Meredith woke up with a ache in her head and in her heart she turned over on her stomach as the memories flowed in and out of her mind. She breathed heavily doing what her counsellor had taught her and opened her eyes as she heard wild giggles coming from far away. Meredith slipped out of bed and hearing the laughter coming from downstairs she descended to the guest room and smiled as she knocked on the door there was a loud gasp and Meredith chuckled, "are there any children in here." Meredith opened the door and looked around the room, "that's strange I thought I heard children in here." Meredith tapped her finger on her chin, "I wonder why there are two lumps in the bed." The giggling grew louder as Meredith put an arm around each lump, "hmmm I can feel a tummy and a foot and a knee and a head hmmm." Meredith lifted up the covers and crawled under the blankets the kids laughed and pounced on Meredith, "surprise" Noah said loudly.

Meredith peeled away the covers and looked at two messy haired small faces, "its Noah and Ally."

Noah wrapped his little arms around Meredith's neck, "its us mommy."

"We were hiding" Ally said as she climbed on Meredith's stomach.

"You were and you did such a good job and now its time for breakfast."

"Breakfast" Ally jumped out of bed and ran to the kitchen as Meredith picked Noah up and slowly followed, "Ally it isn't made yet." Meredith started to grin in amusement as Ally stood on tip toes in vain to reach the high cupboards, "Ally can you get changed in your school uniform for me."

"I got to make breakfast."

"Ally why don't we all make breakfast."

"But i'm the guest, guest does breakfast."

"Well" Meredith said as she turned on the kettle to make herself coffee, "can you make the toast while I make the eggs and than I would like you to change into you school uniform so you don't go to school in your pyjamas."

Ally laughed as she hopped off into the guest room while Noah put a finger in his mouth, "what can I do mommy?"

"You" Meredith lifted Noah up, "can get the plates down for us honey." Noah reached out his arms and took down a plate giggling when Meredith lowered him to put the plate on the table Meredith kissed his cheek, "is Ally coming here tonight as well?"

"Well" Meredith looked towards the guest room as motherly feelings of longing stirred inside her. A part of Meredith was wanting Ally to come back after school, give her protection, care for her maybe even have her live with them but in her mind she knew she was having a emotional morning and it wasn't healthy for her to try and get a child she barely knew to stay with herself and her son, "not tonight dear but if we ask Derek then we can have Ally here this weekend."

"Okay" Noah said with a grin as Ally came out of the room carrying her schoolbag, "can you get dressed Noah." Noah nodded as Meredith lowered him back on his feet and watched him dash up the stairs. Meredith looked over Ally, "I am very impressed miss Ally you got dressed in your uniform all by yourself."

"I've had lots of practice."

"I want to thank you for playing with Noah last night."

Ally beamed, "i'm Noah's friend."

"And your a good friend to Noah" Meredith put a hand on Ally's shoulder, "thank you."

"For what?"

"For being Noah's friend he doesn't have many friends that come and see him after school."

"Oh" Ally said softly then she looked up with renewed vigor, "can Noah come to my birthday party?"

Meredith nodded feeling that her son's social network was about to expand, "I don't see why not."

"Daddy is having it at Mcdonalds" Ally whispered. Meredith saw the girl's face falling flat again and she gently scooped Ally up in her arms, "Ally what's the matter?"

Ally looked into Meredith's kind eyes, "it costed lots of money."

Meredith nodded, "don't worry sweetheart."

"But..."

"No buts honey when your five you don't worry about money."

"What about when your six?"

Meredith's brushed sweaty hair out of Ally's forehead, "you still don't worry the only thing you should worry about is being a happy kid and-" Meredith sniffed Ally making her grin, "asking your daddy to give you a bath as soon as you get home so Ally doesn't smell like an ally cat."

"Okay."

"Mommy" Noah called out as he ran down the stairs in his clothes Meredith put Ally down on her feet and gave her son a hug, "and you got dressed to my little trooper."

Noah grinned, "no pants on my head today mommy."

A half hour later Meredith was walking into the hospital with Ally swinging her hand, some nurses smiled at them as they passed and Ally waved at them which made them smile wider. Meredith gave the girl's hand a gentile squeeze, "you are very friendly Ally."

"Grandma taught me to be nice she said smile and be good."

"Your grandma sounds wonderful" Meredith looked through the high window at Derek still sleeping in his bed, "Ally your daddy is still sleeping so we're going to go to the office and wait for your daddy to wake up."

"Oh... Meredith." Meredith saw a smirk on the corner of Ally's lips and she bent down, "yes."

"I know how we can wake daddy up."

Meredith nodded, "you have an idea?"

Ally started to giggle, "sleeping beauty waked up when the prince kissed her."

Meredith snorted, "right."

"So you can do that with daddy and he'll wake up."

Meredith looked at Ally slowly moving her hips from side to side showing a cheeky little grin and she smiled, "I don't think that will work."

"I think it will."

"Your daddy is not sleeping beauty and i'm not a prince."

"Oh" Ally muttered in a disappointed tone, "yeah."

Meanwhile down the corridor Alex was staring at them with interest, "who's the kid?"

Miranda folded her doctor's coat over her forearm, "you know the gardener that comes here."

"Yeah" Alex said with a haughty grin, "the homeless guy that waters our plants."

"Well" Miranda crossed her arms and nodded at Meredith leading Ally away, "that's his daughter."

Alex raised an eyebrow, "so why is hot legs watching her."

"I guess she's doing the gardner a favour"

"Right" Alex said as he looked at Meredith's ass, "well she does have good assists."

Meredith opened the door and watched Ally walk inside looking around her with wide eyes, "so what do you think of my office?"

Ally looked around her, "its really clean."

Meredith nodded the amount of effort she made into making sure her office was tidy was only second to the effort she put into her performance during surgeries.

"Its not like daddy's house."

"Well" Meredith reached into her drawers, "I have some paper here and pens so why don't you draw a few pictures and we'll wait until your daddy comes."

Ally took the paper and giggled as Meredith gently put her into her office chair, "you have big beds and big chairs."

"I..." Meredith heard a loud knock and her blood ran cold, "Ally get under the desk."

Ally looked at Meredith, "desk?"

"This desk" Meredith said as she helped Ally get down, "go on get under here, get down and don't come out untl I say so, stay quiet."

Ally crawled under the desk and looked at Meredith with wide eyes, "Meredith is there a monster?"

"Its worse" Meredith said as she put her papers and pens back in her drawer, "its the chief." Meredith straightened her outfit and sat in her chair, "come in."

The door opened and Webber came in wearing his usual serious tone. Meredith felt Ally sitting on her foot she quickly looked down and Ally made a shushing noise with her lips as Meredith quickly nodded.

"Good morning dr Grey I heard about the surgery yesterday the family are insisting they speak to me and I wanted to touch base with you before I engage in a meeting with them.

"Certainly" Meredith said in her professional tone not noticing her shoe being pulled off until she felt small fingers playing with her toes, "so the patient his details are in this file and ahhh" Meredith felt little fingers tickling her sole and she quickly locked her ankles trapping Ally between her legs. "So as I was saying this jeez" Meredith whispered trying not to laugh as Ally reached around and tickled her foot again. Meredith placed both feet flat on the carpet and stretched her arms to take Ally's mischievous little fingers in her hands, "the details are in this" Meredith released her hand from Ally's and snorted as Ally went back to torturing her, "folder."

Webber nodded with a raised eyebrow as he took the folder from Meredith's hand as Meredith stood up to get away from the tickling, "and in the folder is an accurate examination of the damage done to the patient's frontal lobe." Meredith looked at Ally smirking holding her shoe and she tried to grab it Ally quickly hid it behind her.

The chief chewed a tic tac in his cheek, "it seems to be missing a page."

"Yes" Meredith said as she quickly ducked to grab her shoe from behind Ally to put it back on her foot, "the last page is being kept with the report as a reference page."

Meredith felt little hands trying to grab her ankles and she jumped back smirking at a smirking Ally she walked with the chief to her office door, "so I will have my patient's paperwork on your desk by close of business today and what you need to tell the family is that the patient is not out of the woods yet but he has a good chance to make a full recovery."

"Good" Webber said as he opened the door, "well then Dr Grey I don't wish to hold you up i'm sure you have a great deal to do."

"I'll begin by getting the most important task on my schedule complete." Meredith closed the door and smiled at a giggling Ally peeking her head out from under the desk, "come here sweetheart."

Ally stood up and looked at Meredith with uneasiness, "uh."

"Come on" Meredith said as she bent down, "I want to give you something, something nice." Ally walked towards Meredith slowly and Meredith grinned, "got ya." Meredith picked Ally up and started to tickle her sides as Ally giggled like mad, "you look sick and you need the tickle treatment." Ally laughed loudly as Meredith put her on the carpet and leaned over her, "grrr grrr grrr tickle the armpits." Meredith took off a small shoe, "tickle the toes" Ally laughed even louder and kicked her legs in the air, "tickle the belly" Meredith said as her fingers travelled to Ally's stomach. Ally rolled around laughing as Meredith pressed her mouth against her chest making fartning noises.

"Excuse me Dr Grey" Meredith looked up with a start and realised it was just Miranda looking through the door, "a patient named Mr Shepherd is asking for you he says you were expecting him."

"Okay" Meredith said as Ally giggled and let out little gasps of breath, Meredith gently stroked the hair off Ally's forehead, "i'll just finish with my little patient here and we'll be right down."

Miranda nodded looking uncomfortable that she had interrupted one of Meredith's rare relaxed moments at work, "okay" and she quickly closed the door as Meredith smiled at the little girl smiling back at her, "well I think the treatment made you all better so how about we see your daddy."

"Daddy" Ally said as she jumped to her feet.

"Hang on dear here put on your shoe and hold on to my hand."

Derek was lying in his bed looking at the clock getting worried by the minute when the door opened, "daddy" Derek climbed out of bed and Ally hugged him tightly, "hey honey."

Ally leaned back and looked at Derek with scared eyes, "are you dying?"

Derek smiled, "no Ally i'm not dying i'm right as rain has Meredith been looking after you?"

"She has" Ally said as she ran and hugged Meredith's waist, "thank you for saving daddy and looking after me."

Meredith nodded with warm feelings in her heart, "your very welcome Ally and your welcome to stay with me, Noah and Cristina anytime."

"Well then" Derek said as he stood up, "about the playdate."

"Oh" Meredith said as she quickly scribbled down her number on her notebook, "yes here" Meredith said as she tore off the paper, "you'll need to know how to get in touch with me."

Derek took the paper briefly brushing his fingers with Meredith noticing how warm her hands were, "sounds good."

Ally looked at her daddy with curiosity and pointed at the piece of paper, "what's that daddy?"

"Its" Derek said as he tried to quickly think of a good lie, "a number for chuck e cheese"

"Oh" Ally muttered, "thank you Meredith for giving daddy the um number."

Meredith smiled at Derek, "she's got such lovely manners."

"Yeah" Derek said as he uneasily rubbed the back of his head with the palm of his hand, "she learnt that from her grandma I got to make sure it doesn't change. Derek picked Ally up with his arms as Ally laughed, "well I better get miss Ally to school."

"Bye Ally" Meredith said with a grin.

"Bye" Ally said as she tried to pull her school shirt down, "daddy its cold on my tummy."

"Oh yeah" Derek blew air on Ally's belly button making the girl laugh widly as Derek put her back on her feet. Meredith chuckled as they disappeared and with a stride in her step she went back to work.

Later that night Derek was sitting in his chair and going through his day in his mind he had barely done anything and when the time had come to pick Ally up from school his daughter had told him that she was going to have her bath by herself and make dinner by herself. Derek of course had said no and had done everything with the little energy he had, everything except one thing that had been playing on his mind all day. Derek looked at the sheet with Meredith's number in his hand and calming his nerves he picked up his phone and dialled the number. One second two seconds Derek was breathing heavily and then the phone answered, "hello Meredith speaking."

"Hi Meredith its Derek." Derek heard a loud noise followed by muffled swearing and he braced himself with a, why the hell are you calling me at this hour. A moment later Meredith said, "Derek hey sorry i'm just on my way out from work I tripped on a crack in the pavement I wasn't swearing at you or... sorry how are you."

"I'm... are you busy at the moment?"

"No not at all... there that's better walking to my car is a lot quietier than the hospital."

"Yeah" Derek said as he started to smile, "I just wanted to ask about Ally was she behaved last night?"

"She was a pleasure."

"Right and, okay and how was your day at work anything interesting happen?"

"I had a meeting with my chief" Meredith said sounding amused, "while someone was tickling me under my desk."

"Who" Derek groaned as he realised who Meredith meant, "oh Meredith I-"

"Derek its okay the chief didn't even notice, Ally made my boring day a lot more fun and I was hoping that we could have her here next weekend."

"Yeah sure of course" Derek said with a chuckle, "Ally would like that she's got a sleepover with her friend Saturday night so would Saturday morning or Sunday suit at all."

"How about Saturday morning?"

"Great" Derek said with a grin as he thought of Noah the little boy was very shy he had a feeling that having a friend would mean the world to him and could likely get Noah to open up like a blooming flower.

"Derek" Derek heard Meredith's tone changing, "are you resting?"

"Yes" Derek lied, "i'm just watching tv."

"I don't hear the tv in the background."

"I have it on low."

"Derek" Meredith said firmly.

"Yes mam" Derek muttered, "i'll rest."

"Not that it isn't fun having you in the hospital to talk to."

"That was a good experience" Derek chuckled, "I guess i'll see you Saturday."

"You will" Meredith said softly, "and please take it easy."

"Yeah I will goodnight."

"Goodnight."

Derek closed his phone and shut his eyes until he heard small footsteps and saw his little girl coming close, "I did my homework" Ally whispered.

"Ally" Derek muttered as he switched on the light, "you've been in your bedroom for hours did you really have a lot of homework."

"Lots of it."

"Five years old" Derek grinned, "and your getting mountains of homework."

Ally nodded with a serious expression, "yeah."

"Ally" Derek opened up his arms and Ally went to sit on his lap, "its alright i'm feeling okay."

"You needed to sleep."

Derek kissed Ally's cheek as Ally turned around, "i'm fine kiddo."

Ally hugged Derek close, "please don't go away."

"Ally" Derek whispered as he hugged Ally to his chest, "i'm not going anywhere."

"Grandma did."

"Ally, your grandma was very old and very sick and she went to heaven to help make the stars and moon shine. Me on the other hand i'm not that old and i'm as healthy as a horse."

Ally kissed Derek's cheek and smiled, "your the worlds bestest daddy."

"And you" Derek said softly, "are the most wonderful little budle of fun i've ever known."

Saturday morning

Derek opened the door and Noah and Ally grinned as they ran to each other and started running around in circles making loud noises. Derek smirked at Meredith, "its like rugrats gone wild." Meredith rolled her eyes, "kids can you go upstairs if you want to go crazy." Ally and Noah ran upstairs sounding like a flock of geese and Derek chuckled with Meredith as they stood next to each other for a moment before Derek turned his head, "hey."

"Hey" Meredith said softly as she stared into Derek's eyes, "you want some coffee."

"Coffee would be great" Derek said as he went to the kitchen Meredith grabbed his arm, "no you sit down I got this."

"What" Derek said with a grin, "am I your patient again?"

"Come sit."

"Nope i'm going to provide assistance."

"No" Meredith laughed as she and Derek pushed each other around to get close to the kettle until they found each other in an embrace, "ah Derek."

Derek stared a inch away from Meredith and smiled softly, "okay Derek you can make the coffee."

From a few meters away Cristina folded away a jumper as she watched the two of them together and smiled to herself.