Okay. Chapter 2.
So I honestly think that asking you guys for rhyming couplet reviews was the smartest thing that I have ever done. They have been great and I have been laughing sooooo hard. On the other hand some people are trying to beat me at my own game and are writing their poetic reviews in German. So ya, everyone that sent in rhyming couplets gets 50 cool points (and I am keeping tally), BUT Cowboys-and-coffee is getting 150 because… that was just an amazing review that I feel the need to share:
The next installment,
How this made me cheer
But Addie and Derek?
They make me fear
They are so good together
yet sometimes so dumb
But now Mark and Sydney
There is some fun
I loved Alex with Addie
And Meredith not knowing
And Sydney's speech to Bailey
Was hysterically mind blowing
If I had my way
Der would dump Mer without fail
Then he and Addie
Into the sunset would sail
But instead I will wait
And see where you lead
Because I have faith
In Addek indeed
Not quite couplets, but I'm not that picky. I thought that was fantastic, so thank you.
So this chapter brings a whole new meaning to the word love –– and for the record I know nothing about tennis.
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"I don't know."
"We both like this one."
"Yeah," Meredith tilted her head to the side, "But we'd have to get new drapes."
"Not if we get it in brown."
"True," Meredith's lip curled pensively.
Derek shoved his hands in his pocket and watched Meredith looks back and forth between a black leather couch and a cream sectional. He glanced at the salesman how was trying his damnedest to still look interested, "Why don't you give us a little while."
"This is a huge decision Derek," she told him seriously.
"I know."
"It has to tie into the whole downstairs of our house."
"Mer, you are over thinking this. We both like this one, it goes great with what we already have and if we order it in another colour they can just deliver it and we can sit on it and enjoy it."
"I know," Meredith brow furrowed.
"So, what's still bothering you?" he asked, wrapping an arm around her waist and resting his chin on her shoulder.
She sighed, "I think I want that one over there," she pointed and pulled away.
"Which one?" He followed her down the aisle.
"This one."
Derek took in the living room display. "It's purple."
"It's a deep purple," Meredith fingered the suede armrest, "And it's so soft," she sank down into the overstuffed pillows, "And comfy. I really love it. I've been thinking about it all week."
Derek sat tentatively beside her, then leaned back carefully. She leaned into his side and rested her cheek on his shoulder. He wrapped an arm around her and relaxed running his other hand over the supple materiel. "It doesn't match anything we own."
"I think I hate everything we own."
"We'd definitely have to get new drapes."
"And a rug," she admitted, "And probably paint the whole 1st floor and up the stairs."
"Or I'd have to paint the whole first floor and up the stairs," he sighed, "This is the one you like?"
"It really is," she looked up at him, her eyes hopeful, "We can redecorate the house and make it more us and less… everything we have either belonged to Ellis or you and Addison. Our home should have our own stuff."
"We have our own––"
"The only time we ever bought furniture or redid anything was with Julie's room."
"Fine," he relented, with soft smile, "But I'm getting the bigger TV."
"We don't have room," she laughed, elbowing him in the ribs.
"Ellis's house doesn't have room," he reminded her, "Our house does."
She grinned, "The dimensions are the same Derek."
"We'll figure out a way," he smiled confidently and relaxed against the pillows, "There's room on the back, we can add on a den or something."
"That's going to look weird unless we add a piece on to the second floor and the attic too."
"So we'll add."
"That will make an extra room on the second floor. Do we need 4 bedrooms? It's just us."
Derek was silent for a moment, "It might not always be just us."
Meredith stared at his profile, a small smile on her lips as he turned to look at her, "I'd like that."
XXXX
"You have an unfair advantage," Derek panted.
"I'm in shape?" Addison teased.
"Your skirt. It's very short. It's distracting."
"It's supposed to be short, it's a tennis skirt."
"Well," Derek served the ball back to her, "It's not fair."
"Hey," she lobbed it back, "I'm distracted too."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah," she slammed it over the net, "Your pasty chicken legs turn me on," she grinned as he scrambled for the ball he had no chance of catching, "Point. And… match." She raised her arms in victory and did a little hip-sway dance of triumph as she walked over to meet him at the net, "Nice try though," she teased, leaning over the net to kiss his cheek.
"I let you win," he assured her, puffing out his chest as he grabbed her around the waist and pulled her against him for a few steps, causing her to almost trip over her own feet.
"The last 7 times we've played?" she asked with a grin, nudging him in the side with the end of her racket, pushing him back to his side of the net.
"It's the damn tennis dresses," Derek reached for his water bottle and eyed her up and down, "They're short and tight all over. Low cut… you're sweating and it's dripping down your…" he trailed off distracted by 5 thing at once, "… and you have legs," he tilted his head down, "Long tan ones."
"You forgot my visor," she touched the rim that was shielding her eyes, "I make this look good."
He bumped his knuckle under her chin, "I'd like to see you in nothing but the visor."
She laughed, "I bet you would," she took a step closer and leaned her body into his, "If only I didn't have that birthday party to go to," she leaned in and lightly bit down on his lower lip, "But I'll bring you some cake," she promised, kissing him just hard enough that his eyes flickered shut, "Extra frosting."
"Woman," he sighed, forcing himself away from her, "You better have big plans for that frosting."
XXXX
"Women."
Derek chuckled and nodded, "How long have you been waiting?"
"Oh," the man in the well cut blazer checked his watch,"20 minutes. You?"
"35 at least. She's high maintenance," Derek grinned and held out his hand, "Derek Shepherd."
"Rob Fischer," the tall man held out his hand and shook Derek's vigorously. "I caught the end of your match. Your girl really kept you running."
Derek chuckled, "She keeps me on my toes," he turned his head at the sharp tap of her heels, "Here she comes," he smiled as Addison approached and rested a hand on the small of her back, "Addison, this is Rob Fischer. He caught the end of our tennis game. He's a fan of yours."
Addison shook his offered hand, "You have good taste."
Rob chuckled, "And modest too," he grinned good-naturedly, "And apparently also with good taste. My wife was quick to point out that you, apparently, have a pair of sunglasses that she can't live without."
"My Valentino's? She's right, she can't live without them. If she's smart she'll get them in brown and black."
"That's what I'ah keep tellin' hihm, but Seattle isn't exactly indulgin' mah flair fo' fashion, is it dahlin'," a petite brunette stepped up to Rob's side, pouting, "It makes meh homesick for Dallas somethin' awful."
Rob laughed, "Joanie, this is Derek and his wife Addison. My wife Joanie. She grew up in Chicago, but occasionally like to imitate our former neighbors by badly mocking their speech patterns."
Derek and Addison were still for a moment, both waiting for the other to correct Rob on their marital status.
"I like the drawl," she shook Addison's hand and winked at her, no longer any trace of a southern drawl, "It's an icebreaker."
Derek and Addison forced a laugh, awkwardly looking for a way to turn the conversation back and correct a few assumptions.
"We're going to sit down for some lunch," Joanie broke their concentration, "Would you like to join us? We haven't really met anyone in Seattle yet and are sick to death of each others company."
Derek and Addison exchanged looks, "Yeah," Derek nodded after a moment, "We'd like that."
Addison smiled at Joanie, "You're new here? When we moved here from New York, we lived in the middle of nowhere in a trailer. I hope your husband is taking care of you better then that. Although I'm not sure what else Seattle has to offer besides rain and trees."
"A trailer? And you still talk to him."
"There was a time when he wondered why I wanted to spend all my time at work or getting hotels ––"
"What do you do?" Rob interrupted.
"She's a doctor," Derek explained, "Obstetrics."
Addison glared at him wondering why he would leave out all the cool and exciting parts of her job.
"And you?"
Derek grinned, "I'm retired. I fished."
"Oh," Joanie sighed, "That seems so relaxing."
Derek nodded, "What do you do?"
"Software Analyst," Rob rolled his eyes, "It pays the bills," he raised his arm and signaled that they'd like a table, "Joanie's busy harping the world to appreciate the beauty of the Arts."
Joanie laughed, "I play the harp. Literally. We moved up here so I could start teaching. Less travel. But, you know," she looked to her husband, "If we had a trailer I could be at home AND on the road. Win Win."
Addison laughed and shook her head vehemently, "No, no. Four years later and he's lucky he can set foot on a tennis court without crutches."
"We are on month 3 in a hotel," Joanie shook her head as they seated themselves at a table, "I'm not complaining about the room service but ––"
"The closets," Addison nodded with a grin.
"Exactly."
XXXX
An hour later Addison glanced at her watch, "I've really got to get going," she said regretfully, looking at Derek with small smile.
It had been an enjoyable lunch. They talked about some of the positive attributes of Seattle–– to which the women didn't have much to add–– they discussed a play it turned out they had all seen in New York and a restaurant they had all tried in Seattle.
Derek quickly and wordlessly paid for the foursome's lunch, "Rob," he spoke calmly, "I'm going to walk Addison out to her car, but if you don't have plans for the afternoon how about a drink?"
Addison cleared her throat and shot Derek a look.
"Of soda," he smiled at Addison, then glanced back at their new friends, "She worries to much."
"Well I think it's a great idea," Joanie grinned and winked again at Addison, "Gives me an excuse to try out that spa."
Addison flashed her nails, "Try the manicurist." she advised as she turned to go.
"That was fun," Derek reflected as he walked her to her car.
"Derek," She hissed, "This is insane."
"Why?"
"We can't have couple friends. We aren't a couple."
"They think we are."
"Which is also stupid, you should have told them."
"I didn't know how," he opened her car door for her, "It'll be fine. They just want someone to play doubles with."
"For now," Addison rested her hand on his cheek and brought their lips together, "But, you wait. We are going to be giving up nights in the trailer to go to dinner parties by the end of the month."
"Yeah," Derek closed her door firmly, "That's not happening."
XXXX
"Daisy!" Addison yelled down the stairs, "Come up here and get dressed."
"In a minute!"
"Daisy Lorraine!"
"I'm coming!"
"You have until the count of 5 or I am picking out your clothes and you are going to have to wear whatever I pick. 1… 2… 3… " Addison stopped as she heard footsteps on the stairs.
"Can I wear my white dress?" Daisy asked as she flopped down on her bed.
Addison frowned and crossed the room to Daisy's closet, "Unless your Dad pressed it it probably needs to be ironed."
Daisy looked at her, her eyes wide and pleading.
Addison rolled her eyes, "Only because it's your birthday," she grabbed the dress and left the room. "Brush your hair while I'm doing this," she called out over her shoulder as she headed down the hall, "Okay? Boo? Your hair?"
"Yup."
"Al?" She rapped sharply on Ali's door, "Your dad wants you to go pick up the cake."
Ali humphed and made no attempt to obey.
"If you leave in the next 3 minutes I'll distract your dad and you can take his car and put the roof down."
"Can I borrow your car to go to the movies on Saturday?"
"Why do you need my car?"
"Bigger back seat."
"No," Addison exclaimed, "Absolutely not."
"It's a double date. Shelby's boyfriend is like 7 feet tall."
Addison sized her up, "You leave from here, and I will measure that kid. If he is one inch under 7 feet you are grounded."
"Addy!" Daisy yelled from her bedroom, "Can I have curly hair for my party?"
"Ugh," Addison groaned, "Geoff? Geoffrey!"
"What?" Geoff called up the stairs.
Addison balled up the dress and tossed it down the stairs to him, "Can you press that? I have to do Daisy-Boo's hair."
"Yup," he flung the dress over his shoulder, "Can you tell Alison––"
"I'm going," Ali emerged from her room, sliding on a pair of sunglasses and flipping her hair.
"Get some more balloons too," he asked her as she breezed past him, "Helium. There is money in my wallet on the kitchen counter," he called after her, before turning back to Addison and shrugging.
"Addy! I need help!"
Addison shot Geoff an exasperated look, then grinned and winked, before turning back to Daisy's room.
XXXX
"Cupcake?" Geoffrey held out the tiny cake as he sat done on the porch step beside her.
"Thanks," Addison grinned and accepted the cupcake with the Daisy design on the top, "Here," she picked up a string of beads off the step beside her and tied it around his neck, "Sexy."
"You were busy," he teased.
"I wasn't going to let those girls have all the fun," she leaned in closer, "I had to fight one of the Emma's for that Daisy pendant."
Geoffrey chuckled and glanced around the backyard. 10 seven year old girls were searching around the twinkle-light laden bushes for daisy-themed costume jewelry. Everything was covered in white and yellow and daisies and glitter.
"Addy!" Daisy ran over, panting, and handed Addison a hair clip with an enormous sparkling daisy on it.
Addison laughed and gathered her blond curls into a ponytail and pinned it up with the clip, carefully keeping the daisy-tiara and daisy-chains in place. "Are you having a good birthday, Daisy-Baby?"
Daisy pulled away, "I'm 7."
Addison chuckled, "Sorry Boo," she apologized, earning herself another look from Daisy before she ran off.
"She's getting big," Geoffrey observed as his youngest daughter ran off to join her friends, white balloons streaming out behind her. He moved closer to Addison on the porch step and wrapped his arm around her waist and kissing her shoulder, "Soon she's going to be to big to be our flower-girl," he spoke softly, letting his words hang there.
Addison smiled and leaned over to kiss him lightly on the lips. Pulling back slightly she held up her cupcake to his mouth and let the frosting drag across his lip, "Want some cake?"
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Alright, so the "name Daisy" contest winner can claim their prize with a stellar review and the answer to a skill testing question.
And this time I was thinking that we could do Haikus for reviews. I think that's worth like 75 cool points.
Review for the chance to win a new car!
