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Comfort and Care
Addison lay on her stomach, her body curled up on the couch, a pillow tucked under her head, her arms cradling the soft lavender-colored heating pillow Meredith had given her. The familiar, sharp cramping from PMS had made its usual painful appearance, but today, it felt worse than usual – sharp, relentless, and all-encompassing. Addison had tried to get comfortable, but nothing seemed to help. The dull throb in her lower abdomen made her feel heavy, sluggish, and utterly miserable. She’d taken some painkillers, but they hadn’t quite done the trick. She just needed relief.
And relief was exactly what Meredith was determined to give her.
Addison sat curled up on the couch in her apartment, hugging her knees to her chest as the sharp pangs of cramps stabbed at her. She pressed her hands firmly to her abdomen in an attempt to sooth the agony, but nothing helped – not even painkillers. Addison hated days like this.
She winced, her brow furrowing as nausea bubbled up from her stomach, and fatigue weighed heavily on her shoulders. PMS had never been this brutal before – not to this extent. Every muscle in her body felt tight, as though they were constantly bracing for impact, and her mind felt just as chaotic. She felt irritable, exhausted, and trapped inside her own body. She wasn’t sure which was worse – the physical discomfort or the mental chaos. It was the kind of day where everything seemed wrong, and the world felt like too much to bear.
She buried her face in her hands, wishing she could sleep through it all, but the discomfort wouldn’t let her. Every time she tried to close her eyes, another wave of nausea rose in her throat, forcing her to sit up and breathe through it – making her retreat to the couch. Her body felt heavy, like every single muscle was weighed down by the invisible force of her symptoms. She hated this time of the month- it always made her feel so vulnerable, so out of control.
She sighed, closing her eyes and hugging a pillow to her chest. The day had started out fine – normal even –but by the time afternoon hit, the symptoms had become unbearable. A pounding headache, bloating, mood swings, and the never-ending nausea. She had skipped out on work, called Richard the moment Meredith left her apartment to get to work. She was too exhausted, too drained to even think.
As if on cue, her phone buzzed on the coffee table, and Addison barely had the energy to reach for it. She knew who it was – Meredith. She always seemed to know when Addison wasn’t feeling well. She had a sixth sense for it.
Sure enough, when Addison answered, Meredith’s voice came through warm but full of concern. “Hey, I just wanted to check in. You’re not at work and I haven’t heard from you all day. Is everything okay? How are you feeling?”
Addison sighed and slouched further into the couch, trying not to sound like a complete mess. “I’m fine, just... tired,” she said, her voice slightly cracking. “I’m not up for talking much, Mer, I’m sorry. Just- just having a rough time.”
There was a pause on the other end of the line before Meredith spoke, her tone gentle but unmistakably concerned. “You’re not fine, Addie. I can hear it in your voice. Let me come over.”
“I don’t want to drag you into this. I’m just... it’s that time of the month, and it’s hitting me harder than usual,” Addison muttered, her voice muffled as she pressed her face into the pillow. “I’m dealing with it.”
“I’m already on my way,” Meredith said, her tone final.
Addison closed her eyes, her frustration making her head ache even more, but she knew that when Meredith decided something, she would follow through. Despite her protests, Addison couldn’t help but feel a small comfort in knowing that Meredith would be there for her.
A few minutes later, the front door creaked open, and Meredith stepped inside, her eyes immediately finding Addison on the couch. She didn’t need to be told. The look on Addison’s face was enough to tell her that things were not okay.
Addison tried to sit up straighter, but the pain in her abdomen made it impossible to be comfortable. She managed a tired smile when she saw Meredith standing in the doorway. “Hi,” she whispered.
Meredith crossed the room, kneeling down in front of Addison, her soft, caring eyes scanning her girlfriend. She could tell the cramps were making Addison miserable, and the nausea wasn’t helping either. Meredith reached for Addison’s hand, holding it gently.
“I’m so sorry you’re going through this,” Meredith said, brushing a stray lock of Addison’s red hair away from her face. “I hate seeing you like this, Addie.”
Addison gave a weary smile. “I know... I know you do. I just wish I could escape it, but it’s like my body is betraying me.”
Meredith nodded, kissing the back of Addison’s hand. “I’m here now, okay? Let me help. I brought you something.”
She reached into her bag, pulling out a neatly wrapped package and handing it to Addison. The paper was a soft lavender color, and when Addison unwrapped it, she found a soft lavender-colored heating pillow. It looked cozy, with an embroidered design of lavender flowers on the front. The best part? The pillow contained lavender extract inside it, which added a calming fragrance as it heated up.
“I thought it might help with your cramps,” Meredith said. “You can microwave it, and the heat stays for a long time. The lavender scent should help with your anxiety and help you relax.”
Addison’s tired eyes softened as she held the pillow to her chest, the warmth of the gift already starting to comfort her – the thoughtfulness of Meredith warmth her from inside. “It’s perfect, Mer. Really.”
“I’m glad you like it,” Meredith said softly. “Now, how about I run a bath for you to help you relax?”
Addison opened her mouth to protest, but Meredith was already moving to the bathroom, her voice over her shoulder. “I’m going to set everything up. I’ll make sure the water’s the perfect temperature, and you don’t need to do anything except let me take care of you.”
Addison let herself fall back onto the couch, clutching the pillow against her stomach as she closed her eyes. She hated feeling so vulnerable, but she also couldn’t deny how comforting Meredith’s presence was. She trusted her completely. There was something about Meredith’s care that always made her feel safe.
Meredith returned a few minutes later, her hands warm and soft as she helped Addison out of her clothes and guided her to the bathroom. The sound of the bathwater running, accompanied by the soft, calming scent of lavender, made Addison’s mind drift into a gentler space. Meredith was so good at this – at creating an environment where Addison could breathe and just let go. Addison stepped into the tub, feeling her tension slowly start to melt away under Meredith’s nurturing touch.
When Addison sank into the warm water, she let out a deep breath. “This feels amazing,” she murmured, her body relaxing as the soothing heat enveloped her.
Meredith smiled, standing at the edge of the tub, watching Addison settle in. “Good,” she said softly. “You deserve it. I’m going to make something light for dinner. I’ll leave you to relax for a while. Just let me know if you need anything.”
Addison nodded, sinking deeper into the tub. “Thank you, Mer,” she whispered. “You’re really taking care of me today.”
Meredith smiled, pressing a soft kiss to Addison’s forehead. “Always.”
A little while later, Addison finally emerged from the bathroom, feeling like a new person – her muscles loosened, and the worst of the cramps dulled. She put on a clean pair of underwear and wrapped herself in a robe and made her way to the living room, where the delicious scent of food was already wafting through the air. Meredith had prepared a light dinner; roasted vegetables, some fresh fruit and a small bowl of chicken soup – just enough to nourish Addison without overwhelming her.
“Dinner’s ready,” Meredith said, smiling as she set the table. “I made something simple. I didn’t want you to feel too full, but I know you need some energy.”
Addison smiled faintly, feeling a warmth spread through her chest at how well Meredith knew her. “It smells amazing. You really outdid yourself,” she said, settling herself at the kitchen island.
After dinner, Meredith led Addison back to the couch, handing her the lavender pillow, which had been heated up perfectly. “Now, let’s get you really comfortable,” she said softly.
Addison laid down on her stomach, placing the pillow under her stomach, providing an extra pressure to her lower abdomen. The heat felt perfect, and the soft lavender scent filled her senses, helping to calm her. She closed her eyes, feeling herself melt into the pillow. Meredith watched with a mix of concern and tenderness. Addison had always been strong, always been able to handle the worst of the worst but today seemed different. Meredith could see it – the exhaustion in her eyes, the way she kept shifting uncomfortably. She was in pain, and Meredith wasn’t about to let her suffer alone.
Meredith sat beside her, taking a moment to check in. “How are you feeling now?” she asked softly, her voice warm and full of care.
Addison gave a faint smile, but the pain still lingered in her voice. “A little better with the pillow and the bath... but it’s still... bad, you know?” She winced slightly as she shifted, trying to get more comfortable.
Meredith’s lips pressed together in a determined line. “I know. But let me help,” she said, her voice low and soothing. She placed her hands gently on Addison’s back, standing up beside her on the floor and positioning herself so that she was sitting on Addison’s thighs. The weight of Meredith’s body on her legs immediately grounded Addison, and the warm pressure from the lavender heating pillow added a subtle but comforting compression to her abdomen.
Addison let out a small, contented sigh as the combined warmth of the pillow and Meredith’s presence started to help ease the pain. “Mer... this is good,” she murmured, her voice soft.
Meredith smiled, but her expression was one of tender concentration as she began gently rubbing her hands along Addison’s back. “I’m just going to help you relax, okay? You’ve had a rough day.”
Addison simply hummed in approval as Meredith was gently sliding her bathrobe off her shoulders, down to her ass. Addison could feel the warm skin of Meredith’s hands against her back as Meredith began to gently massage her shoulders, then worked her way down her back. The soothing rhythm of Meredith’s touch was exactly what Addison needed. She let herself sink deeper into the comfort of Meredith’s care, her body releasing all of the tension it had been holding.
“This is heaven,” Addison murmured, her voice almost a whisper. “You know how to make everything better.”
Meredith smiled, the sounds of her hands massaging Addison’s back the only noise in the room. “I’m happy to help you relax. You deserve to feel good again.”
As Meredith continued to work out the knots in Addison’s muscles, she could feel Addison’s breathing steady. The gentle pressure of her hands, combined with the soothing heat from the pillow, seemed to lull Addison into a peaceful state.
Meredith noticed the change immediately when Addison’s body softened under her hands. Her arms loosely hanging at her sides, her breathing becoming slow and steady, signaling that she had finally drifted into sleep. Meredith paused, a soft smile curving her lips as she saw Addison so completely relaxed for the first time all day.
She moved carefully, shifting her weight off of Addison’s thighs and gently easing her down onto the couch more comfortably. Meredith then removed her own clothes, leaving her in a simple pair of underwear only. With Addison still deeply asleep, Meredith pulled her bathrobe on top of her loosely, not wanting to disrupt the peaceful moment but still wanting the redhead to stay warm.
She climbed back onto the couch, sitting beside her girlfriend, and then carefully draped a soft blanked over both of them. Addison shifted a bit, making her cuddle into Meredith – half on her stomach, half on her side. The heating pillow still nestled against her abdomen, and Meredith snuggled down to press her body into the redhead, close enough to keep their bodies in contact. She reached out, her hand resting lightly on Addison’s back.
Meredith’s fingers began tracing soothing, slow patterns along Addison’s lower back, her touch light but intentional. The movement was gentle and rhythmic, almost like a quiet lullaby, and she could feel Addison’s body shift ever so slightly under the blanket. Addison snuggled into Meredith even closer than before, her face comfortably resting on Meredith’s breasts. Her breathing remained steady, the peace between them palpable.
For a long time, Meredith simply lay there, the warmth of her body next to Addison’s, their legs intertwined beneath the blanket. She knew the simple act of being near Addison, of offering her presence, was a huge comfort. But the warmth of her body, combined with the soft pressure of the pillow and the soothing touch, would help Addison recover physically and emotionally.
Meredith’s fingers never stopped their tender tracing along Addison’s abdomen, feeling the gentle rise and fall of her girlfriend’s breath. Addison had always been the stronger one in their relationship, but today – tonight – Meredith was the one taking care of her. And she was happy to do so.
As the minutes passed and Addison remained comfortably asleep, Meredith allowed herself to relax, too. The stillness of the room was calming, and the steady, rhythmic movement of her fingers seemed to create a peaceful connection between them. She closed her eyes, listening to the sound of Addison’s steady breathing and the soft rustling of the blanket as they both relaxed together.
After a while, when she was sure Addison was deep in sleep, Meredith placed a soft kiss on the top of her girlfriend’s head, her lips lingering for just a moment longer. “I love you,” she whispered softly, her voice barely audible over the quiet room. She didn’t need Addison to respond; she knew she was there, safe in Meredith’s care. “I’m here, Addie,” Meredith whispered, her voice low and tender. “You’re safe. You can rest now.”
As Meredith continued to trace her fingers along Addison’s lower back, she felt her own body relax into the couch, the warmth of Addison beside her the greatest comfort of all. Together, in this quiet moment, they were exactly where they needed to be.
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End