AUTHOR NOTES:

* First of all, this is a Jolex and Crowen fic. If you dislike one of these couples, I'm sorry, but I don't think it's for you. It's Japril, MerDer and Calzona friendly, even though I don't ship them. Also, you'll probably see Bailey, Richard, Stephanie, Leah and the kids.

* I didn't plan to publish this now, I wanted to finish my other fic, Learning to breathe, first. But I started to write it, I liked it and I want to know what you guys will think about it. Your reviews are always welcomed and I'll try to answer them.

* English is not my first language so, please, forgive my mistakes. And feel free to correct me.

***** CHAPTER 01 - Lonely Nation *****

She turns like the ocean
She tells no emotion
She's been gunning down the fight
She's just reminiscing

(Lonely Nation - Switchfoot)

Seattle. May, 2015.

"No. It's not Young. It's Yang. Y. A. N. G. Yang," impatiently, Cristina said her name to the girl at the rental car desk for the third time.

The blond with a South Californian accent printed the contract and gave it to her. She signed it fast and got the keys from the girl, eager to take the car and get out of the airport. There's so many memories for her in that city, she didn't want to deal with those goodbyes she'd said in that very place.

Since she left to New York one year ago, Cristina never came back. She talked with her friends through the Internet and Meredith went with her kids to visit her once, but she didn't manage to do the same. She even considered not coming this time, but it was Alex's wedding and she couldn't miss it. She was there on his first wedding. She was there when his wife left him. She was there when he met his fiancée, when he swore that they were just friends, when he fell in love again, when they started to date. And he was there for her when she lost the love of her life. Owen, the reason why she left. Even when Meredith couldn't understand why she had to do that, Alex stood by her side, so she could make that sacrifice for him.

"It's only for a few days," she said to herself as she entered the car and started the engine. "I can do it."

Crossing the streets of Seattle, Cristina realized how much she missed driving. In her new city, she didn't even had a car. As most of the new yorkers, she was a regular user of the subway and the cabs. But she loved driving. Being a good driver was one of her goals since she saw her father being killed in a car accident. Being excellent in everything. She just forgot to include friendship in her everything. Though she would never admit it out loud, she missed her friends. Loneliness had never been a problem before those seven years she spent at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. Before she met Meredith and connect with her instantly, before she lives with Callie, before she learned to love Alex as a stubborn little brother. She missed them. She even missed making fun of April, arguing with Jackson, rolling her eyes to Arizona's permanent excitement, scaring half-naked Jo Wilson at the kitchen. She missed Bailey, and Webber. And, most of all, she missed Owen. It would take much more than seven years with her new colleagues to have the kind of bonds she had with these people. Not that she regretted her decision - after all, she was running the best cardio center of the world, it was her dream. She just wished she could have it all. But, come on, nobody can have it all.

Lost in her thoughts, Cristina noticed that instead of driving to Meredith's house, where she would stay those days, she was heading to the hospital. She could turn back, for sure, but she stayed in that way, even though she knew she wasn't ready to see Owen yet. Actually, she planned to avoid him until the wedding ceremony. But there she was, parking at a visitor spot at her former workplace and heading to the ER.

Fortunately, the only familiar person she saw there was a five months pregnant redhead, yelling at a bunch of residents.

"April Kepner! You definitely is not a virgin anymore," Cristina said, pointing to her friend's growing belly and remembering the times when they teased her for being a virgin.

"Cristina! Hi you too. You're so funny," April replied, sarcastically. "But I'm not talking to you. You are here for Alex's wedding, but you couldn't wait one week to watch me marrying Jackson before you move to New York."

"Oh, come on! I wasn't sure that this time you would actually get ma-" Cristina stopped before April's sharp eyes pointing to her. "Ok. I'm done. Is Meredith here?"

"Thank you. And no. She went with Alex to the tux store. Apparently, he can't handle formal wear on his own," April replied and Cristina laughed. These were typical Alex and typical Meredith. "They'll probably stop by his house after, maybe you can find them there," April added.

"Thanks, Apes," Cristina said, already getting out.

"You're not allowed to call me Apes. I'm still mad at you, Cristina Yang," she heard April crying as she headed back to the parking lot.

Once in the car, Cristina sighed in relief. She would go to Alex's house, then to Meredith's, and she would stay there until the wedding. Actually, the wedding would take place at Meredith's yard, so she could stay there until the time to get to the airport, and she would go home safe and sound.

Twenty minutes later, she parked in front of Alex's house and walked to the door looking at her purse for the key she still had. Cellphone, sunglasses, tampons, bubble gums, headache pills, a mirror, post-its, pens, toothpaste, toothbrush, a chocolate bar... Everything came out, except for the damn key. Distracted with her scavenging, Cristina didn't see who was at the front door until she heard Wilson's voice.

"It's okay, Dr Hunt. I can take care of this pretty little girl for you."