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 4: We Are Family

Meredith closed the door behind her. She had just begun to climb the stairs when a voice greated her from the doorway to the kitchen.

"You're home awfully late, or early as the case may be." Meredith turned to see her step-father with his arms folded across his chest.

She turned to face him "I'm really sorry. You see I-"

"Meredith, you're 28 years old. You don't owe me an explanation for being out late."

"Yeah. I just- I was thinking. Maybe it would be better if instead of living at home I got a place of my own."

"You're probably right, though I'll miss having you around, trying to sneak in after hours." He grin widely and walked over to her. Giving her a hug he looked her in the eyes and said, "But you know, you'll always be my little girl. Now go get ready or you'll be late for rounds."

Meredith smiled as she walked up to her room. She knew she could count on her family. Despite the occasional squabble, they were there for her and that was more than most could say.

Dashing up the stairs in the direction the nurses had pointed her; Meredith opened the door to the surgical room to find that the Chief of Surgery had already begun to welcome the interns.

"Dr. Grey, I'm glad to see that you could join us." The other interns turned to look at her.

"As I was saying, I'm Dr. Burke, Chief of Surgery here at Seattle Grace. As of today you are no longer students, you are Doctors. For the next seven years the people you see around you will be both your colleagues and your competition. Not all of you will complete the program. Some will switch to easier specialties, others will drop out completely. Over on the wall outside the locker room are your resident assignments. Good luck."

Meredith had never felt more nervous since her parents dropped her off at college her freshman year. Luckily as she was walking down the hall she heard a familiar voice.

"Meredith! Hey, wait up!"

"Dr. Shepherd."

"And I thought we were friends."

"We are, but here, at work, I'm drawing a line. So, how can I help you Dr. Shepherd?"

"I just wanted to see how your first day was going."

"Fine, my day's been just fine. I was late this morning and just found out that I was assigned to the Nazi. So yeah my day has been fine."

"Cheer-up, I'm sure you'll be great."

Meredith's first shift of her medical career went by in a haze of caffeine and adrenaline. She had been assigned to an obnoxious beauty pageant contestant, became friends than enemies then friends again with the ultra-competitive Christina Yang after she told Christina what had happened between her and Derek- who had let her scrub in on the procedure later. It was exhausting and exhilarating at the same time.

Arriving home after 48 hours on the clock, Meredith slogged up the front walk. Opening the door she was attacked by her younger sister Angie.

"You're home!"

"Angie, please I can't breath and I've been on my feet for 48 hours."

"Sorry. It's just, I haven't seen you since I got in."

"It's good to see you too, just a little quieter please. So when do you start your internship at the paper?"

"Tomorrow, and I'm really excited. I mean I'll probably only get coffee and make copies, but still it'll be great to just be there."

"I'm sure. Hey is dad home?"

"No, he and Chloe went to go visit mom. She's pretty bad. I went yesterday and she barely remembered who I was." The girls buoyancy suddenly crashed, her smiled sunk and she fidgeted with her watch.

"Oh, Angie, I'm so sorry."

"Well there's not much anyone can do. I just- why did it have to happen to her Merri? She was so brilliant. She never forgot anything."

Meredith stood there looking at her sister. There was no good answer; she had the same questions in her mind. Growing up her mother had always seemed like such an invulnerable force, nothing could hold her back. But now she was slipping away, piece by piece and it was horrible to see.