Can't Help Falling in Love

3

Meredith sighed as she moved quickly through her classroom as she handed out papers to the class. She was trying to control the children who had been excited all day. The annual fall picnic was taking place this afternoon, and although they were supposed to be getting work done this morning, they all knew that they were going to have an afternoon of fun and games and none of them were able to concentrate on their practice writing.

"Alright," she announced as she stopped in the front of the classroom. "I know you're all excited about this afternoon, but no one is leaving the classroom if you writing isn't finished. So let's get going so we can have some fun outside, okay?"

That worked to quickly quiet down the classroom, and Meredith sighed in relief as she made her way to her desk, sitting down as she reached for the spelling tests from earlier that morning, wanting to get them done before the end of the day. She smiled as she listened to the quiet whispering of her students, always amused by the way they thought everything they talked about was the most important thing in the world.

"My mommy's bringing apple pie to the picnic," Sawyer whispered loudly at the cluster of desks in front of her.

"My dad's bringing apple cider," Charlie said.

"My mommy made pumpkin pie," Meg reported. "But she had to go be a doctor. So my Uncle Derek's going to bring it."

Meredith froze, her hand poised over the stack of spelling tests. The last thing she wanted was to deal with Derek Shepherd today. Actually, she didn't want to deal with Derek Shepherd ever, but it was worse when he was here, trying to distract her from her job. The man was infuriating, and she knew that she was in for a long afternoon.

"Miss Grey?" there was a quick knock on the door and a woman leaned into the room. "There's a slight problem with the picnic supplies."

Meredith sighed as she stood and moved towards Jack's mother, trying to ignore the way she was shaking as she thought about Derek Shepherd. She didn't want to allow that man to have so much power over herself. "What's wrong?" she asked, hoping that this wouldn't be a complete disaster.

An hour later, she found herself running around her empty classroom, trying to find extra tablecloths and wondering why she had decided to become a teacher. Sometimes brain surgery really did sound easier than managing a picnic for twenty five six year olds, even if she did have help from parents. And annoying uncles with perfect hair.

"Isn't there a party going on somewhere around here?" a familiar voice asked from the doorway and she froze for a moment before she stood and turned to face him.

"Look, I know you're here for Meg, and that's great, really," she nodded. "But I can't deal with this right now, so you should just go outside with the rest of the parents."

Derek frowned as he crossed his arms and leaned against the doorframe. "Deal with what?" he asked.

Meredith rolled her eyes. "This," she said, gesturing to him. "You being all McDreamy and trying to get me to go out with you. I'm in the middle of a crisis, and I can't deal with you hitting on me right now, so just...go see Meg."

Derek sighed as he pushed himself off the doorframe and stepped towards her. "What's wrong?" he asked.

"Everything," she sighed, dropping into the nearest chair, even though it was much to small for her. "I know you think it's stupid, but it's really important to my students that this picnic is perfect. And since it's important to them, it's important to me."

"I don't think it's stupid," Derek frowned, moving to crouch in front of her. "Maybe I can help. Tell me what's going on."

"Well, I have six students who are allergic to apples, and they're upset that they can't take part in the pie tasting contest, and the mom who was supposed to bring the pumpkin pie never showed up, so there's no desert for the kids that are allergic to apples," she sighed. "And the tablecloths are flying up into the food on the picnic tables, which makes even more of a mess than the kids have already made." Meredith sighed as she stood and moved towards the closet in the corner of her classroom. "I think I have some lolly pops in here somewhere, but that's not nearly as good as the apple pie the other kids are having."