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, which 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: Falling in Love at a Coffee Shop - Landon Pigg

Chapter Four

Falling in Love at a Coffee Shop

Meredith sat across from Addison outside of Vivace on Seattle's famous Broadway District, sipping on their desired coffees. Addison got macchiato, and Meredith ordered herself a white velvet mocha. They had arrived ten minutes ago, and the only words spoken were when they agreed on the place and when they order.

Addison cleared her throat, deciding to take the plunged. "I wanted to thank you."

Meredith raised an eyebrow, silently asking Addison to elaborate. "Thank you, for getting Ella that doughnut. It was really…sweet of you," Addison said, her cheeks tinting with a slight blush at her words. "I don't think I ever saw my daughter grinned that big before."

"It-it was really Ally's idea. I just paid," Meredith said, brushing the compliment off. If only she could brush off her rapidly heating cheeks.

"Still… You didn't have to pay for it; you could have said no." Addison took a sip of her coffee. She smiled when she saw a couple walking by holding hands. She could clearly see they're in love as they whispered sweet nothings to each other, oblivious to the world around them. Silently, Addison hoped she would find love like that.

"So, what do you do?" Meredith asked, trying to get to know the woman before her. She had promised Ally that she would try and get to know Addison.

Addison smiled shyly, "I'm a neonatal surgeon."

Meredith raised an impressive eyebrow just like Addison had to her. "That's great," Meredith smiled in relief. At least she had something in common with her daughter's new best friend mom. "Uh, where do you practice?" Meredith asked, she was semi sure Addison didn't work at Seattle Grace, but then again, the neonatal ward was on a different wing.

"Seattle Grace," Addison answered with a smile. "I've worked there for about two years. I also help out at my friends, Sam and Naomi practice, Bayside Wellness Center. I'm actually thinking about buying a portion, they're in a little trouble and this would give me more time with Ella."

Meredith laughed at the coincidence. "I work at Seattle Grace, too. I just started there. Yesterday, actually," Meredith said. "Ally and I moved from New York. Before, in New York, I work at New York Presbyterian."

Addison wanted to ask why Meredith and Ally had moved to Seattle, but felt it was too private of a question to ask a woman you just met. Silence fell over the pair again. Although, they both realized that it wasn't uncomfortable or suffocating. It was pleasant, and both basked in the comfort.

"You know, I'm still shocked that my daughter has befriended your daughter." Addison bristled at Meredith's comment. "I'm not trying to insult your daughter or my daughter's friendship with your daughter. All I'm saying is that, Ally usually befriends boys. Rough, housin', rude boys," Meredith laughed. "I don't think she ever had a girl as a friend before. Ella is her first."

Addison nodded, sadly, "Ally is Ella's first friend. Ever. She's always had a hard time making friends. I don't know why. I tried enrolling her into sports or some kind of activity, arranging play dates but they all are unsuccessful. So, when Ella told me she made a new friend, I didn't care if the friend was purple with warts and yellow teeth. They – whoever they were – made my baby happy."

"And that's all a parent wants for their child," Meredith finished with a smile.

Meredith and Addison spoke for another hour about everything and anything. They laughed together as they told stories of their life, they told each other little about their family, and they spoke about their jobs. By the time they were throwing away their third cup of coffee, both felt like they had made a new friend.

"When do you think it'll be best to set up the play date for the girls? My hours at Seattle Grace are pretty simple, right now," Meredith said with a hint of irritation. She hated having time away from her daughter. "However, I'm almost always free on the weekends."

"My schedule is off the map," Addison chuckled. "However, I make sure I have the weekends free; unless there is an emergency. Is Saturday okay?" Addison opened her car door, stepping half in.

"Saturday, is perfect," Meredith beamed, feeling a little bit of the weight on her shoulder drift away. "I had a really great time, Addison," Meredith whispered. "It's been a long time since I had so much fun or even laughed as much." Meredith suddenly felt shy and ridiculous. She berated herself for comparing it to a date. She didn't know where in the middle of their meet up she started thinking it as a date. She figured it was because she hasn't had an outing with an adult in a while that contributed to such feelings and thoughts. Yeah, that was it. It had to be it, because thinking it was anything else would just be…a world of trouble, and that was something she couldn't have right now. Not when she was just putting her life back together.

Addison walked into Bayside Wellness Center with an extra spring in her step and a smile that was planted on her face. She walked into the lunch room, skipping the coffee pot and opting instead to grab a bottle of water. Her friends and fellow co-workers looked at her with amused, curious eyes. They all watched as Addison hummed the tune to some unknown song, laugh quietly to herself and then smile.

"Okay," Naomi, Addison's best friends snapped. "Spill."

"What?" Addison laughed, not catching on. She looked at her friends, seeing them all give her an eager, hopeful look.

"What's got you so…chipper this morning?" Violet Turner, her other dear friend, asked.

"I don't know what you guys are talking about," Addison said, honestly. She wasn't doing anything different. Okay, so, she did feel a little better since her coffee date…no, not date. It wasn't a date, Addison mentally reminded herself. It was a meeting; a get together. Yes, that's it. A meeting with a fellow single mom to discuss their daughter's future play dates.

"Did you, or did you not meet a man, Montgomery?" Charlotte King, Violet Turner's wife, said in her strong Southern accent.

Addison scoffed. How ridiculous. Her meeting a man? Please. All she had to say was daughter, and they're running out the next exit. "I did not meet a man. I told you guys, I'm done with men. I'm perfectly happy with Ella." As Addison spoke those very words, she didn't know how true they actually become in the upcoming months.

Seeing that Addison was telling the truth, everyone decided to part ways. Sam kissed Naomi goodbye, Charlotte whispered something no doubt lovingly to Violet before she kissed Violet on the cheek and left the room. Addison rolled her eyes at their antics. It still amazed her that a woman such as Charlotte; brass, blunt, stubborn and hard could capture the heart of happy, soft and sweet Violet Turner.

Violet picked her cup of tea on her way out the door, when she turned around facing Addison with an understanding and concerned look. "I could see you were lying, Addison. Something did happen today, you're just unsure what happened. When you do find out, if you want to talk, I'll be here." Addison gave a grateful look to her friend. "Can I just say one thing?" Addison nodded. "I have never seen you look for happy. Not even when you were married to Mark."

More Soon.

A/N: I really did not like this chapter. I think I wrote and rewrote it twenty times before I gave up, and posted what I had. Oh, and how do you guys feel about the Violet/Charlotte pairing? You'll be seeing them a lot in the future chapters. Also, please remember this is A/U. A lot is different with Addison and Meredith. I know some are shocked with Meredith having a close family and the Private gang in Seattle. But, to me, you can't have Addison without a little Private now.