Alice tutted at me for my pessimism about her father and I heard Emmett chuckle as I dressed in sweats, hoping my pager didn't beep at me for the rest of the night. It was already nearing one am. I yawned loudly and Emmett's chuckle grew to a guffaw.

"Sleepy, shorty? Better get some rest if you're going to impress your new Chief of Surgery."

A nervous tickle ran over my skin. I'd never met Alice and Emmett's adoptive father but they had told me how amazing he was both as a father and doctor. If he really is as good as Preston Burke then I'll be lucky to study under him.

"Thanks guys. I'll call you soon. I need to pass out." I said, my voice muffled as I threw myself onto my bed and pulled the comforter over me.

Thankfully, I had the wherewithal to plug my phone in so it could charge the for the rest of the night.

They bid me good dreams and that was all she wrote until seven am. I smacked the alarm and got out of bed, scratching my head and heading to the small kitchenette in the next room. Heating up the Keurig, I got my mug ready and waited for my coffee to brew. I brushed out my hair after coffee and pulled it back into a ponytail before swiping mascara on my eyelashes and putting on my light blue scrubs. By the time I got to the hospital, I was caffeinated and ready to tackle the day.

"'Bout time you showed up, Swan. Have a good day off?" Dr. Shepherd asked, his blue eyes sparkling.

"You know damn well I didn't have the day off. I was here longer than you were yesterday." I scoffed playfully at him as I grabbed a chart and started to do my rounds.

"See you 'round." He tossed over his shoulder as he too started his day, stopping by Meredith to give her a kiss on the cheek.

The few interns that I had following me around did my post op notes and checked on my patients. I checked in with Dr. Robbins and Dr. Webber about the patients we shared and then I sat down to do some paperwork. Thankfully I wasn't on ER duty today so I could have the interns do the extra stuff while I got my paperwork done.

Dr. Avery greeted me and I smiled. "Good to have you back, Jackson. How was your honeymoon?"

His sky blue eyes were lit up with love and April turned the corner, tucking herself under his arm and smiling up at him. "It was amazing." She gushed for him while he nodded.

"It really was." He bent down to kiss the top of her head.

"Awe. How cute." I said with a sardonic grin, though she's one of my only friends in the city, I did not agree with the way she left her fiance, Matthew at the alter as she ran down the aisle with Jackson. She should have been more mature about that whole situation.

"Shut up." Jackson laughed as he pulled his new wife away with him and I looked back down at the computer I was working on.

"Is that how we talk to our surgeons around here? I better get up to speed if I want to feel included."

The voice that spoke was like melted honey on a buttered roll, smooth and liquid as it dripped with baritone goodness. I brought my eyes up from the screen to meet the gorgeous golden eyes of the most beautiful man I had ever seen.

I'm pretty sure my mouth was hanging open.

The man with the angelic blonde hair, sharp nose, and tapered jaw stared at me for a few beats before he blinked and held out his hand.

I stood immediately and my tiny palm was engulfed in a cool, smooth and firm grip.

"I'm Doctor Carlisle Cullen." He spoke, his voice sliding over my skin like silk, while his eyes roamed over my face like a gentle caress.

I gaped at him.

A firm elbow nudged me in my back and I squeaked, twisting my head to see Dr. Torres laughing at me, my hand still in Dr. Cullen's. I could feel my blush work it's way up my neck and cheeks and slid my hand from his.

I cleared my throat. "Doctor Bella Swan. It's nice to meet you."

Then I fled.

I spotted him in the halls several times over the next few hours and each time he had a charming smile for me. It earned me disparaging looks from nurses and other residents that had wanted to catch his eye. I couldn't help but preen just a little, smirking to myself when I'd be out of view of anyone. I had never felt this way about someone before and I didn't even know the man. He was tall, at least six feet, with golden blonde hair and beautiful caramel gold eyes. His nose was long and sharp, and his jawline, thinner than some males, tapered off to a perfect little chin. I had passed him in the X-ray room the next day as he reached up to pull film from the board and noticed how his biceps flexed even under the cloth of his white coat. My mouth had instantly gone dry and when he turned to smile and greet me, I could only stare.

I'm sure he thought I had a few screws loose.

As soon as I got home from my shift two days later, I checked my phone and saw that I had several missed text messages from Alice. I called her immediately and put the phone on speaker as I undressed in my bedroom and jumped in the shower.

"You know it doesn't make for a good first impression to snub the Chief of Surgery." She lectured immediately.

I scoffed as I wet my hair. "I did not snub him. I simply remained professional."

I wasn't even sure I convinced myself of that.

"Mnh-mnh. No. You totally flailed and fled. He told us." I heard the tease in her voice.

"Did he also tell you that I nearly choke on my tongue every time he smiles at me? Jesus, Alice, how old is he anyway?"

Alice giggled, "He's only twenty seven and I do believe he mentioned some blushing." She teased some more.

"I'm still blushing. Girl, he is very nice to look at. I don't know how I'm going to get any work done around here anymore."

It was as Alice was laughing and relaying this information to Emmett that I realized what I was doing. I put my hand on my face in embarrassment and groaned.

"God. I should not be telling you how hot I think your dad is." I berated myself.

"Adopted dad. It's fine. I figured you two would hit it off. Although…" she paused as she hummed to herself. I could almost see her forefinger pressed to her lips in thought. "You can't hit it off if you don't stop dodging him." She sang.

I laughed. "I will try to stop that."

We chatted for a few more minutes, making plans to get together soon when my schedule allowed, and by the time we got off the phone, I was sitting in the middle of my couch, cross legged, eating a bowl of ramen noodle soup.

Some time later I was startled awake, knocking the empty bowl out of my lap and upside down onto the old carpeting. I cursed silently as I picked it up and looked around for the source of the noise that woke me. The answer came in the form of a frantic knock on my apartment door.

I walked slowly to the door and peeked out of the peep hole to see Meredith Grey, sopping wet from the rain, lifting her hand to knock again. I opened the door and let her in.

"What's going on? Are you okay?" I asked, concerned. Meredith and I didn't not get along but we weren't friends. "How do you even know where I live?"

I wrap my arms around her as I lead her over to the couch and she's hyperventilating so I grab a wrinkled brown paper bag from the kitchen counter from my Chinese earlier that day. Handing her the bag, I sit beside her on the arm of the couch and rub her back while she gets her emotions under control.

"I'm sor-" she breathed into the bag before inhaling again. "Sorry. I don't know why I came here but I had to talk to someone." Her words were halting as she continued to try to control her breathing.

"Easy, Mer. It'll be okay." I stayed beside her as she calmed herself and when she looked at me, I could tell she was trying not to cry.

"Have you met me? I don't do this." She crumpled the paper bag into a ball and tossed it across the room. I was mildly surprised it ended up in the kitchen bin. "I shouldn't even be here. We don't talk. We don't know each other."

"I think that may be why you're here. I don't know you. We aren't close." I stated calmly.

She pointed a slender finger at me and narrowed her eyes. "You're right. We aren't close. You don't know me."

I chuckled and waited, watching as she stood to pace around the small room. It didn't take long before she finally spilled what she was so upset about.

Maggie Pierce. The new head of Cardio is Doctor Webber and Ellis Grey's secret love child.

I was shocked. I met Maggie earlier in the day before my shift ended and she seemed very off-putting. She was snarky and mean but her lisp was just adorable.

"So say something!" Meredith said shrilly, causing me to squint at her. "Sorry." She said with at a much lower decibel.

I figured I should be supportive. "You have a sister!" I put both my fists up by my head and shook them around like pom poms. "Yay." My tone did not match the look on my face and I felt more awkward than not.

Thankfully it was just what Meredith needed in order to loosen up because she started laughing.

"I have a sister!" She said happily then her face suddenly fell. "My mother had an affair with Richard...which I already knew. Richard didn't even know my mother was pregnant. She left him while she was pregnant. I have a sister." She whispered the last few words and then fell silent, a contemplative look on her face.

"Thanks, Swan. I owe you."

And then I was alone.

I spun around the room, as if searching for something. Maybe some sense? Because that whole last half hour didn't make any.

"How am I supposed to stay out of the drama if they're going to drag me into it?" I bemoaned as I flopped my arms out and threw my head back. "Ugh!"