Disclaimer: I don't own anything except for a crazy mind.

A/N: Okay, so this is the last chapter! There will be an epilogue following soon and originally, this was going to be the beginning part of the epilogue but then all together it turned out to be ridiculously long so I tried to find the right place to cut it in half. I hope this is okay. And please, don't kill me when you get to the end. Seriously. I have spent a long time worrying over this but this has been my plan since the prologue and I know it might not be what people wanted or expected but…I really needed to write this so please, please don't lynch me, yeah? (:

Anyway, as always, let me know what you think! (:

The room was empty now. There was no bed, no furnishings, no warmth, nothing.

He was gone.

Lexie felt a presence behind her and she didn't need to turn her head to know who it was. "This is my home," she whispered, her voice strained with emotion. "How can I leave my home?"

Gently, Mark placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed. "This isn't your home anymore, Lexie," he replied, his voice low. "It's just a room. A room inside a house. It's not your home."

Lexie nodded her head slightly. She understood what he meant, of course she did, but she couldn't find the courage to leave. This would always be her home. It didn't matter what had happened, she could look past the bad memories. Or at least she could try.

"I'm going to miss it," she said quietly. Her eyes looked to the side at the closed bathroom door. Her eyes welled with tears as her bottom lip trembled. It didn't matter that the memories were burnt into her now, it didn't matter that this room, that bathroom door, reminded her of all the suffering she endured – she had once lived here happily with her father and Lexie was still trying to hold onto that last shred of happiness.

Her voice trembled as she stuttered, "I-It's just so hard to leave."

Mark moved so he was directly behind Lexie. He placed both hands on her shoulder and gently rubbed his fingers into the material of her top. "I know it is," he whispered.

"I-I can't just forget about it," Lexie whispered, more to herself than Mark. Her eyes shadowed as she continued, "It's not right. This is my home. I-It wasn't all hard times. I-I won't let myself forget. I can't just forget about him."

Although it pained him to hear, Mark simply nodded his head. He would never understand Lexie's attachment to her father but he knew now that he shouldn't question it. It didn't matter that he had hurt her, to Lexie he was still her father. Her family. Her blood. She would never forget about him, his scars forever seared into her, however it was the good in him, the times he hugged her, the times he had helped her and listened to her, it is that Thatcher Grey that she would keep alive in her mind.

Although Mark was unsure of her need to remain faithful to her father, he wouldn't tell Lexie of his worries. He knew it wasn't healthy. Lexie needed to move on with her life, she needed to forget everything about Thatcher and look to the future.

It was easier said than done.

Mark continued to rub Lexie's shoulders and he was about to speak, when he was silenced by her soft voice. "I want to thank you, Mark," Lexie said, her small hand coming up to touch one of his. "Thank you."

His motions stopped and Mark looked down at her hand. "What did I do?"

Lexie smiled softly and slowly turned around, placing her hands on his chest. She looked up at him with wide eyes and Mark felt his breath catch in his throat. She really was beautiful.

"You saved me," Lexie whispered, a small smile teasing her lips.

Mark frowned slightly. He did no such thing. He wished he did, but at the end of the day, it was the police that had stormed into the house and saved her. Not him. Even now, two weeks later, Mark still felt slight resentment over the fact.

His hand went to cover one of hers. It was the hand that was placed gently over his heart. "I didn't save you, Lex. I just phoned the police. They did the rest."

Lexie shook her head, her smile widening in excitement. "You knew. From the start, you knew and you didn't give up. Not once did you give up on me."

"That's not exactly true–"

"Mark," Lexie said, stopping him from continuing. "Don't ruin this. I don't care if you think differently, because to me you saved me. You never gave up on me. You never once gave up. Even when I was being stubborn and couldn't admit that something was wrong, you knew. You fought for me. Maybe it took you a while, and maybe you doubted yourself, but Mark, you continued to care and you looked after me. You believed in me."

Mark's eyes softened as he looked down into her big doe-eyes. He smiled slightly and brought his other hand up to run it along the side of his face. "I'll always believe in you," he murmured as he leant down and carefully placed a kiss on her forehead.

Lexie smiled and moved closer to him, enjoying the warmth from his hand being on top of hers. "And I'll always believe in you." Slowly, Lexie stood on her tip-toes and pressed her lips to Mark's. It was gentle, it was sweet, and it felt perfect as Lexie pressed her hand harder against Mark's chest – against his heart.

Pulling away, Lexie looked down at their intertwined hands. His larger fingers seemed to engulf her smaller ones and Lexie felt herself falling in love with the sight. Suddenly, she grinned and looked up Mark. "Mark?" She asked, slight excitement showing in her voice.

"Yeah?"

"How do you feel about me buying you a Superman costume?"

The question was so strange and random that it caused Mark to burst into laughter. "You what?"

Lexie grinned cheekily up at him. "A Superman costume. You did save me after all." She then added, "You're my hero."

Mark chuckled and appeared to contemplate the request. "Well…" He replied, carefully drawing out his words. "I do look good in blue…"

Lexie nodded her head, "I agree. You also look good in red."

Mark laughed and shook his head. He then took both of Lexie's hands and wrapped his hands around them. Bringing them up to his lips, he softly kissed her clasped hands. As he raised his head he smiled at Lexie. "You're a strange girl, Little Grey."

Lexie grinned, her eyes sparkling. "Is that a no to the Superman costume?"

"That's a no," Mark replied, his smile turning into a smirk.

"Okay, okay," Lexie replied removing her hands from his and instead wrapping her arms around his neck. "How about…Batman? You look good in black too. Real good."

Mark laughed, "I'm not dressing as a superhero, Lex."

A pout immediately appeared on Lexie's soft lips. "Why not?"

"Because I'd like to save myself the embarrassment."

Lexie rolled her eyes, "You're no fun."

Mark grunted and dropped a kiss on her lips. "I'm funner at other things."

Lexie pulled away from his lips. "Funner? You know that isn't a word."

Mark pulled her closer to him and gave a half-shrug. "You do crazy things to my head. Can't think straight." Mark pressed his lips to hers again, this time in a much deeper kiss. When he pulled away, he breathed, "See?"

"Mmm," Lexie replied as she pulled him in for another kiss. The feel of his tongue against hers stirred up a lot of feelings that Lexie was worried she wouldn't be able to feel again. "So much more funnner," she whispered as she dragged her lips over his, nipping at his bottom lip.

"Lexie," Mark whispered as he clutched her body to his, his hands resting on her lower back. He ran his lips over hers before placing kisses on her cheeks, nose, forehead, anywhere and everywhere.

Panting slightly, Lexie braced her hands against his chest in an attempt to get him to pause. "Mark…"

"Yeah?" He murmured as he ran his tongue over the skin of her neck.

"We should stop…"

"Sure," he replied as he nipped at her exposed skin.

"We really should…"

"Okay," he said as he squeezed her round ass.

Lexie let out a guttural groan as she felt his hand run down her side, stopping to trace along the outline of her breasts. "Are you going to stop?"

"Yeah, why not?" Mark muttered as he brought his lips back to hers in a passionate kiss.

"That's not stopping," Lexie reminded him when he finally pulled away, breathless.

Mark grinned at her slightly, "Sorry."

Lexie smiled shyly and looked away. "It's alright."

Mark looked at her for a long moment, entranced by her simple beauty but then soon snapped out of his gaze when his cell phone went off. Promptly reaching into his pocket, he muttered a quick 'sorry' before answering the call.

"Sloan." Mark paused when he heard Derek's voice float through the line.

"Hey Mark, it's me. I'm with Meredith; she was just called into the police station."

Mark felt his stomach drop at Derek's words. Quickly glancing to the side, Mark saw Lexie move pick up her handbag from its place on the floor. She looked up at him and smiled, mouthed 'who is it?' to which Mark replied 'Derek.' Lexie nodded and pointed towards the door.

Mark nodded again and watched as she made her way out of the room, heading downstairs to wait for him to be done. Turning his attention back to Derek, Mark's tense voice asked, "What's happened?"

"He's gone."

As soon as the words hit him, Mark felt ice run through his body. He's gone. "What?" Mark snapped.

Derek sighed as he began recalling what Meredith was told. "Last night, there was only one officer on call. The guy let Thatcher out of his cell to go to the bathroom on his own as there were no other officers to follow him. When Thatcher was out of his cell, a fight broke out between two other men. He used it as his opportunity to grab the officer's keys and make a run for it."

Mark clenched his fist at the thought of Thatcher being free to roam around. Panic began to rise within him at thought he was no out there, somewhere, able to get into contact with Lexie. What if he came here looking for her? Mark wasn't going to let Thatcher have another chance to take Lexie away from him.

"Please tell me you're kidding," Mark barked.

"By the time the officer realized what had happened and called for reinforcements, Thatcher was out of reach."

Mark felt his heartbeat race as he asked, "So they haven't found him?"

There was a pause as Derek tried to find a way to finish the story. He glanced over to see Meredith standing in the doorway of their bedroom, her eyes red, a piece of paper in her hand. He smiled sadly at her and reached out a hand, signaling for her to come closer. When Meredith sat next to him on the bed, her head on his shoulder, her tears soaking into his shirt, Derek sighed and continued.

"This morning they found an abandoned police car in a parking lot by Elliot Bay," Derek said, his voice rough as he wrapped his arm around Meredith's waist. "They found two notes, one addressed to Meredith, and one for Lexie."

It took him a moment to understand. An empty car by Elliot Bay. Notes to his daughters. Mark knew what it meant, and yet he still asked, "What did the note say?"

Derek closed his eyes briefly before opening them and looking to the side at the piece of paper in Meredith's trembling hand. Carefully, he pulled the paper away from Meredith and brought it into his own line of vision. Derek sighed as he replied, "Mark. It looks like a suicide note."

Silence fell between the two men as Mark slowly rubbed his eyes. Suicide. It couldn't be true but the signs…Thatcher really was gone. Immediately, the thought of Lexie floated into his mind and Mark felt his stomach drop. How was he going to tell her? How could he tell her that her father had killed himself?

But…Maybe...

"Are they sure?" Mark asked, breaking the silence. "Have they found...Have they searched the water? Are they sure he isn't still out there?"

Derek nodded gently, understanding Mark's questions. They were the same questions Meredith asked when they were at the police station. Derek began repeating what the police officers had told them. "They've been searching the water but haven't come up with anything. Given the current, the depth, the conditions…It's likely that he's washed away somewhere." Derek swallowed, his voice getting rougher as he gently squeezed Meredith to his side. "They said there was no way he could have survived. They've found some of his blood on nearby rocks along the shore. They…found some snapped chains lying by the car. They think he…Tied a weight to his ankle."

"Shit…" Mark whispered as he glanced to the bedroom door.

Derek waited for a moment, allowing the information to sink into his best friend's mind. It was a lot to take in but Derek had to remind him. "Mark…You have to tell her."

Mark closed his eyes as he imagined Lexie's broken face. "I know," he whispered. "I know. Shit."

"I'm sorry."

"No, er…" Mark sighed and said, "I just don't know…How am I gonna tell her, Derek? Why do I have to tell her?"

Derek nodded, understanding how hard it was to see the woman you love grief over their father. It didn't matter how many sins he committed, it didn't matter what he had done in the past, because at the end of the day he was still their dad. He was part of them and he was gone. Dead.

Derek turned and placed a kiss onto Meredith's head. He then returned his focus to Mark. "I know this is hard. I know, but she needs to know. They asked Meredith if they should call her into the police station but we figured it would be better this way. Coming from you."

Initially, Mark wanted to ask why Meredith couldn't tell Lexie but he knew it would be better if the news came from him. "Alright…Okay…" Mark sighed and shook his head. "This is gonna break her, Derek."

The weight behind the words hung in the air and Derek nodded. "I know. But you can make this better. You're there for her, Mark. Don't let her forget that."

Mark nodded; it felt good to be reminded that he was in fact strong enough to be there for his girlfriend. "Thanks, man," Mark replied as he began walking towards the bedroom door. "We'll come over later. To get the note."

"Yeah…" Derek paused and then added, "Take care of her."

"I will…I will," Mark replied softly before hanging up the phone and heading out of what used to be Lexie's bedroom.

Lexie smiled at Mark when he came into the living room. "There you are!" She grinned as she tossed the old magazine she was reading onto the desk. She stood up from her seat and went to make her way over to Mark, who was still standing in the doorway. She stopped however when she noticed his expression. Frowning slightly, Lexie felt the dread creep into her veins. "Wh-What's wrong?" She asked nervously as her eyes scanned over his face.

Mark swallowed nervously as he nodded his head towards the couch. "Sit down, Lex," he said quietly before making his way over to the couch and sitting down.

Lexie frowned and self-consciously wrapped her arms over her chest. "I-I don't want to sit down," she replied. "What's going on, Mark?"

"Lexie…I need you to sit down."

All of a sudden, Lexie felt her annoyance rise at Mark's calm demeanor. "I don't want to sit down!" She snapped and then sighed. "I'm sorry," she said quietly. She looked at him with large, questioning eyes. "Tell me what happened."

Mark looked at her, his lips forming a thin line. He clasped his hands in front of him and turned his head away from her. He didn't want to watch as her world came crashing down around her. He didn't want to look as the pain pierced her features.

His voice was soft as he began. "It was Derek on the phone."

Lexie watched Mark, her eyes unblinking, and nodded, although she already knew it had been Derek on the phone.

"He…He got some news. Meredith…" Mark cut off at that point, contemplating his next words. Why was this so difficult?

Suddenly, Lexie jumped to conclusions. "What? Is something wrong with Meredith? Is she okay?" Lexie asked, her eyes widening with fear.

"What? No! Oh shit, no, I'm sorry, Lex," Mark rushed out, his head snapping up to see her face. He watched as she visibly calmed and before he could stop himself, his mouth opened again, the words being forced out against his will. "Your dad killed himself."

His eyes widened as he realized what he had said.

Abrupt. Blunt. Tactless.

All he could do was watch as Lexie's eyes widened and her spine straightened. She began blinking, looking at Mark as if he was lying. She frowned, not understanding what he had said. "Wh-Wh-…What?" She whispered harshly as her arms dropped to her sides. "Wh-Wh-When? When…" Lexie stopped as her eyes drifted out of focus. And then, her eyes snapped up to look at Mark. She glared at him, "What?"

Mark looked at her apologetically. "I'm so sorry, Lex…"

"What?" Lexie repeated, her voice strong and angry. "What do you mean he-he killed himself? Why…Wh-Why would he do that?"

"I…I don't know, Lexie." Mark's face crumpled in pain as he whispered, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Lexie."

"Stop saying you're sorry!" Lexie shouted as she stepped away from him, turning her back on him. Her eyes scanned the living room and she shook her head. "He wouldn't…He wouldn't do that. He wouldn't do that."

Mark watched as Lexie began trembling, her legs shaking underneath her. Afraid she would fall; Mark came up behind her. Cautiously, he placed a hand on her shoulder, attempting to steady her. "Lexie…The police called Meredith and Derek into the station. He had stolen a police car and driven to Elliot Bay. When they found the car, it was empty." Gently, he placed his other hand on her shoulder and then squeezed softly, in an attempt to comfort her. "They…They found his blood on the rocks by the shore."

"But…But it might not be," Lexie whispered, hope lighting up her words. "Are they sure it's his blood?"

"He left Meredith and you notes," Mark whispered, his grip tightening on Lexie. He placed a kiss on top of her head and kept his face against her hair as he spoke again. "Suicide notes, Lexie."

It only took a second for Lexie's heart to break.

The pain stabbed her heart, clenching and squeezing the life out of her. Her lips trembled as Mark's words flashed in her head. Suicide note.

Suicide note.

Suicide.

Suddenly, her feet fell away from underneath her and Mark instantly caught Lexie, pulling her limp body against his. He quickly turned her around to face him, wincing slightly as she grabbed on to him. It was as if she was drowning.

"No, no, no…" Lexie whispered as she felt the tears cloud her eyes. "No, he-he wouldn't. H-How…How…No, oh God, no, please, no, oh God…God, please…"

"I'm sorry, Lex. I'm so sorry, I'm sorry," Mark whispered as he wrapped his arms around her, his eyes closed as he felt her nails dig into his chest. Her tears wet his neck as her whispers fell over him.

"Why, why would he…No, please, how could he do this to me? Why would he…After everything…He just…"

"Ssh," Mark murmured, rubbing his hands over her back. "It's okay, ssh, it's okay."

"No…No!" Lexie shouted, suddenly pulling away from Mark. Ripping out of his grip she glared at him, the tears still streaming down her face. She pointed a shaky finger at him as she spoke, "Why-Who…You can't be right. You…You're lying!"

Mark felt pain stab his heart as he watched Lexie furiously swipe at her eyes, catching any stray tears. He shook his head slowly. "I'm not lying," he said, his voice low. "I'm not lying to you, Lexie."

Her eyes flashed angrily. "Yes, you are. You're lying to me! You're a liar!"

"Lexie…"

"No!" Lexie shouted. "No! Stop it! Stop lying to me because I-I know he's a bad person, I know that, but he would never…No. I know him. I know my father and…why are you lying to me? He would never do that. He's made mistakes but he-he would never…" Lexie broke off, not able to say the words. She wouldn't admit the truth. She couldn't. And so she snarled at Mark, her lips curled up in disgust. "You're a liar. My father values his life. My father…he knows not to…"

Mark sighed and took a step forward, only to feel the anger rise in him when Lexie took a step back. He let out a frustrated huff. "Lexie!" He said, his voice sharp. "I am not lying!"

"You are!" She shouted back, her face becoming red. "He wouldn't! He just wouldn't! And, and you shouldn't say that. How dare you. You're…You're all jumping to conclusions!"

"Lexie, please…" Mark stared at her, his eyes soft and upset. "Don't do this to yourself, Lex…" Before she got the chance to reply, he continued, his voice low. "Don't make this any harder than it already is. He's gone, Lexie. He's gone. I'm not lying." His eyes flashed as he shook his head sadly. "I wish I was, Lexie. I wish I was lying. It doesn't matter how much I hate the man, because if it could have avoided this…If it avoids you being like this, I wish I was lying and I wish he was still alive, but he isn't."

Lexie's eyes welled with tears as she whispered, "He is. He's still alive."

"Lexie," Mark whispered as he moved forward, carefully touching his hand to the side of her face. "He's not. He's gone, Lexie."

"He's still alive," Lexie murmured as she looked up at Mark, her eyes desperate and pleading. "Please…Mark–" Her voice broke off as a sob burst from her lips. The tears flowed down her cheeks, crashing into Mark's hand. "He's still alive, Mark. Please. Let him still be alive."

Realizing all he could do was hold her, Mark closed the gap between them, drawing Lexie's small body close to his. He rested his chin against the top of her head and he closed his eyes at the sound of her pleas.

"Please…Tell me you're lying. Tell me your lying, Mark. That's…that's all I want. Please. You're wrong. He's still alive. H-He wouldn't…He wouldn't do this to me. Why would he do this? Why would he hurt me again? Tell me you're wrong, please, please say it. Why…Oh God, please...Please…Tell me you're lying…"

Despite his best efforts to stop it, a small tear glided down Mark's cheek and landed on Lexie's dark hair. "I'm sorry," he choked as Lexie's sobs increased. "I'm lying, I'm lying, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry, Lexie. I wish I was lying. I wish I was." He held her tighter as he whispered, "I don't want this either. I'm sorry. God, I'm so sorry. Forgive me, please forgive me. I'm sorry."