Chapter 3

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9 months later

Mark smiled down at the little baby in his arms. Barely 3 hours old, Amanda Lily Sloan already has her father wrapped around her little finger. He watched fascinated as she yawned, and opened her chocolate eyes to look up at him. The same eyes that he couldn't say no too. He is so doomed. He couldn't stop being amazed at how much she looked like her mother. And he could only imagine that she would grow up to be as beautiful as her mother. And how boys were going to be queueing up for her. And he wouldn't allow that. She wasn't going to be dating until she reached 18, that he was sure of. Of course he would love to have a son eventually, but of now, his heart just melted at the sight of his daughter.

'Hey princess.' He whispered softly. 'It's your daddy here. I love you so much and I'm so glad that you're finally here. Your mummy loves you so much too, you know she had to go through so much to get you here. Let's go and see her, shall we?'

Lexie was already wide awake and sitting propped up in bed by the time Mark brought their newborn daughter in.

'Hey' he smiled at her. 'Look at who has come to see you'

He gently transferred the peacefully sleeping baby into her mother's arms.

'She looks exactly like you, so beautiful' Mark whispered.

' She does' Lexie smiled up at him. 'She's so beautiful.'

The baby opened her eyes again to look at her parents. Her lips began to quiver. She began to whimper and it transformed into a loud piercing wail.

Lexie frowned when she discovered that rocking and cradling the baby wouldn't help.

Being a first time parent is indeed a challenging job.

' Maybe she's hungry' Lexie decided, attaching the baby to her left breast.

'Or maybe she needs to be changed.' Mark offered.

A few hours later, Lexie was fast asleep, while Mark was nodding off on the chair with the baby still in his arms.

There was a knock on the door.

'Come in' said Mark groggily.

The door opened to reveal Meredith and Derek.

'We just had to come in to see our niece' said Derek.

'Oh, she looks just like Lexie' Meredith, who was already beside the bassinet and peering down at the baby whispered in awe.

' Mark Sloan, finally a father' said Derek , giving Mark a friendly slap on his back. 'Who would've thought?'

' Why, you never thought that it was possible for me to become a father?' Mark grinned. 'You underestimate me, Derek. Don't underestimate me. I will catch up with you someday' he nodded towards Meredith's swollen belly. She was expecting the third Sheperd child in two months time.

' No…I always win' said Derek proudly.

Meredith rolled her eyes. 'Will you two ever grow up? You'll wake both mother and daughter up with your stupid arguing'.

'She's hormonal.' Derek mouthed to Mark, who nodded in understanding.

'Hey Lex, how are you?' Meredith was now beside Lexie, who had just woken up.

'Tired, sore, but happy.' Lexie smiled.

'Congrats, how does it feel like being a mom?'

Lexie laughed. 'It has only been less than a day, I cannot say much yet.'

'You'll learn. Being a parent is a lifelong learning process. Trust me.'

' Yeah, thanks for the sisterly advice.'

That night, as Mark watched his wife and daughter sleep, their chests rising and falling with each breath, he felt like the luckiest man alive. He now had a family of his own, which he never thought possible. He is now a father, something which neither he nor anyone else would've predicted 5 years ago. And these two people in his lives have transformed him from a so-called manwhore to a family man. Who would've thought?

And of course, he had Derek and Meredith to thank for too, for letting him have that ultimate babysitting experience which changed his entire perception of having kids.

If before, he was horrified of the sight of children or the mention of having children, now he couldn't imagine his life without his daughter.

Now, Mark Sloan knew that his life was complete.

THE END

Yes, this is the epilogue. Unless you reader want some more. But you have to let me know (if you want more, that is ;) ) Meanwhile, do read and review!! :D Reviews are very welcome….