I know I shouldn't be starting another story when I have so many to update but owell. In this story Meredith is about seventeen and Derek, Mark and Addison are in their twenties.

Meredith unlocked her front door, sighing as she stepped into the dark lonely house. She had just finished a study session at her best friend Cristina's house. She had hung around at Cristiana's for as long as she could, but she knew she couldn't stay any later because Cristina's mum was becoming annoyed with her presence, so once again she was forced to return to her empty home.

The first thing Meredith did after locking and dead bolting the front door was turning on all the lights in the house including the closet lights. Even though it was a regular occurrence Meredith hated coming home to an empty house especially on a night like this one; howling winds and rain pouring down outside. Meredith knew she was slightly paranoid but she went around the house and checked to make sure all the windows and doors were locked. Once she was convinced the house was as secure as it could be she wandered into the kitchen jumping when a sudden rumble of thunder filled the house.

"It's just a storm Meredith, no need to freak out" she tried to reassure herself. Despite living in Seattle most of her life she still hated storms. Meredith opened the fridge and grabbed out the box of left over pizza from the night before; she heated it up in the microwave and then curled up on the couch with a blanket and pillow turning the volume of the TV up loud in an attempt to drown out the sounds of the storm.

At about ten o'clock Meredith knew she should try and get some sleep, so she turned the TV down slightly and turned the living room light off but left all the others on and then curled up on the couch closing her eyes. She had almost drifted off to sleep when she heard a strange noise. Her eyes snapped open and she lay perfectly still listening for any other noises, but after a few minutes of silence she closed her eyes again, just as she did a crack of lighting lit up the room at the same time the windows shook because of the loud thunder. Meredith pulled the blanket over her head and tightly closed her eyes until the thunder passed. Meredith reached for her mobile phone that was on the coffee table next to the couch.U awake?

She sent the message to Cristina. A few minutes passed with no reply so she decided to message Addison. Addison was a few years older than Meredith, they had met through their Parents, Addison's father had worked with Meredith's mother. Addison had become like an older sister to Meredith.

Hey Addi are u up?

A few moments later Meredith's phone made a buzzing sound.

Hey yer at Marks. u home alone?

Meredith smiled for a moment thinking of Mark, Addison's very hot boyfriend and she felt a twinge of jealousy.

Yer Mums workin.

Meredith knew her mother's job was very important and she hoped one day she could be half the surgeon her mother was, but she still hated her mother's hours.

U ok?

Addison always worried about Meredith and could sympathize about being left alone but knew Meredith had it worse than she did at least she had a brother to keep her company.

Yer just can't sleep.

Cause of da storm? Y dnt we come ova and keep ya company?

Meredith hated excepting the offer but she hated being on her own even more.

If u want to.

Yer Marks friends over, ok if he comes?

Sure

Ok c u in 5 xx.

Meredith instantly felt happier.

Five minutes later Meredith heard a car pull into her drive way and a knock on the door. Even though she knew it was just Addison she still had a short freak out moment. What if it wasn't Addison?

"Who is it?" she called

"It's us Mer" she heard Addison's voice call from the other side of the door.

"Let us in its freezing" she heard Mark call.

"I'm coming" Meredith called back as she walked over. She opened the door.

"Hey guys" Meredith said smiling and stepping to the side gesturing for them to come in.

"Hey Mer" Addison said giving Meredith a quick hug.

"Hey little Grey" Mark greeted pulling her into an unexpected hug. Mark had dubbed her little Grey after discovering her mother was the Ellis Grey.

"Hello to you too Mark" Meredith said giggling.

"Hey Meredith" Derek said smiling and holding out his hand.

"Hi" Meredith sad taking his hand. As soon has her hand touched his she felt an electric spark course through her body that made her gasp slightly. She had met Derek quit a few times. The last time they had seen each other they had come close to kissing but were interrupted by one of Marks other friends luckily he had been pretty drunk and didn't remember so never told Mark or Addison

"So what movies you got little Grey?" Mark asked walking over to the TV cabinet followed by Addison.

"Oh um heaps you can just pick one." Meredith called back. Instead of letting go of her hand like Meredith expected Derek pulled her closer to himself and bent down and whispered into her ear.

"I don't like storms either" his hot breath on her cool skin sent shivers down her spine. Derek then let go of her hand smiled at her and joined the others in the living room. Meredith shook her head trying to clear the foggy feeling from her head as she followed Derek into the living room.

Mark was bobbed down in front of the TV cabinet and Addison was sitting on the sofa closest to the TV and Derek sat down on the one that Meredith had tried to fall asleep on. Meredith decided she didn't really want to sit next to Derek, so she was about to sit down next to Addison but Mark took the seat before she could. This forced her to sit next to Derek. She was grateful that the storm at subsided for now.

"Any objections to watching Death Race?" Mark asked .

"Nope" Addison and Derek answered at the same time. Meredith didn't hear Mark she was to busy trying to subtly stare at Derek who was only a foot away from her.

"Good"

"What about you little Grey?"

"What?" Meredith asked tearing her eyes away from Derek.

"Distracted by Derek ay?" Mark asked smiling.

"What?" Meredith asked quickly looking at Derek when she saw the smile on his face she blushed.

"No I...was…"

"It's ok" Derek whispered only Meredith heard because Mark's complaint about being elbowed in the ribs by Addison drowned out his voice

"Just start the movie Mark" Addison said rolling her eyes. Mark obeyed and hit the play button and then turned of the lamp that was providing the only light other then the flicker of the TV. Meredith had to force herself to watch the movie instead of watching Derek in the dark. About twenty minutes into the movie she could feel her eyes becoming heavy and she had to fight to keep them open she hadn't had a descent nights sleep in about two weeks because her mother had been working nights and she was always too freaked out to sleep much at night.

"You can sleep" Derek whispered. Meredith looked towards him unsure. Derek picked up the pillow Meredith had been using before and placed it on his lap patting it. Meredith hesitated but Derek encouraged her with a small nod. Meredith slowly moved, laying her head on the pillow and stretching her legs out on the rest of the couch. Derek gently covered her with the blanket. Meredith closed her eyes, yawning. A low rumble of thunder filled the room again making Meredith jump and tense up.

"Relax it's ok your safe" Derek said stroking the top of her head and tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear making Meredith flinch slightly . She let out a sigh relaxing and letting herself drift of to sleep enjoying the rhythmic feeling of Derek's hand gently running through her hair.

Addison had curled up next to Mark leaning her head on his chest but she wasn't watching the movie she was watching Derek and Meredith. She knew Derek had a thing for Meredith ever since first met her and although he was a great guy she couldn't help but worry about Meredith, Derek was a lot older then her and she didn't want her friend to get hurt. But she also knew that Meredith might benefit from having someone like Derek in her life.

"Mark" Addison whispered.

"Yer Addi?" Mark answered his eyes glued to the TV.

"Look at them" Mark glanced over at Meredith and Derek. Derek was still playing with Meredith's hair, watching her sleep, with the gooiest look on his face.

"Don't worry Addi he won't hurt her"

"You better be right. She doesn't need to be hurt again"

Thanks for reading please review. I have written the next chaper but im not sure if i'll post it let me know if you want me to continue it.