Meredith heard the alarm clock and as she rolled over in bed she prepared herself for Noah leaping on to her bed, she waited for a long time patiently waiting but her little boy did not come and with concern Meredith got out of bed wrapped a robe around her nightdress and wandered to her son's bedroom, "Noah" she knocked on the door, "do you know what day it is today?"

"I'm sick mommy" a voice called through the door.

Meredith opened the door and saw Noah wrapped up in a blanket coughing, "poor little guy you were so well yesterday."

"Yeah" Noah said as he did two more coughs, "now i'm really really sick."

"You are very sick" Meredith said with a smirk, "do you need the tickle treatment?"

Noah laughed and smiled as he shook his head.

"Oh I think you do need it" Meredith reached out her hand, "the operation claw" Noah laughed loudly as the claw tickled his tummy "and now for the blow procedure." Meredith lifted up her son's shirt and pressed her mouth to Noah's belly blowing hard Noah giggled like crazy, "and you're all better."

"Nope" Noah said as he started to cough, "still sick."

"Okay" Meredith lied down on the bed and lifted her son onto her lap, "is Noah sick because he's scared about starting school today?"

Noah stared into his mom's eyes before he slowly nodded, "yeah."

Meredith kissed her son's cheek, "honey do you remember how excited you were about starting school. Ally has told you all about school, all the fun things you get to do and you haven't stopped talking about it all weekend."

"Yeah" Noah said as he snuggled into Meredith's embrace.

"So you're going to have a wonderful time" Meredith whispered as he lied down with Noah in her arms, "and then you'll realise it's not so scary after all and Ally will be at the school to, you can see her during lunch."

"But Ally's in a big kids class and i'm not."

"Ally's only a year older than you Noah you can still see her during lunch, and you'll make new friends you can see them during lunch to."

"What if a big kid eats me?"

"I don't think that's going to happen because little boys" Meredith sat up and pressed her mouth to Noah's belly making loud snuffling sounds while Noah laughed and wriggled before Meredith delivered a zubert as Noah squealed, "taste like feet."

Noah grinned, "okay."

"Okay" Meredith kissed Noah and hopped out of bed, "get your clothes on they're right on the chair."

A half hour later Noah was standing at the entrance to a huge building all around him children were chatting and filing into the school. Noah started to cling to his mum's leg, "mommy i'm still scared."

"Everyone is a little scared" Meredith said softly as she bent down, "all you have to do is follow the other kids into your classroom and then everyone will sit down and start doing fun things then you won't be scared anymore."

"Who are the kids in my classroom?"

"That's a good question" Meredith could see big kids and kids who were little but looked older than Noah, "I don't see other kids your age."

"What if i'm the only one?" Noah whispered in fear.

"Sweetheart you're not going to be the only kindergarten in the school."

"Meredith" Meredith looked around and just in time let go of Noah's hand as she felt Ally flying into her arms and a wide smile on her face, "it's a bird it's a plane no it's Ally."

"It's me" Ally said with a grin as she wrapped her arms around Meredith's neck, "hi Noah."

"Hi Ally" Noah grinned as Meredith put Ally down on the pavement and the two of them started to chase each other around Meredith's legs laughing.

"Hey" Derek came running into sight carrying his tool belt and a second hand pink schoolbag, "sorry my kid runs like a bullet."

"She sure does" Meredith said as she smiled lovingly at the children and struggled to keep her balance, "can you two stop running around me before I fall on top of you."

The kids stopped the game of chasings and Ally climbed up into Derek's arms, "are you coming to big school Noah?"

Noah took Meredith's hand, "i'm going to kindergarten."

"Oh" Derek said with a sympathetic smile, "this is the wrong place."

"Right" Meredith said with a sigh she felt like a balloon that had just been punctured, "can you tell us where the place is."

"Its across the street" Ally said as she pointed her finger, Meredith looked around and saw a number of small children walking down the road and into a large blue building, "oh dear I got the buildings mixed up, well Noah why don't we walk over there."

"Can I come to" Ally piped up.

"Ally" Derek said, "you're going to be late for your first day of school."

"But I want to help Noah."

"Ally" Derek said firmly, "you're going to go to school and me and Meredith will help Noah."

"Okay" Ally muttered as she wriggled to get down from Derek's arms and started to run, "bye citizens."

"Hold on hold on" Derek quickly caught Ally, "don't you want me to walk in the school with you?"

"Um" Ally looked up at the building and gulped, "yes please."

"Well" Derek said.

"I'll take Noah to school" Meredith smiled at her son, "and you can take Ally."

Derek nodded, "i'll meet you over there in a second."

"Bye" Noah waved.

"Bye" Ally waved back.

"Bye sweetie" Meredith smiled at Ally and started to walk Noah across the road, "you see Noah Ally was scared about going to school to but she knows that once she goes to school she'll be having the time of her life.

Noah took a deep breath as he stared at the small blue building and started to walk inside before Meredith gently stopped him, "honey let me kiss you goodbye."

"Oh sorry" Noah said, Meredith kissed his little cheek and he clung to Meredith who gently hugged him to her chest, "it's okay you're going to love it."

"Mommy can I come with you?"

"Sweetheart why would you want to sit in a boring hospital all day when you can be at school."

"You'll be there."

Meredith's heart melted and for a moment she was considering taking Noah with her but she fought back the urge to wrap up her son in cotton wool and instead took his little hands in her own, "honey do you remember going to Ally's birthday party you were scared than to, but then you summoned all the courage you had and you went to the party and you had a great time, the same thing is going to happen at school."

"Yeah" Noah nodded.

"And after school Derek will pick you up and you can have a fun night with him and Ally at his house, you've never been to Derek's house before and you're going to have a great time."

"And then i'll see you the next morning."

"Yes and you can tell me all about the fun exciting things you got to do at school."

"I'm going to do it" Noah said loudly.

"That's my boy."

Noah kissed Meredith's cheek, "love you mom."

"I love you so much" Meredith said as she smiled as widely as she could, "go have fun."

Meredith watched Noah walking into the school the little boy turned around and waved. Meredith waved back before Noah disappeared into the classroom as Derek came walking behind Meredith, "well Noah made it."

Meredith turned around and gave him a kiss on the lips, "i'm glad you two were here otherwise we would have been walking around that big building for hours trying to find a classroom that was across the road."

"You didn't read the school bulletin?"

"No" Meredith admitted inside she was kicking herself for not reading the essential school documents that every new parent should have read, "I never have time to read anything apart from confidential patient files."

"Well if you want" Derek started to walk with Meredith down the street, "I can catch you up on big things that are happening at the school when we meet up."

"That would be great, it seems I thank you for a lot of things but I don't do anything to return the favour."

"That's not true" Derek said with a slightly embarrassed smirk, "what did I do give you directions anyone could have done that."

Meredith wrapped Derek's hand in her own, "and you've made my son the happiest little boy in the world."

"Yeah but you've brought my daughter clothes."

"Yeah" Meredith muttered bluntly, "great achievement."

"And you made sure I stayed in hospital when I collapsed at work in the hospital garden."

"Anyone could have done that, it wasn't even difficult you didn't put up much of a struggle before you gave in to my will."

"Hey" Derek shrugged, "I was putting up a pretty big struggle."

Meredith leaned in close and wrapped her arm around him, "I did have sedation handy."

"Well you buy the grapes I like, which makes having lunch at your house a plus."

"Oh" Meredith chuckled, "is that the reason why you like having lunch with me."

"Well there's other things" Derek said as Meredith chuckled before Derek kissed her, "there's a nice woman at your house that I like to see."

"I'll tell Cristina you said that."

Derek laughed with Meredith, "so we're both heading to the same place I got to check up on the hospital garden and you need to check up on the citizens of Seattle."

"Can we meet for lunch?" Meredith said as she fiddled in her bag for her car keys.

"You know i'm going to be covered in dirt."

"We can have lunch in the garden, now go and make the world a greener place."

Later that morning Arizona put down her coffee as she sat with Meredith looking out the window, "so how are things going with Mr Derek."

"Well" Meredith said softly, "we have interesting dates at closed down restaurants and in hospital gardens, most of the time we're out its with the children although it's still fun. He always makes me feel I can't even describe it I love being with him hopefully he's not going to something stupid to ruin it."

Arizona took a sip out of her mug, "what could he do wrong?"

"I don't know" Meredith said softly she loved her relationship with Derek and a part of her was scared that something could happen that would ruin things, "maybe collapse in the garden again and end up in a hospital bed I prefer when he takes care of me than when I take care of him."

Arizona chuckled, "I don't think that's true I remember the wide wicked grin on your face the last time he was your hospital patient."

Meredith sniggered, "it's not as fun the second time round, you know what I don't even know what i'm saying i'm just going to say he makes me feel happy and in the end that's all that matters."

"What about love" Arizona smiled at her mentor, "does that matter?"

"We're not there yet" Meredith barely more than whispered, "not by a long shot we've only been together two months."

"But you think you will get there eventually don't you?"

"Well" Meredith smiled at Arizona her student was young and she had a slightly naive view of love she believed love could conquer anything something Meredith used to believe before her husband passed away there were some things love could not win against, "I have a hunch now if you excuse me I got a date in the daffodils."

Meredith wandered outside and saw Derek dripping in sweat swinging a shovel and she rolled her eyes, "Derek for god's sake will you ease up."

"Yeah" Derek gasped as he struggled to stand, "right sorry."

"Have a drink" Meredith got out Derek's water bottle from his portable esky, "come sit down you're all sweaty."

"Yeah hold on."

Derek took a massive swig of water and sat on a log catching his breath. Meredith placed the esky beside him before sitting on it watching Derek catching his breath, "so are you ready to talk?"

"Talk" Derek smiled, "now why should we talk when I have something better for our lips to do." Derek kissed her passionately and Meredith closed her eyes as she kissed him back, "how did I end up with someone as wonderful as you" he whispered.

"Well" Meredith smirked, "after Ally nagged you fifty thousand times to make a move you worked up the courage and asked me out."

"Ha ha" Derek said with a grin, "well let me show you something that took more thought than courage."

Derek opened a box and Meredith gasped as she looked inside and saw a bracelet made of shiny stones that seemed to glow in the dark box, "Derek it's beautiful."

"Well it is your birthday."

Meredith kissed his cheek, "you remembered my birthday."

"Of course, am I the only one so far who has wished you a happy birthday?"

"Well I wasn't going to tell Noah he already had a lot on his plate today, and being reminded that I am now mid thirties by everyone isn't the most pleasant thought in the world."

"Well" Derek said as he closed the box, "make sure you tell someone else."

"Cristina knows, I didn't ask her to do anything but she might have made me a cake anyway about this bracelet, you're quite talented with your hands."

"You know what else is talented."

Meredith sniggered, "don't tell me your lips."

Derek shrugged, "In some cultures It's customary to give the man a kiss after he bestows his fair lady with a present."

"Than thou shall be grated a kiss my good sir" Meredith kissed Derek again and hearing a phone she by instinct put her hand in her coat pocket.

"Emergency" Derek asked.

"Yeah" Meredith looked at her phone "sorry I think it's your phone."

"Shit" Derek picked up his phone and opened it up, "hi, hello" Derek's face went pale, "okay i'll be right there."

Meredith put her hand on his arm, "what's wrong?"

"Ally" Derek stood up and gathered up his belongings, "she fell off the jungle gym at school and the nurse thinks she's broken her wrist, i've got to go."

"Derek" Meredith said in a calm professional tone, "she needs to be brought to the hospital."

"Okay I will do that."

"And stay calm she'll be just fine."

A half an hour later Meredith heard the doors to the entrance open and she quickly ran to find a heart wrenching site, she saw Ally on the brink of tears clutching her arm and Derek with a gentile hand on her shoulder she bent down to Ally's heart and put a gentile hand on Ally's good arm, "what happened sweetheart?"

"Monkey bars" Ally whispered, "my arm hurts."

"Don't worry" Meredith said with a bright smile, "the nurses are going to fix it up and make it all better."

Ally looked up at Meredith with eyes that made Meredith want to wrap her tightly in her arms, "can you fix it?"

"Honey I could" Meredith whispered, "you know what why don't we both come and sit in the room with you."

Ten minutes later a nurse was wrapping Ally's arm in a bandage and preparing plaster with Meredith and Derek rubbing her shoulders, "okay stay still" Meredith said softly.

"Thank you" Ally said softly as the nurse finished she smiled, "it's my pleasure you're a very brave girl Ally."

"Thank you from me as well" Derek said, "well Ally your first plaster good news is we can draw on it i'll have to draw a few butterflies and write a few jokes, well I better get Ally home so she can rest."

"Derek" Meredith stopped Derek from opening the door, "why doesn't Ally stay in the hospital for the night."

"Is it really necessary" Derek asked, "Ally can sleep in her own bed."

"Well how are you going to have fun with my son and look after Ally at the same time?"

"You know" Derek said, "that's a good point but if it's just a broken arm, is the hospital able to keep her here overnight, I thought you needed a broken leg or something serious."

"I'll take care of that" Meredith said with a smile.

"Well I should go and get Noah" Derek kissed his daughter's forehead, "Ally i'll come by in a bit after i've picked up Noah, are you going to be okay staying here."

"Will Meredith be here?"

"I will" Meredith said in a soothing voice, "all night if you need me."

"Okay" Ally said as she started to smile, "bye daddy."

"Bye kiddo" Derek wandered out and Meredith gently took Ally's free hand, "alright let's get you into bed."

Meredith opened a door to a children's room and led Ally inside, "okay you have television and you have your water and it will soon be dinner so what would you like."

Ally scrunched up her forehead in concentration before she said, "a slice of toast."

Meredith with her eyes gave the little girl a funny look, "you can have toast for breakfast do you want fish and chips?"

"That's expensive" Ally muttered, "and it's not my birthday."

Meredith sniggered, "Ally you funny duck everything in this hospital is free."

"Oh" Ally grinned, "fish and chips please."

"Okay" Ally said as she settled in, Meredith turned on the television and read through her files while Ally stared at a cartoon occasionally asking Meredith a random question, half an hour later Meredith received a text and with a smile to Ally she walked outside and saw Derek coming down the hallway carrying a bag in one hand and Noah in the other.

"Hey" Derek called from down the hallway, "we're back."

Noah ran into Meredith's arms, "mommy I had the best day ever."

"I knew you would" Meredith said with a grin that showed all her teeth, "tell me all about it."

"First we did art" Noah counted the activities he did on his fingers, "then we did music then we played duck duck goose and then... mommy where's Ally?"

"Ally's sick honey she's staying in hospital for tonight."

"Oh" Noah looked around, "where is she."

"In here" Meredith opened the door and Noah walked slowly to the bed, "are you okay Ally?"

Ally slowly nodded, "yeah my arm is broken."

"Do you have a bandage?"

"No just this big white thingy."

"Yeah a big white thingy" Derek carried the bag over, "we brought your toys from home, how you feeling?"

Ally looked gloomy, "i'm okay."

Derek took her little hand in his, "let me guess you would rather be home then be here."

"Yeah."

"You know that if you were home you would be in bed and me and Noah we would get loud and crazy and be keeping you awake all night." Noah grinned as he thought about it and Ally gave a nod, "I need to stay here."

"Just one night" Derek raised one finger, "then you can come home tomorrow and i'm going to make you chicken soup."

"And toast" Ally asked eagerly.

"And lots of toast you'll be having so much toast we'll be calling you... well little miss toast."

Ally laughed as Derek lifted Noah up, "alright buddy we got a night of nerf guns ahead of us."

Noah continued to grin with excitement and Meredith felt a cold shiver running down her spine, "just make sure darts aren't flying into his eyes."

"Aye aye captain" Derek said in a pirate voice as he and Noah left waving at Ally.

A few hours later Meredith had managed to put a small dent into her paperwork and seeing that it was now eight thirty she walked down the hall to Ally's room and saw Ally bobbing her head up and down to the music of popeye the sailor man, Meredith knocked on the door to get the girl's attention, "hey sweetheart its bed time."

"Okay" Ally said as she turned off the television with the remote, Meredith tucked the girl in and looked at the mass of toys surrounding Ally, "you've got all your friends mr bear, piggly pig and" Meredith picked up a doll in her hands somehow this doll was familiar to this, "and who is this."

"This is Amber" Ally said.

"Amber" Meredith said softly as a range of memories came swirling back into her mind, "that's a interesting name where did you get that name from"

"It's her name its written here."

Meredith saw the name Amber written on the girl's shoe and she realised where this doll had come from, "Ally where did you get this?"

"I found it at your house."

"Ally" Meredith put the doll on the bed, "honey you shouldn't take things from other people's houses without asking first."

Ally looked immensely guilty, "I asked Noah if it was his toy and he said no he said I can have it."

"Right" Meredith nodded.

"Does this toy belong to a girl?"

"It did it belonged to Amber."

"Who's Amber?"

Meredith sat on the bed and took a silent deep breath before answering, "Amber's my daughter Ally."

Ally's eyes grew wide, "where is she can I meet her?"

Meredith brushed the hair off Ally's forehead, "she's in heaven Ally."

"Like grandma" Ally said slowly.

"Yes honey like grandma."

Ally stared at Meredith with sad eyes, "I stole Amber's doll."

"Honey Amber loved this doll and she really wanted someone to take care of it if she went to heaven."

Ally looked at the doll long and hard, "than i'll take care of it."

"Thank you sweetie" Meredith croaked as she struggled to fight back tears. Ally reached up a small hand and brushed Meredith's cheek, "Meredith why are you crying"

"I just miss Amber I cry sometimes when I think about her."

Tears came to the little girl's eyes, "I cry to when I miss grandma"

Meredith fought to regain her composure and brushed the tears off Ally's cheeks, "you know what your grandma and Amber they're in heaven but they're watching us all the time and when we go to heaven we'll see them again." Ally sniffed and wiped her eyes, "now go to sleep and dream nice things." Meredith turned off the bedside light and with a gentile hand on Ally's tummy she got up from the bed.

"Meredith."

"Yes sweetheart?"

Ally blinked in the dark, "if daddy goes to heaven before I do will you take care of me."

Meredith fought the urge to crush the girl to her chest in a loving hug and couldn't for the life of her think of the right thing to say she instead smiled, "get some sleep sweetheart."

"Okay" Ally whispered, Meredith stood still before she bent down and gently kissed the little girl's cheek. Ally smiled as Meredith rubbed her cheek with her hand before she walked out of the room and and softly closed the door feeling more emotional than she had been in a very long time.