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"Princess, rise and shine, it's time to start your day." Addison gently nudged Meredith, peppering her face with soft kisses and chuckling as the blonde scrunched her face in protest, emitting a groan of reluctance.
"Five more minutes," mumbled Meredith, rolling over to bury her face in the pillow, seeking refuge from the impending wake-up call.
"That's what you said five minutes ago, and five minutes before that, oh, and let's not forget what you said five minutes prior to that," Addison retorted, her sarcasm dripping from every word, as she hoisted Meredith up, the blonde going limp like a ragdoll in her arms.
"Why must you torment me so?" Meredith grumbled, shooting a playful glare at Addison, who simply grinned back at her.
"I know, I'm just the worst. How dare I show concern for your punctuality to avoid getting in trouble at work. I can't fathom why you tolerate me," Addison teased, prompting eye-rolls from Meredith, who then leaned in to plant a kiss on her partner's lips.
"You're irresistible, that's why," Meredith quipped, a mischievous smirk playing on her lips as Addison raised an eyebrow in amusement.
"Is that so? My charm is the only reason you endure me?" Addison shook her head with a laugh, playfully nudging Meredith to rise. "Get ready before I have to resort to drastic measures."
As Meredith reluctantly peeled herself out of bed, Addison couldn't help but admire the sight before her. Despite the morning grumpiness, there was an undeniable allure to Meredith's tousled hair and sleepy eyes that made Addison's heart flutter.
"Alright, alright, I'm going," Meredith grumbled, shooting Addison a mock glare before shuffling off to start her morning routine.
Addison observed Meredith's departure with a warm smile playing on her lips. Just as Meredith reached the bathroom doorway, she let out a groan of discomfort, clutching her stomach and leaning against the door frame for support. Concern etched on her face, Addison hurried to her side. "Princess, what's the matter?" Gently, she lifted Meredith and guided her back to the bed, kneeling down in front of her. "Are you in pain? Please, be honest with me." The worry in Addison's voice was palpable as she assessed Meredith's condition, her gaze unwavering as she awaited a response.
Meredith gasped, clutching her stomach as tears streamed down her face. "My... stomach," she managed to say through gritted teeth. "Gonna... be... sick." Addison swiftly lifted her up, guiding her to the bathroom and gently placing her in front of the toilet. She held Meredith's hair back, offering comfort as she gently rubbed her back.
"Just let it out, Princess. I'm right here," Addison reassured, checking Meredith's forehead as she finished retching and slumped against the toilet. "You seem to have a slight fever. How severe is the pain?"
"It's bad," Meredith sobbed. "Addie, I'm scared." She reached out for Addison, who enveloped her in a comforting embrace.
"I'm taking you to the hospital. This isn't normal," Addison declared, lifting Meredith and heading towards the bedroom door.
"Addie, you're still in your pajamas. I'm going as a patient, so I'll just end up in a gown anyway. You’ll just be stuck in your pajamas all day," Meredith pointed out, her voice trembling with fear and pain.
"I don’t care." she said, swiftly carrying Meredith to the car. The drive to the hospital was filled with tense silence, broken only by Meredith's occasional groans of discomfort. Upon arrival, Addison rushed Meredith into the emergency room, where medical staff quickly attended to her. As Meredith was wheeled away for tests, Addison stood by her side, her worry palpable.
Bailey entered the room, clutching the results in her hand, with Cristina trailing close behind, her eyes reflecting concern. "It's her appendix. I'll perform the surgery in the next few hours; I'm just waiting for an available operating room," Bailey informed.
"Great, can I have some morphine?" Meredith deadpanned, her voice laced with discomfort as she let out a pained moan. Bailey nodded and left the room before returning with the necessary supplies, swiftly putting the medication in Meredith’s IV.
“There, hopefully that’ll kick in soon. Yang, stay with her. I highly doubt you’ll be any use to anyone when you know that the ET to your Elliot is drugged out of her mind awaiting surgery. At the very least you can keep Addison company as I’m sure Meredith on morphine is sure to be a handful.” Bailey chuckled before leaving the room. Cristina sat down in the chair next to Meredith’s bed glancing over at Addison with a smirk.
“So that’s what you wear to bed?” Cristina snorted as she looked over Addison’s pink pajamas that were covered in cats.
"No, I just decided when I was getting dressed this morning that this seemed like a good choice in outfit. I actually sleep naked," Addison quipped, rolling her eyes playfully as Meredith erupted into laughter, playfully slapping Addison's arm.
"Please, if you slept naked we would never get any sleep because I wouldn’t leave you alone," Meredith chuckled, shaking her head with a dazed smile. "Cristina, if you saw her boobs, you would leave Burke so fast!" Meredith's eyes widened in realization. "Addie! Show her your boobs! If she leaves Burke, then that means no more wedding planning, and more importantly, no more Burke and his dumb face!"
"I think someone's morphine kicked in," Cristina managed to say between fits of laughter. "Mer, are you sure you want Addison to show me her boobs? What if I try to steal her from you?" Cristina teased, causing Meredith to shoot her a mean glare and then wrap her arms possessively around her girlfriend.
"No. Mine. You can stay with stupid face," Meredith growled while tightening her hold on Addison.
"Don’t worry, Princess, I’m all yours. No one is ever going to steal me away from you," Addison reassured her with a light-hearted chuckle. "Besides, Cristina is not my type. I’m not into people who sleep in coffins," Addison playfully teased before gently planting a kiss on Meredith’s forehead.
"And I’m not into people with horns and a tail like your beloved Satan over here," Cristina quipped back with a playful eyeroll.
"I don’t know about a tail, but she certainly is horny," Meredith smirked, shooting Addison a sultry look and wiggling her eyebrows suggestively.
"Princess, behave," Addison chided with a playful grin, attempting to lighten the mood amidst their banter.
“Or what? You’ll spank me?” Meredith retorted in a seductive tone, playfully fluttering her eyelashes.
“Fortunately for your bratty little bottom, I won’t be able to administer any spankings until you're fully recovered. However, you are certainly pushing the boundaries here,” Addison warned, her expression turning more serious, though a hint of amusement lingered in her eyes, causing Meredith to erupt into a fit of giggles.
“Yes, Mommy,” Meredith melodramatically replied, before nestling her head on Addison's chest, a serene smile gracing her lips as she closed her eyes.
Cristina, intrigued by the exchange, inquired, "Why do you call her Princess?" Her face reflecting genuine curiosity. Before Addison could respond, Meredith's eyes shot open, a mischievous grin spreading across her face as she turned towards Cristina.
"Because I'm a princess! Obviously!" Meredith declared with a playful exuberance, before closing her eyes once more, a contented smile playing on her lips.
“You’re my princess.” Addison said with adoration as she brushed Meredith’s hair out of her face before turning to Cristina and lowering her voice slightly. “I started calling her princess because she’s a brat who acts like royalty, but it stuck and she really is my little princess.”
“Barf.” Cristina groaned. “Do you guys have to be so sickly sweet all the time?”
“Yes.” Addison said simply before turning all of her attention to Meredith, combing her finger’s through the blonde’s hair, who hummed happily in response.
As Addison and Meredith shared a tender moment, Cristina couldn't help but feel a twinge of warmth witnessing their affectionate banter. Despite her teasing, she knew the bond between Addison and Meredith was something special, a connection that transcended mere words or gestures.
Bailey returned to escort Meredith to the operating room, a hint of disappointment evident in the blonde’s expression as Addison unclasped the collar from around Meredith's neck. "Don't worry, Princess. I'll make sure it's back on before you even open your eyes," Addison murmured softly, showering Meredith's face with affectionate kisses before she was wheeled away.
An hour passed, and Meredith was wheeled back into her room post-surgery. Addison rose from her seat and slipped into the bed beside her slumbering girlfriend, her eyes glistening with tears as she turned to Bailey. "Is she okay?" Addison's voice trembled with emotion. Bailey offered a reassuring smile and nodded in response.
"She did wonderfully. I have no doubt she'll be back to causing my hair to turn gray in no time," Bailey remarked with a hint of humor. She approached the chair where Addison was seated, handing her the bag. "You might want to put her necklace back on before she wakes up. It was all she could talk about before the procedure." Addison's complexion turned pale as she retrieved Meredith’s collar.
"Did she refer to it as a necklace?" Addison inquired, a sense of apprehension creeping into her tone.
"At first, yes. Then she leaned in and whispered that it was actually her collar, but that it was a secret. She also mentioned that it's the reason she hasn't been a complete nuisance to me in recent months," Bailey recounted with a chuckle. Observing the perplexed expression on Addison's face and the flicker of fear in her eyes, Bailey reassured her. "Addison, I'm not one to pry. While I don't necessarily seek insight into my interns' personal lives, I had my suspicions. If it brings her comfort, and keeps her from causing me to transfer hospitals, then I support it wholeheartedly." Addison's features softened at Bailey's understanding words. “I noticed a change in her behavior not long after she started wearing it, that’s why I started keeping a jewelry repair kit in my locker. I wanted to be able to help if anything happened to it.”
"Thank you, Bailey. I appreciate your openness and acceptance," she expressed gratefully. As she carefully fastened the collar around Meredith's neck, a sense of relief washed over her. The gesture held a deeper significance, a symbol of their bond and the solace it provided Meredith during challenging times.
Bailey offered a warm smile, acknowledging the unspoken connection between Addison and Meredith.
"She's lucky to have you by her side, Addison. Your care and devotion mean the world to her," Bailey remarked sincerely before turning to leave. Addison's gaze lingered on Meredith, her heart swelling with love and gratitude for the woman who had captured her heart.
In the serene ambiance of the hospital room, where the symphony of machines hummed softly and whispers danced in the air, Addison found a moment of tranquility. The bond she shared with Meredith was a beacon of fortitude, resilience, and unwavering support, a comforting presence amidst the clinical setting. As Meredith stirred from her slumber, her hand instinctively seeking the collar around her neck, Addison greeted her with a warm smile, radiating reassurance and affection.
"Hello, Princess. How are you feeling?" Addison inquired, her voice laced with tenderness and concern.
Meredith, with a hint of humor in her eyes, quipped, "Like Bailey cut me open and harvested one of my organs. Will I be alright?"
"Of course, Princess. You're going to be just fine," Addison reassured her, planting a gentle kiss on Meredith's forehead. "Do you recall any snippets from your morphine-induced escapades?"
"I vividly remember your surrender in disciplining me until I'm fully recovered," Meredith teased, a mischievous glimmer in her gaze.
Addison countered, "I distinctly recall mentioning a temporary halt on spanking until your recovery, not a complete reprieve from consequences."
Meredith, with a playful smirk, outlined her defense, "Considering my current state of immobility, corner-standing is out of the question. Confiscating my phone would be a cruel sentence, as boredom looms ahead. Moreover, grounding me to the house is futile when I'm already on strict bed rest. Therefore, until I'm back on my feet, I hold the power to do and say as I please, with impunity."
Addison arched an eyebrow in response to the blonde's assertion, silently challenging the confidence behind Meredith's statement. “Really? Is that what you think?”
With a playful yet assertive tone, Meredith punctuated her declaration with a crisp 'Yup,' accompanied by a smug grin that hinted at mischief. "Now go fetch me some pudding," she demanded, reveling in her moment of lighthearted authority.
Taken aback by the unexpected request, Addison's eyes widened dramatically as she processed Meredith's whimsical demand. "Excuse me?" she gasped, a mix of surprise and amusement coloring her reaction. “What happened to those beautiful manners I taught you?”
In a display of impish rebellion, Meredith discarded formalities in favor of her immediate desire for pudding. Unfazed by Addison's gentle reminder of manners, she quipped, "You can't discipline me, so why bother with manners?"
Addison, now adopting a more serious tone, probed further, questioning Meredith's assumption of immunity to consequences. "You truly believe there are no consequences I can enforce?" she challenged, a subtle edge of warning in her voice.
Undeterred by the veiled threat, Meredith maintained her stance, unapologetically insisting on her sweet treat. "We've been through this before; your usual disciplinary tactics hold no sway right now. Pudding, now!" she asserted with a playful pout.
Refusing to yield to Meredith's cheeky demands, Addison decided on a cheeky response of her own. "Considering your current attitude, no pudding for you. That's your punishment. Jell-O it is," she declared, planting a kiss on Meredith's cheek before departing to retrieve the alternative dessert.
Left in a state of shock and amusement at Addison's unexpected twist, Meredith sat gaping, a mix of surprise and amusement dancing in her eyes as she processed the playful power play that had just unfolded.
“Red Jell-O, please!” Meredith called after Addison, accepting defeat.