Chapter 3- Friends? Maybe not...

Meredith walked down the hallway, paying no particular attention to the people passing by. The doctors and the interns were clearly recognizable in their scrubs and coats, and yet, they were all strangers to her. This was not her hospital, where the hallways seemed so familiar, where she had lost so much and yet received so much more in return. The best friendships of her life had been at Grey-Sloan. She had discovered her sisters there, and learned to become an excellent surgeon. But more importantly, she had found the love of her life there. And all that had changed in one fleeting moment. The love of her life that was lost. Forever!

The past two months had been a blur. After Derek's funeral, Meredith had managed to somehow get herself together and leave Seattle. She had left a short note explaining that she was safe and that the children were with her, safe.

She had inhibitions and fears. But leaving Seattle had been the only thing that she could do, to get away from that place. She couldn't face the concerned and pitiful glances of her friends and co-workers anymore. They were trying to be supportive and helpful, but it was not working. And was never going to. Her rational mind had taken a backseat and all the emotions had came surging as she made the decision to leave. Meredith, the strong woman was broken. Here, she was only an surgeon, who was really good at her job. She was the one who rarely felt any emotions, surgery after surgery after surgery. She was doing what her husband had once done... She was trying to hide her feelings by working so hard that she barely slept.

Meredith could hear whispers as she approached the nurse at the station to get a patient file. Her co-workers were clearly afraid of her or more appropriately hated her. But, she preferred it that way. No friends meant no emotional talks and no drama. Her life had too much drama already. Enough for a lifetime, some would say! So when Meredith heard a familiar voice call her, she almost jumped in surprise!

Addison! What was she doing here?!

"Meredith!", Addison came and hugged her. Meredith hugged back awkwardly...

"What are you doing here?! I thought you were in Seattle!"

"I thought you were in LA-"

"Oh, I came here for a case, there is a patient with TTTS in the hospital and the family specifically wanted me! So here I am. How are you?"

Meredith wasn't prepared for the avalanche of questions that she was sure was coming her way! So she did what she had done best..avoid.

"Addison, can I talk to you later...I have patients to check up on..."

"Ok then, lunch? There's a restaurant around the corner. I hear its good!"

Meredith agreed reluctantly, hoping to get in on a surgery before that and get out at the last moment. Lunch with Addison was the last thing on her agenda right now.

Addison didn't know why she had invited Meredith Grey to lunch. But curiosity had gotten the better of her. What was Meredith doing here in -? Maybe she was in for a case, hopefully she was! They had never before really talked to each other, barring the "Meredith-on-morphine" experience. Addison had never expected to meet Meredith here, but merely the fact that she was here alone concerned Addison. She felt concern for the woman who had once stolen her husband! Weird? May be! But the hate was long gone and so was the faint trace of jealousy. Now, Meredith was only a woman who had lost her husband. And Addison wanted to be there for her in whatever way she could...

So Addison did a bit of spying around, and found out that Meredith was not a permanent doctor here, but she was not here for a single case either. She helped out on cases whenever there was need. But no one seemed to know anything about her, other than the fact that she was a very good doctor and that her mother had known someone on the board, and that is how she got to swoop in on surgeries. This information really bothered Addison. So, Meredith had practically ran away from Seattle, and what about her kids? What was Meredith doing with her life? The Lunch meeting was surely going to be interesting...

Lunch arrived rather quickly. And Meredith, much to her dismay, had failed to come up with an excuse. Lunch with Addison it was.

Meredith met Addison in the lobby, and both walked down together towards the restaurant. Neither knew what to say to the other. So, Meredith started the conversation-

"So, how is Henry? And Jake?", Isn't that what her husband 's name was? Meredith couldn't recall exactly...

"Both are good. Henry has started school, and the practice has really picked up now. We are doing wonderfully. "

Addison saw Meredith smile slightly, but the sadness in her eyes was evident. So she quickly added

"How are your kids?"

"Good, they are fine! Coping I guess?"

" Meredith! I have to ask...What are you doing?"

"Working, practicing medicine-"

"No, I mean what are you doing here? What are you doing with your life? From what I have been told, you work here now? You can't just move here, you have children to think of..."

"Addison, that is none of your concern. Let's just have lunch. And you should really stop poking your nose is my life-"

Addison had expected the backlash, but she was not the one to give up easily. So she said, "Meredith, I am just concerned. I know you must be hurting and this must be your way of coping with it, but you are going to need a support system, and you had that in Seattle, you had your friends, and Richard, and Miranda..."

"Addison...Seattle doesn't have the same meaning to me anymore. I needed to get away from all that, and I was not planning to work at all...it's just that I can't sit around all day...thinking...and I get that you are concerned, but don't be. I am fine!"

Addison was clearly not buying it. But, she knew better than to persist. So both went on eating in awkward silence until it was broken by Meredith's phone beeping. There's an incoming trauma in the hospital, they need all hands on deck, a car crashed into some pedestrians crossing the road. I have to leave...

Ok..I'll just pack the leftovers and meet you at the hospital...But Meredith had already left! Great! So much for trying to be helpful!

When Addison reached the hospital, Meredith was nowhere to be seen. So she kept the lunch pack in the fridge in the lounge and was planning on going and checking on her patient when an intern came in...

"Dr. Montgomery, Dr. Grey needs you, She is treating a pregnant woman who was hit by the drunk driver! Her liver seems to have been ruptured by something when she got hit. The patient is in O.R. 2..."

Addison followed the intern, wondering why Meredith had called for her when she could have easily paged any resident Ob. But she was happy to help in any way that was needed, plus she practically had the day free. So, off she went with the intern, happy that Meredith was asking her for help.

Hey...! Thanks to all those who read the story. Please write reviews and tell me how do you find the story? Good? bad? Ugly? All the reviews are welcome! :) Also, tell me what you think of the season 13 winter finale. I personally would really like to see Jo and Alex bond. Also, Jo's back story is really interesting...