Seattle.

The last time I was here was the last time I saw dad, Molly, and my evil step-mother. I decided to switch programs. Mom told me I was crazy to leave Brigham for Seattle Grace Hospital. Seattle Grace was the same hospital my mom completed her residency at when she and dad were still married. Seattle Grace is the same hospital where her marriage fell apart. I think my mom has personal issues against Seattle Grace. Yes, Seattle Grace is no Brigham. Yes, Brigham is the better hospital. But Seattle Grace is still one of the top ten teaching hospitals in the country.

I'll be living with Lexie in her apartment located between the University of Washington and Seattle. She was thrilled when I told her I was moving to Seattle. I, on the other hand, was sad leaving Boston. I left because of my mom. I liked Boston, I liked being near the Shepherd clan again, but my mom made it so I couldn't continue living there. I never said goodbye to the Shepherd family. I didn't even tell them I was leaving. It'd be too hard. They were always more of a family to me than my own.

I really hope switching programs was the right decision. I hope switching programs will solve all the questions and worries I had while at Brigham. I really hope...

I really hope I will discover the person I want to be here.

From the start, Seattle Grace Hospital seemed like a better fit than Brigham was. For one, the other doctors seemed more friendlier than the doctors at Brigham. To be fair, Brigham is highly competitive. I'm not saying Seattle Grace isn't, but they seem to care more here. Two, there were a couple of friendly faces I recognized. The chief of surgery is a friend of my mother's, which is why I was able to easily switch. I also recognized one person I attended med school with, Cristina Yang. We were never friends; maybe spoke once or twice. I didn't think she'd recognize me, but she did and immediately asked what I was doing here. I told her I switched programs. When I told her from where, she called me crazy just like my mother did.

"Who's your superior?" Cristina Yang asked.

"Uh, someone name Miranda Bailey." I answered.

"Ah, the nazi. Yeah, I have her too. You're lucky you were not here during first year, because she made it a living hell for all the interns. Just ask Stevens or O'Malley." She leaned in and spoke softer. "O'Malley struggled so much he failed the intern exam and have to retake the entire year. If he doesn't pass next time, he's out."

"Yeah, um, I came from Brigham. Someone failed... He got kicked out of the program."

"Well, yeah, it's Brigham. They don't give you a second chance. I can't believe you left Brigham for Seattle Grace. Who does that?"

"You sound like my mother."

"Dr. Ellis Grey isn't proud of her daughter leaving the number one teaching hospital in the country for number six?"

"I had to leave, and Seattle seemed like the perfect place."

The adjustment to Seattle wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. I missed Boston dearly. I missed the community. I missed the people, besides my mom. I missed the weather, the environment. These are reasons why I moved back home originally. Maybe coming here was a mistake. Maybe moving here won't fix the reasons why I left. Maybe it's not my mother, and it's just easier to blame her for everything.

Two months after my move here, I received a call from a friend back on the East Coast. I didn't answer when the friend called. I just let it ring as I watched the name flash on my screen. I didn't call the friend back either. Two days later, that friend tried calling me again. I didn't answer again, but the friend did leave a voicemail this time. For some reason I was nervous to listen to it. I don't know why. Why should I be nervous? Oh, right, because I left without telling anyone but my mom that I was leaving.

I finally built up enough courage to listen to the voicemail. I took a deep breath and pressed play.

Hey Meredith. It's Derek. I realize you probably already know that because of caller id. Is that why you're not answering? You're probably just busy wherever you are... You didn't even say goodbye to anyone... I don't even know why I'm calling. I guess I just miss you. Call me back if you want... Or don't. Either is fine. Alright, bye.

I thought about the message he left. He sounded kind of down. Or he's just tired. I decided to call him back because I miss him too. I listened to the ringing, and then I heard a hello on the other end.

"Hi Derek."

"Hey, what's up?"

"I just listened to the voicemail you left."

"Oh, you heard it."

"Yeah."

"Where are you?"

I sighed. "Seattle. I switched programs. I'm at Seattle Grace now. My mom did her residency at this hospital before the divorce."

"Why did you switch? Brigham is a better program."

"That's what I've been hearing lately. I realized moving back home was a mistake because my mother... You know how my mom is."

"Do you like it there?"

"It's an adjustment... I'm living with my sister. She's been trying to convince me to see dad."

"Maybe it's time to make amends with him." Derek said.

"I'm still not ready to see him. Even though it's been years, it still hurts. I don't know if I'll ever be ready. Apparently Molly is engaged so if I go to the wedding, I'll definitely be seeing him there."

"When's the wedding?"

"September. She's apparently pregnant as well reasoning for a shotgun wedding."

"I could go with you to make it easier."

I smiled. "No, it's okay. I don't even know if I'm going anyways because of the program."

"The offer still stands."

I decided to change subjects and tease him like I used to do. "So, I heard from your sister that our breakup wasn't a mutual decision."

"Which sister?"

"Amy."

"She's a liar. When did you even speak to her anyways?"

"Like a month before I left. She made it out to seem like it was solely my decision." Derek didn't respond. "Derek? Hello?"

"I didn't entirely want to. It was obvious you wanted to, so I agreed we should."

"Why would you do that?"

"To make you happy. That's all I've always wanted for you, Meredith. For you to be happy."

I thought about what he said. I didn't know how to respond. "You have always been that one person I can always count on. That I can always trust." Tears started to form in my eyes, but I was fighting from actually crying. "Can we make a promise to one other?"

"Okay."

"No matter what we might go through in the future, can we promise to always be there for one another no matter what? Even if we get in a fight, because friends fight, but let's not have that fight end what we have. I've lost a lot of people in my life, and I don't ever want to lose you Derek."

"I promise."

Hellooo guys! I am proud that I was able to get this chapter posted this quick. So I was debating whether or not to make this the last chapter, but I ultimately decided this would be, and I'll have a epilogue to just wrap it all up. I'm currently writing the epilogue so it might be up tomorrow or the next day. Thanks for reading! And I'm glad that many of you enjoyed the story!