redamancy

Halloween

Charlie stands against the nurse's station, her head resting on her hand, gazing at her girlfriend. Her girlfriend. Addison's her girlfriend. Of course, they had only been official for a few days but still, Addison's her girlfriend! She watches as the doctor deals with a young mother, scared about giving birth, worried for her baby. She watches as she calms the girl, reassures her. God, she was amazing.

"If you need anything, call the nurses and they'll find me." She smiles as she exits the young girls room. "I didn't think I would see you today?"Addison smiles at Charlie and then turns her attention back to the chart.

"I had a spare second, so I wanted to come and say hi." Charlie smiles and gazes adoringly.

"What? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I just can't believe you're mine." Charlie says and Addison rolls her eyes. "Any Halloween plans?"

"Yes, I am staying here late. Keeping an eye on my patients" She recalls, her eyes glued to a chart in front of her, scanning this words on the page.

"Oh." Charlie lets out a sad sound.

"Why? Did you have something planned? Did I just completely ruin it?" She asks, her eyes snap away from the folder and up at the intern. 

Charlie shakes her head and explains her Halloween tradition of watching classic horror films by candlelight and gorging on candy. "I used to do it with my dad." She finishes.

"Why don't you do it this year with him?" Addison asks her curiously.

Oh shit. In all those times they saw each other, they never actually talked. Especially about Charlie's absolute shit show of a past.

Not today. Not yet.

"He's in Boston with my Mom, so just me this year." She lies, a smile on her  face and knocks her knuckles on the countertop. 

"Well...you could stay late as well? We could share a pack of M&Ms and call it dinner? It won't be the same, but it could be nice." Charlie nods her head and tries to hide her ever growing smiles. She was definitely falling in love with this woman.

So that is how Charlie's Halloween goes. She spends it in an on-call room, sharing a pack of M&M's with her girlfriend, and to Charlie...it's probably the best Halloween she ever had.

Thanksgiving

"Do you have any thanksgiving plans?" Meredith asks, slamming her locker.

"Binge watching and take out. That's my plan." Charlie yawns and takes a sip of her coffee.

"Can I jump on that? I'll bring over some video games" Alex asks. Charlie nods her head, and they high five.

"I'm here, got hearts to save." Cristina tells everyone, proudly.

"Not anymore. We're not on call so intern thanksgiving at mine. Bring booze, everything you have." She smiles. "You guys as well. We don't hang out enough." She directs to George and Izzie.

"Can I bring- " Charlie begins to ask.

"No partners! This is an intern thanksgiving. For us, the interns." Meredith points. "That means no Shepherd's or ex-Shepherds, no cardio gods and no slutty one night stands." She directs that last bit at Alex. "Meet at mine at 7." She announces one last time.

Charlie stands outside her latest patient's room, a 19-year-old with two broken legs. He was as high as a kite and thought he was a superhero; so he jumped off a roof. "And that, kids, is why we don't take drugs." She scolds the young man, he grimaces and flops back on the bed. She feels someone stand behind her. "I was thinking, about thanksgiving, tomorrow night. You could come over and we can get room service and have very loud, very scandalous sex and annoy my neighbours." Addison whispers in her ear. Charlie groans and turns to face the redhead.

"As totally as amazing and sexy as that sounds...I promised Meredith I would have an intern thanksgiving dinner with her." Charlie pulls a face, and groans. "But rain check? Because that is something, I definitely want to come back to and explore at a later date.

"Your loss." She gives her a wink and struts away. Charlie nearly breaks her clipboard.

*

Charlie pulls up to Meredith's, her bag contains 2 bottles of tequila and 1 very large bottle of vodka. She allows herself some time to relax and enjoy the night, so she has a few. The meal is nice, even if Meredith did over cook the turkey and it's a bit dry. They bond and share stories and Charlie opens up about her past and her dad, Alex's hand gripping hers the entire time. They all start getting drunk and dancing, then Alex suggest shots. She takes them and it goes straight to her head. The room starts to spin slightly so she sits down and takes a sip of her water.

Her phone chimes and fishes it out of her pocket.

Addison 9:56 pm

Cover over?

Charlie nearly spits out her drink with what follows. A selfie of Addison on her bed, leaving not much to the imagination. She lets out the breath she had been holding and gathers her stuff; ready to leave.

"Hey...er...something came up. I gotta go. I'll see you guys, tomorrow. This has been great." She reaches the door, the open twists and she pulls it halfway open.

"You can't drive like this!" George shouts.

"Here are my keys. I'll call a cab." She throws her keys  and they hit George in the face, he groans in pain but Charlie just grins, slamming the door and running off down the road.

"Hell yes, Charlie! GET IT!" Alex shouts, raising his hands in a celebration.

Christmas

"I got you something." Charlie says handing over the small present wrapped in blue paper.

Addison takes the the box, smiling at the silver bow on top. "Your present is at the hotel. I didn't know we were doing this, I thought we were waiting until we saw each other on Saturday." Charlie watches her, her face falls into a look of sadness. Charlie takes her hand and squeezes it gently. 

"We are, I just couldn't wait and I wanted to give it to you." She pulls Charlie into the nearest on-call room and settles on the bed, the blue wrapped gift on her lap. Charlie leans against the door, smiling. Addison rips the paper off and stares at the blue velvet box. She opens it, inside the box is a silver chain, with a heart pendant attached to it. She gasps.

"Charlie."

"I saw it and I couldn't stop thinking about it. I know it's probably a bit too much but I wanted to get it for you." She smiles and pushes herself off the door, making her way over to Addison. Addison stands and gently places a kiss on Charlie's lips.

"Put it on for me?" She holds up the necklace, Charlie accepts it and brushes her hair away. She places a kiss on the back of her neck. They share a moment together, just the two of them; no one else. It would be the last quiet moment they would get for a while.

They spend Christmas day in the hospital, both of them being kept apart by the various emergencies. Charlie finally manages to see her, in the elevator. Charlie is on her way down the clinic and Addison is making her way up the Maternity ward. "Hey." Charlie grins stepping into the elevator just as Addison steps out.

"Hi. I can't stay long, mother in distress, but I'll see you tonight! I love you." She calls as the door closes.

Addison doesn't realise what she says until the doors are shut and Charlie is gone. She spends the rest of the entire day thinking about it.

They finally reunite in the lobby, Charlie sits on a chair, her head in a book. She lifts her head and smiles when she sees Addison walk towards her. "I'm sorry for what I said. It just came out and I couldn't stop it- "

"Hey, it's okay. I love you too." Charlie grins, and Addison looks at her like she hangs the stars in the sky.

They have dinner at Charlie's and enjoy terrible Christmas films on the couch. Charlie pauses the film and sits up. "I want to tell you something."

"Okay."

"I lied, when I said my dad was in Boston with my mom, well technically he is, but...my dad died when I was 17. It was cancer, they couldn't do anything. I met Alex when I was 10 and he's been with me through everything. He's like a brother to me, so if I sometimes choose him over you don't take it personally, he just knows me the best. He helped me through everything, he was there when my dad died and when we both got into Perelman. I won't lie, I have off days, some days I don't want to move. This time of year is hard for me, but...I'm glad I found you." Addison reaches out and takes Charlie's hand. "I just...I thought it was time I told you, in case something happens." Charlie smiles and Addison pulls her into a hug. Hugging her tight and letting her cry.

New years

"Meredith is having a new year's party and this is me inviting you as my date. Yes, Derek will be there, but that doesn't matter because he's with Mer and you're with me."

Addison agrees to the invitation. It's a small affair, but nice. She feel slightly isolated but when Callie shows up with George, she settles down and enjoys the night. Addison fondly watches on as Charlie shouts, laying down her cards and laughing at the other interns.

Derek comes to take a seat next to her. He sips his beer and smiles at his ex-wife. He's glad she's found someone, someone who he knows will love her the way he never could.

"I'm glad you're happy Addison. Just don't screw it up." He says, nudging her shoulder and winking at her. They sit in comfortable silence as they watch the interns and Callie play cards.

It draws closer to midnight and Charlie locks eyes with Addison. Charlie gets up from the circle on the floor and walks into the kitchen, Addison watches as she walks away then gets up to follow her.

She finds her in the garden, sitting on the wall, staring at the stars.

"You okay?" Addison asks, coming to settle next to her. Charlie wraps an arm around her shoulder and pulls her closer, pressing a kiss to her temple.

"Never better." They sit in silence, arms wrapped around each other watching the stars Charlie checks her watch just under a minute to go. Addison rests her head on Charlie's shoulder and watches the stars. She can hear her friends begin to count down.

5

4

3

2

1

"Happy new year, Charlotte." Addison smiles, leaning forward to kiss Charlie. She pulls away and stares at Charlie, a smile on her face. "I love you."

"Happy new year, babe." Charlie smiles and drops her head down to place another kiss on her lips.