Late one night after a hard shift at work Meredith opened the door to her house hanged up her coat and walked into the kitchen where she was greeted by Noah running to give her a hug, "mommy I got invited to Ally's birthday party."
Meredith smiled widely as she ruffled her son's head with her hand, "that's great dear whens the party?"
"Two weeks" Noah said as he beamed.
"Wow exciting."
Noah jumped up and down on the spot as he held his mommy's forearms "i'm so excited."
Meredith kissed her son's forehead, "and its going to be great."
"Yeah" Noah said as he started to run around the kitchen in circles, "honey I know your excited but its time for bed."
"Okay" Noah called out as he ran up the stairs.
"I'll read you a story in a minute" Meredith exchanged a grin with Cristina, "get dressed in your pjs and i'll come right up."
"Yes mommy" Meredith sat down and smiled as Cristina pushed a warm bowl of spaghetti and meatballs in front of her, "so Noah is going to his first party."
"He is" Meredith said as she thanked Cristina for the delicious food in front of her and started to hungrily eat, "he's going to love it and i'm going to love it to."
"Watching your kid make friends must be a wonderful thing."
"It is wonderful and i'm going to do whatever it takes to make sure it continues."
Cristina put her arms on the counter as her eyes twinkled at Meredith, "your not just saying that because of Ally's daddy are you?"
Meredith quickly looked up, "what do you mean?"
"Have you noticed the way he looks at you."
"He looks at me fine" Meredith muttered.
"Its obvious he's interested in you."
"Cristina" Meredith said as she let out a forced chuckle, "please me and Derek are good friends."
"Well sometimes the best relationships grow out of friendships."
Meredith cleared her throat and Cristina nodded, "okay I will say no more so what are you planning to get little Ally for her birthday."
Meredith sat on a kitchen stool as she ran a spoon through the meatballs, "Ally really needs some decent clothes every time I see her she's always wearing second hand old torn outfits so i'm getting her some tea shirts, a few jumpers, some jeans, shorts, sunglasses and sandles for the summer. Ally could use some new shoes to the ones she has on have holes in the toes. I also saw a dancing ballerina toy not to long ago in the store so i'll get that and a nice cake would..."
"Meredith" Cristina said as she read over the piece of paper Noah had received, "sorry to inturput but have you read this invitiation."
"Its at mcdonalds in two weeks."
Cristina handed Meredith the invitation, "look at the theme for the party." Meredith read through the invitation twice and felt her eyes burning with anger as she read, make your own presents for Ally no bought presents, "is Derek serious?"
Cristina shrugged, "maybe its a shepherd thing."
Meredith threw the invitation on the counter and twisted her face in disgust, "Ally's going to get drawings for her birthday and paper planes maybe a lousy cootie catcher."
"Well" Cristina said as she showed an uneasy smile, "those things can be a lot of fun."
"Its ridiculous" Meredith hissed as she grabbed her homephone off the hook, "that cheapskate."
"Meredith" Cristina said in a gentile voice, "he's not exactly rolling in dough."
"I don't care" Meredith replied as she started to dial, "if he doesn't have enough money than i'll give him some i'm going to give him a piece of my mind."
Meanwhile in a trailer house far away Derek was sitting on the edge of a bathtub watching Ally playing with her toys in the water, he picked up the shampoo and patted Ally's wet shoulder to get her attention, "okay ally cat now this is the part that everyone hates."
Ally nodded, "squeeze my eyes really tight."
"That's right" Derek said as he rubbed shampoo in Ally's yellow hair, "and now take a deep breath and go for a dive."
"Going under" Ally said as she submerged Derek watched all the shampoo forming in the water and he nodded, "good girl you got all the shampoo out here dry your eyes."
Ally popped her head back up and dried her eyes on the towel her daddy had given her, "daddy look at all the bubbles."
"Yeah there's hundreds of bubbles."
"Watch this" Ally moved her hands quickly through the water making humming noises,
"Its like a big boat in the bathtub" Derek said as he felt his phone buzzing in his pocket, "lets get your clothes and hang on" Derek opened it up, "hello."
"Derek its me" a women's voice hissed.
"Who's me" Derek asked.
"Meredith who else."
"Meredith" Derek said as he looked at Ally playing with the toys she had got from a happy meal and walked out of the bathroom, "is everything okay?"
"I just read the invitation to Ally's birthday party."
"And your angry because?"
"What kind of a theme is that."
Derek felt his heart sink as he realised what Meredith was talking about, "Meredith let me explain."
"Derek if you need money i'll give you money, Ally deserves more than a tinfoil hat for her birthday."
"Meredith I know it was Ally's idea."
"Derek" Meredith's voice sounded even more angry, "do you think i'm gullible enough to believe."
"Meredith" Derek said softly as he walked to his bedroom, "Ally's grandma had a tradition make presents for people because it is nicer than buying things and she passed it on to Ally while she was living there. I tried several times to convince Ally to let me buy her a disney castle lego set that I saved up for four months but every time I tried Ally said no because her grandma told her that making things is nicer."
"Derek are you lying to me?"
"I wish I was, it would make me feel better if I could convince my child to behave like a normal five year old for once and allow her parent to buy her a birthday present."
There was a loud sigh on the other end of the phone, "Derek I feel mean."
"Well I feel like a lousley father" Derek said as he sat down on his bed in the bedroom, "so i'm glad someone is telling me off."
"The other mothers aren't saying anything?"
"They're all thinking it they're just not saying it."
"Derek I don't know what to say."
Derek looked towards the bathroom where she heard his daughter humming a tune to herself and sighed, "if I buy her a chocolate cake will you not say anything to Ally or anyone else."
"It will be our secret me and Noah will make something nice i'll have to get a arts and craft book."
Derek smiled as he started to think about Meredith doing activities with her son, "how's Noah doing."
"Noah is very happy and he is really looking forward to the party."
"I bet he is, well I got to get my little chicken out of the tub so she can go to bed and roost." Derek heard loud laughter on the other end of the phone, "little chicken huh, well i'm going to read my little chicken a bedtime storybook."
"Right" Derek chuckled, "we're both very busy farmers."
"I'll talk to you soon."
"Yeah soon" Derek said as he felt a familiar thought entering his mind the only part he didn't enjoy about conversing with Meredith was saying goodbye, "goodnight."
"Goodnight" Meredith's voice said softly than the phone went dead and Derek closed his phone before walking back to the bathroom where Ally was grinning, "okay ready to get out of the tub."
Ally swam to the edge of the tub, "what were you and Meredith talking about?"
"Ally" Derek smiled gently, "you know your not supposed to ask me about me and Meredith anymore."
"But" Ally whispered before she grumbled, "okay."
Two weeks later
The last two weeks had been fun for Meredith she had spent her last weekend making sock puppets with Noah and talking with him about all the fun things he was going to do at Ally's birthday. Now the big day had finally arrived Meredith had spent the last two hours getting ready and when she was finally satisfied with her appearance she came down the stairs to get Cristina's opinion, "hey how do I look?"
Cristina looked at Meredith wearing a elgant blue dress with her best shoes and makeup and sighed, "Meredith its a kids birthday party not a royal ball."
Meredith looked at her brightly painted hands and felt her heart sinking to her naval she had been a mother for nearly a decade and she still felt like she didn't know how to behave like one, "to much" she said.
Cristina nodded, "you'll stick out like a sore thumb if you wear that outfit."
"Right I guess I just haven't done this in such a long time, I don't know what to wear."
Cristina folded away clothes in a wash basket and smiled gently, "just something casual, jeans, a shirt and some shoes, not high heels though and you don't need to worry about makeup."
"Right."
"And don't worry" Cristina grinned sheepishly, "Derek will think your beautiful no matter what you wear."
Meredith rolled her eyes, "hardy ha ha Cristina."
The sound of little feet on the stairs reached Meredith's ears and she turned around to look at her son, "mommy do I look funny?"
Meredith looked at the outfit she had put out for her son expensive jeans, bowler hat and a bowtie over a bright blue button up shirt and she turned to Cristina for advice,"I uh" Cristina gave Meredith a mortified glance and made a wedgie motion with her hands gripping her pants. Meredith got the hint, "you know what honey maybe we'll both change into something else."
They arrived an hour later at Mcdonalds and Meredith felt Noah's hand tugging hers, Meredith bent down to her little boy's height, "mommy."
Meredith saw the troubled look in Noah's eyes and she smiled lovingly as she put her hands around his small shoulders, "what are you thinking about?"
"What if they don't like me."
"Sweetheart I know they're going to like you."
"How do you know?"
Meredith kissed Noah's cheek, "because I like you."
Noah grinned, "you are supposed to like me mommy."
"Well yes, but do you know why I like you?"
"Because your my mommy."
"And because" Meredith picked Noah up and spun him around causing him to giggle, "you are a wonderful amazing special little dude and you are going to make friends and have fun."
"So will you mommy."
"Yeah" Meredith said as she felt nerves gripping her tightly, "and so will I so lets both be brave and go meet our new friends."
Derek was chatting with parents when he looked towards the door and saw Meredith walking through the door with Noah right beside her, he smiled widely and went to the entrance, "you made it."
Meredith gave Derek a one armed hug, "wild dinosaurs wouldn't have kept us from coming."
Derek breathed in the sweet smell of Meredith's perfume and smiled at the little boy beside Meredith, "hi Noah."
Noah looked up, "hi mr Derek."
"Just call me Derek champ."
Noah just smiled and nodded as a loud squeal sounded from the playground, "Noah" Ally called out, "we're playing hide and seek."
Noah looked at her mommy with excited eyes Meredith gave him an encouraging nod, "have fun sweetheart." Noah ran to play with the other kids and Meredith turned back to Derek, "well here we are."
"We are" Derek said, "uh here let me introduce you to the other parents."
A while later the children had been called in to watch Ally opening her presents Derek couldn't help but chuckle at Ally's expression on her face every time she unwrapped one of the simple handmade gifts her friends had brought her it made him wonder how she respond if she actually got something expensive for her birthday. After the opening of the presents Meredith had watched Noah running off with the other kids to play another game feeling her heart bursting with happiness than she felt a little hand brushing her waist and she looked at Ally holding the sock bunnies she and Noah had made for her. Ally waved them around, "Meredith can you help me put these on."
"Sure I can Ally here lie down and" Meredith put the first sock on smiling when Ally snorted as Meredith's fingers brushed the girl's foot, "and the other one" Meredith put the sock on halfway and gently tickled the girl's foot Ally laughed loudly and wriggled as Meredith laughed, "here hows that."
Ally stood up and stood on each foot before hugging Meredith's waist, "they're awesome."
"Happy birthday sweetheart" Meredith whispered as Ally hopped back to her friends, "Ally."
"Yeah" Ally said as she turned around and ran back. Meredith bent down, "you shouldn't run while your wearing these socks otherwise you'll trip."
Ally gave Meredith a salute, "safety first."
"Good girl." Meredith watched Ally going back to her friends and looked at the mothers standing around chatting. Meredith breathed hard and started to walk over to them to engage and connect with them. Than she started to hear from a distance what the women were talking about and she quickly turned back around to look inconspicuous, "you know I can't believe that man is still single he's a nice catch, he has Ally helping him and he still hasn't found a misses."
"Yeah" another mother said, "its a mystery."
The first mother nodded, "one of my friends at work I should introduce the two of them to each other sometime she loves the outdoors and they would really hit it off she has a daughter in year six that is great with younger children."
Meredith felt a pang of sudden anxiety, why am I feeling jealousy Derek's my friend he should be finding love and I should be happy for him not jealous why am I even.
"Meredith" a mother named Vivienne said, "the kids are just fine come over join us?"
"Yeah" Meredith muttered as she wandered over.
"You still haven't told us very much about yourself why don't you share."
"There's not much to tell" Meredith said, "Noah is my whole world."
"Ah" Vivienne said as she exchanged a quick glance with the other mothers though Meredith didn't notice she had already turned around to watch Noah smiling and running around with the other children, "well should we get all the kids together for the cake."
"Yeah" Meredith said as she looked around and realised her second favourite person at the party wasn't around, "hey where is Derek?"
"He's in the storeroom" a mother names Charlotte said, "setting up things."
"Well I i'll give him a hand" Meredith started to walk to the storeroom, "could you do me a favour if Noah sings out for me can you let me know."
"Of course hun" Vivienne said.
"Thank you" Meredith said as Vivienne started to talk with Charlotte.
Meredith wandered inside the storeroom and saw Derek bent over, "hey Derek's bum does Derek need a hand."
"Meredith" Derek said as he stood up in a panic and looked widely around, "hey ah yeah I can't find the candles anywhere and-"
"Derek" Meredith smiled, "try turning on the light."
"Right" Derek muttered as Meredith turned on the light bulb, "I should have done that."
"Derek" Meredith wandered closer to him, "your exhausting yourself again."
"I" Derek stammered.
"Derek" Meredith wrapped her arms gently around his shoulders, "look at me slow your breathing down and pretend you are in your most relaxed place."
"Right" Derek whispered as she felt relaxed comfortable and content with Meredith so close to him, "thank you i'm thinking clearly."
"Derek" a voice cried out.
"What" Derek said.
"Noah he's stuck."
"Noah" Meredith whispered as she ran out into the playground with Derek following her to see Noah stuck high on a ladder. Meredith quickly climbed and reached out her arms, "honey here."
"Mommy" Noah whispered in fright.
"I got you" Meredith whispered as Noah wrapped his arms in her embrace, "come on hold on to me... Ally wait don't."
"Ally" Derek ran to the playground and Meredith lowered Noah to Derek who put him down than she picked up Ally and lowered her down before she stumbled with a yelp as Derek caught her in her arms. Meredith breathed heavily and clutched her heart as Derek leaned in close, "you okay?"
"You" Meredith said as she ventilated, "I."
"Just imagine you are in your most relaxed place" Derek smirked and Meredith smiled, "oh shut up" Meredith said as the crowd clapped and Meredith started to blush, "Derek you can put me down now."
"Yeah" Derek lowered Meredith onto her feet, "well I better get the cake."
"Right" Meredith said as she bent down to hug her son, "honey are you okay?"
Noah looked at Meredith with wide wonder filled eyes, "your a hero mom."
"No" Meredith said firmly, "just a mother who was very scared by her son. Noah you need to be more careful you could have fallen and hurt yourself that equipment is for the older children."
Noah looked at the ground, "sorry mommy."
"The next time you think about going on big equipment what do you do?"
"Ask you first."
"Read the sign" Meredith said in a softer tone of voice, "that says how old you need to be before you go on the equipment."
"Okay" Noah said.
"Okay" Meredith kissed his cheek, "now go have fun." Noah went with his new friends inside as Meredith relaxed until little giggles caught her attention, "Meredith."
"And you" Meredith said to the little girl beside her, "miss Ally shouldn't have come after us."
"But Noah was in trouble."
"And you got into trouble."
"And you saved me to and then daddy saved you."
"Yeah" Meredith nodded as Derek organised all the people inside, "your daddy did save me."
"So" Ally said.
"So?"
"This is the part" Ally said as she put her hands together and made a silly facial expression, "where you say my hero."
"Oh" Meredith said with an amused smirk, "I do do I."
Ally nodded, "un huh, and then you kiss daddy."
"Ally" Meredith chuckled, "I don't think i'm going to do that."
Ally started to give Meredith her best puppy dog expression, "please."
"Ally the puppy dog eyes don't work on me."
"Please" Ally said as she took Meredith's hands in her own.
"Ally" Meredith smiled, "no."
"But its my birthday."
"Ally."
"Okay" Derek called out, "who's ready for the cake."
"The cake" Ally muttered as she walked inside with Meredith right behind her. Ally looked around her and smiled with excitement as Derek lit the candles.
"Okay Ally" Derek put his hands on her shoulders, "blow out the candles and make a wish" Ally looked at Meredith then at Derek and smiled as she blew them out.