Years have passed since Meredith's grief had ruined almost everything good in her life other than her children, but now that she's been on stable ground for a few years, the world has decided to move and toss her life upside down.

What if it hadn't started with sex? When MerDer first meet online, the connection is palpable. But when Derek moves to Seattle, will the realities of working together interfere? An alternate look at season 1 and beyond. AU for people that don't like AU.

"It was fun," he continued absently, "but the whole night, I kept wishing she was you." MerDer. Some Slang, some Alexie. Post 4.07. In which Derek dates, Cristina rants, and Meredith shows up for a little more conversation. This is how "sex and mockery" evolves.

A lot of things are different, five years after Meredith's departure from Seattle Grace, but some things never change.