All of Your Life

The next Morning

The next morning, Meredith pulled into the hospital parking lot; she looked over to her backseat where her daughter was sleeping. She could imagine the hospital rumour mill, concerning her kiss with Derek the night before; she could have kicked herself for letting her guard down and kissing him in front of all their colleagues. She didn't want a repeat of all the stares and pitying looks that followed her when Addison first came to Seattle. She couldn't go through that again, not with Ava she wouldn't allowed her daughter to go through that, even though she was surprised that no one had commented on the fact that Ava might be his daughter, and for that she was grateful.

Meredith climbed out of the driver seat and opened the back door to where Ava was asleep in her car seat; she stared at her daughter for a moment, and couldn't help but see her father in her, more so when she was sleeping Meredith felt the tears prick at her eyes before holding them back. Meredith grabbed her bag, before slowly picking up a sleeping Ava trying not to wake her, Meredith felt a hand on her shoulder, causing her to jump, and she turned to see Mark Sloan standing behind her.

"Dr. Sloan, you scared me," Meredith told him.

"Sorry. I just thought i would see if you wanted a hand."

"No that's fine thank Dr. Sloan and it's "Dr. Grey," said Meredith coldly, closing the car door with her foot.

"I bet you wouldn't say that to Derek."

"Dr. Sloan, that's inappropriate and you know it, and besides I wasn't the one that slept with his wife," Meredith hissed at him, readjusting her daughter carefully so not to wake her.

"Okay, it was inappropriate but, my offer still stands. It's just help. I'm not asking you to jump into bed with me."

"First off, I wouldn't sleep with you because you're...you. And secondly, I don't need a hand."

"Did I ask you to sleep with me? All I offered was a hand because you look like you're struggling. A simple no would have sufficed. But, you can accept help Meredith."

"Dr Grey," Meredith heard her name being called and turned to see Amy walking over to her.

"Morning Dr. Shepherd," Meredith greeted her intern.

"Mark, Addison is looking for you, and she isn't happy," Amy told him.

"Okay, nice talking to you Meredith," said Mark walking ahead of them towards the hospital.

"Thanks Amy."

Meredith was relieved when Mark left.

"Well, I've known Mark a long time, he was once like a brother to me," said Amy taking the bag off Meredith's shoulder.

"Once?"

"Meredith, I hope you don't mind me calling you Meredith, I know you know what Mark and Addison did to Derek. I know he told you what happened and that's how I know how much you meant to him," said Amy, causing Meredith to stop and look at her with a look of surprise on her face.

"Meredith, I've always been close to my brother, hell he practically raised me, when Derek first moved to Seattle I was the only family member that he kept in contact with and I decided after his accident to do my residency here, he told me all about you, he needs you Meredith, he has been a different person since you came home, trust me, I know, he's my brother."

"I can imagine what the rest of your family thought about me..."

"Meredith, whatever they think I know the truth. I know how much he loved you and how much he still does. And, I know my brother, he needs you, don't be afraid. Besides, I would love to see my niece as a proper member of the Shepherd family," said Amy with a smile. Meredith stood there staring at Amy, shocked.

"Amy, please don't say anything to Derek He needs to find out on his own," she said, walking towards the doors of the hospital.

"Meredith, I agree. He needs to figure it out himself. If I didn't agree, I would have told Derek about Addison and Mark immediately after his accident. I want my brother to be happy and i know he isn't. It's hard but, I have faith that in time he'll remember more. I know he remembers you a little, at least that you meant something to him. I have faith that he'll remember more so he can be the father that this little angel needs," she smiled, running a hand over sleeping Ava's raven curls. "I can't believe he hasn't suspected. She looks like a mini girl version of him.

"She does look like you and your brother," said Meredith, just has the elevator doors opened and she saw Derek holding Josh in his arms.

"Mommy!" cried Joshua, reaching his arms out to his mother.

"Hello baby, mommy missed you," said Amy, kissing her baby's cheek. "Thanks for picking him up Derek."

"No problem, Ames, you know how much I love spending time with my nephew. Anyways, he wanted to see you before you started rounds. I'm surprised to see you're not watching our patient. Morning Dr. Grey," said Derek, giving her his McDreamy smile.

"Dr. Shepherd," she nodded.

"I made a quick coffee run, and our patient is fine," Amy told her brother, handing him a cup of coffee. The elevator pinged, and the doors opened to the day care floor."

"I'm going to get Josh to day care, I'll see you on rounds Dr. Shepherd," said Amy, reverting to intern instead of sister, before walking out of the elevator with Meredith right on her heels. Derek reached out and grabbed Meredith's free arm before she could leave the elevator.

"Thank you for last night Meredith," said Derek gently, leaning toward and placing a gentle kiss on her forehead.

"Derek," she warned.

"I will explain...can I meet you somewhere tonight?"

"Derek."

"Please Mer... I will explain everything," pleaded Derek, she was about to say no, until her eyes met his, and she could see him pleading with her.

"Okay, come over at about eight, Ava will be in bed."

"Thank you Meredith," said Derek gently, Meredith walked away from him, wondering what that evening would bring.