A/N I had another story in mind, but couldn't quite get it on to paper so I thought I'd try this. It's a little different and at first some characters may appear to be a little out of character but things will change I promise, any feedback and thoughts will be welcome. The title of this story is a song by Take That and all the titles of the chapters are also Take That songs (I really recommend them, but I can't forgive them for taking Robbie Back). Also note, that whilst some of the Mercy Westers are in this story, I refuse to call it Seattle Grace Mercy West, cus it sounds wrong.
Love Ain't Here Anymore
"I'm glad we could have you join the staff here Derek, I think it'll make you very happy." Richard Webber shook the hand of Dr Derek Shepherd, new head of Neurosurgery at Seattle Grace Hospital.
"I'm glad to be here Richard." Derek accepted the lab coat from Richard and followed him out of the office on his tour of Seattle Grace.
They had visited the ER, the OR's, the ICU and other locations around the hospital and were now on their way from the OR's up to the floor which contained Derek's office when two female doctors entered the elevator mumbled a hello to the chief not noticing the new doctor leaning against the wall in the corner of the elevator. Derek, who had recognised one of the doctors, decided to speak up "Are you not even going to say hello Meredith?"
Meredith Grey felt her blood run cold at the sound of his voice and span around quickly "You have got to be kidding me!" she exclaimed, Cristina and the chief looked at the pair, one of whom was smiling and other staring at him furiously.
"I mean seriously chief! Of all the people you could've hired, you hire him!" Meredith yelled.
"You know each other?" The chief questioned.
"Mer?" Cristina asked
"Of course I know her Richard, I used to be married to her." Derek replied smugly.
The elevator dinged and Meredith, closely followed by Cristina.
"You married McDreamy?" Cristina said as soon as they had sat down in the attendings lounge.
"McWho?"
"McDreamy, that guy in the elevator, claiming to be your hus..."
"EX-husband and yes I did."
"Have you two seen Dr Shepherd?" Izzie Stevens walked in to the room
Meredith put her head against the wall and groaned.
"I'm assuming that McDreamy is Shepherd." Cristina said, trying to hide her amusement.
"McDreamy...I like, it fits." Izzie nodded.
"He's anything but dreamy." Meredith snapped.
"Ok, what have I missed."
"Mer used to be married to McDreamy."
"You were married?" Izzie sounded shocked.
"Seriously? Do you think my kids just appeared like I'm the Virgin freaking Mary?"
"Marriage isn't required to have kids Mer." Izzie pointed out.
"They have a different last name to me."
"I forgot about that." Izzie said thoughtfully.
"I didn't know about that."Cristina commented, "Anyway do we get the story?"
"Yeah Mer, there has to be a story."
"It's not that interesting." Meredith told her friends but they pushed and she decided to tell it anyway.
FLASHBACK!
Meredith Grey walked in to Mt Sinai Medical Centre and looked around she saw an empty locker and began to put her stuff into it when the occupant of the locker next to her closed his door and stared at his neighbour.
"Can I help you?" Meredith said looking at the man
"Derek Shepherd." He held his hand out and she shook it. He opened his mouth to say more but the resident had already called out Meredith's name and she'd gone.
It was later that evening he found himself in bar sat in the corner with his friend Mark, when the door opened and a familiar blond walked in and took a seat at the bar she ordered some kind of shot, Derek wasn't sure what it was, and knocked it back. He smiled, stood and walked over to talk to her.
"So is this good place to hang out?" He asked casually
"Wouldn't know, never been here before." She answered, signalling for another shot.
"Me neither. I've just mover here. Started a new job, but you know that."
"Yeah." Meredith said before downing her shot that the bartender had placed in front of her.
"Ah you're ignoring me."
"Trying to." Meredith smiled.
"That's not very nice. I'm somebody you have to get to know to love."
"So if I know you, I'll love you?" Meredith asked
"Yeah, plus it'll make the next year as locker buddies more pleasant."
The conversation continued and the next morning Meredith found herself waking up with a very naked Darren (or at least that's what she thought his name was) on the floor.
End Flashback!
"You married the one night stand? Well no wonder it didn't work." Cristina said sarcastically.
"It was love at first sight." Izzie said happily, "What happened Mer?"
"We dated for a year, were married for five, had two kids, it didn't work, we divorced and I came out here to do my fellowship, met you guys moved on with my life." Meredith stood up and left unwilling to have this conversation any longer.
Meanwhile in his new office Derek was talking to the chief.
"You didn't think to mention when you moved out here, your ex-wife worked at this hospital?"
"I didn't know it was this hospital she worked at." Derek replied.
"Don't be clever Derek, I know you were still married when she applied I accepted Meredith Shepherd and got Meredith Grey."
"Look chief, Meredith and I, we're done. We're civil for our kid's sakes, we can be civil at work. You don't need to worry."
The chief seemed satisfied with his answer and left him alone to stew in his office, his thoughts turned to the night five years ago when his life changed forever.
Flashback!
"Meredith, I'm sorry. I know I should've been here to help but it was a big surgery. How many times am I going to cut a brain in half?"
"How many times is your son going to have a third birthday party Derek?"
"Come on Mer, it's not like I missed the actual birthday!"
"Oh no, you didn't miss that. You just missed a three year old asking for his daddy, telling his friends his daddy will be here soon, refusing to blow out the candles because daddy isn't here yet!" She yelled.
"I'm sorry, Meredith but you know what it's like, you know this was a big surgery this is the kind of surgery you dream of as a resident."
"You're right Derek I know exactly what it's like to know that your parent prefers surgery to you!"
"That isn't fair Meredith, I'm nothing like your mother."
"I'm not sure about that Derek!"
"That's uncalled for. You're being ridiculous Meredith, I missed one party."
"It's not just this one party though is it. You came home from work and your daughter was sitting up for the first time and you just say, I'll look later, I'm tired or the time..."
"It had been a 48 hour shift, I'd been on call. You're over reacting and you know it, this is just stupid." Derek cut her off.
"Get out." Meredith said quietly.
"What?" Derek wasn't sure he'd heard her right.
"I said get out."She wasn't yelling but it was clear she was furious.
"Where do you expect me to go?"
"Anywhere, how about the hospital, everybody knows you prefer that to us."
"That isn't fair Meredith."
"I don't care. I don't want you in my home or near my children right now I need you to leave." She walked to the bedroom and closed the door.
"Fine I'll go!" Derek turned around and walked out of the apartment, slamming the door on the way
Meredith took a few deep breaths before realising throwing him out wasn't her brightest move and ran to the door throwing it open only to find her husband had already gone and was nowhere to be found.
The next day she waited for him at work and he never showed, it continued for a few days and after a phone call to his mother, and a conversation with Mark she was no closer to finding him. Which is why after a week she went to their bar in the hope that he'd be here, she saw him kissing another woman.
When Derek returned to work the next day he found a large manila envelope with divorce papers inside and a note from Meredith telling him she was taking the Seattle Fellowship and the kids with her and it was pointless to try and stop her, she'd already got a temporary custody order and would be on a plane that afternoon.
End Flashback!
TBC...
A/N not great I know I'm just interested in the feedback and whether people are interested, don't worry things will get better for MerDer and the writing isn't all that good, but due to the weather in the UK I spent over four days trying to get home and I'm tired.