A/N: Another snippet of Happy Addek!


Addie, you know my mom loves you.

-Derek Shepherd… "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer"

Derek tossed duffel bag to the side as he entered Addison's apartment, "Addie?"

Addison emerged from the kitchen, the phone propped between her ear and her shoulder. She motioned for him to be quiet as she spoke into the handset, "Yeah, he just came in… Okay, I just wanted to tell you thank you. It really means a lot to me… You too, bye."

At that, she pushed the button to disconnect the phone call and set the handset aside as Derek approached her, leaning in for a kiss. Addison grinned, wrapping her arms around his neck as she deepened the intensity.

Derek finally pulled away, "Hi."

"Hi," Addison repeated, "How was work?"

"Long, I missed you," He pressed another kiss to her lips.

"I missed you, too," She agreed, accepting the kiss before pulling away and starting back for the kitchen, "I've got some leftover pizza; are you hungry?"

"Sure," He agreed, following her, "Who was on the phone?"

"Your mom," Addison answered.

"Ooh, trying to get on the good side of your future mother-in-law? Good move," Derek wrapped his arms around her from behind and rested his chin on her shoulder.

"You underestimate me, Derek," Addison told him playfully.

"How so?" He glanced sideways at her, but didn't remove his chin.

"I don't have to get on her good side; Ruth Shepherd already loves me," She asserted.

"She does, huh? And how do you know this?"

"Go look at the package on the coffee table," Addison instructed as she reached into the refrigerator to retrieve the pizza box.

She took out two slices of the cold pizza and sat them on her plate, hoisting herself onto the counter to eat until Derek returned.

"A birthday present?" Derek asked, incredulously as he returned to the kitchen, box in hand.

Addison flashed him a grin, "Yes sir."

"Addison, I got a card for my last birthday! A card!" Derek reached into the box, "You got a book and a card!"

"First edition," She added, taking a bite of pizza.

"This is so unfair," Derek whined, "I'm her own flesh and blood. We aren't even married yet, and you're already getting preferential treatment."

Addison shrugged and smugly replied, "I can't help it if she loves me."

"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" He put the gift onto the kitchen table and approached her.

"I am," She confirmed.

"You know, I used to have the upper hand, being the only boy," Derek leaned against the counter next to her, "I got away with so much growing up because I was the youngest of us five and the only boy. She almost always sided with me."

"I don't think you're going to be so lucky anymore," She offered him a bite of her pizza, "I think your mother is going to be my greatest ally, and she won't always side with you anymore."

Derek took a moment to consider this as he chewed. He swallowed his bite of pizza and nodded, "Addison, it's terribly unfair, but that is also very true."

"There are certain advantages to it, you know?" She took her final bite of the pizza and offered the rest to him.

"Advantages?" He accepted the slice gratefully, taking a large bite.

"Well, provided you don't irritate me, I can almost guarantee that your mother will side with you," Addison grinned smugly.

Derek pressed a quick kiss to her lips; "I think it's probably good that I'm marrying you, then."

"You Shepherds just have good taste," She shrugged.

"Apparently we do," Derek set aside the pizza and pushed his lips to hers in a forceful kiss of affirmation.