Chapter 31: Perfect

The woman before them looked so elegant and poised. She reminded Aelwyne of the executives' wives, who would always show up unannounced to the manor just to say they were visiting the orphan girl. Addison grew tense within seconds of seeing her.

"Addison? Baby Girl?" Aelwyne called her softly. "What's wrong? Who is that?" She asked as she followed the redhead's gaze.

"My mother." Addison replied nervously, squeezing Aelwyne's hand.

"And that's a bad thing?" Aelwyne asked.

"It's not a good thing." Addison said, taking a deep breath as her mother stopped before them, her eyes wandering to their holding hands and then back up to Addison and then lower back to their necks.

"Bizzy." Addison said nerves equally dripping with both syllables. She already knew their relationship was very rocky but why not call her mom? Why was she this nervous?

"Addison." Bizzy responded, her tone cold enough to send shivers down.

"What brings you to Seattle?" Addison asked tight lipped.

"You, dear." Bizzy said with a smile that did not reach her eyes.

"Me?" Addison responded, firmly squeezing Aelwyne's hand.

"Yes, you and your foolishness." Bizzy said fake smile still in place.

"Mother…" Addison began.

"Do not." Bizzy cut her off. "You go off and become a surgeon and I let you. You marry outside of our circle and I let you. You destroy your marriage, run off to the woods, and now have marks on your neck as if I raised you to be some unnamed whore?" Bizzy spat, Addison shrinking with every word had Aelwyne growing steadily more angry.

"Good evening ma'am. My name is Aelwyne, it is somewhat nice to meet you." Aelwyne interrupted and for the first time Bizzy looked into her eyes.

"There is no reason for you to be here. Leave us." Bizzy directed her angry words toward her, which suited her just fine.

"Addison and I were just leaving. So if you have nothing else to say, we'll bid our farewells and safe travels back to Connecticut." Aelwyne smiled sweetly at her and looked at Addison, who could not hide her grin.

"Listen here child, this conversation is between my daughter and I. You can see yourself out." Bizzy waved her hand in a dismissive manner.

"She goes or stays wherever I go or stay." Addison said firmly.

"What is this Addison? A cry for help? Some midlife crisis? You are a grown woman, for crying out loud." Bizzy bitterly spat.

"Mother, this is no midlife crisis." Addison replied softly.

"Isn't it? Who is this child you are clinging to? And tell me are you proud to be wearing those marks around your neck? Honestly, what is going through your head right now? Please tell me at least this little girl comes from a good family. I suppose she is the one that left those marks on you." Bizzy kept on badgering Addison, who stood quietly looking at the ground as Aelwyne's anger kept bubbling up. "Your father and I raised you to be a dignified lady. Yet here you are waltzing about as a call girl. Parading about marked and holding hands with a child. You are a disgrace to the family name. I am so ashamed to be your mother."

"Enough!" Aelwyne barked, surprising Bizzy and making Addison flinch a bit.

"Ael, it's really not worth it." She said softly.

"I'm sorry but you are worth it. Even if she's too blind to see it." Aelwyne looked her in the eyes and then turned to face Bizzy. "You don't get to come here and insult her or make her feel less than. You don't get to do that." She was fuming and nothing Addison said was going to stop her so she went on. "This woman, right here, is amazing. She is a world renowned surgeon. The best. People come from all over for her. Her first marriage didn't work but that doesn't make her shameful." She felt Addison hold her hand tighter now. "What is shameful is to call yourself her mother and belittle her because she didn't become some rich and entitled trophy wife. Because she didn't aspire to be like some piece of furniture collecting dust in an empty house while her husband goes out and does all the work."

"I have no idea who raised you to have the gall to speak to me in such a way. But whoever it was did a very poor job." Bizzy bit back.

"Not another word, mother!" Addison snapped, making Bizzy scoff and tap her foot impatiently. "You insulting me, I don't care. You talking about me as if I'm worthless, doesn't matter. But leave her out of it." She growled.

"She included herself when she opened her insolent mouth." Bizzy remarked.

"It's ok, Addie." Aelwyne smiled at her. "Ma'am it was a pleasure to meet you. I want to thank you." She directed back towards Bizzy.

"Thank me?" Bizzy frowned in confusion.

"Yes, thank you. Thanks for bringing this wonderful and amazing woman into existence. She is just perfect. She has touched and changed so many lives for the better, including mine. It's a shame your prejudicial ways don't let you see just what an amazing person you brought to the world." Aelwyne smiled and kissed Addison's cheek. "So I'm sorry. I'm sorry you don't get to enjoy being close to her. I'm sorry you chose not to be a part of her life. In all honesty though, you don't deserve her. Anyway as I said before you have a safe trip. Don't let the door hit you on the way out."

Aelwyne sent Bizzy a smile and began to walk out holding onto Addison's hand. Bizzy stood there without another word as they walked past her and to the exit. They made it to the car before Addison let go and tears lined her cheeks.


The drive back home had been quiet as Addison silently cried and leaned on Aelwyne's shoulder. They stopped at a 711 and Aelwyne grabbed some ice cream and an assortment of candy bars. When she got in the car and presented the bag of goodies to Addison the redhead smiled.

"Are you trying to make me fat?" Addison giggled between sniffles.

"Nope. Just wasn't entirely sure which you'd want. I did get quite a bit. Didn't I?" Aelwyne looked at the full bag.

"Maybe." Addison chuckled.

"We can share. It'll be ok." Aelwyne smiled.

"Can we get pizza when we get home too?" Addison chirped, tears gone as they rounded the corner into the loft's street.

"Pizza sounds good. Here, you can call it in now. Number's on my phone." Aelwyne said, handing over her cellphone.

"We are going to eat so unhealthy tonight." Addison chuckled as she called the pizza place.

"True but it's a comfort food night. And we so deserve it. And then we can sleep. And then we can go get your stuff tomorrow. And maybe we can…" Aelwyne winked at her, making Addison flush.

"I like all of those ideas." She smiled and then turned her attention to the phone. "Hello. Yes, I'd like to order a delivery..."


They devoured the pizza as they were starving since the only thing they had managed to eat during the day was the apples and some granola bars for lunch. Then Addison sat sorting through the candy while Aelwyne went to get blankets so they could cuddle up some more on the couch.

"Here." She said passing Addison the blue throw. " That's your favorite one."

"It's only my favorite one because it's yours so it smells like you." Addison breamed up at her.

"Just for that I'm going to smother you with kisses." Aelwyne grinned at her and threw herself on top of her tickling and her kissing her cheeks, her forehead, her lips. Quick pecks here and there sending Addison into a fit of giggles.

"Ok. Ok. No more tickling please. Please." Addison begged as she laughed.

"Fine. How's the chocolate?" Aelwyne shifted off of Addison and snuggled up to her side instead.

"Here, have some." Addison said, popping a Dove on Aelwyne's mouth.

"Mmmm." Aelwyne moaned as the chocolate melted smoothly in her mouth.

"I know, right." Addison giggled.


"So, do you want to talk about it?" Aelwyne asked after a while.

"My mother? No." Addison's voice changed from the light and airy tone to a more sad and somber one.

"Ok. Well, you know I'm here, right? And I'll always be. Anyone else bothers you and I'll protect you with everything I've got. You want to talk and I'll listen. You want to laugh and I'll do something silly. You want to snuggle and I'll be your snuggle bug." Aelwyne smiled at her and kissed her cheek. "I'll be anything you need me to be, baby girl. Just like you've been with me."

"This is why I love you. You never stop to think, you jump, love, and defend." Addison caressed her cheek gently.

"I'm your little soldier ma'am." Aelwyne chuckled and Addison joined her for a while until her smile faded once more.

"Snuggle bug time." Aelwyne said and burrowed her head on Addison's neck making her giggle once more.

"I'm ok." Addison planted a kiss along Aelwyne's hairline.

"Ok." Aelwyne simply said.

"Do you think…" Addison started but stopped making Aelwyne shift so that she was facing her once more.

"Hmmm?" Aelwyne sent her a reassuring smile.

"Do you think despite the mother I have, I could be a good one?" Addison asked nervously.

"I think, worrying about it like you are means you will be." Aelwyne smiled sweetly up at her.

"Really?" Addison asked again.

"I'm sure. You'll be an amazing mom, Addie. You have so much love to give." Aelwyne responded, still smiling.

"And you?" Addison looked at her intently.

"Me?" Aelwyne tilted her head in question.

"Would you have love to give to a child?" Addison asked her eyes searching.

"I… I've never wanted a child..." Aelwyne said, looking down at her hands.

"I knew it." Addison abruptly stood knocking some of the candy off the coffee table. "I knew you didn't want kids. You were like a deer in headlights when Mia mentioned it." She said as she walked away from a stunned Aelwyne.

"Baby girl." She called but was ignored. "Addie." She called again as she watched Addison storm down the hallway to the room.


Addison was grabbing her clothes from the hamper and stuffing it into her duffle bag when Aelwyne walked in.

"What are you doing?" Aelwyne asked as panic began to set in. She ran to the open duffle bag and started emptying it.

"Stop that." Addison reached for the bag but Aelwyne snatched it away.

"No. You stop that." Aelwyne fumed, as she kept throwing clothes out.

"Aelwyne, stop it." Addison said but Aelwyne continued. "Fine." And she walked out of the room, Aelwyne hot in her tracks.

"Please, Addie, listen." She begged but Addison just reached for her purse and phone.

"Addison!" Aelwyne barked, her voice stern with a tone that made Addison stop and face her. "Why do you keep wanting to leave me?" She asked, fresh tears slipping from her eyes. "Dammit, just listen to me." Her bottom lip quivered. "You're always trying to leave. Like last night. Like when you got jealous of Alex. Like the day after your black out drunkenness. Stop trying to leave me without listening to me."

Addison put down her stuff and took a step toward her but Aelwyne backed away, one hand up.

"No. Just stay there." Aelwyne's voice firm despite the tears.

"Ael." Addison tried tears filling her eyes as well.

"Listen." Aelwyne said, hand still raised and Addison nodded. "I never wanted to have a kid because I didn't want him or her to grow up without a family. I hated the thought of bringing a child to the world for them to be alone. And I know it's an irrational thought because my child would have another parent. But I was still terrified because if something happened to me then what would become of them? I didn't want them to grow up like me." She whimpered at the last part.

"You have a family, Ael. You have me." Addison said.

"You were about to walk out!" Aelwyne spat. "I know I have a family now." She said more calmly.

"I'm sorry. I love you. I'm just… I…" Addison stammered. "You have me."


"I know I have you." Aelwyne said after a while. "Just stop being an idiot."

"I promise. Can I umm… can I hug you now?" Addison asked, wringing her fingers.

"Yes." Aelwyne conceded and made her way into her arms. "You're an idiot." She said onto Addison's shoulder.

"I know. I'm sorry. I love you." Addison hugged her tightly.

"I'd love to have a kid with you." Aelwyne murmured.

"Really?" Addison pulled back so that they could see each other's eyes.

"Really, but maybe after residency." Aelwyne smiled.

"Yeah?" Addison grinned.

"Or halfway through residency." Aelwyne grinned. "Just as long as I get some alone time with you for a bit."

"You are perfect." Addison beamed gently pressing their lips together.

"There are still a lot of steps though." Aelwyne said as she pulled back from the kiss.

"Steps?" Addison tilted her head.

"Yes, baby girl. First we gotta officially move you in here. Then we gotta make it more official, you know like get married. That will be tricky since it's still not legal here yet but maybe we could fly out to somewhere where it is. We'll share last names. Well only if you wanna." Aelwyne rambled on happily and Addison's smile only grew wider and wider.

"I wanna. Share last names I mean. I'd change everything to our last name. All of my research, my plaque, my white coat, everything." Addison smiled lovingly at her.

"That'll be nice." Aelwyne said and kissed her again, her hand tangling on red locks.

"It'll be very nice." Addison agreed.

"But actually before all of that there's something else we need to do." Aelwyne said cryptically.

"What else?" Addison asked, confused.

"Well, first we need to go pick up your mess in the room and then we have to get in bed and snuggle because another hour and you'll have to pick me off the ground." Aelwyne chuckled.

"That sounds like a chore." Addison teased.

"Hey. I'm not that heavy." Aelwyne pouted and squealed as Addison swept her off her feet.

"Let's go bug. You need rest. You deserve it." Addison kissed her cheek as the brunette giggled.

And then there were 31! Wow 31 chapters, that seems crazy to me. Thank you guys for keeping up with it. I wanted to let you know though that we are reaching the end of this story. Probably 2 or 3 chapters left on this. Anyway you all stay awesome and keep letting me know what you think. I enjoy the comments so keep them up, ok. I will be taking a week off. Please don't hate me. I've just got quite a bit to do this week. ;)