A/N: Since I clearly can't write as quickly as Shonda (sorry guys) this is spinning rapidly AU. If that's not your thing, I apologize, but I already had the whole story plotted out ….
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"Lights will guide you home, and ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you"
Several minutes passed after Mark left, as Meredith pondered his advice. Taking love advice from a serial man-whore, Meredith? You really have gone downhill. Shaking off her residual doubts, she dried her eyes. She had to believe that it was not too late for second – or third, or fourth – chances. Pushing open the door to her supply closet, she squinted briefly in the hospital's bright fluorescent lights. Cameron was hovering around the nurses' desk. She looked up nervously from Amelia's chart. Steeling herself, she made to walk towards Meredith.
Her path was intercepted by Cristina and George, who had zeroed in on Meredith.
"Was that seriously McSteamy?" Cristina asked, her voice hitting new notes of incredulity. "Seriously?"
"McSteamy," George moaned dramatically. "No more, Meredith, no mooooore."
"George, for the last time, I am not a whore! And you, too," Meredith turned to Cristina, who was smirking. "Get your mind out of the gutter."
Cameron hovered behind them, waiting for her moment. She was anxious to talk to Meredith but unsure of the reception she would receive after this morning's incident.
Suddenly, Bailey swept up like a hurricane. "What are you suckups doing? Does this look like a social club? Yang, pit. O'Malley, Burke. Grey, Dr. Montgomery needs an intern. And I don't know who you are," she turned to Cameron, "But get back to work!" Cristina and George scattered, George hissing, "Mer, Joe's, 8:15." Bailey stormed off, leaving Meredith and Cameron to face each other.
"Let me guess," Cameron said wryly. "That's your Nazi resident."
Despite her red eyes, Meredith grinned. "Lost again?" she asked, referencing their earlier conversation.
"Listen, Meredith, about before. I get the sense that I stepped in the middle of something quite important between you two, and I want you to know that it was inadvertent and I apologize. What you saw – there's nothing romantic going on between Derek and me. Frankly, he's not my type."
"Hey!" Meredith flushed. "Actually, I think I owe you an apology. I should thank you. This morning helped me to realize that I've been putting off making some decisions for long enough."
Cameron smiled coyly. "Well if it helps at all in the decision-making process, he's clearly crazy about you. Couldn't stop talking about how you're the reason he loves fly-fishing now, or something along those lines."
Meredith laughed, and the moment faded into a companionable, if awkward silence. Both women were relieved to have cleared the air, but uncomfortable with any overly emotional or personal admissions.
"So then," Mer broke the silence. "Interested in hitting up Joe's with us tonight? It's the local intern bar of choice."
Cameron grimaced slightly. "I wish I could, but unfortunately I am still apartment hunting. I can't afford to keep living in a hotel, but you wouldn't believe some of the places I've seen."
Meredith frowned, then shook her head. "Live with us," she said suddenly.
"Excuse me?" Cameron was sure she had misheard.
"Live with us. I have my mother's house. She was an attending here when I was growing up. Izzie and George live with me – you'll love Izzie, she is – I mean she used to be – a surgical resident, too."
"Meredith, thank you, but I couldn't. We hardly know each –"
Meredith waved her off. "We know enough. For example, favorite 80's band."
Cameron crinkled her eyebrows in confusion. "I was obsessed with the Eurhythmics," she finally confessed.
"Exactly. You'll fit in fine."
"Your mother …was your mother Ellis Grey?" Cameron was putting two and two together. Meredith shrugged in acknowledgement. "Damn," Cameron breathed. "You do have problems." She thought of Chase and his tortured relationship with his father.
"What do you say?" Meredith wheedled, unsure of what had possessed her to be so adamant, so open. "Come to Joe's, meet Izzie, see the house, drink some tequila. You can crash on the couch until we get your stuff." At the mention of tequila, Cameron lifted an immaculate eyebrow.
"Tequila has a bad habit of making me overly honest, so if we're going to be drinking buddies, I guess I should tell you something now. This morning, when you asked me about my boss – House – I lied." It was Meredith's turn to raise a skeptical glance. Cameron put her hands up in a gesture of capitulation. "Let's just say I have no right to lecture you, or anyone else, about having a hopelessly debilitating and entirely mortifying crush on your attending."
"Oh boy," Meredith squealed. "Are we ever going to need a lot of tequila."
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A/N: This is a short one. Just a transition chapter. Two little hints: even though Meredith has come to some hard realizations, there's still a lot of baggage there. So, she's not going to be quite ready to move forward with Derek. Also, House is cooooming – T minus 2 chapters!