Author: PeppermintPatty09

Title: What Makes A Family

Rating: K for Kiddie safe. Rating will change in later chapters.

Fandom: Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice

Pairings/Characters: Addison/Meredith

Genre: Romance, Family

Summary: A/U; Single moms Addison Montgomery and Meredith Grey start a friendship through their young daughters, that develops into more. This is pretty much a fluffy, romantic, family centric story with slight angst and drama.

Disclaimer: The characters of Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice are proudly owned by Shonda Rhimes, production company ShondaLand, and broadcast station ABC. No copyright infringement is intended. Alyssa Harper Grey and Ella Rose Forbes Montgomery are my own.

Authors Note: If the idea of two women or men loving each other and are in a romantic relationship are against your views, please look elsewhere. All mistakes are my own.

Playlist: I Miss My Friend by Darryl Worley (Don't like country all that much but this is one good, sad song)

Chapter Three

I Miss My Friend

Meredith handed her mom another glass from their evening family dinner. Susan had prepared a feast of honey glazed ham, creamy mash potatoes, green beans and dinner rolls. For dessert she had made her best chocolate cake and berry pie. All of which was thoroughly appreciated from her family.

Susan looked at Meredith with concerned, inquisitive eyes. A look only a mother would give her child when they knew their child was in pain.

"How are you holding up, dear?" Susan inquired Meredith. She wiped off the plate that was just handed to her, waiting for Meredith's answer.

"I'm fine, mom," replied Meredith. Meredith glanced over to her mom and saw Susan giving her a doubtful look. Meredith laughed, "I'm fine. I promise. Moving back to Seattle is helping a lot. Ally loves being around her family and loves her new school. I'm feeling really welcomed at Seattle Grace with the help of Christina, George, Alex and Izzy. They all have been great. I'm going to me fine, mom. You don't need to worry."

Susan nodded. Meredith did look better than the last time she saw her daughter. She knew Meredith just as any mother would know their daughter. Meredith has had a hard two years and seeing her daughter put her life back together made her very happy and filled herself with a sense of relief.

"And my little angel, how is she doing?"

Meredith smiled, thinking about her daughter that was no doubt terrorizing her uncle Eric and grandpa Thatcher as Laura and Lexie laughed their butts off not doing a thing, only encouraging their young niece. "Ally is doing great. She was nervous at first going to a new school with people she doesn't know; however, she overcame it. She hates the new apartment. She says it doesn't have a home feeling to it. That it's too hospital. Whatever that means."

"Well, I have to concur with my angel. The new apartment, Meredith, is no place to raise a child. It's too…hospital," Susan smirked, Meredith rolled her eyes. "Your furniture is made of metal bars! And where is the life, the love in there. It doesn't feel like home. Not like before," Susan whispered softly.

"Things change, mom," Meredith said sharply. She closed her eyes, calming herself. It wasn't her mom's fault; she was only looking after Ally and her. "I'm sorry."

"No. It should be me who's sorry. I shouldn't have pushed you."

"It's fine." Meredith took a deep breath. "You know, you and Ally are right. An apartment is no place to raise a kid." Meredith rolled her eyes. "At least not that apartment. She doesn't have a yard, she can't scream and run around, she has no neighborhood kids to play with, she has nothing." Meredith took a deep breath. "That is why I decided to move into Ellis old house. She left it to me in her will when she died. It has a yard for Ally and plenty of room for us. When I showed Ally the photos of the house, her whole face just brightened up." Meredith looked at the kitchen clock. "I just, I don't know what to do," Meredith whispered, an aching pain shot through her heart. She felt so lost, so alone. Suddenly, the room felt like it was closing in on her. "We better get going, Ally and I need to still go to the mall. She needs school clothes and shoes," Meredith said, needing to get away from this conversation. And here.

"Okay, Dear," Susan smiled sadly.

Meredith snuggled deeper into her soft bed, wrapping her fluffy down comforter more tighter around her, hoping to garner the same feeling of security and warmth a person felt when someone would hold them. No, not just any someone. She wanted to feel the arms of her husband, her best friend and her love. Derek.

Meredith tilted her head up meeting the small picture frame propped up on her nightstand. It was her favorite photo of many. The photo showcased Derek and Ally sleeping. Derek was sleeping peacefully in their bed with a three-year old Ally sleeping on her daddy. Ally's tiny hands had Derek's shirt gathered in her fist and Derek had his arms were draped on Ally's back, holding her. Both were wearing their matching Batman PJ's. Three months after the photo was taken, Derek, her beloved husband, was killed in a tragic car accident that took his life. Not a day went by that she didn't think about Derek, or miss him.

That night just like every other night, Meredith fell asleep crying. Her dreams would be filled with dark wavy, thick hair, a warm smile and blue eyes that always made her heart skip a beat.

Ally slowly opened her mother's door, peeking around the door jam to see if her mom was awake. She found her mom buried under her cozy comforter, a small area of blonde hair visible from the top of the covers. Ally smiled wickedly when a evil thought came to mind. She loved when her mommy would sleep in. Ally counted to three, silently, before she took off and jumped on the bed, landing on Meredith with a loud umph.

"Wake up, Mommy!" Ally screamed in Meredith's face.

"Ugh! Ally! Get off of me!" Meredith grumbled, the corners of her mouth twitching and her eyes dancing with mirth.

Ally crawled off of her mommy, only to be attacked my devilish finger as they unleashed their weapon of tickles on her tiny, squirmy body.

"Mommy!" Ally squealed through her laughing. "Stop, mommy." Ally laughed louder when Meredith hit her most ticklish spot; her ribs. "Mo-mommy," Ally giggled, trying to get away from her mommy's assault. "Uncle! Uncle!" Ally said through her laughs and gasps.

Meredith sat back, proud of her work. Her little monster was still let out small giggles and gasp of breaths. Meredith stood from her bed. She looked at her daughter, smiling at the image of her daughter snuggled up in her bed grinning up at her the made her think of Derek. Ally had Derek's smile, eyes, nose, love of Batman and big heart.

"You have exactly ten minutes to get ready. If you get done before those ten minutes end, we can stop by Krispy Kreme for some doughnuts and hot chocolate.

Ally didn't need to hear more. She loved Krispy Kreme doughnuts, it was her favorite doughnut shop. When her mommy offers, or bribes her with Krispy Kreme (which is not often) Ally is not stupid enough to refuse.

Ten minutes later, Ally was waiting by the door for her mommy. Meredith came down the stairs to find her daughter wiggling and her face had a pain expression to it.

"What's wrong with you?" Meredith asked, handing Ally her new Burberry trench coat.

"These stocking are giving me a wedgie," Ally pulled a face. "Why do I have to wear this stupid girly skirt. I hate skirts!" Ally grouched.

"I know but rules are rules. You had a choice of skirts or dresses. You picked skirts."

"Well…I don't like it!" Ally pouted crossing her arms in front of her chest in defiance. "Auntie Christina said they're sexist pigs."

"Hey! Don't speak like that, Allison Grey," Meredith reprimanded.

She hated when Ally got like this. It usually ruined her day and Ally's day, and gave her a strong urge to just dropkick her own daughter or leave her on the side of the road. It scared her the first time she had those thoughts. She had ended up calling her mom, crying and ashamed. Her mom had calmly told her that was what every parents thinks, and it just shows how much they love their child when they don't do it. Then, proceeded to tell Meredith all the times she wanted to dropkick Meredith. Meredith got off the phone horrified that night at how many times her mom had wanted to do that.

"I'm sorry, mommy," Ally whispered, big alligator tears rolled down Ally's cheeks.

"It's okay, baby. I just don't like you talking like that. Okay?" Meredith said, calmly.

"Okay," Ally sniffled.

"Good. Let's go get your doughnut."

"Okay!" Ally exclaimed brightly as if nothing happened.

"Ella!" Ally scream across the hall as she ran towards her friend. She met Ella in a breathless stop, presenting a white bag with the logo of Krispy Kreme proudly printed on it. "I got you a doughnut and hot chocolate."

Ella's blue eyes grew wide. She had never had a person buy her a doughnut, or anything before beside her family. "You-you did?"

"Yup!" Ally said, popping the 'p'. "I picked you out one with sprinkles. I thought you might like that one."

Ella nodded, still a little stunned. When she saw Ally digging in the bag for her special doughnut, she threw her arms around her new friend, hugging her tight. "You're my best friend, Ally. Thank you. So, so much!"

"You're my best friend, too, Ella, C'mon let's eat before we get called in." Ally handed Ella her special doughnut.

Addison stood behind her little girl with tears in her eyes. She was so glad her daughter found a friend like Ally. And hoped she can find a friend in Meredith.

More to come.

Thank you all for reviewing - they make me smile. Keep them coming. On a sadder note, school starts for me tomorrow so updates will decrease some. Plus, I really need to start working on some other projects I have going for me. I'll try to update every Thursday to celebrate the day Grey's and Private airs. Oh and pictures of Ally and Ella are on my profile. Check them out. I'll see you all on Thursday for another update.!

AmyHale: I hope this answers your questions. More will be revealed soon.