Author's Note: Wow. I'm so thankful for your reviews. I couldn't believe my eyes because of all the feedback. Thank you so much. Please continue.

Meredith felt her eyes shine over with tears and a lump be caught in her throat as she saw Derek right there.

She had dreams of seeing Madison's father for the first time in years. Trust her, it would never have went down like this. Meredith placed Madison on the floor and told her to get Aunt Izzy and tell her that they were going home.

Meredith saw Bailey walk away from Derek. She turned her heel and quickly followed her.

"BAILEY!"

Bailey turned and looked at Meredith.

"What do want Grey?"

"Can I go home? Madison had an asthma attack and I should look after her for the rest of the day."

"Ok. But the minute that child goes on a sleepover, you are doing a double."

"Yes Dr. Bailey."

"Oh and Grey?"

"Yes?"

"Don't think that me having a son, makes me go soft on you okay."

Meredith nodded and spotted Madison skipping down the hall.

"MOMMY!"

"Come here sweetheart."

Meredith scooped Madison and carried her to the elevator.

"Can I press the button?"

"Okay. We're going to level 2."

"Yay!"

Just as the elevator door closed, Derek Sheperd spotted her. The woman he had been searching for, Meredith Grey.

Later at Night:

Meredith had just put Madison to sleep. The clock on the kitchen wall read 9:00pm. George and Izzy were held up in the hospital when a drunk driver hit a pregnant woman that was in her third trimester. A soft knock came to the door just as Meredith put the coffee mug to her lips. She rose and walked down to look at who was at the door only to find the person she wanted to see the least. He saw her and she knew it. Damn glass doors, Meredith silently cursed at them.

Meredith opened the door careful not to make eye contact with Derek.

"What do you need Derek?"

"Can we talk Mer?"

"We have nothing to talk about."

"Yes. We do."

"Is there any part of 'I'm a sink with an open drain' you don't understand? There is no enough so we should just stop."

"Meredith…"

"What?"

"I left Addison."

"Did she screw someone else again?"

"No, I just couldn't stop thinking about you."

"Ha."

"I'm serious."

"Derek, I—"

A small voice interrupted them. Meredith loved and knew this voice all to well. Madison.

"Mommy."

Meredith felt her blood drain. Now Derek knew she had a daughter. Their daughter.

"Yes Maddie?"

"I can't find Mr. FuzzyPaws. (random name.)"

"He should be on the couch."

Bridget glanced into the living room. She spotted the teddy bear and took it.

"Mommy? Who is that?"

"Just an old friend. Night Madison. I love you."

"I love you too Mommy."

Bridget walked back up the stairs and Meredith turned to looked at Derek.

"What are you looking at?"

"I see you have a daughter."

"I do."

"How old is she?"

"Four and a half."

"Oh— wait… WHAT!"

"She's about four and a half."

Before Derek could say another word, Meredith ushered him out the door and shut it tight behind her.

"Derek…"

"Is she… mine?"

Meredith broke hey eye contact with Derek and looked at the concrete.

"Yes."

Derek felt his whole world spin, he was a father and he had missed everything. Meredith's first ultrasound, the birth of Madison, her first word. Everything.

"Why didn't you… Why… Oh my…"

"Derek… you chose your wife. It wasn't until after you left right after she finished the case with the twins, that I found out that I was pregnant."

"So you just don't tell me that I've fathered a child?"

"Derek, I need to work tomorrow and I don't want my daughter to hear this."

"Our daughter."

"Just go."

Meredith turned and shut the door, leaving Derek on the porch thinking about what just happened.

He just found out that he was a father.

--sad, small, sweet, so delicate.

A Decade Under the Influence by Taking Back Sunday