The next couple of weeks Meredith and Derek spent most of their infrequent free time planning for their wedding. There was so much to think about and so many decisions to make. Meredith had been married before she had an idea of how much there was to organise and had some ideas about the best way to plan their wedding. Derek on the other hand Meredith quickly learned was completely clueless as to the complexities of planning a wedding.
"Why are we inviting so many people to this wedding" Derek muttered as he sat on the couch while looking at the guest list and scratching his head, "we'll have to cut down a entire forest to make all these invitations" he added.
"Well" Meredith said softly as she hugged her fiancé from behind, "you do have a very big family my love and more sisters then most people I have ever met. Then there's your friends from New York and our friends from here which is adding up to a lot of people."
"Its adding up to a small army."
"Derek when you asked me to marry you, did you think our wedding was going to be a small gathering with a couple of people and an alter?"
"Well" Derek said as one of his hands took Meredith's hand, "actually yeah when I first started to think about planning our wedding I was thinking some nice food and a few close friends and family and us getting married near a cliff overlooking the ocean, I didn't think it would be so huge."
"A cliff overlooking the ocean" Meredith whispered.
"Well" Derek said quickly, "I mean if you rather we get married in a church or somewhere else we can look at-"
"No" Meredith said with a smile, "I think that's a very nice idea."
"That's what you want?"
"Yes" Meredith kissed Derek's palm, "having that view on the horizon on a nice day it sounds perfect."
"And if it rains?"
"Then we'll bring umbrellas."
"Umbrellas" Derek smiled, "now your talking my game."
Meredith chuckled softly, "what else about our wedding has you thinking."
"Well this whole bridemaids thing" Derek said, "and the best man i'll ask my best mate from New York Greg to be my best man but who are going to be the bridesmaids?"
"Cristina, Arizona, Callie, your sister Amelia and of course Mia."
"Can we have five bridesmaids?"
"Well i'm not sure but whatever the rules are I don't care I think we should have all of them as our bridesmaids."
"You only just met Amelia" Derek turned around, "are you sure you want her as a bridesmaid?"
"When we spent Christmas together she and I really gelled, not to mention i'm still very appreciative of her rescuing Mia when she was living outside on a rock."
Derek scanned the guest list and he looked up, "Meredith I can't see any of your family on this guestlist as least no one who shares your surname."
"Derek" Meredith's smile faded, "i'm not close with my family, not the way you are with yours."
"Meredith" Derek said softly, "I-"
"My father and my sister who I was very close to passed away years ago and my mother moved away from my father when I was fifteen. We never had a good relationship she was a very career focused woman and she spend little time with my father and me."
"Career focused?"
"She was focused on what her children did for work and the grades the children got at school and little else. Its one of the main reasons I become a doctor, I thought being a doctor would impress her then when I got married and had Amber the day I told her my daughter was born my mother didn't come to the birth of my baby she just told me how bad it was that having a husband and a daughter would affect my career, that was the last time we spoke."
Derek looked at Meredith with caring eyes, "you haven't spoken since?"
Meredith nodded, "I did try and reach out to her recently I told her about you and Ally and how I became a foster carer and how happy Noah is, she didn't respond."
"I'm sorry."
"Its alright Derek i've learned to accept it and my other relativies most of them live interstate and I rarely got to see any of them growing up."
Derek got up and put his arms around Meredith's shoulders, "your not like your mother you know."
Meredith looked down at Derek's chest, "I think I am in some ways."
"Well your not obsessed with the grades the kids get in school for a start."
"Derek two of the kids have barely started school and I do focus a lot on Mia's schoolwork and grades and i'll probably be doing the same with Ally and Noah's schoolwork as they get older."
"Well their is being obsessed and then their is being interested and your a lot more interested in what the children are doing outside of school and the young people they are becoming and what they do and I know you care for and accept them for who they are whether they are geniuses at school or not."
"Thank you Derek but-"
Derek smiled slightly, "is there something else and does this have to do with Mia?"
Meredith sighed, "she hasn't made any new friends since that group she was with pushed her away."
"Mia pushed them away remember."
"Because of me" Meredith whispered.
"Because of what they did, those friends she had were not nice they were just leading Mia into trouble."
Meredith leaned her head against Derek's chest and closed her eyes, "I find it hard not to feel bad, Mia's relationship with her only friends fell apart because of me."
"She'll make new friends" Derek kissed Meredith's forehead, "she's a nice kid you know once you get to know her."
"That's true" Meredith said softly.
"It will happen and if it doesn't we can guide her on making new friends."
Meredith sniggered, "she'll find that very embarrassing."
"Yeah on second thought maybe we should let her make friends for herself" Derek gestured his gaze to the document on the couch, "why don't we go back to the wedding plans."
"Well going back to what everyone is doing for the wedding" Meredith sat on the couch and picked up her notes, "Ally will be the flower girl."
"Yeah that's what I was thinking to, so long as she isn't throwing flowers on the guests."
Meredith looked up, "what do you think about releasing butterflies at the end of the wedding they can fly past everyone."
Derek frowned, "if we're on a cliff what about the seagulls?"
"Yeah I forgot" Meredith giggled, "that could be bad."
"Nothing like a flock of birds flying past pooping on everyone to end a wedding."
"Ok" Meredith wrote a note, "we'll skip the butterflies."
"Alright hang on if Ally's carrying flowers and if Mia is going to be a bridesmaid then what's Noah going to do?"
"Noah he can be the ring bearer."
"You sure he's going to be alright with that" Derek scrunched up his face, "he gets really nervous whenever he's carrying a cup of milk do you think he won't freak out carrying the rings."
"He'll be alright with a bit... okay more than a bit of assurance and gentile encouragement."
"Well" Derek claped his hands together, "I think we're sorted."
"Derek there's going to be a lot more to think about for the wedding than that."
"Well I prefer action rather than thinking."
Meredith smiled and got up, "I have a action that I am thinking about doing right now" as she reached up to kiss him as a loud sigh was heard behind them followed by a loud, "always slobbering each other."
Derek pulled apart and smiled at his daughter, "I intend to keep slobbering Meredith for the rest of our lives Ally."
"And someday" Meredith added, "when you meet a nice handsome man like your daddy you'll be slobbering with him to."
"No I won't" Ally rolled her eyes as she walked in, "its gross by the way I have a question."
"Yes Ally?" Meredith said.
"Are you getting married tomorrow?"
"No honey."
Ally groaned loudly and Meredith and Derek chuckled Ally had been asking them this question frequently every since Derek had proposed sometimes up to three times a day, "when are you getting married?"
"We haven't worked out a day for the wedding yet dear."
"Can it be Monday."
"Why Monday?" Derek asked.
"Cause we have a boring school test on Monday."
Derek bent down to Ally's level, "the wedding won't be for a few months Ally at least."
"Hurry up" Ally moaned loudly, "we're not getting any younger."
"It will be here before you know it sweetheart" Meredith whispered.
"It took forever for daddy to ask you to marry you now its going to take forever for the wedding." Ally walked away groaning and Derek chuckled, "she's never going to stop asking us about the wedding until it happens is she?"
"That's your daughter" Meredith hugged Derek's arm, "persistent as a piranha."
"As a piranha?"
"Well aren't they persistant when they're eating food?"
"I guess."
"Okay" Meredith admitted, "that was a bad example."
"Mom" Noah came round the corner.
"Yes honey?"
"Could you get married soon."
Derek laughed with Meredith.
The next morning Meredith was upstairs writing reports when she heard unfamiliar voices from far away in her house and tensing herself she walked downstairs to the living room to find Mia and several unfamiliar girls playing a board game on the carpet with Ally and Noah. Meredith watched them for a few seconds and then knocked lightly on the wood in the doorframe as Mia looked up, "oh hey doc."
"Hi Mia" Meredith said as he looked at the unfamiliar scene before her, "I have to say this is a surprise."
"Yeah" Mia said looking rather uncomfortable, "it is for me to."
"You must be Meredith" one of the older girls stood up and offered her hand which Meredith shook, "i'm Sarah its lovely to meet you."
"Its very nice to meet you to" Meredith replied as she relaxed seeing the warmth on the girl's face before she looked at the other unfamiliar girl in the room, "and you are?"
"Veronica" the girl said standing up to shake Meredith's hand.
"Veronica very nice to meet you to."
"Oh god" Mia softly muttered with her hand on her face, "its like she welcoming people to a tea party."
"What was that Mia" Meredith said.
"Nothing" Mia quickly answered, "don't we need to get going."
"Yeah we should go" Sarah said with a big smile, "we're volunteering at a camp for disadvantaged children."
"Right" Meredith looked at Mia's grim face feeling her spirits rising, "well Mia's told me absolutely nothing about it."
"I saw a notice at school" Mia muttered shrugging her shoulders, "and I signed up you know to get out and about. We're just going for the day don't worry I'll be back by curfew."
"Its going to be a lot of fun" Veronica said radiating with enthusiasm, "we're going to drink cordial and have a happy face all over the place."
"Its just the motto of the camp" Mia grumbled, "and its cheesy enough without us saying it more than we need to now can we roll please."
"Ok" Veronica said as she turned to Meredith, "ah some time could we talk I would love to learn more about how you got into medicine."
"Well I would be happy to talk to you about it further sometime Veronica."
"Okay come on Sarah" Veronica and Sarah waved goodbye to Ally and Noah before they skipped out the door. Mia rose to her feet and put on her bag, "well I better hit the road."
"Mia hold on."
"What."
Meredith smiled widely, "why didn't you tell me about this?"
"Because I didn't want you to make a big deal about it" Mia scrunched up her face, "the look on your face right now is embarrassing enough."
"I'm so pleased" Meredith placed her hands on Mia's shoulders, "your new friends sound lovely, your volunteering your time to help people."
"Yeah my new friends are great and i'm going to be singing songs and drinking cordial all day long."
"It sounds great."
"Yeah it's great" Mia muttered, "so why is there this constant feeling in my stomach that keeps urging me to grab a bucket and barf my breakfast into it."
"Well you might be feeling that way now because this sort of thing might not be seen as the coolest thing in the world to some kids your age but what your doing will mean the world to the children on the camps."
"Yeah I guess."
"Its not a guess Mia these camps mean the world to these children and your going to make a lot of them very happy."
"Yeah" Mia said dryly, "whoopie."
Meredith gave Mia lop sided smile, "what's the matter grumble bum?"
"I don't belong with those girls"
"What do you mean you don't belong?"
"Oh come on" Mia muttered, "the way they talk I mean they talk like you... and I'm me. I feel really odd whenever I'm around them like i'm the ugly duckling among the other ducks or something."
"Oh sweetheart" Meredith rubbed Mia's arms with her hands, "you don't have to talk like them you don't have to speak like them, your pretty great the way you are and I know you will enjoy doing this because I know how much you like looking after younger children and once your in there getting in the spirit of things and singing songs you'll forgot all about being uncomfortable and embarrassed."
"Ok" Mia muttered, "good pep talk, well guess its time to save the world see you rug rats."
"Bye Mia" Ally and Noah said together as they watched Mia walk to the front door.
"Before you go" Meredith called out, "just one thing."
"What's that" Mia turned around.
"When your playing with the children don't raspberry or tickle any of them while your there, it will make a lot of parents very worried."
"Got it" Mia said as she gave Meredith an unenthusiastic thumbs up and walked out the door.
That evening Derek and Meredith brought over two plates of dinner to Noah and Ally who smiled in appreciation as Derek looked at the clock and sighed, "Mia's late."
"She'll be here soon" Meredith said casually.
"Honey did you not hear me, I said Mia is late."
"I know" Meredith said cheerfully as she helped Noah cut his meat.
"Did you hit your head today or something?"
"I don't think so."
"This is the part where you sigh and say Mia's grounded."
"Derek" Meredith grinned, "did you know she went to do some volunteer work today?"
"Didn't she complete her volunteer work?"
"I'm not talking about the floors she had to mope for community service when she last went to court, she's helping out at a camp for underprivileged children."
"Really" Derek said with stunned surprise.
"I know its really great and she's making new friends to."
"That is really great, that's why you look so proud."
"I am" Meredith said with a glowing face, "aren't you?"
"Definitely" Derek said with a grin.
The door opened and Meredith got up to walk to the living room, "hey sweetheart how did the camp….go" she finished as she saw Mia struggling to open the front door and help another girl who was limping on one leg into the living room, "Mia what happened?"
Mia looked up, "do you remember Chloe?"
"Chloe" Meredith whispered as she tried to remember then memories of the girl with brunette hair who had her arm around Mia's shoulders for balance bloomed in her mind, "oh yes I remember you Chloe."
"She hurt her ankle she can't walk, could you have a look at it."
"Ok, can you get some ice for me."
"Yeah sure" Mia brought Chloe over to the couch and after patting her shoulder she ran to the kitchen while Meredith came over, "hi Chloe" Meredith said smiling and bending down.
Chloe looked up with red eyes, "hi doctor Grey" she whispered.
"Call me Meredith, can you take off your shoe for me."
"Okay" Chloe moved forward to undo her shoe and cried out in pain.
"Its alright I'll do it" Meredith put her hands on Chloe's shoe and looked into Chloe's eyes, "nice and gently."
Meredith took off a soaked sock and looked at Chloe's swollen ankle and then at Chloe who was shivering the rest of her clothes were as soaked as her sock and her face had little colour, "you look chilled to the bone."
Chloe just coughed loudly into her hand as Mia came back with some ice and a cloth.
"Thanks Mia" Meredith said as she took the items from Mia, "can you put some more wood on the fire."
"Right away."
"And then can you get me the cough medicine from the bathroom cabinet."
"Affirmative."
"Okay" Meredith turned back to Chloe, "can you tell me what happened to your ankle?"
"I just twisted it" Chloe replied.
"Ok, this ankle looks quite swollen to me so we're going to apply this ice pack and keep it there for now and then look at it again in the morning." Meredith had memories of Mia when she was sick and homeless and she found herself putting two and two together, "are you hungry do you want something to eat?"
"Ah yeah please."
"Ok."
"Here" Mia came in carrying a plate of food as Meredith frowned, "that's your dinner Mia."
"Its ok I had a burger before and lots of crisps at the camp" Mia answered, "here Chloe the doc makes good grub."
"I'll get you something to drink" Meredith said gently as Chloe hurriedly ate, "and we're having some cake for afterwards, Mia if you want to give me a hand."
"Nah its cool" Mia said as she went to the kitchen and called back, "I got the catering your the doc keep doing your magic i'll be right back." Mia entered the kitchen and got down a glass as Derek looked up confused, "hey Derek hey guys."
"Mia" Meredith said as she walked into the kitchen.
"Meredith" Mia turned around, "please before you start asking me what the hell is going on can I give this water to Chloe."
"Ok" Meredith replied, "then come back here."
"What's going on?" Derek asked.
"Mia brought Chloe home."
"Who's Chloe?" Noah asked.
"One of Mia's friends honey."
"Was Chloe here today?" Ally asked.
"No" Derek said, "she's one of Mia's other friends."
Noah gasped in fear, "the other friends."
"Don't worry" Meredith whispered, "Chloe is nice and she's sick at the moment how about you go into the living room and say hello to her." Ally got up and slowly wandered into the living room with Noah as Meredith filled up a water bottle.
"What's the matter" Derek said sensing her mood.
"I think we have another street kid on our hands."
"She's homeless?"
"She's soaked, starving and she looks like she hasn't slept properly for days."
Derek got up, "i'll set up a bed for her."
"Thank you" Meredith whispered as Derek left the room.
"Hey guys" Mia gestured to Ally and Noah as they made their way to the couch, "do you remember Chloe?
"Hi Chloe" Ally said shyly.
"You do look sick" Noah said as she looked at Chloe and sat beside her snuggling his face into her arm.
"Really sick" Ally said as she patted Chloe's knee.
"They're the cutest" Chloe said softly smiling to Mia as she smiled.
"Mia" Meredith stood in the doorway and gestured for Mia to come to the kitchen as Mia sighed, "oh great it's the finger."
"Ms Grey" Chloe called out, "please don't be mad at Mia she was just trying to help me."
"I know Chloe" Meredith said, "Mia a word."
"Sure I love having a word" Mia muttered as she walked into the kitchen, "what's up doc."
"Mia" Meredith closed the door, "before I say anything else I know she's homeless."
Mia blinked hard, "how do you know that are you psychic?"
"I wish I was sometimes, this strongly reminds me of the time you were sick when you were sleeping on the street."
"Ok" Mia admitted, "she's homeless."
"Did she run away from home?"
"She didn't run away from home."
"Okay then what happened?"
"Chloe's parents kicked her out" Mia said softly.
Meredith slowly nodded, "ok why did her parents kick her out?"
"Remember the bitches I used to hang out with."
"Mia" Meredith frowned.
"Oh for god's sake" Mia hissed, "you and your not swearing rule is driving me nuts."
"Mia" Meredith said gently, "just tell me what happened."
"They went shoplifting and they got caught they put the blame on Chloe and Chloe got arrested, her parents then kicked her out and when I was coming home from barney the dinosaur's singalong camp I found her lying in a cardboard box in the rain."
"Did she say how long she has been on the street?"
"Like a week."
"Okay" Meredith said as she put on a serious face, "well this is what we're going to do."
Mia grabbed Meredith's arm as her face twisted with fear, "please don't kick her out."
"Mia" Meredith said calmly.
"Please don't its freezing outside and she doesn't have money or food or anywhere else to go."
"Mia."
Mia crossed her eyes, "you didn't kick me out when I was homeless and I needed a place to stay."
"That was different."
"What why" Mia said as loud as she could without her voice carrying to the living room, "how was it different?"
"For a start we knew you when we took you in we don't know Chloe."
"Well give her time and you'll get to know Chloe she's nice really."
Meredith sighed as Mia's face grew angry, "I thought that's what you do isn't it don't you help someone when they're in trouble."
"Mia."
"If you kick her out i'm going with her."
"Mia."
"I don't care I can survive living on the street, Chloe doesn't have a chance."
"Mia" Meredith placed her hands on the back of Mia's neck and looked into her eyes, "I am not kicking Chloe out and you are not going to take her outside in the rain with you to sleep on a park bench."
"Your not kicking her out" Mia said as she calmed down.
"No I'm not" Meredith assured the girl.
"Then what are you going to do?"
"I'm going to talk to her parents in the morning about the situation."
"But they kicked her out" Mia said.
"I going to help them get back together."
"What if you can't?"
"Then we'll figure something else out."
"Don't call child services, they'll just throw her in the foster system she's my age no one wants kids my age."
"That's not true" Meredith smiled a little, "we did."
"Well I got lucky" Mia opened the door a creak and looked into the living room to see Ally and Noah laughing as Chloe talked, "Chloe could end up in like a prison camp or something."
"Well you often say this house is like a prison camp."
Mia turned around as she closed the door, "why can't she stay here?"
"Mia we don't have enough room."
"We got that storage room full of junk I could sleep on the spare matress we have in there or I could sleep on the couch, Chloe can have my bed."
"And what will your caseworker think about that?"
"I don't care what she thinks."
"Well I do" Meredith said, "and I also don't want you exhausted every day for school because your not sleeping on a bed."
"You could get another bed" Mia said, "or I could just get a sleeping bag and a tent... or something."
"Mia it isn't that simple its not just room its other things."
"Such as what?"
"Me and Derek are not equipped and experienced enough to look after two girls your age."
"Well hello" Mia made a hand gesture, "Noah and Ally are going to be my age one day and you'll have two teenagers then."
"Mia we'll work this out I promise, but tomorrow we're going to talk with Chloe's parents about this."
"Meredith" Mia said softly looking worried.
"Don't worry" Meredith smiled warmly, "Chloe is going to be fine we're going to make sure she's okay."
"Okay" Mia said before she flinched as she saw the look on Meredith's face, "don't look at me like that."
"Like what?" Meredith said as she smiled.
"The your so proud of me smile I hate that look."
"Well I am so proud of you... the way you help others"
Derek walked into the kitchen and stared at Mia, "what's going on?"
"The doc will catch you up" Mia said as she started to leave.
"Oh no nice try" Derek said as he blocked Mia from leaving, "you will catch me up now like I said what's going on?"
"Well" Meredith said, "you already know Mia has turned our house into a homeless shelter."
"Yeah I heard" Derek said, "the question I have for Mia is why."
"Relax you big lug" Mia muttered, "its just one of my friends, her parents kicked her out I found her on the street."
"I said she could stay the night" Meredith said, "and we'll talk to her parents in the morning."
"Why did her parents kick her out?" Derek asked.
"For shoplifting."
"Shoplifting" Derek said looking very concerned.
"Chill" Mia said, "she's not going to steal the things here Derek."
"I am still worried."
Mia looked up at Derek, "guess how many things I have stolen in my life."
"Ah" Derek stammered.
"Exactly lots of things from lots of people including your crazy sister and your not locking your valuables away from me."
"No" Derek admitted before he smirked, "but we do keep a extra sharp eye on our wallets" as Meredith sniggered.
"Ha ha bite me" Mia said with a sarcastic grin as she walked back to the living room.
Derek turned to Meredith, "are you sure about this?"
"We can't throw her out when she has nowhere to go, it is a miserable night and Chloe seems like a nice girl just easily manipulated by the wrong people is all." Derek nodded and walked with Meredith into the living room, "well Chloe they're is a matress we have set up for you but perhaps you would like to have a bath first and get changed into some clothes that are dry."
"You can have some of my clothes" Mia offered.
"And my clothes" Ally said as Meredith chuckled, "your clothes are a little small for Chloe Ally."
"You guys are really nice" Chloe said softly.
"Yeah" Mia nodded, "they're the craziest family in Seattle."
"We are when your around Mia" Derek said.
Mia got up and started gently punching Derek's arm as Derek used his hands to block the punches before lifting Mia up over her shoulder, "dude dude."
"She always does this Chloe" Derek said as he turned in a circle as Mia flailed her legs around, "she starts messing with me and as soon as I get the upper hand she's like dude dude dude I surrender."
"Charge" Ally said as she and Noah ran to Derek and jumped on to his legs as Derek put Mia down and turned his attention to Ally and Noah as Meredith turned to Chloe and chuckled, "we're certainly are one of the craziest families in Seattle as you can see."
Derek started wrestling with Ally and Noah as the kids laughed and Mia hopped over massaging her leg, "do you want a hand getting into the bathroom."
"Thanks" Chloe said as Meredith and Mia took an arm and helped her to the bathroom, they reached the bathroom and Mia watched Meredith disappear and she said, "oh yeah i'll sleep on the mattress tonight and you can have my bed" Mia said "just don't say anything to the doc."
"You sure" Chloe whispered.
"Hey what are friends for."
The next morning Meredith rolled over in her bed and smiled as Derek walked into the room, "hello husband to be."
"Hello wife to be" Derek replied.
"Are our little muffins still asleep?"
"The little muffins are and the big ones well they're chatting about how they're going to ask child services to set them up in a place where they can both live independently."
"I see" Meredith whispered feeling sadness creeping in to her spirits.
Derek sat down and sighed, "I know how you feel, I guess this is how a parent feels when one of their own is leaving the nest."
Meredith looked down, "we're not her parents Derek."
"Well what if..."
Meredith sighed, "we can't look after another child the three of them plus our jobs and busy lifestyles keep all of us on our toes having one more teenager into the mix."
"Yeah" Derek said as he started to chuckle.
Meredith smirked, "what's so funny?"
"I'm just imagining Mia and Chloe coming in to greet you in the morning with hairbrushes in their hands."
"Oh" Meredith laughed back, "you can kid about that now what if they start doing the same torture to you."
"Nah Mia says its more fun with you because of the funny squels you make."
"Well good to know" Meredith chuckled, "i've always wondered why i'm her favourite target."
"So what's our strategy?"
"We're going to sort this out with Chloe's parents."
"Yeah but what if we can't?"
"I think we shouldn't think about that unless it happens."
Meredith walked downstairs and heard soft crying coming from the bedroom she looked through the crack and saw Mia with her arms around Chloe and she knocked softly, "ms Grey" Chloe said pulling apart from Mia and wiping her eyes.
"Call me Meredith Chloe."
"Sorry I was just-"
"Its alright sweetheart" Meredith sat on the bed and put a gentile arm around her shoulders, "everything is going to work itself out."
Chloe sniffed, "I don't want to steal things anymore."
"Then don't" Meredith said softly, "your better than that."
"What if my mom and dad don't want to see me ever again."
"Chloe I don't think that's true I think your mom and dad were just angry and upset with you when they found out what you did but I am sure they will forgive you."
"Like you and Mia" Chloe said.
"Yes like me and Mia" Meredith looked at Mia, "no matter what Mia does I always forgive her."
"Yeah" Mia replied, "cause she's crazy nice lady."
"I'm going to make some breakfast" Meredith got up.
"Um Meredith."
"Yes" Meredith said sitting back down on the bed.
"I'm really sorry for scaring you" Chloe said, "and the kids before and i'm very sorry."
"That's ok I know you didn't want to scare the children."
"Thanks for you know letting me stay last night"
"Your welcome" Meredith said with a smile.
"We can tickle the doc now if you want" Mia said.
Meredith put on a serious face and stared at Mia, "no you will not tickle the doc now if you want Mia."
"Why not" Mia grinned, "its fun."
"Its not fun for me" Meredith replied.
"Well it would be fun for Chloe and she needs some cheering up" Mia looked at Chloe giggling in embrassment, "see she's grinning she wants to do it."
"I think my breakfast will suffice in cheering Chloe up, plus I have been very proud of you lately Mia and I don't want to spoil it by grounding you."
"Ok fine fine" Mia muttered as Meredith got up and wandered to the kitchen to find Noah and Ally setting the table, "are you two trying to get me to take you to the lolly shop."
"The lolly shop" Noah said with a dreamy look on his face as Ally shook her head, "no we're just being helpful."
"Well you two are being very helpful."
"Is Chloe going to live with us" Noah asked.
"She's funny" Ally said with a grin, "she told us a great joke about a duck and its but."
"Yeah" Noah added as he grinned to, "a duck has tail feathers to cover up its but quack."
"Well" Meredith bent down to the kids level, "I think we should take things one step at a time I am going to try and see if Chloe can go back to her home today."
Noah and Ally sighed, "already" Ally whispered.
"If Chloe can't go home today then we'll figure something out."
"Chloe can live with us" Ally said smiling as Meredith smiled sadly, "sweetheart lets take one step at a time."
Meredith's hands rubbed the children's heads before she walked into the front room where she found Chloe's soaked jacket and jeans and searching inside the pockets she looked briefly inside Chloe's wallet saw her surname and pulled out a phonebook. Derek came walking downstairs fifteen minutes later after having a shower and saw Meredith leaning over the breakfast counter with her head down, "what is it" Derek said walking over to Meredith.
"Um" Meredith started.
"Did you try and call Chloe's parents?"
"Yes."
"It didn't go well" Derek said softly.
Meredith turned around and looked up at Derek, "they said we don't care what you do with her or where she goes as long as you don't send her back here."
Meredith looked into the living room at Mia, Chloe, Noah and Ally and she stared sadly at them, "I was not expecting this."