"Candy!" Dr. Holden shouted to Meredith after rounds, she had just given her interns their assignment.
"I am not answering to that name," she hissed at him.
"You just did," he smirked. "And I thought that was your name Candy McHappy, that what you told me."
"That was a long time ago," she hissed.
"I need a resident," said Dr. Holden. "For a surgery of course, interested?"
"Yes," said Meredith.
"Well I don't really need a resident Dr. Yang is assisting me, but Dr. Shepherd needs one to assist him," said Dr. Holden. "Poor guy is all torn up…literally. He fell down a mountain."
"I'm in," said Meredith only hesitating for a second. She had to work with Derek at some point, it was better to get it over with as soon as possible.
"Why did you change your hair colour?" asked Dr. Holden as he and Meredith were scrubbing in, Derek was waiting for them in the OR.
"I outgrew candy floss pink," said Meredith flatly.
"It suits you," said Dr. Holden.
"Thank you…uh…Dr Holden," said Meredith she suddenly couldn't remember his first name.
"Greg," he said knowingly.
"Thank you Greg."
"You might have changed the color but you haven't changed your shampoo," said Grey tying Meredith's gown at the back. "Smells like…lavender."
"Stop smelling my hair it's creepy," said Meredith as she walked into the OR.
"If you're quite done advising Dr. Holden about invasion of personal space, perhaps we could save this mans life," said Derek.
"Of course sorry, Dr Shepherd," said Meredith taking her spot next to him.
"Meredith can I talk to you?" Derek asked quietly after the surgery had finished.
"I have post op notes to write up," said Meredith.
"It won't take long," he said quietly. "Please Meredith."
"Alright," said Meredith slowly. "Five minutes?"
"Okay," said Derek stepping into the scrub room.
"Hey," said Meredith softly. Derek was standing looking out over the ferry boats on the water.
"Hey," said Derek.
"So…"
"How are you?"
"I'm fine," said Meredith.
"That isn't exactly convincing, you're always fine," said Derek.
"I'm good," smiled Meredith. "Haven't you heard I'm bright and shiny again? Life is good!"
"Good I'm glad," said Derek.
"Was that all you wanted?" asked Meredith.
"Yeah," he sighed. "I tried to see you when you were in the hospital."
"I know," she said. "I'm sorry but they wouldn't let me have visitors, it was just Lexie, Cristina, Izzie, Alex and George that were allowed in.'
"I understand," said Derek.
"How are you?" asked Meredith politely.
"I'm fine."
"Good," said Meredith looking round awkwardly. "I better be going…"
"Meredith…"
"What? What do you want Derek?" snapped Meredith.
"I just…"
"We have to work together alright? It's a little awkward right now, I admit…but you're my boss so…it's good."
"It's good?" said Derek mockingly.
"You know what I mean," smiled Meredith. "You're a good guy and great surgeon and I don't hate or dislike you."
"Thanks," said Derek looking at her like she had gone mad.
"What I'm saying is, we can work together right? It doesn't need to be weird and awkward. We can be friends…sort of."
"Sort of friends?" Derek repeated. "How would that work?"
"Uh…I don't quite know," said Meredith. "But I'm sure we'll figure it out," she laughed.
"I'm sure we will."
"I really have to go now," said Meredith backing away. "Bye Derek."
"Bye Meredith," said Derek watching her walk away.
She was different he decided, the last few months he had barely recognized her but the way she had been that day reminded him more and more of the feisty intern he had met on his first day. Being without him had made her bright and shiny again. Derek couldn't help but feel conflicted, part of him was happy Meredith was happy and the other part was devastated that she could only be happy without him. He was the cause of her previous unhappiness.
"Hey do you want to go to Joe's tonight instead of dinner?" Rose asked Derek after he had finished his shift.
"Yeah," he sighed.
"Are okay?" she asked.
"Yeah it's just been a long day."
"Meredith's first day back?" said Rose uncertainly. "I saw you talking to her earlier."
"Yeah we uh…cleared the air," said Derek.
"That's good, you do have to work together," said Rose.
"Yeah," said Derek too absorbed in his own thoughts to come up with a better answer.
"Wow sounds like there is a party going on in there," said Rose as they approached Joe's.
"Hmmmm"
They walked into Joe's and the first thing Derek saw was Meredith grabbing some guy's groin…