It wasn't love at first sight. They didn't lock eyes and then everything was right. They had to push through layers of darkness and insecurity to come up for fresh air. It wasn't love at first sight, but it was real.

And maybe, just maybe, this time she would make all the right choices.

Amelia Shepherd had had her fair share of love stories, all of which had ended up in flames. It was mostly because of her, because she walked out even when the passion was still high. Well, with a few exceptions.

But this, this was different.

The only problem with it being different was that she couldn't quite place it in any ordinary margins. After all, what were they?

Amelia was squinting her mind for anything she may have missed, all the way to the elevator.

"Wow, easy there." Meredith, who was already on, joked as she watched her sister-in-law absentmindedly greet her. "Might bump into someone."

"Funny." Amelia answered, her ears tuning back to the real world.

"Care to share what had you so absorbed?" She asked, leaning on the elevator wall.

Amelia knew this tactic, it was deflecting the attention from herself and onto someone else.

But truthfully, she had know problem going along with it.

"Nothing that can't be fixed. Have you talked to Pierce lately?"

Amelia couldn't pinpoint exactly when she had started to care so deeply for Meredith's sister but ever since the latter had dragged them both onto the dance floor, they had started something.

In all fairness, it felt like family, something Amelia wasn't quite used to.

"Yeah, she's fine. Or, well, better. I just can't help this sick feeling that this is only the beginning."

It was a joke, and both women laughed. The idea that they were all doomed had crossed everyone's mind more than once.

After all, what kind of hospital lost so many doctors?

The elevator bell rang, just as the doors opened to reveal a familiar figure.

"Ugh, hey." Owen greeted, slightly taken aback. So many years and this elevator seemed to always get exactly what it wanted.

Amelia wasn't a foreigner to the magic of the elevator either, although the L.A. one was slightly less pushy.

"Hey to you, too." Meredith replied. She sure was in a bubbly mood today.

And then, then there was silence, enough to suffocate everyone in that freaking elevator.

By the time the doors finally opened, the three rushed out in different directions.

Amelia had to settle her heart before going into surgery, knowing that she couldn't afford thinking about anything else but a brain.

Her back was sore.

Oh, and her shoulders hurt.

And her neck.

The surgery had been no problem. The surgery had been easy. The problem was the patient and her endless complains.

Dr Shepherd I think I can't feel my toes. Ah, never mind.

Dr Shepherd, I think I'm going to be sick. Oh no, it passed.

Dr Shepherd

Dr Shepherd

Dr Shepherd

By the twentieth Dr Shepherd, Amelia just called her interns and left them with the useless complainants. She had no problem with aftermath sickness. She knew it sometimes happened and it was fine, she always tried her best for the patient to be absolutely fine.

Her problem, though, was with fake alarms.

The elevator doors were almost closing when Owen hurried inside.

"Hey." He greeted, the surprise shown on his face.

Thank you, elevator.

"Hi." Amelia answered, searching his eyes for a brief second.

"So, Meredith is really selling her house than?"

It wasn't much and they both knew the answer to the question. But it was a start.

"Yeah, I really didn't believe it at first. But she put a sign, and most things are already in boxes here and there."

"It can't be a nice sight."

"It's not." Amelia admitted. It was depressing and sometimes it even ached too badly. It wasn't a house to her, it wasn't a house to Meredith. But it was a symbol of moving on.

"If you want, I'm always at the trailer. Well, as long as I'm not forced to leave." He chuckled lightly, his whole face a shadow of a laugh.

Yes, there. Amelia thought. Just a few steps away and yet, seemingly always out of reach.

She nodded.

"Did you find anything yet?"

The elevator had long ago reached the final destination and without either's notice, they kept walking.

It was like a reflex, almost. Like this happened every day.

"A few places. But nothing actually worth it."

Amelia thought about it for a second, but the words flew out of her mouth before she had time to change her mind.

"I could help you. I mean if you want to-"

The spell was broken, and Owen turned to her in surprise. He got lost in her piercing blue eyes for a second.

"You don't-" but he stopped, seemingly to think it through. "Actually, yeah. That would be great. If you want to."

Amelia nodded, her eyes still fixed on his.

"Sure. When and where?"

"The next visit's tomorrow afternoon, if you're not on call or busy." He was giving her an out and maybe ten months earlier, she would have taken it. But she she was suddenly so tired of running.

"It sounds fine."

They talked about it. He gave her the details and she agreed to come.

What was going to happen, she didn't know. It still didn't stop that strange urge to hope.

How much she hated that urge.

So, how was it?

I'm still getting to know Owen and Amelia so please excuse any OOCness.

Any feedback, positive or negative, is very much appreciated!