Derek heard a loud noise and opened his eyes as a small figure leaped on to his bed with a loud noise, he chuckled as Ally came crawling up the bed to look down at him, "hi daddy."

Derek looked at the ceiling as he continued to chuckle, "Ally are you going to join the circus when you grow up."

"Yes I love the circus."

"Well that's a load off my mind" Derek rolled to the side to look at his watch and he turned back to Ally, "go get dressed and we'll have breakfast."

Ally looked at her daddy with disappointment, "no wrestling match?"

"Hmmm" Derek cuddled Ally close and started to roll from side to side while Ally giggled and tried to sit on Derek's chest and pat his stomach, "chest squash."

"Flying rugrat" Derek said as he got out of bed and picked Ally up before spinning her in circles before landing on the bed with Ally giggling Ally jumped on Derek's leg, "feet tickle." Derek giggled wildly as Ally tickled his foot with her hands before he lifted Ally up to his chest, "the sloppy beardy kiss of grossness." Ally squirmed as Derek made funny noises before kissing Ally's cheek, "and the finishing move Derek lifted Ally's legs until she was upside down over his shoulder, "the upside down tickle." Ally laughed wildy as she kicked her legs in the air as Derek held on to her with one arm and tickled the girl's side with his free hand, "daddy daddy."

"Okay" Derek put Ally down on the bed smiling as Ally giggled, "you ready for breakfast."

"Last move" Ally climbed on to Derek's shoulders, "the piggy back ride."

Derek lifted Ally up and carried her to the kitchen, "that's my favourite move to."

An hour after breakfast Derek was holding his daughter's hand in his own as he walked through the local mall while Ally skipped along humming a tune until something caught her eye and she started to tug on Derek's shirt, "daddy look."

"Where" Derek muttered as he looked at his surroundings until Ally pointed her finger, "over there, there's a little boy over there."

Derek saw a boy a little smaller than Ally standing all alone looking around him while tears streamed from his eyes, "yeah."

"Why he is crying?" Ally whispered.

"Its because he's lost Ally, I think he came here with someone and they both got lost."

Ally tugged on Derek's hands, "daddy" Derek saw the eagerness in her daughter's eyes and he nodded, "I know... its time to do the hero thing Ally."

Ally walked over with Derek until the little boy was looking up at the strangers, "hi" Ally said as she smiled, "we're here to rescue you." Derek looked closely at the boy and with a sharp pang to the brain he realised he knew the child, "hey I remember you your Noah aren't you."

The little boy rubbed his eyes as he blinked at Derek, "you know my name."

"Yeah do you remember we met in the park the other day you were with your mommy."

The boy shook his head and Derek smiled, "that's okay its been a while since we last met."

Ally stepped in front of Derek and smiled at the boy, "i'm Ally what's your name."

"Noah."

"That's a cool name this is daddy and we're the good guys we rescue kids and ducks and squirrels."

"We do" Derek muttered, "we even rescue sparrows."

Ally smiled at her daddy, "we should start a club."

Derek nodded with a smile, "you know we should anyway sorry Noah we know who your mother is and we can help you find her."

Noah rubbed his eyes and blinked, "you will help me?"

"Yeah mate we will" Derek stood up and extended his hand to Noah, "I bet she's at the food court."

Noah took Derek's hand, "and Noah my name is Derek."

"Derek."

"Yeah that's right."

Ally took Derek's other hand, "daddy do we know who Noah's mother is."

Derek was about to tell Ally that Noah's mother was Meredith than he thought better of it, "well I do Ally i've met her before."

"How?"

"I work with her sometimes."

"Oh" Ally looked up at Derek, "is she married?"

"Ally" Derek muttered, "not now we have to help Noah remember."

"Okay" Ally muttered with a shrug.

They reached the food court in ten minutes and Noah's eyes scanned the mall, "is mommy here?"

"She will come here eventually buddy" Derek pulled up a chair and helped Noah climb in, "we just need to wait."

"Okay" Noah said quietly as he looked at his hands, Derek put a hand on the boy's shoulder as he tried to think of a way to cheer Noah up.

"What do we do now" Derek turned to Ally, "well i'm sure we can entertain Noah in some way."

"I can do that" Ally pushed her chair forward and Derek quickly nodded, "yeah, Noah I am proud to present Ally the master of entertainment."

"Noah" Ally leaned forward, "what do you call a cow with three legs."

"What" Noah whispered.

"Lean beef what do you call a cow with no legs."

"Um."

"Ground beef and what do you call a cow with two legs."

Noah stared at Derek confused, "I don't know."

"Your-"

Derek coughed loudly, "Ally um why don't you show Noah your toys."

"Yeah" Ally said as she reached into the buttoned pockets on her coat, "Noah these are the toys my daddy made."

"You made these" Noah said with wide eyes as he looked at the simple wooden horse and dog Derek had made with his two hands.

"I did, do you like them?"

"Wow" Noah whispered as he picked the dog up in his small hands.

"Noah" a voice called out altering the two children and Derek.

"Daddy" Ally pointed her finger at the running woman, "its Meredith."

"Mommy" Noah jumped off his chair and ran to Meredith.

"Noah" Meredith opened her arms and Noah ran into them. Meredith hugged her little boy tightly as Noah cried into her shoulder, "oh my god baby I thought Noah don't ever run away from me again."

"I won't mommy" Noah said as he hugged Meredith's neck, "never again."

Meredith felt her heart rate slowing down as she kissed her son's cheek, "i'm so glad your safe."

Derek watched the two of them with a smile then he looked at Ally staring back at him, "Meredith is Noah's mommy."

"That's right and we got them back together mission complete Ally."

"Mission one is complete" Ally said before she started to grin, "and mission two is about to begin."

Derek stared blankly at his daughter's sneaky smile, "Ally no."

"No what" Ally said innocently.

"You are not going to do anything Ally I mean it."

"I can't do anything?"

"Nothing Ally."

Ally just nodded before she started to stare straight ahead as Meredith came over, "hey Derek" Meredith stared at him with heavy breaths as she continued to hold Noah close, "thank you thank you so much thank you"

Derek just stared back trying to look humble it was difficult when Meredith was looking at him like he had just saved the world, "it was our pleasure."

"Thank you to Ally, sweetheart?"

Ally sat in her chair as if she had been turned to stone, "Ally" Derek said as he got out of his chair to look at his daughter.

"Ally" Meredith said with alarm as she put Noah back on his feet and reached out her palms to touch Ally's cheeks, "are you alright?"

Derek noticed a small grin at the corner of Ally's mouth and he rolled his eyes, "Ally forget what I said you can do anything."

"Okay" Ally said as she snapped out of her trance, "hi Meredith."

Meredith took another deep breath with her hand on her heart, "geez Ally this is the second time in a hour that my heart nearly stopped."

"Is that bad" Noah said softly.

"Its, I just need to sit down and" Meredith collapsed in a chair and Noah climbed into her lap, "much better."

"You've had a big morning" Derek whispered.

"Its been a big rush."

"Parenting does that."

"You know that as well as I do" Meredith put an arm around Noah, "so what brings you here, going shopping?"

"Well we came here to look at dogs" Derek looked at Ally kicking her legs in the air as she sat in her chair, "Ally wants to get one soon and we're looking around the pet shops."

"That sounds much more exciting than what we were doing" Meredith smiled at her little boy, "we were just shopping for clothes and things that Noah is going to need for his first day of big school."

"That's great champ" Derek said as Noah looked at him, "soon you'll be doing what Ally is doing."

"Yeah" Noah whispered shyly.

"Meredith" Ally piped up.

"Yes dear."

"You have beautiful eyes."

Meredith giggled, "thank you honey so do you."

Ally looked at Derek, "daddy thinks so to."

"Yes" Derek replied, "I do think Ally has beautiful eyes." Ally rolled her eyes and Derek smirked at her.

"Well" Meredith looked at the cafes surrounding them, "to thank you both for looking after my little trooper can I buy you lunch."

"Well actually" Derek muttered, "we were just about to-"

"Yes please" Ally said.

Meredith smiled at the little girl, "well Ally's hungry."

"Yeah her stomach is like a bottomless pit, I guess if you don't mind getting Ally a sandwich."

"Okay Noah and I will be right back" Meredith picked up Noah in her arms and led him away while Derek slowly turned his head to look at Ally who had an expression that read what did I do wrong daddy

"Ally" Derek put his forehead in his hand, "when Meredith said hi why didn't you say hello."

"You said don't do anything so I didn't do anything."

"Ally okay you can do things except you know you can't do anything that involves Meredith."

"I can't say hello to Meredith or talk to her?"

"You can't do anything" Derek pondered as he tried to pick his next words carefully, "that involves trying to get me and Meredith dating, kissing, hugging or anything to do with that understand."

"But" Ally muttered until her eyes widened, "okay."

"Good" Derek replied as Meredith came back with two large rolls.

"Here you are, I hope you like turkey."

"Noah" Ally jumped off her chair, "can we play a game."

"Um yeah" Noah looked at Meredith who gave an encouraging nod.

Ally pointed to a table three meters away, "lets go over here."

"Um okay" Ally led Noah away stopping momentarily to give her daddy a thumbs up. Meredith pushed her chair closer to Derek's chair as Derek started to feel uneasy, "I guess the kids want to be alone."

"Yeah" Derek replied, one of them wants us to be alone, "Ally can you come closer to us."

"What" Ally called out.

"I said can you come closer Meredith doesn't want Noah to get lost again and I don't want you to get lost either."

"But you can see us" Ally waved her arm in the air to illustrate her point.

Meredith put a hand on Derek's forearm, "Derek its fine we can see them."

Derek turned to where his face was so close to Meredith's face he could memorise every feature, "yeah its fine."

"Derek your a good father."

Derek tried hard not to break eye contact from embarrassment, "thanks."

"Is Ally's mother as good as you?"

"I wouldn't know."

"Derek" Derek could see Meredith's eyes blazing with thought, "is Ally your niece?"

"No she's not related to me at least not biogically."

"She's adopted."

Derek nodded as memories started to bloom in his mind, "yeah my little ally cat is adopted."

"Derek I don't mean to pry but could you..." Derek looked at Meredith and nodded again before starting his story, "last year I was working in New York and one of my many gardening jobs was gardening in a retirement village on the outskirts of the city and that's where I met Ally."

"Derek do you want to keep talking about it."

"I should tell you the full story Ally lived with her grandmother and every time I worked there Ally would be playing outside and she would always come over and hang out with me she was four years old at the time never stopped asking me questions or asking me to play games with her."

Meredith smiled as she imagined it, "that must have been very cute."

"Her grandmother thought so to" Derek fidgeted with his hands as he quickly planned his next sentence in his head, "there weren't any other kids there and Ally's grandmother was usually bedridden she could only get up for an hour or two each day and she spent that time making Ally food and then she got to the stage where she couldn't do it anymore and I ended up taking care of both of them."

"Ally and you became close."

"We would always work together taking care of Ally's grandmother and yeah I started to think of her as my kid and one day I took Ally to a swimming pool."

"What happened then?"

"Ally went into the deep end when I wasn't paying attention I had never been so scared I got her out okay and she was alright."

Meredith nodded inviting Derek to continue, "and Ally became even more attached to me, she would never give me any time to myself then Ally's grandma one day she had only a few hours to live and she asked me to take care of Ally and I couldn't say no I didn't want to say no. Then soon after the funeral Ally asked me to look after her. I took Ally to Seattle for a fresh start she almost immediately started to call me daddy and we became a duo."

"So you take care of elderly people when they're sick you rescue kids in pools and in shopping malls and you adopted Ally when she needed a family."

Derek couldn't remember a time where he felt so weak in the stomach, "if this is the part where your going to ask me to fix your broken television or computer then-"

Meredith chuckled, "I was going to ask you if you had a spandex costume underneath your shirt."

"No i'm not that amazing."

"But still pretty amazing."

Derek felt his mouth going dry and he looked a the children playing a game with Ally's toys, "Noah Ally why you don't you come over here."

"We're having fun over here" Ally called back.

"Mom" Noah waved at Meredith who waved back, Noah started to walk and Ally quickly stopped him, "Noah can we stay over here."

"Okay" Noah whispered.

Derek got up from his chair, "Ally" Derek said as he walked over to the pair of them, "I think Noah wants to come over here."

Ally looked at Noah's face and she took his hand, "oh come on Noah."

"Sorry Ally" Noah said.

"Its okay Noah."

"Good girl Ally" Derek said as Meredith watched all three of them, I never thought I would get to see something like this with my little boy he's made a friend. Meredith stood up and Noah smiled at her as Meredith bent down to pick him up, "i'm just going to take Noah to the toilet we'll be right back." Meredith walked away with Noah looking happy like it was his birthday as Ally climbed into Derek's lap, "Noah wants to be with his mommy."

"That's right" Derek nodded, "you did the right thing Ally bringing Noah back over here."

Ally smiled wildly, "Noah's mommy was spending lots of time with my daddy all alone."

"Ally" Derek muttered.

"What I didn't do anything I was just playing with Noah."

"Ally do you want to clean your room when you get home."

"Yes" Ally nodded.

"And eat vegetables."

Ally rubbed her stomach, "yum."

"And not watch television."

"Television is bad for the brain."

"Ally."

Ally leaned up and hugged Derek, "I love you daddy."

"You are" Derek said as he tried to think of the right words, "you drive me bonkers you know that."

"That's not a bad thing" Ally said with a grin as Meredith and Noah came back. Meredith picked up her handbag from the chair, "we still need to do some shopping so we'll be off."

Derek nodded, "it was great catching up with you."

"Meredith" Ally jumped into her arms and Meredith smiled, "thank you again Ally for helping Noah."

"I liked helping Noah" Ally said as Meredith placed the girl back on her feet, "bye Noah."

"Bye Ally" Noah said as he waved at Ally before taking Meredith's hand and walking away. Derek stared after them watching them then he felt Ally's cold hands on his face, "well there they go so what we will do now"

"Sit here and wait" Ally replied.

"Wait for what?"

"For Meredith."

"Why?"

"She'll be back" Ally reached into her pocked and waved a shiny set of keys in front of Derek's face, "she forgot something."

Derek looked at the keys in shock, "oh Ally you didn't."

"Didn't what daddy?"

"Ally" Derek put his palms on the glass table as he tried not to go into a rage, "did you steal from Meredith did you reach into Meredith's bag when you were hugging her and take her keys out of her bag."

"I um borrowed without permission that isn't stealing" Ally reached out her hand, "here daddy when Meredith comes back daddy can give this to her and Meredith will be so happy that she'll-"

"Ally i'm not handling stolen goods" Derek got up from his chair and looked at his daughter, "you and I going to find Meredith and give the keys back to her."

"That's even better" Ally said as she ran in front of Derek, "come on daddy."

"Ally" Derek chased after his daughter, "Ally don't run away stay-"

"Come on there she is."

"Right" Derek whispered as he started to pray that Meredith wouldn't be mad at his daughter.

"Meredith Meredith" Meredith turned around and with a look of surprise saw Ally and Derek running to her, "Ally?"

"You forgot your thing" Ally said as she put keys in Meredith's hand, "daddy found it."

"Wow my keys" Meredith smiled at the little girl, "thank you Ally."

"Thank daddy" Ally pointed at Derek as he caught up, "he found it."

"Thank you" Meredith said with a twinkle in her eye as she looked at Derek casually shrugging, "your welcome."

Meredith smiled at Derek who was trying hard not to look at his daughter silently groaning with a frustrated expression on her face, "so you rescued my son and you rescued my keys." Meredith stared at Derek until Noah started to tug on her coat, "can Ally come with us to the movies."

"I think that would be nice" Meredith said to her son before she turned to Derek, "how about to say thank you for finding my keys I take you and Ally to the movies with us."

"Yes please" Ally said with a grin, "that sounds good right daddy."

"I" Derek muttered as his brain failed to think of an excuse not to come, "well if you don't mind."

"Not at all, if it wasn't for you two me and Noah would be stranded here."

"Ally is coming" Noah said Derek nodded, "yeah champ Ally is coming."

Noah smiled wildly and Meredith beamed, "how about we meet you there in half an hour."

"Yeah good."

Meredith walked with Noah waving at both of them and Ally took Derek's hands in her own and started to dance on the spot, "daddy your going on a date."

Derek could feel his patience wearing thin, "its not a date Ally its a movie and didn't I say to you earlier not to get me and Meredith on a date."

"Oh... your not on a date its just like a date."

"It is nothing like a date and you are going to be in the middle between me and Meredith."

"No i'm not I will be all the way over here" Ally waved her hand towards the horizon of the shopping mall, "watching you two smile hold hands and then when the romantic part comes on."

"Ally don't you ever give up."

"No" Ally said, "and I was right Meredith did reward you."

"Yeah she did."

"I thought she was going to kiss you but a movie is also nice."

"Ally, lets just go okay."

Ally stopped smiling,"we're not going home are we?"

"No Ally we are going to the movies and please no more suprises."

"What surprises?"

"Ally you have... come on."

A short time later Derek was walking with Meredith feeling very uneasy while the children happily chatted to each other, "so where shall we sit" Meredith asked in a soft voice

"Ahhh how about here in the middle."

Derek looked at Ally darting in front of him smiling a cheeky smirk "okay" Derek looked at Noah sitting between himself and Meredith and turned to smile at his daughter who was groaning quietly to herself. Derek leaned in close with a triumphant look on his face, "you didn't think about Noah did you cheeky crossont."

"Noah" Ally said, "can you sit next to me."

"Yeah" Noah looked up at Meredith, "mommy can I."

"Sure you can i'll sit next to Derek." Derek tried to smile at Meredith for a moment before he looked at Ally grinning wickedly to herself.

"Mommy toilet please."

"Okay" Meredith said to Noah, we'll be right back."

"Right" Derek said as he watched them walk away as Ally started to sing, "Meredith and daddy sitting in a tree K-I-S-S-I-N-G first comes the love then comes the-"

"Ally and her daddy sitting in a tree" Derek tickled Ally's sides and Ally laughed loudly, T-I-C-K-L-I-N-G first comes the laughs, then comes giggles while Ally Shepherd bobs like the wiggles.

"Dad" Ally gasped as she squirmed, "daddy dad."

Hours later

Derek finally pulled up to his trailer home and sighed the movie had been nice sitting next to Meredith hadn't been as nice Ally hadn't stopped poking and proding Derek all the way through the movie while whispering instructions in his ear to put his arm around Meredith hold her hand when the scary part came on among other things it had pushed Derek's tolerance to the limit. After the movie was almost as bad Ally had once again tried the push Meredith into Derek's arms approach though this time Derek had stopped her the moment Ally had sneaked around Meredith's legs by picking her up, during the ride home Ally had been singing annoying songs that she had made up on the spot which featured love marriage and babies. Derek wearily opened his front door and Ally jumped in front of him wearing a wide smile.

"Daddy we made excellent progress today" Ally waved her finger at Derek, "but next time you are going to do this without my help because to make the love complete you need to-"

"Ally" Derek muttered as he rubbed his eyes, "go to your room."

"But daddy we're talking."

"Ally" Derek said as he stared at his daughter frustrated, "no buts I have had enough for one day and I am vey annoyed and cross, you are going to eat and then go to your room."

Ally's face changed almost immediately, "okay daddy."

Derek opened the fridge and handed a sandwich to Ally, "here's your sandwich."

"Thank you daddy" Ally whispered.

Ally ran to her room and Derek sighed as he sat down on his chair watching television trying not to think about his day he just wanted to forgot about it he was sure Meredith was going to be laughing with her friends about how a gardener's daughter had been trying to get the two of them together. He pushed the thoughts away with a great deal of effort and turned off the television trying to rest his eyes hours later he heard footsteps and he looked at Ally at her pale tear stained cheeks, "daddy can I say sorry now."

"Ally" Derek said softly as he opened his arms up, "hey come here kiddo."

Ally ran into his arms and Derek cuddled her, "sorry sorry sorry."

"Ally" Derek whispered, "calm down hey its okay hey look at me Ally." Ally sniffed and Derek smiled, "Ally listen every kid does the wrong thing once in a while and daddies get angry what you need to know is that i'm only angry for what you did today and I still love you that will never change."

"I didn't want you to be angry."

"Ally you've learned your lesson you never steal from people and listen about the movie I shouldn't have got annoyed I know you were only having fun and I shouldn't have been a big grouch."

Ally nodded, "I will never steal again daddy."

"Good girl."

Ally put her hands on Derek's cheeks,"you weren't a big groach"

"Ally I know you think me getting married would be the best thing that could happen to me but the best thing that happened to me and ever will happen to me was you." Ally smiled as she hiccped before she cuddled up close to Derek while Derek gently patted his hand on Ally's knee, "hey Ally did you do your homework for the weekend?"

"Yep."

"What was it?"

"Do a poem about your family."

"Really" Derek said as he sat up, "can I hear it?"

"Do you want to daddy?"

"Yeah of course I do."

"All right" Ally said as she ran to her room and came out with a sheet of paper. Derek sat at full attention, "okay can you read it out loud."

"Are you sure?"

"Ally yes of course i'm sure."

"Okay" Ally cleared her throat, "who wants daddy to get married I do."

Derek snorted, "oh Ally."

"I want daddy to marry a pretty lady its true."

Derek threw his head back and chuckled to himself as Ally grinned, "and pretty lady will never be sad when my super dad makes pretty lady part of our family."

"Ally."

"I think I should change pretty lady to Meredith, because Meredith is the main target or unless daddy meets another pretty lady."

Derek picked Ally up, "who's ready for spinarrone."

"Yes me me" Ally laughed wildly as Derek spun her around.