Hi all, reviews were and are always appreciated.

Crazy-Chica6: Thanks very much

McDayDreaming: I understand, I appreciate your Meredith feedback particularly as I want to write her as an enjoyable supporting character to our favorite couple.

Right Hand Blue: Haha, here you go.

Queen Satan: Glad to hear it.

addiekatefan: Yes he would/will...but he needs to really believe it himself first.

Author's note:

Also I'm really not entirely sure about how to do this content thing. Most of this story is fine with a T rating, at least as far as I can tell. However, I'm unclear about some of chapters I've posted with some more questionable content. I am wondering if they make the story need an M rating. I've seen a few stories where people write them mostly as T, and give a specific warning at the top of a given chapter about the content, which is what I will do here. I'd appreciate thoughts though, I could post the M content in a separate chapter post in the "rated M" section and those who want to read it can just check that filtered section. I haven't had problems so far, but I'm sensitive to it.

That being said, first part of the chapter is rated M. Usual disclaimer applies...I own nothing.

Previously: Meredith comes over for dinner and bonds with the Shepherds

Summary (as per requests): On call room sex, and then Gracie comes to spend the night with Addison and Derek so that Meredith can go out on the town with her intern friends.

Enjoy and please please leave a review. Usual disclaimer applies.

Chapter 53: Little Angel

Stress was not a good thing, and it was something she was familiar with. The house was going well, but there were too many decisions. Work was fine, but it was far too busy and Addison was tired, sleep deprived and sex deprived. She missed Derek and she missed having free time to herself.

"Addie, are you on break," her husband was grinning and Addison was decidedly not amused.

"What does it look like," she asked.

"Come on," he grabbed her hand and before she knew what was happening, he'd pulled her into a deserted on-call room.

"Derek," she looked around, but he'd already begun an assault on her neck, his kisses warming her entire core.

"Derek," less protest in her tone this time.

His hand was already working its way under her skirt and stroking her gently.

"Oh God," with all the work and the house building in the past few weeks, sex had been last on their list, until now apparently.

"Mmm, you taste good," he was unbuttoning her blouse.

"Derek," she tried to protest, but ended with a soft cry as his fingers dipped between her swollen folds.

"Hush," he whispered, "you can't draw attention to us."

"Well," she hissed, "then don't," and was unable to finish.

"You were saying," he slowed his movements.

"Please Derek, don't," she begged trying to restrain her reactions.

"Don't what," he didn't seem to care much what she was saying as he picked up the pace again.

"Don't tempt me," she managed.

"Isn't it too late," he asked sounding slightly surprised.

"No," she pulled all her willpower together and then whimpered as he retracted his fingers.

"What was that," he asked.

"Nothing," she murmured.

"Really," he rubbed up against her and she let out a feeble cry.

"Damn you," she snapped finally.

"What do you want Addie," he was positively grinning, "and please be clear, I'm slightly confused."

"Fine, just don't be evil about it," she finally relented.

"Can't have it both ways, either I make you collapse with pleasure any way I want, or you walk around all hot and bothered for another," he hesitated, "twelve hours?"

"Derek," she hated him in that moment.

"Offer ends in five, four, three," he started to count down.

"Okay okay," she caved just as he knew she would.

His fingers slipped into her stroking her carefully and she slumped against the wall.

Derek eased her over to one of the beds and lifted her up onto it, leaning her back and spreading her legs.

He pulled down her stockings and when his tongue flicked against her, Addison cried out.

She tensed suddenly as she heard voices and expected him to pause, but he didn't and she felt herself start to writhe under his touch and pant heavily. He was such a tease.

She felt a whimper bubble up; it escaped before she could smother it and a second later his hand fell across her mouth effectively silencing her.

Derek enjoyed this part of sex, he didn't have to worry as much about making noise at this point and he could push her, torture her as much as she could possibly take. He was fairly sure she didn't know her own limits.

Derek was greatly appreciative of his wife's adventuresome side. He focused on caressing her bundle of nerves and carefully and smoothly inserted a finger into her wet channel. She bucked up towards him and his hand prevented her yelp from erupting.

He kept her on the edge for a few minutes, always pausing before she began to contract.

Once the passersby left, he removed his hand preferring to hear her tortured attempts to silence herself.

Her hand flew to her own mouth and she bit it, enough to silence the tortured cries as her husband's tongue circled her clit and a second finger joined the first burying themselves in her heat. When his other hand found her nipple under her bra her panting and groaning almost made him lose it.

"God Derek, please," she begged, "I need you."

He loved to hear that phrase from her lips. He swiftly unzipped his pants and leaned over her.

He teased her once more as he rubbed the head against her.

"Please," she begged.

They both gasped with pleasure as he thrust up into her.

"Don't move," he hissed, the feeling was just too good and he was afraid any movement might send him over the edge.

She lay quietly below him waiting for him to relax.

"Okay," he began to move in long languid thrusts that stimulated her clit with every movement.

"Yes," she arched towards him, "yes Derek."

"Feel so good baby, that's it," he encouraged her.

"Derek, harder" her eyes were closed, her cheeks flushed, she was so close.

He was fighting every fiber in his body to wait for her, finally he stuck his hand down to her and rubbed her clit between his two fingers and she gasped throwing her head back as her walls began milking him frantically, two thrusts later he came in her arms.

"Wow," she whispered, "I missed that."

He kissed her gently, "time to get back to work."

She walked out first, a little saunter in her step and Derek groaned, he wanted her again already.

Later that day:

"Dr. Shepherd," Meredith Grey had been watching the attending work for a few minutes. Earlier in the day she had been tense and clearly on edge, now something was different.

"Yes Dr. Grey," Addison didn't turn around and Meredith was reminded that at work she was in fact not a friend, but an intern.

Addison wasn't trying to be hurtful, but she was busy because Derek's venture into the closet had distracted her and taken her away from the darn charts that kept piling up.

"Are you going to lunch soon," Meredith decided to wait to ask, but she didn't want to lose her chance altogether.

"Yes, now as a matter a fact," Addison turned with a small smile.

"What can I do for you," she asked the younger woman.

"Well," Meredith hesitated, "Christina and Izzie want to go out for drinks and they have some friends who have a friend in town for the weekend," she trailed off.

"Just drop her off whenever," Addison knew exactly where Meredith was going with the story.

"You're sure," she still looked at Addison uncertainly.

"It sounds great, check with Derek will you though," she realized her husband might have other plans if today was any indication.

"Okay," Meredith turned, "Thanks Dr. Shepherd."

Derek was scrubbing up for the surgery when Meredith entered the room.

"Hi," she stepped up to the sink next to him.

"Dr. Grey," he nodded.

"I asked Dr. Shepherd first about this and she said to ask you," Meredith hesitated, "could you baby-sit for Gracie tonight, Izzie and Christina have some friends who have a friend," she didn't meet his gaze as it turned to her.

Derek hesitated wondering if he should make any comment about the friend of a friend, but he decided it was none of his business.

"Sure," he said finally, "we can have her overnight if…" he let the sentence hang.

Meredith heard the unspoken question at the end and blushed, she hated these conversations. She always felt guilty if she wanted to have fun, especially considering she had a daughter, but her experience with Gracie's father was supposed to have meant something, she had been absolutely in awe of how her heart started pounding in his presence. That hadn't gone like her young heart thought it would, although looking back, there hadn't been much hope - if any - to begin with.

"Dr. Grey," she jerked back to reality.

"That would be great, I always hate having to wake her up when I come to collect her at Richard's," she finally responded wondering if she'd saved herself from any certainties.

Derek let it go, "let's go save a life," he said entering the OR with Meredith right behind him.

Later that night Derek and Addison had made kid food, macaroni and cheese, found some board games and child proofed the apartment.

Meredith showed up at five thirty with Gracie in tow.

"Hi," she smiled as Derek opened the door with Addison at his side.

Both of them stared at Meredith in shock, the petite intern had essentially been in casual clothes or scrubs since they'd first met. She was stunning; if Addison wasn't convinced of her husband's affections she could have been jealous.

Derek had already focused on Gracie, kneeling down in front of her with a smile.

"Meredith, you look great," Addison complimented her and Meredith grinned back.

"It's fun to dress up a bit, we're going out to a bar," her black dress clung beautifully emphasizing her tiny figure and her wrap, clutch and delicate shoes clearly helped her confidence level. Addison could picture her right before Gracie was born turning heads, one obviously been turned quite far.

"Have a great time," Addison said, "we'll see you in the morning around 11?"

Meredith hesitated, "I can come by earlier."

"No, we'll do breakfast," Addison promised wanting the younger woman to have a good time.

"Thanks," Meredith also knelt down at that point, facing her daughter.

"Gracie baby," and the child turned to her with a bit of uncertainty.

"Addison and Derek are going to play with you this evening and make breakfast with you tomorrow," she said.

"Pancakes," it was a question and Derek nodded emphatically.

"Absolutely, and we'll make smiley faces out of cherries and ice cream," he promised.

Gracie's eyes lit up and Meredith eyed him suspiciously, "have fun okay honey." She gave her daugther a tight hug.

"Bye mommy," there were no tears or anything as Meredith pulled away.

"She's used to spending the night elsewhere, at Richard's or once at Lexie's place, or Izzie's," Meredith responded to Addison's raised eyebrows.

"Okay, let's go," Derek extended his hand and Gracie followed him inside.

"Here's her bag, with everything she'll need," Meredith passed Addison the duffle, "and my cell is on at all times, just call if there's an issue. If she wants to call before she goes to sleep for some reason, that's fine, if not I won't worry."

"Go on Meredith," Addison urged her, "have a good time, we'll be fine."

Meredith flashed her one grateful smile and vanished down the stairs; Addison closed the door and turned to face the living room where Gracie and Derek were already playing Go Fish.

"You hungry Gracie," she asked.

"Yes," came the quick answer.

"You and Derek finish up, we have some macaroni and cheese for you," Addison informed her and was pleased to see the little girl's eyes lit up.

"Can we watch a movie," Gracie asked and Addison hesitated.

They hadn't really thought of that, they could rent one, but she wasn't sure if Meredith had specific content rules.

"Sure," Derek hadn't quite understood his wife's hesitation and Addison suppressed a sigh.

She went into the kitchen and set the table, just minutes later her husband and Gracie appeared.

"Did you beat him that quickly," she asked Gracie curiously.

"Someone was hungry," Derek informed her and Addison nodded with a smile as he set Gracie in the chair.

"Where's mommy," Gracie asked curiously once she had eaten some of the pasta.

"She's out with Aunt Christina and Izzie," Derek answered.

"What are they doing," another innocent question.

Addison hesitated before responding, "having an adult evening together," she finally said.

"Oh," and Gracie seemed content to leave it at that.

Derek exchanged a glance with Addison and then did a double take when he looked at Gracie. In a matter of seconds she'd managed to smear cheese all over her face.

"Uh Addie," he finally said barely managing to hold in his laughter.

"What," she glanced up at him and saw the direction of his gaze.

"Gracie," she was impressed.

"Sorry," the child looked remorseful.

"It's fine," Addison got the rag and wiped the cheese off her little cheeks.

Derek watched her interact with Gracie, suddenly filled with such a sense of hopefulness that he had to look away.

"I think that's enough for one night, are you full," Addison questioned Gracie who nodded vigorously.

"Can you go wash your hands," she asked and Gracie hopped out of the chair and vanished into the bathroom.

Derek kissed her on the cheek as she cleared the table.

"Sorry about the movie," he apologized, "we'll go for G rated."

"Ratitouee," she suggested finally and Derek laughed.

"Okay, Gracie," he turned to look for her.

She appeared with her coat in hand and Addison had to laugh agaiin at her eager expression.

"Let's go Uncle Derek," she urged.

"Okay," he followed her out the door.

Gracie held his hand willingly as they walked along the sidewalk, and Derek was almost overcome by the sensation of walking down to the store with her.

It felt so right for him to do this, like it was something he'd been born to do. He'd never done much child caring, he had patients certainly who were young, and he had nieces and nephews, but these moments alone with Gracie would do a lot more to assure him he was ready to be a parent than he realized.

As they browsed the shelves of children's movies, Gracie was contemplative, much like Meredith during a surgery. He watched her eyes take in the details of the covers, she couldn't read a huge amount of it, but titles were certainly easy enough.

"Mommy doesn't believe in fairy tales," it was a statement that took Derek by surprise.

"We never get them," Gracie paused and looked up at Derek.

"Why do you think that means she doesn't believe," he questioned and then noticed they were in front of the Disney shelf.

"She just doesn't believe in happily ever after," Gracie explained solemnly.

Derek wasn't quite sure what to say, not much in Meredith's life indicated to him that she should, but did she not believe, or did she not want Gracie to be seeing the movies and why?

"Can we get one," the inevitable question.

Derek was stuck, he knew that Gracie saw them just as fairy tales, but would Meredith mind?

"How about we get two," he needed Addison's advice.

"Cinderella," she announced proudly.

"And," he held out Ratitouee.

"Okay," she was content.

Derek got his membership and they headed back.

While Gracie went to the bathroom he turned to Addison.

"Meredith doesn't believe in fairy tales, Gracie wanted Cinderella," he said and his panicked look almost made her laugh.

"Is it okay for her to watch," he wanted to know.

"Stick with the rat chef one," Addison said finally.

"Okay," he nodded and turned around to find Gracie standing there.

"No Cinderella," she said finally.

"I think you'll like the other one too, and if your mom is okay with it, then we'll watch Cinderella next time," Addison supplied kneeling in front of her.

"Okay," Gracie didn't seem that upset.

"Let's do pajamas and teeth first," Addison suggested, "while Derek sets it up."

She helped Gracie change and then carefully brush her little teeth.

"Movie," Gracie asked once she'd rinsed.

"Yep," Addison led her out into the living room.

Derek was sitting reading a magazine, but as Gracie broke into a run he looked up just in time to catch her as she pounced on him.

"Oof," he grinned good-naturedly "aren't you getting a little big for that?"

"Mommy says that too," Gracie scrambled fully onto his lap.

"I'll be she does," he muttered reaching for the remote.

Addison settled down next to him and pulled a blanket across the three of them. Derek wrapped his arm around his wife and a contented silence fell over them.

Gracie watched the movie eagerly, but towards the end began to drift off, although she made it to the end.

For their parts, Derek and Addison weren't really watching.

They were miles away in their own world of hopes and dreams. Gracie's presence had somehow brought a new level of intimacy to their lives in just one evening. Her simple observations and statements made them realize that once they had a house and were settled in, children would be in their future.

They were both ready to become parents when the time was right.

Addison couldn't get over how Meredith had raised her on her own, and Derek couldn't get Gracie's statement about Meredith out of his head. The movie ended and they both realized that Gracie had slumped against Derek's chest and her eyes were fully closed.

Addison smothered a chuckle, "bedtime."

Derek carried her into the guest room and gently set her down under the covers tucking her in carefully.

"She's an absolute angel," he whispered smoothing back her hair.

"I know," Addison responded turning off the light.

They left the door open with the hall light on for her and headed to bed.

"Thanks for saying yes to taking her tonight," Derek put his arms around Addison as she burrowed under the covers.

"You're welcome," she murmured.

The next morning:

"Wake up wake up," was the first thing Addison heard before the earthquake hit.

"What," Derek sat up like a shot next to her.

"Let's go to the park," and Addison realized the floor had not in fact caved in beneath them as she came face to face with a very awake little girl.

"Gracie," Derek sighed trying not to sound impatient.

"It's sunny out Uncle Derek!"

"Gracie," Addison tried this time.

"Please," she whined.

"Go get clothes on," Derek relented first.

"You know," Addison waited until she vanished, "when we have kids, there is no way I'm letting you near the discipline," she informed him.

"What," he glanced at her looking hurt.

"Derek, you didn't even wait ten seconds before you gave in, what are you doing to do when our daughter wants to go to go to her first concert," Addison asked him.

"Lock the door," he muttered as he climbed out of bed.

"Derek," Addison groaned flopping down on the pillow again.

He glanced over his shoulder as he headed to the bathroom, "the park is not a concert Addie. We will be fine."

"It's the principle of it," she said finally.

"She's not ours," he reminded her.

"God help us when it is," she retorted, but losing some of the annoyance from her tone.

He kissed her on the forehead and vanished out the door, "you're on breakfast duty," he called as he left with Gracie.

"Get ice cream and cherries at the store," she shouted back.

By the time Gracie and Derek returned, Addison had batter and a heated pan ready.

"Ice cream and berries," Derek set them down and Addison burst out into genuine laughter. Her husband looked exhausted, Gracie looked absolutely wound up.

"We went to the park, and we bought a kite and we ran around and chased it, and there was a puppy and…" Gracie paused for a breath.

"I need a shower," Derek groaned and vanished into the bedroom.

"Did you tire him out," Addison asked the little girl.

"Uh huh," she nodded.

"Okay come here and let me get you out of that coat," Addison helped her struggle with it.

"Ready to set the table," Addison asked, Gracie was a good helper.

She stood on the stool next to Addison while they began making breakfast, Derek joined them a short while later.

Just as they were finishing up there was a knock.

"Wow, how long were we in the park," Derek glanced at the clock, it was just a little before 11.

"A while," Addison began clearing plates and Derek pulled open the door.

"Mommy mommy mommy," Gracie bounded into Meredith's open arms.

"Hi sweetie," Meredith clung to her, "did you have fun?"

"Yeah," Gracie nodded, "I want to come back."

Meredith just smiled, "Well then, what do you say?"

"Thank you Uncle Derek, and Aunt Addison," Gracie said promptly.

"Our pleasure," Addison appeared next to her husband.

"Go get all your stuff honey," Meredith set her down and she was off like a shot.

"I hope she wasn't too much trouble," Meredith said instantly.

"Not at all," Addison assured her, "lots of energy, I don't know how you do it."

Meredith rolled her eyes, but her heart wasn't in it, "she keeps me on the go, that's for sure."

"Did you have a good time," Addison asked curiously, but Meredith just nodded - she said nothing.

"Aunt Addison," Gracie's voice filtered out into the living room and Addison headed off to the bedroom.

"We got movies," Derek hesitated, "she wanted to get Cinderella, but she said something that made us think you wouldn't want her to watch it."

Meredith's eyes darkened slightly, "What was that?"

"That you didn't believe in fairy tales or happily ever after," he finally said.

She shifted, "Dr. Shepherd…"

"Derek," he said quietly.

"Derek," she tried again, "if Gracie wants to watch one when she comes over here, that's fine, I don't tell her no often. But I don't watch them with her, and I don't really have them in the house."

"Okay, if you're sure," he said.

"She knows the difference;" Meredith said softly, "between real life and fairy tales by now, the occasional movie won't change that."

Gracie and Addison returned at that moment and Derek let the rest of his questions go.

The two headed off and Derek turned to his wife.

"I miss her already," he admitted.

"Me too," she nodded, "we'll do it again soon."

"She did tire me out," he flopped onto the couch and Addison studied him.

"Looks like we'll need to produce some offspring while you can still run after them," she teased heading for the kitchen leaving Derek already falling asleep again on the sofa.