Song: : Kendall Payne - Scratch

watch?v=4LkLHIYDnvM

"I know you're only here because Dr Montgomery made you come, Dr Grey."

"Actually, Cristina told me this would be a good idea too," Meredith smiled slightly.

"Anyway," the doctor opened Meredith's chart, "do you want to tell me how you are today?"

"I'm good, great actually."

"Excellent. And why's that?"

"My life is... I'm happy. Really happy. Addison makes me happy. I passed my intern exam and my career is going really well. I'm interested in general surgery as a specialism. My friends are great, I'm great."

"I'm glad you're feeling optimistic, Dr Grey."

"Me too."

"And how do you feel about Dr Shepherd leaving?"

"Relieved. I'm relieved. It's… better without him here."

"Okay. Is there anything specific you'd like to talk about today? I know you've been through a lot lately, which is kind of why we're here."

"I guess so."

"Well?"

"Well, what do you want me to say?

"I want you to tell me about the things that have happened to you."

"Why?" Meredith frowned. "Why does everyone constantly want to dig up the past? Why can't we just leave it where it is and move on? I'm happy now – I'm bright and shiny and happy! Why is that never enough for anyone?"

"See, now where getting somewhere."

"We are getting nowhere. There is nowhere to go. I have to get to work."

The bubbles smelled of lavender.

Addison leant against the bathroom doorway, staring at the back of Meredith's head; she was facing the other way. She sighed quietly to herself. Addison knew Meredith was genuinely happy at the moment, but it worried her how little Meredith wanted to talk about everything.

Every time Meredith ignored a topic opener about Elliott Bay or Finn or Derek, Addison's chest tightened in fear. The last time she'd hidden everything she was feeling… Addison didn't want to think about that. And that was the problem.

"So," Addison said as she approached the bathtub, "you were on general today. How was the first taste of the rest of your life?" her fingers swirled the water in the massive tub.

"Amazing!" she grinned, "Bailey let me scrub in on an appendectomy and a strangulated hernia repair."

Addison chuckled at her enthusiasm.

"You're in a good mood."

"I am. Care to join me?" Meredith gestured to the empty end of the bathtub.

"Sure," Addison slipped the robe off her shoulders and let it fall to the floor.

She stepped into the steaming water and sat down, smiling at the wide-eyed look on Meredith's face.

"Hey, don't look at me like that, I am not having sex with you in the bath, so don't get any ideas!"

"Oh, I have lots of ideas," Meredith grinned, "Anyway, how would that even work? One of us would end up with a head injury!"

"Or both. That would be hard to explain."

"Well, you are the chief now, we could get away with it."

"Richard didn't leave to spend time with Adele so that I can get away with sex injuries. And besides, I work with Mark Sloan. I'd never hear the end of it." She grimaced, "You're a strange one, Grey."

"Yeah, well, you knew that going in."

"True. You have bubbles on your hair, come here."

Addison reached over to brush the foam from Meredith's hair when the door opened.

"Mer?" Cristina said, "Dr Montgomery, sorry, I didn't realise you'd be in here."

"Wait – how often do you see my girlfriend naked in the bath? Am I missing something here?" Addison protested, slightly jealously.

"Calm down, she's seen it all before," Meredith stood up and grabbed a towel from the rail, "plus, she's straight."

Addison sunk deeper under the water, the bubbles hiding her body from sight.

"What is it, Cristina?" Meredith laughed, "Addie's getting jealous."

"I am not," Addison lied.

"Burke and I broke up."

"What? What did he do? You're engaged! Screw the stupid oath, I'm going to kill that man!" Meredith said angrily.

"Mer, I broke up with him."

Meredith grabbed Cristina by the elbow and dragged her out of the bathroom, leaving Addison alone in the bathroom. She tried not to listen to them arguing.

"I can't believe you're actually doing this, Meredith. Cristina I can understand, but really? You're competing for the sparkle pager?"

"Yes! I am! I'm going to fight them and I'm going to win!" Meredith said fiercely.

"I know you could win, but when will I see you? You're going to be spending weeks at the hospital!"

"I could win? I can win and I intend to. Cristina's not the only rock star around here. Addie, you're the chief and I'll be staying in the hospital. You'll see me."

"Fine," Addison frowned.

"Fine."

They got into bed.

"Why are you staring at me? Go to sleep," Meredith sulked, not looking at her.

Addison didn't reply for a moment and Meredith rolled over, glowering.

"You're really sexy when you're angry," Addison muttered, trying not to laugh.

"Oh, don't think you're getting out of this so easily."

Addison brought their lips together softly. There was a new sense of urgency in the kiss. Meredith's fingers pulled slightly at her hair, their lips pressing together hard, chests heaving. She parted her lips as she pulled away slightly, pressing a trail of passionate kisses on Addison's neck as she threw her leg over the woman's waist. Meredith pushed her shoulders away. Addison's eyes were burning with insatiable desire.

Meredith forced her down on the bed, blocking Addison's attempts to kiss her.

"I can win this. I will. You know I can. You know what I'm capable of," she whispered, her fingers teasing the burning skin of Addison's neck.

"I know you can. I know. You will. I'm sorry."

"Good," Meredith brought their lips together again, Addison's body struggling under her as they touched. "Good."

She straddled her and began to move her hips slowly.

"Oh, god- Meredith," Addison moaned quietly, "you have… no idea… what you do to me."

"Actually," Meredith said, her voice low, "I do."

She lifted her hips enough to pull up Addison's nightgown and yanked it over her head, throwing it off the bed with a surge of elation. She laughed breathlessly as they kissed. Her hands travelled to Addison's flushed chest, her fingers touching her softly.

"Meredith," Addison groaned, "I… please…"

"What?" she smiled slowly, "tell me what you need."

"I need-" she paused to moan as Meredith rolled her hips slowly, "I need you."

"Oh. Okay."

Meredith left her alone for a moment as she pulled her top back into place and got off the bed.

"Meredith-" Addison gasped.

"I'll be back in a second. You won't be complaining in a minute."

Her words penetrated the many layers of confused arousal preventing Addison from thinking clearly. What did she mean? She sat up and watched Meredith cross the room and open her wardrobe.

She closed her eyes, trying to slow the racing of her heart.

Meredith entered the bathroom for a second and came out of the doorway slipping her robe off her shoulders. She was naked underneath.

"I didn't really see the point in wearing much," she chuckled at Addison's expression.

"Come here," Addison grinned as Meredith straddled her again and they kissed.

Meredith gave a short laugh as they broke the kiss for air. "I never got the chance to repay you for our…" she kissed her way down her body, "…study session." She said the words slowly, implying her thoughts with her suggestive tone.

"Hmm," was all Addison could reply.

Meredith reached to the bedside table as she ran her fingers up and down Addison's thighs. There was a quiet buzzing as Meredith reached for something and brought her hand between Addison's legs. Strong shockwaves of pleasure racked Addison's body as she moaned desperately as Meredith turned the power onto full.

"How many points is that?" Cristina panted.

"Well, you're winning," Izzie glowered, "but Mer's only five points behind you."

"Crap," she muttered.

'You know she said you're winning, right?" Alex shook his head.

'What did I miss?" Meredith jogged over to them.

"You're five behind Cristina."

"That means five sutures!" A grin spread across Meredith's face as she turned around to see Bailey wheeling a patient into the pit.

They shared a glance and Meredith ran in the opposite direction.

"Miranda, didn't you have a little fun when you were a resident?"

Bailey sighed, a smile playing on her lips, "I won that competition. Got my first splenectomy with that pager."

"I knew it!" Addison smirked, "so did I – not the splenectomy, the competition. The first surgery I stole with that thing was a hysterectomy."

Bailey raised her plastic coffee up; "to the removal of organs."

"I second that," Meredith appeared, "Bailey, I need surgery. Give me something. Anything."

"Junkie," Bailey muttered as Addison picked up a folder and handed it to her. "Scrub in on Dr Burke's valve repair."

Meredith dashed off in the opposite direction, only to turn around and kiss Addison's cheek quickly before leaving again.

"How is Grey?" Bailey asked, looking up at Addison.

"She's… I don't know, Miranda. She seems like she's fine – I mean, she says she's happy, but she won't talk about anything."

"Have you tried bringing it up? Elliott Bay? Or Shepherd?"

Addison made a face. "Honestly, I've given up. She just runs away, literally, and tells me she has a surgery, or changes the subject."

"You need to find another way. She can't go on like this."

"I know," Addison rubbed her temples, sighing. "I know."