"What are you doing here? Your shift finished six hours ago," said Mark.
"I know," sighed Meredith. "But Derek is in surgery and I told him he could have Ella as soon as he finished but I only just managed to get away so it didn't make much sense to go home for an hour so I thought I would just let Ella see her first brain surgery."
"Right," said Mark. "He's on OR 2."
"Thanks," said Meredith walking off in the direction of the gallery.
"Oh by the way his mother is in town," Mark whispered after her, she didn't hear. "Oh well I tried!"
"Hey Mer, you're still here," said Izzie looking up from her charts.
"Yeah it wasn't really worth going home," she shrugged placing Ella on her knee.
As soon as Ella spotted Derek down in the OR she clapped her little hands, and squealed in delight.
"Awww how sweet," cooed Izzie.
"Sickening more like," Meredith grumbled. "She never reacts like that to me. Such a Daddy's girl!"
"Uh looks like its mutual," said Izzie.
Down in the OR Derek had heard Ella squealing and clapping and looked up, his face broke into a huge smile when he saw her.
"You know just once I'd like her to clap when I walk into the room…I gave birth!" moaned Meredith.
"Oh come on it's so sweet when you see both of them together," gushed Izzie.
"I know," said Meredith stroking the top of Ella's head. "It is adorable."
"So how are things with Finn?" asked Izzie.
"Over," said Meredith flatly. "I just…I don't feel what I'm supposed to feel for Finn."
"This isn't about McDreamy is it?" groaned Izzie.
"No this has nothing to do with Derek," said Meredith.
"And why would it?" came a snide voice from the back of the gallery.
"Oh…Rose sorry didn't see you there," said Izzie smiling awkwardly.
"Yeah, I'm sure you didn't," said Rose sarcastically.
"What's her problem?" Izzie muttered to Meredith.
"No idea," Meredith murmured.
"Oh Meredith that reminds me, would you mind terribly if Derek and I didn't take Ella today, we wanted at least one day to ourselves," said Rose sweetly.
"No that's fine, as long as it's alright with Derek," said Meredith trying to pretend that she wasn't bothered that Derek would rather spend time with the woman he chose over her than their daughter.
"Thanks," said Rose in a sickly sweet voice.
"Did you think to run that past Derek, because I know he was looking forward to taking his daughter to the park this afternoon?" said the older woman sitting next to Rose.
"I don't need to run it past him, trust me he will be relieved," said Rose waving her hand dismissively. "It's will also give us time to get to know each other, it's best all round if Ella stays at home."
"Well that's more than disappointing since the only reason I flew out here was to meet my granddaughter," said the woman. "So I think I'll just go and see my son for a moment."
"Granddaughter?" Izzie mouthed to Meredith.
"Hello you must be Meredith, I'm Linda Shepherd, Derek's mother," said the woman holding out her hand to Meredith.
"Oh…Hi I'm Meredith Grey," said Meredith her voice squeakier than normal.
"It's lovely to meet you Meredith," said Linda. "And this must be Ella, she has changed since the photo's Derek sent me last month."
"Uh…yeah she's pretty much changing every day," said Meredith.
"She looks just like my daughters did at this age," said Linda fondly. "Would you mind sticking around for a bit? I think Rosie may have got her wires crossed, I for one wanted to meet my granddaughter today."
"No it's fine, I can go and talk to Derek if you want," said Meredith. "I need to discuss something else with him anyway."
"Great," muttered Rose.
"Em…do you want to hold her while I do that?" Meredith asked uncertainly as she glanced at Izzie.
"Yes that would be lovely," said Linda taking Ella from Meredith. "Oh she's gorgeous!"
"Hey can I talk to you for a second?" Meredith asked hesitantly once it was only her and Derek left in the scrub room.
"Sure," said Derek. "About what? Where's Ella?"
"She's with Izzie and…your mother."
"Oh right sorry I meant to tell you she was coming into town but it was all a little last minute," said Derek apologetically.
"It's fine you don't have to explain anything to me," said Meredith.
"So what did you want to talk to me about?"
"Do you think I'm leaving Ella with you too often?" she blurted out.
"What? No where is this coming from? I love spending time with Ella, you know that if anything I wish I could see more of her," said Derek genuinely surprised that Meredith would even think that. "I feel like I'm missing out on so much already, I really appreciate the extra time you let me have with her."
"Then why would you make me bring her here straight after your shift, only to cancel?"
"Cancel? Meredith what are you talking about?"
"Up in the gallery, Rose said you didn't want to take Ella today because you wanted your Mother to get to know Rose better," said Meredith quickly before she lost her nerve. "And this isn't the only time that's happened, last Wednesday Rose called and said you didn't want to look after her then either."
"What?" said Derek this eyes flashing in anger. "Rose told me you and Finn were taking her to the circus so I couldn't have her."
"Finn? We broke up last night," said Meredith before she could stop herself.
"Really? Why?"
"None of your business!" snapped Meredith, irritated by the knowing smirk on Derek's face.
"Right…of course it isn't," said Derek who couldn't help but smile a little knowing that Finn was gone, hopefully for good this time.
"I don't know what is going on, but you need to sort it out because you can't keep making plans and breaking them," said Meredith. "Now did you want to have Ella this afternoon or not because I have better things to do than wait around this place?"
"Yes I want to have her," said Derek. "I'm taking her to swing park."
"Well…alright," said Meredith calming down. "Just be careful with her."
"I'm not going to put her on the swings, she's three months old!" exclaimed Derek. "She likes the bright colors and all the noise."
"Right…okay," said Meredith. "I'll just be going then, drop her off before six?"
"Okay," said Derek. "And don't worry I'll clear up any misunderstandings."
"Thank you."