The Bolter

2

A week after she first arrived in LA, Meredith woke up alone in Addison's bed to the smell of pancakes wafting up the stairs. She pulled the redhead's spare robe on and walked down the stairs and into the kitchen, wrapping her arms around Addison from behind and kissing her neck. "Good morning."

"Good morning sweetheart." Addison turned around with a smile and kissed Meredith softly. "How'd you sleep?" She tucked a lock of hair behind the blonde's ear ever so gently, the care behind the action giving Meredith goosebumps.

"I slept like a baby." Meredith giggled. "No work today?"

"The joys of private practice, I have weekends off." Addison kissed Meredith's forehead and turned back to the stove to flip the pancakes. "I know and am friends with the chief of staff at St. Ambrose if you wanted to see about continuing your internship there. No pressure, I just wanted to at least offer." She smiled as she felt the blonde wrap her arms around her from behind once again, this time laying her head on her shoulder.

"I'll think about it." Meredith pressed a soft kiss to Addison's jawline. "Thank you. Also I promise that I will find a place to live sometime this week so I can get out of your hair."

"I happen to like you in my hair." Addison retorted. "You act like you moved yourself into my house when I'm the one that told you a hotel was stupid when I have plenty of room and happen to enjoy your company. If you want to get your own place, I won't stop you, but I like having you here." She moved the pancakes onto a plate and tilted her head to look at Meredith. "Can you get me a couple plates?"

"Of course." Meredith pecked Addison's lips before detaching herself and walking over to the cabinet and taking out two plates. She handed them to the redhead before moving to grab them silverware. "I'm never like this."

"Like what?" Addison hummed as she made them each a plate of pancakes and bacon.

"So... domestic." Meredith sighed. "I really don't understand what you're doing to me, but I don't hate it."

"We've only been seeing each other for a week, are you telling me that typically by now you'd be looking for a reason to run?" Addison questioned as she handed Meredith her plate and guided her over to the table. Her voice held no judgment, only genuine curiosity.

"Yes." Meredith nodded, deciding to be honest. "The tiniest sign of a leak in the floorboards tends to have me running for the hills."

"Can I ask about the leak in the floorboards of your Seattle relationship?" Addison asked as she picked up a piece of bacon and took a bite.

"He told me he loved me, but we had only been dating for two months." Meredith sighed. "It just seemed a little fast and I ran. Honestly though, even if he didn't I still would have found a reason to break things off. I always do." She shrugged as she cut off a piece of pancake and ate it. "I find it's best to leave before they have the chance to leave you that way you're not the one getting hurt."

"What you're saying is, don't be surprised if one day you just disappear and I never see you again?" Addison reached across the table to squeeze Meredith's hand.

"I honestly don't know." Meredith whispered as tears started to collect in her eyes. She pulled her hand away from Addison's and stood up to pace around the kitchen, wrapping her arms around herself. "I've never actually let myself enjoy a relationship before, but I really enjoy being with you and I don't want to run."

"So don't." Addison stood up and walked over to Meredith, lightly grabbing her arms to stop her pacing. "You don't have to run, you can do things differently this time."

"No." Meredith shook her head as tears welled up in her eyes. "That's how you get hurt. Doing things differently gets you hurt and I don't think I could survive you breaking my heart."