Title: A Surprise (Yet Welcome) Exchange
Fandom: Grey's Anatomy
Rating: Gen
Length: 629
Content notes: Alternate Universe (Different First Meeting)
Author notes: N/A
Summary: I'm sorry, but I think you accidentally texted the wrong number.


I'm on call tonight with a set of sickly premie twins. Do you have time for a quick bite in the cafeteria? I know the food is terrible this late, but it is all I have time to get and eat.

Meredith stared at the text message and the random string of numbers she didn't recognize; she knew it didn't belong to Sadie because her friend was still traveling through Europe on that shady party bus. And there weren't many people in New York to who she would have felt comfortable giving away her new cell number too.

Sighing, she tapped out a message to the stranger on the other side of the text message screen. A random person she hopes isn't too lonely with her set of sick premie twins at the hospital.

I'm sorry about your case of sick twins, but I think you accidentally texted the wrong number.

Shaking her head as Meredith walks across the busy street in silence, intent on getting home to do some studying for one of her upcoming tests. And maybe eat some leftover Chinese food.

The quiet of her walk is broken once again by her phone pinging with a new message. Pulling it back out of her pocket, Meredith blinks once, then twice as she reads the new response.

Oh, my apologies for that. The offer is open if you are interested.

Meredith chews on her lip in thought, but her stomach rumbles loudly at the idea of food, perhaps slightly fresher than her potential lingering Chinese food in the fridge. Had she remembered to put the leftovers away?

I'm very interested in meeting the person offering free food in exchange for company.

Her phone chimes with another message, complete with a map of where she's supposed to go along with the bus routes needed to get there, and Meredith mentally begins planning her path to get to the hospital from her apartment complex.

What's the name of the mysterious stranger I should tell the nightguard since you're interested in meeting?

I'm Meredith Grey.

Nice to meet you, Meredith. I'm Addison Montgomery, and I'll be waiting by the entrance when you get here.

The trip takes no longer than a few hours. But it is long enough for Meredith to study her messily made flashcards and ignore the young couple sitting behind her, whose child constantly tried to grab her hair. As she disembarks from the bus and starts walking towards the hospital, Meredith sees an older woman dressed in pink hospital scrubs with red hair pacing in front of the doors as she stares at the phone in her hand.

'She's beautiful.' Meredith thinks to herself and hopes her cheeks are not blushing as she speaks. "Addison Montgomery?"

Addison turns to look at her and smiles brightly. “Hi, Meredith. I hope it wasn't too hard to get here.”

“Nope, not too difficult.” Meredith grins and shakes her head. “Besides, your offer saved me from discovering if my leftover Chinese was still viable for dinner on a study night.”

“Ah, I remember those days.” Addison winces sympathetically as she leads Meredith inside the building. “I'm happy that I could provide an alternative meal to your night of studying.”

“Me too,” Meredith agrees, following her inside. “How's your case going?”

“Slowly, I'm hoping these two will start improving soon, though.” Addison responds softly, a thoughtful hum in her voice. “They're a bit touch and go right now. But they still have a chance of improving in my mind.” Her eyes slant towards Meredith. “But first I promised you food, then we'll talk about the medical stuff afterward.”

“I'd like that.” Meredith answered, her mind intrigued by the thought of somehow being able to help despite still being a medical student.