A/N: Here's the start of my new Meredith/McDreamy story. Please read and review.

Prologue

New York

Meredith Grey looked at the clock for the thousandth time. It was really late, almost midnight. She'd have thought her husband would have been back from work by now. They both worked in the same hospital, but worked different shifts.

Of course, he hasn't been coming home on time lately anyway. It wasn't because of the late shifts that he had of his job. Instead, it was because he would spend his nights at one of the bars getting drunk. He wouldn't care when he got home. Sometimes, he didn't even get home. Instead, he would go and crash at Mark's house. Mark or Addison would always call her when he did. Meredith was grateful because she knew that Derek wouldn't.

Meredith was used to this by now. Derek has been doing this for weeks. She was tired of it. Their marriage was already on the rocks. Derek's drinking was just making it worse. She didn't care if drinking comforted him. He knew what could happen if he wasn't careful.

Meredith wished that it could be like the old days. She and Derek had met early in medical school. It was love at first sight. It wasn't long before they were married. They were happy for awhile. Then that one event changed everything and now, the two were miserable.

She then heard the front door open. She went into the front hall where Derek was taking off his coat. "Derek, where the hell have you been?" she demanded.

"Where do you think?" he snapped.

Meredith then knew the answer. She gave him a look. "Do you really hate my company that badly that you have to go to the bar every night?"

"I'd really don't want to have this conversation now. We'll talk in the morning," Derek said as he pushed past her.

He started to walk up the stairs when Meredith stopped him. "No, we'll talk now. Derek, you can't keep doing this."

"Why not?" Derek snapped.

Meredith was tired of this argument. They seemed to have it practically every night. She decided to try and reason with him. "Derek, don't you think I'm hurting too? But I don't go and drown myself in alcohol every night!"

"Well, it's not any better than drowning yourself in schoolwork!" Derek exclaimed. "Or being the third wheel to Mark and Addison!"

Meredith couldn't believe that he was accusing her when he had no right to. "How the hell would you know what I do? You're never here," she shouted. "And you should be here! After all, you're my husband!"

"The world doesn't revolve around you," Derek replied. His anger was getting the best of him. "I don't have to come home and coddle you if I don't want to."

Meredith gave him a look. "You know that's not what I meant."

"Drinking soothes me. As I recall, we both used to do it," he reminded her.

Meredith knew that he had a point. "I don't anymore," she said softly. "And you shouldn't either."

Derek gave her an angry look. "You can't tell me what to do," he told her.

Meredith groaned frustrated. "You know what? I'm sick and tired of you taking everything I say and turn it into something bad!"

"I'm sick and tired of you bitching about my drinking!" Derek exclaimed angrily.

"Well, you deserve it!" Meredith replied. She let out a defeated sigh. "You know what? If you want to act like this, then that's fine. But I can't do this anymore. I won't. I want you out of my house."

Derek raised his eyebrows. "Your house? It is our house. I live here too, you know!"

Meredith gave him a look. "Really? Because you haven't been in this house except to fall asleep after you come back from the bar," she replied. "And you're right. I can't tell you what to do. If you won't move out, I will." She had a feeling that Derek wouldn't instantly go and pack.

Before Derek could reply, Meredith pushed past him and walked up the stairs. She went to their bedroom and pulled out her suitcase from the closet. She put it on the bed before she started to pull out the dresser drawers and stuffed her clothes into her suitcase. She could hear Derek's voice behind her. "You know what? I'm glad you're moving out. I won't have to deal with a bossy know-it-all who likes to control my every move."

Meredith didn't care if that was the alcohol talking or not. She wasn't going to take it anymore. She finished packing before closing the suitcase. "I'll be back for the rest later."

"Whatever," Derek replied before he left the room.

A little while later, Meredith was standing on the front porch of Mark's and Addison's house. She knocked on the door and waited patiently until someone answered. Finally, the door opened and Mark was there. He didn't seem surprised as he let Meredith in.

"What did Derek do this time?" Mark asked as he crossed his arms.

Meredith sighed. "It was the usual. And we had a huge fight. And I told him I was done. I can't take this anymore," she explained as Addison came in the front hall.

"Mere, are you sure?" Addison asked her.

Meredith nodded. "Yeah, I am. As soon as the divorce is final and I'm done with school, I'm out of here."

Addison looked at her. "What are you talking about?" she asked. "Surely, you are going to stay in New York."

Meredith shook her head. "No, I can't. There are too many memories here, good and bad. I want to get as far away as I can from here."

"Where are you planning to go?" Mark asked.

Meredith didn't even have to think before she answered his question. It was the place where she had grown up and really had wanted to go back to since she moved to New York. "I'm going back to Seattle."