This story is Meredith and Derek, AU. Basically Meredith and Derek were high school sweethearts. Derek is a hot-shot neurosurgical attending, but Meredith is a big-time New York fashion designer. After years of separation, they run into each other again, and sparks fly.

Derek Shepherd ran his hands through his hair as he ran through the warm rain falling on New York City that night. After a long shift and losing a patient, all he could think about was a drink, a desperately needed drink. This clinical trial he was heading was not helping his stress level either. Walking into the bar, across from the hospital, he took a seat at the far end of the bar and ordered his usual: a double scotch, single malt.

Across the city, Meredith Grey groaned in frustration. Lately, it seemed like she lacked any inspiration for designing, and with awards season rearing its ugly head, this may have been the worst possible time for her designer's block to hit. After years of hard work and grueling internships, Meredith had finally begun to make a name for herself in the New York fashion industry. After designing a stunning gown for last year's Tony Awards for Tony Nominee Laura Osnes, Meredith's fashion business went through the roof. When Osnes had won the Tony, everyone wanted to know who designed her show-stopping dress, and this season, requests were pouring in for Meredith to design gowns for red carpets all over the city. Throwing her stylus down and turning off her design tablet, Meredith snatched her trench coat from its hook, threw her designer bag over her shoulder, and went outside to hail a taxi to take her to her favorite bar in New York.

Derek sat with an elbow on the bar, swirling his scotch in its glass. He found himself staring at the various women entering the bar, and if he was being completely honest, he wouldn't mind getting laid that night. A good one-night stand could take his mind off of his incredibly stressful job, but so far none of the women were sparking his interest. On the verge of giving up, Derek knocked back the remainder of his drink and prepared to leave the bar. But as he turned to the door, he found himself staring at a face from his past. A face he hadn't seen in years, but one he never stopped thinking about.

Meredith Grey pulled her dark trench coat off and placed it on the coatrack located just inside the door of the bar. She quickly took a seat at the bar.

"Tequila, Joe"

"Long day at the studio, Grey?" Joe the bartender asked. Meredith was one of his better known customers, and he knew that a glass of wine or a beer meant she was simply out for the night, but tequila meant it had been a hard day at work or a problem in her love life.

"Ugh, the longest. Red carpet season is sneaking up on me fast, but I can't seem to find any inspiration. I just sit there and stare at pictures of my customers, and thousands of fabric swatches, but nothing clicks. I'm just frustrated."

"Well, just relax for now. Something will come to you, it always does. In the meantime, there is a hot guy in a red shirt who has been staring at you since you walked in, and he is finally coming over to talk to you."

Meredith turned to see who this mystery guy was and found herself face to face with her high school sweetheart, the only guy she had ever truly loved, none other than Derek Shepherd.

"Derek?"

"Hi Meredith," Derek said, taking a seat next to her. They hadn't seen each other in years. Meredith had cut off the relationship their freshman year of college. The long distance relationship was just too much, and she felt that it just wasn't going to work with him in Maine at Bowdoin and her at Parsons in New York. They rarely saw each other between the distance, different friends, and internships. She felt them drift apart, and thought the relationship was hurting them too much. Meredith had broken it off with Derek, despite the hole it left in her heart. She had dated off and on since then, but nothing long-term or that left her the way Derek always had. Likewise, Derek had his own string of one-night stands, but had never found anyone he even remotely wanted to commit to.

Meredith found herself speechless, her heart racing in her chest. She quickly flipped her shot glass over to signal to Joe that she needed another one. He poured it, and she threw it back the second he put it down, requesting a third. Derek also requested a refill on his drink.

"So what's your story?" Derek asked with a smile, the effects of the alcohol beginning to make their way through his system.

"Me?" Meredith slurred, the tequila having quickly left her intoxicated, "I don't have a story. I'm just a girl in a bar."

"Then I'm just a guy in a bar."

After another round of drinks for them both, Meredith turned to Derek and gave him a big, drunken smile. "Wanna come home with me?"

"What do you think?" Derek smirked.

"I think you do," Meredith said, standing up, grabbing her purse and his hand. Derek miraculously remembered to stop at the bar, and threw down money to cover both of their drinks for the night. He helped her into her coat, and led her up the stairs where he hailed a taxi. Meredith managed to tell the driver her address through her drunken stupor, and soon they were racing through the streets of New York, past the lights of Broadway and on through the fashion district, headed towards Meredith's studio apartment.

They had only gone about two blocks before Meredith threw herself into Derek's lap, completely surrendering herself to the sexual tension that had been building since they laid eyes on each other. Tongues battled, and hands groped as they released emotions that had lain dormant for years. Neither noticed the taxi had arrived at its destination until the taxi driver cleared his throat in annoyance, clearly wanting his fare and for the two horny adults to exit his cab. Derek threw the money at the driver and jumped out of his side of the car, stumbling around to the other to open Meredith's door. She fumbled for the keys and let them into the building.

The couple stumbled to the elevator, Derek's arms wrapped around Meredith's body, and he fought hard to resist the urge to pull the stop button and take her right there in the elevator. When they finally made it inside Meredith's apartment, Derek slammed the door behind them and pushed Meredith up against the door. He pressed kisses to every inch of her exposed skin. Clothing was torn off and thrown across the room as Derek guided Meredith to the couch, rarely coming up for air as they went.

"Take me for a ride, Derek," Meredith called out, as the first of many rounds that would last well into the morning, began.