Meredith had a very uneasy sleep that night and the next morning she slowly got up and walked downstairs, she stared for a long while at Mia's room tempted to go in, talk to her and try and rebuild their relationship. Meredith started walking slowly towards the door but memories from last night kept coming back to haunt her and she didn't want Mia to yell and be angry with her today at least not without Derek by her side, instead Meredith went to the kitchen to make breakfast and she spotted a note on the counter.

I've left early to go to school

Please don't worry I am going to school today

I know you guys are meeting your best man tonight so I can babysit

Mia xx

Meredith felt her eyes watering after the last week of Mia's behaviour it was so lovely reading the note from her. Meredith brushed her eyes with her fingers and hearing loud footsteps she saw her finance coming down the stairs. "Right, time for tough love" Derek said as he knocked on Mia's door and said loudly, "Mia you have five minutes to come out here otherwise i'm coming in to get you out here and I don't care how bad your hair looks."

Meredith walked into the hallway, "Derek."

"What?" Derek said as he turned around, "why are you standing there for, join me and lets get ratbag out here."

"Settle my petal, Mia's gone."

"Oh" Derek huffed, "that does it, that concert she wanted to go to next month she isn't going and she's going to be picking up turds in the gardens with me for a month."

"Derek" Meredith sighed with a smile, "would you stop talking like an old fart."

"Why aren't you joining in with me, we should be thinking of punishments right now?"

"I'm not going to rant and rave like you because I just found a note from Mia that she wrote us this morning and its lovely." Meredith held out the note to Derek who looked at the note and shook his head. "Meredith I say this with nothing but love, you're a good woman with a good heart but I think Mia has you wrapped around her finger and she's taking advantage of your good nature."

"Derek" Meredith smiled walked forward and kissed his lips, "my love I say this with nothing but love lets just talk to her, instead of acting like some old fashioned disciplinarian couple and thinking about ways of punishing her all the time lets just talk to her."

Derek closed his eyes and relaxed his shoulders, "okay your right I should calm down, do you think she'll want to talk to us, she's probably still very angry at us and to be honest I don't blame her. I was doing a lot of thinking last night and I think that having someone trying to take her parents place is well, I imagine it must be very hard on her but still she shouldn't have yelled at you like that."

"You can really flip flop sometimes, you've just gone from wanting to be a drill sergeant on a army parade ground to the world's most understanding father."

"Well i'm not, I mean, I, I just don't know what to do."

"I don't know either honey" Meredith said softly as she hugged Derek close "but I am not going to give up on her."

"Me neither" Derek said as he held Meredith back and kissed her forehead, "okay we've tried laying down the law with Mia but you know before we try that again we'll try and be more as you say, understanding."

"I think" Meredith said, "you need a cup of coffee."

"Yeah" Derek made his way to the kitchen, "I think I do."

Later that evening while the kids were watching the television in the living room Meredith and Derek were dressed up and sitting in the kitchen waiting for Mia to come home and babysit. Derek who was growing more impatient by the minute looked at his watch for the twentieth time, "she's late, why hasn't she texted us to let us know that she's running late."

"Maybe she's worried we're going to growl at her."

"Well she should be worried" Derek said, "its not fair on Greg that he is going to be waiting for us just because Mia is worried about a good bit of discipline. I bet she is doing this on purpose, she is going to pop in just as she thinks we're leaving to avoid the growling."

"Derek" Meredith's hand patted his forearm, "remember what we talked about this morning."

"Well" Derek stammered, "gahh, I, argghhhh."

"Derek" Meredith muttered, "as your doctor I am telling you to chill."

"Right" Derek said as he took a few deep breaths. A few seconds later the door opened and Mia slowly came walking in to the room looking anxious, "hey guys."

"Well hi" Derek said sarcastically, "its about time, we're already running late for our dinner, no messages from you at all to let us know your running late and-"

"Derek" Meredith said as she put a hand on his shoulder.

"Meredith" Derek said, "look i'm sorry and I know I flip flop but being understanding i'm not some therapeutic counsellor, come on we're having a lecture right here right now and-"

"No" Meredith said firmly as she looked at Mia staring at both of them, "we're not having the lecture we have tried the lecture before and it hasn't worked we're going to be having a talk with-"

"Guys please stop fighting because of me" Mia said loudly. Meredith and Derek looked at Mia in shock and Mia looked at the floor, "sorry i'm late" Mia said in a quieter voice.

"Mia" Meredith said softly, "are you-"

"Yeah im fine" Mia said with a casual shrug. Meredith looked at Mia for a few moments and feeling concerned she smiled warmly at her, "sweetheart do you want to talk to us now?"

"Aren't you guys running late for dinner?"

"Well we have a few minutes" Meredith said as she looked at Derek and Derek quickly nodded, "yeah we do."

"Your bad liars" Mia said with a small grin, "you tell the truth a lot, that's why you lie badly when you try to lie."

"Ok" Derek admitted, "we did need to leave ten minutes ago, Holly and her mum are expecting Ally and Greg is expecting us at the restaurant."

Mia blinked quickly, "Ally's not staying here tonight?"

"Well Ally has a sleepover tonight we organised it a week ago and" Derek said sighing as he saw Mia's face before he called out, "Ally sweetheart we're leaving."

Ally came round the corner and upon seeing Mia she stared hard at her and walked past her. Mia quickly walked in front of Ally bent down and smiled at Ally, "hey bumblebee are you going to see your friends tonight."

Ally looked up at Mia and glared at her, "I hate you" she said loudly.

"Ally" Mia said taken aback.

"You made Meredith cry" Ally looked at Meredith who stared back in shock before she looked back at Mia, "your not my big sister, you're a big meanie."

"Ally" Meredith said in shock.

"Ally stop" Derek said firmly, "that's not nice."

Ally turned her stubborn face to Derek, "Mia's not nice."

"Ally this is not acceptable behaviour, now-"

"Bye big meanie" Ally said stubbornly and she walked out the door.

Mia stared after her and felt her eyes watering, Derek put a hand on her shoulder, "i'll talk with her in the car."

"Thanks Derek" Mia whispered as she sniffed and wiped her eyes.

"It will be alright" Derek whispered. Mia nodded before she stood up on tiptoe and wrapped her arms around Derek's neck tightly, Derek slowly drew his arms around Mia for a hug, "Mia" Derek said softly, "Ally is just confused, she thinks that what she saw between you and Meredith was worse than what it was."

"No its ok" Mia said with her face in Derek's shoulder, "I deserved that."

"No you didn't" Derek said, "you don't deserve to be talked to like that just, you know what" Derek looked at the door, "i'm going to go get Ally out of the car and we're going to sort this out right now."

"No its ok" Mia stopped him, "take Ally to see her friend and go and see your best man i'll look after Noah tonight."

"I know you will" Derek said.

"Mia" Meredith said, "we're not leaving that easily."

"Its ok" Mia said, "I know i'm grounded."

"Mia that's not what we meant, we need to talk about last night."

"Yeah sure that would be good um, could we talk later you guys deserve a break."

"Mia" Meredith said.

"Don't worry" Mia looked at the door, "we'll talk tonight when you come home so go on, your already late."

Meredith sighed, "its ok" Mia said in a insistent voice, "i'll be good, Noah will be fine."

"Mia" Derek said softly.

"Don't worry Derek i'm fine" Mia said.

"Please tell me your not on drugs."

"Derek" Meredith said in a firm voice before she said to Mia, "okay Derek's right we do need to ask you, are you using anything, if you are its ok you can tell us?"

"No no its ok" Mia said as she brushed her hair back with her hands, "I know i've been really all over the place but I promise i'm not using drugs."

"Okay" Derek said, "well we'll chat later." Mia nodded and gave him another hug before he smiled at her and slowly walked out the door.

Meredith put a gentile hand on Mia's shoulder and smiled, "we'll talk tonight."

Meredith walked to the front door turned the door and saw a hand closing around her hand which opened the door. Meredith turned around and found a body in her arms hugging her tightly, Meredith slowly drew her arms around Mia and hugged Mia back for a long while before Mia said softly, "I love you doc, really."

Meredith felt so much pain lifting from her spirits hearing those words from Mia for the first time, she rubbed Mia's back and said with a wide smile, "I love you to."

After a while Mia drew back with a cheeky grin, "does this mean i'm still grounded."

"Yeah" Meredith chuckled, "nice try but your still grounded."

"Well" Mia said with a chuckle, "it was worth a shot."

Meredith looked at Mia smiling then she turned around to grab her handbag and she heard Mia sniffing. Meredith turned around and she placed a gentile hand on Mia's head. Mia smiled unconvincingly trying to look happy, Meredith looked at Mia concerned and said, "Mia ok, you and me are going to talk right now."

"No no come on your running late and-"

"Mia" Meredith put a arm around Mia's shoulders and lead Mia to the couch, "Derek can take Ally and meet up with Greg, you and me are going to have a chat."

"No your busy" Mia stammered, "its important I understand."

"Your far more important to us than meeting a friend" Meredith sat down on the couch next to Mia, "Mia about last night first of all I want to say i'm not angry with you."

"I made you upset" Mia whispered, "that's the first time i've ever seen you cry, your really nice all the time and you don't deserve to cry its-"

"Honey" Meredith said in a gentile voice as she ran a hand through Mia's hair, "everyone cries sometimes, I understand why you have been angry with me and its ok I understand how you feel and-"

"Meredith" Mia said, "please don't start saying that you were in the wrong to try and make me feel better. I'm sorry that I made you cry I was being a total bitch and-"

"Mia you were just angry that's all it was, you were feeling angry with me, that's ok you got it out of your system. You know when i'm feeling angry about something do you know what I like to do to get it out into the open."

"What do you do?"

"Usually I scream into a pillow."

Mia sniggered, "is that what that noise is?"

Meredith chuckled in response, "what did you think that noise was?"

"I thought it was sex noises, it usually comes from the bedroom."

"Oh Mia" Meredith sighed before she and Mia laughed for a while before Mia let out a small chuckle, "you should go" Mia said with a smile.

Meredith felt a deep sadness hearing those words this was the first time in weeks that she and Mia had talked with each other like this and she had forgotten how much she had missed it, "are you sure you don't want to talk more?"

"Yeah" Mia nodded although she looked just as sad as Meredith felt, "i'm sure."

"Mia" Meredith said as she ran her hand up and down Mia's arm.

"Don't worry we'll talk later" Mia said "and I promise that I won't, you know go into psycho bitch mode and storm off."

"I wouldn't say that, more like rebellious youth mode which everyone your age does one time or another, I did that a fair bit of that when I was your age."

"Really" Mia chuckled, "you were that bad?"

Meredith nodded with a smirk, "I could scream pretty good sometimes."

"I would have loved to have seen that, I think me and teenage doc would have gotten along great."

Meredith nodded and placed her fingers on Mia's cheek as Mia closed her eyes, "Mia I just want you to know that we still want you here all of us want you here, that will never change."

"Just" Mia said as she averted her gaze, "yeah I get it." Meredith nodded, smiling when Mia placed her own hand over Meredith's hand that was gently rubbing Mia's cheek, Meredith smiled warmly and learning forward gently kissed Mia's forehead, "i'm not leaving this house unless I know your ok."

"I'm ok" Mia said as she breathed, "i'm ok."

Meredith's hand ran up and down Mia's arm, "really all good" Mia said as she looked down before looking up, "again i'm really sorry for what I said last night."

"No Mia" Meredith said, "i'm the one who should be sorry I should have been more careful about, I shouldn't have been."

"Please don't start this again" Mia whispered, "your good and i'm-"

"Don't start saying things about yourself that are not true, listen we'll talk about it later on tonight, just remember your still part of our family no matter what."

"Yeah" Mia said, "I know."

Meredith's hand patted Mia's knuckles, "i'll see you later on."

"Um actually I might just go to bed a bit early tonight, feeling tired tonight, not to tired to babysit but you know."

"Okay we'll talk first thing in the morning" Mia gave Meredith another big hug and Meredith held her for a little while before she kissed Mia's cheek and slowly released herself before she walked to the door. Mia watched Meredith walk away, she took deep breaths to compose herself before she went to the living room to look for Noah.

"Noah" Mia called as she looked around, "Noah where are you, if you want to play hide and seek then its going to take me a while to find you, you are so good at hiding."

Mia heard something tip over and she walked and opened the pantry door to find Noah hiding behind a big bag of dog food, "hey little buddy."

"Go away" Noah said glaring at Mia.

Mia looked at Noah with sad eyes, "your angry with me to huh?"

"You made mommy cry."

"Yeah I did" Mia said as she got down on her knees, "i'm really sorry I never should have done that."

"Did you tell mommy sorry?"

"I did, I told her I was very sorry and your mum being as nice as she is accepted my apology."

Noah climbed out of the pantry and looked at Mia, "are you good Mia again?"

"Who is good Mia" Mia said with a smile.

"She's nice and she likes playing with me."

"Yeah" Mia said as her smile grew wider till it reached her eyes, "i'm good Mia again, the bad Mia is sleeping."

Noah blinked and smiled before he gave Mia a big hug, "I missed you good Mia."

"Yeah I missed you to pal" Mia said with a giggle as she gently picked Noah up in her arms, "hey why don't we play snakes and ladders."

"Then hide and seek" Noah said with a big smile.

"Yeah sure, although i'm pretty sure we just played it."

"Then aeroplane" Noah said bursting with excitement.

"Yep" Mia said with a nod, "all the fun things."

"Then-"

"Hey hey slow down dude, by the time we do all of that it will be bed time, we better get started."

"Lets get started" Noah said as Mia put him down and Noah ran to the cupboard to get the board games out.

Meredith and Derek climbed out of the truck, "so I never got to ask you what's your friend like?"

"Well, lets just say Greg makes a big impression when you first meet him."

Meredith looked on and saw a tall muscular man with a short beard calling out to Derek as he made his way over, "hey its loverboy."

"Hey mate" Derek said as he gave his friend a hug, "good to see you."

"So" Greg said and Meredith found her fingers squeezed in a big strong hand, "your the pretty doctor Derek's been telling us about."

"I'm Meredith" Meredith said with a uneasy smile, "sorry i'm curious who is the us your referring to."

"All the dudes from the gym in new York" Greg said as he threw his arms out, "didn't loverboy here tell you he used to train with us?"

"I think he mentioned it once" Meredith said, "when we were out for a walk along the beach the other day and he was talking about exercise."

"Well every time we saw this dude we got him to run around the block, ah those were some good times hey mate."

"Yeah" Derek muttered with a embarrassed smirk, "those were some happy times, my legs still feel sore as hell just thinking about it."

"Well being serious for a second because that won't happen with me for the rest of the night he's lucky that he found such a nice babe I mean" Greg held out a hand in Meredith's direction and looked at Derek, "she's a looker and a doctor, brains and beauty now that's a catch. Okay that's enough with the intros i'm going to get a drink, then we're going to talk about old times."

Meredith looked at the crowd of people watching Greg disappear into the bar and she looked at Derek with wide eyes and a mouth that was even wider as Derek shrugged, "okay I know he's a bit much but he's really a great bloke once you get to know him."

"I've never seen anyone so comfortable in a unfamiliar place in all my life. Derek there isn't anyone else in New York City that you wanted to ask to be the best man at our wedding?"

"No" Derek said, "look he's my best mate and he's really great, like I said he got me through some tough times when I was younger and he's like a brother to me."

"Tough times" Meredith put her hands on Derek's hand, "you mean Addison?"

"Yeah" Derek nodded, "when we broke up he would call me every day and be there for me every time I needed company. When I was kicking myself over her and me breaking up he would help me to pick myself back up again."

"Derek" Meredith said with a sad smile, "Addison dumped you because of a silly issue relating to money, your relationship with her ending didn't happen because of you, it was because of her ego don't blame yourself."

"Well anyway" Derek said as he shrugged off the thoughts of his ex partner from his mind, "he was by my side when I was feeling down."

"Okay your right" Meredith admitted "i'm being a bit judgemental."

"Well we have all been there, I know he's a bit much when you first meet him but he's really great when you get to know him."

"Just as long as" Meredith sniggered, "he's not calling me hot babe doctor during his best man's speech at our wedding."

Derek nodded with a smirk, "i'll ask him to go through his speech with me before our wedding and if he doesn't tone it down then i'll get him to change it. Not that you aren't a hot babe doctor."

"Your not so bad yourself" Meredith smirked as she kissed Derek, "handsome man of the outdoors."

After an hour Meredith was feeling better about Greg when he saw how comfortable and friendly he was with Derek and how open he was to talking about Derek's younger days which Meredith found both interesting and amusing. Greg after a while wandered to the bathroom and Meredith nodded, "okay when he tones it down I do get to see why you see him as a best friend." Derek nodded then his smile was replaced by a look of concern as he looked at Meredith who was staring at the table, "your thinking about what happened back at the house aren't you."

"Okay your right" Meredith nodded, "ever since we left the house I can't stop thinking about what happened."

"Neither can I, I still can't believe Ally talked to Mia like that tonight."

"And on the way over to dropping her off at the sleepover she just crossed her arms and refused to talk to us."

Derek sighed, "we shouldn't have left her at her friend's house like that, it sends a bad message to other parents, my child is grumpy I am going to leave you to take care of it."

"Its not just Ally's behaviour, when I talked with Mia tonight she was lost in a world of her own and I could send there was a bundle of emotion inside her that she didn't want to let out. Its not just what Ally said to her, there's something else going on with her Derek I can feel it."

"Yeah I sensed it to but what could it be?"

"It might be because she's coming down from her anger over the whole adoption thing and I know she can be an emotional up and down rollercoaster sometimes but" Meredith put her hand on Derek's arm, "I haven't seen her this mixed up since she had her car accident and was telling me her life story back in the hospital."

"What are we doing here?"

"Why are we here" Meredith said.

"Well we're not anymore, come on lets find Greg and tell him we need to head home."

Meanwhile back at the house Mia was sitting on Noah's bed finishing a story about a tugboat, as Mia read the story she made tugboat sounds every time she read the lines of the tugboat which made Noah grin and giggle. When she finished reading the story she gently tucked Noah in and gave him a big goofy grin which made him laugh before she gently tickled his neck as Noah laughed even harder as Mia smiled, "goodnight little dude."

"Goodnight Mia" Noah said.

"Yeah" Mia whispered, "goodnight" as she turned off the light.

"Are you going downstairs?"

"I'm just" Mia turned around and said, "i'm just going out for a while Noah."

"Out where?"

"Just out" Mia muttered.

"But you can't go out when your babysitting, that's against the rules."

"What are you" Mia smirked, "the babysitting police."

"I like the police" Noah grinned.

"Yeah glad you do" Mia said, "if you join the police you can arrest me some day."

"Arrest you?"

"Um never mind, okay your right i'm just going to be downstairs, i'm not allowed to go out when i'm grounded."

"Mia" Noah said.

"Yeah."

Noah sat up and smiled, "your Ally's big sister, I wish you were my big sister to."

"Yeah" Mia said as her heart softened, "I kind of wish I was to."

"How do you become my big sister?"

"Um well" Mia walked over and put a gentile hand on Noah's shoulder, "we both got different moms so I don't think it can happen."

"But I got two moms."

"Yeah cause your adopted, Meredith adopted you."

"My mom wants to adopt you to."

"Yeah I know" Mia said softly.

"So if my mom adopts you then" Noah smiled from ear to ear, "you will be my big sister."

"You're a clever dude" Mia said with a soft smile.

"That will be so cool."

"Well" Mia said as her smile faded, "as cool as it would be it can't happen."

"Why not?"

"Because I have to go mate."

"Why?"

"I just do I have to go, i'm going tonight."

"When are you coming back?"

Mia closed her eyes, "i'm not."

"Mia" Noah whispered.

Be a good boy" Mia said as she put her hand on Noah's cheek "and don't grow up to be like me."

"But I want to be like you" Noah whispered.

Mia sighed before she kissed Noah's forehead and got up, "see ya kid."

Mia walked downstairs and walking into her closet she unlocked it and took out her bags then she walked to the kitchen and put as much food as she could cram it into the bags before walking to the front door, she took a deep breath and opened the door, "Mia" a small voice said. Mia turned around to find Noah standing in his pyjamas staring at her, "don't go."

"Noah" Mia quickly took another deep breath, "I have to go."

"Mia don't go" Noah ran and threw his arms around Mia's waist sobbing. Mia held him back feeling tears coming to her eyes she fought back the urge to cry and whispered as she rubbed his small shoulders, "I have to go Noah."

"Don't go don't go" Noah repeated as he hugged Mia's legs as tight as he could, "please don't go."

"Noah I have to go" Mia said in a tear filled voice as she gently as she could pried of Noah's vicegrip on her legs, "its going to be ok, your going to be fine" Mia kissed his forehead, "goodbye" Mia quickly ran out the door and out into the night she ran for a long time holding back tears as she felt the wind in her hair until she finally stopped she took a deep breath sniffed wiped her eyes with her hands and took a few deep breaths for a long minute before she looked at her watch, "come on Mia you need to get moving you have a train to catch, Meredith and Derek will be home any minute you have to go before they get home."

Meredith and Derek were driving in silence when Derek looked out at the road, "is that."

"What?" Meredith said as she looked up.

"Ah nothing I just thought I saw someone." Derek said as they sped on. Meanwhile Mia had arrived at the train station she looked at the entrance "ok here we go" she wandered inside and walked up to the booth to get her ticket.

"Where are you travelling to honey" the smiling woman behind the counter asked.

"New York" Mia replied, "ah please."

Mia looked at her train ticket and then at her phone as she looked up her old contacts, "okay, its okay I am going to go to New York I am going back to my old life and my family are going to be safe everything is going to be fine."

Mia walked slowly ahead and looked back at the crowd then something caught her eye and her mouth opened with shock as she heard a loud "Mia."

Mia turned around and dashed forward, "Noah what are you doing here?"

"Don't go" Noah said as he ran and put his hands on Mia's legs.

"Fuck" Mia said as she looked at Noah, "your nearly blue what the fuck are you doing here?"

"Following you."

"Look come over here" Mia picked Noah up and carried him over to a row of chairs, she bent down and looked at his in the eye as she put a hand on his cheek, "Noah look I got to go okay, you can't come with me."

"No you don't" Noah said softly.

"Yes I do" Mia said with pained eyes.

"No no."

"Noah if I don't go then" Mia looked down and took a deep breath, "look listen I have to leave."

"No" Noah said shaking his head.

"Okay Noah look go home."

"Not without you" Noah said as his little arms clung to Mia's forearm.

"Noah" Mia said feeling her strength waning,"christ just go"

"Not without you" Noah repeated.

"Noah" Mia looked around and her spirits rose as she spotted a security guard, "okay look you see that guy."

"Yeah" Noah said as she looked at where Mia was pointing with his fingers in his mouth.

"Go and talk with him and he'll help you get home."

"Are you coming to?"

"Look okay I will come with you just" Mia stood up and put out her hand, "come on lets talk to him."

Noah took Mia's hand and they walked over together, "help you" the guard said turning around.

"Yeah help him" Mia said as she quickly turned around and dashed, she ran downstairs, dashed through the train checkout and a minute later she was standing in line closing her eyes, waiting for the train to come. "I am such a bitch" she whispered to herself. She saw the train coming and she looked back, "be safe" she said softly before she got onto the train.

Mia walked slowly to the back of the train and slumped down onto a chair closing her eyes she took deep breaths, felt the train start to move and her spirits drop and then she felt warm breath on her face. Mia opened her eyes and turned her head to tell the person next to her to stop bothering her and gasped with fear as she saw Noah sitting beside her, "were you having a bad dream?"

"It just came true" Mia said as loudly as she could without drawing everyone from the next room's attention to herself, "how the hell did you follow me down here, never mind, quick hide"

"Hide?"

"Yes hide under the chairs before the ticket man comes."

"Why?"

"Just do it" Mia said with fear as she pointed under the chairs, "please."

"Ok" Noah said as he darted under the chairs. Mia held out her hand with the ticket, the ticket man looked at it and walked the other way to the other end of the train. Mia waited for the ticket man to leave her sight then she looked under the chair, "dude why are you following me?"

Noah got out from the chair climbed onto the chair and hugged Mia, "I don't want you to go."

"Look" Mia said as he heart softened, "I don't want to go either but I don't have a choice."

"Why Mia?"

"I can't tell you why Noah."

"Is it because you made mom cry?"

"No its not that."

"Mia why do you have to go? "

"Look" Mia said as she stared at Noah with scrunched up eyes, "I can't tell you lets just go to sleep."

"But we're not in a bed."

"Well look" Mia said trying to hide her frustration, "we are on a train so you can sleep on me if you want."

Noah grinned and lied down on the seats with his head on Mia's lap.

"There" Mia grumbled, "comfortable?"

"Are you comfortable" Noah said softly.

"I'm your pillow" Mia muttered, "what do your reckon."

"Your a good pillow" Noah said as he grinned.

Mia rolled her eyes, "goodnight monkey."

Noah giggled and closed his eyes as Mia closed her eyes feeling anxiety building inside her as she tried desperately to think, what am I going to do now.

Meredith and Derek pulled up, "why is the front door open?"

"You don't think we've been burgled."

"Oh god" Meredith and Derek quickly getting the message ran into the house, "Noah."

"Meredith relax, the television is still here we must not have been robbed."

"Ok" Meredith said, "I hope I didn't wake Noah."

"I'm sure they're fine, they usually sleep like the dead" Derek smiled and went to the kitchen, "huh that's strange."

"What's strange?"

"I was sure there was more food in the kitchen."

"We'll go shopping tomorrow" Meredith said as she put down her coat, "shall we."

"Yeah" Derek said as he and Meredith walked to Mia's bedroom door and knocked on it, "Mia honey."

Meredith slowly opened the door and saw a mass of hair and quiet snoring, "she's asleep" Derek whispered.

"Out like a light" Meredith whispered back as she walked in, heard soft snoring and put a gentile hand on Mia's cheek, she bent down to kiss Mia's cheek than she frowned and looked closer, "oh no" she whispered.

"What is it?"

Meredith pulled away the covers and saw a manakin with hair and a voice recorder, "Derek she's gone."

"She must have sneaked out."

"I guess so" Meredith sighed, "you know what I don't want to punish her anymore when she comes back in the morning we'll talk."

"Yeah we will" Derek said, "you know what lecturing and punishing is not getting us anywhere, i'm still worried she's using drugs."

"Well we should still stick to the original plan and have her grounded, we're not sending a good message if we let her get away with sneaking out of the house all the time without consequences."

"How about digging holes in the garden for pocket money?"

Meredith nodded, "not a bad punishment, i'll be back, just got to say goodnight to Noah."

Derek went to the kitchen to get out glasses for a drink when he heard Meredith call out loudly, "Derek." Derek ran up the stairs, "what" he said as he saw Meredith pulling off the bed covers and opening the closet doors in a panic, "Noah isn't here."

"Noah" Derek called out, he ran downstairs and out into the yard, "Noah" Derek yelled.

Derek feeling fear ran inside and he saw Meredith standing there with scared eyes, "Derek did Mia, did she leave and then did Noah?"

"Noah" Derek said softly, "he wouldn't leave the house like this, he knows better unless..."

"Mia took Noah with her" Meredith whispered.

"Why would she do that?"

Meredith went to Mia's room and opened up the closet, "because she's run away."

Derek took out his phone and rang Mia's number until it went to voicemail, "Mia answer the phone Noah's missing, please answer me."

Mia meanwhile with Noah sleeping soundly on her lap listened to the voicemail message and slowly pressed a button to delete it, "don't worry guys" she whispered to herself.