
Lexie hits him on the arm. "Let's just pretend that NEVER happened!" she says.
Owen steps in and sees Meredith staring at him waiting for an explanation.
"Don't ask too many questions. Just defend us. It's all for a good cause. Now let's get back to your party," Owen says, walking in towards Cristina.
Alex follows and gives Izzie a kiss. "Can we give Mer and Lexie their presents?" he asks, sweetly.
She smiles back, equally sweetly. "Yes. But you have some explaining to do later!" she says.
Owen looks at Cristina. "Don't look at me that way…" Cristina says, sternly.
"What way?" he asks, innocently.
"The way that makes me forgive you for being a liar. I don't forgive liars. I just don't do lying…" Cristina points out.
"I don't either. Can we talk about it later? Isn't this your person's day?" he asks.
"Fine. Pull the person card. It will get you off the hook now, but later…you're going to answer my questions," Cristina says, allowing him to put his arm around her and lead her back inside.
Lexie stands protectively next to Mark, who looks around uncomfortably at the guests who are arriving.
"I'm going to grab a drink. You want anything,?" he asks her.
Lexie shakes her head. She watches the door as Callie and George come in.
"Callie! I'm so glad you're here!" she says.
"You are? Why?" Callie asks, confused.
"Because Mark needs his people here right now. And you're one of his people. I mean I know we may have had our differences, but I think that he'd be really happy to see a friendly face right now," Lexie says.
"Wow. Ummm…okay. I'll ummm…go find him," Callie says, starting to walk away. She turns back to Lexie. "Hey, Lexie?" she says.
"What?" Lexie asks.
"You're perfect for him. You're going to bring out the best in each other. I'm happy for you guys," Callie says.
(Break)
Derek watches Meredith pace. "He's not here yet…" Derek says, as he watches Meredith check the door.
"Do you think he'd want to walk me down the aisle?" Meredith asks.
"Thatcher? I don't know. I don't know him very well," Derek admits. "Would you want him to?"
"Well, someone has to do it. Cristina and Izzie are my bridesmaids. Lexie is my maid of honor. I need someone to walk me down the aisle," she says.
"This is our wedding, Mer. There doesn't even have to be an aisle. We can make it whatever we want it to be," he says, putting his arm around her.
"Your mom is going to be okay if we run to Vegas and elope?" she teases.
Derek laughs. "Good point."
"Oh my god! There he is!" Meredith says, as she watches Thatcher walk through the door.
Lexie rushes to greet Thatcher who is accompanied by Molly. She gives Molly a sideways glance and Molly smiles at her and whispers, "He's sober. Don't worry. I made sure,"
"Thanks," Lexie whispers back.
"Daddy, this is Mark. Mark, this is my father, Thatcher and my sister, Molly," she says.
Thatcher extends his hand to Mark. "It's nice to meet you. Lexie's told me a lot about you. I'm sorry I haven't had a chance to meet you earlier but…."
"But Mark's a very busy surgeon. Come on. Let's go get something to eat, Dad!" Lexie says.
"Hold on, sweetheart. Let me talk to Mark for a few minutes," Thatcher says.
As Lexie watches them anxiously, Molly says, "It's okay, Lex. He's okay today. You can relax. Enjoy your party."
Lexie smiles. "Thank you so much." Out of the corner of her eye, she sees Meredith. "Mer! Come here!" she says.
Meredith comes over.
"Meredith, this is your other sister, Molly," Lexie says, happily, glad that her whole living family is together under one roof.
"Hi Meredith, it's nice to meet you," Molly says, politely, but very formally.
"It's nice to meet you too," Meredith replies, awkwardly.
Lexie decides they might have a better chance to get acquainted if she were not standing over them, so she says, "Hey…why don't I grab us some drinks. Tequila for you, Mer and a diet coke for you, Mol?" she says.
"Thanks," they both reply.
"So, umm…Lexie tells me that the baby is beautiful," Meredith says, trying to make conversation for Lexie's sake.
"She's not a baby anymore. She's two years old," Molly says, surprisingly sharply.
"Oh. I'm sorry. Time flies…you know…" Meredith replies, uncomfortably.
"Yeah. It does. Listen…Meredith, I'm going to say this once and I'm going to try to say it as nicely as possible. I love my sister. She's one of the most incredible people in the world. Stop dragging her down into your dark and twisty world or whatever you call it," Molly whispers.
"Dragging her down? What are you talking about? And how did you know that I was dark and twisty?" Meredith wonders outloud.
"Lexie talks about you all the time. We knew about all the times you treated her like the dirt beneath your shoe, and then how great you were when you finally gave her the time of day. And then when you almost got her killed saving your life from that psycho, and finally when you got her burned in a fire. She came to your therapy sessions? Really Meredith? Lexie never needed therapy before she entered your dysfunctional world. She was fine. You've dragged her into this world and she's marrying this guy who none of us really even know, and I wish you'd just let her go and let her be happy again…" Molly fires at a very stunned Meredith.
Lexie comes back over with their drinks.
"So, did you guys have a chance to talk?" Lexie says, brightly.
"Of course we did," Meredith says, smiling sweetly. "I can't believe the baby is two years old already!"
"I'm just going to check on Daddy. I'll be back in a few minutes. Don't forget to say greet everyone! It's good practice for being a bride," Molly says, to Lexie.
(Break)
Derek grabs Meredith's arm. "How are you doing?" he asks.
"I'm fine, except for Lexie's satanic sister," Meredith says
"Is this one of those moments where you get all self deprecating and you talk about how much you hate yourself, or are you referring to Molly?" Derek asks, smiling.
Meredith smiles back. "Molly. She hates me. She thinks I'm making Lexie dark and twisty. Oh yeah…and she blames me for Lexie getting caught in the fire," Meredith says.
"I can't wait until later when you can get all dark and twisty with me…" Derek says, smiling.
"Me either," Meredith says, smiling back at him. They share a short, but passionate kiss when Thatcher comes over.
"Meredith?" he says, tentatively?
"Hi, Thatcher. I – ummm…I'm glad you are here. I mean…for Lexie. She's glad you're here. I mean, I am too. Well…you're here…" Meredith stammers as Derek motions to Cristina to come over and save them.
Cristina approaches, having heard the awkward beginning between Meredith and her estranged father.
"Yes. I'm glad to be here. Lexie looks wonderful. I was expecting much worse after the ummm…" Thatcher's voice trails off and he's not sure what to call Lexie's unfortunate incident.
"After the fire? Yes. She made an amazing recovery. She's very strong. She takes after her mother," Meredith says, cringing as she realizes she most likely just insulted Thatcher.
Instead of being insulted, Thatcher says, "Yes. She's very much like Susan. She's going to make a wonderful wife to Mark. He's very lucky,"
"Yes…he is," Meredith adds.
"And how about you?" Thatcher asks. "How have you been?"
Recently? Or in the last 30 years? Meredith wants to ask, but instead she says, "Fine, thank you. And yourself?"
"Fine, thank you," he replies.
Cristina steps in. "Derek! Poor Meredith hasn't eaten anything since she got here. She's been so busy being a gracious hostess. Why don't you take her to the buffet and make sure she gets something to eat," she says, in a nauseatingly polite tone.
Derek looks at her thankfully for saving Meredith from the awkward conversation, and quickly whisks her away.
"Mr. Grey, I'm Cristina Yang," she says, extending her hand and shaking his hand firmly.
"Nice to meet you, Cristina," Thatcher says. "Are you a friend of Meredith's?"
"I'm Meredith's best friend. And I'm actually a friend of Lexie's too. I never thought I'd say that. I thought she was the most annoying little intern I ever met until recently, but I like her now. She doesn't have much in common with you," Cristina says.
Her insult is lost on Thatcher who is staring longingly at the bar.
"Stay focused, Thatcher!" Cristina says, snapping him back to reality.
Thatcher stares at Cristina dumbfounded.
"I'm sure your family doesn't want you drinking tonight, but I will have all of the leftover top shelf alcohol from this party sent to your house if you'll do one thing for me," Cristina says.
"I'm listening…" Thatcher says, thinking of the lock that Molly put on the liquor cabinet.
"Ask Meredith if you can walk her down the aisle. Tell her you've dreamed of walking her down the aisle since she was a little girl. Give her that much and I'll give you all the alcohol you can drink in a year…well…most people can drink in a year. You can probably drink it in a night," Cristina says, harshly.
Thatcher watches as a big bottle of Johnny Walker Blue label comes out from behind the bar and a small glass is poured for Mark and Derek who toast and drink it.
"I can do that. When do I get my stuff?" he asks.
"When Meredith leaves this party feeling like you care about her," Cristina says.
(Break)
Alex looks over at Izzie.
"What's wrong?" he asks.
"Where were you and Owen?" she asks.
"Iz…just trust me. You don't always want to know everything. Sometimes you're just going to have to trust me," he says.
"But…you said that you guys…" Izzie begins.
"Yup. I'm a huge liar. It's a bad quality. You should definitely run in the other direction," Alex quips.
Izzie smiles broadly. "Not a chance!" she says, kissing him.
"Come on…let's eat. I'm starving!" Alex says, pulling her towards the buffet.
(Break)
Thatcher approaches Meredith carefully.
"Thank you for inviting me," he says.
"You're welcome," Meredith says, not sure how to reply.
"No…I really mean it. I haven't always been there for you. I know things were hard for you growing up, and that you probably wish I had made different choices," Thatcher says.
"Yes…I do. But let's not do this, today. Not with Lexie here. It will upset her and she's been through so much," Meredith pleads.
"Of course. I don't want to upset you, or Lexie. What I want is for you to know that I love you, Meredith. I messed up everything, and I know that. I have no right to ask anything of you, but if you could find it in your heart…I'd love one thing from you," he asks.
"What?" Meredith asks, suspiciously.
"Walking Molly down the aisle on her wedding day was the most special moment of my life. I can't wait to do that for all my girls. I'm walking Lexie down the aisle, and I'd like to do the same for you. It would be an honor if you'd let me," he asks, nervously.
"You want to walk me down the aisle…on my wedding day?" Meredith asks, incredulously.
"More than anything in the world. I'm so proud of you. I've got no right to be, because it's nothing I can take credit for, but I'm a whole lifetime of proud," he says.
Meredith's eyes fill with tears. "Thank you! I'd love you to walk me down the aisle. Thank you…Dad," she whispers, throwing her arms around him.
Cristina watches the two of them embrace and has a moment of doubt about what she has done. But she shakes it off and turns to Owen. "DO me a favor? Pack up a box of the best top shelf alcohol you can find. Put the box near the back door," she says.
Owen looks at her and says, "What are you up to?"
Cristina says, "I'll come with you and I'll tell you, but you can't tell anyone…and you can't judge me," she says.
(Break)
Meredith runs to Derek who is standing with Lexie, Mark Dr. Bailey and the chief.
"Guess what?" she says.
"Someone looks bright and shiny," Derek says, kissing her.
"Thatcher Grey asked if he can walk me down the aisle. He told me he was proud of me. A whole lifetime of proud! Our wedding day is going to be perfect, Derek. Lexie…maybe you, Molly and I should have dinner one night with our father. I think it would mean a lot to him," Meredith says.
Lexie hesitates. While she wants to join in Meredith's happiness a nagging feeling plagues her. She remembers all the nights of Thatcher's drunken rages after Susan died where he would say, Where is my wife? She's dead because of the spawn of satan…Ellis Grey's daughter. Stay away from her, Lexie…she's like her mother. She kills whatever she touches! Something about his change of heart didn't seem sincere. She tries to attribute his surprising change of heart to the overwhelming emotionality of the evening and seeing all his daughters together.
"That sounds great, Mer. We'll figure it all out," she says.
"Meredith. Be careful. You're father is a flawed man," the chief says, warningly.
"Dr. Webber. I know you loved my mother, but she was a difficult woman to say the least. I need to give my father the benefit of the doubt. He's here tonight…and she's not," Meredith says.
"Well, I'm happy that you're happy," the chief replies.
"Thank you. I just realized there are a few people I haven't said hello to. Izzie would be horrified at my party etiquette. I'm going to be a good hostess. I'll be right back," Meredith says, happily.
"I don't trust that man one bit. And why is he eyeing Cristina Yang every two minutes," Dr. Bailey says, after Meredith has walked away.
"I don't know, but Yang can protect herself. It's Meredith I worry about," Dr. Webber says.
Derek sighs. "You two just love your drama. Meredith is fine and why is it so unfathomable to the two of you that her father wants a relationship with her? Pessimists!" Derek says, smiling carelessly.
"I know him, Shepherd. That's why…" Dr. Webber says.
(Break)
Cristina walks up to Thatcher. "Your box of stuff is near that back entrance. You can take it on your way out. But don't leave early. Meredith and Lexie want to believe that Super Daddy actually cares about them." she says, coldly.
"I care very much about Lexie," he says.
"Yeah…I noticed as you kept a vigil by her bedside when she was burned. Just stay til the end," Cristina says, walking away in disgust.
(Break)
Mark grabs Lexie and pulls her over to the back of the restaurant.
"I need a moment alone with my beautiful fiancé!" he says, picking her up and swinging her around.
Lexie giggles and throws her head back. "Tonight has been perfect! Everyone is getting along and you fixed my face and we're going to get married and I'm the luckiest girl in the world!" she says, happily running towards the door without looking. She flings open the door and runs outside into the rain still holding Mark's hand as he trails slightly behind her. She doesn't look where she's going and trips flying right into a man who sits leaning against the dumpster. She screams as she looks down. "I'm sorry! I didn't see! Oh my god! Daddy?" she says.
"Where's Molly?" he slurs.
"Molly? She's inside. Why? Have you been drinking?" she asks, her eyes filling with tears.
"Yes! I've been drinking a lot. A girl with a Chinese name gave me a beautiful gift. She gave me all the leftover booze," Thatcher says, getting up and stumbling.
"Mark. Please go find my sister. Please tell her to hurry up and get here!" Lexie says, attempting to be calm.
Mark opens his mouth to protest but closes it as Lexie says, "Please. Just go."
"What do you want from Molly, Dad? I'll take you home, quickly. You don't live far. I'll drive you and get back before anyone sees you like this," Lexie begs.
"I want Molly. I want Molly because she's the only daughter who ever brings me pleasure anymore. She looks like my Susan. She cooks like Susan. She gave me a beautiful granddaughter. You…you've become a high and mighty doctor with all your fancy degrees…you don't care about me. You never talk about your mother anymore. You never loved her…you never loved any of us. And now that you have the half sister of yours…Ellis's little spawn…now you've become…"
"Stop!" Lexie hears someone say from behind her. She turns around and sees Molly, Meredith and Derek standing behind her.
Molly rushes over to Thatcher and says calmly, "Daddy. We're going home. We have to leave now."
"No! That Chinese girl said I can't go. She said I had to stay til the end and walk Ellis's spawn down the aisle or I don't get my box," he says, stumbling.
Meredith turns white and Derek instinctively puts his arm around her. Lexie turns to her, horrified. "Mer…I didn't know….I'm so sorry you had to hear…" she turns to Mark, "Why did you bring her here! I didn't want her to see this!" Lexie says accusingly.
"You said to get your sister. I didn't know which one you wanted and each of them said you'd want them," Mark says, guiltily.
"Meredith. Please go. This only gets worse," Lexie pleads.
Meredith looks at Lexie and Molly and pulls away from Derek who is holding on to her protectively.
"I'm not going anywhere. This is his battle with me, and he's fighting it with you. Lexie…you've been through enough. You deserve to enjoy your night. Go inside. Molly and I will handle this," Meredith says, looking at Molly.
Molly looks back at Meredith with new admiration. She realizes that Meredith really does care about Lexie and isn't backing away from this uncomfortable situation.
"Meredith's right, Lexie…go inside," Molly says.
Lexie begins to walk to the door followed by Mark as she hears Molly say to Meredith, "I'm sorry for what I said to you, earlier."
"What did you say to her?" Lexie asks.
Molly opens her mouth, but Meredith cuts her off. "Oh it was nothing. I showed her the picture of how I was going to wear my hair for the wedding and she didn't like it. No big deal, Molly," Meredith says, smiling at Molly.
Molly smiles back. "Glad we could clear the air," she says.
Lexie looks at them oddly knowing there is much more to the story that they are deliberately not telling her. Unfortunately she does not have time to process it because Thatcher falls to the ground and begins shaking violently.
"Daddy!" Lexie and Molly scream kneeling down next to him.
"He's seizing!" Derek says, pushing them out of the way and rolling Thatcher on his side. "Mark, have the chief page an ambulance!"
Mark runs inside as everyone starts to pour out to the area to see what the commotion was.
"Mark! Can you come with me out front and help me brief the ambulance since you saw what happened?" the chief asks.
Mark looks at Lexie, who nods numbly. On his way out, he passes Alex and Izzie. "Take care of her," he whispers.
Dr. Bailey leans next to Derek and says, "Woah. I can smell the alcohol. He's going to need a bed in the detox wing."
Lexie cringes as she hears Dr. Bailey say that out loud. She looks around at the crowd and begins to hyperventilate.
Alex walks over to her and puts his coat around her. "Come inside. There's nothing you can do here," he says.
Izzie and Alex walk Lexie inside and sit her down at a table.
"You don't have to be embarrassed. We're all a little screwed up here. My dad used to show up drunk to my wrestling matches and on the very rare occasion that I'd lose, he'd scream 'why don't you just where a dress and high heels, Alex!' in front of my whole high school."
"And my mom used to sit in the park and give psychic readings to people for money when she lost her waitressing job," Izzie says.
"And my dad ruined my engagement party," Lexie says, sadly.
"It's not ruined. The night is still young. We're going to get him out of here and party harder than we ever have before," Alex says.
Lexie shakes her head. "No. It's ruined. It's over," she says.
"Do you want to go to the hospital or wait here?" Izzie asks, gently.
"I'll just wait here," Lexie says.
"We'll wait with you," Alex says, and Izzie smiles at him.
(Break)
Meredith stands with Cristina while Derek, Owen and Dr. Bailey examines Thatcher. Cristina avoids eye contact until Meredith says, "I know what you did. You can stop pretending you don't know what color the pavement is."
"I'm sorry," Cristina says, finally looking at Meredith.
Meredith shakes her head. "Don't be. I'm not mad. You were trying to give me everything I wanted. I am embarrassed to admit how happy it made me to think this mess here wanted me for a daughter," she says.
"You know, your genetics aren't so good. Where you and Derek want kids, you should consider donor eggs…or adoption," Cristina says, looking at Thatcher laying on the floor.
Meredith laughs. "The music's still playing. I can't believe the DJ is still going despite this insanity!"
Cristina smiles. "Let's go inside and dance it out," she says.
Derek looks up from Thatcher and smiles at Cristina, nodding for her to take Meredith inside.
When they walk inside, they see Lexie sitting at the table with her head in her hands. Izzie and Alex are sitting on either side of her, each of them with a hand on her back.
Meredith comes up behind her and wraps her arms around her sister. "We have some crappy DNA," Meredith says.
Lexie looks up and laughs through her tears. "Yeah. I guess we do," she says.
Cristina starts dancing. Meredith looks at Lexie and Izzie. "Come on…let's dance it out," she says, pulling Lexie to her feet.
Lexie half heartedly starts to move and Izzie begins to dance enthusiastically immediately. "Come on, Alex!" Izzie says.
Alex looks at her. "If you guys ever tell anyone about this…I'll kill you," he says.
Derek,Mark and Owen come inside and see everyone dancing.
"Come on, Owen. You have to dance when they tell you to. It's not optional," Derek says, beginning to dance as spastically as humanly possible.
"I don't dance," Owen says.
"You do now!" Cristina says pulling him towards her. Owen reluctantly sways back and forth with her.
Mark grabs Lexie and dips her backwards. "Did the ambulance pick him up?" she asks.
"Yes. They cleared a private room for him in the detox wing," he says, spinning her around.
Lexie shakes her head. "I can't believe this is my life," she says.
"Nope! You don't get to do this now. You have to dance with me!" he says.
Lexie smiles weakly but doesn't fight him. She dances and lets him twirl her around.
Molly walks inside and sees them all dancing. "Oh…ummm…sorry…I just came to get my coat," she says, awkwardly.
Lexie runs over to her. "Come dance with us!" she says.
"I don't think that I…" Molly stammers.
"Come on, Molly. This is how we relieve stress. Try it," Meredith says.
"No. I couldn't …" Molly protests.
Meredith pulls her into the circle of people, and slowly, Molly begins to join them. Lexie smiles at Meredith and everyone dances until something drops out of Alex's pocket.
"What was that?" Izzie asks.
"Nothing," Alex says, quickly picking up the small box and putting it back in his pocket.
Izzie freezes and stares at him. She pictures the shape of the box and she inhales sharply. "Was that a…"
"Yes…but don't make a big deal out of it. It's not our night. Let the Grey's and Shepherd and Sloan have their moment," he whispers.
"Oh no! Do it, Alex! We all want to be here to see her say yes!" Lexie squeals.
Alex looks around and says, "But this wasn't how I planned…"
"You're a surgeon Alex …the best laid plans sometimes go awry…don't they?" Izzie says, beaming.
Alex sighs and gets down on one knee.
"Isobel Stevens…from the moment I laid eyes on you in the intern locker room, I knew you were going to be my wife. The whole world knows that you are beautiful on the outside, but only the select few of us who are lucky enough to know you best, know that you are beautiful on the inside as well. You are the one who loves everyone just a little too deeply, and cares just a little too much, and I'm the luckiest man in the world to have been chosen to have you love me. I want to spend the rest of my life trying to live up to who I can be if I'm with you. So, Izzie…will you marry me?" Alex says.
Izzie beams through the tears in her eyes. She nods her head, unable to speak.
"Yes," she whispers.
Alex grabs her and picks her up, lifting her feet off the ground.
Everyone rushes around her to see the ring. As everyone gushes over Izzie's ring, Lexie turns to Alex. "You were right," she says.
"Right about what?" he asks.
"The night isn't ruined," she says, smiling, leaning up against Mark's strong, solid chest as he wraps his arms around her.
"No. It definitely isn't," he agrees.
***
Thanks so much for the reviews, everyone! 3 chapters left!!!!! I can't wait to hear what you all have to think about this chapter! I hope you like it!
On another topic…Grey's was seriously intense this week…wasn't it? Anyone hear anything about whether Izzie is really staying or going? I hear different things every week!
Jess