Chapter 6: Nanny Meredith

Driving through the Seattle streets, Meredith thought about how she kept the busy life of Seattle at arm's reach. The doors of Seattle Grace were too close for her and her father's comfort.

Checking the address one last time, Meredith pulled up to a beautiful three-story Victorian home. The cobblestone driveway and well-manicured lawn typical of the neighborhood, but none the less breathtaking. As she took in the house, she tried to get herself used to the fact that she would be calling this home. Thinking back earlier to the conversation she had with Cris, she couldn't help but have doubts.

Cristina sat watching Meredith fold the rest of her clothes, placing them into a suitcase.

"You realize you're insane right…probably just as insane as your loony mother." Cristina said as she absentmindedly folded a sweatshirt.

"I mean come on, Mer the only thing Professor McDreamy wants is to do the McNasty with some young med student. Then, he'll fail you anyways and toss you onto your ass…"

Meredith's eyes widened, "…thank's for your support…you're a true friend."

"Whatever Mer, I'm not sugar coating it. Last week you hated the guy. Now you're moving in with him. Doesn't take a genius to see the flaws in this plan."

"Besides you a mother figure, something is wrong with that picture." Cristina walked out of the room, mumbling about tequila….

Opening her eyes, Meredith new it was now or never. Walking up the sidewalk, her stomach continued threatening to empty its contents. Maybe Cris was right…what kind of role model could she be. Her life was dark and twisty. She never had a real Mother. How could she offer Maddy anything even resembling normalcy?

Taking the steps of the wrap around porch she paused, she couldn't do it…she would just turn around and go back. She could call him from campus and apologize…

Derek watched her through the bay window of the living room. He started to head out and see if she had any bags to carry in, when he noticed the hesitation playing across her features.

He knew she was scared, unsure, hell so was he. She wouldn't be his first nanny…though he hoped she was the last. She was young and there was definitely an attraction to her. He just hoped he was doing this for the right reason. Derek hoped he was making the right choice for his daughter.

Lost in thought, he nearly missed his daughter as she ran down the stairs, throwing open the door, nearly colliding with a retreating Meredith.

"Merediff…Merediff…you came, you're here" she yelled loudly, a little to rambunctious.

As her tiny frame collided with Meredith, her arms wrapping around her legs, Meredith felt her own arms making their way around Maddy. Inhaling the sweet smell of oranges and innocence, she felt at peace. As if she was making the right decision. Maddy needed her, and more than that she needed Maddy.

Her face lifting, she noticed Derek walking towards them. Her eyes met his and she felt something melt inside. A coldness that had left her a lone for so long was melting. A sense of trust she had long closed off was opening and somehow for some reason she thought maybe she had found the family she had been missing all her life.

"Okay then, Miss Maddy." Meredith said as she stood up, hoping the small tears in her eyes weren't noticeable.

"How about you show me around…starting with my room?'

Smiling, Meredith let Maddy lead her into the beautiful home.

As she walked hand in hand with his daughter, Derek caught the faint scent of lavender. It filled his senses and left him with the thought that maybe it was true… right now, he felt at peace.

Following his new nanny and his daughter into the house, he closed the door behind him. Without knowing it, Derek left a small portion of the pain and hate he carried around for so long, outside in the Seattle night.

The house was beautiful from the hard wood floors to the color scheme, it was something she would have picked out for herself. Everything in the home screamed a family lived here. From the doll house that was set up in the living room to the princess table that sat in the kitchen cluttered with art supplies.

It was an elegant home, but you could tell that Derek wasn't picky over where Maddy played. You could see the mingling's of his and her things…her froggy rain boots haphazardly thrown near his briefcase, pictures of Maddy cluttered the mantle in the great room as well as drawings she had created cluttering various nooks and crannies.

Maddy excitedly led Meredith up the stairs to the second floor, passing by various doors that she was curious to open. Opening a door near the end of the hall, Maddy ran in the room turning in circles "Merdiff, this is your room. Isn't it pwetty? Me and Daddy got those flowers just for you…don't they smell pwetty Merdiff don't they?"

The little girl's bubbly personality was contagious. Even though she could see Derek was a little embarrassed over the idea of her knowing he had bought her fresh flowers…Meredith couldn't help but smile even chuckle with the little girl.

He was smiling…like an idiot he was smiling from ear to ear. All because his daughter was full of joy, he hadn't seen in…well he wasn't sure he'd ever seen her this happy. Leading the ladies out of the room, they walked towards Maddy's room. Opening the door, he groaned a little at the mess that met them, but Mer would no soon enough this was his daughter…messy.

Meredith stared at the room; it was a pink dream. Very subtle yet a little girls dream. A safe haven, if you would. It was also a mess…Barbie's and Little People scattered everywhere. A trunk filled with dress up apparel was tossed over. What apparently had once been a tea party was now a mess. She watched as Derek walked over and sopped up the mess, turning to look at Maddy she just grimaced and shrugged "I didn't mean to spwill it Merdiff, I just goted excited when I seed you out my window."

Meredith shook her head slightly, then walked over to Derek to help with the mess. She knew one thing, the first thing on the agenda as a nanny was getting Maddy to clean up a little…it was a danger zone in here.

After they had soaked up a good two towels worth of water, they finished out the tour, which included a home office. Derek offered to it share with Meredith for school purposes. She refused at first, but he insisted, saying she needed just as much quiet space as he did.

It was all so much, this was a job, she needed to remember that, but it just felt so right. It felt so good to be needed and to need back…if only…well no she wouldn't let her thoughts travel down that path, but as she took in a deep breath and looked at the two people who stared at her with need, she knew beyond a doubt that Cristina was wrong...this would work out. She needed to make sure she kept her mind set on what was right and away from what would end up hurting all parties involved though.

Green and blue continued to clash above the blond princess. Maddy had no idea the attractions and feelings floating through the room, but in her own innocence she did know that she felt like she had a real family…and that felt pretty good…