A short scene after 16x21, where Meredith talks to Hayes... but I would consider it more like a Merluca story than a (Mer and) Hayes story...

16x21

Meredith looked at him puzzled. She wasn't sure if she should be mad at Hayes or if he really didn't get it...

She had to admit that she herself didn't say it out loud for a long time, so maybe she shouldn't be to harsh on Hayes... but he was a smart person, he should be able to count one and one together. She had told him who Andrew was to her... And he sure must have understood by now that Andrew still means a lot to her.

And that wasn't the only thing... Why shouldn't she listen to Andrew. He saved Richard, without him they probably would still try to figure out what was wrong with Richard. So, yes she still listened to what Andrew had to say and she would do it again.

She had heard about Hayes comment about DeLuca in the OR. Two nurses were talking about it when she handed them the tablet with the patient charts. They immediately changed the subject, once they noticed her. But she had heard enough to know who they were talking about. And as if on clue Hayes just appeared next to her, when she was about to leave.

He had asked her again if she wanted to go out with him or have a drink... And here they were. Meredith was still looking at him not knowing whether she should be surprised by the things she heard or mad.

She had taken Andrew home with her a few days ago. And he was not fine, even though he was doing better for now. And Hayes must have heard about Andrew too, even if he didn't know everything he must have heard enough by now. And still, he came over to her and asked her if she wanted to go out with him, pretending like nothing happened.

To his defense, she probably wouldn't be that pissed if she hadn't heard about his comment earlier. On the other side, he was the one, who made that comment.

"Dr. Grey?" He asked her a little confused, he was probably still waiting for an answer from her.

"No." It was just a little statement, but she thought she said it a bit harsher than he actually deserved.

"Everything okay?" He asked truly confused. He definitely didn't expect her to be so dismissive after she had agreed a few days ago. By now he had noticed that something else was going on. Point for him, at least he noticed...

"Why- why would you think that I didn't listen to what Andrew has to say anymore?" It was very unlike her, she usually didn't get that emotional over some stupid comments, but this bothered her. It made her angry. It made her angry that no one even gave Andrew a chance. And on top of that it made her angry that he thought she wouldn't even care. So, maybe it wasn't so unlike her... because when there was something that bothered her she said it out loud.

"I-" Now Hayes was the one, who looked puzzled at Meredith. "I'm sorry?"

"In the OR the other day, you said 'I'm amazed anyone listened to anything he had to say, least of all Grey.' You were talking about DeLuca. Why?"

"Oh. Yeah. I mean I saw what happened, how he acted, what he said to you, I think I saw enough to have an opinion and I am surprised that you still listen to him."

"You don't know him. He is more than the person you got to know." Meredith looked at him with disbelief. She shook her head slightly before she continued. "He isn't okay. You are a doctor you should know that things are not always black and white. He is not doing well but he is still a great doctor. He was the one who saved Richard!"

"Okay, I'm sorry, Grey, that I offended you. It just surprised me. I saw how he talked to you. How he yelled in the hallway… I was surprised. But I think I can guess why you still care about him." His expression softened a bit.

He was right at some points. She thought about the past few weeks. The disagreements and yelling between Andrew and her. But she also knew the other side of him. The Andrew who cooked for her, who went trick or treating with her kids. Who took her on dates, who kissed her, who made her laugh. Who loved her. And she didn't want to give up on him.

Hayes must have noticed that she got quiet, that she somehow got sad thinking about everything that had happened. Because the next thing she noticed was him bringing her to one of the conference rooms nearby. The people outside could still see them, since it was separated from the floor with a glass front. But they couldn't hear them anymore. And for that she was thankful, because she didn't need a dozen people listening to their little disagreement and she definitely didn't need all of them to know about how she felt.

"I'm sorry Hayes, I shouldn't have- It's just, he is so much more. Yes, we had our disagreements. But he is also the person who made me open up to someone new again. Who made me feel again. And I don't want to give him up. I-" She paused for a moment "I'm sorry you probably didn't want to hear all that." Meredith looked away trying to not let the tear fall out that had formed in her eyes.

"It's okay. It seemed like you needed to get this off your chest." He answered, while handing her a tissue.

"Thank you."

It was quiet for some time, and she wished Alex or Cristina, one of her person(s) were there. But she had to admit that Hayes actually did a good job at being there and listen to her while at the same time remaining professional. He must have understood, that this was not about him anymore. And maybe he wasn't that bad. Maybe they could become friends. He would never be able o replace her person(s), but a friend… maybe.

After a moment he spoke again. "So, you love him?"

She looked at him for a minute, trying to figure out where he wanted to go with this, before she answered. "I do. I love him."

"So, it is possible to find love again? After-"

"It is." She gave him a small smile. Because she knew that now. She had two great loves in her life. Her husband, her first great love. And Andrew, who showed her how to love again, who made her feel all this love again, when she thought that she couldn't love anymore. Her new beginning. They were both special to her and equally beautiful.

"I should go home now." she said, before she left.

"The way he's been acting, I'm amazed anyone listened to anything he had to say, least of all Grey." That's what Hayes said and it kinda made me angry... Because he doesn't really know Andrew... I know, I shouldn't overreact because of every little thing... But here we are..

Also, I do think and would like to see Hayes and Meredith as friends... In general, I would love to see a bit more of the friendships on Grey's...

And I might add other one-shots here, that are additional scenes to season 16...