A/N: Woah, hello there. I never intended for the break to last as long as it did, but inspiration plus life got in the way. However, I am back with updates I believe should be semi regular. I still have a few commitments I need to get out of the way, but there wont be a big, long break again.

Thank you so much for all the reviews. I really do appreciate then & all of the support.

It'd been a long while since Nathan had last partaken in a hookup in an appropriate place, at work even. For a moment he forgot how fun it could be given. The fact that they happened to have their little fun in the supply closet that just about anyone could walk in on at any given moment was something of an added bonus.

No one did manage to walk in on them.

Something he was plenty grateful for when he was picking up his shirt off of the floor and handing Meredith her own.

She didn't speak so he didn't bother to either.

He wanted to make sure that she was doing okay but from what he'd seen since he met her, she didn't talk much about things she didn't want to talk about. Asking over and over was not going to get him anywhere, and in that respect, he knew what that was like. He had a nasty little habit of doing the same thing and sharing into his personal life was something he rarely wanted to do. So many people only knew about his life because Owen had no problem in letting everyone in on the secret, and he'd been willing to elaborate on certain details when Meredith asked.

Otherwise he'd still probably be the guy who came from the Army.

With all of that, when he looked at her he could still feel just how much he still wanted to be with her. He was with her. No 'what are we' conversations, she had told him. Not that he minded that. Not when he didn't need some definition like they were two teenagers sneaking around. Even if it definitely felt like they were two teenagers sneaking around.

If they were they'd of done a piss poor job of it given that Maggie was currently mad at both of them and he'd heard the gossip within the hospital walls more than once.

That he could do without.

"Done avoiding your dad?" The question came as he pulled the shirt over his head, adjusting himself so he looked at least a little bit presentable. He could already feel just how much of a mess his hair was.

"I'm going to go home." She said as she barely looked over him. "I'm going shower. When I come back I'm going to do some surgeries so I have a valid excuse as to why I don't want to see my dad. Then maybe, if no one needs me, I'll be done avoiding my dad." Meredith took a breath and looked up at him. "My car is at your place."

"Take mine," he offered, "I'll drive you back to my place tonight to get yours."

The " thank you ," that came from her was soft, genuine , delivered in a way he hadn't quite seen before. At least he hadn't. Usually there was snark or he was the one telling her to thank him. She was usually rougher around the edges. Not that it was a complaint. No, he happened to like the fact that she wasn't soft. It was the one thing that only managed to make him more attracted to her as time went on.

When she leaned up and gave him a quick kiss before exiting the room he stood there, collecting himself, in both mind and body, wondering how many unanswered parts of Meredith there still were.

It did make him wonder just how complicated her relationship with her dad was that made it seem as if she was almost going through the motions over being a true person.

Nathan managed to barely make it to his surgery on time. One that went on by without any complications. At least until he needed Maggie to sign off some paperwork.

It wasn't having someone to answer to that bothered him...his whole career was seemingly like that. Overseas they all had to work together more often than not, so people didn't die. It wasn't about certain specialties all of the time, it was working and making sure they all lived, and if something specific came up then you were all the more prepared.

It was the fact that he and Meredith both made a mess with Maggie and she was his boss. It only managed to make things more complicated. For that he didn't blame anyone but himself. If Meredith wasn't interested in being honest than he should have been. He didn't want to get between the two sisters only to end up directly between the two sisters.

So much for that.

He didn't exactly hurry to find her. But when he did manage to find her she turned around and he let out a breath, wondering how long it was going to be awkward. Probably longer given that neither of them told Maggie about whatever happened. It hadn't even been a day, it didn't seem pressing, and yet, she was there. They were still hiding things from her and his conscience was likely going to end up getting the better of him sooner rather than later.

Or that was the good guy part of him that was hopeful.

Nathan stopped thinking and simply handed her the file. "Newly admitted. Not quite stable, thought you'd want to take a look."

"Uh, yeah." Maggie replied as she took the file from him.

Neither spoke as she looked it over. It was awkward. No other way to explain it.

"Thatcher Grey is in the hospital." Suddenly the words came out. He thought she should know, if nothing else for Meredith. She wouldn't talk to anyone and she wouldn't act like she needed someone in her corner, but everyone did. Everyone always needed someone who was on their side.

"Grey?" She looked up. "Like Meredith?"

"Her dad."

"Oh." Maggie said softly.

"If you wanna go talk to her…" Nathan suggested. "Figure you the type to wanna know."

"Yeah, no, thanks for letting me know." Maggie handed the file back. "If anything changes let me know."

"I will."

"I'll go talk to Meredith later." Maggie said after turning around.

"Pierce," he called, unable to let her walk away without saying more, "we never meant for this to...hurt you."

"Then why did you lie?"

"It seemed like a good idea at the time. It wasn't." Lying was never a good idea and he knew that lesson better than anyone probably ever did.. "I should have told you the truth that night."

"Were you sleeping with Meredith then?"

"No." Nathan shook his head.

"The wedding?"

"Before that."

Maggie's gaze hit the floor. "Somehow that makes it worse. I just don't like being lied to. I deserve the truth and Meredith lies, but I thought you would be able to tell me the truth."

"The world isn't black and white." Nathan only managed to feel worse. "I'm not making excuses, but It's a long story."

"That I don't want to hear."

Nathan didn't bother to chase after her then. Not when he knew that it was going to be pointless. In time she would forgive him. Maybe . He never thought Owen would, but he also knew that Maggie was very different from who Owen was. She seemed to hold disappointment heavier and unlike what happened with Megan, every move he and Meredith made was intentional.

They knew exactly what they were doing and decided to do it anyway.

He cared but he cared about Meredith more. A lot more. Something about her had drawn him in from the very first moment. It didn't make him the best person to let whatever was happening with Maggie fall to the side, but it did make him human.

That's all any of them were...humans who did things. Sometimes they were right and sometimes they were wrong. Things were good and things were bad. In the end, you could only try to be the best person you could be, and not burn every single bridge. There was no chance at surviving with all of the bridges burned.

"You going to go in?" Nathan asked as he moved to stand next to Meredith who was standing outside of her father's room.

"No."

"You're stalking your own father?" He quipped, trying to lighten the mood for her.

"It's not stalking. I'm observing."

"Maggie stop by?"

"No." Meredith looked over at him with a questioning look. "Was she supposed to?"

Nathan shrugged. "Said she would."

"Doubtful. She's unhappy."

Meredith wasn't wrong about that one. It was something of an understatement. Maggie was unhappy but she also felt betrayed and pissed off. Only time would manage to undo that and them giving her a true apology.

None of that mattered much when he saw the man in the hospital bed stir and watched out of the corner of his eye as Meredith tried to walk off. Tried being the operative word. It seemed her father had other ideas.

"Meredith!" Thatcher called.

Meredith didn't go in immediately. Instead she watched the hospital room as if she was debating something. Whatever it was her father won out and she tugged him right along side her into the room.

"How long do I have to stay here?"

"Overnight." She answered him as she crossed her arms, the word almost cold.

"I can take care of myself." Thatcher said as he shoved the covers off of him. "I don't need to be here."

"No, no, no." Nathan fired off as he walked over to the bed, helping him getting back in. "You need to lie down."

"Who are you?"

"Nathan Riggs, sir."

"You don't have to call him sir." Meredith spoke, looking over at the duo.

Thatcher ignored them both. "I need to go home."

"Lay there." Nathan said gently, waiting until he was settled back in the bed.

"Marry this one on a sticker?"

The way Meredith froze at the question given by her father made him grateful that he got paged. He didn't want to leave Meredith there on her own but he didn't want to bring up too many memories of her dead husband. He didn't want her to hurt more than she was already hurting just by having her father there.

"I have to go." He said, looking between the both of them. Before he left he turned to Meredith, leaving oh, so little distance between them, gently brushing his hand against hers. "I'm here. I'm always here."

Meredith didn't speak but the way she squeezed his fingers just enough told him all he needed to know.

The entire time that he made his way down to the pit Meredith was consuming his mind. She did that, a lot. Even when she wasn't supposed to be consuming his mind she was. Before they found themselves together, after they found themselves together. Even as he walked into the room with the patient his last thought before giving his full attention to the patient in need was Meredith.

He hadn't felt that way in so long he barely knew what to do with himself.

When his patient didn't end up dying he thought he couldn't have been too distracted. He thought about going back upstairs to see how Meredith was doing but took a moment when he saw April standing there and all but watching him.

"Out with it, Keps."

"How'd meeting the parents go?" April asked in a way that was her trying to be fake casual. Not that she was actual causal, not as she barely seemed to read the words on the screen she was so focused on.

"Is Catherine Avery around?"

She looked up at him with a glare. "Don't even joke."

"Her dad is…" Nathan didn't really know how to finish it so he didn't. He knew the story from what Meredith had told him and there was so little that was likable about the man. Certainly not the mere glimpse of the way he treated Meredith. He didn't have any kids of his own but there was a point in which he couldn't ever imagine leaving one behind to form a new life, or treating the one you did have like...well, that wasn't important.

Meredith came to stand with them before either of them got any further words out. "Lexie picked the worst time to die."

"As opposed to?" April asked.

"He could have at least died first." Meredith rested her head on the counter, letting out something akin to a groan, one born from frustration.

"You could do what I do with Catherine." April spoke actually looking between them.

"I'm the only daughter here. I can't keep him avoiding him." She wasn't pleased with that.

"Just let someone be his doctor."

"Come on, Mer." Nathan knew this conversation was going to a weird place all too quickly. "It's been a long day."

"Every time I sleep with you something bad happens." Meredith commented.

Nathan smirked and looked at her out of the corner of his yeah.. "Yeah, or maybe bad things just happen all of the time."

"That, too."

"How's Alex?" That seemed a better topic of conversation.

"DeLuca is supposed to testify tomorrow." Meredith let out a soft sigh. "Bailey made me take the day off because my dad."

"Probably for the best."

Meredith shot him a look near instantly.

"Hey, don't shoot the messenger. I didn't tell you to take the day off." Nathan paused for a moment. "Your dad is clearly someone who puts you on edge and it's better that you deal with that then stressing out your patients. I know that you know that, too."

"Or he could go away and I wouldn't have to deal with this."

"Or that." Nathan gave a nod as he pulled into the parking garage, pulling into a parking spot.

"Call me if he dies." Meredith joked after a moment of silence.

"Noted."

Being in the hospital without Meredith but knowing her father was there made him want to check on her. He didn't. He let her be. Let her find whatever space she needed. Not that it didn't mean he hadn't casually walked by the room in which her father was resting. Just to check. He was sleeping and actually in his bed. He considered that a good thing.

"What are you doing up here?" Owen asked as he joined him as he walked down the hall.

"Just on my way to a surgery." He really needed to lie better. "Anything from Shepherd?"

"Nothing."

"She'll come around." Or so he hoped that she would come around. He and Owen had been through their ups and downs but he really thought Owen deserved whatever happiness he could get. He really did seem to love her and he didn't know what was going on. Not really. Everyone could come back if it wasn't bad enough.

"How's Meredith? I saw her dad." Owen asked, turning the conversation back on him.

"She's Meredith." The only answer he could give.

"Yeah." Owen let out a half chuckle. "Wanna grab a drink later?"

"Yeah, sounds good." Nathan said as Owen turned down the opposite hallway.

With Owen he was expecting the other shoe to drop. As if one of them was going to say the wrong thing and they were going to end up hating each other all over again. That wasn't going to stop him from taking their friendship as it came.

His day was full of back to back surgeries. Maggie was handing him every single thing that she didn't want to do. Not really much of a punishment when it came to being a surgeon. They wanted to do surgeries.

Only by the end of the day he couldn't say he wasn't exhausted. He was.

When he was leaving to meet Owen for a drink he had his phone in his hand, wondering if he should call her. He texted her briefly between his surgeries and she had remained adamant that she was fine. He wondered if she would ever admit if she wasn't fine.

Before he could hit the call button he noticed her pacing in the waiting room.

"What are you doing?" Nathan asked as he watched her back and forth in front of the set of chairs.

"My dad called and I'm ignoring him."

He looked around them, "In the hospital."

"As it turns out you can only clean your house so many times before it gets boring." Meredith said as she ran her hands over her face. "He probably wants to relive some memory where he put my hair in pigtails."

"Little Meredith Grey with pigtails. That's an image." One that he couldn't help but smile at.

"It's a little girl's rite of passage."

"I was gonna go get a drink with Owen," he said, casually pointing towards the door, "but I can stay."

"Go." Meredith told him. "I need to face this one on my own."

"Are you sure?"

When she all but glared at him he got the message. "Okay," he put his hands up in defense. "I'm going."

Nathan found his way to the bar across the street. Not the first time he'd been there, no the last. It took him all of a few seconds before his eyes landed on Owen, happily sitting at the bar, finding him all too happily lost in the effects of the alcohol.

"Slow down, Hunt." He teased, plopping down on the stool next to him.

"Amelia's not here." Owen said as he held up the glass. "She's gone so I can drink all I want."

Nathan ordered a drink of his own. "I didn't say stop . I said slow down." He took a sip of his drink. "Have you heard anything from her?"

"Not a word. No one has."

"No one?" He asked.

"No one. Or they aren't telling me, which fair enough if she doesn't want to talk to me. I just don't know why."

"Yeah, we're going to need more drinks."

"Yes, we are." Owen said in agreement as he nearly slammed the glass down on the bartop.

It didn't take all that long before the two of them cared little about anything around them and were having too much fun for their own good. They were happy, drinking, laughing, smiling, joking around. Everything they did when they were younger and had a brother in one another. Those days were so long behind them but they were days they could try to get back. If the circumstances were right.

"I can still drink you under the table." Nathan said, finishing off the last of the drink.

"You can try."

"Is that a challenge?"

"Yes." Owen didn't bother to pretend like it wasn't.

There wasn't really a winner. Not when they were both too drunk for their own good.

"Hangover, it's coming." Owen mumbled, barely stringing the words together.

"Come on," Nathan said as he stood, grabbing Owen by the arm. "To the hospital we go."

"Home."

"Hospital then home." It wasn't a suggestion.

They both managed to walk back to the hospital and Owen immediately found himself in the on call room. Nathan was in need of water or coffee, literally anything that would make him feel slightly better than he did. He was entirely out of practice for drinking so heavily and had no interest in continuing. He also had a thought about sitting.

"Meredith." He whispered quite loudly, unable to keep the smile off of his face at the sight of her, leaning against the wall. Holding himself up didn't go so well.

"How drunk are you?" She asked, rolling her eyes, crossing her arms.

"Little." He said as his accent got a little thicker, trying to make the gesture with his fingers. It didn't really work out. "You're pretty."

"You're drunk." The smile across her lips was one that was not missed.

"I am." Nathan nodded as he didn't bother to deny it.

"Come on," Meredith tugged at his arm and sat him down in one of the empty Emergency Room stations. "Sit."

Sitting was good. Very good. He swallowed to keep himself in one piece. "Owen's fucked up."

"So are you," Meredith pointed out as she stuck an IV in his arm.

"Shepherd."

"One problem at a time. I can't deal with my dad, Amelia, Alex, and Maggie. Plus, the kids and you."

Nathan pouted then, just barely. "I'm not a problem. I can sleep it off." He had half a mind to yank his arm back from her but decided against it.

"You're not a problem." She agreed. "It's too late. In your arm. You'll feel better in a little while.

"Mm."

"Richard and Bailey are making my dad go through withdrawal. He already coded once so that's about how well that's going."

"He'll be okay."

Meredith laughed at that. "You don't know me well enough to say that."

"Do you wanna know what I do know?" Nathan questioned quietly, pulling Meredith by the wrist closer to him. "That I am never drinking like this again."

"You have to drink regularly if you're going to drink everything you see."

"I know that you'll be okay no matter what happens to your dad and you're a better daughter than most would be just by being here." Nathan spoke softly, running his finger in small circles against her own hand. "You don't have to be here. No one would blame you if you left, but you're here."

"He told me not to tell his other daughter," Meredith said carefully, not moving away from him. "She's pregnant and they are overseas."

"Are you going to tell her?"

Meredith shook her head. "I don't know. He's her father, not mine."

"You'll figure it out."

"Aren't you supposed to be drunk and annoying?" She questioned as she looked up at him.

"I can throw up on your shoes later if it'll make you feel better."

"It might."

Once Nathan had finally come to his senses and wasn't one hundred percent alcohol, or at least he didn't feel that way, he found himself back in his apartment. He only managed to sleep for a few hours before he was called in on an emergency. Maggie was dealing with a surgery of her own that was all day and the pressing case was a long one.

Before going into surgery he sent a text to Meredith to see if she was alright, to which she confirmed she was.

Nothing unusual.

By the time he finished with the surgery he didn't really know what time it was all. All Nathan did know was he was tired, starving, and wanted to see Meredith. He really stopped pretending that he wasn't as interested as he actually was. It was still mostly kept to himself as he didn't want to create more drama with Maggie than already existed.

Before finding the much needed coffee to finish out the shift his day bled into he walked by the room in which Thatcher was in. Meredith was nowhere to be found. He wasn't that surprised.

"Have you seen Meredith?" Thatcher shouted from where he was lying in bed.

"I haven't." Nathan answered as he walked into the room, just barely.

"She doesn't want me here. Like her mother in that way." Thatcher said, looking up at the ceiling. "Ellis would have told me to leave, but Meredith won't see me. I've never been the father she needed or wanted."

Nathan honestly wasn't quite sure what to say, listened to Thatcher as he looked him over. "She turned out alright."

"Is she happy?"

"She's Meredith."

Thatcher's heart rate dropped after that and he immediately called the code. Even though he was right there it did nothing to save the man's life. Sometimes it was just a matter of circumstance.

"Time of death." Nathan said, looking down at this watch. " 10:47." When he turned around he didn't expect to see Meredith standing there, leaning against the door, arms folding, watching with a straight face.

"Well, that's that. My parents are officially both dead."