Chapter 12

                                    

                                          

Addison regretted her choice in footwear having somehow forgotten the gravel of Meredith's driveway when she had slipped her heels on before leaving the hotel room. As the heel dug into the stones she was far too aware of the red paint that was most likely getting chipped with each step. In one way it was helping her take her mind off the fact she would have to eventually knock on Meredith's door and by the amount of cars on the drive she wasn't home alone. 
She had originally contemplated just messaging Meredith that they were all going to Ellis's condo and that she could make her way over whenever she was ready, but the sound of Ellis calling her a coward was enough to change her mind. Besides, Addison wasn't going to refuse herself more time with Meredith, especially not knowing how long it would be until she inevitably had to go home to LA. 
Addison knocked on the glass door respectfully avoiding the bell for the sake of the housemates that could've been sleeping after a long shift. She hadn't noticed how much of the door was made from glass until she was awkwardly waiting on the doorstep alone. A dark figure emerged from the kitchen, a mug of what was most likely coffee in hand. Addison took a deep breath clearly recognising the figuring from the previous few days. 
It was Derek. Derek was about to let her into Meredith's house the same man she's pretty sure that if looks could kill she would have been dead the first time he had so much as glanced at her. She could see the look on his face as he realised it was her something she wasn't quite sure was hatred yet. He reached for the door handle unlocking it before tugging it open for her. 
"How ironic" is all he huffed as he stepped to one side to allow her in. Addison had no idea what was meant by that comment but he definitely was not happy to see her. 
"Good Morning, I'm just here to see Meredith if she's here" Addison stood awkwardly in the middle of the entry way whilst Derek stood across from her one hand on his hip. 
"I'm pretty sure she's still asleep so you might be better to just leave her a text message" Derek grumbled back.
It took everything in Addison not to roll her eyes at him instead just offering him a tight lipped smile. If Addison had learnt anything in her short time in Seattle it was that Derek was jealous and he most likely had every reason to be. She could sense it by the way his eyes were constantly shooting dager at her or the way he'd suddenly straighten his posture whenever she entered the room, like he was trying to prove himself.
"Well in that case I will leave you with these and will call Meredith later on" Addison held out the takeaway coffee cup in her hand towards Derek along with the small brown paper bag. His top lip turned up in disapproval wanting nothing more than to shove her hands back towards her as he led her out of the house but his thought rapidly came to a halt. 
"You don't need to leave anything" a voice came from the top of the staircase, one they both knew well. "If those are for me we can take them into the living room" Meredith finished as she descended the staircase. 
Addison's gaze was fixed on Meredith's slim legs that had been left completely on show by her small pyjama short. She watched as each muscle flexed as she took a step down. The sight is almost enough to make her completely forget what she was originally there for. As Meredith reached the bottom of the stairs Addison's eyes were drawn to Meredith face slightly red from where she had slept stray pieces of hair feathered around her face; wavy from sleeping with it damp. 
"It's fine it's really not a problem I can just leave them here I know you and Derek haven't seen much of each other recently" Addison stumbled over her words waving the paper cup and bag around not quite sure what to do with it. Derek tilted his neck sideways to face Meredith waiting to see what he had to say.
"I'm assuming you didn't come here just to give me breakfast so it would be a waste of a trip and Derek has to leave for the hospital soon anyway" Meredith shrugged her shoulders as she walked further into the hallway. "Come on don't just stand in the doorway" she smiled looking back at the both of them as she headed to the living room. Addison couldn't help but smirk as she closed the front door as she followed behind Meredith leaving a very quiet Derek behind. 
Addison sat down on the couch passing Meredith the breakfast she had brought her. Meredith allowed her fingers to brush slowly over Addisons wanting some kind of physical connection even if it was just for seconds. She could see out of the corner of her eye Derek walking towards the stairs followed by his heavy footsteps up them. Addison let out a breath she hadn't realised she'd been holding once Derek had gone, her chest no longer felt so tight.
"Ignore him, Derek is just being Derek" Meredith spoke, noticing the way Addison seemed to relax once he was gone. 
"He's making a great impression so far" Addison chuckled watching as Meredith smiled at what she had said. "Still not quite sure what you see in him" she wasn't even thinking as she spoke, just blurting out what had been on her mind since she had met him. Addison froze as she watched Meredith waiting for her to have some kind of a reaction.
Meredith bit onto her lip staring at Addisons wondering what the further meaning behind what she had just said. "What brings you here this morning? I'm sure Bizzy sent you round for some reason" Meredith ignored the previous comment turning the conversation back to Addison.
"Maybe I just came over to admire you" Meredith was taking that as an answer which is clear in the way she tilted her head. "Mother and Richard are going over to your mothers condo to start going through her belongings so sent me over to check on you and bring you over ... although you will have to drive us" Addison pretended it didn't sting a little how Meredith had just brushed past what she had said.
"In that case I will quickly get ready I wouldn't want them to find too many good things whilst we're not there, do you mind pouring this coffee into one of the cups in the cupboard closest to the fridge whilst I get changed" Meredith tilted her head back in the direction on the kitchen whilst gesturing to her current outfit. Addison grabbed the coffee cup from Meredith with a nod. "Thanks, I will be 15 minutes max" Meredith said as she got up from the couch to head upstairs.
Addison watched Meredith walk out of the living room more specifically her legs before making her way to the kitchen. She was head deep in the cupboard when she heard someone walking into the kitchen "That was quick I haven't even gotten you a cup yet" Addison shouted out not bothering to turn around only when she heard someone clearing their throat someone that was definitely not Meredith did she turn from the cupboard. "Oh not Meredith sorry" Addison tried her best not to groan at the sight of Derek.
"I see you're making yourself at home" Derek grumbled out. 
It took everything in Addison not to throw the coffee at Derek. "Hmm I was just getting a cup for Meredith like she had asked me to do" Addison made a point of slamming the cup she had found onto the wooden countertop. "I truly don't see what your problem is with me" She couldn't help herself, her fuse becoming shorter and shorter with him. 
"I don't know maybe how you suddenly turn up out of the blue and Meredith is just so fond of you yet I have never heard of you she has never once spoke about you and to top it off I come home to find out that apparently you're in her mothers will and yet I haven't even officially been invited to her funeral ... so I'd say I have a pretty good reason to have a problem" Derek spat out through clenched teeth. 
"None of that is my fault Meredith called and I came it as simple as that and for the will I have no clue why Ellis included me in it I am just as shocked as you are trust me ... you seriously need to figure out what ever is going on with you because this is the last thing Meredith needs" Addison's heart was ready to burst out of her chest. 
"What makes you such an expert on what Meredith needs?" Derek argued back.
"If only you knew," Addison smirked, relishing in the way it seemed to silence him.
"Are you two ok in here?" Meredith interrupts them for the second time that morning sensing the tension between them.
"Perfect, we should get going, wouldn't want Bizzy to get the good cutlery" Addison looked past Derek and straight to Meredith already beginning to make her way out of the kitchen.
"Sounds good" Meredith smiled, not convinced at all that everything was perfect but would leave the questioning for a different time.