Something changed | Merluca

Part 5

She was currently sitting, in her small 'office' at the hospital, the tiny room between the corridors, which she declared to be her office at some point. No one ever complained about it.

She was looking out at the nurses Station where Andrew was standing, going over some charts. She didn't notice someone coming inside until she heard Alex's voice next to her.

"What were you saying?" She asked a bit startled, after she only heard half of what he said before.

"I was asking if you- Are you even listening?" He asked when he noticed that she was still starring out the little window. "What are you even looking at?" He slowly followed her gaze to see why he didn't get her attention.

"Huh?" She turned her head to look at him.

"Wait. So, Amelia was actually right?" he started to laugh at her, when he noticed that Meredith had been staring at Andrew.

"Oh, so she talked to you too?" she replied rolling her eyes in annoyance, and then turning fully towards him. Trying to show him that he had her full attention now. But he didn't let her get away with that so easily.

"So, what is it with the two of you?"

"I don't know…" she stated annoyed at first. Deep down she knew that what she felt for him was something that could become more. And that scared her. She didn't knew if she wanted it to be more. And even if she did want that, she also didn't know if Andrew wanted the same. She thought back to the evening when he made her and her kids dinner. She liked his company, she liked how he made her feel. And if she had to guess, she would say that he also enjoyed that evening with them.

"I just like his company, I guess. We were cooking the other day and I had fun." She stated after a few more minutes.

"Okay, I don't know what is more shocking. That you still live together or that you had fun cooking?" He started laughing once again.

"We are not living together! Besides, he will move out next week." Andrew told her that evening, that he found an apartment near the hospital. And that he would move in there the following week. She knew that he was looking for apartments, and that he would move out at some point, but she hadn't thought that he would find one so fast and a part of her probably had hoped that he would stay a little longer.

"Maybe you should talk to him, instead of just starring at him." Alex interrupted her thoughts.

"There is nothing to talk about." She tried to counter, but it wasn't very convincing. She probably wouldn't believe it herself.

Alex now turned around to fully face her before he started looking at her a bit more serious "Mer, don't tell me you don't like him. I know you too well for that." He paused for a moment, giving her a look. "And if he makes you happy, then that is a good thing." He now gave her a warm smile, trying to encourage her.

It was silent for a moment, while she let the words sink in, before she returned his smile. "Thank you, Alex." Maybe this was what she needed to hear. She knew that she was overthinking this way too much. But she couldn't help herself. That's who she was. And that's why Alex was her person, he knew when he had to tell her the obvious, she didn't see sometimes.

The next few hours, she spent thinking about how to talk to Andrew. What should she even say? She didn't even know for sure if he felt the same way. She noticed that he was smiling at her more often lately, not only at her house but also at work. And she liked how it made her feel. She also noticed how easily he could make her laugh. And that he seemed to enjoy these moments as well. But all of this didn't necessarily mean that he felt the same...

Meredith was walking past the labs and scan rooms, when she saw him inside one of them, looking at some scans. He was alone. And before she could start to second guess her decision, she went inside the room, closing the door behind her.

Andrew turned around, looking a bit confused at first, before he saw that it was her. She slowly went over to him, stopping in front of him, suddenly not so sure anymore if that was the right idea. But it was to late to leave now.

"Hey, I- I just wanted to ask-" She started, trying to get the words out.

"Is everything alright?" he asked, looking a little bit concerned now.

"Yes." She answered hesitantly and then repeated it a bit more convincing. "Yes. I just- I know you are moving out soon, but- I wanted to ask if you would like to have dinner sometime? I- I just liked spending time with you."

It was silent for a moment, where he was just looking at her. And she couldn't quite make out his reaction. He looked confused at first which changed to surprise and something else... Something she couldn't completely describe.. But it was that something that made her feel all these things again. It was the way he looked at her.

"I would like to have dinner with you, Meredith." He answered after a moment, taking a step closer to her, before he gently placed his hands on her upper arms. She wasn't sure if he did this to reassure her or himself, probably both. And she wouldn't want to complain. She liked being this close to him. How he made her feel. They haven't been this close to each other before, but she felt safe... and loved?... in his arms. She missed this feeling for a long time. For a long time she wasn't even sure if she would ever feel it again. And even though she might not be ready to admit to that yet, she was ready to admit that she liked him more than just as a friend. That she wanted him to be more than just a friend.

After a moment smiling at her he added quietly "I like spending time with you too, Meredith."