Work Text:
Meredith had always been a go-getter. If something needed to get done she was always there at the ready. That was until she met one Addison Montgomery with her red hair, long legs, and eyes you could lose yourself in. After meeting her, hesitation had become her thing.
Acknowledging her feelings towards the redhead took a while and telling about those feelings even longer. Addison of course was the first to admit those feelings. It was also because of Addison they were now girlfriends and on top of that it had been her idea to move in together.
However this time, for this step Meredith wanted to be the one to do it. She wanted to be the one to ask Addison to marry her. They were there already, they were pretty much a married couple.
Working up the courage to do it was a bit tough as insecurities swam inside her head. But she managed to get over those though. She already had the ring, she had taken and rather annoyed Cristina with her to buy it. Asking her though, asking Addison had proven even more difficult than working up her courage.
The first attempt had probably been the silliest one. She wasn’t one for cheesy things yet she wanted to ask in a cheesy way because it was Addison and she deserved it. That’s what she liked to say to herself when in all reality she was the one that turned into mush because of the redhead.
Addison had been stuck in the hospital the whole night with a pregnant patient, which gave Meredith the opportunity to get the coffee for everyone and actually write her message on the redhead’s cup. It wasn’t too flashy or that cheesy but it was nice. She had the ring in her pocket ready to pull it out once Addison saw the message. She was smiling happily after she handed everyone their cup and then went to give Addison’s hers. She stuffed her hand in her pocket ready to draw out the ring when Mark snickered behind her.
“I’m flattered, Big Grey. I need to think about it first though.” He said with a big smile showing everyone his coffee cup with the words ‘marry me?’ scribbled on it.
Her cheeks heated up considerably as the room erupted in laughter. Even Addison had been laughing thinking it was a joke. Soon pagers started to go off for incoming traumas and everyone began to leave.
“Hey, I’ll see you later. Maybe nap?” Addison kissed her cheek sweetly before leaving. Meredith gave her a smile as she mentally beat herself over and over and over.
“So you wanna be my wife?” Mark chuckled behind her.
She turned quickly and punched his arm ignoring the ‘ouch’ he let out. She was certain he knew what she had been trying to do. Especially with the shit eating grin he wore.
“Shut up.” She snarled before turning her heel and walking away.
For the second try Meredith had managed to take Addison out on a lunch date. Everything had been going great. They talked about everything and nothing happily as they ate. Talking to Addison had always been easy. She never felt like doing it was forced; it just happened naturally.
When the server waved at her she gave him a curt nod. It was the signal to bring dessert. This wasn’t just any dessert, it was one of Addison’s favorites, a triple chocolate cake with caramel drizzle and crushed hazelnuts. The chef would be writing the question with the caramel. She was nervous but excited and the bump of the box holding the ring felt rather comfortable.
The server was making his way with the plate and she reached in her pocket but suddenly Addison’s pager started to go off.
“Oh 911. We gotta go, Mer.” Addison said, pulling her purse.
“No wait. I…” Meredith tried.
“I’m sorry, baby girl, but we gotta go. It’s my triplets patient.” Addison smiled sadly pulling some dollar bills. “That should cover the food and tip.”
“No, let me pay. I invited you.” Meredith protested.
“You’re so cute. It’s ok. You pay next time.” Addison said as she quickly pecked her lips and stood. “Come on, Mer.” She said, offering her hand.
Meredith reluctantly took it and shook her head at the server, who just stayed where he stood. She was upset about having to leave but she did understand why they had to. A pout had begun to form despite understanding but the pout went away as Addison looked back and smiled brightly at her.
The third time's the charm. That’s what people used to say and Meredith believed it too especially since Addison was actually the third person she had willingly opened her heart to. First was Sadie and second Derek. Though if she was honest neither of them had actually gotten her to completely open up like Addison had.
This time she had gone a bit over the top but not really. She and Addison had watched a movie where the marriage proposal was done by having a plane fly overhead with the message attached. She recalled the redhead’s sparkling eyes and her smile as she said that was the sweetest thing she had ever seen.
So here she was with Addison out in the outdoor cafeteria of the hospital waiting for the plane. Everything seemed to be going perfectly but perfect wasn’t something Meredith ever got. She was playing with Addison’s hand as she looked at the sky and saw how in a matter of minutes dark clouds rolled in and the air grew crisp.
“No way.” Meredith groaned.
“Mer. I think it’s going to rain.” Addison announced.
“Why?” Meredith asked rhetorically.
“Umm because the clouds are too full?” Addison chuckled.
“But it was perfect. The sky was clear. This isn’t fair.” Meredith muttered as she felt her phone vibrating.
“Mer, we live in Seattle. Rain is the norm here and you know that better than anyone.” Addison chuckled some more.
Meredith threw her an exasperated look and then read the email she had just received where, yes you guessed it, the company she had hired stated that due to weather conditions the flight had been cancelled.
“Come on, Mer. Let’s get inside. I feel like having a juju break.” Addison smiled sweetly and squeezed her hand before getting up and pulling her to stand as well.
Despite the annoyance she let herself be dragged inside, the weight of the box in her pocket more apparent than before.
The last time was here. This was it. This was the time. She wasn’t on call and neither was Addison. There was no one else to get the message by mistake and rain wouldn’t delay anything. They were home. Warm and safe and cuddling on the couch watching crappy tv as they waited for their pizza. But not just any pizza. It was an Italian sausage, onion, and pepper one where the words ‘marry me?’ would be spelled out with the toppings.
At the ring of the doorbell Meredith jumped clear off the couch. Chuckling as Addison groaned, giving her a pout. Meredith kissed her forehead which lessened said pout and made her way to the door where the delivery guy waited.
“Evening, have a delivery here. It’s a…” He began.
“Yes. Yes it is. Thank you!” Meredith said, taking the box from him and giving a hefty tip.
She closed the door quickly and brought the box to the living room placing it on the coffee table in front of Addison. The redhead smiled and pushed off the back of the couch to open the box as Meredith ran to get plates and the ring which she had left in a kitchen drawer.
When she got back from the kitchen she expected to see a teary eyed Addison with a bright smile. However when she got there she got met with a slight frown.
“I think they mixed up deliveries.” Addison announced. “It’s pepperoni.”
“No fucking, way.” Meredith said as she felt the wind rush out of her.
“It’s ok. We like pepperoni.” Addison smiled and took the plates from her.
She felt numb. Why the hell could she not ask her? What was working against her? Who? She felt absolutely defeated.
“I’m going upstairs.” Meredith said softly.
“What? But you were starving a few minutes ago.” Addison looked at her confused.
“Not hungry anymore.” Meredith said as she walked out of the living room.
“But Mer…” Addison began but whatever else she said Meredith didn’t hear.
She climbed up the stairs and then onto bed. She stared at the ceiling with her head empty for a long while until she felt her eyes filling up with tears. She wiped furiously against them and turned on her side.
Why? The question echoed in her head. Just that one question. It wasn’t fair. She only wanted to make it somewhat special. She didn’t want it to be extravagant. Though the plane would’ve been a bit over the top. But still. She only wanted to ask her in some special way. So why? Why couldn’t she?
The door swung open and Meredith buried her face in the pillow as she heard the unmistakable steps of her girlfriend walking in.
“So I went to the pizza place and got us the pizza we like. Would you like a bite?” Addison asked in a chirpy tone.
“No.” Meredith grumbled.
“Mer, come on.” Addison whined. “Why are you so mad? It’s just a pizza.”
“It’s not just a pizza!” Meredith snapped sitting up.
“Mer-“
“I’ve been trying to ask you to marry me all week long and nothing works. Nothing at all!” Meredith shouted as Addison’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Wait. What?” Addison looked shaken.
“You remember Mark’s coffee cup?” Meredith began. “It wasn’t a joke. It was meant for you. And the lunch date that got interrupted before dessert? Yeah. If your pager hadn’t gone off you would’ve seen the question on the plate. But the pager went off and we’re both doctors so I get it. I’m not blaming you. Then there was the stupid plane with the stupid message that stupid day the stupid sky decided to fill up with stupid clouds and stupid rain. I almost gave up then but I couldn’t, ‘cause I really wanted to marry you.” Her voice cracked under the weight of her frustration. “So then tonight our pizza was supposed to ask you for me. I called the pizza place and made sure they knew what was needed. Everything was all set but no. They delivered the wrong order to us.” She said, panting.
“You’ve been trying to ask me to marry you.” Addison still looked shocked after taking all of the information in.
“It doesn’t matter. I’m going to sleep.” Meredith said as she laid back down and covered her head with the covers.
“No wait! Mer. Wait.” Addison called.
Meredith heard a drawer opening and then felt Addison climb on the bed behind her.
“Mer. Please. Look.” Addison begged.
“Addie, go to sleep. I don’t want to deal with this today.” Meredith grumbled.
“Please, just look. Please? For me?” Addison pleaded once more.
Reluctantly Meredith shifted and uncovered her face. Saying no to Addison was something she really couldn’t do. Her eyes went wide as she found the redhead holding a tiny box in front of her.
“Callie and I went shopping for it last week. I was trying to figure out how to ask you.” Addison smiled timidly.
“You… you want to marry me?” Meredith could laugh at the irony of it all.
“If you ask.” Addison giggled. Meredith took a deep breath and stared into her jade eyes.
“Would you, Addison Forbes Montgomery, like to become my wife?” She asked as she reached under her pillow to pull out her tiny box.
“I would love to.” Addison said with a tearful smile.
Meredith slid the ring onto her finger and kissed her sweetly until Addison pulled back.
“Can I put your ring on? Since I already know your answer.” Addison giggled at her slight frown.
“Give me my ring.” Meredith grumbled.
Addison chuckled and slid her ring on before diving in once more and kissing her until they were both out of breath.
“We’re idiots, you know?” Addison chuckled and in turn so did she. “I feel like there’s a lot I need to make up for.” The redhead smiled as she hooked her finger under Meredith’s shirt to lift it up.
Meredith smirked and nodded. Addison began to pull off her shirt when the blonde’s stomach grumbled causing her to stop and laugh.
“Maybe food first then dessert?” The redhead grinned.
“Yeah I guess. But I can’t wait for dessert.” Meredith said as she pulled the redhead towards her and sucked a mark on her neck making her hiss. “Just a preview.”