Work Text:
It was finally happening. Addison was finally going to be with her wife. She could barely sit still in her business class seat, flying from the east coast to Seattle.
She was arriving a little earlier than they’d planned, but everything seemed to line up perfectly. Richard Webber snagged her for a consult, which led to him offering her a job at Seattle Grace. She’d immediately accepted, not even pretending to consider. It saved her from having to beg for a job when Meredith finished her first year as an intern. Not that a surgeon of her status needed to beg for a job, but it certainly saved her from asking.
They agreed when Meredith got the position at Seattle Grace that Addison would wait a year until she came. Meredith was already worried about getting treated differently for being a Grey, and she didn’t want her wife to add to it. Addison would do anything for Meredith, so she stayed in Boston, while Meredith went to Seattle.
But then Ellis got sick, and Meredith had constant complaints about a neurosurgeon attending who was making her uncomfortable with his advances. That and the job offer was really all she needed to come to Seattle early and Meredith agreed. At the very least, she’d have emotional support and Addison wasn’t afraid to tell off this smarmy doctor for making things incredibly difficult for her wife.
The captain announced that they were preparing for landing, bringing a smile to Addison’s lips. The few months she’d been separated from her wife were hard, and she was more than ready to be reunited.
Meredith couldn’t meet her at the airport, which Addison understood. The demands of an intern schedule were brutal. She remembered the days where Meredith had taken care of her during her own time as a resident, and she was looking forward to returning the favour.
Since her wife was undoubtedly busy, Addison had decided to visit Ellis Grey. In a surprising turn of events, her mother in law was actually quite fond of her, approving their marriage wholeheartedly. She remembered Meredith sobbing in their bathroom about it.
It was the first thing Ellis Grey had ever approved of. Ellis never put any stock in love, had openly scorned it, but she was willing to overlook it. Apparently, marrying a double board certified, world class neonatal surgeon was enough to change her mind on marriage and love. Slightly. Meredith suspected that her mother mostly pretended theirs was a loveless, platonic marriage for status. But she was trying to understand, trying to be supportive, and that meant more to her wife than anything.
Either way, their relationship had improved, enough that Meredith took her Alzheimer’s diagnosis particularly hard. But now, Addison was going to be around, and the arrogant neurosurgeon that had been making Meredith’s life hell was heading a promising new study.
A smile crept back in Addison’s face as she approached the doors of her new place of employment. She had a meeting with Richard before she could go see her mother in law.
As she walked through the hospital, she had to suppress her grin. She was known for being a hardass, and her need for perfection and sarcastic humour had earned her the nickname “Satan” at her old hospital. Addison quite liked the name, although she did prefer “Ruler of all Evil.”
Addison approached the chief’s office, knocking on the door, and letting the grin show in her face.
“Dr. Webber. Good to see you.”
“Good to see you too. Great to see you, now that you’re officially here,” he replied.
Addison nodded. He looked pleased with himself, and she couldn’t help but remember how things were when she was just starting out as a surgeon. She owed a great deal to the man in front of her, and she hoped her smile conveyed that gratitude. But there was one thing she needed to do.
“Richard,” she started, trying to keep her voice casual, “there is one thing I’d like to discuss with you. Regarding my spouse.”
Dr. Webber looked at her in surprise. “I wasn’t aware that you were married.”
She smiled sheepishly. They hadn’t had a big wedding. Between both of their studies and residencies, there was never a good time. And neither of them needed a big fanfare. They’d always said they could renew their vows with a huge celebration later down the line. “We didn’t exactly tell many people.”
“Congratulations, Addison,” Richard said. He was smiling at her, but she could tell that he was confused why she brought it up.
“My wife,” Addison started, pausing to check his reaction, “she works here at Seattle Grace.”
Realisation dawned on his face. “Ah. You’ll need to fill out the appropriate forms with HR.”
Addison nodded. “Of course.”
She took another moment, before finally blurting out, “It’s Meredith Grey. She’s my wife. Dr. Grey.”
Richard’s eyebrows shot up. “Meredith?”
“Yes. Well, it’s Meredith Grey-Montgomery, but we decided to keep our last names at work to avoid any confusion.”
There was a pause, and Addison’s heart dropped. She hadn’t considered that the chief might not be okay with her marriage.
Luckily, after a few moments, a small smile appeared on Dr. Webber’s face. “You’ll Need to fill out more forms now, and she cannot receive any special privileges.”
Addison nodded seriously. They’d discussed this at length. “Of course. We had actually hoped I would find a position in Seattle later, after Meredith finished her first year. But circumstances arose and moving now seemed like the best option.”
Richard nodded, but didn’t say anything more. Addison took it as her cue to leave, saying her goodbyes and promising to catch up sometime. She got up to leave, but paused. “And Richard? I’d appreciate it if you kept our relationship to yourself for a few days. I’d like to get settled first.”
He nodded again, but shot her a soft look. She knew she could trust him, but it’s nice to have some reassurance.
After her meeting with the chief, she headed off to see her mother in law. The last time she had seen her, she was doing well, and certainly not the person Meredith had described. It scared her. She didn’t want Ellis to go back to the harsh, critical person.
But Ellis was her family, and she did love her mother in law. She’d do it for Meredith even if she didn’t.
Once she arrived outside Ellis’ room, she suddenly felt the pressure ease. She could do this. She did it all those years ago, and she can do it again.
She walked into the room, checking her posture, and making sure there was a friendly smile on her face. “Hello, Ellis.”
The woman sitting in a chair by the window didn’t bother to look at her. “Addison. Took you long enough, my daughter was lost without you.”
Addison winced. “I think she’s doing well. Most of the attendings at the hospital have great things to say about her.”
Ellis didn’t respond. Her silence was deafening. It was such a difference to the woman she had grown to know. The one who would question her incessantly about her surgeries, or if she had developed any new techniques.
It was more like the woman she first met, who would constantly put down her daughter. The one who only saw their relationship as a way for Meredith to get ahead.
Feeling awkward, Addison decided it would be better if she came back again with Meredith. Maybe seeing the two of them would help her mother in law remember more. Or maybe Addison was just a coward and needed her wife for emotional support.
Rolling her eyes at herself, she quickly said her goodbyes, and left. The only thing left on her agenda was to find her wife.
Addison grinned widely. This was the moment. She was finally going to see her wife. In person, not on some grainy computer screen. She glanced at the time, smiling again when she saw that it was at the end of her wife’s shift. And since Meredith had the next day off, it was the perfect timing for them to reunite. She had already made dinner plans, wanting to treat her wife properly for the first time in months.
As she was walking towards the entrance, she saw her wife standing with another doctor. A male doctor with a mop of dark hair slicked back. He was leering at her, leaning into her when she was obviously leaning back, uncomfortable. Addison’s blood started to boil. This must be the neurosurgeon Meredith was always talking about.
She walked up to them, close enough that they could see her when they glanced her way. Meredith was the first to notice her, her whole face lighting up. She gave her wife a brief smile before turning towards Dr. Shepherd, giving him one of her infamous evil smirks.
“Addison! What are you doing here?” Meredith interjected before she could say anything to the man.
Addison paused in her quest to set Derek in his place. She gave Meredith a playful pout.
“Really, you’d know if you paid a little more attention to the hospital gossip. Richard hired me as the new head of OB,” she said before turning to Derek, holding out her hand. “Hi. I’m Addison Forbes Montgomery-Grey.”
She watched with glee as his face paled.
“Montgomery-Grey?” he asked weakly.
By now, Meredith was hiding her own smirk behind her hand as Derek glanced between the two women in confusion.
Addison couldn’t help but get one last quip in, “And you must be the man who’s been screwing over my wife.”
She reached over, linking arms with her wife, and beaming at the stunned doctor. She waited a few moments in case Meredith wanted to say anything else, before leading her wife away.
“You’re so dramatic,” Meredith complained lightly when they were out of earshot.
“Maybe I just don’t like people trying to take what’s mine,” Addison shot back, only half joking.
Meredith rolled her eyes. “You know he’s nothing but an annoyance to me. And I think this more than proves that I’m yours,” she said, pulling her wedding ring on a chain from underneath her shirt and holding it up.
“Yes, well. He was harassing you. If nothing else, it’s unprofessional,” Addison added seriously.
Her wife hummed. They had reached Meredith’s car, and Meredith turned so they were hugging each other.
“I missed you,” Meredith whispered, leaning in more.
“I’m here. I’m here and I’m not going anywhere,” Addison said, holding her wife a little tighter.
There were still things they’d needed to worry about. Hospital gossip, work drama, and ill mothers, to name a few, but Addison was determined to put it all aside for the evening. She wanted to take her wife out, and give her some much needed relaxation. All the stressful things could wait.