Falling Apart, Barely Breathing

Chapter 53: Thriving

Falling Apart, Barely Breathing

In Which Addison meets Meredith in a bar. Things spiral from there.

Chapter 53: Thriving

With their pizzas devoured, Meredith and Addison brainstorm how they can spend the next week enjoying each other's company, while also thriving at work.

"I don't want you to have to treat me differently because I'm your girlfriend," says Meredith as they're sitting on the couch after a movie.

"Yeah," says Addison. "It'll be fun working with you, but you know I can't request you extra, or let you in on cases you haven't prepared for," says Addison.

"And I'm not going to avoid Derek either," Meredith says decidedly. "I'm still interested in Neuro as well, and I'm not letting anyone ruin that," she says determinedly.

"Of course," says Addison. "He is a great neurosurgeon," she adds.

"You know, I left something in your desk for you to discover," Meredith blurts out, because she can't contain herself any longer.

"I left something in your locker," Addison confesses. "Before I broke the lock, I mean," she laughs.

"That's okay, I'll get another," says Meredith.

"You just want another excuse to go to the corner store with the cashier who keeps flirting with you," Addison giggles.

"I told her we were girlfriends..." confesses Meredith. "Before we were officially girlfriends, I mean..." she adds sheepishly.

"Guess you predicted the future huh," says Addison.

"Guess I'm just that smart," Meredith teases.

"You know, I think it would be fun to host a party, once all the boys get back from camping," says Meredith.

"At your house, or here?" asks Addison.

"The house is bigger," Meredith offers. "And you can stay in my room, naturally," says Meredith.

"Okay, this does sound fun," offers Addison. "Is there anything else you'd like to do together soon?" asks the redhead.

"Yeah," says Meredith.

"Okay?" asks Addison.

"If it's alright with you, I'd like you to meet my mom," says Meredith. "She's in a nursing home, and I think she'd like the company," adds Meredith.

"That sounds lovely," says Addison. "I'd love to introduce you to my family, but they're all over the country," she adds.

"They'll come and visit eventually right?" says Meredith.

"Of course," says Addison. "I'll introduce you to my brother Archer," she says.

"Sounds good."

As the two of them clean up the table at the apartment, Cristina and Izzie are enjoying their weekend alone at the house, and Izzie is trying her darn best to teach Cristina baking.

"No! With flour you measure with the back of the butter knife!" says Izzie.

"Oh, I thought it looked better rounded, like with the blade," says Cristina.

"How did you ever pass Chemistry," Izzie giggles.

"Hey, those were liquids, mostly," says Cristina.

"At least you're not trying to measure them with a chainsaw," says Izzie.

"Nah, too heavy," says Cristina, as they continue making pancakes.

Meanwhile in the woods,

The weekend has almost come to an end, and Derek still has not confessed his feelings to Mark yet.

"Hey, Mark, could I talk to you... About something...?" Derek tries.

But each time, he backs out, and Mark goes on to talk about some other thing, and Derek fights with himself the entire time.

Alex and George have a ball though, and Joe and Walter even teach them some camping tricks.

Richard and Burke take up cooking, and Derek is thankful that someone else seems to show an interest in his trailer-developed trout recipe.

"Hey, I know you said you wanted to spend all day lazing around, but Callie texted me about going to the mall with them, do you want to come?" Addison asks her girlfriend.

"Yeah, sure," says Meredith. "I'd be happy to," she agrees.

So they get dressed, and by the time they get to the mall, Callie and Bailey each already have several shopping bags full.

"I bought a new blender," says Bailey.

"She's been ogling it for weeks," says Callie.

"A good blender is nice to have," says Meredith.

"Hey, I didn't know you cooked," says Addison.

"Hey, I make margaritas with it!" says Meredith.

"Well, I guess that's something," laughs Addison.

They roam around the mall aimlessly, until they get to an engravement store.

"Hey, I have an idea," Meredith pulls Addison so she can see the display along with her. "I'd like to give you a little token to wear," says Meredith, whispering into the store attendant's ear what she has in mind.

"Oh Meredith, it's beautiful," says Addison, as she puts on her new necklace.

"It's a blank key to my house, it has the same engraving and everything. I've seen you rub your own key into the palm of your hand the way I do, so I thought I'd give you this in the meantime, so you can think of me before we're ready to officially move in together," says Meredith.

"It's perfect," says Addison. "I'm getting you one of the same," she offers.

And Meredith and Addison feel their new key-shaped necklaces in their hands as they place them on small necklace chains.

"Now I'll always have a reminder of you," says Meredith.

"As will I of you," says Addison, as she goes on to confess how she'd taken, then subsequently hidden Meredith's house key in the first place.

"I can't believe the boys figured it out all because of the scarf," says Meredith.

"Yeah, I figured it would hide my identity but I guess not," laughs Addison.

"Hey, is this some sort of spy movie? I love those," says Bailey.

"Nearly," Meredith giggles.

"Your life never ceases to amaze me," says Callie gently.

They laugh as they continue their shopping and browsing.

Eventually, Addison and Meredith break away from the group, and head home together.

"I'm making you dinner, and then I'm gonna make out with you," Addison announces eagerly.

"And I'll be kissing you anyway, the entire way," says Meredith, as she teases her lips down the side of Addison's neck, as the redhead giggles happily.

And it's the end of a very excellent weekend.

***** END OF CHAPTER 53

Author's Note:

Thanks for reading folks! The summary for this story has changed to simply "In Which Addison meets Meredith in a bar. Things spiral from there." The minimalism seems to suit this well. To all those who have left comments about your favorite parts of this so far, you're the absolute greatest, and I wish you all the best! Take care and congratulations for making it to #53 with me :).

bobbiejelly