Title: Retracing Steps
Author: MissMouseMD
Rating: K+
Disclaimer: Don't own nothing.
A/N: So here's a nice, long, MerDer-ish chapter. Hope you enjoy, review please!
Lunch
She's way too nervous.
She tells herself she's over him.
That this is just lunch.
Between two friends.
Who haven't seen each other for five years.
She doesn't let herself think about why they didn't see each other.
She's tried on three different outfits.
None of them worked.
She tries to chew her fingernails, but they're all gone.
On the fifth outfit, she finally gets it right.
Her hair is actually agreeing with her, for a change.
She looks good.
She feels…well, she feels extremely nervous.
She's about to eat lunch with the man who she fell in love with.
The one who broke her heart.
The one who caused her to leave Seattle.
The one who she just might still be in love with.
It's a disaster waiting to happen.
…
He paces his trailer.
He's too nervous.
His stomach is doing flip flops.
He just saw Meredith Grey.
Meredith Grey.
The one he fell in love with.
The one who broke his heart.
The one who left and took a part of him with her.
The one who he's most definitely still in love with.
And now he's going to lunch with her.
This should be fun.
…
She arrives five minutes late.
For a few heart-stopping moments, he thought she wasn't coming.
She sits down.
The little girl isn't anywhere to be seen.
"Where's Adrienne?"
"I found a babysitter."
He nods.
"Oh."
They stare at each other for a while.
"How've you been, Meredith? Be honest."
She takes a deep breath.
"Honestly? Not so great. I'm a single mom, who also happens to be a surgeon. It's hard. Lonely."
"I'm sorry. You know, you could've come back. We would have helped you. Cristina, Izzie, George. It would have been easier for you."
"I thought about it. I really did. But I was too scared of coming back. I mean, I just packed up and left everything here. I barely even said good-bye. I was afraid they would think I was a coward."
"You're not a coward for wanting to start over."
She looks at him.
His words mean a lot to her.
"Thanks."
Her voice is soft.
He clears his throat.
"So, what brings you back? I mean, why did you decide to come now?"
"My father died. Three days ago. His funeral was today."
"Oh, Mere, I'm so sorry."
"And the weird part is; I'm not even that sad. Because, to be honest; he was never really my father. He left when I was five years old, and I didn't see him again until twenty years later. I never knew him."
He's looking at her, not with pity, but with sadness.
He's sad for her, that she never had a father.
And he knows; she never really had a mother, either.
She breaks the silence.
"So, how is everybody?"
He proceeds to fill her in with gossip about the hospital.
It's nice.
Just the two of them, talking.
…
She gets home a little later than expected.
She tips the babysitter.
Adrienne's napping.
She goes in, just to watch her sleep.
She smiles.
It's funny how bad choices can have good consequences.
Izzie's voice startles her.
"So, I heard you had a date with McDreamy today."
She turns around, to face Izzie.
"It was not a date. It was lunch between two friends."
Izzie just looks at her.
"But you would go on a date with him, wouldn't you? I mean, if he asked?"
"I don't know."
"He's been pining over you for five years. Five years. Most guys would have moved on after one."
This thought cheers her up.
Maybe there's still a chance.
But, not wanting to get her hopes up,
"I'm sure you're exaggerating."
Izzie rolls her eyes.
"Whatever. But I'm telling you, he's still in love with you."
…
Meredith waits until she's lying in bed that night.
She smiles to herself.
He still loves me.
Maybe coming back to Seattle was a good thing, after all.
A/N: Hope you enjoyed! Anyway, there's some drama coming up later. 'Unresolved issues'. PLEASE REVIEW!