Andrew knocked on Meredith's door and waited for her to answer one Friday afternoon. They both had the day off and decided on a picnic at this cozy spot he'd discovered at one of the local parks.

Meredith answered the door seemingly surprised to see him. "Andrew, hey."

"Hey, Mer. Are we still on for this afternoon or?" He asked with a smile.

"Wh - Oh, oh, right! Our date." Meredith ran her fingers through her hair with a sigh. "I completely forgot, honey. I'm sorry. Ellis wasn't feeling too well at daycare and the nanny was going to stay to look after her but I thought it was best if I took care of her and I was gonna call you but I.."

Andrew stepped forward, pulling Meredith a few inches closer to her by the waist. "Meredith, it's fine. Your kids come first. That's the way it should be. I completely understand."

The tenseness in Meredith's shoulders relaxed and she gazed softly into his eyes. His sweet, forgiving eyes full of understanding. "Thank you for understanding."

"Of course. So Ellis isn't feeling well? Is there anything I can do to help?" Andrew inquired.

"I'm sure you have better things to do than hang out here with me and my sick kid all afternoon." Meredith said.

"Mer, I'm a doctor just like you. And plus, my whole schedule was cleared to spend the day with you, so that's what I'm gonna do." He told her. "Just a little change of plans. That's all." He added with a shrug.

"Alright, well come on in. Hopefully you don't catch whatever she has." Meredith said over her shoulder as they walked in.

They walked over to the couch where little Ellis laid wrapped up in her favorite pink blanket, watching television.

However, as soon as she spotted Andrew, her entire face lit up and she sat up on the couch despite not feeling well. "Andrew!" She said excitedly.

"Hey ladybug, how're you feeling?" He asked her.

"Not so good.." Ellis frowned a bit. "My head feels hot and my tummy hurts."

"That's why I need you to lay down for me, Elle Belle. So you can start feeling better soon. Andrew is here to help take care of you."

"Okay." Ellis sighed softly.

"My poor baby. She's been like this all day." Meredith gently ran her fingers through her daughter's hair.

Meredith retrieved a small bottle that sat on the coffee table. "Are you ready to take your medicine for mommy now?" She said to her.

"Uh uh!" Ellis pouted, pulling the blanket over her head.

Andrew chuckled lightly and sat down near Ellis on the couch. He glanced at the television and noticed she was watching My Little Pony, and suddenly he came up with the perfect idea. He just hoped it would work.

"Hey, Elle, guess what?" He said.

"What?" She replied, peeking from under her blanket.

"Did you know that this medicine, " He said, holding up the bottle. "isn't just normal medicine. It's magic."

Ellis sat up a little more. "Magic?"

Andrew nodded. "Yep, magic. Just like twilight sparkle's magic. It'll give you special feeling better powers."

"Really?" Ellis' eyes lit up with excitement.

"Really." Andrew smiled.

"What are you waiting for, mommy? Give me that medicine!" Ellis exclaimed.

Meredith and Andrew both laughed. She unscrewed the cap and placed a small amount on a spoon for Ellis. She glanced over at Andrew giving him a look that said thank you.

Ellis took the medicine without another word of protest and went back to watching her show.

An hour or so later, Meredith and Andrew were in the kitchen sharing a slice of strawberry cheesecake.

"Thank you so much for helping out with Ellis today. She really likes you." Meredith told him.

"I'm glad I could help. She's an awesome little girl. Clearly takes after her mom." Andrew smiled. "So there's this soup that my nonna used to make for Carina and I when we were younger, whenever we got sick. I think Ellis will like it."

"The kids love your cooking and so do I, so don't let me stop you." Meredith chuckled lightly as she collected their now empty plate and utensils.

Meredith watched as Andrew took over in the kitchen, helping himself to the ingredients he would need to prepare the soup. As she watched him she wondered, for probably the millionth time, how she ended up here - so happy, falling so deeply in love when she believed for so long that she never would again.

Watching Andrew slowly integrate himself into her children's lives, into her family, it never felt more right. She could visualize him being a more permanent fixture in her home and in their lives.

This visualization became more clear once her other two children arrived home from school. Andrew helped them with homework and ordered pizza for dinner.

Later that night, came the moment that Meredith dreaded most, when Andrew had to leave her to head back to his own apartment.

As they stood near the door and Andrew placed on last goodbye kiss to her lips, she stopped him as he turned around to leave.

"Andrew, wait -"

He turned to look at her, eyes expectant for whatever it was that she had to tell him. After a couple moments of silence, he grew a little worried. "Mer, is everything alright?"

"Move in with me." She answered in one single breath.

Andrew raised an eyebrow, slightly taken by surprise.

"I know this is kind of sudden, but after today, I don't know it just feels..right. I mean, you're already here all the time, why not just make it a little more permanent?" She explained to him.

"Well, that apartment does get pretty lonely these days.." Andrew's eyes sparked with an energy that matched his smile.

"I bet." Meredith smirked softly.

"But I'm not gonna lie, I'll miss the special times we shared in it.." Andrew's hand gently caressed her cheek.

Meredith glanced down briefly with a light blush on her cheeks. "I'll miss those times too."

"Even more than that, I'm looking forward to all the new special times we'll create together.."

She felt his hands caress her lower waist in that way that sent shivers down her spine. "So am I."

Meredith knew could stand out there all night if she could, anything to be near him, to be touched by him. However, the rational side of her brain knew very well she had work the next morning and so did he.

"Well, goodnight Andrew. See you in the morning." She told him, an excitement stirring inside of her at the thought that soon she would say that and find him laying next to her every single morning.

"Goodnight, Meredith." Andrew said with one last kiss before he headed home.

She waved to him as he pulled out of the driveway and watched him drive away until he was no longer visible, her heart filled with anticipation for this new chapter in their lives.