"So how did your date go with 'Dr. I-love-myself' last night?" Cristina asked the next morning.
"The restaurant was nice."
"That bad huh?" she laughed.
"You know what? I am setting a new rule; if you're in my kitchen eating my food you cannot judge me. No judging whatsoever."
"Oh Izzie cooks everything."
"That's not the point."
"Whatever," she laughed. "You are so pathetic."
"What did I just say?" I yelled.
"Fine, I'll judge you from the living room then."
"Listen, Derek'll be here any second to take Em to daycare so if you don't mind I'd like you gone before then."
"I'm giving you a lift to work though."
"No you aren't."
"Yes, I am. How else are you supposed to get there, your car's in the shop and George and Izzie are still at the hospital."
"I uh, have a lift with someone else."
"Who? Wait, Derek?"
"Maybe."
"Seriously, if you want to avoid him this is not the way to go about it."
"I'm not avoiding him, I'm just not dating him. There's a difference."
"Sure there is. Let me know how that goes." She said before heading out the door.
"Honey, I'm home!" I heard Derek call from the foyer.
"Cute." I grimaced. "I just have to finish packing Em's bag and then we're off." The sound of little footsteps coming down the stairs turned our attention to Emma.
"Daddy!" she yelled running into his outstretched arms.
"I'll never get tired of hearing that," he laughed as he swung her around. "Hey princess."
"All right baby, time to hop in the car."
"God you're sexy when you're bossy."
"I was talking to her."
"Can daddy sit with me?" Emma asked as he buckled her in.
"Of course he can hun."
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Derek and Emma skipped ahead to the front gate as I locked up the car. "Long time no see."
"Shit!" I jumped. "You should know not to sneak up on me like that Tom." I breathed trying to stop my heart from jumping right out of my chest.
"Who's the guy?" he motioned towards Derek.
"That's Derek." I sighed knowing I couldn't lie but also knowing what this could start.
"Wait, Emma's father, Derek?"
"Yup, that's the one."
"That son of a bitch." He breathed storming up to Derek. "Well well, if it isn't the bastard that abandoned his own daughter."
"Excuse me?" Derek asked turning around.
"Tom" I hissed.
"I'm Tom, we haven't officially met but I've heard a lot about you."
"Really? well I've heard a little about you too."
"All good I hope."
"Just along the lines of you not being good enough to earn a second date with Mer."
"Derek"
"Oh really"
"Both of you just stop it!" I seethed through gritted teeth. "You're being idiots, in front of the girls no less. I'm going to sign Emma and Jessica in and when I come back you two will have grown up, okay?" They both kept shooting death glares at each other. "Okay?" I yelled again.
"Okay" They both mumbled.
"Men" I huffed as I took the girls inside the centre.
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"You are so immature." I huffed as Derek and I parked the car in the hospital parking lot.
"I'm Immature?" he laughed. "He came up, out of nowhere and started abusing me in front of my daughter. Unprovoked."
"Yes, I know but you didn't have retaliate. You could've been the bigger man and just ignored him."
"Oh trust me, I am the bigger man."
"Its like talking to a 12 year old. Seriously!" I yelled entering the lobby.
"Come on. You know you love it." He grinned.
"Go do some work, Chief." I smiled back.
"Mmm, you're being bossy again. You know what that does to me." I flashed him a cheeky grin before stepping into the lift just before the doors closed.
"Don't trip on the stairs, Chief." I called out.
"Oh you are so pathetic." I turned to see Cristina standing behind me.
"What?"
"You are so into him it's not funny."
"No I'm not"
"Oh, yes you are."
"I am not!"
"You want him bad." She laughed.
"You know what? I don't care what you think."
"Ha, that'll be the day."