'Kay so I'm really, really glad you guys liked this so much. Totally makes me smile.

Chapter Title: "Just Might (Make Me Believe)" by Sugarland

Half Love

"Just Might (Make Me Believe)"

Commitment in the face of conflict produces character. - Anonymous

January 27th, 2006

12:00 P.M.

"Was Addison Shepherd really your resident advisor?"

Ellie turned to Cristina. "Yeah. You know, I know that you and Meredith aren't that fond of Addison, but she's a fabulous doctor, an excellent teacher, and she's not the one who lied to Meredith."

Cristina looked down. "I know. It's hard not to hate her. Meredith is in love with McDreamy, and he picked Montgomery Shepherd."

Ellie nodded and took a bite of her salad. "Look, I know that Meredith really loves him, and that he says he loves her, but…I was there when they got married. Derek really loves Addison too. Addison made a mistake by sleeping with Mark, but there isn't anything they can do to change the past. Addison feels horrible about the mistake she made, and now Derek is trying to forgive her, and he can't do that if he's still dating Meredith."

Cristina nodded. "I know, but he broke her."

"I know. I hate him for it too. That part isn't Addison's fault."

Cristina nodded again. "So, uh, why didn't you tell us how you're related to Meredith?"

Ellie stood. "Because. I know surgical interns. I was shunned when my co-workers found out that Ellis Grey was my mother."

Cristina laughed. "Meredith kind of was too." Ellie smiled and walked away before Cristina made the connection. "Uh…" Cristina gasped. "Oh!" Ellie turned back and winked before dumping her tray and walking out of the cafeteria.


12:30 P.M.

"Well I'll be damned." Ellie froze at the top of the stairs and groaned. "It's good to see you too, Dr. Grey."

"Dr. Shepherd." Ellie came walking down the stairs and stopped when she could stand next to him.

"No one told me you were our new resident."

"Did you ask?" Derek grinned and shook his head. "Where's Addie?" Derek pointed down the hall. "Thanks."

"Sure." As she walked down the hallway without another word, Derek sighed. "Ellie?" She turned, a solemn look on her face. "I know you hate me, but you should know…I'm sorry about how Meredith and I had to end everything." Ellie nodded. "I really am."

"I know, Derek." She smiled. "I know."


Addison stood in the bathroom, washing her hands, when the door opened behind her. She looked up, and, seeing Meredith, smiled and looked back down at her hands.

"That's it? Six months and all I get from you is the smile you reserve only for my sister?"

Addison grinned. "I'm sorry Ellie. I didn't realize how much you and Meredith looked alike until you walked in here. I could have sworn you were Meredith." Addison hugged her old friend. "It's good to see you."

"It's good to see you too. You should have invited me out here sooner."

Addison nodded. "I know. But with everything that was happening…I didn't need someone else on Meredith's side."

"Who says I would have sided with Meredith?" Addison raised her eyebrows. "Okay, so I probably would have, but she's my sister, how could I not?"

"I know. It was hard; it almost killed me when I realized that she was your sister. It was like karma was kicking me in the ass."

"Addie…"

"No, really. Sleep with your best friends boyfriend, and her sister will sleep with your husband." Ellie rolled her eyes. "I'm serious."

"I'm sure you are." Ellie leaned against the counter. "Lets just put the thing with Mark behind us. I don't care anymore."

"Right."

"Addie, don't underestimate me. I hate it when you do that. I am, in fact, capable of forgiveness."

Addison smiled. "I know you are."

"Good. So how long am I here for?"

"Dr. Bailey is on bed rest, and then I'm forcing her to take maternity leave. So, about two months."

"Great."

"Do the interns know that Meredith is your sister?"

"Cristina does."

Addison laughed. "So yeah, they do."


1:00 P.M.

Meredith sat down next to George in the cafeteria and put her head on the table. Two surgeries already, both with Addison, and Meredith was not enjoying herself.

"So…Ellie's your sister?"

Meredith's head shot up. "Who told you?"

"Cristina."

Meredith laughed. "Yeah, Ellie is my sister. She's my half-sister. I didn't even meet her until I was 13." George raised his eyebrows. "Mom cheated on Michael, Ellie's Dad, with my Dad when Ellie was 3. When my Dad found out that she was pregnant, he offered her a life that Michael couldn't. Michael and my Mom weren't married, so she just left Ellie with him and moved in with my Dad. When Michael died, Ellie was 16, and Mom and I were her only living relatives. She came to live with us for two years before heading to New York for college." Meredith sighed. "We grew up two blocks from each other. She babysat me once, when I was ten, and I had no idea we were related. Back then we didn't look so much alike."

"Are you glad she's here?"

Meredith nodded. "It's a little weird that she's so close to Addison, but I can learn to deal with that." Meredith took a bite of George's sandwich. "You don't mind if she stays at the house, do you?"

George shook his head. "No, just as long as she doesn't replace me."

Meredith smiled. "No one could replace you George."


5:00 P.M.

"Did you talk to Ellie today?"

Derek nodded. "She hates me."

"She doesn't hate you, Derek."

"She and I used to be so close. Especially right after…everything." Addison nodded. "Now, with Meredith, she can't stand me."

"She can't stand what happened. Derek, she's upset. Eliot has been through a lot, from her mother leaving when she was 3 to go raise a different child, to her father dying and her having to go live with Ellis and Meredith, and then when she finally found a family, because you, Mark, Ellie and I were a family, two of us broke her heart. And then you broke her sisters heart. Eliot is just trying to have a normal existence, and everyone is making it kind of hard for her."

Derek nodded. "I guess that's true." Derek sat down on the porch steps next to Addison and leaned his head on her shoulder. "Do you think she'll ever want to talk to me again?"

"She talks to me, doesn't she?" Derek nodded. "Just give her some time."

"How much time?"

"It's Ellie. She'll let you know how much time."


6:00 P.M.

Ellie sat down on the steps of the house and looked around her. She felt at home, yet so out of place.

"You alright?" Meredith asked, coming out of the front door, two water glasses in her hands.

"I haven't been here in such a long time…it feels weird, yet so right, you know?"

Meredith nodded. "I know what you mean. That's how I felt when I first moved back in." Meredith handed Ellie a glass of water and sat down next to her. "So, did Addison tell you how long you were going to be here?"

"About two months." Meredith smiled. "Am I okay to stay here that long?"

"Of course you are."

"George and Izzie don't mind?"

"Are you kidding? George thinks it's fabulous, and Izzie would rather you live here than me." Ellie laughed. "So, I have to ask, why don't you like Derek?"

Ellie groaned. "When Addison cheated on Derek with Mark, he and I got really close, because, well, I was dating Mark at the time, so we were both hurt pretty bad. We became really good friends, and then he up and left. So I was a little miffed, but he called and apologized, and we were fine for a while, until I realized that you two were together. I asked him if you knew about Addison, and he said no, and that I wasn't allowed to tell you. I was just so mad at him for not telling you from the beginning, because when they separated and he left, he told Addison not to wait for him to come back, because he was probably going to move on. I didn't want him moving on with you unless you knew about Addison, and he wouldn't tell you, he kept putting it off, and then Addison left, and, I should have warned him, but we'd just gotten in an argument, so I didn't, and then you found out like you did, and he blamed it on me for not warning him. I got upset, because I shouldn't have had to warn him, because you should have known."

Meredith put one hand on Ellie's shoulder. "Eliot, it is not your fault. Derek was an idiot."

"I just hate that you got hurt."

"You got hurt too. Why are you still friends with Addison anyway?"

Ellie turned to Meredith. "Because for awhile she was all I had."

So, what do you think? Review please!