Noah happily swang Meredith's arm all the way as the pair of them walked up the steps to Derek's house and knocked on the door. A few moments later Derek had opened the door and Noah drew his arms around his waist, "hey champ" Derek picked Noah up, "you ready for a great weekend."

Noah thrusted his small fist in the air, "i'm pumped."

Meredith let out a small groan as she thought of the upcoming torture she was going to endure, "i'm glad one of us is pumped."

"I reckon" Derek said as he carried Noah inside, "when we get out there we'll all be pumped."

"Than we might have to do something different" Meredith muttered as she came in carrying a large suitcase, "such as go to the movies."

"Meredith its a family tradition that we Shepherds have that once a year before winter hits we go camping Ally has fun and Noah's going to have the time of his life and I reckon when you get out there among the fresh air and the wild you'll... Meredith didn't you bring a backpack?"

Meredith raised her arm, "I got a suitcase."

"Meredith how are you going to carry a suitcase to the camping ground?"

"We take a little invention called the car and drive there."

"Meredith" Derek said in a sympathetic tone, "we're not driving there."

Meredith's eyes grew wide with fear, "you mean we're walking there from here."

"Yep" Derek said with a grin.

"Derek."

"I'm kidding we're going to go to the camping site and then we go for a short walk to the campsite ground."

"Derek" Meredith said loudly.

"Don't worry" Derek said as he thought to himself this is going to be a long weekend, "i'll carry the suitcase you can carry your handbag."

"Ally still has a broken arm Derek do you think this is a good idea?"

"There's lots of things you can do outdoors even with a broken arm."

"We're going to go fishing" Noah pipped up.

"Yeah fishing Noah and we'll go out on my mate's boat and go looking for dolphins and wales and we'll tell stories around a campfire."

Meredith shrugged, "that's doesn't sound to bad."

Derek grinned, "and we'll go hiking up big mountains."

"Derek no."

"Just kidding" Derek raised his hands in a peaceful motion, "Ally can't go hiking anyway until her arm get better."

Noah looked at Derek with eager eyes, "can I go hiking up big mountains?"

"Yeah you know what we can, Meredith do you have any hiking boots?"

Meredith grumbled, "just my sneakers."

"Well I guess it will be fine if your not going hiking."

"You guess" Meredith said uneasily.

There was a loud woosh and Meredith saw a teenage girl carrying Ally through the house while Ally was grinning and laughing. Meredith lifted an eyebrow and Derek took the hint, "ah yeah and that's Ally's new babysitter Mia."

Mia carried Ally back into the kitchen, "Meredith" Ally said with a grin.

Mia put Ally down and Meredith gave her a hug, "you look like your having fun."

"Mia is lots of fun" Meredith looked up at Mia wearing a casual expression blonde hair streaked with red and blue several tattoes on her arms and body a teashirt that read whatever on the front and a face that was pretty and said I don't care what you think of me. Meredith had a ominous feeling in her gut but she didn't want to betray it she knew you shouldn't judge anyone by appearance. Meredith stood up and extended her hand, "hello i'm Meredith."

"Sup" Mia said without shaking Meredith's hand before she looked at Noah, "hey little dude what's your name?"

"Noah" Noah said shyly as he walked over.

"Hey i'm Mia we're playing a game of superheroes you want to join in."

"Cool" Noah said with a smile.

"Alright come on chickadees" the kids followed Mia and a few minutes later they were laughing Meredith smiled at Derek, "well you found a babysitter than."

"Yeah she's great" Derek said, "Ally loves hanging out with her she never stops playing with her, she's quite cheap to."

Meredith pulled up a chair, "how much."

"She works three dollars an hour."

Meredith gave Derek a glare, "Derek."

"I know" Derek said he looked very guilty, "I offered her five dollars an hour but she said three and she insisted, no matter what I couldn't get her to change her mind and then I tried to give her a twenty for all her hard work yesterday and she just said and I quote dude give it to a charity case, she sounds just like Ally."

"Well" Meredith pointed to a large pink backpack, "her backpack is here why don't you slip something in it."

"You know what I think I will" Derek took out a twenty and unzipped the backpack, "god."

"What" Meredith said as she walked over.

"This backpack stinks" Derek for a second looked hard at the backpack until Meredith put a hand on his shoulder, "don't even think about it we're not sneaking through a teenager's belongings."

"Your right" Derek said as he put the twenty in the bag and zipped it up, "done and dusted."

"So dude give it to a charity case" Meredith chuckled as she imagined it, "she sounds rude in a funny kind of way."

"Ally thinks she is hilarious" Derek pulled up a chair, "and sometimes I do to I must admit."

"Well its great you found a good babysitter so quickly, did you see the news last night."

"I sure did" Derek took a sip of his tea, "that crime ring in New York is becoming more and more famous."

"Its good that its not in Seattle."

"Yeah" Derek said softly as his eyes clouded with the thoughts of the live coverage, "although I would feel better if it wasn't in New York."

"Your family" Meredith said simply.

"They insist everything is fine" Derek's face shone with worry, "but I still worry about my mum she's not as energetic as she used to be she's going to have a heart attack one of these days... if she doesn't give me one first."

"New York is a big place" Meredith whispered with a gentile smile, "and it doesn't mean that criminals will get to your family."

"I guess not" Ally and Noah ran through the house wearing capes made out of towles and Meredith sighed, "Ally can you be careful running through the house."

Ally stopped running and started to pout with her lips, "why?"

"Because you have a broken arm" Meredith said, "and if you trip and fall your arm will be more broken so please don't be running."

Ally groaned and started to walk quickly Meredith smiled, "I think Ally is starting to get sick of my over protectiveness."

"She knows you do it because you care and I do it a fair bit myself with her so she is used to it, besides when i'm up in the mountains with Noah i'll be bugging him and he'll probably be groaning at me."

Meredith chuckled, "compared to the days when he called you Mr Derek Noah now likes you so much I sometimes think he wants to live with you in your house, so I don't think there is anything you could do that would make him complain."

"Oh" Derek said as he tried to hide his flattery, "well i'm sure there's got to be something, does he ever groan?"

"I don't think he ever has" Meredith furrowed her face, "its bizzare."

"Well not every kid constantly moans and complains."

"I guess not" Meredith leaned in close, "just don't be doing what I tried to do with Ally."

"What" Derek said confused, "oh you mean the time you tried to get Ally to stay with you in your house."

"If Noah runs away to your place, i'm going to come running to get him."

"With a fishing net?" Derek grinned.

Meredith sniggered, "hopefully I won't need one."

"Well than you could live here to."

"I suppose" Meredith said she couldn't help but smile at the thought of it.

"I mean, the tv here isn't as big as yours."

"Derek" Meredith took Derek's hand in her own, "you know what you've taught me."

"That you should bring a backpack when you go camping?"

"Apart from that" Meredith smiled, "you've taught me that the best things in life are free."

"Really" Derek said as he leaned in, "such as..."

"This" Meredith leaned in close and footsteps sounded Meredith quickly drew back, "i'm getting tired of keeping this a secret."

"I know how you feel" Derek said sympatically, "but Ally she would be on our backs every day."

"And Noah I think he would be okay but with Ally he might start doing what she's doing."

"Two Ally's" Derek said, "that would be a big challenge."

"Still" Meredith paused, "I think."

"We're ready" Derek finished.

"Why don't we tell them after the camping trip."

"Why after and not during?"

"Because" Meredith gave Derek an ominous smile, "if you make me do anything I hate during this camping trip I might end our relationship."

Derek grinned, "well i'll cross bear hunting off our list."

"Are there bears?" Meredith cried out.

"No Meredith" Derek said before winking, "well maybe."

Meredith gritted her teeth "i'm not going to say anything, i'm not going to be a fish on a hook."

Derek made a whistle with his fingers and Noah and Ally came into view with Mia bringing up the rear, "right kids ready to go?"

"Mia we're going camping" Mia smiled at Ally, "that sounds so cool bumblebee I wish I was going."

Noah grabbed Derek's hand with a excited look, "Derek can Mia come?"

"Noah" Derek ruffled Noah's hair, "I don't think there's enough room in the truck."

"I can sit on Mia" Ally piped up, "than they'll be room."

Mia made a face, "what am I a big cushion?"

Ally giggled, "yes."

"Oh" Mia smirked, "cheeky one sorry kiddo but I got to get back to my folks place, although d man if you need someone to watch the place, water the plants, collect your mail I could housit for you if you like."

Meredith looked at Derek "d man?"

Derek cleared his throat, "Its what she calls me."

Meredith laughed, "she calls you d man."

"Hey" Mia looked at Meredith, "your a doctor right."

"I am."

"Sweet" Mia flashed Meredith a wide smile, "I can call you doc and d man."

Meredith struggled not to chuckle while Derek rolled his eyes, "don't call us doc and d man, Mia why do you want to be housesitting?"

"Well" Mia gave a shrug, "it will give me a chance to get my homework done."

"Have you got a noisy house?"

"You could say that" Mia muttered, "I got two loud parents and five younger brothers, so what do you say i'll camp out on the couch."

"Well alright" Derek said, "i've trusted you so far."

"Sweet" Ally and Noah giggled, "thanks d man."

"Just don't have any parties when we're gone" Derek turned to Meredith, "well shall we go?"

"Okay d man" Ally said.

"Not you to, its dad Allison."

"Its Ally daddy" Ally grinned, "not Allison."

Three hours later Meredith was trying to walk over rocks while keeping an eye on Noah as the four of them made their way to the camping site, "I can't believe people do this for fun."

"This is lots of fun" Noah hopped over a bolouder like a division 1 gymnast in a obstancle course and Meredith let out another moan, "well maybe for you Noah you got more energy than a pack of batteries."

"Is that a lot?" Noah said.

"It isn't when your five" Meredith muttered as she strained her back, "god I need to do yoga or something."

"Look at all the birds" Ally said.

"They're so many of them" Noah said with wide eyes as he looked up into the trees.

"Daddy what are those birds called?"

"I can't really tell Ally" Derek checked his map, "they're to far away."

"They're singing to each other" Noah said.

"Ahhh" a loud voice said in the distance.

"What was that" Ally said looking around.

"Its just Meredith" Derek said as he realised she had fallen behind, "she's tripped over a rock." Derek walked back and saw Meredith sprawled on the rocks wearing a frown, "how you doing honey?"

Meredith grumbled, "how far away is the camping ground?"

"About another half hour" Derek shrugged as he helped Meredith to her feet.

"Derek" Meredith whispered, "your going to have to do a lot of me if you expect to survive this weekend."

"Well remember the other day how you said I do a lot of things for you, well that's reason enough not to strangle me in the dark."

"Daddy" Ally poked her face up from the other side of the rocks, "its going to be dark by the time we get there."

"Ally" Derek helped Meredith over the large pile of rocks, "Meredith isn't used to the outdoors we got to be a bit patient."

"Can you carry her" Ally asked.

"Well" Derek looked at Meredith for guidance, "if you don't mind carrying my backpack."

"Just lift me up" Meredith grumbled.

"Okay okay" Derek said as Meredith climbed onto his back.

A few hours later after they had set up tents Derek was cooking dinner over a fire while the kids were making up spooky stories and Meredith was slapping herself, "Derek what is this the feeding ground for mossies?"

Derek tried hard not to laugh as he watched Meredith hitting her face, "try putting on some insect repellent."

"I am" Meredith sprayed herself again, "its not working."

"Meredith" Derek took the bottle and looked at it, "this is vinegar the mossies love this."

Meredith grumbled as Derek with a chuckle handed her the insect repellent from the backpack.

"Mommy are you having fun?" Meredith looked at Noah wearing a grin and she smiled an evil smile, "you know what we're going to be doing when we get back to civilisation, a big day of clothes shopping."

"No" Noah said dramatically as he threw himself on the ground as Ally and Derek laughed.

"Yes" Meredith smiled, "hours and hours of clothes shopping trying on everything in the entire shop won't that be fun."

"No" Noah said loudly.

They had food and after Ally and Noah went into the tent Meredith and Derek had made their way into another tent Meredith took off her sneakers and socks and as she nestled into her sleeping bag she felt a cold breeze assaulting her body, "Derek why is there such a draft?"

"Because" Derek said as he climbed into his sleeping bag, "I didn't fix all the holes in the tent."

Meredith felt the breeze tickling her neck and she shivered, "I can't believe i'm out here doing this."

Derek closed his eyes, "you've said that to me ten times today."

"Well i'm going to say it fifty times tomorrow."

"Meredith" Derek sat up and sighed, "everyone is having fun and you're doing nothing but complaining."

"Well Derek" Meredith complained, "i'm cold i'm wet and i'm dirty."

"Well" Derek made a face, "you got to get cold and wet and dirty that's the only way to camp."

Meredith looked at Derek and sighed, "i'm not being much fun am I?"

"Not as much fun as you usually are."

"I'm sorry your right I should at least pretend to be having fun Noah and Ally are really enjoying themselves" Meredith smiled, "and I am looking forward to seeing dolphins."

Derek nodded, "now your getting into the spirit."

"You know as long as we're here" Meredith eyes twinkled, "and we're alone."

"Now i'm getting into the spirt" Derek kissed Meredith and wrapped an arm around her waist until there was a pat on the door and Meredith saw a small shadow, "mommy."

"Noah" Meredith opened the door and quickly lifted Noah inside, "what's wrong?"

"There's a dinosaur in our tent."

"There's a what" Derek said.

"A dinosaur" Noah said excitedly.

"Noah where's Ally" Meredith said.

"She's playing with it" Noah ran out the tent, "come and see."

Meredith looked out the tent and screamed as she saw a big lizard poking its head out of the children's tent she bolted out of her tent and picked up a big stick, "get out of here, get out go go go go."

Ally watched the lizard run into the bushes and looked at Meredith with sad eyes, "Meredith your scared the dinosaur away."

"Kids" Meredith quickly drew Noah and Ally in her arms, "are you okay?"

"Yeah" Noah said with a grin, "why."

"Right" Meredith took the kids hands, "you two are coming in the tent with us."

"Meredith" Derek stuck his head out, "there's not enough room."

"I don't care" Meredith quickly stopped Ally from turning around, "they can sleep on me i'm not leaving them alone with the wildlife that will be eating their fingers like their maccas french fries."

"Meredith" Derek said with a sigh, "there's nothing here that can hurt them."

"Yeah" Meredith challenged Derek, "what about snakes?"

"There aren't any snakes here."

"Derek are there holes in their tent."

"No" Derek said.

"Oh right" Meredith said with clenched teeth, "they're just holes in our tent."

"Meredith your being ridiculous" Derek turned to the kids, "kids don't let animals into the tent."

"Okay" Noah said.

"Good go back to bed" Derek said.

"Night daddy" Ally said.

"Fine" Meredith glared at Derek, "but if I wake up tomorrow to find something has eaten the kids i'm going to throw you to the wildlife as dessert."

Ally stared at Derek as Meredith got into the tent, "why is Meredith having a cow?"

"Because camping and her don't mix, goodnight kids."

Derek grinned, "Meredith the lizard wasn't that big."

"Just leave me alone" Meredith grumbled.

Noah and Derek went off early the next morning for hiking and after getting a sleep in Meredith woke up in a much better mood to find Ally crawling on her, "hey sweetheart."

Ally crawled up and sprawled on top of Meredith, "what are we going to do today?"

"Well" Meredith brushed Ally's hair with her fingers, "we could walk along the beach and look for pretty shells."

Ally faked a yawn and Meredith smirked, "okay little miss excitement what should we do?"

"Lets bury you in the sand."

Meredith thought back to the time Derek had been buried in the sand and she looked at a grinning Ally, "you know I don't think we should."

"But its fun."

"Its fun for you not so much fun for the grownups you tickle torture" Meredith took Ally's hand in her own, "with those tickle torturous little fingers of yours."

"Okay" Ally muttered, "lets do the boring thing."

"Or we could go to the wildlife park" Meredith suggested.

"And get icecream."

Meredith smiled it was the first time she had seen Ally asking for anything and it made Meredith feel proud of herself somehow, "and get icecream."

Derek watched Noah jumping over rocks as he tried to keep up, "hey spiderman let me catch up."

Noah grinned, "are we near the top?"

"We're very close" Derek said as he and Noah walked a few more hundred meters and saw a amazing site a view of the lake and the forest overflowing with vitality. Derek lifted Noah up on to his shoulders, "well champ what do you think?"

"I can see the world" Noah said.

"Well not the whole world but out there there is a lot of big mountains and amazing views to see all over the world."

"I want to see them all."

"And one day you can."

"Can you see them with me?"

"I reckon I just got to save up some money" Derek looked up at Noah the closest thing he had to a son, "and we'll go see some amazing things."

"Derek" Noah said as he climbed onto Derek's back.

"Yeah mate."

Derek felt a kiss on his cheek and he smiled, "thank you."

"Your welcome Noah."

Ally and Meredith were laughing as they got icecream, "that lliama was really funny making faces."

Meredith chuckled as she watched Ally immiate the animal and Ally grinned, "this was fun."

"It was a lot of fun" Meredith said, "seeing the animals you know Amber and I used to" Meredith stopped as her happiness suddenly evaporated, "never mind" she whispered.

Meredith and Ally got icecream and ate them silently until Ally said, "was Amber nice?"

"She was very nice Ally" Meredith said as memories bloomed in her mind, "she loved butterflies and looking for shells on the beach, I think she and you would have been good friends."

Ally hopped from her chair and grabbed Meredith's hand, "Meredith lets look for shells on the beach."

Meredith gave Ally a funny look, "you told me it was boring."

"It is" Ally said, "but you want to do it."

"You're a sweetheart Ally."

"Is that good."

"It is very good."

Meredith and Ally made their way along the beach, "what else did Amber do?"

"Amber and I" Meredith smiled it somehow felt good talking about it with Ally, "actually I was so busy with work that I rarely had time to do anything with her."

"That's what Noah says."

Meredith bent down to Ally's level, "does Noah says that?"

"He says you used to work all the time" Ally looked at Meredith with a grown up expression, "and not see him but now you do."

"I think its thanks to you and your dad" Meredith whispered, "if I hadn't met the two of you I don't think I would have ever had the time to play with Noah."

"We did a good thing?"

"You did" Meredith said as drew Ally into a hug.