7.03

Helena waited anxiously in her hotel room, fiddling with her ring as she read over a medical article. She and Mark had decided to not sleep in the same house, as per the tradition, not wanting to see each other the next morning. Once she heard a knock at the door, she practically jumped up from the bed, running to open it to her family with a smile.

Daniel, who was standing in front of his mother, almost fell back because of the big hug his sister gave him immediately, letting out a chuckle.

"It's good to see you, too." He joked, charmingly.

"Shut up." Helena reprimanded, holding him tighter as a hand played with the hair of the nape of his neck. "Oh, I've missed you." As she pulled away, she gave her mother a hug too, the woman smiling adoringly at her children. "Mama..."

"..." Her mother smiled back, holding her daughter close. Once they pulled away and entered the room, she encouraged. "Go on, show off the ring."

With a wide grin, Helena lifted her hand up to show her family the jewelry, her mother smiling. "Oh, it's beautiful."

"It is." Danny admitted with a nod.

"I am so proud of you, . I can't believe how grown up you are. I am so proud and your father would be, too. You were always his little girl." Ana smiled softly, a smile that looked just like her daughter's, as she took her in for another tight hug.

And, her head over her mother's shoulder, Helena's lip trembled as tears showed up in her eyes. She grown up, but she almost didn't get to be.

——

Later that night, their mother already having gone to sleep, Helena and Daniel chatted, the boy laying down next to her on her bed.

"Can you believe I'm getting married?" The girl asked, staring at the ceiling.

"Honestly? No, I can't." He answered, smiling. "But I like Mark, he's good for you. You deserve this, Lena."

The siblings fell silent for a while, comfortable with each other's sleepy presence. However, a few moments later, Helena broke that silence. "Papa was supposed to be here. He was supposed be here and he was supposed to walk me down that altar tomorrow. And it feels so wrong that he won't get to, that I won't get to be given away by him." She told him, tears in her eyes. "I'm supposed to be happy. And I am, I am so excited and happy to be married. But I can't stop thinking of how there are so many people that should be here, but aren't. So many people that I've lost." And, as she finished, her hand shot up to her pigeon pendant.

Gripping his sister's hand, next to him, Danny's own eyes filled with tears, he answered. "I know. I miss him, too. But he'd be so happy for you, Lena."

The doctor sighed, wiping away the tear that had feel from her eyes as she shook her head. "Danny?"

"Yeah?"

"Will you walk me down the altar, tomorrow?" She asked, moving her face to look at her younger brother.

As he did the same, a bright smile showed up on his face. "Of course I will. Come here." Danny told her, putting an arm around her shoulders as he gave her a side hug.

——

Helena was sitting on a stool in Meredith's bathroom, Lexie doing her hair as her mother watched, with a smile.

"So, Meredith and Cristina are married too?" Ana asked, Lexie nodding as Helena explained.

"Yeah. Cristina just got married, about a month ago, and Mer has been married for a bit."

"Well, not married married. married." The young Grey giggled, Ana furrowing her brows.

"Mer got married on a post it." The younger girl explained, her mother nodding and letting out a chuckle at the unusual wedding.

"Well, you all sure are an interesting bunch."

"Done." Lexie announced, Helena smiling to the mirror as she saw her friend's work.

"It looks great. Thank you, Lex." She thanked her, pulling her into a hug.

"I've got the dress!" Meredith's announced as she entered the room, carrying the white wedding dress.

"Oh, yay!" Helena let out, pulling away from the hug as she moved to the blond's and room, her friends and mother behind her. "How's everyone downstairs?"

"April has just started crying because, and I quote, 'it is just so beautiful how much Mark and Lena love each other' so Cristina is making fun of her. Arizona is handing her tissues and Callie had just opened a bottle of my wine."

"Seems accurate." The brunette giggled, starting to unbutton her button down as to get dressed.

However, as she did, the camisole she was wearing underneath lifted slightly, showing the scar that had resulted in her getting shot.

", what is that?" Her mother asked, furrowing her brows at the scar.

As Helena noticed what her mother meant, she pulled her top, shrugging. "Oh, it's nothing."

"That's not nothing, that seems like..." Ana started, her eyes filling with tears as realization hit her.

"Hum, we are going to go check on April's crying." Lexie let out, the two sisters leaving the room as they shared a look.

"Mama, it's nothing, don't worry about it." Helena explained, turning to the older woman.

"I-is that a bullet wound?" The woman asked, her voice trembling.