The hallway outside the OR was bustling more than usual that afternoon. Halloween night hadn't even fallen, and already each OR was booked solid for hours.
Ava sat on an empty gurney, her little legs dangling over the edge. She was still dressed as Hannah Montana, a costume Derek had gone to 4 different stores the night before to find. The 4 year old was growing impatient, her father's quick ten minute trip to check on patients had turned into half an hour..and the endless hum drum of the hospital was quickely boring the young girl.
Ava kicked her feet against the gurney and looked up and down the hall expectantly for her father. She wanted to get up and find her mother, but remembered her father's instructions to stay put. Still, the lounge down the hall seemed appealing, there were always fresh doughnuts and cumfy couches to jump on.
She didn't notice the woman standing at the nurses station watching her, she also didn't notice when the woman walked over and stood next to her. Ava looked up, tilting her head at the unfamiliar visitor.
Lexie looked down at the girl and smiled, hoping she wouldn't scare her. "Hi sweetheart, are you ok?" Ava looked at her, and then back down at her lap. Ignoring the young doctor, she dumped the paper bag full of candy out onto the gurney and sifted through until she found a red lollypop.
Lexie watched her confused, and looked up and down the hallway for anyone that could have been looking for the girl. After seeing no one, she looked at Ava again. "Is it ok if I sit down next to you? My feet are killing me." Lexie asked, and Ava looked up at her once again.
"Daddy said I'm not allowed to talk to any strangers at the hospital." Lexie pondered that and then shifted the candy so she could sit down. "Well, I'm a doctor, my names Lexie, so now I'm not a stranger."
Ava looked at her, thinking about the rules her dad had taught her before he had left to check on his patient. Lexie seemed nice enough, and after deeming her ok she held the lollypop out to Lexie.
"Can you open this for me?" The girl asked. Lexie looked around the halls again for a parent before taking the candy. "Well...um..are you allowed to have this?" "Well..mommy said no..but daddy said I could if I was really good...and he's still not back...so I think it's ok."
Lexie pondered the girl's question, still not understanding why she was there all alone. Once she opened it, she handed the lollypop back to her and watched as Ava stuck it in her mouth.
"Where's your mommy and daddy?" Ava licked the treat and tried to talk with it in her mouth before she hesitantly took it out. "Mommy's in surgery..I was real sad because she missed my parade.." "You have a halloween parade?" Lexie already knew the answer, but wanted to keep the girl talking wondering if her mother was a patient.
"Yes I did! and it was so fun! Daddy came..and he never came before!" Ava's voice grew energetic and unshy. Lexie was facinated by the child, never before meeting such a social young girl. "Where is your daddy now?"
"He had to go see a patient because his brain was broke. He told me not to move." Ava went back to her lollypop and sucked on it until sticky saliva dripped down her face.
Lexie laughed and pulled a tissue out of her pocket to wipe the girls face. "I like your shoes." She heard Ava say in her child like voice. Lexie smiled again, watching as Ava's eyes lit up at the site of her purple crocs.
"Thanks, they're really comfy." Lexie knew there were a million things she should be doing instead of sitting there, but the girl had such a personality that she couldn't bring herself to leave her alone.
"What's your real name?" Ava asked, looking at her with her big blue eyes. Lexie was confused. "My real name?" "Yeah...not your doctor name. Mommy says everyone has real name. Her real name is Meredith. What's yours?"
"Oh...Lexie, my real name is Lexie." Ava's eyes lit up for the second time and she pulled the lollypop out for good. "That's my friends name!"
"Wow, that's really cool." "Yeah, it's a real pretty name." Ava looked up at her with admiration and Lexie couldn't help but smile. "My real name is actually Alexandra, but everyone calls me Lexie. What's your name?"
"Ava Grace..but I wish my name was Hannah." "Ava, you have a beautiful name, why would you want to change it?"
"I want to be like Hannah Montan!" Lexie leaned back against the wall, causing her feet to dangle over the edge as well. "My niece, Laura, she's older than you, but she really likes Hannah Montana too!"
"She does!?" Ava was smiling and excited once again and scooted closer to her new friend. "That's so neat. Can we be friends Lexie?" Lexie didn't know what to say, but she knew there was something about the girl she couldn't say no to.
"Sure we can." Ava dug through her candy and handed a kit-kat to Lexie. "Here this is for you!" Lexie smiled and accepted the gift, touched by the girl's gesture. She was kind of sad that the 4 year old was the only one in the hospital who would even talk to her.
Ava looked up and screamed, "Daddy, daddy your back!" Lexie watched as Ava launched herself into her father's arms. "Thank you for being such a good girl." "Daddy, you said you wouldn't take long." Ava pouted and Derek apologized, and finally noticed Lexie.
"Oh um...Dr. Shepherd, I didn't realize you had a daughter.." Lexie fumbled, feeling suddenly awkward. The weirdness did not go unoticed by Derek. "Oh daddy, this is my new friend, Lexie! She's real nice!" Derek smiled, he suddenly didn't know what to say to her.
Ava chattered on about Lexie while he pondered whether or not he should introduce Lexie to her niece. Meredith wouldn't be happy about it, but he didn't feel right openly lying to the doctor. It would come out sooner or later that he was married to Meredith, it was only a matter of time before she put two and two together.
"Dr. Grey, there is something you should know...Meredith..your sister...is my wife." He put Ava down on the gurney and let her collect her candy. "This is our daughter, your niece." Lexie looked at him, shock all over her face. Something had told her all along that there was something familiar about the girl, even though she was sure she had never met her before.
It all made sense then, and her heart began to race. Meredith's words from that morning ran through her mind, and she instantly felt guilty about starting such a friendly relationship with her daughter. Meredith didn't want anything to do with her, and she was sure she wouldn't want her near her husband and daughter.
Derek watched Lexie's features change and she abruptly stood up. "Oh..Dr. Shepherd, you have a beautiful daughter..and I'm so sorry I...Meredith..She..she'll be mad..I should go." She stuttered and was gone before Derek could utter a word to stop her.
Ava waved goodbye to her new friend, sad that she was leaving. "Daddy, can Lexie come over and play? She was real nice." Derek watched his daughter and then watched Lexie's retreating form. He didn't respond to the girl, not knowing what to do...and not sure why he was suddenly sad.
