A.N. Hey all! So this is my first time writing fanfiction in over a decade (I know, right?) so please bear with me. I love Meredith/Alex both as a friendship or romance, so had an idea to write a whole bunch of Merlex one-shots. They should be done in a format that means they can be read as continuous or alone, I'll specify in summaries if romance is involved or if it can be read as purely friendship for those who aren't fans of them as a relationship. They'll take place based from episodes, although likely won't be every episode, just ones I felt I could pull inspiration from. Anyway, hope you enjoy!

Alex threw himself onto the empty stool and looked straight ahead, his arms resting on the bar. He thought he was the only one who knew about this place. Mermaids Lounge was an absolute dive, even he wouldn't touch the dancers in this place, and if you had any regard for your own health then you'd probably bring your own glass. Still, drinks were cheap and being away from anyone you knew was useful at times.

So, imagine his surprise when he entered and saw her, of all people, propping up the bar with an empty stool next to her. She's not the sort of person he would expect to see anywhere like this. Today, of all days, he didn't need one of her condescending lectures and had debated sliding through the dark, into a corner booth where she wouldn't spy him... but she didn't look like she was in the mood to give one, hence why he had taken his pew. She either hadn't noticed his presence, or just didn't care at this moment in time. He let out a low whistle to signal her to his existence.

"Could do with scrubbing out when we leave here, am I right?"

Meredith Grey turned her head slightly to acknowledge him, and he was shocked to see the redness in her eyes, she appeared as everyone else in this hole did. Only in the eyes, though, the rest of her was still hot as hell. If he was less smart, he would suggest there was a certain lust when she glanced towards him, but he knew that was just projection of his own needs. Having said that, why was she here when she could be screwing a 'dreamy' attending? "Where is Shepherd tonight?" he asked, seemingly innocently.

"Not here," she replied "because none of that is a good idea."

Alex couldn't help but notice the sadness in her face as she said this. He didn't like that. "Who cares if it's a good idea?" he asked her. "I do lots of things that aren't a good idea."

Meredith suddenly looked scornful. "Like embarrassing my housemate with her underwear pictures?"

"Yeah, like that..." Alex had the decency to look ashamed. "Actually, no, not like that. That was a flat out horrible thing to do. I'm talking about choosing your gut over your head for once. If you like Shepherd, you should go for it. Who cares what everyone else thinks?"

"Going with my gut means opening doors. When you open doors, you let a draft in."

He thought about arguing, but knew it was a shut down. Instead taking his gaze around the room, he remembered a time when he would laugh at how much the other patrons of this place looked like shit, and realised that these days he probably looked worse than they did, what with the draining hours he was working. Somehow, she still managed to glow. It wasn't just that, either. While he seemed down on his luck with this internship, she was flying through graciously. He had been a God in med school, women wanted him and men wanted to be him, and he relished in it until the time he felt he had to grow up. He didn't give a fuck anymore where his reputation led him.

Meredith needs cheering up, he thought. He tossed a coin in her direction and she looked at him curiously.

"There's a jukebox over there. Choose something good."

He was surprised when sweet reggae sounds filled the air. Not at all what he thought she would have gone for. He asked her why.

"It makes me feel... serene." she stated simply, before dragging him from the stool and having him sway with her, making them both laugh. He knew they were receiving a few funny looks, but he didn't care. She was smiling. Although, she had now ruined his ability to be invisible here, everyone would know always know him as the guy who stood dancing to reggae in a strip club. But, he resolved, she must at least feel tolerant towards me now.

When the song finished, they took their seats and the light left her eyes once again. He nervously placed a hand over hers and asked, "So, what's on your mind?"

"Liz. That patient I had today, the nurse. She used to work with my mother and we talked about her a bit. I don't like doing that." Before he could ask her why, she scoffed. "Oh, no, we aren't there yet. You don't get to know that." Alex may be an idiot, but even he knew to keep his mouth shut in this situation.

Meredith couldn't understand. How could this person who had been evil to her friend just hours ago, be dancing with her and wanting to hear out her problems? She couldn't make sense of it. "Why did you do it, Karev? What did Izzie do to you?"

Alex sighed and pulled at his own fingers. "I don't know, okay? I want to give you an answer, but I don't have one. It just seemed funny at the time. I do feel bad, I suppose. I'm trying to be a better person than I've been forever, but sometimes I still end up being a dick."

When a group of people start as interns together, they have the option of banding together, or parting and competing. It didn't sit right with Meredith that most of them had chosen the first option and Alex was left out in the cold. They came together, they shouldn't be journeying apart. If he wasn't careful, there would be no light left in his path and he would create the biggest storms. She saw the lines on his face as this obviously weighed heavy on him, but also noticed the flash of something further whenever he looked at her, a look that he didn't afford to the others.

"Alex," she started. He gazed at her with softness as she used his first name. "I'm going to teach you a few things. How to sing the song of connection. You have to stick to it, or you'll fall. How to put cowardice aside and have the bravery to be strive. How to build a palletable outer persona. I think you've needed someone to do that for a while, but you do not let drafts in through my doors. Understood?"

He nodded, unable to keep the grin from spreading across his face. He had to sing from the same hymn sheet as other people, he just wished he was allowed to know what turned her sour. But, for now, he could just do as he was told... or try to, anyway.

In tandem, they both finished their drinks and headed towards the door. The brisk air swiped at them as they stepped outside, and Alex knew they would be heading in opposite directions now. He contemplated whether he should offer to accompany her to a cab, then remembered the comment he had made earlier about how grubby Mermaids Lounge was.

"So... scrub out now?" He jokes, chuckling.

Meredith laughed along, then said "Yes, but first, one more thing."

Alex tried not to stumble over his own feet as she gripped his jacket, and dragged him into the alleyway.