'Grey's Anatomy' Boss Previews What's Ahead for Season 16's Couples (PHOTOS)

Meredith and Andrew (Ellen Pompeo and Giacomo Gianniotti)

Dr. Grey finally told her beau she loved him — while he was in jail after falsely admitting to the insurance fraud she committed to save a child. After fessing up to her bosses, she was fired.

"Meredith said she will take [legal] responsibility [as well]," executive producer Krista Vernoff says. "Their relationship will definitely be altered by the stress they'll go through."

Alex and Jo (Justin Chambers and Camilla Luddington)

After learning she was the product of rape, Jo shut out her husband and started drinking heavily. By Season 15's end, she'd checked in for treatment.

"We play that story through," says Vernoff. "Jo and Alex stand a good shot at happiness." Not that their troubles are over, since Alex was also fired for his role in the insurance fraud.

Owen and Teddy (Kevin McKidd and Kim Raver)

The new parents and longtime friends "finally have their shot at actual coupledom," Vernoff promises. "It's a messy shot because they left people in pain in their wake." That would be her boyfriend Tom (Greg Germann) and his ex-wife Amelia (Caterina Scorsone).

Plus, "They've got a brand-new baby and [Owen's adopted toddler] Leo."

Maggie and Jackson (Kelly McCreary and Jesse Williams)

Their romance was always fragile, but when Drs. Pierce and Avery went on a disastrous camping trip, harsh words were exchanged.

The relationship may not survive, warns Vernoff. "Things were said that will be pretty hard to come back from."

Richard and Catherine (James Pickens Jr. and Debbie Allen)

The road ahead is a bumpy one for the married docs. No surprise, since Catherine, an owner of Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, sat in silence as Chief Bailey (Chandra Wilson) fired Richard for abetting Meredith's insurance scheme.

Notes Vernoff: "That's a bitter pill for him to swallow." 

Levi and Nico (Jake Borelli and Alex Landi)

Levi's romance with the hunky and confident Dr. Kim — intern Schmitt's first same-sex relationship — hit the skids after Nico accidentally killed a patient. But once Levi came out to his mom and Nico finally processed his feelings, the duo emerged stronger.

While the relationship will move forward, says Vernoff, "they continue to discover they are two people who are wired very differently."