Seattle Grace Hospital was the number one teaching hospital in the United States. Many of the most prestigious surgeons in the country graced the halls. All of these things attracted many powerful doctors and patients. But Meredith Grey tried for so long to stay away from returning to the place where she was born. Yet, there she was. She had left behind everything that New York had held for her. She left behind her number one ranking in the surgical program. She left behind her lavish house. Most importantly, she left behind her heart.

Pushing the thoughts out of her head, she pushed the car door open and walked up her the driveway of the house she hoped she would never have to return. She never thought she would get on a plane only to return to the place where she was betrayed for the first time.

She hadn't been back to that house in over twenty years. Standing in the middle of the yard, she felt so out of place. Her eyes traveled up to the sky and noticed that thick clouds covered blocked the sun away. Letting out a long sigh, she headed up the porch steps and dug through her purse for the keys. After she finally located them, she unlocked the door and pushed it open.

The house had been in the same order as it always had. The furniture sat covered and in the same spot as the last time she had seen it. Dust cover the surfaces, and a faint musky smell lingered in the air. Nothing but silence echoed through the house as she stepped into the living room.

She could feel her heart break as she looked around. For the first time in years, she was walking into an empty house. A bare house that she was about to start calling home. Yet the word felt so empty when put with it. Tears filled her eyes, but she tried with all her might to keep them from spilling over. Dropping her things onto the ground, she sighed and further in the house. As she stood in the middle of the house looking around at her surroundings, she wanted to forget. She wanted the memories to leave her. Yet, as she stood there, she wanted nothing more to be back in New York.

Half the guests were well on their way to being drunk by the time she walked in. People stood around trying to impress her parents by telling stories of amazing surgeries. Luckily her parents didn't notice her as she slipped in, and she was able to make it over to the refreshment table. Grabbing a glass of champagne, she tried to stay along the walls and out of sight.

Her stepfather and mother stood among other doctors who were obviously trying to flatter them. Rolling her eyes, she took a sip of her drink.

She was used to people falling over themselves for her parents. After three years of being an intern and resident in New York, she knew that other doctors wanted to be on good terms with them. For that reason, she wanted to stay in New York where her stepfather and mother had no influence on the surgical internship and nobody could say that was the only reason she got into the program was because of him. She wanted to stay and New York where her life was and where she was the number one third year resident on the East Coast. Yet there she was. She was in Seattle about to continue her residency under her stepfather and mother at Seattle Grace.

After finishing off the last of her champagne with one large gulp, she grabbed another glass before making a move towards her parents.

Richard noticed her first. His face instantly brightened and a smile was produced on his lips. Ellis looked in the direction that he was and smiled. The doctors who had been talking stopped mid-sentence.

"Hey." Meredith smiled briefly.

"Hey, Mer." Richard said kissing her temple.

"When did you get here?" Ellis asked giving her daughter a brief hug.

"Just this morning." She answered quietly. She didn't have the energy to be overly cheerful. Her parents knew why and didn't push for anything more.

"You must be Dr. Grey." One of the doctors who were standing with Richard and Ellis when she walked up.

"Yeah. I didn't mean to intrude on your conversation."

"No it's fine. I'm Derek Shepherd, Head of Nuero." He shook her hand before moving out of the way to introduce his fellow doctors.

"Preston Burke, Head of Cardio." Another doctor introduced himself with a smile as he shook her hand.

"I'm Addison Montgomery, Head of Neo-Natal."

"I've read articles about you guys." Meredith said politely, but still with little interest. She had other things she needed to worry about.

"If I remember correctly, you were published just recently yourself." Burke commented.

"Yeah. It wasn't a big deal." She shrugged.

"Meredith is starting here tomorrow." Richard said with a proud smile. "She's a third year Nuero resident."

"Ah, then I'll have the pleasure of working with you." Derek said with a smile.

"Looking forward to it." She said with a forced smile.

Meredith phone started to vibrate in her bag. She pulled it out and glanced at the ID, before putting it back into her purse.

"Aren't you going to answer that?" Richard asked.

Meredith shook her head taking a long sip of her champagne. "It's not important. But I think I need another one of these. Excuse me."

"Meredith…" Ellis started as her daughter walked away. When she realized that she wasn't going towards the refreshment table and was making her way towards the door, she sighed and looked up at her husband. He gave her a short nod and kissed her cheek before she followed in the direction Meredith hurried away in.