After a couple minutes of awkward silence, Derek turned the TV off. "So, your mom tells me you are quite the tennis star." He said trying to spark conversation. "I'm not a star, just on the school team." She looked down uncomfortably. "I think your just being modest." He smiled. She smiled but didn't respond. "I know this is difficult and weird but in the hospital we talked and it went well, and I want to get to know you." He said sincerely. "I know, I want to know you too… it's just…" He looked at her with his "McDreamy" face she had always heard about, now she understood it. "Ellie, what is it?" "It's just, my whole life I heard stories about my "amazing" dad. My whole life I was jealous of Zola and Bailey for knowing you when I didn't get to, my whole life I witnessed my mom always slightly sad. And when Paul was around, I always dreamed about my "amazing" dad coming and saving the day and we'd all be a happy family again. I put you on a pedestal and I'm afraid it won't work out as perfectly as I imagined all those years… and I don't know I'm sorry…" He put his arm around her, not knowing if it was ok, but she leaned in and it felt nice. "So how did you meet my mom?" She smiled. He was happy she was making an effort.

"Now that is a very long story." He smiled. "Well I was married..." He began. "Oh right, to Addison right? I met her, she's very nice." Ellie interrupted. Derek was shocked, why on earth would she have met Addy? Ellie saw the shocked look on his face and explained. "She came to Seattle one time for a patient. I was running around the hospital- when your mom owns it - you can do whatever you want. I was actually rollerblading I think, racing Bailey and I crashed into a nursing cart outside an exam room she was in. She picked me up and stayed with me until Aunt Amelia came. Even at 5 with a broken thumb I could sense some awkwardness in the room when my mom got out of surgery and came in. Addison told me that she used to know my dad." Derek smiled, iked this story. Although he didn't love her like that; it was nice to hear about Addison, and people in his past.

"Hmm, small world. Well anyway I was new to Seattle after things with Addison didn't work out and met your mother in a bar. To make this story much shorter, we eventually became a couple, moved in together, got married and started a family." "Cool." Ellie shrugged. "Yea, it seems like ages ago now…" Derek said. There was an awkward silence. "Well I'm hungry, would you mind making me something? I would but kind of can't move too well." Derek asked. "Sure, but you should know I can't really cook and we probably don't have food if all those doctors were around the past few days."

He smiled, "Your mom never cooked either, only sandwiches, how about peanut butter and jelly?" He suggested. "I'm allergic to peanuts… deathly actually." She looked down to avoid eye contact; a father should know this kind of stuff. "Oh, well anything is fine." She went into the kitchen and brought out cereal. He laughed. "It was this or leftover Chinese, and I remember my mom saying that you were a health nut so I figured you wouldn't be into that." He began eating.

"How much did your mom talk about me?" "Kind of a lot. It started when I got old enough to want to know and asked a lot of questions about you. Then she kind of just brought up random facts; she liked talking about you. I know a lot about you actually." She smirked. "Really like what?" He quizzed her. "Well… like you have a thing for ferryboats, you were a really amazing neurosurgeon, your dad was killed when you were little, you were shot once, it was your idea to adopt Zola, your scar on your forehead was from riding motorcycles… although I'm not sure if that was real or she just didn't want to us riding motorcycles." He laughed. "Wow I'm impressed. Now I know your full name, your birthday, your talents, your friend's name, the fact that you play tennis, and that you have a photographic memory and you are deathly allergic to peanuts. What else should I know? Any other allergies I should be aware of?"

They talked the rest of the day until Derek made her go do some homework. She hugged him as she went into the dinning room to work; he slowly moved into the bathroom to shave his beard. The physical therapist came over to get some strength and mobility back.

At 6 o'clock Meredith walked in, Derek froze as he realized who was standing behind her. His son. Derek Bailey Shepherd. A perfect mix of both him and Meredith. He had the charming masculine characteristics of Derek, with Meredith's soft features and blonde hair. Derek remembered him as a two and a half year old like it was yesterday. Now this 6 foot 18 year old was standing before him. "Dad…" He said.