All of Your Life

Family Time Out

Derek pulled out of the hospital parking lot, and drove towards the docks; at first glance it looked like he was taking them back to the trailer, until he drove past the turn off for the Bainbridge ferry.

"Derek, you missed the turning"

"We aren't going to the trailer yet" he told her.

"I thought we were spending the day on your land"

"We were but i wanted to take you and Ava to the aquarium but if you want to just go to the trailer that is fine Mer" Derek hoped that she would go with him on this, he wasn't ready for her to meet his sister yet, he did not want to put her through that just yet, and he knew that she wasn't ready for it yet, he loved his sister but he didn't trust her not to push.

He wanted to protect her and his daughter from that just yet, he hadn't told his family about Meredith and Ava yet, knowing that they would all be on the first plane out and he knew that his sister would have questions especially after hearing Ava call him daddy in the elevator at the hospital.

"No, it's fine Derek, Ava's never been to an aquarium before" she told him, she didn't want to say anymore, she had never been to aquarium either, it was not a priority of her mother's growing up, spending time with her daughter. Meredith prided herself on not being her mother but being the best mother she could be for her little girl.

"Well she can, enjoy her first time with her mommy and daddy" Derek said, leaning over and kissing her gently on the cheek while taking her hand in his, while they waited for the lights to change. Meredith looked over at her daughter in the back of the car, and when Derek removed his hand from her she reached over and ran her fingers through her daughter curls.

"We are going to see the fishes Av" she told her.

"Ishes mama" Ava clapped her hands, excitedly, giving her mother, the smile she inherited from her daddy, the smile that Meredith could never say no too.

"Mama, loves you baby"

"Av wubs mama"

Derek looked in his rear mirror, seeing Ava talking to Meredith, he smiled to himself, listening to Meredith telling Ava where they were going, he didn't miss the excitement in Meredith voice, and something told him that she had never had the childhood that she tried to give their daughter, he could hear in her voice the awe at certain things Ava did, and the little things that he remembered from his own childhood and watching his younger sisters growing up Meredith was surprised at it. He found himself playing close attention to everything Meredith and Ava did together and especially to Meredith's reaction to it.

Derek pulled up at the parking lot indicating the Seattle Aquarium, Meredith looked over at him, opened her mouth to say something before Derek cut her off.

"Meredith, it is my treat, I am paying"

"Derek, I have my own money I don't..." Meredith started telling him before Derek captured her lips with his own, hoping that she would forget what she was going to say, he deepened the kiss before Meredith pulled away.

"You pay for you and Ava and I'll pay for myself" Meredith said climbing out the car, leaving no room for argument, Derek sat and watched her, as she took Ava out of the car. "Are you getting out of the car Derek, I need the stroller out of the trunk"

"Coming"

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Once inside the aquarium, Derek guided Meredith towards the Windows on Washington Waters exhibit, he knew the Seattle aquarium almost as much as the one back home in the last two years, he had taken his youngest nieces and nephews every time they came to Seattle but this was much more special this time, it was the first time he was taking his daughter out, and their first family trip. Once they got inside he took the stroller off Meredith, and quickly took her hand in his.

"There is a dive show at 10am, Meredith" Derek told her noting it was already 9.40.

"Okay" Meredith simply put, staring at the glass in front of her.

As Derek lifted Ava out of her stroller, he couldn't help but sneak a glance at Meredith, her face a picture of awe, and he knew that he was right, he took her hand in his, as they watched the divers. Meredith could feel Derek eyes on her; she had always secretly loved the way he watched her when he didn't think she knew but this time it felt like he was scrutinising her. She tried to shake the thoughts from her head, needing to remember that he didn't remember much from their previous relationship, not that she shared much with him at the time.

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The morning went quickly, Meredith mainly watched father and daughter together, relishing in watching the moments they created together, everything he showed her, Ava was fascinated by everything Derek told her, she loved seeing her daughter face light up, and for her that is all that mattered, all she wanted was her daughter to be happy. Ava especially loved visiting the seals and the sea otters; Ava clapped and jumped excitedly up and down has she watching them swimming.

Derek treated Meredith and Ava to lunch at the Aquarium cafe, guiding them to a spot on the balcony that overlooked Elliot Bay, putting Ava in her mother lap, Derek gave Meredith a quick kiss before going off and getting their lunch.

"You having fun"

"Sea-sea mama"

"You liked the seals"

"Av wants sea" she told her mother.

"You can't Ava" she told her.

"I want sea sea" she said a little louder.

"Ava, if you don't calm down you will be going home" Meredith told her sternly, knowing that Ava was about to have one of her temper tantrums.

"NO..." she shouted at her mother, banging her hands on the table in front of her.

"Ava Carolyn Grey...stop it this instance"

"No...wub you mama" Ava told her mother, Meredith knew she didn't mean it but it did hurt her each time Ava said.

"Meredith"

"Dada..." Ava sobbed out reaching her arms out for her father.

"What's going on baby" Derek said to her reaching out to take her from Meredith, Meredith let him take her, but looked away from Derek.

"sea, sea, dada"

"Sea?" Derek asked looking at Meredith, and Meredith could feel his eyes boring into her back.

"She wants a seal and i told her she couldn't, so she decided to throw a tantrum"

"Me...sea!"

"I will get you on later if you behave yourself Ava?" Derek asked her.

"sea, dada" she said, her tears stopping, and giving her daddy a kiss on the cheek. "wub dada"

"Derek"

"Meredith, i want to get her something from me, i haven't gotten her anything yet" he told her.

"Daddy loves you, now you better say sorry to mommy"

"No...wub mama"

"Yes you do Ava, you are making mommy sad" Derek told her. Ava reached out to touch her mommy's arm.

"Mama...sad. orry mama" Ava said reaching her little arms out to her mother. Meredith gave her a small smile before taking her again. Ava rested her head against Meredith chest. "No sad?" she asked lifting her head to look up at her mommy.

"Mommy not sad anymore sweetie" Meredith told her daughter, who kissed Meredith on the cheek like she did her daddy moments before.