All rights remain to the respective owner, greyshepfan. I am posting the full story for the enjoyment of the viewers…Some content, characters names, and chapter names have been changed. Grammatical errors, if there are any, have been fixed; however I am not a professional. Please, be patient. It may be very porny, angsty, and full of suss. You have been warned. Welcome and hang on tight! Thank you! Enjoy!

Chapter 1: Late

Running across campus, she nearly tripped over her shoelaces and fell on her face. She was late. Late for her Neurology class was not what she wanted to be on her first day. As she reached room 401, she slowed her pace, hoping to find her way to a seat and go unnoticed.

"Okay class, I will be your professor for the term. My name is Dr. Derek Shepherd and…."

The noise of the double doors being thrown open echoed through the lecture hall. Close to a hundred heads turned to see the drenched dirty blond walk through the doors. She was a mess, her long tresses clung to her cheeks and the emerald green shirt she wore clung to her breast outlining the shapes and curves she would normally try to hide.

"I'm so sorry…it was raining… my umbrella broke, and I dropped my book in a puddle… my roommate Cristina well she was trying to help me, but well she never really helps she usually makes the problem worse and …."

"Ahh Miss…."

"Grey…Meredith Grey" she stammered out, slightly embarrassed about the rambling.

"Yes, Miss. Grey, if you would please save the rambling… take a seat and please in the future, keep your problems at home. If you cannot manage your time effectively to reach my class, maybe you should look into a different course of study."

His harsh words cut through her as did the snickers from some of her fellow classmates. Taking a seat next to a goofy looking guy with longish hair. Meredith tried to compose herself after such a harsh lashing in front of her peers.

"Psst…" the goofy looking guy was whispering, trying to get her attention.

She tried to ignore him, after already feeling the wrath of Professor…whatever his name was…she didn't need another dose of it. Shooting a death glare at him she tried to get him to stop pestering her she was in enough trouble as it was…she didn't need any help from him.

As he held his hand out, he introduced himself "George O'Malley"

"Don't worry about Dr. Shepherd. I heard he's that way with everyone…so you know…don't take it personally."

"Thanks George" she started "I'll try to…" her next sentence was cut off as her name was once again being used in a manner that she was growing tired of.

"Ah Miss. Grey again…just let me know when your done, so I can continue on with my lecture. Unless of course, you have eight years of schooling as well as twelve years medical experience…by then all means please take over, enlighten us."

His eyes were a cold blue. As if he was begging her to challenge him. She was drawn to him somehow, his control. Even as she sat in the last row of the lecture room wanting to shoot daggers at him for embarrassing her. Somehow his dark looks drew her in and left her speechless.

Opening her book, she decided there was no right answer to his statement. She instead chose to just focus on his lecture and pray for the best. Two hours later, she was heading down the rows of seating looking for the nearest exit. Meredith kept silently praying he would let her leave without further lashing.

"Miss. Grey, if you don't mind, I'd like a word with you…" his steel cold voice vibrated down her spine.

Grabbing a seat again, she waited for the room to empty before approaching his desk. She watched as he smiled saying good nights to fellow students. His oxford shirt hugging his broad shoulders, the dark jeans that he wore snug against his…hearing her name she was shaken out of her daydream. Cheeks burning red she approached his desk. Feeling like a child taking the last steps before punishment.

"Listen, Dr. Shepherd, I assure you that this is not normal behavior for me…"

"Miss Grey, I'm not interested in any excuses you may have concocted in the two hours you had to sit and stew. "

"What I am interested in hearing is you are dedicated and will make it a habit to show not only myself, but yourself the respect of being on time in the future…I don't have time for tardiness nor will I tolerate blatant interruptions of my lecture." his eyes clashing with her green ones.

She could feel tears of embarrassment building, however she was too proud and stubborn to allow him the satisfaction of seeing them.

"If you can't make it on time, then I would appreciate if you didn't make it at all Miss. Grey." his voice softening a little when he noticed the trembling of her lip.

Something in this young woman screamed at him to let her breakthrough his reserve. She was striking, her eyes pulling him in. Her scent some mix of lavender and vanilla…the roundness of her curves were intoxicating. Anger building at his thoughts he dismissed her cruelly…

"That will be all Miss. Grey…again I hope you can find the ability to manage your time." turning his back he silently dismissed her.

Meredith felt the coldness in his words. She turned and walked out the door that she had so loudly crashed through earlier. This was great…what a great start to her fourth year of medical school. Not that she ever expected to make it this far. Now, with her mother withdrawing all funding, and her needing to find a job, she had no idea how she would manage her time wisely.

Taking the steps of her apartment two at a time, she walked through her door to find Cristina listening to her iPod as she shoveled pizza into her mouth. Crashing onto the couch she grabbed a slice picking off the anchovies that Cris wanted.

"What's got you looking like you have a stick up your ass?' Cristina finally said after taking notice of Meredith's shitty mood.

"Like you're going to care Cristina…I'm just going to tell you and you're going to say suck it up and drink it away. Just like you always do." Meredith smirked at her person.

"I don't know why I bother telling you anything, you're never any help."

Pouring some tequila in a glass she threw the liquid back, enjoying the burning sensation. Picking up the stack of mail that had collected over the last few days, she couldn't help but notice the one that read Dean of Admissions across the front. No question they were wanting to know how she would be funding her schooling this year. Sighing she fell back onto the couch "guess it's time to find a job."

Turning to Cristina, she excepted the newly filled glass and decided for tonight she would drink away her problems. No money worries, or angry professors and their good-looking shirts, no school load, and definitely no bitter mommy issues…

What are we thinking so far?