Chapter Text
Meredith Grey did not want to enter medical school initially. She fought with her mother, Ellis and Ellis suggested that Meredith find another direction in her life, being disappointed that Meredith is merely ordinary, and in Ellis's biased opinion, does not have what it takes to survive medical school. It is better for Meredith to attempt something else, like being a lawyer, something respectable, in order to not tarnish the infamous Ellis Grey's reputation.
Meredith was content with bartending (as Ellis did not approve of this particular life direction and was determined not to give Meredith a single cent). There were no plans for the future, just living one day at a time, backpacking through Europe with her then girl-friend-with-benefit Sadie Harris. It was in Amsterdam that Sadie decided to steal all her hard-earned money and disappear without a trace. Meredith was thrown out of the hotel and was left to fend for herself by the street. No, she did not work the streets, she did not want to be labelled as a whore, nope, absolutely not thinking that she is the infamous Ellis Grey's daughter at all. After a few days of bartending with her twisted 'luck', with 2 new bars opened opposite the bar she was hired, many patrons went to try out the new bars just because they are new and fancy. Meredith then realised it will take her 3 months to be able to even book the cheapest motel room, but sleeping by the roadside was not a good plan with her looks. She has been mistaken many times, as one of those who work the streets, and it makes her feel icky and disgusted. So, she started to pick up sex buddies (because who cares what gender) from the bar instead, to ensure she has room to stay. As if sex buddies are different from working the street?
Meredith thought her plan was foolproof. It was until one random new guy, Andrew-or-Drew? she flirted with recognised her as Ellis's daughter. Apparently, he recently transferred to the hospital nearby, as a general surgery attending - Ellis's protégé. He was the one who guilt-tripped Meredith into entering medical school after informing her that Ellis Grey was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. He even pre-booked flight tickets to Boston for her.
Without the conscious Ellis nagging Meredith, she did not have the mood for any excessive drinking and partying, as those were just done to rebel against Ellis. She scored with flying colours throughout medical school, perks of being around a hospital environment since she was 5, defied Ellis's odds, survived medical school excellently and immediately got an internship at MassGen, which house one of the competitive surgical residency program.
2 weeks before the start of the internship, she got an anonymous call offering her an internship at Seattle Grace, near her mother's nursing home and her childhood home. After a week of contemplating whether to live or not to live in Ellis Grey's shadow, she decided to hell with the consequences, she will be living in Ellis's shadow no matter where and accepted Seattle Grace's offer - moved back into her childhood home.
One day before the start of her internship at Seattle Grace, Meredith decides to visit the bar near the hospital, to maybe get acquainted with the place she knows she will visit frequently since it is just opposite the hospital. Joe the bartender who served her, was super friendly and gay, which makes Meredith feels safe to enjoy a few shots of tequila, knowing she will feel sorry tomorrow as alcohol makes everything and everyone looks porny. She was just preparing to leave after her sixth shot, suddenly a man with good hair sat beside her and smile at Meredith with his perfect row of teeth. That's the last thing she remembers before she woke up in her house the next day - naked - with the same man. After managing to rush through her morning routine, not wanting to be late for her first day of internship, it was just her 'twisted' luck again that she was assigned to the resident, Bailey - also known as the "Nazi". She thought - if she can handle Ellis, she can handle Bailey. A sudden turn saw her supposed one-night stand in the hospital, with Bailey introducing him as Derek Shepherd, the new neuro attending. She is beginning to regret even accepting the offer to Seattle Grace Hospital, maybe choosing MassGen would have been better.
Day after day of Derek Shepherd's pining and chasing after her like a lost puppy, Meredith Grey is getting annoyed. How could a brain surgeon be so brainless to even comprehend a simple "not interested"? Meredith knew from the moment he was her boss, that she would not want to sleep with him - an attending. She is privy to the Seattle Grey's gossip mill and knew the countless dramas that happened when Ellis brought her. Besides, the nagging thought of a brilliant neurosurgeon not taken seems pretty impossible. Though she wouldn't put it past his huge ego as a turn-off.
2 months. It's all it takes for Derek Shepherd to accept the invitation to be friends, though Meredith still has to shut down his occasional flirt. She was also told by Cristina that the rumour has it that Grey and Shepherd are dating - no idea who started the insane rumour. She deflected by pointing out Cristina and Burke are also part of the rumour, though Cristina did not deny nor confirm the validity of the rumour. Both of them grew closer after being outcasted by their fellow intern-mates, for sleeping with attendings. The most obvious is Izzie Stevens, correctly nicknamed 'Barbie' by Alex Karev, eyeing both Meredith and Cristina with jealousy. Next, George O'Malley, who was extra nice to Meredith 2 months before, now joined Izzie in shooting glances at them.
3 months. It's all it takes for Derek Shepherd's hotshot wife, Addison Montgomery-Shepherd to walk through the halls of Seattle Grace Hospital and introduce herself. Derek and Meredith were just going to go for their friendly dinner with Meredith thinking of the steak (no wine cause alcohol makes everything and everyone looks porny) when Meredith's coat collar was folded in a rush of dressing after surgery. Derek stretched his hands to help to fix Meredith's coat when he quickly drop his hands as he saw a familiar figure from the corner of his eyes.
"Addison"
"Derek"
"What are you doing here?"
"Well, if you would have bothered to return my calls, you would know"
"I change my number"
"Really? Pretty sure I saw your phone ringing just now"
Meredith looked between Derek and the hotshot figure who just barged in, who apparently knew Derek and obviously have been actively ignored by Derek. Meredith is eyeing the hotshot figure, who looks like a model definitely way better looking than Izzie and impure thoughts start to cloud her.
She was just thinking of slipping away before she can embarrass herself when Derek turn to her.
"Meredith, I'm so sorry"
Meredith was thinking of telling Derek "It's okay, you can go with your ... friend? nope, friends don't ignore phone calls... enemy?" when the hotshot figure introduces herself (finally!)
"Hi, I'm Addison Shepherd."
"Shepherd?" Are-" Meredith was going to ask whether Addison is Derek's sister when she was cut off.
"And you must be the woman who's been screwing my husband" (What the hell? Husband?! I knew it was too good to be true! AND who gave her the right to accuse me without knowing the truth?!)
Addison saw the blonde's curious eyes turn to anger. Oops!
"Hi, I'm Meredith Grey. AND I am NOT screwing your husband" Meredith recovered and shook Addison's hand.
The moment both their hands touch, there's an unexplainable electric feeling that makes Meredith feel warm all over, with little tingles, which made her shudder a little. She did not want to let go of the hand ever but SHE IS MARRIED MEREDITH! her brain reminded her. She also saw Addison's eyes soften with a sorry look.
"Ohh. I'm..I'm sorry. I don't mean to assume. It's just that... I was asking for Derek at the nurse station just now and I was told that..." Addison stuttered and pointed between Derek and Meredith. "And I turned to see him fixing your coat collar," Addison explained while both their hands are still in the hand-shake position.
"Ohh... that's rumour. No idea who started it. Though to be honest he did try to chase me. Maybe that's where..." Meredith tilts her head and stares at Derek, who has the decency of looking down, ashamed.
"Erm, so... I'm going to leave you both to it. Bye Addison. Bye Derek." Meredith finally reluctantly let go of Addison's hand and throw a look of anger and disgust at Derek before turning and leaving.
"Wait, Meredith..." Derek found back his voice and was trying to use his pleading voice to stop Meredith in her tracks.
"Bye Derek, in case you did not hear the first time. Be with your hot, leggy and fabulous wife. We have nothing else to talk about" Meredith said her final words before running off to Joe's. She needs a drink to process this new information.
It was when she sat on the bar stool that she realised she just called Addison 'hot, leggy and fabulous' in front of Derek and Addison. 'OMG! Great!' Meredith face palms herself.