we'll drive away (where no one can find us)

by SugarsweetRomantic

Summary:

When Meredith's recovery after Elliott Bay looks like it will take much longer than anyone had hoped, an unlikely person takes her in.

Addison.

She sweeps both of them away from Seattle, away from the chaos, and across an ocean, into a part of her childhood, something she's never shared with anyone, not even Derek.

And perhaps they both will heal more ways than just physically, under the warmth of the Italian sun.

Notes:

Okay, I'm just going to mention this here: for the suspension of disbelief, visas do not exist. And Meredith drowning happened in the Spring. Because I said so. :D Also I grew up on planes (kid of an expat) but I've never flown private so. Yeah.

With my thanks to prentits for letting me yell about this fic in their dms for days, and to BlackRoseMatron for helping me with mental timezone math when my brain was too tired at literal midnight for one singular line in the fic, and to Diana47 for checking over my German. <3

Title: Nina Gordon - Hold on to Me

 

We're the same and you don't even know it
We're afraid and we try not to show it
And you're tired and I am too
So there's only one thing you can do

 

You've got to hold me and tell me what you need
And don't be afraid of what you're feeling
When you know me, well then I'll never want to leave you
Just hold on to me

Chapter 1: Prologue

“Look, Meredith's recovery is going to take much longer than we originally had expected, or hoped, and someone needs to take her in and take care of her.” Richard Webber sighs, staring at the people gathered in the small hospital room. Meredith is, thankfully, asleep while the rest of them bicker.

“We can't,” Izzie immediately announces. “As much as we love her, we're interns. Our lives are too chaotic and unpredictable to be able to take proper care of her, so she'll have to move out temporarily.”

“Same,” Cristina concurs. “I'm her best friend, but I'm on my own, with the same breakneck schedule. Doctor Shepherd?” All heads turn towards Derek, who immediately raises his hands in front of him.

“No, absolutely not. I'm not taking her; I can't deal with this.” He looks back at Richard. “You take her. She's your proxy-daughter.”

Before Richard can reply, a bright voice comes from the door, cutting through the tension in the room.

“Jesus Christ, she's not a dog you're looking to rehome.” Addison steps inside and glances at the bed. “And she's also awake .”

Meredith is staring at everyone in the room, her expression somewhere between hurt, offended and disappointed.

And Addison, not for the first time in her life, acts on an impulse.

“ I'll “take” you, Grey, if you'd like.”

To the surprise of everyone present, a raspy voice replies: “Sure.”

Notes:

Here we are, my WIP so lovingly titled "wip: italy" for quite some time. I'm excited, and I hope you are too!