Meredith

It had been an incredibly hard day at work and I was seriously in no mood for any more surgeries (which is totally out of character for a surgeon but whatever.) And on top of that, the elevator was packed with discharged patients, lab technicians, and even a bickering couple. If you can imagine, my head was pounding.

"Where's billing?" I heard an older woman ask.

I rolled my eyes. Why did no one know where billing was?! It was pathetic really. I mean couldn't you tell it would be in the BASEMENT! Nevertheless, I swallowed my anger and answered calmly, "The basement."

I hadn't known it at the time but apparently someone else answered the question because when I looked up I saw the one man I had finally let go of.

Oh. My. God!

I stood there paralyzed, my feet frozen into place. He looked equally shocked, his jaw dropping down.

I instantly turned my head, hoping maybe he didn't recognize. But of course he did and of course they were the bickering couple.

"Derek, come on let's go," the woman next to him pleaded, pulling on his sleeve.

Wow…she's pretty I thought to myself, and immediately bit my tongue.

"Uhm, right, let's…let's go," he stumbled with his words, his eyes still fixed on me. As she led him out, I glanced up, and for a second everything just…dissolved; it was just him and I…after all these years, after all the tears, it was just us. Once they disappeared I let out a breath I didn't even know I was holding. I shut my eyes. Leaning back on the hard wall my head swarmed with so many questions. Why was he back? Who was that girl with him? Why were they arguing? Why did she hold his hand? I was so absorbed in my thoughts I barely heard the beeping of my phone.

Jolting out of my daydreaming I quickly answered, "Hello?" Hopefully, whoever was on the other line didn't notice the cracking of my voice.

"Hey," a breezy voice responded, "What's up?"

"Uhm…who is this?" I asked, pressing my palm against my hot head.

"Michael…remember?"

"Michael?" I slowly questioned my focus not on the phone call but on Derek.

"One night stand Michael…" he continued, obviously confused that I had no clue who he was.

"OH!" I exclaimed, realizing for the first time I was alone in the elevator. "Right! Hey, uhm sorry I was just a little…I don't know, I'm tried. So yeah…nothing's up with me…how about you?" God Meredith do you have to ramble?!

He chuckled, "I'm fine…I was actually wondering if you'd like to go out with me tonight."

"Dinner? Tonight?" My breath was going up and down and I seriously had no idea if he could understand me.

"Yeah, there is this great restaurant down the road. I could pick you up around 8. After all I know where you live," he suggested, his flirty attitude shining through his voice.

"Ha, well I don't know I'd have to check." Lie. I knew exactly what I was doing, absolutely nothing. And the fact that I couldn't say yes made me sick.

"That's fine, just call me back."

"Okay, I will…bye." I quickly snapped my phone and let my back sag down the wall. I hit the floor hard, wrapping my hands around my knees. "Why is this happening," I whispered.

Pulling my pager out, I quickly dialed Cristina's extension, dialing 9-11 Emergency. (Pretty dramatic I know but this was crucial.)

Suddenly, the doors clicked open and in walked the gorgeous woman from earlier.

"Hey," she smiled at me, probably thinking I'm mental or something. Seriously, I was sitting on the floor of an elevator, my hands wrapped around my knees looking like I had just seen a ghost…talk about crazy.

"Hi," I said, quickly returning to my regular standing position. "Sorry about that, I just…therapy for a surgeon."

She nodded, a soft smile planted on her face. "I know the type…my boyfriend's a surgeon."

Girlfriend!? She was Derek's GIRLFRIEND?! "Oh…who?" I asked as nonchalantly as I could manage.

"Derek Shepherd," she announced proudly, clicking down on one of the many buttons. "He went off talking to the chief so I decided to roam around this place."

"Oh Dr. Shepherd…yeah I heard about him." This was beyond pathetic.

"Yeah, he's a bit of a…work-o-holic I guess," she half laughed, looking down at her tiny feet.

"Really?" I asked sincerely. Sure he loved his job but I would have never classified him as obsessive.

"Definitely," she nodded, "But I guess that's normal. He's a hard worker. He's going to be a great husband."

I began to choke-literally.

"Woo are you okay?" She quickly grabbed my arms, patting my back like I was some inept little infant who couldn't control their coughs.

I quickly regained my composure. Once my fit of complete humiliation faded, I pulled her arms away and smiled. "Thanks, sorry that was…sorry."

She grinned. "What's your name?"

"Meredith," I replied, my hand massaging my scratchy throat. "Yours?"

"Amy," she said, shaking my hand.

Finally, the doors of the elevator began to slip open…

And that's when I saw it; that beautiful diamond ring on her left hand finger. He was going to marry her.

"Well this is my stop," she shrugged, beginning to step off. "It was nice speaking with you."

"Wait your marrying him?" I pressured, placing my hand at the rim of the doors, blocking her from leaving. I prayed I didn't seem too desperate.

"Uhm yeah…" she started, looking a little freaked out by my sudden change of behavior.

"You're marrying him?!" I repeated, shaking my head. How could he be getting married?!

"Why is that a problem?" she asked, her voice more forceful than before.

I didn't want to cause a scene. In fact, it was not my place to cause a scene but…I couldn't help it. Derek was going to marry HER!

"No," I surrendered, stepping back into the elevator. "I just…never mind. Congratulations."

She gave me a quick nod, "Thanks."

I watched her leave, my stomach doing complete flips. He was getting married. He was getting married!!

Right as the doors were about to shut, a hand flew in between, causing the sudden motion to cease.

To my complete shock, Amy was standing there…and she wasn't looking at me like I was some complete mental nutcase. She was looking at me as if, as if…as if I was her hero?

"OH. MY. GOD!" she screamed, "YOUR MEREDITH GREY! THE MEREDITH GREY!"

"Uhm what?" I asked, tensing up against her fast embrace.

"Oh my gosh!" she laughed, jumping up and down, "I'm sorry, I'm not crazy it's just…I'm a HUGE fan of yours! I'm studying your book at the moment and it is fantastic! Just…wow!!"

I let out a smothered laugh and tried to thank her…but her quick hugs and sudden screams really didn't allow me to do much of anything.

"AMY! WE NEED TO GO! OUR DINNER RESERVATION IS…" a strong voice commanded, stopping short when he saw who his fiancé was with.

I looked up, face to face with him for the first time.

"Oh…" he trailed, looking between the two of us.

"DEREK!" Amy yelled, grabbing his arm. "THIS IS MEREDITH GREY! THE ONE I WANTED TO SEE!"

"Right," he nodded, avoiding my eyes completely.

"Well go on," she urged him, "Say hello! You're always telling me how much you love her work!" She then turned towards me, a huge smile plastered to her already flawless face. "He's a huge fan of yours. I swear he has a collection of your books piled up to-"

"AMY!" he yelled, jerking her away. "Let's go."

"Why don't you want to say something?!" she asked, the frustration piling up in her voice.

Derek sighed, closing his eyes momentarily before facing me-and actually looking at me-for the first time in over six years. He extended his hand. "Hi I'm Derek Shepherd, nice to meet you." His eyes were big, obviously trying to send me a message to go along with whatever sick twisted game we were playing

I shook it hesitantly, images of our past flashing before my eyes. "Meredith Grey, I'm a big fan of yours as well."

Amy smiled. "Aw, how cute! Isn't that so odd Derek? I was talking with her then I suddenly remembered she's MEREDITH GREY!"

"Yeah, very odd," he answered, turning away from me. I didn't know why, but this small gesture filled me with grief. "Well we got to go because our dinner is at 8 and we're already late so…" he continued, grabbing Amy's hand.

"Oh okay," she replied enthusiastically. Her perkiness was getting on my last nerve. "It was an honor meeting you," she smiled, shaking my hand a little too hard.

"Likewise," I responded, returning the grin.

"Yeah nice meeting you," he nodded, heading out the elevator with her.

Right as they were about to exit I yelled, "Oh and Derek?"

He turned around, his eyes a shade darker than before. "What?"

"Thanks for disappearing for six years."

Then click…the elevator doors closed.

A/N: Hey everyone. Sorry updates have been slacking lately. Anyways, remember how I said the characters POV will come up depending on how the story goes? Well this was a time when I had to change the orders so just be aware of that. The next chapter is gonna be Alex and I hope you remember his whole thing about his father and kissing Izzie and all that fun stuff so stay tuned and please review!!! (cause seriously dude your reviews are AMAZING!!)