Chapter 10: Pizza and Chats

A few hours had passed and this time it was Aelwyne who awoke first. She could see the warm pink sky announcing the end of the day. Her head still resting on Addison's lap and Addison's hand still resting on her head. She lay there as still as she could once she realized Addison was still asleep. Trying to stretch out the moment.

It had been some night for both of them. Addison had woken up a few times to go to the bathroom and throw up. Aelwyne's mouthwash bottle was close to done by the last time she went. Everytime she would bring Addison water hoping it would help with the headache in the morning. She basically had not slept much. Addison would not let go of her either. She kept holding onto her hand, as if she were her lifeline. Aelwyne did not mind of course. She was happy holding onto her. Aelwyne chuckled a bit remembering the embarrassment Addison had shown as she had woken up. She quieted herself again to allow the red head some more sleep. The way she had buried her head in the pillow seemed adorable to Aelwyne.

Then she remembered the pain in her eyes when she had finally come out of the bathroom. Her eyes already puffy and cheeks red. The way she had almost ran to keep her from leaving the room. From leaving her. Aelwyne was angry again. Angry she could do nothing but hold on to her. No words would take away Addison's pain. Nothing she did really could. Addison's pain was something Addison had to work through herself. She could be there while she did but that was it.

'How useless can I be? Why can't I do anything to take it away? Maybe her leaving is the best thing for her. She won't have a constant reminder of that pain walking around the hallways of the hospital. We can't make her stay just because she's a good teacher. She could be a good teacher anywhere else. But if she leaves… what do I do? I won't see her. Will I? I mean I have no reason to go find her. It's not like I want to be a neonatal surgeon do I?' Aelwyne's mind was filled with thoughts and questions.

'What do I do? I don't want her to go. But I can't tell her to stay. It's not fair. None of this is fair, dammit. But she deserves to be happy. She deserves to not feel like a failure. She deserves to not feel so much guilt. She deserves much more than our selfishness. My selfishness. I really don't want her to go.'

"I can feel you thinking." Addison said softly snapping her out of her thoughts.

"I'm sorry." She replied softly, beginning to lift her head.

"No, stay." Addison said, stopping her. "Unless you need the bathroom. If you need the bathroom then go. I'm sorry."

"I'm ok here." Aelwyne responded resting her head once more on Addison's lap.

"Good." Addison replied.

"So… want to tell me what you were thinking about?" Addison asked after a few minutes.

"I was thinking… was thinking about… I... well you." She responded quietly.

"Me? Well what were you thinking about?" Addison asked sweetly.

"It was nothing important." Aelwyne responded with a soft nervous laugh.

"I can tell it was important to you but I won't push." Addison said her hand now caressing her head once again.

"Did you enjoy your rest? Are you feeling better?" Aelwyne asked, changing the subject.

"I think it did me some good. And yes just a very slight headache now. Did you? Seemed like you were really tired." Addison asked.

"I was tired and I did enjoy the rest. Your clothes should be done. But-" Aelwyne tried but was cut off.

"You want me to leave. I understand. I mean you've done more than enough for me. I'll go get changed." Addison said abruptly getting up.

"No wait. Addie. Stop." Aelwyne said reaching her hand and managing to stop her before she stormed to wherever she thought the laundry room was.

"Addie?" Addison repeated turning to look at her.

"I'm sorry. Addison." Aelwyne corrected letting go of her hand. "Addison, I was just letting you know they were done and then I was going to ask if you'd stay kidnapped a little while longer so we could have some pizza. For dinner?"

"Oh. Ok. Pizza sounds good." Addison responded and went back to the couch.

"Ok. So how do you like it? I like Italian sausage on mine but I don't mind changing that if you want something else." She asked, getting up to get her phone.

"That sounds good." Addison replied.

Aelwyne called in the order and got some soda for the both of them. She came to the couch with the two cups.

"Can you bring those closer to us?" She asked motioning to the coasters on the coffee table.

Addison did as she asked and brought the coasters closer to their edge of the table. Aelwyne placed the cups and sat back down next to her.

"Should be here in a few minutes. The pizza place is a block away." She announced pulling out her phone and checking the time.

"You said kidnapped?" Addison asked out of nowhere.

"What?" Aelwyne was confused by the question.

"Kidnapped? You said if I'd stay kidnapped a little longer." Addison clarified.

"You don't remember much of last night, do you?" Aelwyne said looking at her with a smile.

"I remember telling Derek I would sign the papers when sober. Not much after that." Addison replied sadly.

"Well when I got to Joe's and you spotted me you called me to take you. You wanted me to bring you here. To my home. The way you asked was… peculiar. You said to kidnap you and bring you to my place." Aelwyne explained.

"Oh god. Who else was in that bar? Feels like I'm losing credibility all over." Addison asked, embarrassed and hiding her face in her hands.

"I think it was Derek, George, Izzie, Alex, and Burke. But I don't think Burke was paying much attention." She added quickly when Addison's head snapped to face her, eyes wide.

"Your friends saw me like that." Addison asked.

"It was nothing. You didn't say or do anything that would harm your reputation. I promise." Aelwyne tried to make her feel better.

"I hope so because how can I face my students? God it's going to be awful. Like if they lose respect for me. I wouldn't be able to teach. You know?" Addison rambled.

"Umm teach?" Aelwyne asked, clinging to just that word.

"Yeah, teach. I decided to stay. Decided to give it a try. I don't wanna run this time." Addison responded with a small smile.

"Really?" Aelwyne asked.

"Yes. Really." Addison said with a brighter smile.

They sat there for a while longer talking about Addison's genetic research and which specialty was Aelwyne's favorite. Addison was a little sad when Aelwyne said she was not sure which specialty was her favorite. The pizza arrived and they ate and continued to talk. Addison wondered when her next time in Europe would be and Aelwyne told her about her semester abroad. They talked for what seemed like hours enjoying each other's company.

"That was delicious. Thanks." Addison said, beginning to clear the table.

"It really was." Aelwyne said getting up to help clean up.

"Thank you. For everything you've done." Addison said as they made it to the kitchen.

"It was my pleasure." Aelwyne responded.

"Was it?" Addison chuckled. "Feels like I put you through the ringer last night. I'm sure even after the nap you're tired."

"Well I got to keep you safe and… I guess get to know you better." Aelwyne said with a smirk feeling a little closer to Addison now.

"Oh god. I think I'll go get dressed now and take my embarrassment back to the hotel." Addison said a blush growing on her cheeks.

"I'm sorry. I just couldn't help it." Aelwyne said with a laugh.

"Oh I bet. Where's my clothes?" Addison said looking away from her.

"Hold on I'll bring them." She said and quickly left.

'Credibility with intern one… gone. What the hell was I thinking? Is she gonna use this against me? Why did I have to get drunk like that? Addison you're such an idiot.'

Addison was lost in her thoughts, swimming in her embarrassment when Aelwyne got back.

"Now I can feel you thinking." She said as she made her way towards Addison.

"What?" Addison asked snapping away from her thoughts.

"What were you thinking about?" Aelwyne asked, handing her her clean clothes.

"Oh nothing. Just thinking about…" Addison began. Then continued with a sigh. "how I already lost credibility with you."

"Not true. You command respect and I give it. Nothing you've done will change that. I was just making a joke, which I won't make when we're in the hospital surrounded by other people. If it makes you uncomfortable I won't joke about it at all. I'll forget it ever happened, Dr. Montgomery" Aelwyne said as her tone went from casual to professional in a flash.

"Addison." Addison responded.

"What?" Aelwyne asked confused.

"I told you I like it when you call me Addison. So call me Addison unless we are in a professional situation." Addison explained with a smile.

"Ok then. Addison you can change in my room if you'd like. There's a laundry basket in the bathroom you can throw those in." Aelwyne smiled relaxing again.

Addison smiled and with a nod walked to the room. Aelwyne watched her go and then went to put away what was left of pizza, added the cups they had used to the dishwasher, and ran the cleaning cycle.

She went back to the laundry for the last box of books. She had moved here many months ago but with long intern hours she had barely had any time to finish putting everything in its place. This was also why the guest room was not set up for visits. Or why there was a lack of linens still since they were still in a box. She knew the room would have been useful especially the night before but books were more important to her. She set about to finish filling up the bookcase. She was looking in the box with her back to the hallway when Addison came back.

"Your place is amazing." Addison said now fully dressed in her own clothes with her hair up in a ponytail.

"Thanks." Aelwyne said with her back to her as she gathered books from the box.

"Can I help?" Addison offered.

"If you want to. That'd be nice." Aelwyne said, finally turning to her with a smile.

"Ok then." Addison eagerly.

After emptying the box and having placed the books away. Addison began looking around at the bookcase and the kitchen and the living room. Aelwyne followed her eyes trying to figure out if she was looking for something.

"Something the matter?" She asked.

"This is a really nice place. How much is the rent here?" Addison asked, turning to Aelwyne.

"Oh I own it. Never really rented a place before." Aelwyne answered without a thought.

"You own this place? You…" Addison began but stopped.

"Hmmm?" Aelwyne said, raising a brow.

"Oh nothing. Like I said, a very nice place. Anyway do you know where my phone is? My pager?" Addison said changing the topic.

"Oh I put your phone to charge over there in the kitchen and your pager is also charging with mine. I'll go get it." Aelwyne said as she left to get it.

Addison went to get her phone as Aelwyne walked back to the room.

"Here you go. No pages for either of us." Aelwyne announced.

"Hang on, I'm getting a call." Addison said as her phone began to vibrate.

-Hello-

-Yes. Yang… I know… I'll tell Bailey… stop threatening… yeah you can gather your things… alright goodbye-

"She's made it through the 24 hrs I take it." Aelwyne said chuckling.

"Let me call Bailey before she calls again. Also how the hell did she get my number?" Addison said with a bit of surprise.

"It's Cristina Yang you are talking about." Aelwyne responded with a sigh.

"Right." Addison said shaking her head and dialing out.

-Hi Miranda. It's Addison… good thank you… you? about Yang… Could you discharge her please…-

"Please don't tell on her." Aelwyne pleaded in a whisper to Addison.

-Huh? Bothering me?- Addison said looking at Aelwyne and with a nod -No not at all… I just remembered… thank you I appreciate it… see you Monday-

"Thank you." Aelwyne said with a sense of relief.

"You interns are something. Now tell Yang she better lose my number." Addison replied as she let out a loud sigh and shook her head once more.

"Of course Addison." Aelwyne chuckled.

"Well I think this is it. Time for me to leave. Did I leave anything anywhere else?" Addison asked.

"Oh your purse is in my car. I could drive you back to Joe's if you like." Aelwyne said as she grabbed her keys.

"Not necessary. Thank you. I'll just take a cab to Joe's and go back to the hotel." Addison responded.

"Ok." Aelwyne simply replied.

"Ael." Addison called shyly.

The sound of her nickname cleared out the little sadness that creeped in once she had realized Addison was about to leave. She snapped to look back at Addison who kept shifting uncomfortably.

"Hmm?" She said walking back to Addison.

"Thank you. For taking care of me. For being with me. Just thanks." Addison said softly, gaze on the ground.

"I'm glad you chose me to kidnap you. I'll be here anytime you need." She replied placing her hand reassuringly on Addison's shoulder.

"So umm one… ummm one last hug, you know, like for the road ummm can you? I mean…" Addison stammered and blushed profusely.

"Definitely." Aelwyne said as she brought Addison closer to her in an embrace.

She was content holding her like this. Breathing her in. Her hair smelled like coconut too. She fit perfectly in Aelwyne's arms. Aelwyne wished the embrace would last forever. She rubbed circles on Addison's back. Then Addison began to mirror the motion too. As she did she nuzzled on Aelwyne's shoulder and Aelwyne could feel her warm breaths on her neck. This sent shivers down her spine and she was covered in goosebumps in an instant. Then her heartbeat accelerated with each of Addison's breaths. Aelwyne prayed Addison could not feel her heartbeat. She focused on keeping her breathing as even as possible.

She was freaking out internally. Trying her hardest to seem as if everything was fine inside of her. Then finally Addison let go and Aelwyne was thankful because she was not sure she could have kept her cool.

"Thanks again." Addison said with a smile clearly unaware of the battle Aelwyne had just had with herself.

"Yeah sure." Aelwyne said quickly, her mouth completely dry, attempting to smile.

'Oh god. There's something wrong with me. What the hell? Aelwyne, calm down!'

Well I completely forgot about posting this chapter. I apologize. It was supposed to go up right after chapter 9. Anyway hope y'all are still with me. Let me know what you think of how things are progressing or how you like the story. Next chapter should come soon since I was already working on it. ;)