"Right."

Addison's drawling voice immediately gets on Meredith's nerves, and she wonders why she even decided to come, when Callie grins and envelopes the red-haired woman in a strong, warm hug. "Hey," she whispers, and Addison kisses her cheek. "Hey. It's really, really great to see you."

"Sorry for the unexpected baggage."

"Yeah, about that . . ." Addison pulls away to regard Meredith and Mark with an expression of barely-concealed surprise and contempt. "Okay, A. What are you doing here?" She points at Mark, who gives her the slow, sexy version of the McSteamy smile and causes Callie to smack him hard on the shoulder. "Quit it."

"Well, I like L.A. as much as the next person and I figured it was time to get out of the rain and come down to see how you're settling in. Richard owed me some vacation." He grins at her again, most annoyingly, and Addison simply raises her chin. "I suppose the whole "I really hoped I'd never see you again" thing didn't even deter you a little bit?"

"Not in the least," he replies, and slings an arm around Callie. "Plus, I wanted to make sure that she got here safely."

Addison turns away from him after shooting Callie a "you'd better explain when we get a chance" look. "Okay, that explains Mark. However, I can't for the life of me figure out why you're here, Grey. Despite the fact that you're white as a ghost. Are you feeling all right?" The last comment is delivered in a slightly softer, less snarky tone, and Meredith drops her head.

"I don't know why I'm here," she mutters, and Callie puts a hand on her shoulder. "She needs to talk to you about Derek. And get a tan. She does look awful."

"Yeah, Grey's been looking rather . . . grey, lately," Mark quips, and everyone simultaneously groans. "If you can't improve the shining silence, baby, shut the hell up," Callie whispers, and Mark laughs.

"Okay, so if everyone's done commenting on my awful appearance," Meredith announces loudly, and Addison nods. "Okay. Well, there's time enough for explanation. I just got off work and I'm starving – I'd guess you all are, too."

All three nod and head for the door. Callie links her arm with Addison's. "Don't worry; they're going to stay at a hotel."

"I figured as much. I wouldn't have Mark Sloan in the house anyway." Her voice is slightly bitter and Callie's heart inwardly sinks. Addison turns to Callie. "So why is he really here?"

"Addie . . ."

"I know you're together. It's not like you haven't made it obvious. But, correct me if I'm wrong, here, Cal . . . I thought you said that you were having trouble with your marriage? Are you the trouble, here?"

"No!" Callie's voice is louder than she intended, and she lowers it as both Meredith and Mark swivel their heads around in surprise. "No. I'm not the problem . . . George is the problem. But I don't want to talk about it right now."

"Fair enough," says Addison neutrally, and they all pile into her Mercedes. "I thought your car was red," says Mark, and Addison rolls her eyes at him. "That car was a rental," she says, and Mark nods. "I always liked the sleek silver number better, anyway."

Addison peels out of the airport parking lot and the silence in the car could be cut with a knife. "So," begins Addison. "Not that I really care, but how's Seattle Grace?"

"A pit of lust and intrigue," quips Mark, and Meredith actually laughs. Addison laughs, too. "So, just the same as when I left, then."

"Pretty much," Meredith murmurs. "A few new interns, including my long-lost half sister."

Callie clucks her tongue in sympathy. "She's not a bad intern, but she's definitely a bit annoying."

"I like her," says Mark, leaning back comfortably in the seat. "She's just like you, Grey. Nervous and stuttery and incredibly hot."

Callie cranes her head back. "Okay. If you're going to do that, you can forget me ever staying over at your hotel room again."

"Oh!" Meredith and Addison wince simultaneously. "Too much information!"

"Is anything ever too much information with Mark?" Callie groans, facing front again. Mark grins and tweaks one of her raven curls. Although no one can see her face but Addison, Callie breaks into a smile. Addison rolls her eyes and pulls up outside of a bustling restaurant. "Let's go. I'm starving."

"And whiny," says Mark. "Although, you've always been whiny when your blood sugar's low."

"And you've always been annoying, well, pretty much at any time," retorts Addison, leading the way into the restaurant. "I only expected Callie, so I invited a few of my work colleagues along." She suddenly stops dead and whirls around to face them. "I swear to God, if any of you say anything stupid about my life in Seattle, I will make sure that I hunt you down and kill you. Or in your case" – pointing at Mark – "I will cut off your balls."

Callie laughs and Meredith looks a little alarmed. Mark simply smiles again. "You mean, you don't want them to find out about our hot, sexy little affair?" he drawls, then shoots a quick look at Callie. "That's fine with me," he finishes hastily.

Addison turns on her heel and walks in, and Meredith follows Callie and Mark like a lost little puppy. She's perfectly aware of how much younger and messier she looks, thank you very much. Everyone in L.A. is dressed to the nines and looking amazing. Girls' hair is smooth and perfectly highlighted; they're wearing cute little dresses and delicious-looking shoes. Men are carefully coiffed and perfectly manicured. They all hold glasses of wine and laugh and talk elegantly, even though the snatches of conversation that Meredith can hear seem to be sort of trivial.

Hell, even Callie and Mark seem to fit in, with Mark's leather jacket and charcoal pants and Callie's edgy, rock-star-chick look and perfect hair. Only Meredith is wearing a pair of faded jeans and a pill-covered grey coat. Her hair, she knows, is all over the place, and she hasn't done her eyebrows in awhile. She tries to huddle more into her coat, even though she's boiling, as Addison stops at a table that's filled with more beautiful people. Great.

"Okay, I'm only going to say this once. That's Violet, Naomi, Pete, Sam, Cooper and Dell. This is Callie, Mark and Meredith. Any questions?" Addison rattles off the names and then sits down next to the attractive black woman, – Naomi? – crossing her legs. Naomi smiles and hands her a glass of red wine. "You deserve this today, girl."

Callie sits down and flashes a smile around at everyone. "I think you're gonna have to reintroduce yourselves. I only got a couple of names." Meredith simply smiles awkwardly and has to be reminded by the young one – Dell? – to take a seat. She does thankfully and Dell hands her the drink list. "Pick your poison," he grins, and her gaze immediately falls on tequila. No, no, no. That can only end in tears. Nevertheless, when Mark flags down the waiter, she orders two shots.

Mark shoots a smile at Naomi and Violet, both of whom exchange an amused glance. "I'm Mark Sloan," he announces. A look of recognition dawns on Naomi's face. "Oh. Oh," she says, looking over at Addison, who shakes her head. "He's with Callie."

Callie nods. "That's right." She looks across at Violet. "So, you guys do co-op medicine? What is co-op medicine?" she asks, unfortunately moving her fingers in air quotations. Out of the corner of her eye, Addison scrubs a hand across her eyes as Naomi looks defensive.

"Actually," says Violet smoothly, "It has to do with having a group of doctors in one practice so that we can offer the best care for our patients. I'm a psychiatrist; Sam here is a sports medicine specialist; Pete is our naturopath, and Cooper is a pediatrician. Addison and Naomi work closely together, since Nae is a fertility specialist. Dell's our resident nurse and he's actually studying to be a midwife." Dell grins sheepishly.

"Don't you miss surgery?" Meredith blurts at Addison, and then wishes that she hadn't spoken. She downs the tequila and feels something loosen inside her. Addison opens her mouth to answer, but Cooper cuts her off. "She still gets her share of surgery. She did a complicated C-section today."

Addison smiles at Cooper. "Cooper helped me out, too. Cheers," she says, and the company clinks glasses. Naomi leans forward, her face confrontational. "What exactly do you do?" she asks Callie directly, who visibly stiffens under her gaze.

"I'm an ortho surgeon. Mark is a plastic surgeon," she answers, her voice cold. Sam cracks his fingers. "Plenty of room for one of those down here," he says, his voice sonorous. "Ever thought of relocating?"

"If I went anywhere, I'd go back to New York. This place is too . . . fake for me," retorts Mark, and the two glare at each other for a moment until Dell breaks the stand-off by asking Meredith, "What kind of surgeon are you?"

Meredith blushes. "I'm not sure what I want to specialize in, yet." Callie cuts in, "She's a first-year resident."

Everyone smiles. "Ahh, fresh meat!" exclaims Naomi. "How's residency? Still hellish?"

"Yeah," Meredith murmurs, and downs her second shot. Dell, without being asked, orders her two more. Pete, who has been quiet up until now, asks Callie, "Ortho? What's that like?"

Callie grins. "What it sounds like. Lots of breaking bones, lots of physical strength." She stretches her arms and Pete's eyes widen at her flexing muscles. "I see."

Mark slings his arm around Callie and looks at Pete challengingly. "Isn't herbal medicine something that witch doctors do?" he drawls, and Addison quickly shoots the rest of her wine and flags down the waiter. "I think we'd like to order, please," she says hastily, and Violet nods in assent.

The food arrives rather quickly; by this point Meredith has had at least six shots of tequila on an empty stomach and is starting to feel her eyes disconnect from her head. Nevertheless, she's kind of enjoying the meal, now. Especially since Dell keeps the alcohol coming.

Everyone picks at sushi or salads or some other kind of Californian food. Mark just rolls his eyes at them and digs into a huge New York-style steak, complete with all the trimmings. Callie goes for the paella. "Not as good as the stuff I make," she says, "but it'll do."

Pete is looking distastefully at Mark's steak. "Do you know how many toxins –"

"Pete!" Addison runs a hand through her red hair, sighs. "Come on, guys. Let's at least try to be civil? Please?" She's starting to think that bringing them all together is an extremely bad idea and Naomi's hand on her arm isn't helping. "You know what? I'm going to go to the bathroom." She stands up and without really knowing why, Meredith follows suit. "I'm going, too. Me, too," she slurs a bit, and Callie puts a hand under her arm. "You okay there, Grey?"

"Yeah, just fine." She swings an arm out. "It's a great night!"

Addison rolls her eyes. "Come on, Grey."

They weave in and out through tables and finally make it to the elegant washroom door. Meredith tries to push it open and then realizes that it's a pull door. "Oops," she giggles, and Addison shoots her a strange look. "Are you okay?"

They make it in and Meredith suddenly shakes her head. "No." She lunges towards the toilet and throws up, messily and copiously and disgustingly, which makes it extra-embarrassing, because Addison is elegant and beautiful, and she has to lean down and hold Meredith's hair back. "Okay," she's saying. "Just take it easy."

Meredith finishes, flushes the toilet. "I'm sorry," she says, her face crumpling a little. "That was really, really gross. I'm really sorry," she reiterates, and Addison shakes her head. "Don't mention it."

She goes to wash her hands and Meredith follows, realizing that she looks absolutely disgusting, now. Addison takes one look at her and shakes her head. "You can't go out there looking like that, Grey." She takes her brush from her purse and combs Meredith's hair. "That's at least a little better."

"I can't go back out there," says Meredith consideringly. "They already hate me. And I think . . ." She doesn't even get the words out before leaning forward to vomit into the sink. Addison looks properly repulsed, but she holds her hair back again and turns on the water. "Ew."

When Meredith finishes, she shoots one look at Addison and starts to cry. "I'm really, really sorry," she says, and Addison rolls her eyes in annoyance. "Grey, stop apologizing! It's not like I've never dealt with drunk people before." She smooths Meredith's hair back. "Can you make it out to the car?"

"I think so," Meredith sniffles and wipes at her eyes and nose with her hand. Addison hands her a Kleenex. "Come on, Meredith." Her voice is gentle and Meredith looks up to meet Addison's blue eyes. "I'll take you home."

"I don't even know where I'm staying," Meredith sniffles, and Addison puts an arm around her shoulder. "You can stay with me tonight. I don't think you're in any shape to go to a hotel."

"But you hate me," Meredith whimpers. "I can't stay with someone who hates me."

"I don't hate you, for one. For another, you've really got no other choice, unless you'd like me to leave you in the alley outside of this restaurant. Stay here and I'll tell the others that you're not feeling well."

Meredith nods and Addison leaves her beside the toilet. She stalks out and back to the table. "So, our little resident isn't well, so I've got to take her home," she announces, and Naomi wrinkles her nose. "Babysitting sure sucks, Addie."

"Is she okay?" Callie feels sort of responsible, since she brought Meredith with them. Mark simply looks bored. "Who cares? Grey's a big girl, Addison. You don't have to take responsibility. I'll make sure she gets back to the hotel okay."

"No, I'd feel bad leaving her out in the rain, so to speak. I'll take her home tonight – after this, you guys take over babysitting duty," says Addison, and points at Callie and Mark. "Night, all."

"Goodnight, Addie," everyone choruses, and Callie gets up. "I'll come with you."

"Yeah, okay." Mark looks alarmed. "Are we calling it a night?"

"You wanted to come," Callie reminds him. "I told you I'd be hanging out with Addison."

Mark grimaces and Pete looks amused. "Come on, buddy. Cooper, Sam, Dell and I are going to the bar beside the practice. You can come with us."

"Thrilling," grumbles Mark, but he doesn't refuse. "Behave yourself," warns Callie, and cracks her knuckles. "Or these will be your balls."

"Yes, ma'am!"

Callie and Addison go back into the bathroom, where Meredith is slumped beside the toilet. From the looks of things, she's been having a great conversation with the porcelain god. "Why do I drink?" she moans, and Callie rolls her eyes. "Are you puked out?"

"I think so." Meredith groans and scrubs a hand across her eyes, and Callie hauls her to her feet. "Okay. Pee, and we'll go."

"What?"

"Pee, Grey. I've seen you drunk too many times to know that when you'll have to go, it'll be too late."

"Ew!" Addison shoots a disbelieving look at Callie, who shrugs back as Meredith wails, "That was one time, Callie!"

As they wait for Meredith to finish up, Addison leans against the wall and examines her nails. "I've got white wine at home. Do we need anything else?"

"No, that works for me. We'll throw this one in bed and then catch up."

Addison grins. "Yeah, you've got a lot of explaining to do, missy." She punches Callie's shoulder playfully and Callie grins.

They finally all make it out to the car and Addison drives home, stopping once to let Meredith out to vomit. "Grey, honestly. Next time, eat before you drink!" Callie's annoyed and Addison has to get out to make sure Meredith doesn't fall off the side of the road into the ditch.

As soon as they get in, Addison puts a hand on Meredith's back and points her towards the stairs. "This way." However, Meredith doesn't make it very far before she slumps to the ground. "Dammit! Callie!"

Between the two of them, they manage to carry Meredith upstairs and plop her unceremoniously on the spare bed. "You might have to sleep with me tonight, but whatever," says Addison. "Where's the trash can?"

They set it up beside Meredith's bed and leave. Within three minutes, they're outside, overlooking Addison's stretch of beach, watching the moon get caught in pieces on the waves. "Wow. I can really see why you're so happy here." Callie's voice is soft, and Addison sips from her glass of wine.

"What's really going on here, Cal? Because you tell me that you and George are having marital problems, yet you're with Mark. And despite the fact that you know our history, you bring him down here anyway."

Addison's voice is bitter, and Callie's heart sinks a little. "I didn't really want you to find out that way. I'm not doing it to hurt you. He was just . . . there, when George was fucking Izzie Stevens."

"So your suspicions were correct, then."

"Yeah. He finally admitted it about three weeks ago. We've been in divorce proceedings ever since, and dammit, Addie, I needed you. Just when I found out, you had gone, and you didn't tell anyone you were leaving! I had to find out from one of your gynie interns! You could have told me." Callie has to visibly resume control of herself and Addison reaches out, puts a hand on her knee.

"I didn't do it to piss you off. I didn't do it to piss anyone off. I just needed to leave, because of everything." Addison realizes it's a lame answer, but she doesn't know how else to articulate it. Alex, Mark, the end of her relationship with Derek . . . it was all about a fresh start.

"I just would have appreciated you telling me. I felt abandoned by the one person who always listened to me."

"I'm sorry."

There's silence, and then, "So, when did you and Mark get together?"

"He started coming around shortly after it got around the hospital that George was a cheating asshole."

"Ah."

Then, "Why is Meredith Grey here?"

"Derek and she supposedly broke up. However, they're still sleeping together. And he's rubbing the fact that they're supposed to be seeing other people in her face."

"A fresh start, in other words?"

"Yeah."

Addison gets up. "I'm going to go and check on her. I'm a little worried about her choking on her own vomit. God, trust her to make a great first impression in front of my work colleagues."

Callie nods and swirls her wine. Addison heads up the stairs to find Meredith asleep on her side, her arms stretched across the bed. She looks so tiny in the king-size bed, almost buried under the covers. Addison pushes back the dark-blonde hair, puts her hand on Meredith's back, feels her breathing. Meredith snores a little and Addison nods.

When she goes downstairs again, Callie is loading the glasses into the dishwasher. "I'm really tired, Addie. I've been up for about forty-eight hours straight."

"Yeah, I don't blame you. Come on."

When they're settled in bed and Callie's asleep, Addison lies on her back and thinks over the whole night. She cringes when she remembers Mark and Callie versus the rest of the Oceanside staff, and pushes her face into the pillow when she remembers that Mark is still hanging out with the guys. God, he'd better not say anything.

A minute later, she hears Meredith begin to gag and fearing for her sheets, she gets up and goes across the hall. Meredith is mostly making it into the garbage – Addison's just glad that she has hardwood floors. "Wonderful," she mutters and Meredith looks up. "Oh, God."

"It's okay. Come on." Addison helps her out of bed and takes off her pants and socks, leaving her in just her tank top. She puts a towel under the garbage can and then helps Meredith back into bed. She almost leaves, but Meredith shivers and she realizes that this could be a really long night. She closes the door and decides to stay, if only to protect her sheets and floor.

"I should never drink," Meredith murmurs, and Addison crawls into bed next to her. "No, you definitely shouldn't."

"I'm really, really sorry, Addison."

"Stop apologizing, Grey." Addison turns over in bed and faces the opposite wall. In another moment, she feels Meredith turn over, too, and an arm snakes across Addison's torso. Addison is surprised, but Meredith is drunk and cold and tiny, so she doesn't really think much of it.

"Good night."

"Night, Grey."