A/N: starting mid season-16 and going on from there. currently canon compliant but that could easily change, depending on how the show goes and how quickly i get this done.

(taylor made me do this.)

title is a combo of lyrics from "cowboy like me" and "long story short."

1. willow

take my hand / wreck my plans

It wasn't that Meredith didn't care that DeLuca had told her to "take some time." She did. Kind of. He was fun and light and new-ish- their relationship was- but taking time meant lingering in this undefined relationship territory that she got to know way too well her intern year. She didn't have the energy for that anymore, nor the patience.

Meredith had just gotten her license back, and the lack of surgery had her nerves frayed beyond belief. All she wanted was to get her hands back on a scalpel and her body into an O.R. But, then Cristina decided to take her hand and completely wreck her plans. Well, partially.

Enter Dr. Cormac "Obnoxious Irishman" Hayes. She knew someone would have to take over for Alex, eventually; she just didn't expect it to be her "congrats-on-not-loosing-your-medical-license" gift from her Person.

He had slightly backed down when she met him toe-to-toe, so she'd give him that. McWidow. She resented that implication, thank you very much.

Meredith's drive home detoured to the party store for some wine and then to the Karevs' because this was bullshit. It didn't matter that he kind of offered a truce in the elevator or that he was easy of the eyes. No, not one bit.

Cormac wouldn't deny he was impressed as he made his exit down one of Grey-Sloan Memorial's hallways. Meredith Grey had taken his initial expectations and thrown them out the window, and yet met them for all they were worth. When Yang had offered to give him a recommendation for Chief of Pediatrics at her old hospital, if he was interested, he figured it was a reasonable next step. The boys would be closer to Abbi's family, and he'd get a change of scenery again. (Yang did have an odd enthusiasm for the idea, though.)

It just so happened that his first day landed the week of the two-year-anniversary of Abigal's passing. He figured he'd just glide through his first day without really bothering any of his fellow department heads. That turned out bloody well, didn't it?

Grey had stared him down, met his every hit, and pushed back with a vigor that left him a bit stunned-not that he'd tell her that. Cormac thought he'd left all that chutzpah back in Switzerland with Yang, but apparently not. But, if his limited time with Grey in the O.R. was any indication of her skills, she had earned every accolade she's received. She could prove to be a valuable ally here. Hell, her name was all over the hospital.

And the fact that the flames of passion Grey had for her career that flickered in her words and eyes were ones he hadn't encountered with such ferocity since Abbi most definitely did not help explain the tug of fascination for her pulling at his mind. Not at all.

Meredith sank into her bed, finally, her phone already attempting to FaceTime Cristina for the third time in a row. This time she was met with a black screen and a squawky and indignant, "What?"

"What are you trying to pull here?"

There was muffled shuffling before light and her best friend's face filled the screen, her eyes glinting with amusement, "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"My gift, " Meredith said with a roll of her eyes.

Cristina failed to suppress the grin creeping across her face, "I haven't heard a thank you."

"I was expecting flowers, maybe some Swedish chocolates."

"Hey, those were your expectations, so your disappointments."

Meredith huffed, "Seriously, though, I'm not sure what you want me to do with it-him."

"I don't- whatever you want, Mer," Cristina shrugged. "I didn't send Hayes over with some nefarious plan. It just so happened that his moving lined up with your trial ending well, and I thought the two of you might get along in whatever capacity you want. I'm not going to lie and say the thought didn't cross my mind, but if you end up hating each other, no skin off my back."

"I know, I know, it was a joke of sorts."

"I can send you some flowers if you want."

"No, no," Meredith laughed. "I'm perfectly content with the gift of having my job back and that glowing letter you wrote for me."

"It was pretty good, wasn't it." Cristina narrowed her eyes, "You didn't end up totally hating him, did you?"

"He's obnoxious."

"So are you."

"He stole Alex's job."

"Karev quit on his own accord and then decided to renovate a crumbling hospital like a fixer-upper house on HGTV."

"Hmmph… McWidow?" her voice dripped with disbelief.

"Hey, it works!" Cristina let out a sharp laugh, "Admit it, he intrigues you, and you just don't wanna admit that I could be right about this."

"I'm hanging up on you now."

"Dr. Hayes!" Miranda Bailey's voice boomed in the quiet lobby of Grey-Sloan, making Cormac pause on his way out towards the front doors.

"Chief Bailey," he greeted. "What can I do for you?"

Bailey shook her head quickly, "Oh, no, nothing. I was just on my way out as well and wanted to ask how your first day went. I would've come by earlier but-"

"You're busy running a hospital, I understand." Cormac smiled, "It went well, at least, I think it did. The case I worked on and the surgery were a success, and everyone's been quite pleasant, mostly."

"Mostly?" Bailey's pitch went up as if she was ready to go off on one of her babies about being disrespectful.

"I, uh," he rubbed the back of his neck as they headed out into the parking lot. "I worked the case with Dr. Grey, and we-"

"First day back; can that woman give me one day without her doing something to stir the pot," Bailey cut in, talking more to herself than she was to Cormac.

"It wasn't anything bad, per se," he rushed on to continue. "We just, butted heads over how to handle things at first, but Grey was the one who nailed the diagnoses on the first try by the scans alone."

Bailey huffed, "Mhmm, I'm not surprised. She and I have 'butted heads' more times than I can count, but she's brilliant and knows it too. And she cares, a whole damn lot, for everyone and everything in this hospital."

"Ay, that I could definitely tell. To be fair, I could have come in with a bit less of an imperious attitude."

Bailey came to a stop in front of her car, "If that's your way of saying you held your own against Meredith Grey, then I say keep it up. God knows that woman could use a challenge, keeps her occupied and out of my hair." She smiled at Cormac, "I'm pleased to hear you're adjusting to Grey-Sloan; we're grateful to have you onboard."

"I appreciate the opportunity," he said, returning the smile before beginning to head towards his own car. "Have a good night, Chief Bailey."

"You too, Dr. Hayes."

Cormac couldn't help but smile to himself as he settled into his car. Grey certainly had a reputation that preceded her, and one that she'd earned by the sounds of it. Seattle might prove to be a bit more interesting than he initially thought after all.

thank you for reading! the plan is for this to be 17 chapters, one for each of the tracks on evermore (yes even the bonus songs, once i can get my hands on them).

i'd really appreciate a favorite and any comments you have to offer!