Something beautiful

After (9)

2010

Addison's POV:

"I'll miss you" Meredith smiles at the airport, as Sam and I are getting ready to board our flight.

"I'll miss you too" I'm trying not to get watery eyed, but it was hard. "You'll be visiting next month, right? And we'll see each other at that convention in a couple of months"

Sam smiled and put an arm around me "it won't be long; you'll be reunited sooner than you think"

Derek smiled "It won't be long, a couple of weeks, tops"

I hug Derek as Meredith hugs Sam, and then move to hug Meredith while Sam and Derek say their goodbyes.

"I love you" I whisper so quietly, I don't even know if Meredith hears me "I'm just a call away, don't forget, alright? Call me every night. I love you"

"I am so in love with you" she whispers, just as quietly as I did so I nearly miss it even though her mouth is right next to my ear. When she pulls away, I miss her already. I haven't left, yet I still couldn't shake the feeling that when I left something would stay in Seattle.

Someone.

"Our flights boarding" Sam takes my carry on, bids his final goodbyes, and is off. I'm close behind him, after a final watery smile. I can't look back, I know if I do I'll cry, but I look back anyway for one final look. One final glimpse at what I was leaving.

~

The phone calls were long. Whenever either of us had a spare moment, there were phone calls. And skype calls. And FaceTime calls during short breaks where we were alone. I was attached to my phone, but I didn't care. Sam, in fact, found the situation rather funny.

"Are you alright?" Sam asks me one day, as I check my phone over and over for any texts Meredith might've had a moment to send. She was busier than I was, I knew, but I never wanted to miss a single text. "You look like someone just killed your best friend"

I smile weakly "Missing Seattle" I offer weakly "it brought back memories. All my friends there that are practically family"

"Meredith" Sam corrects with that goofy smile of his I was so used to seeing "it's been a week; I can tell you miss her. You guys were more of a couple in Seattle than we were" he was joking, I knew, but I still froze.

"Don't joke about that stuff, Sam" I sigh "it's not funny; someone might actually take you seriously!" I force a laugh for good measure "Last thing I need is Derek down here all hell hath no fury because he thinks I've got some weird crush on his wife"

"Fiancée" Sam corrects "and I know, but it's fun to poke fun at you. Girls are always so emotional over leaving their friends! You'll see her next week!" He kissed me softly "you can last another week" he assured me, before going off to work.

I knew he was right, but that didn't make it hurt any less. I missed her the way I'd miss my arm if it were ever missing. I noticed her absence, and it really was ironic how I could go two years without her but one week with her in Seattle made me completely fall in love like I'd never been gone.

"Yeah, yeah" I brush off Sam like I wasn't missing Meredith the way I would if my arm were cut off.

"You go, do your doctor thing and be amazing. I'll see you at home tonight" Sam kissed me on the forehead and went off about his day, while I went back to my office and called Meredith.

She'd probably be at work, but I was hoping she'd have a spare minute to talk.

"Hello?" Her voice was happy, and she was crunching on something. I managed to catch her during lunch, perfect.