Meredith didn't know what she was going to do if Derek kept prodding. Sooner or later he was going to find out about Taylor and Meredith found a part of her subconscious mind wishing that he did. It would be a hell of a lot off her mind it everything was out in the open and she was no longer having to tiptoe around the issue.

Taylor was everything to Meredith and she only wanted her to be happy. But Derek … she didn't know if she could just open up and spill everything she had kept from him.

The sound of her three years old daughter's cries from her bedroom down the hall reached her ears and Meredith got up from her bed, walking to Taylor's room to comfort her before she woke George and Izzie. The little girl was sitting up in her bed, staring at the door as though waiting for Meredith to come and get her.

"Hey babe," Meredith said, sitting on the edge of Taylor's bed and stroking her hair out of her eyes. "What's wrong?"

Taylor whimpered and Meredith swung her legs onto the bed, wrapping Taylor in her arms and allowing her to rest her head on her chest. "Sweetie what's wrong?" Meredith asked again. "Did you have a bad dream?"

Taylor nodded her head, not moving from her spot on Meredith chest.

"Wanna come sleep in Mommy's bed?" Meredith asked, not waiting for a reply because she already knew the answer and sliding her hands under Taylor in a position that would be easy to lift her up.

Sure enough, Taylor nodded. Meredith picked up her little weight with ease and carried her into her room, gently placing her down on her bed and climbing in after her, covering them both with the blanket. Taylor snuggled into her mother's warm embrace and Meredith looped her arms around her daughter. Meredith couldn't help but think that this was the way things were supposed to be.

XXXXXXXXXX

The sun peeked through the curtains, attempting to reach the dark room. But the blinds shut it out, allowing the darkness to swallow the occupants and slip farther into the miraculous and scary world of their imaginations. Not even the noise of Izzie bustling around the kitchen making cupcakes could stir them from their slumber.

A light knock sounded from the front door and Izzie walked cautiously towards it, wondering who would be at the door at eight thirty in the morning on a Sunday. She swung it inwards, gaping at the good-looking man staring back at her from the stoop.

"Izzie," he said, his good-natured intentions coming through with the single word he spoke.

The tall, pretty blonde opposite him just stared him down, wondering where he got the audacity to just walk up to their house after everything Meredith had told him.

"Dr Shepherd," she replied coldly, wiping her flour caked hands on her apron. "Can help you with something?"

He dropped his head, not able to remember exactly what it was that had convinced him to come here. "Is Meredith home?" he asked, the first thing coming to mind coming out of his mouth.

"She's asleep," Izzie said harshly. Derek nodded wirely and Izzie's tough Christina-like demeanour that didn't suit her dropped as she sighed. "Would you like to see her anyways?"

Derek looked up from his shoes, startled. "I umm …" he didn't know how to reply. "Please," he managed.

Izzie swung the door farther open and he stepped in, kicking off his shoes and looking around the house that hadn't changed awkwardly.

"Follow me," Izzie said quietly, wiping more flour off of her hands and walking up the stairs. Derek followed her, walking on the tips of his toes to makes as little noise as possible.

Izzie led him down the familiar hall to the room in the middle and swung the door silently open, allowing a sliver of light to creep into the otherwise dark room. She gave him a small, sad smile before saying, "Don't wake them," and leaving him to stare.

Derek stepped carefully in, knowing that he shouldn't be doing this. Meredith had moved on. She had a daughter now. She wasn't spending her time doting and pining over him. She had Taylor to think about now. Cautiously, he closed the door behind him and walked to the foot of the bed he was so familiar with. The faint outlines of Meredith and Taylor could be seen through the darkness, Taylor cuddled up in Meredith's embrace. Derek smiled to himself.

No matter how much he tried to convince himself, he still couldn't shake the feeling of missing something; that Taylor was somehow connected to him. Derek chalked it down to being away from Meredith for so long and the fact that he wanted to be with her and that he had no children of his own.

Taylor stirred and rolled away from Meredith, sitting up in bed, rubbing her tiny hands over her sleepy eyes. Derek smiled again. He watched as she ran her hands through her hair, twisting her finger around one of the curls that lay unrumpled at the tips. She turned so she was lying on her stomach and slid off the tall bed, stopping at the foot when she caught sight of Derek.

He bent down so they were eye level and he gave her an encouraging smile. She twisted her hair shyly.

"Hey Taylor," he said. "Remember me?"

She looked at him for a minute, attempting to see through the darkness to his face. Slowly and unsurely, she nodded. Derek grinned. He noticed that, now more than ever, she had Meredith's eyes.

"You wanna come downstairs with me? Auntie Izzie is making cupcakes," Derek offered.

Taylor's face broke out into an unmistakable smile and she held her arms out, waiting to be lifted up. Derek picked her up from the cold floor, straightening her red Dora the Explorer pyjama pants and plain white t-shirt. He lightly tickled her tiny stomach and she let out a little giggle.

Derek gave her a guilty grin before saying, "Let's not wake Mommy," and walking out of the room, closing the door gently behind him.

He carried her down the stairs, bouncing her a little with each step and making funny popping noises that made Taylor laugh. Derek walked into the kitchen, Taylor resting comfortably on his chest, her head resting on his shoulder. A smile graced Izzie's face as her goddaughter was carried into the room, followed by a look a slight anger.

Derek held one hand up in defense. "Hey don't look at me!" he said, gently readjusting Taylor. "She was awake when I went in."

Izzie smiled understandingly and nodded her head. Derek let out a sigh of relief. "Sweetie you want a cupcake?" Izzie asked and Taylor immediately perked up, taking the warm, moist cupcake from her aunt and taking a bite out of it.

Shepherd grinned as crumbs from the cupcake fell to the floor. "You really should be leaving," Izzie said, cleaning up the crumbs that Taylor had dropped. Derek nodded. "Taylor come see Auntie Izzie," Izzie said, holding out her arms to take Taylor in.

But the little girl nuzzled her head farther into the crook of Derek's neck, spilling more crumbs over his shirt as she did so.

"Apparently not," Izzie said, glad that Taylor was already getting attached to her father, though neither of them knew.

Derek walked over more to his left and took Taylor to the window, staring out at the backyard where the swingset was sitting. The light sound of feet tapping down the stairs reached their ears but before anyone could be seen, a familiar female voice called out.

"Izzie have you seen Taylor?" Meredith called from the hall as she walked towards the kitchen.

Izzie looked at Derek in complete and totally shock and stared wide-eyed at him as though telling him to do something. But it was too late. Meredith walked into the kitchen and took in the sight before her; Izzie, covered in chocolate chip cupcake batter, staring in guilt at her, and Derek standing by the window, Taylor tight in his grasp.

Just then, right in that moment, she felt her world fall to crap.