Day Three. The following morning passed by much like the last. However, there was no P.E. homework in the pile to complete. Melanie was finishing up her last math problem when Derek came down the stairs and asked if she was almost finished.

She ignored him for a few moments while writing her answer on the worksheet. Slamming her pencil down she exclaimed, "Yes!" She gave him her cheesiest smile. "Now I'm free!".

He chuckled. "Alright, let's go then, Munchkin."

"Go where?"

"I'm taking you to Fairmount's Pier." He stated as he headed towards the door.

Confusion set in as she jogged out of the apartment after him. "Why?"

"You've done really well the past few days." Derek explained as he walked to his car without looking back at her. "I figured you deserved something fun." He said quietly.

"Now now Mr. Hale," she stopped her pursuit with a smirk "I thought this week was about making sure I learned my lesson - not to take me on a field trip to a beach amusement park three towns over. It hardly seems that Principal Evans would approve of this activity."

Derek tried to contain the smile growing on his lips as he opened the driver side door. "I'll leave without you." He threatened climbing into the Camaro.

"Don't you dare!" Melanie shouted as she raced to the passenger side.

. .

Forty- five minutes, a battle for control over the radio, and a heated argument about the best amusement park food later, they pulled into the lot next to the pier.

"I was just thinking," Melanie piped up before Derek could exit the car, "I'm sixteen and it's the middle of a school day. Won't someone notice and get suspicious?"

He looked at her for a moment, contemplating, before digging around in the back seat. Pulling out a baseball hat he handed it to her. "Pull it down over your face so people won't be able to see how young you look."

"Where did you steal this from?" She asked gesturing to the fact the hat was a worn out Beacon Hills baseball cap.

"I didn't steal it! It's my hat" He climbed out of the car and she followed.

"You played baseball?!"

"Yeah, why is that so hard to believe?"

"I don't know. Just imagining you were a teenager at one point just seems weird to me. You know this makes you a little bit hotter, don't you?"

"What?!" Confusion etched on his face.

"Baseball players are hot! I was just thinking that now I know this bit of knowledge, you are a little bit hotter than before."

"I'm too old for you. Stop saying things like that!"

"I know you're old but there is nothing wrong with thinking about cute, little, sixteen year old Derek in those tight, sexy baseball pants." He glared at her. She feigned backing off. "What position did you play?" He didn't answer but continued to glare. "Come on Derek! I was just messing around. What position?"

"Third."

"Mmm" she made a content sound, playing with him. His gaze turned murderous. She broke out laughing at him. "Come on, cotton candy awaits!"

. .

After four roller coaster rides, two teacup rides, one ferris wheel trip, cotton candy, fried dough, and an argument over whether Melanie should be allowed a caramel apple ("It's fruit, Derek! How could you deny a growing girl fruit?!"), they were strolling through the arcade section of the pier when Melanie stopped abruptly.

Bewildered, Derek turned back towards her. She was grinning ear to ear.

"What?" He asked.

"There is a baseball throwing game! Will you win me a teddy bear?!"

"No."

"Step right up! Young sir, come on over here and win your girl a prize!"

"Yeah, Derek." She nudged him. "Go show off your supposed baseball skills and win your girl a teddy bear." He rolled his eyes but reluctantly followed her over to the carnie's booth.

. .

That night, Derek was climbing into bed when he noticed the small, white teddy bear perched on his window sill. The bear was small enough to fit comfortably under Melanie's arm where she carried him for the rest of the day. She had named him "Calvin" and Derek didn't think he would ever forget the sight of her laughing shrilly as she collided her bumper cart into his, all the while clutching that bear under her arm and wearing his baseball cap.

Derek thought Melanie must have placed the bear here when she came upstairs to use the bathroom prior to going home. A stream of ticket stubs lay in the bears lap. Curiosity made Derek reach out to grab them. On the back, she had written, "Derek, Thank you for today- it was amazing! I'm lucky to have found you. –Munchkin Mel"

He fell asleep thinking that he was pretty lucky, too.