"Hey, Mer, where is my green bra? Did you take it?" Izzie's voice came out of the bathroom.

"No, I didn't take it. It wouldn't fit, by the way." Rolling her eyes Meredith scanned her room for any sign of it. "Not in here." She yelled back.

Izzie wrapped a towel round her body. Her hair still dripping she tiptoed into her room. After some minutes of throwing shirts, pullovers and underwear through the air she finally found the desired object. "Got it!" Pulling it from beneath a pile of clothes she headed back, bumping into Meredith.

If looks could kill Izzie would have dropped dead right away.

"Aaaaah…Izziiiiiiiie. Look at me. Everything is wet. That's my favorite blouse." Looking down herself Meredith started cursing.

"Come on. Don't you have eyes? Now I have to find something else to wear."

"Hey. It's just a going-away-party. You don't have to be all dressed up and perfect. And to be honest. Now that your blouse has gotten wet…I can totally see through it. I mean…is that what you want??"

"Maybe…" Meredith stopped talking. Maybe she wanted exactly the just this moment said things to happen?

"Maybe? Did you invite a date? Uuuuh…that's exiting." Izzie started jumping up and down, sprinkling more water on the floor and at Meredith.

"NO! Oh come on. I wasn't finished yet. I wanted to say…maybe you are right. Now go on and dry your hair."

Pointing at the puddle that had started to form beneath Izzie's feet she turned around. Just as she entered her room she could hear Izzie and George arguing again.

"I was in it first. Come on George. I am still naked."

"But now I am in here."

"Gosh, I can't wait till there is some peace around the house." With these words Meredith started to undress again. It wasn't the first time this evening she had tried on a different outfit. She was too nervous to decide on "the perfect one".

After some fighting over the bathroom and some more fighting over who gets to do the dishes after the party everything was settled and the party could start. Izzie and George were both sitting at the couch munching and crunching chips.

"I dschuscht hope that shome will come."

"What did you say? Oh please finish your chips and then start talking." Izzie shoveled another handful into her mouth.

George put his arms behind his head, leaned back and put his feet on the couch table.

"I said that I hoped that somebody would come. Do you want some Coke?"

"Na, thanks. So how do you feel about living with Callie? I mean, you guys are married but still." Looking directly into George's eyes he started to feel a bit uneasy.

"It will be alright, I guess. But…"

"Where are all the people?" Meredith slumped right next to Izzie. "What are you talking about? Izzie, hand me over some Coke, please."

"Take your time. They are all very busy people. I just hope that at least two or three of them will show up." Staring into the distance she leaned back.

"Let's hope Addison will come." She said to herself and a bright smile appeared on her face. Luckily enough right at that moment the doorbell rang.

"Finally." George headed for the door to let Christina in. "Hey! Here you go, George. A bottle of wine."

"Great you are here." Meredith got up from the couch. "Let's partyyyy!"

It was a fun party. Christina and Alex couldn't stop giggling and it was hard to tell if it was for the amount of wine or the funny games.

"Left foot yellow!" George yelled.

At that command four grown-ups tried to reach a yellow spot on the twister board.

"Where is my arm?"

"Ouch, Izzie, your ass is in my face."

"I can't move. So it has to stay there for a while." Izzie countered.

"Ahh….I can't stand it anymore. I…"

And with an outburst of laughter all four of them slumped down.

"You all look like a human ball of wool." George giggled.

With many outcries of pain and laughter they got free from each other. The only one who wasn't really enjoying the party was Meredith. Minutes seemed to have become hours and time was passing by like chewing gum. She went to one of the kitchen windows. Looking into the darkness she scanned the surroundings. There was no sign of Addison so far. It had only been one o'clock so there was still an hour left but Meredith felt like she had been waiting for days and the tension inside her had built itself up to a point where there was no heightening possible. She felt ill and excited at the same time and the more minutes went by the more nervous she became. It was hardly bearable.

"Where are you?" In a hushed voice she started talking to herself. "Please don't do this to me."

What if she didn't come? A wave of panic washed over her but there was no time left pondering about whether or not she would come. George's voice brought her back to the party.

"Mer, what are you doing over there? Come over here…here's the party."

The second she turned around a car parked in front of her house. Spinning around again Meredith stared at it. There she was. Her heart started to speed up and the tension was hardly bearable. Starting to feel numb she went out into the vestibule.

The others who had gone back to the game hadn't even recognized Meredith leaving the room.

Facing the entrance she waited for Addison to arrive at the front porch. Her mind went crazy and her whole body was shaking.

"Ding! Ding! Ding!"

Meredith didn't move.

"Ding! Ding! Ding!"

Wiping her clammy hands dry at her jeans she pulled open the door. "Hello. Thank you for coming."

Meredith gulped.

"Gosh, I am dead. I had three emergencies within three hours. At first I thought I wouldn't even make it on time but lucky enough I made it." Tired but happy she smiled at Meredith who was still just staring at her.

"Sounds like a fun party." Addison commented after hearing the laughs and cheers that sounded through the house.

"Thank you. Great you could make it." With a big smile she took Addison's jacket. "They are all in the kitchen. First we were in the living room but the food wasn't … so we decided to move."

Still carrying Addison's jacket Meredith led the way to the others.

"Hey, Addison. You are here too? That late?" Izzie took a quick glance a the clock.

"Yes, couldn't make it sooner but …here I am. TADAAA!" She spread her arms and laughed.

Meredith, still standing in the doorway, smiled. She felt calm and happy. Everything was alright. Bringing the jacket to her face she inhaled Addison's scent. Not knowing why she felt that way she was so absolutely sure about her feelings. She had to admit that this was more than a crush and definitely more than friendship. It was love. And for the first time in days she didn't panic at that thought. Not giving it a second thought she tried to dive into this feeling of complete happiness. Knowing the woman she loved was only some feet away from her.

She hung the jacket at the wardrobe and leant back against it.

"There you are. What's going on? Are you alright?" Izzie approached her.

"Yes, sure. I am. I was just thinking about some stuff at work."

"Work? Hey, it's party time. Enjoy yourself!" Izzie laughed and pushed Meredith back into the kitchen.

After another hour of more laughing and more wine and more playing, yawning Alex got up. "I have to leave now. It's already late. See you guys."

Some minutes later Christina and George where the last ones to leave. Izzie shut the door behind them and with a yawn she made her way to the stairs.

"Good night, Mer. Good night, Addison. Ah…Addison. Tell me again. I forgot. Wine and so on...you know. Why are you staying over?" Stretching she leant against the banister.

"I have to talk to Meredith about something important." Addison smiled back. "Good night."

Not questioning the just said Izzie went upstairs.

Meredith started to feel ill again. Finally she was with Addison alone. In private. The thing she had wished for the most.

"Meredith, if you are tired too you can go to bed. We can talk another time too." Not knowing what to think about the situation Addison suddenly felt uneasy and insecure.

"No. I am not that tired and I promised to take my time for you." Meredith couldn't wait to have her close and it again seemed like hours till both of them were sitting at Meredith's bed.

"It's so strange to sit with you like we are best friends." Addison started the conversation.

Meredith didn't know what to say. It was strange but wonderful strange and deep inside she wanted to move her hand over to Addison's. It was only inches away but it felt like a gaping chasm had opened out between the two of them.

"I know but I have to admit that I really misjudged you." After that sentence both of them fell silent again. Meredith had to fight hard against her feelings and the wine didn't help a bit. She crawled under the sheets and stared at the ceiling.

"You can sleep here with me or down in the living room."

"Thank you. I will go downstairs after we finished talking." Addison crawled right next to Meredith and both of them stared at the dark ceiling.

"What did you want to tell me?" Meredith tried to start over the conversation. Her heart was burning and her mind racing but she had to stay calm.