OK, so this chapter is directly after "Shelter From the Storm." Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 4

"I will see you later."

"You'll see—

"Who later?"

Andrew watched her walk away. It felt like a storm was growing inside him as strong as the one that had been outside.

Meredith knew now that he wanted her. After being stuck in that elevator, she knew how much he wanted her. He had already realized he loved her. The more time he spent with her, he was just starting to realize how deep those feelings went.

Just go back to speaking Italian. I liked it better.

When you finally let me kiss you, and you will let me kiss you, I won't ever stop.

When he started, he had just intended to be seductive. But speaking to her in Italian gave him the opportunity to tell her how he really felt and as he did, it spilled out. As soon as he said it, he knew he meant it. If she ever let him in, he knew this was it for him.

He would never stop. When she looked at him, he saw forever in her eyes. He had heard a line in a movie once: When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with someone, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible. He never really believed it until he had kissed Meredith Grey.

But right now, he was so frustrated, he couldn't see straight. She had blown his mind when she revealed she spoke fluent Italian. She had known everything he had said. And she wasn't flinching. Just when he thought he knew how amazing she was, she showed him something new. They had finally almost kissed, when the elevator started working again.

She had been so skittish about "repeating mistakes" but he felt like he was finally breaking through. She had asked him when he got so cocky. He told her the truth. When he realized she liked what was going on between them as much as he did. She balked at his answer, but he knew he was right. She liked him. She liked the way he looked at her. The way he treated her. The way he spoke Italian. The way he held her. He could feel it when she was next to him. They practically sparked.

What he couldn't figure out was why she kept fighting it. It felt like she kept comparing what was between them to what she had with her husband. What he couldn't figure out—and what she wouldn't tell him—was why it made her run.

But he stood his ground in the hallway and told her they needed to go out. Tonight. And she wasn't running. Actually, she was looking at him with moony eyes when Dr. Lincoln interrupted.

It was like the entire universe was out to get him. As he watched her walk away, though, he knew she was worth waiting for.

...

"I will see you later."

"You'll see—

"Who later?"

She was still smiling by the time she made it to her car. When she gave her final goodbyes to CeCe, she told her that she was having fun. It was the truth. She couldn't remember the last time she had this much fun.

She had closed down shop four years ago. There had been a few fire sales here and there over the years but nothing like this. It felt like disco had been resurrected because now it was raining men.

Dr. Atticus Lincoln was like a big, blonde Greek god. She didn't quite see why Jo loved him so much. He had that Frat boy charm. And he did cut off all his hair for a kid with cancer. But there didn't seem to be a lot of there there. Which, also, was a lot of his appeal.

Link felt like no strings. He was a walking ball of sunshine. While she found him attractive, she was fairly certain she could have a fling without getting attached.

She turned the key in the ignition and made her way out of the parking lot. CeCe said she would haunt her. Life always needed balance and with one fun fling came one very serious Italian.

She tingled as she remembered the look in his eyes when he realized she spoke Italian. Wow. He looked in complete awe of her. It was intoxicating. She couldn't help herself from sliding her hand over his strong neck. She liked the way her hand fit the curve.

She could still feel his hand cupping her face, his hot breath close to her lips. The first time they had kissed had been a drunken mistake. This kiss was very intentional. They had been playing a game of back and forth the entire time in that elevator and the closer they got, the more overwhelmed she had become. By the time he leaned in to kiss her, she could barely breathe.

She had backed herself into that corner. DeLuca asked her a question she didn't want to answer. And thinking she could distract him, she asked him to speak Italian again.

Remind me again why this is such a bad idea for us?

Because it's a bad idea.

No I hear you. I'm just asking why.

Because I'm an Attending and you're a Resident.

And that happens all the time. It's happened for you, I think.

Well…I'm trying to learn from my mistakes.

I promise not to tell your kids that you called them that.

My marriage and my kids aren't a mistake.

Then what are you learning exactly.

I don't know. Just go back to speaking Italian. I liked it better.

When you finally let me kiss you, and you will let me kiss you, I won't ever stop.

He landed so close to her at his last sentence. His eyes raked over her as he said it and his jaw clenched possessively. She ached to touch him.

And then she did. Until the elevator came to life.

She ran out to find CeCe but she couldn't save her. Her death hit her hard. She would miss her. But CeCe had encouraged her to open herself up to new opportunities in a way she hadn't in four years. She encouraged her to embrace life and have fun.

And as she walked away from two gorgeous men who both wanted to date her, she couldn't help but smile. Yes, that was damn fun.

But she also knew that it wouldn't stay all flings and fun for very long. Link didn't seem to be taking the idea of them dating very seriously but DeLuca looked at her like he had already named her fourth child. She had seen how he was with his women in the past. He loved passionately, with all of himself. But he had also grown up so much in the six months since Sam had left. He had blossomed into this confident, controlled, sexy, passionate man. She wondered what being in love with a man like this would be.

A twinge singed her heart. She knew what being in love with a man like this was like. Was that why she hadn't wanted to answer his question?

She shook the idea from her mind. She didn't want to answer her own question either. Pulling up to the house, she was ready to see her kids. It had been a long day. As she opened the door, Zola was the only one to run up and greet her. The nanny was in the kitchen and let her know the rest of the children were already sleeping.

"Zozo, how was your day?" she asked with a big smile. She listened as her little girl detailed hat she learned in class, what boys she liked and which ones she didn't. As they settled down on the couch, Zola snuggled into the crook of her shoulder and Mer grabbed the remote.

"Zozo, have you ever watched Doctor Who?"

TBC