Another update this week! I'm away camping with my family and have been using my free time to write. I head home tomorrow so updates may become more sporadic again but they are coming!
Thank you so much to people who have commented! As always your words mean so much to me.
There will be more Addison, don't worry, this is not the end! Hope you enjoy.
"I'm in Seattle." Addison said quietly, not sure if she was welcome.
"One second, I will put you on speaker, just talk quietly because Ellis and Scout are asleep. I'm with Meredith." Amelia said into the phone before turning to Meredith.
"It's Addison, she is in Seattle" Amelia said, putting the phone between them and away from the side Ellis was on.
"Hi Addison" Meredith said quietly with a smile.
"Meredith, how are you doing?" Addison answered, acknowledging the stress and emotional toll that Derek's return would be taking on her.
"I'm doing OK given the circumstances. You're in Seattle?"
"Amelia called telling me what has happened, I wanted to come see how everyone is. I spent a lot of my life with Derek and even though I don't love him in the same way anymore, it hurt me when he died. And Amelia is family, and I want to meet my nephew!" Addison said, pouring out her feelings.
Meredith smiled before answering. "We just walked to the shops to get burritos for lunch, do you want to come by the house and eat with us? We can text Link to have him get you one."
"Are you sure?" Addison said uncertainly "I don't want to impose on your family time"
"You are part of the family Addison" Meredith and Amelia said in unison. All three women chuckled before Amelia added "I'll send you the address, we should be home in about forty-five minutes. Derek is sleeping so might not answer if you get there before us. Chicken burrito for you?"
"Yes please. And thank you Meredith and Amelia for inviting me over. It means a lot. See you soon!" Addison said happily before hanging up.
About twenty minutes later the others finally emerged with a bag full of burritos. Zola and Bailey were animatedly discussing their choices and the options.
By the time they entered the park, Zola and Bailey had convinced Link to run ahead to the park with them, giving them time to play before Meredith and Amelia got there.
Walking past the playground, both women smiled seeing Link push a squealing Bailey on the swing while Zola swung across the monkey bars. "Just imagine him doing that with Scout and his sibling in a couple years" Meredith whispered to Amelia.
Amelia smiled at Meredith looking at Scout in his stroller then Link in the playground feeling lucky for the beautiful family she had.
As they walked up the street towards the house Ellis started waking from her nap, grumbling as she woke up disorientated. Discovering she was in Meredith's arms she snuggled down, burying her face into her mother's shoulder.
Turning towards the house, Ellis started looking around. Seeing an unfamiliar figure on the swing out front, she turned back into her mother, hiding away.
"Addison!" Amelia called out as they walked up the driveway.
Addison turned her head and smiled as she caught sight of the group coming towards her. "Hey guys. Great to see you!" She said in greeting.
Ellis started whimpering and clung to Meredith as she tried to put her down to open the door. Seeing her daughter's discomfort Meredith turned to Addison asking "hey Addie, Ellis just woke up from a nap and is wanting a cuddle. Since Amelia has her hands full with Scout and the others aren't quite back yet, do you mind opening the door for us? Derek is home so it should be unlocked."
Addison smiled at Meredith, reaching for the door to let everyone in as Zola ran up with Bailey and Link in tow.
Seeing Addison in the doorway, Link came forward reaching out his hand saying, "you must be Addison, I'm Link, it is great to finally meet you!"
Addison smiled, reaching forward to hug Link before replying "it is great to finally meet the man who makes Amelia so happy and who has become her family!"
Zola and Bailey smiled at Addison, remembering her vaguely from Derek's funeral, before running into the study to wake their dad. "Kids, no running inside!" Meredith called out after them as she showed the adults into the dining room.
"What can I get everyone to drink?" She said as the adults sat down at the table "I have herbal and black tea, coffee and still or sparkling water. I would offer juice, but the kids are already hyper enough!" she finished with a laugh as Zola and Bailey came bouncing dragging Derek behind them as Zola happily recounted their adventures in the park.
As they walked towards the table, Derek looked up from Zola and seeing Addison at the table moved over to great her.
"Addie! It is great to see you. Are you here for work?" He said as he moved in to hug her.
She stood up to hug him before replying "I needed to see that you were actually alive, it's not every day that someone you care about who you watch get lowered into the ground turns up alive." She said with a wry chuckle. "Besides, I needed to come see my new nephew!" She finished moving towards Scout.
Derek smiled at her, moving to sit beside Meredith before responding "I'm glad you came. Even if it was just to meet the baby" he said while laughing as she pulled faces at Scout trying to make him smile.
"Are your mum and other sisters in town?" Addison asked as Meredith moved to the kitchen to get drinks and plates.
"They ALL came and suffocated Derek for the first week, I'm surprised he didn't suffer further brain damage from the lack of oxygen" Amelia said sarcastically.
"They came for the first week to see me, then they went home to their families giving us a chance to reconnect. They have booked off time to come back next week to see their 'long lost brother' with their families during the school holidays" Derek cut in.
"It seems their brother's return from the dead is more important than my wedding or my son's birth" Amelia said quietly.
Addison gave Amelia a side hug saying, "they are flawed, just remember that we love you unconditionally." Everyone voiced their agreement, smiling at Amelia and reminding her of the strength of her chosen family and its love and support.
Returning to the room Meredith gave Amelia hug before sitting beside Derek, passing out plates and handing people their burritos encouraging everyone to tuck in. The conversation began to flow easily as old friends and family caught up after years apart.