February 15 – Spring Training - Pitchers and Catchers Report for First Workout

The alarm sounds at 6am. Beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep. SLAM. Meredith practically punches the button to turn that god awful sound off. She immediately regrets changing her soothing sounds of the ocean sounds to the horrid beeping but it was all for a good cause. It's first day of spring training. Only pitchers and catchers report but it's still exciting all in the same. She would get to see Dylan and all the other guys and she would try to persuade her dad to add what ever hot young guy from the minors she finds attractive to the team. Of course he would also have to be good. She would never sacrifice the good of the team for some man candy. Groaning as she makes her way out of bed she starts heading to the shower. She hears Thatcher's snores coming from his room. She smirks as she creeps along the hallway and into his bedroom. She grabs a spare pillow from the closet and throws it at him nailing him right in the face. "Wake up, dad, pitchers and catchers today!" she says happily and then returns to her journey to the bathroom. He grumbles to himself as he pulls the pillow away from his face and throws it on the floor.

Thatcher looks over at his clock. It says 6:15 but it might as well say 4:00. Why on earth was she waking up so early? They don't have to be to the ball park until 9. It finally dawns on him. This was the year. This was the year he had promised her 2 years prior. This wasn't just any other season. His daughter would be traveling with the team. She'd be working as the bat girl. She'd be down there with all those players. She's turning 18 this year. 'No that can't be right' he thinks to himself. 'She can't be turning 18. Not so soon.' Colin had already told Thatcher that it was no problem. They smoothed it all out with Richard Webber, the team's manager. Now all he would have to do is figure out who she would be living with. There is no way he would let her live in New York all by herself. She needs someone to look after her and he won't be around much this season. He knows he should have told her already but he just hasn't been able to find the words or the time. He knows if he didn't have baseball that he would probably never see her. During the off season she is always off with her friends Izzie and Cristina. Not that is a bad thing but sometimes…ok all the time he misses her.

Meredith is already out of the shower when Thatcher finally makes his way into his shower. He was tempted to just sit in this tub for a while but he didn't want Meredith barging in on him asking how long he will be. He opts for a quick shower and shave before getting dressed and making his way down to the kitchen where Meredith already has breakfast prepared. She had perfected Izzie's mom's omelet, making it better and better each time around. "We have a few young pitchers reporting today. We're going to see about bringing a few up from triple a. There is one I want you to meet. I think you'll like him."

Meredith rolls her eyes. She hopes Thatcher isn't trying to set her up with some baseball player. She actually isn't one to want a relationship. Not the going out on a date kind of relationship anyway. The kind of relations she has she is pretty sure Thatcher wouldn't even want to think about that let alone set her up with some guy. "When you say I would like him does that mean as a player or as a husband?" Meredith teases. She knows her father means well but she'd rather just seek out her own guys. It's too creepy when he tries to play a part in her "love" life, if you could even call it that.

"Of course as a player. There will be no husband talk. You're not even old enough to date."

"You always say that."

"I always mean it." He is half teasing and half not. He isn't stupid. She is almost 18 years old. Of course she is going to be interested in boys and boys would be interested in her. He just can't let go of his little girl. Not yet. He isn't ready. He hasn't had enough time to prepare. Eighteen years is not enough time. "Plus I know you're saving yourself for Alex Karev."

"I don't know how many times I have to tell you I do not like Karev. Not like that anyway. He's my favorite player and I worship the baseball ground he walks on but that doesn't mean I like him like that. I don't." She stands up to clear the table. Thatcher notices that the jeans she normally wears is replaced with shorts that are way too short and he knows for a fact that once she gets to the ball park her legs will be cold. Not to mention the shorts are too short for his liking. "Anyway, the man for me is Dylan."

"Dylan is married." They have had this conversation so many times before. She has been "in love" with Dylan Young from the day she saw him on the mound. He is one of their better pitchers. Yes he is handsome and that is what Meredith saw first. It was the first time she saw a man for their looks first and their talents second.

"It doesn't mean a girl can't dream."

"You're going to put some pants on before we leave right? It's not summer yet." Summer isn't the real issue. It is the damn length of it. 'It should be illegal to make shorts that short' he thinks to himself and he hears the groans from his daughter.

"It's going to be 70 today," Meredith says knowing that answer is not going to be good enough for her father.

"Go step outside on the deck. If you really feel you can be outside with those shorts on in that weather then fine. But I know you and you don't like to be cold."

She'll show him. She'll walk right out there and show him that it's a perfectly mild day. It's perfect weather for wearing shorts. She smirks as she opens the door from the kitchen to the outside deck. Immediately the brisk air hits her legs and arms. She shivers. Ok maybe 70 degrees isn't what she thought it was. Or maybe 70 degrees isn't what she hoped it was. She quickly walks back inside. "Pants it is."

Meredith comes back down stairs with pants and even a light Yankees jacket on. Thatcher grabs his briefcase and they're off to the ball park. Every time they pull up to the park the same excitement goes over Meredith like a wave. Thatcher is so happy that it is something he can share with his daughter that they both look forward to every year. It's the first day of workouts and Thatcher quickly gets into General Manager mode as they make their way on to the field. Thatcher likes to be right down with players for spring training. It gives him a better look of where everyone is at. Meredith would usually hang out in the box for a while but this time she walks right out there with him to take it all in.

At 9am sharp the players make their way on to the field to begin stretching. The bleachers have already begun to fill with fans. The crowd cheers as soon as they see the familiar blue jerseys and white pants make their way out of the clubhouse. Meredith knows to stay out of Thatcher's way when he is doing his job. He gets very much in his own little world when he is watching them and he doesn't like to be disturbed. She likes to sit on top of the dugout and watch them do their thing. Her feet dangle down over the side as most of the players are now on the field and have finished their stretching. Someone is missing though. She scans the field. She counts the players. Then it hits her. Dylan isn't there. Where could he be? Just then he feels a tap on her foot. She looks down and sees Dylan smiling up at her. She smiles back.

He loved to tease her. Her crush on him isn't actually a secret around the clubhouse but they all know it's harmless and they think it's cute. "Oh hi, Dylan, you're late."

"Someone thought it was funny to hide my cleats," Dylan says as he steps up onto the field. "See ya later, Mer." Mer, he called her Mer. She is floating on cloud 9 before the voice of her father interrupts her day dream of Dylan and her running together in a meadow of joy and happiness and love.

"Meredith, there is someone I want you to meet," Thatcher says, "Come on down here." She looks at the person standing beside him. He is tall and handsome and built and he is looking at her. No, he is staring at her. She wonders if he notices that she is staring at him too. His light brown hair just about shines in the sun and his light blue eyes are soothing but piercing all at the same time. As she hops down from the dugout and walks over to where they are standing she looks him over once more. His strong arms and broad shoulders make her want into melt into a puddle. Dylan who? Who is this guy? Thatcher is oblivious to the stares and he is grinning from ear to ear at the thought of this prospect on their team. "This is Mark Sloan, future Cy Young Award winner and the future of New York Yankees pitching."

"Oh come on Thatcher, at least let me do my own bragging," Mark says as he throws a quick wink in Meredith's direction.

"I'm Meredith, glad to have you aboard," she tires to say as calm and professional as possible. She is using everything in her not to make a yummy sound at the sight of this man. "So you're in the minors?"

"Yeah, stuck in triple a when my right hand man Shep is in his second year in the majors," Mark says as he looks to Thatcher. He looks right back at Meredith not even expecting a response back from Thatcher. He was just busting balls. Mark appreciates his time in the minors, he has grown a great deal due to the coaching he has had but he knows he is ready to be brought up. He looks Meredith over. Every curve of her body is perfect. The way the jeans hug her legs and thighs, he can't see much under the jacket but he can only imagine that her breasts are as perfect as the rest of her. He makes his way back to her eyes and he smiles at her and she smiles back.

"Well, I don't want to keep this guy away from his workout any longer. I just wanted you two to meet. I'll see you in a little bit, Meredith."

"It was nice meeting you, Meredith," Mark says with a smile. Before her mouth can form words Thatcher and Mark walk back over to the home plate area where they're going over some drills. Meredith watches Mark's perfectly shaped ass as they walk away from her.

"Holy crap, I want that man," she says out loud but to herself. She realizes what she has just said and quickly corrects herself, "On the team, I mean, I want him on the team." There is no denying it though. She can't keep her eyes of off him. She watches as he throws back and forth with their catcher George O'Malley. His form is perfect. They laugh as George makes an "ouch that throw hurt my hand" gesture. His smile is perfect. Everything about him is perfect. She would have to convince Thatcher to add him to the roster somehow. She needs to be around him. She wants to find out more about him. Like Thatcher would need any convincing. He seems to be as in love with him as she is lusting for him. She waits patiently for workouts to be over so she can talk about who she thinks they should keep with him. Mark Sloan is on the top of her list.

February 20 – Spring Training - Position Players Report for First Full Workout

The day the whole team reports for the first time is one of Meredith's favorite times of year. It's when all the players begin to get back into their routine for the season. Most of them have kept up some of kind of workout schedule in the off season but it's nothing like that Richard has them do in spring training. She likes to watch them sweat. It's also good to see the whole team together again. The team is like her extended family. No matter who it's been in the pinstripes they have always taken her in like a little sister ever since Thatcher started bringing her around. Spring training gives her an opportunity to catch up with them and see what they've been up to because during the season it's all business and she stays up in the box with her dad. Not this year. This year she'll be right down in the dugout with them. The excitement of it all is the reason she is up so early this morning. She signs online to hopefully catch one of her friends on. Luckily Izzie is up too.

MeredithSloanNYY: Hey Iz, it's Mer. New screen name.

IzzieKarevNYY: oh hey Mer, I am loving the new screen name. Dylan would be so jealous.

MeredithSloanNYY: That's why I am not telling him. You have to see this guy in person, Iz, the pictures online don't do him justice.

IzzieKarevNYY: I think Cristina and I are going to most of the games.

MeredithSloanNYY: The guy keeps flirting with me so that is always a bonus. I hope my dad keeps him on the roster then I would see him all season long.

IzzieKarevNYY: Don't remind me of that. I am going to miss you. Plus I'm a little jealous.

MeredithSloanNYY: I know, I'll miss you guys too but I have wanted this for so long.

IzzieKarevNYY: I know. It's great.

"Meredith, are you up? Start getting ready to go," Thatcher yells into the room as he walks by. She looks down at herself, she's still in pajamas.

MeredithSloanNYY: Well I gtg, almost time to head to the ballpark. Everyone else shows up today.

IzzieKarevNYY: Good luck with raping Mark Sloan.

MeredithSloanNYY: I'm not going to rape him, Iz, not yet anyway. Hehe. See ya.

IzzieKarevNYY: Bye.

MeredithSloanNYY signed off.

Meredith shuts her computer down and practically skips to her closet. Today's outfit would have to be chosen carefully. It has to be perfect. She had been playing this little game with Mark Sloan ever since she had met him. Each day her jeans were a little tighter and rode a little lower on her hips. She likes the way he looks at her as a lion would look at a lioness before pouncing. It's hungry and passionate and she loved to see him that way. Ever since she first met him she couldn't keep her eyes off of him. They would flirt whenever he got a chance. She just liked being around him. Nothing takes away from the lion look though. That is what she finds herself waking up for every day. No one had ever looked at her that way before. It felt good.

After she gets dressed she walks down to the kitchen where Thatcher is sitting at the kitchen table reading the sport's section. Of course he was. As far as the Greys are concerned there is no other section but the sport's section. "Do we still have the waffle maker?" Meredith asks as she grabs herself a glass of orange juice. "I am in the mood for waffles."

"We had to throw it out. Remember that whole fiasco we had? Someone put too much batter in and it almost exploded."

"You're over reacting. It wasn't even close to exploding." She grabs his arm. "Come on let's go get some." He smiles and stands up. Her teenage years had not been as hard to get through as he thought they would be. He heard some horror stories about teenagers hating their parents, something about that's just in the hormones. He was so terrified that one morning she would stop talking to him and that would have left him so alone. She is his whole world. He lives and breathes for her. There were times where she didn't say as much as he would like but never once did she flat out stop talking to him. There was no rebelling, no shouting matches, and not once did she say 'I hate you'. When Colin told him once that his daughter said that to him Thatcher dreaded that some day that would be him, but it wasn't. Her voice breaks his thoughts as he stands outside the car smiling. "What's wrong with you?"

"Im sorry, what?" he wonders to himself how long he could have been standing there just smiling off into the distance.

"You're smiling like a goofball. If we don't hurry we won't be able to eat anything until the concession stands open and I know they won't have waffles."

"Let's go then."

They both get into the car and head to the waffle house that is just a little ways down from the ball park. As they enjoy their breakfast Thatcher contemplates telling her that he won't be around this season. He still hasn't figured out the best time to spring it on her. He knows he is running out of time but he is a little scared of her reaction. They hadn't been apart from each other for any long periods of time in her whole life. He is worried about how she will handle it but he is more scared that he will be affected more than she will. The waitress brings over their waffles and Meredith immediately grabs the syrup and pours it all over. He just watches her enjoy her meal. She looks up at him and notices he hasn't even touched his food. "If you don't eat you'll be so sorry, dad."

"I have something to tell you." He sounds a bit serious so she puts her fork down and focuses her attention on him. He fidgets in his chair a bit. This is a lot harder than he thought that it would be. "I um I won't be around this season."

"What do you mean? Where are you going to be?" She isn't sure if this is good news are bad news. She is a bit torn. On one hand she knows that she would miss him but on the other hand she would have some freedom for once in her life. It had always just been the two of them. Thatcher and Meredith. Meredith and her dad. Thatcher and his daughter. This would be a great opportunity for it just to be Meredith.

"Helping out in Columbus."

"So this means I get the condo to myself?"

"No, you're staying with one of the players. I will not have you staying in New York by yourself."

Meredith rolls her eyes, "I don't need a babysitter."

"It won't be like that, Mer, it'll be like having a roommate. Just please do this for me. It's not easy." He stops there. He doesn't want to tell her how much he's going to miss her. He's a grown man. He is supposed to be stronger than this. She didn't seem to be too heart broken over being away from him for so long anyway. He didn't really expect her to. She is almost 18, she can't stick around her daddy forever no matter how much he may want it.

"Fine, ok, who are you sticking me with?" She could tell how tortured he is by this and she didn't want to argue with him about it.

"Derek Shepherd. He is closest to your age. Plus I trust him. He's a gentleman. I know you were hoping for Alex Karev but I think Derek is the better choice."

"Dad, I seriously don't have a crush on Alex Karev."

"Sure you don't, sweetie. Come on let's eat so we can go." They finish their meal, leave some money, and drive to the ball park.

Meredith hangs out by the dugout so she could see all the guys come out onto the field. As each player walks by they make sure they great her. She smiles and waves and says her hi's to everyone. When Mark comes out he stops and looks her up and down. "Can't wait to see what jeans you were tomorrow. I would probably get to see crack," he says as he stands only inches from her and speaking in a low voice almost right into her ear.

"If it's nice enough I'll wear my shorts. They're really, really short," she says back.

"I'll be sure to pray for sun and lots of it." Richard calls for Mark to get onto the field. "See you later." Mark runs out to where everyone else is to begin stretching.

Meredith is watching Mark and gets lost in her naughty thoughts and she doesn't even hear Alex say hi. "Yo, Mer, earth to Mer!" He begins waving his hand in front of her face. She quickly turns around to face Alex and blushes. She hopes he hadn't realized what she is doing. It's bad enough they all know about her crush on Dylan.

"Alex! Hey!" They hug. "How was the offseason? It looks like you've been working out."

"Yeah I am trying to become more of a homerun hitter. So I hear you're going to be working with us this year. Bat girl, very sexy."

"Oh god, please don't let my dad hear you calling me sexy. He still thinks I have a crush on you."

"Stop denying it, we all know it's true," he teases, "So no posse today?"

"Nope not today. You better get out there. Richard is in a mood today." Alex runs out to great the other players.

Derek is next to come out of the clubhouse. He sees Meredith standing there watching the field. He is unsure if he should say something to her or not. Eventually they will have to become better acquainted but he isn't sure he wants to right now. Thatcher had to really talk him into letting Meredith live with him. The season before he and George O'Malley had lived together and he was happy with that arrangement. Just like Meredith, Derek just didn't want to get stuck babysitting. Thatcher assured him it wasn't like that and he just wants her to be protected. He should at least say hi, he doesn't want to be rude. He walks up the stairs and over to where she is standing. "Meredith."

She nods. "Derek. Hey…roomie," she jokes and he laughs with her. "I'm sure you don't like this as much as I don't but don't worry, I won't get in your way or anything."

"At least I'm not the only one who feels that way about this. We'll have to set some ground rules I guess like no clothes allowed." He smiles and she giggles. "See you around, buddy." He winks at her before running out onto the field. 'This is going to be an interesting year' she thinks to herself as she takes her usual spot on top of the dugout.

As Derek stretches he thinks back to when Thatcher had asked him to take Meredith in and how annoyed he was about it. Seeing her now after all those months he begins to think that maybe it isn't such a big deal after all.

February 19 – Spring Training – Position Players Report

'It's finally baseball season again' Derek thinks to himself as the bus pulls up to the stadium. It's really the only time he feels alive. His offseason is spent training and working out in preparation for this moment, first day of spring training. All of his hard work and dedication had paid off in the season before when he won Rookie of the Year. As he drops his equipment off by his locker in the clubhouse Thatcher walks up to him. "Hey Derek."

"Oh hey, Thatch, I didn't think you'd be here today," Derek says trying to read him. He couldn't tell if Thatcher was coming to him with good or bad news. He hoped it would be good.

"Yeah I just needed to come here and ask you about something." He pauses. He isn't sure how he should go about saying what he wants to say. "My daughter is going to be traveling with the team this season as the bat girl. You remember Meredith?" Derek shakes his head yes. "I am not going to be around this year and I was wondering if it would be ok if she stayed with you."

"Thatcher, I'm a baseball player, not a babysitter."

"It's not going to be babysitting. I understand she's going to be 18 but I just don't trust New York and her alone in it."

"I don't know."

"Please, I'll even pay you out of my own pocket. I just want her to be safe."

"Now this really is starting to sound like babysitting. You don't need to pay me, I'll do it. Don't ask me why but I'll do it."

"Thank you so much." Thatcher pats Derek on the back and leaves the clubhouse. Derek shakes his head at himself and almost immediately regrets the decision he has made. He doesn't want to live with some teenager that is just going to get in his way and be annoying. He really had no choice. It would be dumb to piss off the guy who is responsible for if you stay on the team or get traded to some place awful. Being on the Yankees had always been his dream and he wasn't going to mess it up over some girl. He just hopes that they will just stay out of each other's way.

"I can't believe I let him talk me into that," he mumbles before going in for his physical.