Thanks for the reviews! I didn't realize how happy I would be when people told me they liked my story! Lol. Anyway, here is the next chapter, I read back through everything I have written and decided that I only needed to change one of the things that I had written. I think it's turning out pretty well, but it is my story, so I'm a little biased on that. And yes, I plan on bringing Derek to LA, and probably Meredith with him, because I love them both and they have to be included if Derek is the father. I'm realizing that I might have to make this a cross over w/greys if I follow my ideas. But I guess I will cross that bridge when I come to it.
IsabellaKhach, I can't figure out how to respond to your review from my phone, so I figured I would put this in here, I love the description you gave for Zoey, bitchy but dependent. I hadn't really thought of it like that, but I love it!
Hope you all like this chapter, review please!
Thirty minutes later Addison and Zoey were sitting at the table, eating in silence and not looking at each other.
"Mom?" Zoey asked hesitantly.
"What?"
"I know you're mad at me, and you're mad at Meredith, but can we just let it go? I don't want to be in a fight with you right now. "Addison sighed, she never wanted to fight with her only child, but she could also tell that her daughter wanted something, and she couldn't get that something if they were fighting.
"Sure, sweetie. What's up? I can tell you want something."
"I was gonna ask if I could stay here for the summer? And maybe for the school year too?" Addison looked at her daughter without saying anything. "Mom? Do you really hate the idea of me living here so much that you can't say anything?"
"NO! That's not it. I just don't understand why you would want to move here with me. I thought you liked living in Seattle."
"I do. It's just, " she took a deep breath preparing to say what she needed to, "Dad and Meredith are building this dream house and trying to have a baby. And their doing everything they can to include me in all this, but I just kinda feel like I'm being left behind. I'm just the teenager left over from the first marriage, Meredith would have a baby. Babies are new and fun, and I'm just old and boring."
"Sweet girl, you are definitely not old and in no way are you boring, and I'm sure your father doesn't think that. But I'll tell you what. I will call your dad tomorrow and talk to him about the idea, see what he thinks. Maybe we can start with just the summer to make sure this is what you really want. And then, come August, if you want to stay here then we will discuss it more. Alright?"
"Ok, thanks mama," she said, giving Addison a hug. Addison smiled, Zoey hadn't called her mama since she was ten, she hugged the small girl more tightly. "I can't breathe when you do that mom."
"Sorry, I just missed you so much," Addison said without letting go.
"Mooooommm," Addison laughed and let her go, "I'm kinda tired, I think I'm gonna go to sleep. Is there actually a guest room or do I have to sleep in your bed again?"
"Upstairs, first door on the left."
"Thanks. Night mom, love you." After Zoey went upstairs and got in bed Addison was cleaning up in the kitchen when she saw Sam outside on his deck. She made her way out with two glasses of wine and stood next to him, starring at the dark ocean.
"I hope one of those is for me?" he asked pointing to the wine and breaking the silence.
"Oh yeah, of course," she handed him a glass and they sipped at the wine without saying anything again
"You want to talk about it?"
"Talk about what?"
"Whatever it is that's bothering you. I know you Addison, something is wrong."
"I just, I feel like something isn't right with Zoey being here. Don't get me wrong, I love having her here, but just, in my gut I feel like something isn't right. She just showed up out of the blue, without telling me or Derek. Just hopped on a plane without telling anyone."
"She told me she drove her. I told her she looked sick earlier and she said it had been a long drive."
"She definitely flew, I saw the tags on her suitcases. Maybe she just got mixed up."
"Yeah, maybe," There was a pause, then Addison spoke up again,
"She wants to live here."
"Here? As in LA? With you?"
"No, she's gonna live with Pete. Of course with me Sam. And this means that I have to call her Derek for the second time in as many days."
"Did she say why she wanted to move here?"
"Derek and his new wife are starting their life and Zoey feels like she is being left behind. I don't know what to do for her Sam. I mean if she moves here we are gonna have to tell her that we are dating. Not that it's bad, but I'm just afraid that she will feel the same way about us as she does about Derek and Meredith. You know my daughter, I suck at talking to her. I'm amazed I even got this much from her tonight."
"We will tell her about us when the time is right, don't worry about that right now. Tomorrow you can call Derek and tell him what Zoey said. And since you think you suck at talking to your daughter maybe you can get Violet to talk to her. Or even Sheldon, if she won't talk to Violet. It's their job to talk to people Addie."
"Ok, I will see how the phone call with Derek goes tomorrow," Sam wrapped his arms around her, not wanting to be alone for the night, she asked "Can I sleep at your place tonight? If Zoey wakes up before me I will just tell her I was getting milk or something."
"Sure." They made their way inside and up to the bedroom.
The next morning
Zoey woke up around 8:30 with the overwhelming urge to throw up. She jumped from her bed and ran to the bathroom, just making it to the toilet.
I must have caught a bug on the plane. She thought to herself, even first class isn't perfect. Without giving it much more thought she stood up and began her day. In the kitchen she found a note from Addison,
Zoey,
I had to go into the office early today. I left some money and the number for a cab company if you want to come see me or go anywhere. Make yourself at home. Have a good day.
Love mom
Zoey decided to take advantage of the sunny weather and put on her bathing suit before heading out to the beach to soak up some sun.
Meanwhile, Addison was sitting at her desk, staring at the phone, trying to work up the nerve to call Derek again. She didn't know how he would react to Zoey wanting to stay with her for the summer and was slightly nervous.
"What are you doing?" Addison looked at the doorway , seeing Amelia standing there.
"Thinking about how I need to call your brother."
"Why do you need to call Derek?"
"You haven't heard? Zoey is here, she left home without telling Derek, or me, and showed up here. She's been here for two days and is begging to live with me."
"Where is she?"
"I left her at home today. I told her I would call Derek and talk to him about her staying here for the summer, but for some reason I feel like he is going to freak out about it. And I don't know if I want to deal with Derek freaking out right now."
"Just call him Addie. We both know how Derek is when it comes to Zoey. If he yells just don't listen, I never did. You call him, and I'm gonna go see my favorite niece." Amelia said, walking away.
"It's not nice to play favorites!" Addison yelled after the younger girl. She sighed deeply then picked up the phone, dialing Derek's number again.
"Hello?" it was a female voice that answered this time and she recognized Meredith's voice right away.
"Meredith? It's Addison, can I speak with Derek please."
"Yeah. He just got out of the shower, I'll give him the phone." She could hear some shuffling and then Derek answered.
"Hey, is Zoey alright?"
"Yeah, yeah. She's fine."
"Ok, then why did you call?" Deciding it would be best to just jump right into it, she said,
"I was talking to Zoey last night about why she came to LA without telling anyone. She was saying that she felt like she was being left behind, that you and Meredith were starting a new family and she was just the left overs from before."
"That's ridiculous," Derek said defensively, "We do everything we can to include her in the making of this new family. I'm letting her design the house with me. And I thought she liked Meredith and everyone, she always says that she does. Why didn't she tell me how she felt?"
"You know how she is Derek. She doesn't tell anyone if she is hurting or something is wrong. I was amazed that she told me all that last night even. She never talks to either of us that much. There is something else Derek."
"Great. What now?"
"She asked if she could move here with me," she paused, waiting for a response from Derek.
"Did she say why?" He asked calmly, Addison was surprised, she had been expecting a bit more fireworks.
"She only gave me the same reasons as for why she left Seattle in the first place. I told her I would ask you if she could stay for the summer and see where it goes from there."
"Honestly Addison, I don't really want her there, I would rather that she be here with me. It has nothing to do with you, I just want my daughter with me."
"She is my daughter too Derek. We share joint custody of her."
"I know, I know. Whatever Addie, she can stay with you for the summer. But only the summer, I want her back here before school starts so she can get settled back in. And make sure that she doesn't stay out too late. And don't just let her run wild around LA."
"Derek you make it sound like I've never taken care of her before. I've been her mother for 16 years, I think I can handle it."
"I'm just making sure Addison, you haven't seen her in over a year, she's changed."
"Everything will be fine Derek, you don't need to worry."
"Ok, ok. Does she need me to send anything?"
"No, she seems to have packed as if she already knew that she was going to stay here. So she has everything."
"Alright, I will call you in a week or so to see how it is going. Take care of her Addison, and tell her I love her and to call me."
"Of course. Good bye Derek." Addison hung up the phone and sighed. She knew that Derek wasn't really mad at her, but he was just hurt that his daughter felt that she didn't belong with him anymore. Zoey and Derek had always had a strong bond and she had taken to Meredith quickly when they met. He suspected it was because they were in similar situations, both their mothers had had affairs that ultimately led to divorce. At least Derek and Addison had stayed friends so Zoey had been able to see both of her parents over the years. But now Zoey was in LA with Addison and it made Derek realize that he and his daughter had been growing apart over the last few months.