Meredith entered the house a little past seven o'clock. As she set her bags down on the floor, she heard voices coming from the kitchen. She followed the sound and stopped in the doorway to watch the scene in front of her.

Alex was cooking dinner, Ellis on his hip, while Zola and Bailey sat at the table.

"Uncle Alex is this right?" Zola asked.

Alex turned away from the stove and went to check her work. "Yes! You got it, Zo!" He gave her a high five.

"Me too!" Bailey chirped. Alex looked at his paper. "You're really getting good at staying in the lines, dude!" and gave him a high five as well.

As she watched, she was struck with a small pang of sadness that Derek couldn't be here, but it was quickly replaced with contentment at seeing her family so happy.

"Hi guys!" she immediately went to Ellis. "How are you feeling?" she cooed, taking the girl from Alex.

"Mommy, Uncle Alex is helping me with my homework." Zola informed her.

"Me too!" Bailey joyously added.

Meredith laughed. "That's great!"

"She fell asleep almost immediately after I gave her the antibiotic and acetaminophen." He turned to the little girl. "But I think it was because she loves when her Uncle Alex holds her," he said as he tickled her under her chin. He leaned in to whisper to Meredith. "Just like her mom."

Smiling, Meredith squeezed his arm. "Thank you for being so great. But you didn't have to do all this!" she gestured to the dinner.

"It's just dinner. We have to eat," he said matter-of-factly. "I enjoy this, Mer. I love taking care of all of you."

She put Ellis in her high chair, giving her a cup of juice. "Well, at least let me assist," she said, tying her hair back as she did so.

He looked at her, an amused smile playing on his face. "Yeah? Okay, but you do what I tell you to do when I say to do it."

Understanding from where he was coming, she chuckled. "So I'm an intern?"

He gave her a half grin which she found so charming. "Damn straight you're an intern! You have a lot to learn!"

"You do, mom." Zola joined in the discussion.

"Zola!" Meredith exclaimed, feigning shock.

Zola laughed. "Sorry, but it's true!"

They were all laughing now. "Come on, guys! I'm not that bad!" Meredith exclaimed, which only intensified the laughter.

After a moment, Alex took her by the hand. "Come here." He gently positioned her in front of the stove, standing close behind her. He picked up a utensil from the spoon rest on the stove. "Here, hold this." She did as he instructed. "Now, the thing with sauce is you have to stir it, or it will burn." He placed his hand over hers, and together they stirred the sauce.

"It smells so good." Meredith said.

Alex leaned in to her. "So do you." His lips lightly brushed her neck when he said it making her go weak in the knees.

She cleared her throat as she gave him the spoon. "Maybe you should stir the sauce," she said as she moved away from the stove. "Zola and Bailey, let's get your homework cleaned up so we can set the table."

The kids gathered up their things, and left the kitchen to put them away. Meredith took the opportunity to rush back to Alex for a quick, but lustful, kiss. Knowing the kids would return any second, they broke from the embrace, her hand lingered on his chest.

"That will have to hold us til tonight," Meredith looked at him longingly.

"If you keep looking at me like that, Im not going to make it til tonight."

She forced herself to look away "So, I ran into Arizona this afternoon. "

Alex had turned his attention back to the dinner he was preparing, but could tell from the sound of her voice that she was amused. "She told you?"

"Yeah, but I think it was because she thought I already knew. I guess our secret is out."

"Is that really so bad?"

"It's just that I've been there before. You know how they talk. Every one thinks it's their business." She cleared the table, and got more juice for Ellis, who was clamoring for it in her high chair.

"So, let 'em talk. Nothing anyone says could change the way I feel about you."

She watched him at the stove, preparing their food. In that moment, she confirmed to herself what she had long known – he would do anything for her or her kids. Also in that moment, she vowed to herself that she would do everything she could for him, too.