Chapter 24: Officially Girlfriends

Addison was in a land far away thinking about Meredith's intoxicatingly addictive lips. The chart she had been working on lay forgotten on her lap as her consciousness drifted into dreamland. She was so lost she failed to notice Mark approaching with the newest addition to Seattle Grace. An addition that Addison had actually been expecting.

"Are you gonna welcome me or are you gonna stay over there in Meredith Land?" The mocking voice of Amelia Shepherd startled her which resulted on her dropping the chart she had on her lap.

"Dammit Amy." Addison snapped looking at her for a moment before realization hit. "Amy! You made it." She added cheerfully with a smile.

"Wow." Amelia pouted.

"Sorry Ames but we lost her a long time ago." Mark chuckled next to her. "Meredith's got her wrapped around her little finger. Though Yang says it's the other way around."

"Shut up, Mark." Addison muttered, making him laugh, before making her way around the counter. "Welcome." She said tightly hugging Amelia, who giggled sweetly in her ear.

"You're sure about this?" Amelia asked for what seemed like the thousandth time.

In the past few weeks every single time she spoke to Amelia the same question would surface. The youngest Shepherd, the one she had adopted more than willingly as her sister, still worried about how her relationship to Derek could affect her. If Addison was being honest before seeing her again she wondered if she would be ok having Amelia so close. But when the trial came she had been more than happy to have her funny filter lacking but overly loving little sister. So yes, she was absolutely sure about having her here now, which she had told her every single time they spoke.

"Amelia Frances Shepherd stop asking me the same stupid question. You're worse than a broken record." Addison huffed and linked her arms with the brunette's. "Now, let's go. I wanna give you a tour."

"Mark already showed me around while you were off fantasizing with your little blonde." Amelia smirked.

"Ok, you can leave now. And she's not little." Addison rolled her eyes, crossing her arms across her chest. She tried and failed to hide her slight embarrassment, her cheeks heating up quickly.

"Addie?" Amelia's smirk softened into a smile and Addison hummed in response. "I finally get to work with you. How I promised I would all those years ago before I went and got myself…"

"Stop." Addison knew her well enough to know where the conversation was headed. "You're here now and you're ok."

"I'll make you proud." Amelia smiled, smugly lifting her chin up.

"What are you talking about dummy? I already am. I have the strongest sister in the whole world." Addison smiled as the brunette beamed, both a bit teary eyed.

"Learned from the best." Amelia winked.

"Alright you two stop that." Mark said motioning between them. "I still haven't taken her to the attending's lounge."

"What a useless guide." Addison shook her head.

"Hey." Mark protested.

"I know right." Amelia shook her head along with the redhead.

"Hey." Mark repeated once more while Amelia and Addison turned giggling together. "I'll remember this." He added with a small mocking frown.

"Come on, Mark." Addison said feigning annoyance. The three laughed together and made their way to the lounge.

Meredith and Cristina sat together on one of the many discarded gurneys down at the tunnels charting. The blonde chuckled every time Cristina finished a chart to start a new one groaning and cursing under her breath. They had both been assigned scut by Bailey for laughing at a rather inconvenient time thanks to Mark.

"I swear I'll get my revenge on that idiot." Cristina muttered as she started a new chart.

"All talk no bite." Meredith chuckled.

"I'll show you some bite." Cristina said, grabbing her hand to try and bite it.

"Stop." Meredith laughed, pulling her arm away. "Behave, we never know when Bailey could appear."

"What else could she do?" Cristina grumbled.

"Give you scut for the rest of the week and keep us away from surgeries." Meredith shuddered. "Or give you the peds rotation."

"She wouldn't." Cristina looked at her a little scared, sending the blonde into a fit of laughter.

"She is the Nazi." Meredith replied.

They looked at each other a bit seriously until they erupted in laughter. After a few minutes they went back to the charts. Meredith finished first and sat there patiently waiting for Cristina to finish hers. As she watched Cristina finish, a thought popped into her head, a question that had been revolving in her head for a while now.

"Why'd you do it?" Meredith asked when her person closed her last chart.

"Because it was funny. I think Sloan's main purpose in life is to screw me over. Did you see what he did last week? He made it so I had to do plastics with him instead of that valve replacement I was so looking forward to." Cristina replied grumpily.

"No. I mean me and Addison." Meredith chuckled slightly.

"What?" Cristina frowned.

"You've been so invested in my relationship with her…" Meredith began.

"Oh that? 'Cause you're annoying." Cristina shrugged.

"I'm not trying to make a joke." Meredith rolled her eyes.

"Neither am I." Cristina replied quickly.

"Cristina." Meredith cocked her head to the side urging her to talk.

"Fine, I've been invested." Cristina sighed. "You two idiots were wasting so much time for absolutely no reason."

"I guess." Meredith muttered.

"I know." Cristina countered.

Meredith let a pout onto her face and Cristina flicked her forehead before she started to laugh. The blonde was upset about it for about two seconds then she joined her friend in laughter.

Cristina was one of a kind and Meredith knew that. She was happy to have her other dark and twisty half. She knew her. Knew when to push and when to hold back. Knew when to make her laugh and when to let her simmer. Knew before even Meredith did that Addison and her would be perfect together. Where Meredith had doubts, Cristina was there to squash them out.

"You know I don't do hugs and this is sort of one." Cristina grumbled when Meredith leaned her head on her shoulder, wrapping her arm around her.

"Shut up." Meredith grumbled right back.

"Fine. Just because it's you and you're my person." Cristina sighed, making her smile.

They were quiet a long while before another question surfaced in Meredith's head. She sat up straight and looked at Cristina, who was giving her a puzzled look.

"What's happening between you and Burke?" She asked.

"Nothing." Cristina shrugged.

"Nothing?" Meredith pushed.

"We're not together anymore. So nothing." Cristina explained.

"But…" Meredith tried.

"I'm doing great without him." Cristina interrupted. Meredith looked at her a while before replying.

"Ok." She simply said.

"That's it? No major interrogation?" Cristina asked with a raised brow.

"You're doing great without him." Meredith shrugged.

"See? This is why you're my person. No unnecessary talk." Cristina smiled. "So?"

"So what?" Meredith tilted her head.

"When will you tell the rabble you two are together?" Cristina asked.

"The rabble?" Meredith lifted a brow.

"Izzie, Alex, George, the rest of the hospital." Cristina waved her arms.

"Cristina, people know. They're not blind." Meredith shook her head.

"But they're stupid." Cristina replied.

"Well… uh…" Meredith tried to come up with a counter but came up with nothing.

"You know I won that argument." Cristina smirked.

"Yeah." Meredith chuckled.

"Besides, now that you two are together you barely see each other in the hospital. Granted you practically live at the hotel with her but still." Cristina shrugged.

"We're just trying to show Bailey we can behave and work together. I still have a lot to learn from Addison. She's still our teacher." Meredith explained.

She and Addison had come to the agreement when they started to make sure any displays of affection were kept at a minimum. At least at the beginning of everything especially after Bailey's speech about responsibility and accountability and love at the workplace. The resident had droned on for what seemed like hours until thankfully she got a page. So yes, for the moment they were still sort of secret girlfriends though anyone could see they were together.

"Do you actually learn when you're on her service?" Cristina asked and Meredith glared.

"Wait. Does Addie actually teach when Blondie's on her service?" Someone else asked.

Meredith turned her gaze from Cristina and found the owner of the voice, Amelia, snickering next to Addison and a smirking Mark.

"Of course I teach." Addison crossed her arms on her chest.

"Maybe." Mark snickered along with Amelia.

"Shut up." Both Addison and Meredith said together and then looked at each other. "Hi." They both said again and suddenly blushes grew on both of them.

"Disgusting." Cristina muttered.

"Yeah." Amelia agreed.

"It's a little cute." Mark smirked.

"You guys all off?" Cristina asked and everyone nodded but Meredith and Addison, they were as always lost in each other. "Also, welcome. You're the good Shepherd, right?" She asked Amelia.

"I believe so." The blue eyed brunette said.

"She's the best. After mom of course." Mark added.

"Hmm." Cristina hummed as she eyed Amelia suspiciously.

"Stop being weird." Meredith shoved her person. "Welcome Dr. Shepherd." She smiled.

"Amelia." Amelia replied, smiling right back.

"Welcome Amelia." Meredith corrected herself.

"So continuing on with our earlier conversation. How many surgeries have you two botched while working together?" Amelia asked, smirking. "Because the way this one is looking at you right now… ouch." The brunette stopped as Addison lightly punched her arm.

"Watch it." The redhead warned.

"We haven't botched anything." Meredith defended.

"Right…" Amelia continued to smirk while she rubbed her arm.

"Yeah. I like you." Cristina finally said with a mischievous smirk.

"I like you too." Amelia snickered.

"Let's go." Mark said elongating the last word. "I'm hungry. Tonight, I'm buying everyone chicken wings." He announced.

"And fries." Cristina chirped finally getting off the gurney and standing next to her new friend.

"And drinks." Amelia added, smiling at Cristina.

"What?" Mark looked at both of them.

"You're so nice Mark." Meredith grinned.

"Callie's coming too and Miranda and a few of the other interns." Addison smiled as she helped Meredith off the gurney.

"So, so nice." Meredith grinned again.

"I'm not buying for everyone." Mark grumbled.

"You're the one who invited. So you pay." Addison countered.

"You're the rich person here with your trust fund." Mark challenged.

"And despite that you invited me. So nice." Addison replied with a cheeky grin.

"So, so nice." Meredith, Cristina, and Amelia said in unison.

Everyone but Mark laughed as they made their way to the nurse's station for the charts to be put away and then to the interns' locker room to wait for Cristina and Meredith to change and clock out.

Joe's was bustling as per usual. Music playing softly and people drinking and mingling about. The group of doctors pulled a few tables closer so they could all be together. Alex, Izzie, Callie, and George were sitting together making fun of a drunk on the other side of the bar. Amelia had joined Richard with a club soda quietly talking before Bailey joined them. Cristina and Mark sat next to each other, which was probably not the best idea since the brunette was ready to blow a fuse with Mark teasing her. However it was rather entertaining for both Meredith and Addison.

It was a very nice evening with friends and drinks and chicken wings. As soon as the darts were free they were going to have a little game because Cristina wanted to be crowned the best once and for all. Addison was laughing while she watched said brunette hit Mark on the back of the head, which earned her her own smack courtesy of Bailey, when she felt a tap on her thigh. She looked sideways to find those perfectly blue eyes peering up at her with a smile.

"You're pretty." She said softly while tapping the tip of the blonde's nose.

"Hmmm." Meredith grinned, crinkling her nose.

"And adorable too." Addison added with a smile of her own.

"Can we talk? In the bathroom?" Meredith asked in a hushed voice.

Addison frowned but nodded and followed after her after excusing herself from the table. Once inside the bathroom Meredith turned quickly, trapping her against the door and kissing her.

"This is a nice conversation." Addison mumbled between kisses. Meredith giggled and backed away. "Why are you leaving? Come back." The redhead pouted and the blonde blew her a kiss as she giggled some more.

"I actually do want to talk." Meredith smiled.

"Hmph. Fine." Addison moved closer to where she was and leaned against the sink.

"Cristina says we have to tell the rabble." Meredith looked at her as if waiting for a response. "You know, people?"

"Tell people what?" Addison tilted her head.

"About us. You and I, you know? Since you're my girlfriend." Meredith bit her bottom lip.

"I'm your girlfriend? When did that happen?" Addison chuckled, earning herself a groan from the blonde.

"Well I never asked, I guess I just assumed." Meredith pouted.

Addison chuckled again and lifted her chin pecking her lips.

"You've assumed correctly, girlfriend." She winked with a smirk and watched the blush crawling onto the intern's cheeks.

"Ok." Meredith gave her a smile before tilting her head. "So?"

"So you want to tell people now that you've asked me to be your girlfriend?" Addison chuckled once more.

"Addison." Meredith protested.

"Mer, people aren't blind. Neither of us is very subtle. Especially when we're together." Addison chuckled as she reached out to caress her cheek.

"I know. But as Cristina says: They're not blind but they're stupid." Meredith shrugged.

"Such a Cristina thing to say." Addison laughed and pulled Meredith closer. "Ok. We can go tell them now since all the important people are here. Though again I'm pretty sure they know."

"Ok." Meredith muttered before connecting their lips once more.

After a few more minutes alone and after going over what she would say, because for some reason Meredith was nervous, they made their way back to the tables. They found Amelia throwing fries at Mark for him to catch in his mouth as Cristina threw them at his chest along with Izzie.

"Umm guys." Meredith said somewhat quietly.

Addison looked at her and frowned to which the blonde only reply was a shrug. The redhead lifted a brow before taking a deep breath.

"Everyone!" She called and suddenly all heads turned to them. "Meredith has something to say." She smiled and looked at her.

"Oh… umm so I…" Meredith stammered and bit her lip nervously. "We… uh well…"

Addison waited patiently for her to continue but it seemed Meredith was drawing a blank. It was cute, the way she fiddled with the hem of her shirt and how her cheeks shined a bright crimson red. She chuckled a bit before trying to calm her down and ease her nerves.

"Meredith?" She called softly and instantly the blonde's eyes were on her. She gently caressed her cheek and she felt the blonde lean against her palm. "You're ok. Right?"

"I'm ok." Meredith replied softly and Addison could see the shift from a bundle of nerves to calmness.

"Good. Now tell them." Addison smiled and lightly pushed her face so that Meredith was facing everyone again.

"She's my girlfriend." Meredith said m, quickly pointing at her.

After she spoke they were met with only silence, their friends only stared at them, some with bored expressions and others with smiles. She knew they knew so technically this was no surprise at all.

"We already know you know about this." Addison began. "But you're like family so we wanted to make it more official since you're all here." She added, looking at Meredith when she began to hold onto her hand.

"Wait…" George said and both her and the blonde turned back to look at him. "You are girlfriends?" He asked.

Addison resisted the huge urge to bring her free palm to her face while Meredith tried to snuff out the laugher that was bubbling up in her. Izzie, Alex, and Callie looked at him as if he had three heads while Mark chuckled with Amelia and Richard.

"Not blind. But stupid." Cristina muttered to Addison and Meredith, who inevitably gave into laughter.

"You're an idiot." Alex shook his head.

"What? Like you knew." George tried to defend.

"George. Everyone knew." Izzie patted his hand while the rest of their friends nodded and grunted (Bailey) in agreement.

"Actually you're blind and stupid." Cristina said and everyone laughed as George rolled his eyes.

"I think people are really going to hate you two." Richard smiled.

"Just behave while you're in the hospital." Bailey grumbled.

"We have behaved." Meredith complained.

"Who knows what happens behind closed doors." Mark shrugged which earned him a smack by Addison. "Ouch. See? Not behaving."

"Welcome to the family blondie." Amelia cheered. "Officially."

After that everyone went back to mingling, drinking, and eating. Meredith still held onto her hand and continued to scan the room with a small smile on her lips. Addison smiled too and leaned over to her ear.

"You did great Mer-Bear." She whispered and the blonde giggled.

"I can officially kiss you." Meredith whispered back.

"Is that right?" Addison backed away so she could look at her face to face.

"Mhmm." Meredith nodded adorably before landing a few pecks on her lips.

"Eww. Stop being nasty and let's go. I'm ready to mop the floor with all of you." Cristina stood motioning for everyone to get up as well.

As soon as Cristina and most of the rest of the group were outside of earshot Mark stood and came closer to Addison and Meredith, both eying him suspiciously.

"Does Yang know that you can beat her?" Mark whispered with a sly grin.

"Who knows? She might be better than me." Addison shrugged with a smirk in place.

"Red. You put everyone to shame. When we went to bars we didn't have to pay because of you and those damn darts." Mark shook his head and chuckled.

"She might win." Addison insisted. "Besides I don't need to ensure our drinks are paid for because you're taking care of that." She winked.

"Whatever." Mark grumbled and walked away. "I know you'll beat her either way." He added, making her chuckle.

"Cristina's my person." Meredith muttered beside her, their hands still clinging to each other's.

"Just for you I'll let her win." Addison smiled and then the blonde leaned into her ear.

"I want you to beat them all for me." Meredith whispered and pulled away.

"And what do I get in return?" Addison smirked.

"Me." Meredith replied and kissed her quickly.

"Just that?" Addison frowned.

"Addison." Meredith admonished with a pout. Addison chuckled and kissed her again, lightly biting onto her bottom lip.

"I think I like that offer." Addison giggled.

"Are you two done sucking face?" Cristina snapped from where they all stood.

"Let's go love birds, I'm bored. You can continue later tonight. Maybe in bed." Amelia added, grinning from ear to ear.

"Oh can I be present?" Mark asked. "Oomph." He eyed Bailey who had just stuck her elbow onto his belly.

"Behave yourself." The resident said grumpily.

"Right."

The darts tournament went as predicted. Well, as predicted by Meredith not Cristina who was fuming in a corner. Richard kept the score saying he rather not show everyone how bad he was. The first few out were Izzie, George, Callie, and Alex, who kept complaining about someone cheating. But then how do you cheat on darts? Meredith chuckled at his complaining.

Mark knocked Amelia off, the brunette shrugging and moving over to Richard. Bailey almost knocked out Meredith but she saved herself by throwing a bullseye. In the next round Cristina knocked Meredith out. Mark tried trash talking her but she just shrugged and kissed Addison on the cheek.

Last three left were Mark, Cristina, and Addison. Addison knocked Mark out swiftly telling him not to bother her girlfriend, which made Meredith giddy. Cristina smugly had Addison start. After a few rounds Addison was quickly down below 50 points. Everyone knew a bullseye from her in this round would end the game. She had looked at Meredith one last time to make sure that she still wanted her to win. Meredith winked at her and with a quick flick Addison sent the dart flying hitting the bullseye with precision.

"Stings, doesn't it?" Mark poked Cristina's arm yet again.

"Shut up. Nobody asked you." Cristina snarled, which had him backing away. "You cheated." She directed towards Addison.

"How could she cheat when the game is literally throwing things?" Meredith challenged.

"You're just bad." Alex shrugged.

"Shut up, wash out." Cristina grumbled.

"I'm no wash out. Amelia cheated." Alex defended.

"You're just bad." Amelia quoted him with a smirk.

"If it weren't for child prodigy, who came out of nowhere, I would've beaten you all." Cristina crossed her arms in front of her chest.

"You can't beat me. Only Addison can." Mark shrugged.

"Oh I can beat you." Cristina rolled her eyes.

"Rematch?" Amelia suggested. "I feel like showing Karev I'm better than him again."

"Yes, let's find out who the first place loser really is." George shook his head.

"Shut up Bambi. You got out in the first round." Cristina commented then turned to Mark. "Let's go Sloan. Or are you too chicken?"

"Oh you're on. Don't go crying afterwards." Mark snickered. "You coming Red?" He asked.

"I'll let you two battle it out for the top spot. I'm done." Addison winked at them both.

"I'll sit this one out too." Meredith added pulling Addison back to the table with her.

They sat in comfortable silence for a while, sipping their drinks happily and watching the new tournament unfold. Once more Alex was the first knocked off, quickly followed by George. Addison laughed as she watched him grumpily stomping around. She was somewhat focused on the tournament but suddenly she could feel the uneasiness coming from the blonde sitting beside her. She could also feel her gaze burning holes on the side of her head so she turned to face her.

"Something up?" Addison asked.

"The ceiling." Meredith smiled.

"Wow. The ceiling." Addison nodded and then scoffed while she shook her head.

"Sorry." Meredith muttered.

"Hmm." Addison smiled and leaned over kissing her forehead.

When she pulled away her heart warmed watching Meredith's closed eyes and soft smile. When the blonde opened her eyes again Addison could make out the light shimmering and dancing in them. But soon the intern looked away, a slight blush crawling onto her cheeks.

"So umm I wanted to ask you something." Meredith said quietly.

"What's up?" Addison asked, reaching her hand over and placing it on top of the blonde's.

"Well umm you know…" Meredith began but stopped.

"I know?" Addison tried to push a little.

"I was wondering if maybe you… stop doing that." Meredith whined.

"Doing what?" Addison chuckled a bit confused.

"Looking at me with those eyes. It's like the light is hitting them just right and they sparkle." Meredith huffed.

"Uh… O-Ok, I won't look at you then." Addison nodded slowly and instead shifted her gaze to their hands, which were now intertwined. She heard Meredith groan but she kept her gaze down.

"No. Look at me. Or don't… Why are they so pretty?" She asked in a whiny tone.

"Make up your mind, Grey." Addison frowned a bit and then smiled when she noticed the blonde's pout.

"Would you like to go out on a date with me? Like an official one? One of those where I pick you up and take you somewhere and then I bring you home and there's a goodnight kiss under the porch light? Though you don't have a porch light but still. Would you?" Meredith asked, biting her bottom lip.

"Since when are you this cheesy? Cristina would be so disappointed." Addison chuckled lightly.

"Addison." Meredith groaned.

"I would love to go on a date with you. An official one where you pick me up and take me somewhere nice and at the end of the night you kiss me goodnight." Addison smiled sweetly.

"Yeah? Are you sure?" Meredith asked excitedly.

"You ask that as if there is a world in which I can say no to you." Addison gave her a cheeky grin.

"Now, who's the cheesy one?" Meredith chuckled.

"Oh shut up." Addison pushed her playfully.

"You two are morons." Bailey said, startling them.

The resident watched them with a bored expression, her hand holding the side of her face.

"Miranda… hey." Addison smiled awkwardly.

"Hi." Meredith added softly.

"I'm going for a drink." Bailey threw them another look and stood.

"Right." Addison let out a nervous chuckle then looked back at Meredith who was pressing her lips together to contain her smile.

"Oops." The blonde said then giggled.

"Indeed." Addison giggled along with her. "So a date?"

"A date." Meredith replied cheerfully. "I'll set it up and it'll be great."

"I know it will be." Addison smiled and gently caressed her cheek.

Meredith beamed and leaned in for a kiss. One that Addison melted into happily until they heard the cheers and groans from their friends. All of whom now had their eyes on the two of them.

"I thought Cristina wanted us to tell the rabble." Addison chuckled.

"She's complicated." Meredith shook her head, her eyes on her person.

"You two really are." Addison muttered.

"You're mean." Meredith grumbled.

"But cute." Addison smiled pulling her over to their friends who were now calling them over.

"But cute."

And then there were what? 24? Yeah 24. So here it is and yes I'm awful and left you guys without updates for quite a while but work got me beat plus irl and stuff but I still got you. I hope you enjoyed the chapter. I definitely enjoyed writing some. Btw there are 2 chapters left. Plus you all should know there will be smut on the next one but I'll make sure to break it up in case anyone isn't up to that. Anyway until next time. Happy Thanksgiving! If you celebrate it. If not, it's fine, have a nice and happy week. Stay awesome! ;)