Author: PeppermintPatty09
Title: What Makes a Family
Rating: K for Kiddie safe.
Fandom: Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice
Pairings/Characters: Addison/Meredith, Violet/Charlotte, Arizona/Callie, Naomi/Sam, Izzy/Dell, Alex/Lexie and George/April. Past mentions of: Meredith/Derek and Addison/Mark
Genre: Romance and 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 is against your views, please look elsewhere. All mistakes are my own.
Chapter Nine
Resisting the Inevitable
Six Weeks Later
Meredith smiled as she walked into her patients' room. Carter Greene is a nine year old that had experienced server headaches for three months, until they found a hypothalamic Giloma tumor. Three hours of intensive surgery, Meredith smile at the success of removing the tumor from the frail little boy. And now, before she left to have lunch with Addison, she wanted to check on young Carter Greene.
"Good afternoon," Meredith smiled as she walked into the room. "How's my favorite patient?" Meredith asked, looking at Carter but directing the question to Carter's parents.
"I bet you say that to all your patient's," Carter quipped back with a smirk and Carter parents, Mary and Larry laughed.
Meredith grabbed Carters' chart from the foot of his bed, flipping it opened. "True," Meredith grinned. "But then again, all my patients are my favorite. I love something about all of them."
"What do you love about me?" Carter relaxed when Meredith wrapped the cuff around Carters' bicep to check his blood pressure.
"Mmm…I would have to say your sense of humor; reminds me of my daughter." Meredith removed the cuff. "Looking good, Mr. Carter. Before you know it you'll be back on the field," Meredith said knowing that her young patient was a fan of soccer.
Meredith turned and looked at Carter's parents. "Carter seems to be recovering well. I'll be in tomorrow morning to check on him and by the end of the week he should be able to go home."
"We," Mary inhaled trying to get a hold of her emotions. "Thank you, Dr. Grey." Mary pulled Meredith into an unexpected hug. "Thank you," she chocked out.
Larry shook Meredith's hand in thanks, and then Meredith walked out with a little spring in her step. She loved her job that much was true.
"Where are you going?" Meredith's friend, Christina Yang, asked walking up to Meredith, handing a nurse a chart.
"Oh, um, Addison invited me out to lunch," Meredith said, turning to face her friend. "Wanna come?" She pulled out her phone, smiling when she saw she had a text from Addison. "We're going to the deli down the street for some sandwiches."
"And be the third wheel in your little Sappho relationship, no thanks," Christina quipped back, giving her friend a pointed look.
Meredith rolled her eyes. "Christina, there is nothing going on between Addison and I. How many times do I have to tell you?"
Christina looked incredulously at Meredith. "Really?" she challenged, looking Meredith in the eyes.
"Yes, really. There is nothing going on between Addison and me. We're just friends."
"Look," Christina sighed, "I have no problem with whatever is going on with Addison; just don't hide it and lie to me about it. To be honest, I'm glad you're finally putting yourself out there. Derek would want you and Ally to move on and be happy," Christina said softly. "Addison is good for you. I can see she cares about you…even if she is Satan."
Meredith narrowed her cobalt blue eyes. "What did I say about calling her that? And it's Ruler of all that is evil," Meredith smirked.
Christina laughed. "Funny. Again, all I'm saying is that you have a good thing going on with her, whether it is a friendship, or romantic relationship. It's been a long time since I saw you laugh or smile. And Ally is thriving under Addison's attention." Christina unclipped her pager from her pants. "I have to go; I have a transplant at two."
Meredith laughed. She was once again grateful to have Christina Yang has a friend. They've been friends since medical school and their friendship grew and blossomed until something strong and stable and loving over the years has they got each through hardships, drunken nights, midnight phone calls and boyfriends. She admits sometimes Christina can be a little hard, rough and blunt; but to Meredith it just means Christina cares and has a heart bigger than anyone she knows. And it was because of that, you could always count on Christina to always be by your side. No matter what. Christina was her soul mate that much she knows.
"Has Ally decided on what she wants to do for her birthday?" Addison asked, picking out the pickles from her sandwich, giving them to a waiting Meredith and, in return, Meredith gave Addison her tomatoes and onions.
Meredith took a bite of her turkey and Swiss on rye bread. "She wants a superhero party," Meredith said around a mouthful of food. She swallowed before speaking again. "She wants everyone to dress up, spend a night and watch Batman, Spiderman and Superman movies all nights."
"Sounds fun," Addison commented with a laugh. She knew Meredith was a great mom - one of the greatest but she also knew Meredith didn't do well with heaps and heaps of kids around.
"Fun?" Meredith exclaimed incredulously. "It sounds like hell."
Addison bumped shoulders with Meredith, playfully. "Oh it can't be that bad. Think about how happy Ally will be when she seems her party," Addison smiled, thinking about the mischievous young blonde that had captured her heart. And not because she's Meredith's but because she's Allison Harper Grey and she can't imagine her life without the little girl and her mommy. She can't live without hearing about Ally's wild adventures or her numerous, outrageous ideas she tried to trick the teacher, Mrs. Webber, with her weird six year old logic - that doesn't seem to make sense to adults but makes a whole lot of sense to Ally in Ally's world, or seeing those cobalt blue eyes that were the shape of Derek Shepherd's but the color of Meredith's, eyes that she couldn't go through a lifetime not seeing. It was that thought that always left Addison feeling scared, happy, breathless and…complete.
At the thought of her little girl, Meredith's eyes brighten and sparkled. "And Ells, too. I know she's been waiting to keep rock that Wonder Woman and Robin costume. Oh, when is her dance recital so I can clear my schedule for that day?"
Addison inhaled shakily when she noticed how brighter Meredith's eyes seemed to get when she also mentions Ella. "In two weeks. Friday at five. We can have dinner and ice cream afterwards."
"Then movies at your house or mine?"
"Yours," Addison said automatically. "I feel more at home at your house," Addison said softly but what she really wanted to tell Meredith was that she felt more at home wherever Meredith and Ally were.
"It feels like home when you're there," Meredith whispered, looking shyly at Addison. Addison looked down, blushing, suddenly interested in her sandwich.
"I think I like my daughter's best friends mom, Meredith," Addison announced, walking briskly into Violet's Turner-King's office, shutting the door behind her.
"You usually like your friends, and some love their friends. There's nothing wrong with that," Violet stated calmly in her psychiatrist voice.
Addison sat on the brown leather couch, making a mental note to ask Violet where she got it. The couch was probably the most comfortable couch she sat on.
"I like her romantically," Addison whispered, her eyes tearing at the thought. "I am so attracted to her." Addison blew out a frustrated breath. "God! This isn't suppose to happen to me. This never happens to me. I am not attracted to woman. I dated Mark Sloan. I was married to Mark Sloan and had a child by him. He's, like, this biggest womanizer on Earth."
"Just because you were married to Mark doesn't mean you're immune to being attracted to Meredith, and wanting a romantic relationship," Violet said gently. "I dated Pete and Charlotte date Cooper before we got together. Being attracted to someone is a normal human instinct. I'm attracted to some people, and I bet Charlotte is, too, but that doesn't mean I want to be with them. They just seem…hot to me." Violet smirked. "Of course none of them are more attractive or hotter than Charlotte."
"So, you were always into Charlotte?" Addison asked, peering at Violet with inquisitive eyes.
"Sure, but I didn't like her romantically until later. When her dad died and I found her crying in the kitchen and she let me hold her, take care of her, I knew I was falling for her. And that our fights over Coop and heated arguments were actually sexual tension building up between us. We had sex on our first date and it was the hottest sex I've ever had," Violet laughed.
Addison cringed at the image; however, the more she thought about it, the more she became interested. There was no denying Charlotte King was a hottie and Violet was equally as hot. They made a hot couple. And Addison flushed at the thought. And, of course, none of them are as hot as Meredith. Meredith made her blood boil, skin tingle and heart race. It was a feeling she did not associate with Mark or any guys she's been with - that was a total of three guys.
"Now we're married - happily married. Addison, the only advice I can give you is talk to Meredith. Your feelings might be reciprocated."
"And if they're not?" Addison questioned, fearfully at the mere thought of Meredith denying and turning her down. She knew she would be able to handle not being romantically involved with Meredith but what scared her most was Meredith not wanting her to be in her life and taking Ally with her. She couldn't lose them.
"Then, you pick up the pieces, cry it out on Nay's couch, and then move on. If you don't, you'll always live with the 'what if' thought and regret."
Addison stood; she had a lot to think about. "Thank you, Vi. Thank you for talking to me like a friend and not a psychiatrist."
"You're welcome, Addison," Violet smiled at a retreated and thoughtful Addison.
Meredith speared a romaine lettuce leaf, listening to the chatter and laughter of her family. It made her think about the times she, Addison and the girls spent together. It made her think what it would be like to have Addison and Ella for dinner; here at her parents' house with her siblings and niece. She wondered if they would get along. There was no doubt they wouldn't. Her mom and dad would fall in love with little Ella, her mother would fawn over Addison and father and brother-in-law would want her to watch a game together, Lexie and Molly would want to go shopping with her. Everybody would fall in love with her. She made her hundredth mental note to invite Addison and Ella to their next family dinner, which was every Monday night.
"Anything new with you, Meredith?" Susan asked, looking at her daughter. Along with the rest of the table.
Meredith resisted the urge to groan. "Anything new" translated as "is there a man in your life" to her mother. It was her mother's polite way to ask in front of Ally.
"No, mom, there isn't. Just me, Ally and work," Meredith said on the roll of her eyes.
"And Addison and Ells, too," Ally added.
"And Addison and Ella," Meredith said with a smile.
Meredith's young sister, Alexandra or Lexie, quirked an eyebrow at her older sister. Meredith and Lexie had always been close and that bond allowed them to read each other well without saying anything. Just like now, Lexie knew there was something going on between her sister and Addison.
"You should invite Addison and Ella over," Lexie suggested nonchalantly "We can finally meet the famous Addison and Ella."
"Oh yes!" Susan exclaimed, grinning excitedly at the prospect of meeting her granddaughter's best friend, Ella and her mom, Addison.
"I was already considering asking her. Anyways, you'll meet her at Ally's party this Saturday."
"Yes, but that around heaps of people. We won't have time to get to know one another. Inviting them to dinner will give me the opportunity."
Meredith took a deep breath. "Okay. I'll invite them over for Monday."
Meredith picked at the chocolate cake before she put it in the fridge. She walked over to where her mom was loading up the dish washer.
"Thank you for dinner, mom. It was very nice. Comforting." Meredith kissed her mom on the cheek.
"You're welcome, dear. You know how I love taking care of my girls." Susan moved over cleaning the counters. "You know, Johnny, got neutered last week," Susan said looking at her pug Johnny. Johnny was named after one of country music most beloved male singers, Johnny Cash. "His new vet, Dr. Finn Dandridge, wife died three years ago."
"Mom," Meredith whined. "I'm not looking to date anyone. I'm perfectly content with my life."
"Everyone woman needs a man. I understand that women today have…needs. I have needs, too."
"Mom!" Meredith grimaced. "I so don't need to hear that. As for needs there are none." Because I have Bob, or Battery Operated Boyfriend, Meredith thought. "Please stop trying to set me up. When I'm ready I'll be sure to call you, and give you permission to set me up with as many of your friend's sons as you want."
"Yes, but, Finn is charming, smart, handsome and financially stable. I know you'll like him, Meredith. Just one date, that's all? When June got her rabies shot today and I told him about you, he seemed really interested."
Meredith rolled her eyes, looking at the dog couple. June and Johnny, were probably just like their namesake. The dogs were madly in love and went everywhere together, and would probably die within months apart like Johnny and June Cash.
"Meredith, just say yes, dear," Meredith's father, Thatcher said, walking into the kitchen with Ally on his back. "It'll be easiest for everyone. Your mother would get off your back and I'll get a decent night of sleep. It's just for one night. Who know you might like it."
She doubted it. "Fine. One time. That's it," she said giving in. All she wanted to do lately was have family nights with her little girls and Addison as the cuddled on the couch watching movies.
TBC
Thank you all that reviewed. They currently warm the heart. And iamkellylouise thanks for the info and the mutual dislike of Jake. The promo for the next episode had me cringing. He's a prick and a hypocrite to me. And to Cellen8 thank you for the many review. I just had to give you a little shout out.
Also, I'm sorry for anyone who received the Alert that I upload a story called STORY SEARCH. My cousin was looking for some nice Edward and Bella stories to read and decided to write a message under my name since she doesn't have one. I am NOT pregnant but thank you to those that PM'd me with congratulations.
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