Chapter 2: Ice Cream?

Walking through the door of his home, Derek could feel the tension of the day working its way out. He was tired, hungry, and angry that he was spending so much time away from home. Stepping over a plastic tea set he made his way into the kitchen.

"Oh Laura! I didn't expect you to still be up…I hope Maddy wasn't too much trouble tonight?" He could sense his nanny had something on her mind, but he was hoping he could deter her and it would wait till morning.

"Dr. Shepherd, you know I love caring for Maddy…but" her words suddenly silenced.

"I told you before call me Derek…"

As she stood from the stool she was sitting on Derek took notice that she was dressed as if she was leaving.

"As I was saying Dr. Shepherd, I care for Maddy, but she is quite a handful. The hours are much longer than we discussed. Today was my day off, with all due respect, you didn't even bother to ask if I minded working the extra hours."

As the older lady placed a hand on her suitcase Derek could feel his stomach dropping. Today had been filled with stress. He was trying , the whole reason he had taken the teaching job was so he could put in less hours at the hospital…and now this…

"Laura please…I'll double your salary…" he pleaded with her before she could speak the words he knew were coming.

"I'm sorry Dr. Shepherd this just isn't going to work…you have too many issues to work out…" turning to walk out the door she turned back to him for one last word…

"Just remember Dr. Shepherd that girl needs you more than anything else she needs to know you love her."

With that she opened the door and walked into the cold, rainy, night air.

Falling onto his stool, Derek allowed his head to drop onto the counter. This would be the third nanny in four months. He couldn't keep doing this…he needed help…Maddy needed someone full time. Breathing in deeply, his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of padded footsteps coming up behind him. Turning around Derek was met by the sight of his four-year-old daughter clad in her Princess jammies and slippers.

"Daddy?" she whispered as she wiped the sleep out of her blue eyes.

"Daddy, I had a bad dream…."

Walking over he scooped her into his arms. Feeling her little head curl into the crook of his neck, he brushed her long hair away from her face… "It's okay Maddy, everything is going to be okay."

As he whispered the words to his daughter, he wished that he was speaking the truth. The truth however was much uglier because ever since it became the two of them, he felt more lost than ever. Single parenting was much harder than he ever imagined, and he just hoped that he made things right for his little girl…somehow he had to work things out.

Turning out the lights of the kitchen, he carried her back up the stairs into her room. The soft light coming from her night light illuminated her form as he laid her into the soft pink blankets. It was a room fit for a princess, pink could be seen as far as the eye could stretch.

As he sat on the edge of her bed, he picked up the framed picture that she insisted on keeping on her bedside table. Staring at the family picture, he couldn't help but feel the tears pricking at the back of his eyes. Wiping the few that managed to escape away…he placed the picture back down. There was a time when love had led him to believe that everything would always work out…but love was for the weak…and as he took one last look at the picture that represented a much different time…Derek swore to himself that he would never fall weak again. He owed it to his daughter to make sure he never let that happen to himself…because all that mattered was her…and he would make sure nothing came between that.

The next day was met with a complete change of weather. The sun was shining, and the air was filled with the first signs of spring. Meredith awoke with a headache, but a new hope too. She was going to get her game in order…today she would find a job…a way to pay.

Standing outside student hall, she stared at the billboard. Surely there was something she was qualified to do…something that would allow her to concentrate on her studies while earning a paycheck. She was feeling the heat to make a tuition payment. She was in her fourth year; she couldn't quit now.

Glancing over offers for tutors, pet walkers, and various positions. She felt a hand tap her shoulder.

"Hey there…um I'm George, remember me?" sticking his hand out, he toppled and dropped a book in the process.

She couldn't help but smile in all his goofiness, he was a nice guy. Giggling she shook her head yes, "I'm Meredith…George it's nice meeting you."

Standing up she could feel him staring. She knew he was attracted to her, but the feeling wasn't mutual…friends maybe, but anything more no. She just wasn't looking for love. Love left her empty in the past. She learned not to count on anyone but herself to make things happen. She just didn't believe in happy ever after anymore.

Her mouth opened to speak when something came flying around the corner barreling into her, sending her flying right onto her ass. Eyes round in astonishment she took in the golden-haired little girl that had so graciously landed into her lap.

The laughter that emitted from the little girl was contagious and Meredith found herself giggling right along with her.

"Well, you're in quite the hurry aren't you?" she asked as the girl turned in her lap so they were practically nose to nose.

Laughing, the girl heard her name being called and jumped from Meredith's lap, "Oh no it's Daddy…he's gonna be so mad I rand away."

Brushing a strand of hair away from the girls eyes she knelt down, "I'm sure your Daddy will just be glad you're alright."

At that moment the unnamed little girls "Daddy" came jogging around the corner. Soliciting a groan from Meredith and a screech from the little girl who was now tangled between Meredith's legs hiding as if no one would notice her.

"Ahh Miss Grey we meet again….Maddy kindly untangle yourself from Meredith's legs and come out of there."

"No"

"Madalyn Elizabeth you come out of there right now…" his voice straining to take on a serious note.

Meredith bit her lip to keep from laughing. It was obvious that Mr. Big Bad professor wasn't so big in tough when it came to the petite girl gripping her thighs.

Bending down she smiled at Maddy, "come on Maddy, you have to let go…if you don't I'll be late to class…and if I'm late to class I might get lectured about time management, and we don't want that trust me."

Sneaking a peek at her professor the look of annoyance he shot her did not go unnoticed. Reaching down to grab his daughter his hand brushed the inside of Meredith's thigh sending a shock through both him and her. Their eyes met for a moment as they continued to stare lost in the shock of the touch. The sound of impish laughter broke their gazes.

"Daddy you look just like the pwince in Enchanted before he kissed the pwincess" giggling she crawled out from between Merediths legs.

Both adults shot a look of embarrassment to the little girl as well as to George who suddenly coughed in discomfort.

"Ahh then Maddy let's let Miss Grey go so she can make it to class. You and I need to have a little talk." Derek told his young daughter as he reached down and lifted her into his arms.

"Daddy pwease can we talk after ice cream…" she moaned in disgust at the idea of a lecture from her Daddy.

She knew she shouldn't run away but she was so bored locked up in Daddy's office all day. She wished she was at Uncle Marks office instead at least he had fun things to play with and the nurses were really nice…they sure did like her Uncle Markie.

"I'll tell you what Maddy…you let Daddy finish his work and then we'll go for ice cream…ok?"

"Can we get chocolate?"

Derek nodded at his daughter, a smile actually reaching his eyes "yes we can get chocolate."

"Two scoops and wif sprinkles?"

Laughing Meredith brought the attention of Derek and Maddy back to her. She couldn't help but feel surprised at the interaction her professor had with his daughter…he had seemed so cold and unemotional the night before.

Turning to her Daddy Maddy placed two hands on either side of his cheeks " can Merdif come?"

The surprise in Derek's eyes did not go unnoticed by anyone. He opened his mouth to say no, he really did…but he couldn't. He blamed his lack of self-control on Maddy's infectious smile…but something deep down inside new it had nothing to do with his sweet four year old and all too much to do with his body's response to the tawny haired vixen with the mischievous green eyes.

Turning to face her he smiled half-heartedly…and spoke slowly "Meredith would you like to join us for ice cream…it seems my daughter is requesting your honor for our date."

"Yea Merdif what Daddy said will you be our date?"

Turning to look at George and fumbling for something to say the only word that seemed to come out of her mouth was "yes."

Cheers erupted from Maddy, causing Meredith to smile, she looked over and could see George staring at her with his mouth wide open in astonishment.

"Well then, I have a class to teach, and you are going to be late again…meet Maddy and I in the courtyard at four unless of course you don't really want to go." His blue eyes questioning her.

Meredith opened her mouth to say yes when she started doubting his invitation…he probably didn't really want her to go…he was probably just trying to save himself a tantrum from his daughter. Chuckling Meredith thought that Maddy was probably pretty good at getting what she wanted.

"Umm yes, unless…I mean…you don't really have to invite me. You probably really just want to go alone. I totally understand… you know the father daughter thing. Well…I don't really understand… I don't have a father or well I have a father, but well he's never been around…but then you don't really want to hear about that." Stopping and catching her breath she noticed the stunned look on both Derek and George's faces.

"Meredith we asked you to come…and we will meet you at four'."

Turning to leave he took a hold of Maddy's hand "Oh and Miss Grey you should try to work on that rambling…"

With that they walked away leaving both Meredith and George staring in shock at his retreating form.

"Man are you really going out with Dr. Shepherd…I mean on a date…I thought he hated you."

"It's not a date…" sounding very puzzled Meredith stared into space, biting her lip, wondering if he had motives.

"Apparently, I'm having ice cream with the same man that hated me enough last night to embarrass me in front of almost hundred people."

Pausing she turned back to face George "what is wrong with me?"

Grabbing a few of the help wanted post it's off the board, Meredith grabbed her bag. Saying good bye to a still bewildered George, she headed off to class, realizing she had five minutes to get across campus…so much for working on time management.

Derek's class went smoothly, or as smooth as one would expect when you have a four year old pretending that your class room is a castle and the students are her loyal subjects.

As the last of the dwindling students left he turned to smile at his daughter. She laid curled up on her side sprawled across two seats, his jacket laid across her shoulders, the crown atop her head laying haphazardly on her small head. Bending down to her level he kissed her head, breathing in the smell of her very berry Princess conditioner.

She was a handful…almost too much for him to handle alone. Sure, he had Mark and his mom, but sometimes he wondered if she felt the loss of her mother. Blinking back a tear he whispered in her ear.

"Maddy, honey wake up princess."

No reply, but he felt her breathing change as well as a small smile appear on her rosebud mouth.

"Madalyn you need to wake up so we can go get ice cream."

She peeked one eye open as she softly spoke, "Daddy your supposed to waked the sleeping pwincess with a kiss silly."

Laughing Derek leaned down placing a soft kiss on her lips, "okay, sleeping beauty time to wake up…or we'll be late."

With this Maddy jumped up, "Oh Daddy we have to go we can't let Merdif think we ain't coming."

"Maddy slow down, she'll wait a few minutes. Also, ain't is not a word…" he corrected his now overly hyper daughter.

"Yes, it is Daddy! I just said it…see ain't…I said it again…now leeeet's go before she leaves."

Shaking his head at his daughter's logic, he grabbed their stuff and turned off the lights. As he walked out the door, he couldn't help but have a nervous feeling about meeting up with Meredith. She somehow was making her way under his skin.

Seeing her the other night rushing into class soaked through the bone, he had felt an immediate attraction which just wasn't like him. Yes, he still enjoyed sex, still enjoyed the casual date with no strings, but he was not used to having these feelings for a student.

As he walked the halls of the college his head hurt with all he had to think about, the stress causing him to grimace as his stomach started rebelling. It was getting harder and harder to control his life alone. He needed help…

She was thinking of backing out…just not showing up. Ice cream with a man she despised, not exactly how she wanted to spend her Friday night. The only problem was she didn't want to hurt the little girls' feelings. "Maddy" she was something else. She reminded Meredith so much of herself as a child. Free spirited, yet something was holding her back. The interaction between Dr. Shepherd and Maddy had been something else, so enjoyable to watch. Yet at the same time the invitation to ice cream led Meredith to believe there wasn't a Mommy involved…surely that had to be hard.

Pushing her way out the door into the fresh spring air she allowed herself to take in a deep breath. She loved the scent of a new beginning. New flowers blooming, the first scent of fresh cut grass of the season…it gave her hope. Against the odds her mother set up for her she would succeed and put her past behind her.

As she walked down the path to the courtyard she saw Maddy skipping ahead of her Father. He wore a sour look and Meredith could feet in trepidation creeping into her as she saw that he favored the man she met last night more than the man of this afternoon. She was just about to turn around and run when she heard childish laughter followed by Maddy's voice, "Merdif…Merdif are you ready to get ice cream?"

Meredith could only nod her response due to the child's excitement it was impossible to get a word in edge wise.

Maddy continued on without a care in the world "I'm gonna get chocolate wif spwinkles.",

Derek nodded a hello feeling as if this really was a terrible idea, but seeing Maddy and her response to Meredith was so enjoyable. She usually didn't open up like this, she was so happy, and he just couldn't ruin that for her.

"Well, ladies are we ready?"

Taking hold of Maddy's hand he formed a nice little chain with Maddy in the middle. Walking through the spring air he couldn't help, but feel the lump in his throat when he watched the way his daughter stared at the stranger she had taken too. This was how it should have been for Maddy…a Mommy and a Daddy but life was cruel, and he just couldn't give into love again to make sure Maddy had that in her life…love brought pain and pain was something they had seen way too much of in the past few years.