"Your parents threw a great party for us," Mark said as he caressed Lexie.

"Yes, it was amazing. And all my Seattle friends came."

"You have a lot of friends. I counted more than a dozen from elementary school."

"I like keeping in touch with my friends. And you told me you met your friend Derek in kindergarten."

"He's my only friend from elementary school that I've kept in touch with. And we went to school together through medical school. Anyway, your dad gave such a moving speech."

"He did. He's a great dad." Lexie smiled as she remembered the speech.

I will always remember the day Lexie was born. She was in such a rush to be born that we barely got to the hospital on time. She pushed her way out within ten minutes after we got to the hospital, and she's been keeping us on the toes every since. I realized she had a photographic memory when she was just a toddler. I would read her a book at bedtime, and then she would read it back to me, from memory. And she has always been a devoted older sister to Molly. And she's a wonderful, loyal friend. I'm so proud of her. She is going to be an amazing doctor. I was concerned when she told me that she had fallen in love with an attending who was much older than her, but I've gotten to know Mark, and I've seen that he is very devoted to Lexie, and I wish them a very happy marriage, just like my marriage to Susan.

Mark was a bit nervous. He wanted to be on good terms with his soon-to-be in-laws, and he wanted to continue to bask in the afterglow of morning sex and of the great engagement party. But he felt that he needed to give Lexie and her dad a push. "He has been a great dad to you and Molly, but he does have another daughter."

"I know. I've only spoken to her once. She seemed nice. She was very grateful that Molly and I agreed to have our bone marrow tested. I was sorry that I couldn't be a match."

"I know. But Derek's a match, and she's now in remission, so things are looking good. So if you want to visit, we can go this afternoon. Derek said that would be the best time to come over."

"That works. Like I told Meredith, I want to meet her and Chrissy. Now the party is over, we have the afternoon free. I'm glad we're not going back to Boston till tomorrow."

"Good. I'll let Derek know that we'll come over this afternoon. I'll ask him to let me know what time works best for them."

"That sounds like a great plan."

"Do you know whether your dad has visited Chrissy?"

"Mom told me he hasn't."

"He should," Mark said softly.

"I know."

"Maybe he'd listen to you."

"I can try. Mom wanted us to stop by for lunch. We can bring it up then."

"Okay." Mark was pleased he had persuaded Lexie to stay at a hotel. Spending the morning in bed with his fiancée would have been awkward at his in-laws, especially since Lexie's childhood bedroom still had only a twin bed. He'd be happy to foot the bill for a hotel room whenever they visited Seattle.

When they stopped by for lunch, they found Susan had made an elaborate lunch with Lexie's favorite foods for the four of them: with tomato soup, spaghetti Bolognese, and leftover cake from the engagement party.

"I'm sorry that Molly couldn't come to the engagement party," said Susan. "It's such a long and expensive trip for them. But she promised to come for the wedding. Are you still thinking of a Christmas wedding?"

"Maybe."

"I'd really love for my brother to come with his daughter, and she may not be well enough to come by then." Mark explained.

"I thought you were an only child," said Susan, puzzled.

"I don't have any biological siblings, at least than I know of. But Derek and I have been friends since I was in kindergarten, and he's been a brother to me since then." Mark decided not to mention the part about him sleeping with Derek's wife and destroying the friendship for nearly four years. "Actually, it's a funny story. It's such a small world."

"Yes, it is a really funny story," Lexie said. "It turns out that Derek's daughter is also Meredith's daughter."

"What?" exclaimed both Thatcher and Susan.

"Yes, Mark's friend Derek is Chrissy's father," explained Lexie. "It seems fated that we'd find each other."

"How come no one said anything about this to me?" asked Susan. "When did you find out about Chrissy?"

"Derek and I had been out of touch since I left New York." He thought that was an accurate way to describe the situation without going into detail. "I found out about a month ago, after Chrissy began Skypping with my nephews; their mothers are Derek's sisters. I went to see Derek as soon as I learned about Chrissy. He needs his friends at this time."

"I see Meredith every week. And I've had lunch with Carolyn Shepherd every week since she arrived. And neither of them said anything to me about this."

"Mom, I don't think it's a big deal for them. They must be focusing all their attention on Chrissy. Remember, I've never met Meredith even though she's my sister."

"Half-sister," said Thatcher.

"Thatcher, she's our daughter's sister," emphasized Susan.

"We're going to visit them today," announced Mark.

"That's very nice," commented Susan. Mark noticed that Thatcher looked at his soup.

"Derek told me that Chrissy has been enjoying his mother's stories of his youth although I have a feeling she's been exaggerating."

"I know. Carolyn told me the same thing," said Susan, as she cleared the table. She then served the pasta dish.

"Dad, do you have some stories about Meredith you could share with Chrissy?" asked Lexie.

"Me?"

"Yes, you are Meredith's dad, her full dad," said Lexie.

"I barely know her," Thatcher admitted, frowning. He obviously was uncomfortable.

"Dad, you've been a wonderful father to me and Molly."

"Thanks, sweetheart."

"I'm sure you were a great father to Meredith before her mom took her to Boston. She was your first child."

"That's kind of you, Lexie, but she was only five then."

"I'm sure Chrissy would enjoy stories of Meredith when she was very little," said Mark. "Chrissy's only three, so stories of her mom at the same age would be great."

"I don't remember much from that time. It was a long time ago."

"But you remember when I was born. And Meredith was your first child. Surely you must remember the day she was born."

"I'm not good with sick kids."

"You were always great with me when I was sick."

"But you were never seriously ill."

"But you were there for Molly and Laura when Laura was born, and she needed surgery."

"I had no choice. And Laura was my granddaughter."

"Chrissy is your granddaughter, too, Dad."

"Look, Lexie, Ellis took Meredith to Boston, and she told me to leave them alone. So I did what she told me. You've never met Ellis Grey, so you could not possibly understand."

"Thatcher, I met Dr. Grey. I spent a summer working with her when I was in college. She was a very intimidating woman. But she's dead now. So whatever she said then doesn't matter now."

"I've tried to be a good mother to Meredith, not that she lets me do much. But I visit Chrissy every week, and I do anything Meredith asks."

"Susan, you're wonderful, but you don't have any stories of baby Meredith to share with Chrissy. You being great doesn't make up for her dad not being there at all," explained Mark. "Look, I have crap parents, so I know what it's like for Meredith. I was really lucky that Derek took me home after school starting in kindergarten, and his parents pretty much adopted me. Everything I know about being a good parent I learned from Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd. And I'm looking forward to being a good parent to your grandchildren, Lexie's children. But I do know this, even now, if my parents reached out now and helped me, it would feel good. And Meredith must be going through hell now, with her daughter being so sick."

Mark tried to look into Thatcher's eyes, but he was looking down at his food. "All you need to do is go and spend an hour with your granddaughter telling her stories about Meredith when she was a little girl. That shouldn't be too hard."

"I don't think I can do that."

"Dad, what if it was Laura who was sick? Or a child of mine?"

"That would be different, sweetheart."

"Dad, it shouldn't be different, she's your granddaughter just as much as Laura is."

"Lexie, since Ellis took Meredith away, Meredith has been Ellis's daughter to me, not mine. And Meredith is the spitting image of her mom. I just can't show up now as her dad."

"But Ellis is dead, Dad. I know you feel guilty, but you'll feel better if you go. And you don't have to do it for Meredith, do it for Molly and me. We are both excited to have a new sister and a new niece."

"I'll think about it, Lexie."

"Let's have the chocolate cake," said Susan as she served the cake.

"Susan, you picked a delicious chocolate cake." Mark decided to change the conversation topic for a bit.

"Thanks, Mark. I was thinking we could use the same baker for the wedding cake."

"That would be great, Mom. I'm not going to have a lot of time to spend on wedding plans, being a resident."

"I know, sweetheart, that's fine. I'm happy to do all the planning. You did the most important thing; you chose the groom."

Mark decided to give it another go. "Thatcher, what do you know about bone marrow transplants?"

"Not much."

"Well, it's a very high risk procedure. At a good program like Seattle Grace, they might have success rate of 70% or better, but that means that as many as three out of ten people who get a bone marrow transplant die, many within the first year after the transplant. Right now, Chrissy's home with her parents getting ready for the transplant, so this would be a good time to visit. But if you don't go while she's home, there's a real chance she could die. And I don't know if you could ever forgive yourself if you didn't visit her when she was alive. And I'm pretty sure Meredith wouldn't forgive you."

"I said I'd think about it, Mark, but I'm not going to be pushed into doing something just because you or Lexie or Susan think it's a good idea."

"Fine. But I brought a photo of Chrissy and Derek for you. Derek's dad is dead, so you are her only living grandfather. Just look at this photo; this little girl deserves a visit from her only living grandfather."

Thatcher refused to look at the photo and continued eating his lunch. Susan, on the other hand, picked up the photo. "I haven't met Derek yet, but she does have her father's eyes."

"Let's go, Lexie, I think we should get going."

"You'll be back for dinner, right?" asked Susan.

"Of course, Mom. We leave first thing in the morning, so we want to have a nice meal with you tonight."

As they headed out of the house, Lexie turned to Mark, "You were tough on my dad, Mark."

"I know, but he deserved it. I can't believe he won't give his own granddaughter an hour of his time when she's so sick."

"I'm sure he feels guilty about Meredith. He's a good guy. And he's been a great dad for me."

"Lexie, maybe I was tough on your dad because I have crap parents, but as bad as my parents were, I always knew they didn't know any better. I'm thinking that it will be very tough for Meredith to know that her dad was a crap parent for her and a great parent for you and Molly. He knows how to be a great parent."

"It's her mother's fault."

"Lexie, I'm know that Dr. Grey was a difficult, intimidating woman, and I'm sure she would have made your dad's life hell if he fought for Meredith. But that wasn't Meredith's fault. And she's the one who lost out on having a great dad. And now Chrissy is losing out on her only living grandpa."

"I know, but my dad is my dad. You've said your piece to him, and I don't think we should talk about it any more. He'll either go or he won't, and it has to be his decision."

"That's fine. Do you think we should stop at a toy store and pick up some presents for Chrissy?"

"Sure. That would be fun."

After picking up a couple of toys at a nearby store, they drove to Meredith's house. Outside the house Lexie turned to Mark. "This house is amazing. I wonder how long Meredith has lived here."

"I have no idea, but it's a very expensive house for an intern."

"Maybe it was her mom's. In that case, my dad might have lived here. Isn't that weird?"

"Yes."

They rang the bell. After a few minutes, Derek opened the door. "Thank you for coming, Mark. And you must be Lexie."

"Yes, I'm Lexie. Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you. Please come in. I'd like you to wash up and put on a gown and a mask before you get close to Chrissy. We're doing everything we can to avoid exposure to infection."

"No problem at all," Mark said while Lexie nodded. He noticed that Derek seemed to in much better shape than when he visited him in New York. He seemed to be bouncing, and his eyes were sparkling. He somehow seemed younger now.

"Okay, I'll show you to the bathroom."

Mark and Lexie walked in to the house. They saw a little girl wearing a Yankee baseball cap sitting at a child's table playing with a dollhouse next to a pretty woman in jeans and a Dartmouth t-shirt.

Derek decided to make the introductions, "Mark and Lexie, I'd like you to meet Meredith and Chrissy." Meredith and Chrissy both turned to greet them. Meredith said, "I'm very pleased to meet you," and then she turned to her daughter and said, "Say hello to Uncle Mark and Aunt Lexie."

"Hello, Uncle Mark and Aunt Lexie."

"We have some presents for you," said Mark, as he showed her the bag of gifts. "We would love it if you opened them after we wash up."

"Thank you very much," said Chrissy.

After quickly washing up and putting on a gown, a mask, and gloves, Lexie and Mark emerged from the bathroom. Mark noticed that Carolyn Shepherd had joined the group; she was sitting on the sofa.

"Can I open the gifts now?" asked Chrissy. Mark smiled. She was behaving just like a typical child, focused on opening her gifts.

"Chrissy, first let me say hello to Mark and Lexie. Hello Lexie, I'm Carolyn Shepard, and it's great to see you, Mark."

"Always wonderful to see you, Carolyn."

"Nice to meet you," added Lexie.

"And now for Chrissy's presents. Let me go first," said Mark, and he took out two packages.

Chrissy opened the first package, a huge box of Tinker Toys. "These look fun."

"Your Daddy and Uncle Mark spent many hours playing with Tinker Toys."

"You did, Daddy?"

Derek smiled, "Yes, I did. Mom, do you have any photos of us playing with Tinker Toys?"

"Maybe at home. I'll look for them when I go home."

"Are you leaving, Grandma?"

"I am going to Janie's graduation next week-end. But I'll come back. I'm going to spend most of my time in Seattle until you're all better."

Chrissy smiled, and then she turned to open the next package. "What are these?"

"They're called Lincoln Logs because President Lincoln grew up in a log cabin," explained Mark. "Your Daddy and I played with them, also."

"And I'm looking forward to playing with you," said Derek.

"Now it's time for my presents," said Lexie. "I got two of the same thing."

Chrissy opened the presents and again she asked, "What's this?"

"They are called Etch-a-sketches. I got two so that you could work on one while Mommy or I worked on the other. I'm really, really good with an Etch-a-sketch. I could be a professional, if that were a thing. Want me to show you how?"

"Sure." Lexie sat down with Chrissy and showed her how to operate the Etch a Sketch. Chrissy started playing with hers while watching Lexie play on the other one.

"Meredith, you have a beautiful house," said Mark.

"It was my mom's. And now I have three roommates, Izzie, George, and Alex. They're all working today. They've been a great help with Chrissy."

"If there's ever anything I can do, just ask."

"Same for me," said Lexie. "Did you live in this house when you were little?"

"Yes, I lived here until I was five, and my mom took me to Boston."

"It's funny that you lived in Boston then, and I lived in Seattle, and now it's the reverse," said Lexie with a smile. "I'm very happy to be here with my sister and my niece."

"And what about me?"

"And my fiancé, and his best friend, and his best friend's mother. I think that covers everyone."

Mark turned to Meredith. "I worked with your mother at the World Health Organization when I was in college."

"She loved that job."

"She helped millions by working on improving surgical standards throughout the world and on maternal care."

"Thanks for the kind words."

"I was sorry to hear about her death. It was a big loss to medicine."

"Thanks for the kind words."

"I hear you're following in her footsteps, being a surgical resident."

"I am a surgical resident, and I'm going back to work tomorrow. I've been on leave for the past two months or so."

"Do you know what are you want to specialize in?"

Meredith smiled. "Maybe neuro."

Lexie looked up from her Etch-a-sketch. "I'm also interested in neuro."

"What's your specialty, Mark?" asked Meredith.

"Plastics. I see I'm outnumbered, three to one. Derek, the Grey sisters are on your team."

Derek smiled. "Well, the brain is the most fascinating organ."

"I like making people pretty."

"How do you make people pretty, Uncle Mark?" Chrissy was following the conversation as well.

"Well, sometimes people are injured, and I fix their skin, so it looks pretty."

"Can you give me hair? Hair would make me pretty?"

"Your hair will grow back, Chrissy, you don't need surgery for that," explained Meredith. "And you're always beautiful." Meredith moved over to Chrissy and gave her a hug.

"Your mom's right, Chrissy. You're already beautiful," added Mark.

"Very beautiful," Lexie said.

"Mommy, can I show Aunt Lexie my swing set?"

"Sure. You want to go swinging with me?"

"Yes, Mommy." Meredith, Lexie, and Chrissy left the room.

"I'm going to get my camera and take some photos," said Carolyn, as she also got up.

Derek turned to Mark, "My sisters got Chrissy an amazing swing set."

"That's great. Uncle Mark would have been happy to help, too."

"It's great that you came to visit. And you brought two great toys."

"I spoke to Thatcher about coming to see Chrissy, but all he's said is that he'd think about it."

"That was Mom's idea. Meredith doesn't expect him to come. She told me that, if she had needed a bone marrow transplant, she didn't think he'd have been willing to donate. She has very low expectations for him. The good thing is that he can't disappoint her."

"His wife is great."

"Yeah, I'm going meet her tomorrow. I think Meredith finds it bizarre that her stepmother is more interested in Chrissy than her dad. But she's accepting help from her, which is a big step from her. Meredith likes to do things on her own."

"But you and Carolyn are here."

"I know. I'm glad that she's willing to accept our help. Mom didn't give us a choice. She just flew her without asking. And Meredith's a terrible cook, so having a full-time cook has been great for all of us."

"You probably didn't give her a choice, either."

"She feels guilty about not telling me about Chrissy, all the time I lost. And she wants Chrissy to have what she didn't have, a dad."

"Meredith seems great."

Derek laughed. "You've spoken with her for about fifteen minutes. Lexie seem great, too."

"We always had the same taste in women."

"At least this time it's sisters, not the same woman."

"I'm sorry about Addie."

"It's okay. That's what sent me to Seattle, and that's why I have Chrissy." Derek said with a smile. "And now I have my brother back."

"Me, too. So would you be my best man?"

"Sure."

"We're still working on a wedding date. It would be great if Chrissy could be a flower girl."

"I can ask her doctor next time I see him, if you want."

"That would be great. Let's go outside and see the swing set." They walked outside.

"Wow, Chrissy, you have a great swing set," said Mark. "I never had a swing set. I would just go and play in the park with your dad."

"I used to play in the park, but now I can't go. I miss going out to the park."

Mark felt bad for reminding Chrissy that she was missing out on the park. "This swing set has a much better swing than any park I've seen. You get to swing with your mommy."

"And with my daddy."

"I love swinging with you, Chrissy," said Derek.

"Me, too."

They watched as Meredith continued to swing and before long Chrissy had closed her eyes.

"Mer, I'll put her to bed," offered Derek.

"Okay."

Derek picked her up from Meredith's lap and went to put her to bed. Everyone else returned to the living room.

"Mark and Lexie, would you like to join us for dinner?" asked Carolyn.

"Not me, I promised my mom I'd have dinner with them; it's our last night in Seattle. But Mark, you should stay."

"Lexie, you said we'd both come for dinner."

"I know, but I think it's better if you stay here. I'd like some private time with my folks."

"Okay."

Later Lexie walked into her family home and immediately went to the kitchen where she found her parents.

"Hi Lexie, where's Mark?" asked her mom.

"Carolyn asked us to stay for dinner, and I thought it would be better if he stayed, and I had some private time with my folks."

"That's fine, dear," said her mom. "Did you have a good time?"

"Yes, I did. Everyone was very nice to me. And Chrissy is so sweet. Mark and I went to a toy store first, so I brought her two Etch-a-Sketches, one for her to use and one for someone to use with her, and we spent over an hour playing with the Etch-a-Sketch."

"You are a genius on the Etch-a-Sketch. You must have spent hundreds of ours playing with that toy. It was a great idea for a gift."

"Thanks, Mom. Meredith's house is really nice. She said that she lived there with you when she was a little girl."

"Yes, it was a very nice house," said Thatcher. "Ellis got it in the divorce. I wanted to start over in a new house, anyway."

"I love our house," said Susan. She had never wanted to live in a house filled with memories of her husband's ex-wife even if her own house was small.

"Anyway, Chrissy was wearing a baseball cap. Her dad's a Yankee fan, so it was a Yankee cap. So I didn't really notice that she was bald, and she didn't look sick. She did look very thin, but she was active, and she talked a lot. I think you would enjoy meeting her, Dad."

"I told you I'd think about it."

"But you said you were concerned that she was sick. I wanted to let you know that you could meet with her and not even think about her being sick. Just a cute girl with a baseball cap."

"I'll think about it, Lexie."

"Dad, I'd really appreciate if you would go for me. Not for Chrissy or Meredith, but for me. Because I really like being an aunt, and I don't often get to see Laura. But I could see Chrissy whenever I come to Seattle. And I think it would be nice to have another sister. But it will be really weird if I spend time with Chrissy and Meredith and you never do."

"Lexie, that's enough. Your dad will consider your request. And Carolyn told me that I could visit on Mondays."

"Yes, they're expecting you tomorrow."

"Is there anything that Chrissy needs or would want that I could bring?"

"I didn't see an easel. I think an easel and paints and paper would be great. I think fun activities that she can do at home are good. It's hard for her that she's not allowed to leave her house. She did get a swing set, so she can go outside and play in the backyard. She also has a play house."

"You and Molly spent a lot of time on our swing set. I'm glad they have one," said Thatcher.

"Yeah, we had a lot of fun together. I really miss Molly. I have to Skype with her more often."

"We Skype with her and Laura at least once a week," explained Thatcher.

"You're a great grandpa for Laura, Dad. You should do the same for Chrissy."

"That's enough, Alexandra Caroline Grey."

"Yes, mom."