He took deep, calming breaths, trying to relax his nerves. There were a million guys who could have been Taylor's father. Ok, maybe a million was pushing it. But Derek knew there were others. The guy whose penis she had broken for starters … Steve … and then there was George. The thought of Meredith sharing a daughter with him, with anyone for that matter, made his heart pang in jealousy, an emotion he knew he shouldn't be having especially after all these years.

There were so many words unspoken, so many things he wanted to say to her that he never had the chance to do so before. Or was too afraid to. But he knew that he had no right to waltz back into her life and shake things up in a situation that she had no doubt made the best of.

But he still couldn't help but feel attached to the little girl for reasons unknown to him. Taylor was a stranger, the daughter of an estranged ex. There were no ties whatsoever to him. And still Meredith was avoiding him. As Derek sat in the resident locker room, he couldn't help but wonder if coming back was such a good idea after all.

XXXXXXXXXX

Meredith, Christina, George and Alex all sat at the table on the terrace, deeply enjoying their well-deserved break. Meredith was in a bad mood because she had been paged at four in the morning and had missed seeing Taylor awake, which always made her mad. Meredith loved snuggling up to her daughter in the mornings and blowing raspberries on her tummy to wake her up. It was part of the tradition they had started since she was born. It was routine and it always upset her when she wasn't there to see the sleepy misguiding innocence that Taylor's eyes held in the morning or the way she said I love you.

"She was fine Meredith," George said, annoyed. The maternal Meredith was so different from the Meredith they knew before Taylor. Her daughter was always on her mind. "Izzie and I dropped her off at preschool and you know the daycare brings her to the daycare here everyday when she's done. Believe me Mer, she's fine," George said, stuffing more of his hamburger into his mouth and chewing loudly.

Meredith sighed. She knew she was being a pain in the ass with all her constant worrying about Taylor but she couldn't help it. The past four years had been all about that little girl and her world revolved around her.

"I can't believe Derek's here," Meredith said, giving up on eating her food and leaning back in her chair.

Everyone else stopped eating, not knowing what to say.

"Meredith there's no way he knows," Christina said, trying for once to be positive.

"I know that. But what if he finds out?" Meredith asked, her eyes wide with fright.

"He won't find out unless someone tells him," George said.

"Well at least she's not here at the hospital. Derek cannot find out about her," Meredith said.

"Mummy!" a little voice called from somewhere far away. Meredith whipped around, turning to stare at the voice she recognised immediately.

Taylor was running towards her, arms held out widely. Meredith turned back to look at her friends before turning back to her daughter and wrapping her in her arms. Meredith looked behind her again to where Izzie was running, breathless, to catch up with the little girl.

"Sorry she saw you and took off," Izzie said, plunking heavily down in a chair beside Christina who was laughing hysterically.

"Now that's what I'm talking about," Christina said, motioning to Taylor who was playing with Meredith's necklace.

Everyone except Meredith laughed. "Not funny guys. What if Derek sees her?" Meredith worried aloud.

"Have you ever considered that fact that she is his daughter?" Izzie joked. "And besides, I went to visit her and she was so lonely. All the other kids were doing something and she was just sitting there all by herself!" Izzie protested.

Meredith smiled, glad that Izzie had rescued Taylor from the clutches of boredom and said thanks. "But she really does gotta get outta here. I can't risk Derek finding out about her!"

"Umm … Meredith," Izzie said, staring wide-eyed at a spot somewhere above Meredith's head. Meredith turned around and saw Derek head their way. In a swift motion, she shoved Taylor gently down and under the table.

"Mummy?" Taylor asked, confusion wrapped around her pretty little head. "What's going on?"

Meredith thought quickly. "Uh we're playing a game," Meredith said. "Ya a game. Here are the rules: it's a contest. no talking, no noise, no moving. Just sit there and be uber quiet for mommy," Meredith said, leaning back up and fixing her hair just as Derek approached and hoping to God that he didn't look under the table.

"If it isn't my favourite interns who are no longer interns," he said with a smile as he approached, unaware of how hostile they were going to be.

They just looked at him in awe, wondering where he got the nerve to just walk up to them as if four years had not passed.

"Meredith did the scans come back on Amber?" he asked.

Meredith was silent, trying to ignore the tugging at the hem of her scrubs where Taylor was sitting. She lightly shook her leg, trying to send Taylor the message that she was losing at the game.

"Uh ya they're on my desk," Meredith said, dropping her eyes to the table.

Derek nodded. "Mind if I take a seat?" he asked, not pulling out a chair but waiting for permission.

Meredith looked helplessly around the table, eyes begging for someone to intervene. George sprang into action.

"Actually Dr Shepherd if you don't mind I'd like to see the scans. I think I have a case that's similar and I'd like to compare the two with an expert," George said, standing up from his chair and pushing lightly on Derek's shoulder away from the table.

But Derek stood his ground and smiled politely, knowing that something was going on. Carefully, he tilted over and looked under the table, smiling at the little girl who was still tugging at the hem of her mother's scrubs.

"Hi Taylor," Derek said with a smirk before standing up and walking away with a stunned George."