If there's one word that will describe "Grey's Anatomy's" 12th season, it will be reinvention, not just for the show but for the characters as well.

When "Grey's Anatomy" returns, the show will time jump three months after the death of Patrick Dempsey's beloved character, Derek Shepherd. But instead of the doom and gloom that some viewers might expect, the show will actually go back to its season one roots, which means that romance and some sexy time is the order of the day.

Debbie Allen, who plays the just married Dr. Catherine Avery, revealed that "Grey's Anatomy" will be breathing new life to the meaning of "sexy over 50." She further described her character as having "a very hot relationship" with Dr. Richard Webber (James Pickens Jr.)

A source close to the show agrees and says that season 12 is like a throwback to the series' beginning, with a lot of flirting, dating and sex. After all, who can forget that Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) and Derek's first meeting ended in a one-night stand.

This means that when the show returns, fans will see Alex (Justin Chambers) and Jo (Camilla Luddington) living together and Owen (Kevin McKidd) and Amelia (Caterina Scorsone) acting like a high school couple while exploring whether they're meant to be just friends or friends with benefits.

Callie (Sara Ramirez) and Arizona (Jessica Capshaw) will also start dating other people but it has been said that their friendship is now at a more mature level.

As for the show's central character, "Grey's" creator, Shonda Rhimes, tells fans not to expect Meredith to rush into another relationship. The season would instead focus on her reinvention as a single woman and a single mom.

Despite Rhimes revelation that there's no love interest yet for Meredith, some fans believe that the newest doctor in Sloan Grey Memorial, played by Martin Henderson, might be the one to bring love back into her life. But the 45-year-old producer says the New Zealand actor was not cast to be a love interest – at least, not yet.

"You can't just drop a guy in and be like, 'There he is!'" Rhimes clarified.

But it's not all love next season, it's still business as usual too and the decision on whether or not Bailey (Chandra Wilson) will be named chief of surgery will be revealed soon enough. In the interim, Rhimes says one of the most interesting aspects of next season is to see how the usually tough Bailey will deal with the competition.

"Grey's Anatomy" season 12 is all set to return to ABC on Sept. 24.