Chapter 19: Fine

The movie had barely been playing when Addison's breaths even out next to her as she fell into a deep sleep. The blonde just watched her and smiled, rolling her eyes and chuckling lightly as the redhead reflexively tightened her hold on her when she went to move.

"Don't need a living pillow, my ass." She whispered as she recalled Addison's words when Meredith offered herself as a cuddle partner.

"No, thank you. I can sit here. I'm fine. I don't need another pillow." Addison said as she settled next to Meredith on the bed pulling the covers over both of their legs.

"I'm a living pillow though. I come with perks." She countered with a smirk.

"I don't need a living pillow either. I'm fine" Addison said as she let out a yawn.

"Suit yourself." Meredith shrugged.

"I will." Addison let out with a pout, which Meredith thought was one of the cutest things the redhead ever did. She now lived for her pouts and her giggles, which did not come often. As well as those times when she smiled and her eyes would crinkle at the corners and sparkle a bit.

She started to fantasize with Addison's smiles when Addison cleared her throat and looked at her a bit confused.

"Are you going to watch it sitting up? It's three in the morning and you have to work in three hours." She asked quickly and raised a brow as she leaned back on the head rest and faced her.

"You too." Addison simply said looking back at her.

"Whatever." Meredith sighed.

"That's right." Addison looked towards the tv.

"You're very snippy when you're sleepy huh? Like a toddler." Meredith giggled.

She had no idea what had come over her, really. A few days ago she would not have dared speak to Addison like this. Not too long ago any conversation with the redhead made her nervous, too nervous. Not too long ago the only thing she could do was observe her from afar. But now. Now Addison had protected her. Now the redhead had slept in her arms. Now here she sat on her bed annoying her because it was fun and she enjoyed the look on her face.

"Am not." Addison rebuked.

"Are too." Meredith chuckled.

"Am not." Addison fought back.

"Are too." Meredith smirked.

"Are you going to play the movie? Or do I have to sleep over at Mark's?" Addison scowled.

"I thought you didn't need to cuddle. Besides, you like me too much to leave me." Meredith remarked and at that Addison went to get up. The blonde moved quickly and grabbed her hand. "No, Addie no."

The cold glare Addison gave her made her chuckle in spite of herself and the redhead went to leave once more.

"I am better than Sloan…" Meredith chuckled a bit and raised her brow. "Addie, I'm sorry. Stay." She began to sober up, still unable to keep the smile from her face, which was not helping her case with the redhead, who kept trying to pull away. "I'm done. Please don't leave me." She begged a bit more seriously, with a small hopeful smile, which seemed to do the trick.

Addison let out a sigh and shook her head but settled once more next to Meredith. The blonde's smile only grew as the redhead turned to look at her.

"Stop that." Addison tried to keep the stern façade but it cracked as she looked into Meredith's smiling eyes.

"I love it when you smile." Meredith grinned and Addison rolled her eyes, looking away trying to hide the blush on her face. "And when you're mad too. So it's ok."

"Are you going to start the movie?" Addison gave her a small smile.

"Right."

After that they had been quiet but at some point Addison had shifted so that she was laying down and as soon as she fell asleep she had turned into Meredith, wrapping her arms around her midriff. The blonde went to move again and the redhead's eyes fluttered open.

"Hi." Meredith said softly and Addison sleepily grinned at her. The blonde felt as if the wind had been knocked out of her. How could she do that while half asleep?

"Sleepy." Addison grumbled and furrowed herself onto her side.

"Addie." Meredith started to run her fingers through her hair and again that silly sleepy grin showed up. "Let me lay down?" She smiled and Addison giggled a bit while letting go just enough so that Meredith could slide down and lay on the bed.

As soon as she settled, Addison wrapped her arms around her letting out a content sigh. She mumbled something Meredith did not quite catch but when she asked her to repeat it, she was met with a very light snore. She felt the tension ebb away once more from the redhead as she slid back into her deep slumber. After a while of admiring Addison's sleeping face, Meredith too followed.

When she woke up she felt so warm and cozy and calm. As she opened her eyes she was met with Meredith's sleeping form slightly under her. She grew slightly nervous but the serenity on the blonde's face eased her nerves and soothed her. Her head was suddenly empty, the only thing that occupied it was her, Meredith. Slivers of sunlight shone through the blinds as the early morning sun rose making her golden locks shimmer and all she wanted now was to touch them. It was a beautiful sight. She was entranced, mesmerized by this sleeping beauty, who apparently had woken up.

Baby blue eyes met hers and she felt the heat on her cheeks as they crinkled at the corners when Meredith gave her a sweet and sleepy smile. She had not noticed that as she had actually touched her hair, her hand was still entangled in it. Once she noticed she quickly pulled away and almost fell off the edge of the bed, even though it was so big.

"Addie." Meredith moved quickly and held her in place. "It's ok. Don't run." She grumbled.

"Who was running? I-I just need the bathroom, Meredith." Addison said quickly, trying to cover her tracks.

"Hmm. Can the bathroom wait a bit longer? Stay. Warm." Meredith whined and yawned while she buried herself onto her.

"Meredith, you'll miss rounds." Addison said and patted the hand that held onto her.

"Rounds!" Meredith woke up at that and jumped off the bed.

"Relax. We have time." Addison chuckled a bit as she watched Meredith become a whirlwind trying to get ready. "Coffee? Toast? Fruits?" She asked.

"All of it?" Meredith gave her a small smile.

"All of it." Addison repeated.

"Can I use the bathroom before you?" She asked quickly.

"I don't need to use the bathroom." Addison looked at her a bit confused.

"Wasn't that where you were going when we woke up?" Meredith tilted her head and then let a smirk tug onto her lips. "Guess the urge went away." She added before she disappeared into the bathroom. Addison only watched her go and mentally slapped herself at her carelessness.

"Hey if you need…" Meredith began as they walked through the doors.

"I'm fine, Meredith." Addison said for what had probably been the 7th time that morning.

"That's what I always say." Meredith said, crossing her arms on her chest.

"I am, though." Addison assured.

"Yeah, I'm fine too." Meredith pouted.

"You'll get wrinkles like that." Addison smirked.

"You'll like me anyway." Meredith shrugged.

"I guess we'll have to see about that? Anyway, off with you or you'll be late." Addison urged.

"Right, bye…" Meredith started and then leaned in and whispered, "Addie." with a giggle.

"Bye, Meredith." Addison whispered back and smiled.

With their silly smiles they parted ways. Addison made her way towards the attending's lounge while Meredith was off to the locker room. Once she got there she found Cristina getting ready for the day.

"Hey." Meredith greeted in an unusually peppy tone while she quickly began to get ready.

"Hello to you too." Cristina smirked.

"What?" Meredith eyed her suspiciously. Cristina turned to her and looked at her up and down before speaking again.

"Well, I know you didn't get laid or anything but you look… glowy and gooey and disgusting." The brunette said with a wince.

"You are an idiot." Meredith said, rolling her eyes.

"Nah, you're the one with the idiotic grin. All shiny like Izzie." Cristina said as she shivered in mocking disgust.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Izzie said as she walked in.

"You're too happy for me. Your brightness makes my skin crawl. That's what it means." Cristina replied nonchalantly.

"You know what…" Izzie began but was quickly interrupted by Bailey.

"Get a move on people. I don't have all day." Bailey grumbled from the doorway and was gone as soon as she had appeared.

"This isn't over." Izzie glared.

"It is Iz. It is." Cristina shrugged and walked out.

"Why is she always like that?" Izzie asked.

"Because she's Cristina and you are… you." Meredith said as she headed for the door.

"Wait, what is that supposed to mean?" Izzie caught up with her.

"Iz." Meredith groaned.

"Yeah, I know. Fine." Izzie huffed.

"Ah c'mon Iz." Meredith threw her puppy eyes and the blonde smiled.

"Ok. ok." Izzie said as they reached the counter.

"Nice of you to join us." Bailey said as they approached. "O'Malley, Burke. Yes, he's back to work and no Yang you cannot be on his service." She said before either George or Cristina could say anything. "Karev, the pit. Your glares have no effect on me, boy. Neither do yours Yang. You're with Torres."

"But…" Cristina tried.

"Shut up. Stevens, Montgomery. Grey, Sloan. Now get a move on." Bailey shooed them away. "Grey, before you go, a word."

Meredith gave Cristina a worried look before turning back to her resident. Bailey motioned to follow her into a scan room. Meredith followed dutifully with a vague idea as to why Bailey wanted to talk to her.

"You're on a 48." Bailey began.

"What?" Meredith asked, a bit confused.

"You switched with Yang. So 48 for you." Bailey shrugged and before she could protest she began to talk once more. "How's Dr. Montgomery?"

"She's… she'll be ok. I guess we should give her time." Meredith sighed.

"Yes, she needs that. You be good to her Grey. She deserves happiness." Bailey gave her a knowing look that made her flush.

"I…" Meredith began but Bailey interrupted her with another question.

"You do have feelings for her right?" She asked. "Don't answer that. Just tell me you'll take care of her." She added quickly.

"I'll always take care of her." Meredith said without hesitation.

"Good. Now off you go. Sloan should be waiting for you." Bailey said practically shoving her out the door.

The day in Sloan's service had not been what she had expected after all the stories she had heard from Izzie and Alex. By the end she felt like she had actually learned. Of course there were flirty remarks thrown here and there but that was expected, it was Mark after all. She was also coming back from a coffee run though in all fairness she had offered to go get it.

"Good job there, Grey." Mark said as she handed him his coffee.

"I guess plastics has its moments. Especially since I get to do everything now that your hand is mostly out of commission." Meredith said with a cheeky grin.

"Not all but lifts and boob jobs. I told you. Even when you can't do either of those yet." He winked and smirked.

"You know that's not gonna work on me, right?" She gave him an exasperated look.

"I have to practice my charm." Mark smiled.

"Your charm needs work." Meredith shrugged as she sipped from her own coffee.

"Nah." He shook his head. "It doesn't work on you because you only have eyes for tall redheads."

"Talking about Addison." She started a bit more seriously.

"Wow. You didn't even deny it." He chuckled.

"Mark." She said and her tone seemed to get through to him as he sobered himself quickly.

"What?" He asked.

"I can't… I can't take care of her tonight. Could you?" She asked.

"Don't worry Meredith. I'll take care of her as if it were you." He said reassuringly.

"Just… keep your hands to yourself." She gave him a small glare.

"I doubt Addison will let me touch her." Mark chuckled.

"Damn right." Addison said behind them, startling the both of them.

"Red, really? I almost dropped my coffee." Mark complained.

"Hi, Addie." Meredith smiled.

"She made you drop some of yours." Mark pointed out but Meredith did not pay attention, her eyes were only on Addison.

"I'm sorry, Meredith." Addison said as she grabbed some of the napkins the blonde had brought with the coffee.

"What? I'm fine. Thanks, Addie." Meredith was still grinning.

"That's good. Anyway, I was heading out." Addison said, smiling back.

"You know I'm right here right?" Mark said, looking between the two of them.

"Yeah, yeah." Meredith said to him in a dismissive tone. "I'm on a 48." She turned to her.

"Oh, well I didn't mean for you to come with me. I was just…" Addison began.

"I know. I was just saying Addie. But listen, just go to the hotel, take a nice warm shower, order some dinner, play one of the Christmas movies and relax." Meredith instructed.

"Meredith, you don't have to worry about me. I'm fine." Addison said as she looked down.

"I'm fine too. That's why I'm telling you." Meredith tilted her head and grinned brightly.

"It's ok Grey. I'll be taking care of this one." Mark said as he wrapped an arm around Addison.

"Mark…" Addison began to protest.

"Thank you." Meredith said to him and then looked at her. "Addie, just let us take care of you. Just for the next few days. Please."

"I can take care of myself." Addison protested and started to walk away. "Bye." She said as she walked past Meredith.

"Bye, Addie." She chuckled.

"I'll make sure she's ok." Mark said and quickly went after Addison. "Hey if anything happens with Mrs. Finnigan page me."

Meredith nodded and watched him catch up to Addison, who clearly started bickering. She chuckled at the two and picked up the chart they had been working on. She was walking down one of the more secluded hallways, known to be the spot to take naps when there were none on call rooms, when she was stopped by someone. Those hauntingly dreamy blue eyes met hers and she felt a surge of rage but also uneasiness.

"Hello, Meredith."

"Derek."

And then there were 19! Here we go, don't hate. I know this one is a bit on the short side but it's ok (ᵔᴥᵔ). Anyway, I wanted to let you awesome people know we are getting close to the final chapters of this story. This is just a heads up. Don't want to catch you guys by surprise. Thanks for following along and leaving all your comments and likes. You guys are awesome. Until next week. ;)