Meredith had gotten a letter in the mail saying Doc needed to go in to the vet for a check-up. It's been a year since she had gotten him, and since he saw the vet, so Meredith made an appointment to take him in. She went alone because Derek has been busy working on his clinical trial that she even rarely sees him. Another reason why she was hesitant about dating him in the first place.

Meredith waited in the waiting room which felt like forever. She was getting impatient and just wanted to get this chore finished with. Meredith got up and followed a technician to a back room when she heard her name being called. The technician weighed Doc, and asked Meredith if there was anything she noticed bothering Doc or she found concerning. Meredith replied with a no, and the technician left, and the vet, Dr. Dandridge, entered.

Dr. Dandridge looked over Doc's history and then did a routine evaluation. "So how has the first year with him gone?"

"Well, it included him terrorizing my house for eight months; tearing everything up. But now, I can finally say he likes me." Meredith scratched Doc behind his ear. "Don't you?"

"So if I recall, you got him to keep you company. Is he still fulfilling that role?"

Meredith thought about it for a moment. She's dating Derek, but he's been too busy with his clinical trial, she barely sees him now, which she hates. "I'd say he is."

"I was asking because I was wondering if you'd like to go out sometime?" He asked.

A smile appeared on Meredith's face. She definitely would had said yes if she wasn't with Derek. "I'm sorry, I can't. I'm seeing someone."

"Oh, I thought you said-"

"Doc is still keeping me company because I don't see the guy I'm with as often at the moment. He's a doctor, so..." Meredith trailed off. "If it helps, I would had said yes."

Awkwardness filled the room as Dr. Dandridge wrote down some notes on the clipboard. "So Doc seems as healthy as he can be. He's up to date on all of his vaccinations. So we're all done here unless you need anything else."

"No, I think we're good." Meredith clipped Doc's leash to his collar. "Thank you."

Meredith swung her purse onto her shoulder and went to pay for the vet visit at the front counter. After paying, she went to her second location to look at the progress. The store is coming together nicely and on scheduled. Her appliances arrived and were already set up, and some of the furniture she ordered should be coming the following week.

Meredith walked over to the park across the street with Doc when she finished up in the store. She sat down on a bench thinking about everything; about her mom; about the future. What does the future hold? Soon, who knows how soon, but soon, Meredith won't have her mother. Ellis is the only one Meredith has, and soon she'll have nobody, but maybe Doc. Yes, she'll have Derek, but their relationship is not certain. They may not last and then she'll be alone; especially since she gave Doc to him.

Meredith thought back about meeting her half-sister, Lexie; how she wanted to have some type of relationship with her. Meredith is now thinking that probably wouldn't be that bad of an idea. She only said no their first meeting because of Ellis. Meredith didn't want to hurt her mother even more than she already was when she heard about Thatcher being at her hospital with his new family.

Meredith doesn't want a relationship with her father if she chooses to connect with her half-sister. He left her; never tried to contact her once, and that's unforgivable. But none of this was Lexie's fault. All she wants to do is know her long lost sister.

Meredith went home. She was sitting on her couch staring at the number Lexie gave her when she came into the coffee shop a few months ago. She had given Meredith her number if she had a change in heart and wanted to talk. Meredith did have a change in heart, but the thing is, she's nervous to call.

"Okay, Meredith, just dial the stupid number." Meredith said to herself. She put the phone up to her ear, and listened to it ring. Her heart stopped when she heard a tired hello on the opposite end. Crap, Meredith mouthed. "Lexie?"

"Yes?"

"Hi, it's Meredith."

Derek walked into Meredith's bedroom when he got back from the hospital. Meredith was sitting up in her bed with Doc laying at the end of her bed, as she was reading a book.

"Why didn't you tell me your mom's planning on stepping down as chief?" Derek asked.

Meredith glanced up from her book and looked at Derek. "She announced it?"

"You could have given me a heads up." Derek took his shoes off and jumped into bed, giving Meredith a kiss on her cheek. "I'm going to run for chief."

Meredith placed her book down on her lap. She didn't like hearing those words at all. "Why?"

"Meredith, being chief is everything I've ever wanted."

"But you're busy enough as it is."

"You don't want me to be chief, do you?" Derek asked.

"It's not that. I just rarely see you as it is and that's before you're chief. I can only imagine how it'll be if you become chief."

"That's because I'm working on a clinical trial. I almost have it, Meredith. And then I'll be done; all yours."

"That's great; I'm really happy for you."

Derek stared at Meredith knowing something was not right with her. "Are you okay?"

"I'm as best as I can be with what I have going on." Meredith said. She really wanted to tell Derek about her mother, but she promised. "I just miss you. I have a lot going on, and I just want to be able to forget about it all with you."

"Okay."