It was a week later on Sunday morning and in his old trailer Derek was making lunch for himself and his daughter. Derek buttered the bread while Ally separated the ham and cheese while humming a small tune to herself, Ally smiled as she hummed she loved spending mornings with her daddy when it was just the two of them. Those thought wandered her mind and her smile widened as another thought started to creep in, "daddy can we get a dog?"

Derek snapped out of his daydream and bent down to his little girl's height, "you want a dog?"

"Yep."

Derek rubbed Ally's hair with a large gentile hand, "Ally I look I don't think we can."

"Oh" Ally whispered.

"I'm not saying never I just need to save up some money first and then in a few months I can get you a dog."

Ally looked into her daddy's kind gentile eyes, "are you sure daddy?"

Derek would gladly wrestle with wolves for Ally if he had to, "anything for you Ally."

Ally hugged Derek's waist with a smile, "thank you daddy."

"So you want a dog?"

"Dogs are great they lick you and they play with you and you can have lots of fun with them."

Derek nodded he had never told Ally but he had always wanted a dog of his own some day, "they're fantastic aren't they."

"And dogs are great for you to."

"Well yeah I like dogs."

Ally put cheese on the bread, "dogs are a great way to meet chicks."

"Chicks?"

Ally nodded, "you take dogs for walks in the park and you meet chicks I read it in a book at school."

Derek got out lettuce from the fridge, "so if I take a dog through the park i'll meet baby chickens?"

"No daddy" Ally giggled, "chicks as in pretty lady chicks."

"So" Derek said with a amused smirk, "you think pretties ladies are chicks."

"Yep I read it in a book."

"Ally I don't know what your reading at school but ladies are not chicks you are a lady and you don't have a beak you don't have feathers so chicks are not ladies."

"Maybe I do" Ally looked at her own hands and feet, "I just haven't grown my feathers yet and I might have a beak soon."

Derek laughed and picked his daughter up before twirling her in a circle, "Ally you are great at making people laugh."

Ally grinned as Derek balanced her on his hip, "I like making people laugh."

"And that's another reason why your so special." A loud buzzing phone sounded on the counter and Derek picked it up, "hey Kathy what's up." Ally twirled Derek's hair in her fingers as her dad chatted for a minute before he closed his phone and looked at his daughter without a smile, "Ally i'm going to cancel work."

"Why daddy?" Ally whispered, "we need money for food."

"Because Kathy has a emergency she can't babysit you and Holly's parents are away for the weekend with Holly so they can't watch you either."

"Its okay daddy" Ally said as her hand patted Derek's cheek, "I can help you with work."

Derek sighed as he put his daughter back on her feet, "Ally I can't let you do that."

"Why not?"

Derek patted Ally's shoulder as he went to the yellow pages to try and find a cheap babysitter on short notice, "because its cold and it might rain and do you really want to digging through poop all afternoon."

"It sounds fun" Ally said as she ran around in a circle, "big poops here I come."

"Ally are you just saying that because you want to help me."

"No" Ally muttered as she shrugged her tiny shoulders.

"Ally you are the sweetest little bundle of joy that I have ever seen but i'm not letting you dig holes all day."

Ally stepped on tiptoe to peer over the counter, "but you can't find a babysitter."

"I will find one" Derek muttered as he tried to find a babysitting agency he could afford until he closed the book with a sigh, "oh dam it."

Ally started to dance with her hands in the air, "i'm gardening with daddy i'm gardening with daddy i'm-"

"Ally" Derek said with a frown, "this isn't over." His daughter just grinned at him, "you can't punish kids when they're being good daddy."

"Yeah well" Derek put his hands on his head and looked at the ceiling, "arrrgh."

"Arrgh" Ally mimicked Derek before she giggled. Derek smirked at his daughter as Ally laughed loudly and started to run Derek quickly chased after her and, caught her in his arms as he started to tickle his daughter. He gently put Ally on the carpet as his little girl laughed giggled and rolled around on the floor until Derek let up and stood up straight while Ally let out little giggles and gasps, "there I feel better."

After another busy morning of work Meredith had finished her morning routine and after washing her hands and allowing her head to think about how her son was doing she sent Cristina a text asking if things were okay before she walked outside for some air. Meredith saw a man she really didn't like sniding at a teenager passing by and she turned away and saw something that was a beautiful sight for her sore eyes she looked in the distance and saw Derek digging holes while his daughter planted seeds in the freshly dug soil. Meredith stood there and watched the pair of them helping each other she didn't know why but she wanted to go over there and help them, talk with Derek see his kind eyes one more time.

"Isn't that the gardener" Meredith sighed and looked at Alex before stepping back Alex always got to close for her comfort.

"Yeah it is" Meredith said, "his name is Derek."

Alex gave a unpleasant laugh, "why has he got a kid doing his job for him?"

"That kid is his daughter."

"Child labour" Alex muttered as he smiled, "ooh I would love to see a cop pull up right about now."

"I'm sure there is a reasonable explanation" Meredith muttered as she started to walk away she wanted to see Derek so she was going to see him, it was better than listening to Alex trying to chat her up.

"Your going to talk to him" Alex called after him.

"Yes I am" Meredith said loudly.

"But he's a gardener?"

"I wouldn't care if he was superman i'm going to talk to him."

"Okay well have fun just don't offer to do his job for him as well and when you want your buttons pushed in the right manner you know where to find me beautiful."

"Yeah sure" Meredith coldly muttered to herself as she walked away from him, "buttons pressed in the right way that douche."

Derek wiped the sweat off his forehead as his daughter crawled in the dirt planting seeds and burrowing them in the ground, "Ally are you sure you don't want a break?"

Ally looked up and sighed, "for the hundredth time no."

"Okay okay" Derek muttered as he picked up his shovel again, "no harm in asking."

"I like gardening and I like helping you" Ally said as she picked up her bag of seeds, "so no breaks."

"Right" Derek said as he looked around hoping that no one was watching him and his hope turned to nervousness as he saw the same beautiful woman he kept running into walking towards him, "oh no Meredith."

Ally looked up again, "what's a Merabot?"

"No its Meredith Ally stand up."

"Who?"

"Hi" Meredith said with a wave, "having fun."

"Yeah just digging holes" Derek muttered deep down he was praying that Meredith wouldn't call social services on him, "and your probably wondering why I have my daughter here."

Meredith looked at the little girl holding Derek's free hand skinny blond hair, bright blue eyes an adorable little face Meredith looked at Derek's face and Ally's features the truth be told Ally looked nothing like Derek, "you must be Ally."

Ally looked at Meredith with a muddled gaze then her eyes lit up, "your the lady from the park."

"Wow" Meredith said with a smile, "you have a great memory."

Ally smiled back as she stood up straight, "your name is park lady."

"Well actually my name is Meredith."

"I'm Ally" Ally extended her hand, "nice to meet you."

"And lovely manners to" Meredith took the girl's hand, "your daddy is a great teacher."

Derek smirked, "well she learned most of these things from her grandmother."

"Right" Meredith said softly with a smile to Ally before she looked at Derek, "well your getting lots of fresh air out here."

"Yeah being a gardener fresh air is something you get more than most people."

Meredith nodded as Ally went back to planting seeds, "Ally is a great help."

"She helps me to much" Derek whispered, "listen please don't call social services."

"Derek" Meredith saw the fear in the man's eyes.

"Look her usual babysitter wasn't well everyone else was busy I can't afford the babysitting services."

"Derek its alright i'm not going to call social services i'm a single parent to remember I know how tough it is."

"Yeah" Derek said as he breathed a small sigh he didn't know Meredith very well but he knew she was trustworthy.

"Your lucky" Meredith looked at the little girl playing in the earth, "I hardly ever see my son and I miss him terribly all the time you get to spend so much time with your daughter I can't help but envy you."

"I don't know your son very well" Derek said, "but from what I saw at the park he loves being with you that shows that even though you may not be with him he values you as a mom."

"Thank you" Meredith said with a look of gratitude, "that's really nice."

"At least your son isn't digging in dirt."

"I think he should be" Meredith wandered a little closer to Derek's side, "most kids his age I think need to get dirty."

"You should introduce him to Ally sometime, she loves messy hands and she could teach Noah all kinds of games."

"I'll keep that in mind, did you bring anything to eat?"

"I got a bag full of sandwiches." Derek pointed to his ute, "and when Ally finally listens to me i'll get her something to eat."

"I can get Ally something."

"I-" Derek started before Meredith put a gentile hand on his forearm to stop him, "Derek its okay."

"Well" Derek said as he felt relaxed and at peace with the world with Meredith's cold skin touching his own, "Ally do you want to get something to eat."

"What" Ally said as she poked her head out of a hole.

"Can you go with Meredith and get something to eat."

"I haven't washed my hands" Ally called out, "and they're covered in things."

"You can wash your hands when you get to" Derek turned back to Meredith, "um where are you taking her?"

"The café around the corner of the hospital" Meredith pointed to a small building, "and there is a toilet."

"Go on Ally you've earned it just remember to thank Meredith."

"Wait" Ally said as she ran over, "can daddy come to"

"Daddy has to work kiddo."

"Oh i'm staying here" Ally said as she ran to Meredith's side, "but you can garden to its really fun."

Derek sighed as Meredith smiled, "Ally can you go with Meredith."

"Can you come to?" Ally said.

"I have to finish this" Derek said as he picked up his shovel, "and you deserve a break go on."

"Okay" Ally took Meredith's hand as Meredith walked to the cafe next to the hospital she wandered in and people stared Meredith knew why she was clean and well dressed Ally was wearing old worn cloths and was covered in dirt, "the first thing we need to do is get you cleaned up."

"Its not bath time yet" Ally said, "and its daddy's job."

"We're just going to the toilet honey" Meredith opened a large silver door, "and we can wash your hands in the sink and we'll get some of that dirt off your cheeks to."

Meredith came out with Ally five minutes later and picked Ally up in her arms to look at the cakes and pastries on sale, "okay now what would you like?"

"Just um" Ally shook her head, "nothing."

"You want nothing to eat" Meredith smiled at the child.

"Not hungry" Ally muttered as her stomach growled loudly, Meredith put the girl back on her feet and bent down to her level, "Ally's stomach is telling me Ally is hungry."

Ally looked at her belly, "shhhh quiet stomach."

"Well how about I get both of us a muffin."

"They're expensive" Ally muttered, "and I got you dirty."

"Ally we're here to eat don't worry about a thing."

"Okay" Ally said softly with her fingers in her mouth.

"Okay" Meredtih said before Ally grabbed her shirt, "please."

"That's very nice manners sweetie."

Meredith watched the girl taking tiny bites off her muffin as she leaned forward in her chair, "so your dad told me you go to school."

"Its the best" Ally said, "you make friends, you learn new things and you play games."

"Wow my little boy is starting school soon."

"Does he eat boogers?"

"Um" Meredith gave a small chuckle as Ally licked her fingers, "you know i'm not sure do you eat boogers?"

"Um" Ally sheepishly ate a crumb off her plate, "maybe."

"Do you like working in the garden?"

"I like to help daddy, but he doesn't like me helping him he thinks i'm to small."

"Well Ally he doesn't want you to hurt yourself or smell like a compost bin." Meredith suddenly flinched as Ally grabbed her hands in her own and looked at her fingers before staring up at her with a look that reminded Meredith of Noah on Christmas morning "are you not married?"

"No honey i'm not" Meredith said as she fought painful memories coming to her head the last thing she wanted to think about was her late husband when she was in public, "I mean I was married."

Ally patted Meredith's bare fingers with her small palms, "but your not anymore."

"No i'm not, what's with the smile."

"What smile?"

"I know that smile" Meredith grinned as thoughts of Finn left her mind and she looked at the funny expression on the little girl's face, "that's what I call the cheeky monkey smile."

"No this is the thank you for the muffin smile."

"Really?"

Ally nodded as she jumped to her feet, "can we go back now."

Meredith grabbed her handbag, "okay but don't you want something to drink."

"No thanks" Ally grabbed Meredith's hand and started to pull, "come on Meredith lets go and see daddy."

"Okay Ally can you not pull my hand like that."

"Oh" Ally whispered as she let go, "sorry."

"Its alright" Meredith said as she walked out into the cold air with Ally.

"Can we go fast?"

"Well" Meredith picked Ally up and ran on the pavement while the little girl laughed until they got to the garden and a tired Meredith put Ally back on her feet.

"Daddy" Ally called out as Derek looked up.

"Hey back already."

"Yeah Meredith" Ally turned to Meredith with eager eyes, "can you garden with us now."

"Sweetheart I-"

"Ally Meredith can't get her clothes dirty before she goes to work."

"I already got her dirty, and we can wash her with the garden hose."

Derek chuckled with Meredith, "I don't think she would like that."

"I have to get back to work soon anyway" Meredith gently gripped Ally's shoulder with a hand as Derek walked closer to her, "yeah well sorry we didn't get to talk much."

"I'll come by later" Meredith smiled slowly at Derek and Derek felt his knees starting to melt, "I could find you."

"Yeah" Meredith said she couldn't think of anything better to say to the man who was warming her up with words in the cold outdoors.

"I'll pretend i'm a patient."

"That would work" Derek stared at Meredith memorising every detail of her beautiful features in his mind until Meredith smiled at his daughter, "bye Ally."

"Wait" Ally looked at Meredith and motioned her to bent down, Meredith complied and heard the child whispered in her ear, "what's your phone number?"

"My phone number" Meredith said softly.

"If I need a doctor how do I call you."

"Well you just ring 911."

"And then i'll speak to you"

"Well maybe not me" Meredith said, "but you'll talk to a doctor and we'll see each other again soon." Meredith stood up and Derek waved at Meredith as she walked back to the hospital, "Ally what were you whispering about?"

Ally counted numbers to herself before looking at Derek, "I was asking the lady for her phone number."

Derek breathed air between his lips as he dropped his shovel, "oh Ally you can't do that."

"Why not" Ally said.

"Because its embarrassing."

"She gave me her number daddy" Ally ran to Derek, "its 911 you can call her anytime and write it down so you remember."

"Ally that's the number for emergencies it isn't Meredith's number."

"Oh" Ally sighed, "she lied."

"Its alright Ally Meredith just doesn't like to tell people her phone number, so anyway-"

"But she's still nice" Ally said, "really nice and daddy."

"Yeah" Derek stared to shovel another hole.

"Daddy daddy daddy."

"Yeah" Derek repeated.

"You also lied to me." Derek looked up ready to apologise until he saw the wide smile on Ally's face, "when did I what did I?"

"You told me the lady in the park was married" Ally looked at the hospital, "and she is not married."

"Really" Derek muttered feeling an ominous feeling in his stomach, "well I thought she was."

"So your in trouble."

"Okay" Derek muttered, "I will sit in the naughty chair when I get home."

"No for your punishment you must ask eer what's her name out to dinner."

"Who's what's her name?"

"You know" Ally muttered.

"No I don't know."

Ally pointed at the hospital "the lady."

"What lady?"

"In the park."

Derek smirked, "but we're not in the park."

"Daddy" Ally groaned loudly.

"Ally I am not asking Meredith out on a date right now i'm working."

"No silly ask her on a date after work."

"I don't think so" Derek said even though he knew inside he wanted to follow through with his daughter's request, "she's working and I need to take you home."

"Why we can stay here until dark."

"We're not staying here until dark."

"Okay just until you ask the pretty lady out to dinner or to the movies and then we can go home."

"Ally no."

"Why not" Ally stood in front of Derek and looked up at him.

"Cause" Derek sighed, "look its complicated."

"Do you want me to ask her for you?"

"No definitely not just" Derek lifted his daughter out of the way, "i'm going to dig this last hole and then we're going home and no more talks about asking ladies out on dates."

"Daddy" Ally said softly Derek looked at Ally and kissed her forehead, "sorry petal daddy just has a headache" Derek turned to his work and shovelled away as he tried to keep the thought of him and Meredith out at dinner talking sharing laughing out of his mind.