You see, I didn't even know why I threw that Katey thing in there, or the booty call thing, it just happened...so I'll create a story around it. Thanks for all the hilarious reviews - I'm glad I can be considered a little tiny bit funny! Stay cool, Seattle.
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"You met who?" Meredith asked, obviously confused. It had been a long first day at work, between getting used to Seattle Grace again and being eyeballed by Derek all day.
"Her name is Sarah Macon," Maria explained for the third time, "She lives with a family that adopted her as a baby - but before she was adopted her name was Katey Karev...or Katherine, take your pick."
Meredith was still extremely puzzled by the situation. How many people in Seattle were named Karev?
"So she was adopted as a baby?" Meredith was pacing the kitchen, waiting for Izzie and George to come home with the boys, "I'm so lost!"
"I'm calling...I'm calling Cristina," Meredith decided, "Maybe she heard about something that I didn't."
Meredith shook her head; she had a gut feeling that 'Katey Karev' didn't just happen to once have the same last name as Alex. Alex was married? Meredith dialed the oh-so familiar number and listened to it ring.
"Hello?" Cristina answered, sounding almost irritated.
"Hey," Meredith answered, "I have a really weird question."
"What?"
"Well, Maria went to school today, and some girl sitting next to her, named Sarah, was telling Maria that before she was adopted her name was Katey Karev, does this seem funny to you?"
Meredith could almost hear the unspoken words in the awkward silence between the two of them.
"Shouldn't she be a grade older than Maria?" Cristina thought aloud, Meredith could tell she was pacing.
"What are you talking about?" Meredith exclaimed.
"Okay," Cristina took a deep breath, "When you left, Alex went all knight-in-shining-whatever and went to the hospital in search of Ava, to declare his love. After he walked into her empty room, he ran back down to the front of the hospital and luckily he caught her in time. Somehow, he managed to woo her away from her husband, with the baby. Legally, the baby became Ava and Alex's child and a really short one month later they got married. Well, Alex came to the realization...or whatever, that he didn't want Ava...so Ava didn't want a baby named Karev and she put it up for adoption. It is a really tense subject between the interns and Addison is still mad that he didn't try to save the baby."
"So this is one of those major life-changing moments that I missed?" Meredith asked, "Because I'm afraid a lot more of those are going to surface."
"You really have no idea," Cristina hung up the phone. Meredith sat with her head in her hands, maybe coming back hadn't been a good idea. Maybe just leaving was a bad idea.
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"I want to spend a day with Maria," Derek announced as Meredith stepped into his office. He was only really sleeping with her to sleep with her. He was still angry at the fact that she left him and refused to tell him about his daughter.
"Why?" Meredith asked, playing dumb. She knew the obvious answer.
"Why do you think, Mer?" he questioned, sounding extremely annoyed, "Why would one want to spend the day with their long-lost child?"
"Derek..." she sighed, "I...if you really want to I guess Maria would like that."
"Well then, how about tomorrow?" Derek asked, "It is a Saturday after all, and plus I actually have the day off!"
"Sure," Meredith frowned, things were still moving at the speed of light, "But if you guys are still together when I get off work, can I join you?"
"I guess that would be okay," Derek shrugged, "I can't really force you away from your kid."
"Sounds like a plan," Meredith groaned, afraid of what was coming to her in the near future.
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By the time Saturday came around, Maria Grey was bouncing off the walls.
"Mom," she began, running a brush through her hair, "I know that you and dad have had your problems and stuff, but I really want to get to know him."
"Why?" Meredith wondered aloud, smiling as Maria put on a brown sweater, something Meredith would wear.
"Because you always say good things about him," she grinned, "You've never really said anything very bad about him."
Meredith heard the doorbell ring, happy that she didn't have to comment on Maria's last statement. Hurrying down the stairs, still in her pink striped pajama pants, she opened the door.
He looked great. His hair was having a good day and he looked so good in his jeans, flannel shirt, and Northface vest.
"Hi," she smiled awkwardly, letting him into Izzie and George's home.
"Nice pajamas," he laughed, looking at her outfit, "Where's mini-you?"
"Mariaaaa!" Meredith bellowed up the stairs, causing Derek to laugh.
"I can't believe you're back...I'm actually, I'm laughing," he rolled his eyes, "I haven't laughed in a long time!"
"Satirically laughing," Meredith pointed out, "Because you hate me."
"Mer," he frowned, "I don't hate you. I'm just...I'm just frustrated with you. I should've known the whole time that it was my kid, I should've chased you. I didn't."
"No, Derek..." she began, "I take the blame. Right now, maybe we should just focus on me re-starting at Seattle Grace and you getting to know your daughter. Then we'll see what happens after that."
"Okay," he smiled, watching as Maria came bounding down the stairs.
"Hi!" Maria grinned up at him, looking so much like her mother.
"Well hi," he smiled, putting his hand out, "Are you ready to roll?"
"Of course," she replied, putting her small hand in his, "Bye mom!"
"Bye Mia," she waved, looking down at her pajama pants and then looking forward to see the backs of the two. They acted so natural together, it made Meredith smile.
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"Where are we going?" Maria asked. The two had already been to the Space Needle and to the Music Exhibit near it. It was nearing lunchtime and Derek had the perfect place planned.
"Well," Derek cleared his throat, "I love ferryboats a lot. There is this restaurant that overlooks the harbor and you can watch the ferryboats."
"That's cool!" Maria smiled, "Sometimes in Paris my nanny or my mom would take me to watch the boats." As Derek took Maria around the city, he could feel her coming out of her shell. He knew that in Paris she had been taught to act older than her age, but surrounding her with exciting American things it was turning her more into a kid.
"We're here," Derek smiled, parking the car. He loved this restaurant, "Welcome to my favorite place to eat."
It was a spirited place, with retro booths and a grill menu.
"What is your favorite thing to order?" Maria asked, studying the menu.
"I like their burgers, any of them," Derek smiled, "But I'm sure anything is good."
"Do you think that the chicken tenders are good?" she asked eagerly, obviously excited about the child-like food.
"As I said," he shrugged, "I'm sure anything is good." Maria closed her menu and looked across the booth at her dad.
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After the meal, Derek took Maria outside to the park that he used to spend time with Meredith at. As the two walked, Derek found the perfect view of the bay and sat down.
"You know," Maria looked at Derek, "My mom never really liked watching the boats in France. It always made her more sad than she already was. She said their were two different reasons, but I didn't ever ask."
"I think I know the reasons," Derek sighed, looking out at the ferryboats.
"Can you tell me?" Maria asked, "My mom has always confused me, even though I love her, I always wished she was happier."
"Well," he began, "For starters, I think she missed me, and I remind her of ferryboats. The second reason is because when she was an intern, there was a big boat crash and she fell off the boat helping other people, she almost died." Maria's small eyes grew big.
"My mom is a brave person," Maria crossed her arms and looked at Derek, "She just...she can't do it all. She tries to remain happy, always, but then it always backfires."
Derek sighed and looked at Maria, putting one arm around her, "Thank you for accepting me into your life."
"I just wish you were always there when I was growing up, maybe mom would've been happy, maybe I would've gotten to be a normal kid," Maria felt a tear spring to her eyes, looking up she saw the same in Dereks.
"I'm sorry," he choked out, "But starting right now, I'm always there for you. Even if your mom and I never get back together, I'll always be here."
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