Author's note: Welcome to the second installment of this series, if you haven't read Forbidden Passion, I would highly suggest going to read it just so this story makes a little more sense. It will contain flashbacks to an extent. I hope you all enjoy this as I was really excited to start this second story.
Circa 2004
Meredith breathed deeply, looking at the house in front of her. It looked the same as the day she had left ten year ago. She couldn't help but look at the house next door, so many memories flooded her and she wasn't sure she could handle this. This was it, this was her home. When Richard Webber called her personally to inform her she was accepted into the intern program, she had to accept. Richard was the closest thing to a father she had. It was odd, their relationship. He would still call every now and then since she left Seattle, to check on her and see how her life was going. He was the one who noticed the Alzheimer's in her mother, he was the one who called her in the middle of the night when she had broken down and tried to commit suicide when she got her diagnosis. He held her when she cried because instead of graduating collage, she was burying her mother who suffered an aneurysm in the assisted living home. He was the only one who was there when she graduated Med School and got her white coat. He was the father she never had.
She couldn't help but think of the man who lived next door to her all those years ago. Those words of his still stung true, he had caused he so much pain in a first love. She was already broken but he took the finally pieces and smashed her heart. It was the wildest thing she had ever experienced, still to this day as a twenty-eight year old woman. The two years she spent sleeping her way around Europe didn't help the matter either, it shadowed her pain. She could stop thinking of him still, every day she wondered if he had ever moved on and got married. If he ever settled down and had the kids he talked about with her. She changed the person she was, she turned from a typical teenage girl to a dark and twisty young adult in the matter of a conversation. She had never truly tried to move on from him, from the love he gave her. She knew deep down he felt just as deeply as she did but it couldn't ever work.
She looked down at her Nokia, noticing she had a missed called. Cristina, her best friend since high school. She had also moved back and started her medical career at Seattle Grace, though she was two years ahead of her. Cristina wasted no time working her way up the medical food chain, she was top of her class at Stanford and offered an internship at Seattle Grace her third year in medical school. She was head-strong and wasted no time in her life. She lived with no regrets as long as she was the best surgeon to ever live. She dialed the number back and waited for her to answer.
"Hey, did you make it in?" Cristina asked.
"I did, I'm glad you made the house a home," Meredith chuckled as there were still boxes everywhere as she walked through her childhood home. She let Cristina live their while she was finishing up Med school. She knew she would eventually make her way back to Seattle. It always felt like home in the city.
"No time for unpacking, I live and breathe this place," she laughed.
"I know, I will put stuff away," Meredith shook her head at her best friend.
"Hey after that stupid mixer tonight, wanna hit up the bar down the street?" Cristina asked.
"Is that even a question?" Meredith quickly asked.
"Right. I'll meet you here at 7," Cristina quickly hung up the phone and Meredith was left with her thoughts. She could begin to start turning this place from a box filled home to a somewhat livable habitat. It was like nothing was touch, the same furniture from when she was a teenage still filled the room. She realized the time, she had to get dressed. She climbed the stairs slowly, she could feel every bit of this house in her. She passed her old bedroom, Cristina agreed to move into the room that she once had since it was Meredith's house. She made her way to the master bedroom that occasionally was occupied by her mother. She felt the door frame, looking into the room that was empty besides the bedroom furniture and her few boxes that held her clothes. Her mother was never much of a decorator but she had a few paintings up that were now occupying the office that held all of her belongings.
She unpacked a few clothes before finding the black strappy dress she had bought a few years prior. It had picked up a few men in bars but still had a classy feel to it. She quickly undressed herself, she couldn't help but peak out the window. She remembered all those nights of stolen stares that she wished she was in the house next door. She shook her head at the memory, it was all in the past and she had moved on now. She slid the dress up her legs and through her arms before reaching back and zipping the small zipper. She went to the bathroom and patted a small amount of make-up on to her face and fixed her honey colored hair. She straighten the few pieces that began to wave. She didn't really want to attend but it was implied that everyone had to attend. She quickly grabbed her clutch and car keys before rushing out the door. She drove the short drive to the hospital, quickly fixing her make up once more before she climbed out of her car. She brushed her dress down, following the others who were also dressed nicely to the front of the hospital.
Walking through those doors brought back so many feelings, she felt like this was her second home to an extent. She loved coming her when she was a child, the wonder and amazement that went on in that building always made her heart pound. She felt like it was her sanctuary growing up, her place that saved lives. She went to where the mixer was being held, immediately being spotted by Richard.
"Meredith," he smiled brightly as he was standing with a couple of other people. One whom she recognized immediately.
"Richard, Adele. It's nice to see you," she hugged both of them with a smile.
"Oh Meredith, you've grown into a fine young woman," Adele smiled at her.
"Thank you Adele," she nodded at the woman who watched her throughout most of her childhood.
"Mingle, get to know your competitors," he motioned his arm around the room. It was filled with people, she saw Cristina standing off to the side.
"Thanks Richard, for everything," Meredith smiled at him before walking over to Cristina.
"I'm glad to see you made it," Cristina chuckled.
"I would much rather be across the street," she laughed.
"Give it an hour and we will blow this to have some real fun," Cristina laughed as she held a glass of what looked like punch in her hands.
"Got it," she smirked. A brown haired man managed to walk over.
"So you from around here?" He asked. His mannerism seemed like he didn't socialize much, he was blushing bright red as he spoke in a stutter.
"Yep," she wanted to keep the conversation short.
"Nice, me too," he laughed.
"Get lost Bambi," Cristina said to him before he seemed taken aback and quickly walked away.
"Cristina!" Meredith chuckled.
"He's an intern. Trust me, you don't want to mingle with those guys. Get you an attending, get under a wing and run with it," Cristina said.
"Isn't that how you got pregnant?" Meredith joked.
"We don't talk about that. Burke was amazing with what he did and taught me a lot," she nodded.
"Are you two even a thing anymore?" Meredith asked.
"He got head of cardio in Switzerland. They are still looking for his replacement," Cristina rolled her eyes.
"When did that happen?" Meredith asked. Cristina rarely talked about Burke. When Cristina found out she was pregnant, she called Meredith and Meredith came out to support her for a few days while she had the procedure done.
"A month ago. One minute he was here and the next gone. Not even a goodbye screw or anything," Cristina groaned.
"I'm Sorry, why didn't you call?"
"You were busy finishing up everything there. I am fine," Cristina assured her.
"Do you know anything about Bailey? She's my resident," Meredith said deciding to change the subject.
"The Nazi. Cut throat, she doesn't put up with bullshit. I like it," Cristina smirked.
"Great," Meredith rolled her eyes.
"Let's get out of here. This is lame," Cristina sat down her glass and pulled Meredith out before anyone could notice. They both walked over to the bar that they snuck into as teenager's a few times.
"Joe! Two shots of tequila!" Cristina said as they both reached the bar.
"Who's this?" Joe asked as he sat the two shot glasses in front of the two of them.
"Meredith Grey. Meredith, this is Joe. Only the greatest man you will ever meet," Cristina laughed as Joe chuckled.
"This one is wild," Joe laughed as he finished pouring each shot.
"Always has been," she chuckled as she picked up the shot glass and tipped it against her lips. Quickly letting the burning slide down her throat.
"Not to much for this one, she's got a big day tomorrow," Cristina motioned for another shot.
"First day?" Joe asked.
"Yep," Meredith nodded.
"Good luck," he poured another shot for the pair before going to wait on another customer.
"You're on first name basis with the bartender?" Meredith laughed at the thought.
"Spend a lot of time here. You will too," Cristina laughed. The paired joked around for a while, taking two more shots. Meredith felt her cheeks grow warm as the alcohol began to pump into her blood.
"Haven't seen you here before," a male said from behind the pair. Meredith suddenly froze, she knew that voice from anywhere. She was almost too scared to turn and make it a reality.
"Shepherd, she's an intern," Cristina said as she turned around. Meredith gulped again, she felt the blood rush to her head as she room started to spin. It couldn't be, there was no way her world was turning on its axis. She shifted a bit, just to see if it was him. Her heart beat twice as fast as it became a reality. The shock across her face as she saw him. He looked different; his hair was styled in a completely different manor, his eyes had dulled from their usual bright blue, he had gained a small amount of weight but not too much, and he had aged in such a way that still looked as dreamy as the first time she saw him. His mouth dropped, a look of surprise had filled it's place. She quickly grabbed her clutch before he had a chance to speak and quickly ran out the door. She felt her stomach begin to turn as she found the nearest trash can to empty the alcohol she had consumed.
"What was that?" Cristina quickly said as she ran to her.
"Meredith!" She heard him call from the door.
"Leave me alone!" She felt tears well in her eyes as she ran as fast as she could to her car. All the emotions that she had buried for so long had resurfaced. She felt same pain she had felt the day he left her.