Chapter 1: A Night to Remember

Eliza Shepherd smiled to herself as she walked down the cobblestone streets of Seattle, the neon lights of the city's nightlife reflecting off the wet pavement. At 23, she had finally found her footing as a pediatrician at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, and she was loving every minute of it. As Derek Shepherd's sister-in-law and Meredith's sister, she had grown up with the quirks and charms of the surgical residency program. Tonight, she and her colleagues had decided to let loose and have a few drinks at a local bar. Eliza had always been a bit of a lightweight, but she was determined to keep up with the rest of the group. As she pushed open the door to the bar, the sounds of laughter and music enveloped her, and she was immediately swept up in the excitement. The night was a blur of shots and beers, of dancing and singing along to her favorite songs. Eliza was having the time of her life, surrounded by her friends and colleagues. She laughed and joked with Jo and Link, and even managed to get Amelia to dance a few times. But as the night wore on, Eliza began to feel the effects of her overindulgence. The room started to spin, and her head felt fuzzy. She stumbled towards the bar, desperate for a glass of water. That's when she saw him - Andrew DeLuca, her colleague and friend, standing by the bar, a look of concern etched on his face. "Eliza, what are you doing here?" he asked, his voice low and soothing. Eliza tried to respond, but her words came out slurred and incoherent. Andrew quickly wrapped his arm around her waist, supporting her as she swayed. "I think you've had a bit too much to drink," he said with a chuckle. Eliza nodded, feeling a wave of embarrassment wash over her. She was a pediatrician, for crying out loud! She was supposed to be a responsible adult. Andrew helped Eliza out of the bar and into the cool night air, where she promptly stumbled and almost fell. He caught her, holding her upright as she giggled uncontrollably. "I'm so sorry, Andrew," she slurred, her eyes fixed on his. "Don't be sorry, Eliza," he said with a smile. "Just lean on me, okay?" As they walked, Eliza couldn't help but feel a flutter in her chest. She had harbored a small crush on Andrew for a while now, and being this close to him, even if she was completely drunk, felt... right. But as they turned the corner onto her street, Eliza's stomach began to churn. She was going to be sick. Andrew seemed to sense it, and he quickly steered her towards a nearby alley. "Hold on, Eliza," he said, as he helped her vomit into a trash can. As she stood there, her head spinning and her mouth tasting like bile, Eliza couldn't help but wonder what the rest of the night had in store. And as she looked up at Andrew, she knew that she was in trouble - not just from her hangover, but from her feelings for her colleague, which seemed to be growing stronger by the minute.