Title: Rewind

Author: Poliwonk

Rating: T

Plot: An AU fic. What would Meredith's life be like had Richard divorced Adele all those years ago and married Ellis?

Disclaimer: I'm not Shonda Rhimes, I don't own these characters, I just like to take them out and play with them sometimes, so please don't sue me. Oh and reviews are nice- they make me happy.

Chapter: Gotta have You

"Wow Merri, you look great!" She had chosen a little black dress and a pair of strappy black heals for the intern mixer that night. Her sister Chloe looked up from her perch on the sofa. Like her sister, Chloe had blue-grey eyes and a trim figure. "Remind me to borrow that dress sometime."

"Not on your life." She smiled and made a last check in the mirror by the door.

"So where are you off to? You don't have a date do you?"

"New interns mixer."

"Sounds duller than dishwater."

"Yeah."

"Well try to have fun."

"I'll try."

The party had been as awkward as promised, with most people pointing at her and whispering.

"You know who she is? She's the old Chief's step-daughter. No wonder she got into the program here. And her mother is Ellis Grey."

"The Ellis Grey!"

"Sshhh- yeah the Ellis Grey."

"Wow, talk about pressure."

The first chance she got she ducked out and drove to the nearest bar. If any situation called for a drink this was it.

Sitting down at the bar she noticed a vaguely familiar man looking at her with a quizzical look on his face. He was very attractive with dark brown hair and warm blue eyes. He walked over to her.

"Do I know you from somewhere?"

She laughed and smiled. "You've really got to come up with a better opening line."

"It's not a line, I'm completely serious! What's your name?"

"Meredith Grey"

"Meredith Grey?" She liked the way her name sounded on his lips. "Your Richard Weber's step-daughter. You probably don't remember me- Derek Shepheard. Your Dad was an attending where I was intern at New York Presbyterian."

Suddenly it hit Meredith exactly where she knew this handsome stranger from.

The entire situation was beyond embarrassing. Laying on the exam bed with her step-dad off to find one of his interns to examine her. She swore she would never drink and table dance again.

Suddenly a handsome doctor drew the curtain back from around her bed and was quickly followed by step-dad.

"So, Dr. Shepheard" Richard looked at his intern with a piercing gaze, almost daring him to screw up. "What do we have here."

"Meredith is an 18 year old who presented this evening with a possible concussion from trauma to the head as well as a significant blood-alcohol level." He looked over at her and smiled bemused. She felt herself blush.

Her step-father spoke up again.

"Next steps?"

"Check various neurological impulses, and order and MRI just to be sure."

Suddenly Richard's beeper went off.

"I've got to get this. Dr. Shepherd- good job, go ahead and order the MRI."

Richard walked out of the room and Dr. Shepherd turned back towards Meredith with his flashlight and began to examine her.

"So you want to tell me what happened?"

"No."

"Oh, come on- I'm not going to tell your dad."

"Fine, I was at a friend's graduation party, I had a bit to drink and decided to dance."

"You got a concussion from dancing?"

"Alright, I was dancing on the table and I slipped." He smiled broadly stifling a laugh, making her melt a little bit, she definitely had a crush on him. "Don't laugh at me! I'm in pain and you're my doctor!"

"Sorry- it's just-"

"Sad, I know. Particularly when my dad had to come and pick me up."

"Ouch!" He stood up. "Alright Meredith I'm going to go order the MRI and I'll be back in a bit."

She watched as he walked out of room and over towards what looked to be another intern, she was tall, with red hair and very pretty. He leaned over and kissed her quickly. Meredith felt her heart sink a bit, it seemed he was taken. Even if he wasn't he had to be at least ten years older than her, thus rendering any relationship impossible.

A few minutes later he came back to her. She knew she shouldn't ask the question, but it was so inappropriate but for some reason her head wasn't conversing with her tongue at the moment.

"So who's the girl?"

"Huh?" He was busy scribbling something on her chart.

"The red-head in the hallway. Is she your girlfriend?"

"She's my wife, Addison."

"Oh. She's pretty."

"Yeah. We've been dating since our junior year in college, and just got married last year." It was clear from the way he spoke of her that he cared for his wife a great deal.

"That's nice."

"Alright Meredith, I'm going to take you up for your MRI now, but before I do that, can I suggest one thing."

"What's that?"

"Next time you decide to dance at a party, don't do it on a table." He had that grin on his face again, the one that seemed to light up the entire room with it's warmth and slightly roguish character.

"Thanks. It's nice to know that someone can laugh at me in my time of need."

"Your welcome" He laughed and went around behind her bed to undo the locks and move the bed to the elevator.

She blushed slightly at the memory.

"I remember you now. So what are you doing here all alone? Last time I saw you, you were happily married."

Derek's face darkened and he looked down at his drink.

"It didn't work out."

"Sorry to hear that. What happened?"

"Do you want the long story, or the short one where I found my wife having sex with my best-friend in our bed."

"Ouch!"

"Tell me about it. So, what about you- still dancing on tables"

"No, I gave that up, doctor's orders" He chuckeled and smiled a bit, not the wide smile she remembered from years ago, but it was still nice to see. "I'm actually starting my internship tomorrow at Seattle Grace. There was a mixer tonight for interns, thus the dress and uncomfortable heels."

"Sounds-"

"Painfully dull?"

"Yeah, I actually skipped mine."

"How long have you been out here?"

"Three months. Your dad called me to come out here when he decided to retire. He was giving the Chief job to another attending but wanted one of his old students there. So I guess we'll be working together."

"I guess so." She smiled at the thought. It would be nice to see him everyday- give her something to look forward to.

"Well then, in the interest of collegial friendship, why don't you let me buy you a drink."

"Thanks."

They had a few drinks and flirted for a couple of hours till Meredith noticed the time.

"I should go." She looked down at her watch.

"Really?"

"I have my first day tomorrow. I should head home." But she stayed sitting on her bar stool.

"But you don't want to go home?"

"Not really."

"You could come home with me."

"That sounds very, very good."

They got up and he helped her with her coat and walked out the door to his car. Going up the drive, Derek looked over at her.

"You have to promise that you won't laugh."

"Laugh at what?"

They pulled up to a field surrounded by beautiful trees near a brook. Sitting in the field was a silver trailer.

"When I moved out here I had all this land and no clue what to do with it."

She looked out at the trailer then at him and smiling got out of the car. He followed soon after and they walked up to the door. Standing at the door he leaned forward and kissed her. It was passionate, warm, and perfect. Before she knew it they were inside and she was unbuttoning his shirt and he was unzipping her dress.

A/N: So somethings never change. Yes, Meredith and McDreamy have hit it off in my story as well. But things will be some-what different this time.