Thatcher Grey is the father of Meredith and Lexie Grey. He was married to Ellis Grey, Meredith's mother, but left the family when Meredith was young after he found out about Ellis' affair with Dr. Richard Webber. He was absent for much of Meredith's life and it is revealed that he was an alcoholic who made Lexie's otherwise idyllic upbringing more complicated. Thatcher returns to Seattle in hopes of repairing his relationship with Meredith after having been estranged for 20 years. She first greets him cooly but Lexie encourages her to give him a chance. After leaving Ellis Grey, Thatcher married Susan Grey, who would eventually land at Seattle Grace as a patient.