Once Evan managed to fall asleep, she slept very well despite the fact that someone else was sleeping in her bed with her. However, thanks to her inner clock, she was unable to sleep in and her eyes blinked open in the sunlight. Her eyebrows furrowed at the body wrapped around her and she cleared her throat, glancing at the time. She knew Meredith had work, but it also seemed like she was finally getting the sleep she needed. Sighing softly, she brushed fingers through blonde hair and pulled back a bit. “M-Meredith?”

 Meredith leaned into the touch of fingers threaded through her hair.  Hearing her name her eyes slowly blinked open and bright blue came face to face with Evan’s gaze. It took her a minute to process where she was, who she was with and the position they were in but when it all dawned on her those freckles cheeks flush and she carefully extracted herself.  “Sorry…” She murmured sheepishly. Looking at the time over Evan’s body she groaned. “I should Uhm… probably shower and head out.”

 “It’s okay.” She promised, moving back a bit as Meredith worked to untangle their limbs. She nodded her head slightly when Meredith said that she had to get ready for work and she sat up. “I figured as much. Didn’t uh want you to be late or anything.” Evan started, rubbing her face. She had no idea what she was going to do that day. It had been a long time since she hadn't had some form of work to do on a weekday. Even on weekends, Evan was usually doing something work related. She slipped out of bed herself, figuring she could make some breakfast and shower once Meredith was gone.

 “Thanks.” She replied, getting up from the bed and heading for the door. Pausing in the doorway she turned back to Evan. “And thank you… for last night.”  A small smile tugged at her lips before she finally stepped out of the room and made her way next door to shut off her alarm and start getting ready.  Henri stepped into the room as her wife stepped out. “Looks like you both got some much needed sleep.”

 She nodded her head slightly when Meredith thanked her, returning the smile. “You're welcome.” She replied, jumping slightly at her sister's voice. She looked over and then bit down on her bottom lip with a slight nod. “Yeah, guess you were right about what would help.” Evan mused slightly, stretching slightly and looking around her bedroom. “I'm glad she got some sleep.”

 “She needs more but that’s definitely a start.”  Henri leaned up against the desk and observed her sister for a long moment. “I knew she’d sleep through the night but I’ll admit, I’m surprised that you did.”  It was almost amusing.  She sighed some.  “I wish she’d take some time off work… I should be thankful the school goes on break soon for the holiday I suppose.”

 “I'm surprised I slept too.” Evan admitted, chalking it up to the fact that she had spent lots of times snuggled up with someone in this bed. She was sure it would have been different had she been back in Chicago and trying to sleep with someone else in her bed. “Yeah...here's hoping that she continues to get some sleep.”

 “I’m sure you’ll make certain that happens while you’re here.”  It wasn’t a question more of a hopeful statement.  She took a look at one of the photos of them, Evan was smiling and Henri was kissing her cheek. They’d been very much in love and those feelings never did go away. It was odd when she fell just as hard for the blonde. Loving two people at once was almost cruel but at least Meredith understood.  “I’m not sure I’ve said it but… I’m really happy you’re home, Ev.”

 She nodded her head slightly in response. Now that she knew for sure that she could do something to help Meredith, she would assist whenever allowed. Especially because she now knew she could sleep through as well. At Henri's words, she looked down and picked at a loose string in her sleep pants, feeling tears well in her eyes again.

  Seeing the emotions well up inside her younger sister she struggled to keep it together.  Thinking quickly she adjusted herself on the bed and put a pillow in her lap patting it. “C’mere.” She murmured, that sea hued gaze fixated on the younger one.  

 Her eyebrows furrowed slightly at the suggestion and breathed out slowly before moving to lay her head on the pillow, gripping at the pillow cover. The tears began to slip from her eyes and down her cheeks, feeling the pressure build up in her chest. Her bottom lip trembled and a sob broke through as she let herself really feel the loss. The first night she had felt the sadness but had also felt shock and confusion and the days after she had been more focused on Meredith and getting used to being back in Maine. Now though, the sadness felt overwhelming.

 Hearing Evan cry broke her. Her jaw clenched to keep her own emotions at bay.  Reaching out, her hand hovered over her body and she moved it slowly along the curves until she reached the blanket. Pulling up the blanket over her she carefully ran her hand up and down, soothing along those same curves but thankfully she was able to have a barrier between them to keep their connection safe for now.  “I love you.” She said softly.  “Never stopped.”

 Feeling Henri's hand rubbing over her side through the blanket, she gripped the pillow more tightly and sniffled. “I l-love you too.” Evan managed to say, despite the tears and sobs that were still coming from her. Her heart was aching more than she could express and she chewed on her bottom lip, trying to stop her tears. “I...I'm s-sorry I was so selfish.”

 Henri felt her lips tug into a sad smile. She shook her head as she continued to run her hand over her in a soothing motion. “Shh… not selfish.  You were heartbroken.  There’s a difference.” She thought for a moment.  “I never meant to hurt you the way I did, Ev.” She sat there awhile just caressing the other girl as she cried.  There was a knock at the semi opened  door and suddenly Henri was gone.  When the blonde popped her head in she looked like the polished professional she was. She was the type of professor most students probably fantasized about. Noticing the tears streaming down her face she went over to the bed and sat down tucking a few strands behind the woman’s ear, thumbs wiping them away. She cupped her face gently.  “Do you need me to stay home today?” She asked softly.

 Hearing that Henri had never meant to hurt her so badly caused another sob to be pulled from Evan's lips. Evan had fought so hard the night that Henri had broken them up, but it hadn't been enough and she hadn't known how to deal with the pain. Running away may not have been the best choice but it had felt like the only option at that time. “I j-just...I felt like I had no-nothing, Hen. I couldn't st-stay.” She froze as when she heard the knock and she tried to quickly wipe away her tears, but she wasn't fast enough. Evan let out a deep breath at the question, leaning her cheek into the touch just slightly. “No...you...I'll be okay. You shouldn't miss because of me.” Evan paused, remembering that Henri was wishing for Meredith to take some time off and realized she had missed a chance to get her to stay home. But she also didn't want to manipulate her.

 Meredith studied her features carefully, noting how the woman leaned into her touch. After a long moment she gave a small nod. “Okay but… if you need to please get in touch?” Blue gaze was pleading. “Actually… I’ll text you anyway. I get bored between classes.” A gentle smile pulled at pink lips.  Without even thinking she wrapped her arms around the brunette and hugged her close.

 Evan let out a watery chuckle and she smiled. “I'll look forward to your texts. I'm sure I'll end up bored pretty quickly today.” Evan mused, with a nod. She let out a soft breath as arms wrapped around her before she slowly returned the hug. It had been a long time since she had hugged anyone. “Um, you probably don't have time for breakfast now huh?”

 “Good.  Cause you’ll get lots of them.  The fact that the older woman hugged her back had Meredith settling in her arms.  When she heard the question she smiled and pulled back. “I probably have time for a bagel or fruit and some coffee.” She replied. The thought of food was still a difficult one but the more Evan tried to feed her the easier it started to get.  She glanced down at her watch giving a nod.  “Meet me downstairs?”

 Evan nodded at her words and watched her leave the room before she slipped out of bed. She grabbed the clothes she was going to wear that day and set them on her bed to put on after her shower and then slipped on her robe. She then made her way downstairs and into the kitchen, having composed herself a little bit more. “What time do you finish work again?”

 Meredith was busy making breakfast. Each plate had half a toasted bagel and a little cup of fruit salad. She buttered the pieces on either plate and then went to fill two mugs with steaming hot coffee fixing it the way she now knew Evan liked it.  Bringing things to the breakfast bar she gave the woman a small smile. “Three because I typically stick around to give office hour help for students.”

 She nodded her head in understanding as she took a seat and offered her a smile. “Alright, sounds good. I think I might head to the gym for a few hours just to give myself something to do.” She mused, more than happy with her decision to rent a vehicle. “Thank you for breakfast by the way. I appreciate it a lot. Do you want anything specific for dinner?”

 Meredith sat down on the stool beside her and took a small bite of her bagel.  “That sounds like a good plan. And don’t mention it. I like making breakfast.”  She took another small bite and hummed as she sipped the black coffee.  She thought for a moment before shaking her head a little. “Nope. Surprise me.”

 Evan settled in to eat, humming at the taste. It was such a simple breakfast but oh so good. Sometimes the simplest of meals were the best. “Alrighty, I'll figure something out.” She paused for a moment and glanced over at the blonde. “Do you happen to have plans for Thanksgiving?” Evan questioned, biting down on her bottom lip. She knew that the thought of holidays probably wasn't fun, but she wanted to know if she needed to get out if Meredith was having company over.

 The blonde had taken a few bites of fruit which was somehow easier to eat than the bagel. She glanced over at the other woman and crossed one toned thigh over the other beneath that pencil skirt. Meredith gave a small shake to her head.  “My family disowned me when I married Henri.  They’re hardcore republicans.”  She gave a little shrug. “Are you gonna stay?”

 A puff of air was pulled from Evan's lungs at Meredith's words and she shook her head in disgust. How did people still not understand that love was love? It was ridiculous. “Mm, you deserved better than that.” Evan stated firmly, taking a bite of the bagel. She swallowed her bite and then tilted her head. “I was thinking I would stay until then. Then probably head back to do some ‘adulting’ as the youth say.” She teased lightly. “Then..come back for Christmas maybe if you're okay with that.”

 Funny enough that was exactly what Henri had said followed by a comment on how it was a miracle that they could have created the most accepting human being she’d ever met.  Meredith smiled a little bit, happy to hear that she’d be staying. “I’d uhm… I’d really like that.” She nodded.  “I really don’t want to do the holidays alone so.. that would really mean a lot to me. Just having you here at all means more to me than you know.”  She admitted before stomaching another bite of bagel.

 She smiled in return, glad that her presence seemed to be a good thing for the other woman. The fact that they hadn't known one another before Henri had died was a shame, and them meeting was definitely the only good thing to come out of it. Though she wasn't sure if either of them would consider it worth it. “It’s nice getting to spend time with you. And hey, if you ever feel like visiting Chicago…” Evan said with a cheeky grin before sipping at her coffee.

 Her heart warmed a little at the admission and she nodded in agreement. “I’m glad I’m getting the chance to know you.”  She felt her cheeks flush seeing that cheeky grin and smiled a little more.  “Maybe we do Christmas here and New Years in Chicago- I get an insanely long break in the winter.”  She took a long sip of coffee and then finished off her fruit, leaving a bite of bagel.  “I need to head out.”  She leaned over and kissed her cheek out of habit before bringing her plate and mug in the sink.  “See you this afternoon.”

 “I think that sounds awesome.” She agreed with a smile and a nod. It was weird, but nice to have a plan set up for the holidays. It had been a long time since she had had anything beyond any work functions. She nodded her head when Meredith said that she needed to go, flushing at the kiss to her cheek. “Have a good day. See you later.” Evan finished her own breakfast after she had left and then did the dishes quickly. Instead of going for a shower, she made her way straight to the gym.

 Eventually the day wore on and she was bored out of her mind during her free period.  She pulled out her cell phone and pulled up her texts.

Meredith: So bored.

 The gym was pretty empty, allowing Evan free reign of virtually anything she wanted to do.  However, after a few hours, her muscles were tired and achy and she decided to drive back. When she got there, she made her way up to her room, stripping the sweaty clothes from her body and tossing them in the hamper. Glancing down at her phone as it went off, she chuckled.

Evan: Just got back from the gym. Kept me busy for a while. How're the students?

 Mere smiled down at the text she got back.

Meredith: Surprisingly competent today. How was the gym?

 She made her way to the bathroom, turning on some music.

Evan: It was good. Hardly anyone there. Too sweaty right now though.

 The blonde held her breath as she heard Nick pass by in the hall talking with another colleague, she’d been skillfully avoiding him all day.

Meredith: Sounds like you were productive.

 She smiled at the phone before turning on the water, replying just before she stepped into the shower.

Evan: As productive as one can be when they actually have nothing that needs to be done.

 Mere looked at the time and sighed.

Meredith: This day isn’t going fast enough.

 The text was left unreplied to for about twenty minutes as Evan showered. Stepping out of the shower, she wrapped her hair and body in towels and then grabbed her phone.

Evan: If I had the power to fast forward time I would. But I was thinking we should go do something fun this weekend.

 Meredith ended up talking to a student for awhile so her reply came about ten minutes after Evan’s.

Meredith: ….what do you consider fun?

 During the ten minutes, she had made her way to her room and changed into a pair of black jeans and a red plaid shirt. She then brushed through her curls, letting them dry naturally.

Evan: I don’t know! I haven't actually gone out and done anything with anyone in years. We could go bowling or play pool or like anything.

 Mere ducked into the Hall from her classroom as she saw Nick going into her office.  Once in the safety of the library she smirked at the text.

Meredith: Can you dance?

 She moved to drop down on the couch, turning on the TV and putting it on a rerun of Friends.

Evan: I can.

 The blonde found a secluded corner and took a seat, nicely hidden from view.

Meredith: Lucky strikes is an ‘adult’ bowling alley that also has a dance club.

Meredith: Adult because they sell alcohol not adult like inappropriate.

Meredith: omg…. forget I said anything.

 Evan laughed at the at the texts she received, shaking her head slightly. She could almost visualize the flush on her cheeks.

Evan: Adult bowling sounds like a great time. ;)

 Mere was so red and had literally face palmed.

Meredith: :| You’re laughing.

 Evan snorted, curling up with a hum.

Evan: I totally am.

 The reply only made her cheeks darken in shade and she bit down into her lower lip.

Meredith: Rude.

Meredith: I feel like a high schooler hiding away in the library and texting when there’s a sign that clearly says no mobile devices allowed. And I’m really trying not to draw attention to myself.

 Evan chuckled and shook her head in amusement.

Evan: Meredith Hughes! You rule breaker.

 And of course Evan would tease her just as much as Henri always had.

Meredith: I’m a teacher! I do what I want!

 She snorted and shook her head slightly. What a doofus.

Evan: Mm, okay, there.

Evan: It's alright. I'm a bit of a rule breaker myself.

 The blonde kept glancing up, checking to make sure that Nick hadn’t come into the library.

Meredith: I usually follow rules :P

 Evan quirked an eyebrow and hummed thoughtfully.

Evan: That's good to know. I may have to just randomly put a rule in place.

 Mere felt her cheeks flush as she read and reread that text.  She bit her lip again.  Slight deflection.

Meredith: So you like making them not following them? :P

 Evan bit down on her bottom lip, thinking over her answer.

Evan: Depends on the situation. I was pretty good at following Hen's rules. Usually. Not so good at following rules from others.

 Meredith felt her lips quirk at the reply.

Meredith: I never thought I’d say this but I miss the rules.

Meredith: They made me feel secure and I dunno it sounds stupid I guess.

 She let out a soft sigh.

Evan: It doesn't sound stupid. Not at all. You're talking to someone who lost some rules too. I get it. As much as I can get it.

Evan: I'm not going to judge you for anything you're feeling okay?

 The blonde felt a well of emotions and swallowed hard.

Meredith: I know you went through this loss long before I did.

Meredith: I want you to know I had no clue what was going on until much later. I pushed enough once you’d left and Henri told me everything. I don’t judge you either. And I’m sorry for any of the pain that may have been my fault by association.

Meredith: And thank you.  Without her literally everything fell apart. I like routine. I just feel lost. I know I’m preaching to the choir… just feels like a relief to admit it.

 Evan read the texts over a few times, biting down on her bottom lip.

Evan: It uh...might be weird to say but I was never mad at you. I know how easy it is to fall in love with her. I was just...hurt...and I don't know.

Evan: It's weird to be able to talk about it. I've never gotten to do that before.

Evan: You can always talk to me.

 The blonde bit her lip again and ran slender digits through blonde waves.

Meredith: You can talk to me about it but don’t feel like you need to. Just want you to know I accept you for who you are.

Meredith: That goes both ways.

Meredith: It’s gonna sound odd but I feel like I’ve known you far longer than I have.

 She breathed out slowly and pinched her nose, clearing her throat.

Evan: Honestly it's just...it’s nice to know that someone other than me and Henri know about it. Even if it doesn't truly matter. It just...makes it feel like it meant something.

Evan: Sorry that's...dumb.

Evan: Yeah. I understand that feeling.

 Mere cleared her throat some… she was just happy Evan was being open with her.

Meredith: Not dumb.  It matters.  The relationship was real.  I know because of what I’ve been told and what I’ve seen.  And I’ll always be here to validate you when it comes to what the two of you had.

Meredith: Nice to know I’m not alone.

 Evan felt tears welling up and she blinked them back, breathing out slowly. She was surprised she was talking about it but she supposed it was easier over text.

Evan: It's been six years and I'm still not over it and I just...I feel so fucking dumb for not being over it. Because if I could have just...six years without seeing her and now it's too late.

Evan: Definitely not alone.

 Meredith could feel the upset on the other end even if she couldn’t see the woman.

Meredith: She was never over it either if I’m being honest. She asked me sometime last year if I’d ever experienced what it was like to be in love with two people at once.  It was something I knew long before that and have always accepted.

Meredith: I’m surprised though, I can’t picture you following rules.  Even if Henri did set them.

 She had heard something similar from Henri, but it was different coming from the other woman that she had been in love with.

Evan: Thank you.

Evan: I mean I didn't always. But she was pretty persuasive.

 Meredith smiled a little at the thanks.

Meredith: Any time.

Meredith: I wanna come home.

Meredith: I think that’s the first time I’ve felt that in months.

 Evan breathed out slowly and curled up on the couch, head resting on the arm.

Evan: You'll be back soon enough.

Evan: I was thinking tacos for dinner.

 The blond glanced up only to see Nick chatting with a student on the other side of the library.  Definitely time to make an escape, she had to teach anyway.

Meredith: True.

Meredith: Tacos sound good.

Meredith: Have to go conduct an orchestra. Pray that for their sake they don’t suck today.

 She sighed a little disappointed but understood that she needed to teach.

Evan: Don’t kill any students alright? Talk to you later.

 The blonde smirked at the reply.

Meredith: I make no promises. :)

 After their conversation had finished, Evan moved to the kitchen to chop everything up so that the process for dinner later on would be much quicker. She hummed softly as she moved around the kitchen, feeling much lighter than she had.

 Orchestra went better than she initially thought it would.  One kid was on her shit list in the brass section but all things considered that was a success.  She narrowly avoided Nick and made her way home.  The second she walked in the door she dropped her bag, kicked off her heels and groaned. “I swear heels were invented to torture women.” She remarked as she made her way into the kitchen.

 Hearing the door open, Evan looked up with a smile and hummed thoughtfully. “I completely agree with you. I fucking hate heels.” Evan commented, chewing on her bottom lip. “I figured we could probably eat around six if that's okay with you? I've got everything ready to go it just needs to be cooked.” Evan stated, putting the last of everything back in the fridge before washing her hands.

 “If I don’t wear them then I’m shorter than half my student population and that’s just unacceptable.  Sacrifices are made daily.”  The blonde leaned up against the counter and watched the woman as she did her thing in the kitchen.  “Sounds good to me. Gives me time to get out of these clothes and decompress.”  The day had been a long one.

 Evan chuckled softly and nodded softly. She could definitely understand where Meredith was coming from. After washing and drying her hands, she turned to Meredith with a smile. “I was thinking of trying to find a new Netflix series to watch if you're up for it. If you want some alone time though I definitely get it.”

 “Definitely. Start browsing while I go strip out of professor mode.”  She headed for the stairs but looked over her shoulder.  “And if it’s something scary you can be sure I’ll be using you as a human shield.  Just saying.”  She shrugged with a smile and headed upstairs to get changed. Henri appeared in the doorway.  “It’s nice seeing both of you smile.”

 She chuckled, shaking her head in amusement. Human shield powers activated. Evan bit down on her bottom lip when Henri appeared and spoke, looking down for a moment; still a bit embarrassed over the breakdown that morning. “It’s nice to smile.” Evan agreed, making her way into the living room.

 Henri followed her and leaned up against the arm of the couch.  “What show are you thinking?”  She didn’t want to draw attention to the breakdown knowing her sister would be embarrassed so she didn’t bring it up.  Upstairs Meredith changed into leggings and an oversized button down flannel.  She let her hair down put on some comfy socks and gave herself a once over in the mirror.

 She dropped down onto the couch and curled up with her legs underneath her, turning Netflix on once again and shaking her head slightly. “I actually don't know.” She mused, eyebrows furrowing slightly. “Maybe we'll watch One Day at a Time. I've heard good things.” She mused with a nod of her head. She moved to it and clicked on the show, pausing it to wait for Meredith.

 The second that Meredith appeared was the moment Henri vanished from view.  The blonde dropped down onto the couch and pulled the knit blanket from the back to get cozy beneath it.  “What did you find?”  The younger woman settled easily into the plush cushions.

 “I was thinking One Day at a Time. Have you watched it?” Evan questioned, settling back to get as comfortable as she could. They could get through a few episodes and then Evan would go finish getting dinner ready. “How's it feel to be out of your work clothes?” She said with a bit of a smirk, knowing how much she loved the cool down after work.

 “Never seen it. Sounds good to me.”  It was so nice having another human being here with her, the warmth and mere presence made all the difference. She smiled at the question giving Evan a side glance.  “Like heaven.” That smirk killed her, it was the same one as Henri’s that she’d grown so fond of over the years.

 “Awesome.” She was glad she had managed to choose a new one for the both of them. “No doubt. It's always a great time of day.” She said with a nod before starting the show, setting the remote aside and getting comfortable once more. “Did you manage to keep all of your students alive?” Evan teased.

 “I have a work persona that has stayed very much intact through all of this.  It feels good right now to drop it along with the pencil skirt and heels.” She smirked some. She knew her professional attire got heads to turn but it also kept her students completely focused on her which was certainly a plus.  “One almost got killed. Being a moron doesn’t bode well, especially when you’re in my orchestra. But yes. They’re all alive.”

 “I definitely can't argue with you there. Nice work.” Evan said with a slight laugh. “Glad you followed the rules and didn't kill anyone.” She said with a laugh, eyes scanning over the television as the episode actually began. It was odd, but nice, spending so much time with a person.

 The blonde quirked a brow. “So that was a rule, was it?”  She smirked a little and tried to focus on the screen.  “Good to know.”  The show was easy to watch and the company was easy to be around. She quietly found herself wondering if Evan would be implementing other rules.

 “Mhm, it’s been decided. Killing your students is against the rules.” Evan said with a chuckle, shaking her head. “Don't disobey.” She teased, shooting a wink in the other woman's direction. After a few episodes, Evan groaned and stretched her arms above her head moving to her feet.

 Meredith felt her cheeks flush at those words coupled with that wink.  The blonde watched her get up and flipped off the television. “Dinner?”  That was the plan.  She headed to the kitchen to set the table and went about getting out the appropriate plates and utensils. Hearing the doorbell her brow furrowed.  “I’ll get it.”  Heading to the front she opened the door to find Nick there holding flowers and sporting that charming smile.  “What are you doing here, Nick?”  That didn’t deter him.  “I didn’t see you today at school.  I wanted to make sure you were alright.”  Meredith didn’t know how to reply and before she could he was speaking up again.  “Can I come in?”  The blonde shook her head. “Now’s really not a good time Nick-“

 “Mhm, dinner.” Evan said with a nod of her head before making her way to the kitchen. She walked around Meredith and went about hearing everything as she went, pleased that it wouldn't take too long to reheat everything. Evan nodded her head when Meredith said that she would get the door. After all, no one would be there for her. She moved to the door when Meredith hadn't returned, furrowing her eyes when she heard the name. “Hey, food's ready.” She interrupted. It wasn't quite right but she was trying to speed up the process.

 The blonde had tensed up and when she heard Evans voice she felt her heart jump a little and her breath catch… but she also felt relief.  “Great.”  She offered the brunette a small smile.  “Hey, I’m Nick.”  Meredith took a step back from the door.  “I Uhm… have to go finish setting the table.”  She offered her colleague a tight smile but walked past Evan knowing the other woman would make sure he found his way off their porch.  “Meredi-“ He sighed and deflated some.

 At Nick's introduction, she tilted her head to the side and offered him a single nod. “Evan.” She stepped up beside the blonde and brushed her arm against hers, offering some support before she moved back to the kitchen. Once Meredith had left, Evan stepped out of the house, closing the door behind her and breathed out a sigh. “What are you playing at? Honestly...what are you doing here right now?”

 The physical contact made all the difference, it was as if Evan could make her feel safe and secure from one simple touch.  Nick scoffed some.  “I’m just trying to be here for her. Didn’t know she had you here I thought she was out here on her own.”  He ran a hand up the back of his neck and gave a small shake to his head.  “Thought she could use a support system.  And something to take her mind off the loss.”

 Her eyes narrowed slightly at him, her arms crossing over her chest. “See, I think there's more to it than that. And you need to back off. She is still grieving and you are showing her and her wife no respect by shoving yourself into her life.” Evan said sternly, completely unamused. “And it’s pretty fucking creepy to show up at someone's house without so much as a warning. Especially when she's made it clear she doesn't want anything.”

 The man looked a little nervous, Evan had this intensity about her just like Henri had.  “Eventually, she needs to move on and when she does, I’ll be here.”  He remarked. “But hey, I get it, she’s got the support she needs. Maybe once you’re done picking up the pieces I’ll ask her out.”  He gave that charming yet unsettling smile and backed down off the porch.  “Nice meeting you, Evan.”

 Her jaw clenched and she took a step forward, not comfortable at all with the words he was speaking or the look on his face. “If you ever do anything she doesn't want, you will fucking regret it. And that's a promise, Nick. I will have no problem at all coming after you.” Evan stared him down, waiting for him to drive off before she stepped back into the house, locking the door behind her.

 He got into his car and muttered “crazy bitch” before driving off but the message was clear as day.  By the time Evan made it back into the kitchen the table had been set and Meredith was busting herself with drinks. Water was a must but tacos called for tequila.  She glanced up.  “Want a margarita?”

 “A margarita sounds amazing.” Evan said with a nod, moving to put everything into bowls and then place them on the table. She let out a breath and set some dishes in the sink to be dealt with later. “Tell me if he keeps bugging you. Alright? I'm hoping he won't, but just…” Evan trailed off and then cleared her throat before taking a seat at the table.

 The blonde pulled out the good tequila from Henri’s fancy liquor cabinet and poured them both a homemade margarita.  Once upon a time Mere had been a damn good bartender.  Meredith bit her lower lip as she set the glasses down and took a seat.  “I will…”. She took a sip of her drink, in thought.  “Most of the day I was avoiding him.  Especially while I was texting you… he knows when my free time is and my usual haunts hence why I was in the library.”

 “Thank you.” Evan replied, in response to her saying she would tell Evan about Nick and also I'm response to the drink set down in front of her. Evan hummed and shook her head as she began to put some food on her plate. “He uh..seems pretty determined. But hopefully I got him to back off for a little while at least.” Evan mused, biting down on her bottom lip. “You shouldn't have to deal with such an inconsiderate jerk.”

 The blonde was a little amused by the woman’s words.  “You’re like my guardian angel or something.  I honestly don’t know what I would have done had you not been here.” She smirked but it faded into a smile. “You threatened him, didn’t you?”  She started making her taco, it was certainly smaller than Evan’s but at least she was putting food into her own plate unprompted- progress.

 She chewed on her bottom lip, tilting her head to the side. “If it's going to get me in trouble...nope..I definitely did not.” Evan said with a shrug of her shoulders. Though the smile on her face definitely said otherwise. She wasn't ashamed of what she had said. Meredith needed time to heal. And she didn't need someone in her life that didn't care about that fact. She took a bite of her taco and then sat back a bit in the chair.

 “You totally did.”  She smiled.  After a quiet moment she spoke up again.  “Thank you...just having you here is-... I feel safe.” She took a bite of her taco with a small hum and then dipped at her margarita, the alcohol was much needed after that special visit.

 “I'm glad that I can do that for you.” Evan replied, offering her a smile. She was glad to see that she hadn't had to push the food on Meredith at all. It was just known that she would at least eat a little bit. As long as she put something on her plate, Evan was happy. “What's your day like tomorrow?”

 “I have work.  No orchestra tomorrow so I should be home by two at the latest if I decide to stay for office hours.”  Meredith worked slowly at her food and made sure to drink some water not just her alcohol.  “What do you think you’ll do?”  She never realized before how nice it was to have someone to come home to.

 “Cool. Sounds good.” Evan shook her head slightly. “I'm honestly not too sure. May head to the gym again if I feel up to it. Other than that though I don't really have anything planned. Might also just take a drive for a while. See what's going on around here.” She replied before taking another bite of her taco. “I think we've got enough food to just have tacos again tomorrow night if that's cool with you.”

 “Check out how much has changed?”  She asked knowingly.  “If you’re anything like your sister then you probably aren’t a huge fan of change… try not to overwhelm yourself?”  The blonde nodded after taking another bite.  “Mm hmm. They’re really good.”  They were perfect. “Definitely don’t mind having this again tomorrow.”

 “Yeah, but might be better to overwhelm myself with the change and then know what I'm getting myself into if I end up needing or wanting to go anywhere later on. You know?” Evan shrugged her shoulders and then took a sip of her drink. “Mm, you make a great drink.” She commented with a smile. “And good. Happy to cook some food you enjoy.”

 “True.”  The blonde smiled at the compliment.  “Thanks. I was a bartender for all five years of schooling even a bit after that.  I still know all the bartending secrets.”  She finished her small taco. True, it wasn’t necessarily as much food as previous night but this was the first night she’d cleaned her plate.

 Evan quirked an eyebrow slightly and nodded her head. “That's awesome. I appreciate your ability to make good alcoholic beverages. I'm sure it'll come in handy for Thanksgiving and Christmas.” She said with a smile, finishing her own taco a few moments after Meredith. She sat back once more, ready to simply enjoy the drink. “Is there anything you need to do tonight?”

 “It will.”  She promised.  “I make amazing holiday cocktails.”  She sipped at her own drink, happy she was actually able to stomach the taco. It had been too long since she’d emptied her plate.  “I need to do dishes but that’s about it.”  She wasn’t huge on giving her students assignments that would give her work to take home because she would typically end up losing or misplacing something at home.

 Evan nodded her head at her words, rubbing the back of her neck slightly. “It's good that you get to rest before work tomorrow.” She mused before glancing over at the other woman. “Um...I think as long as you're comfortable, you should sleep in my room again. It seemed to help…” She stated, figuring she may as well say the words now so they knew the plan later on.  

 “I hate bringing work home. Gives too much room for losing things.”  At work She was super extra organized and rather anal retentive but once she took off her teacher facade she was way less ocd.  The blonde didn’t look uncomfortable or anything she just looked surprised. “.... Are you sure?  I Uhm… want you to be able to sleep too..”

 “I get that for sure. I've been lucky to never lose anything that I've brought home from work. Thanks to confidentiality I would never hear the end of it if I lost something.” The brunette expressed before her gaze softened slightly. “I'm sure. I slept pretty well last night too honestly.” She admitted with a slight smile.

 Hearing that Evan had slept well to had her cheeks flushing slightly as she remembered the position they’d woken up in.  She returned the slight smile with one of her own then bit into her lower lip gently as she considered it.  “... Okay.” Another sip was taken from her drink before she started to put things into containers and clear away the dishes. “That uhm… sounds like a good plan then.”  She knew in the back of her mind that Evan wasn’t just suggesting this, she felt like it was a rule that had simply been worded nicely to test the waters.

 Her head nodded when Meredith said that it sounded like a good idea. “Do you need to wake up at the same time tomorrow?” Evan questioned, tapping her fingers lightly against the glass. It was good that Meredith seemed open to the idea, and she hoped that it was enough that she wouldn't have to continue suggesting it. She would see tomorrow if Meredith simply moved to the bedroom on her own.

 “Mm hmm.”  She hummed as she put away the last of the leftovers.  Moving to the sink she started washing the dishes.  “Same time every morning because I always have a 9:30 class to teach.”  The routine they were falling into was super domestic.  “And as long as I’m up in time I can make us breakfast like this morning.”  She offered a small smile.

 “Alright. So what we should do is make sure you bring your phone charger and phone into my room so you don't sleep too late. Don't want you being late for work just because you've got to sleep in my room.” Evan stated with a bite to her bottom lip. “That would be great. I am a big fan of not having to make breakfast. So much so that when I'm in Chicago I normally just go out for breakfast.” Evan admitted with a cheeky smile. She stood up from the table and moved to the sink, reaching around Meredith to grab the extra cloth before moving to wipe down the table.

 Meredith took mental notes and gave a small nod. “That sounds good. I probably would have brought it last night but it all took me by surprise,” she admitted.  She kept washing the dishes and once she was done she went about drying them and putting them away.  The blonde laughed a little at the brunette’s admission.  “Long as you’re here I’ll be making you breakfast then.”  She smiled.

 “Of course. It was kind of a last minute type of deal for sure. Caught me a little by surprise too honestly. But you needed sleep so…” She finished wiping off the table and returned the cloth to its place before slipping her hands into the pockets of her jeans. “You're spoiling me.” Evan teased, tilting her head to the side slightly before glancing at the time. “Want to watch a couple more episodes? Just chill out before bed?”

 The younger woman bit into her lower lip, still a little embarrassed at just how badly she seemed to need the care that Evan was giving her.  Putting away the last of the dishes she turned to her with a small smile.  “Look at it as payback for all the dinners you’re spoiling me with.”  She gave a small nod and followed her into the living room back to the couch.  “At this rate we’ll be through the series well before thanksgiving.”

 “Touche.” She wasn't going to argue with that point, though she supposed the two of them were really just taking care of one another. “Just means that we'll have to find a new one. I'm sure we can manage that.” Evan said with a smile, dropping back into the couch, her arm over the top of it as she got comfortable. “What's your favorite movie?” She questioned, feeling a bit of a need to get to know Meredith a bit better.

 Meredith pulled the blanket back over her body and curled up amongst the cushions.  “Hmm…” she thought for a moment. “Ever After.”  She flipped on the television and went into the recently watched section of Netflix, clicking on the proper show and episode.  “But Professor Marston and the Wonder Women is a close second.  What about you?”

 She smiled at the words and nodded her head. “Those are great choices for sure. I definitely approve.” Evan said with a smile and a tilt of her head. “My favorite movie is The Matrix. And then I really like E.T as well.” The brunette admitted, shrugging her shoulders a bit. “I like too many though honestly.”

 “Those are classics.”  She smiled.  “What about…”. She grabbed a pillow to place in Evan’s lap and laid her head on it , blue eyes gazing up into the brunette’s.  “...Your favorite tv series?”  The closer they were the better she felt and for some reason this felt perfectly natural.

 Evan hadn't been expecting the change in position from the other woman, but she certainly didn't mind and had nothing to complain about. Thinking it over, as she moved her hand to card her fingers through blonde locks, she smiled. “Charmed or One Tree Hill are probably my all-time favorites. I really like Criminal Minds too though. You?”

 She found herself leaning into the touch, she loved having her hair played with.  “Ooo I loved Charmed so much but I was mad when they killed off Prue.”  She debates in her mind for a moment.  “I loved Xena.  And Gilmore Girls…. but I have a soft spot for Law and Order SVU.” She loves too many television series to just pick one.

 “I was pretty peeved about that as well. It's unfortunate that it came down to that honestly. I did end up liking Paige eventually though so there's that at least.” She mused, smiling softly at the way Meredith responded to the touch on her scalp. “Those are great shows as well. I appreciate those choices.”She said softly, her other hand drifting down to rest on the couch beside Meredith's body. “Where's somewhere you want to travel to?”

 “It took me a very long time to warm up to her, honestly, she just annoyed me at first.”  This was so comfortable, it felt so good being this close to someone again physically and it also helped that she felt emotionally safe with Evan.  “Ireland.”  She said without missing a beat. “But I dunno maybe just all over Europe in general. Anywhere but the US… you?”

 Evan nodded in understanding, letting her hand rest for a moment, still tangled in blonde hair. “Ireland would be pretty cool. I'd really like to go to Greece one day. Australia too.” The brunette answered, her thumb rubbing along her hairline. “Honestly though I agree with wanting to go anywhere other than the US.” She said, looking down into blue orbs.

 “Greece would be beautiful  but I hear  it’s a little dangerous right now and their economy isn’t the best. Australia is a long ass plane ride but I suppose if we made stops along the way it would definitely be worth it.”  Looking up into Evan’s eyes she couldn’t help but smile some.  They clearly weren’t paying attention to the show but Mere couldn’t bring herself to care.

 “Mm, there's no rush. Could always go to Greece later on.” Evan mused, shrugging her shoulders slightly and smiling down at the teacher. Her heart thudded a little with the knowledge that in some small way they were planning, even just slightly, for things to occur in the future. “It would be a long plane ride but I don't know...I think we could keep ourselves busy enough.”

 “Mm hmm.” It felt good simply knowing that someone wanted to plan things with her even if it were all just hypothetical for the time being.  “ I always wanted to travel but we were always too busy and before that I never wanted to do it alone, I’m a nervous flyer”. She admitted.  “Favorite color? Before you ask, mine’s grey.”

 She nodded her head slightly, rubbing the back of her neck with her free hand. “Yeah, business always seemed to get in the way.” Fingers began to trail through her hair again as she thought over some things. “Hmm? Oh uh...my favorite is green. Grey is an interesting choice though, I like it.” She said with a smile, eyes scanning over Meredith's features.

 “Green is pretty. You’d love Ireland… they claim it’s greener there, that when you get back everything just looks muted in comparison.”  The blonde noticed the way those eyes took her in and yet it didn’t make her uncomfortable it had the opposite effect.  The corners of pink lips tugged upwards a bit. “Grey is the color of my favorite types of weather. I like storms. Rainy and snowy.  All different shades of grey.”

 Evan hummed thoughtfully and chewed on the inside of her cheek. “Ireland would be pretty cool. We should just save up money and take off for a few months some time and travel to the places we want to go.” Evan suggested, continuing to play with her hair. “Rain is pretty great. I love it a lot. So I get where you're coming from with that.” She said, glancing up at the TV. “We're going to have to start these episodes over at some point.” She said with a soft laugh.

 “We should grab a map and put dots on it for where we want to go then we can get pins to mark off the places we do.”  She cleared her throat softly at the mention of saving up.  “Well… Henri put together a rainy day fund. We didn’t get to use it much so… there’s money in it for fun things.”  She leaned into the touch once more and gave a hum at the agreement about rain.  “Hmm?”  She glanced to the tv and laughed a little too.  “I’m not worried about it.”

 She nodded her head slightly at Meredith's words and chewed her bottom lip. “Well, give me some time to save up some money and we'll go then.” Evan replied, brushing fingers through her hair with a soft breath. She had some money set aside, but it was mostly stuff that she had specific uses for. “Nah, chatting with you has been nice. Though I think if we're gonna keep chatting, it may be time to just move up to the bed.”

 Technically, that fund would easily cover them both for mutiple trips but if it made Evan uncomfortable she wasn’t going to push. Maybe she’d just get them the trip to Ireland as a Christmas gift. Mere thought for a moment about her word then gave a nod.  “Up to bed it is. I’m gonna put on some pajamas and grab my pillow.” She sat up with a small smile even though she definitely felt a loss when that hand left her hair and headed for the stairs.

 She smiled softly and watched as Meredith made her way upstairs, grabbing the remote and turning off the TV before standing and heading upstairs, turning lights off as she went. She headed to the bathroom and brushed her teeth before making her way to her room and changing into her PJs.

 Meredith brushed her teeth and washed her face in her own bathroom and changed in a worn overgrown T-shirt and flannel sleep shorts. She typically got overheated at night if she wore much else.  Grabbing her favorite pillow, bare feet then carried her across the hall to Evan’s room. She gave a small knock not wanting to walk in on her naked or anything.

 Hearing the knock on the door, she smiled. “Come in, Mere.” Evan was already curled up in bed, resting her head against her wall and let out a small hum. “Hey.” She mused with a smile as Meredith walked in, pulling back the blankets to allow the blonde to get settled. “All comfy now?”

 That was the first time that Evan had called her Mere and it made her smile.  She came in and shut the door behind her.  The blonde climbed into the offered space with her favorite pillow and snuggled into the covers.  “Mm hmm.” She hummed.  “And it helps that you and your bed are comfy.”

 She chuckled and settled down, turning onto her side and smiling. “Well I'm glad that you find yourself comfortable here. You deserve to be comfortable.” Evan mused, reaching out to brush a strand of hair behind the woman's ear before she pulled her hand back. She was getting too comfortable...she needed to watch herself.

 Evan’s smile was absolutely addictive and beautiful and she found herself staring on the rare occasion that it showed itself.  Her lips quirked as the woman tucked that piece of hair away.  “So do you.”  She replied gently almost as if she’d heard that inner thought but that wasn’t possible.  “And yes I find myself comfortable and safe.  Things I haven’t felt in a long time.”

 She breathed out slowly and nodded her head, pulling the blankets over herself more fully. “Good. I...am glad I can do right by my sister somehow.” She paused and smirked slightly. “Also...it’s just nice to know me being here helps.” Evan licked her bottom lip and then sighed softly as she began to relax further against the bed. “Can I…” She paused and shook her head. “Never mind.”

 “You are.”  She murmured.  “And good… I’ll make sure to keep reminding you.”  She smirked a little but it faded into a small smile.  The blonde’s brow scrunched and her freckles nose crinkled a little when Evan cut herself off.  “Can you what?”  She asked gently, not planning on giving her a way out.

 “I look forward to the reminders.” She bit down on her bottom lip and then turned on her back to look up at the ceiling with a furrow of her eyebrows. “Can you maybe tell me a uh...happy memory of you and Henri?” evan paused and licked her bottom lip. “If not...I mean...that's alright.”

 The blonde thought about it a long moment. “I can do that.”  She replied softly.  “Since Thanksgiving is coming up...We would go get a tree the Sunday after thanksgiving every year.  We would cut it down.  I love Christmas… the whole season. We’d get there and she’d point to a tree but I would stubbornly want to see all of them. She would be as patient as a Hughes woman could be and every year without fail would pick me up over her shoulder and carry me half way out of the lot kicking and laughing with her threatening to cancel Christmas and that’s when I’d find our tree and she’d put me down so she could saw it and drag it back. We’d get the lights on it that night and light a fire and she’d hold me and we’d read our favorite Christmas stories… “

 Evan listened to the story, a small smile forming on her lips as she listened. It was such a Henri thing to do and it was nice to share in some small part of her. She let out a deep breath and turned to face the other woman again. “That sounds wonderful. I can almost see her gradually getting more and more impatient with the whole thing.” The brunette said with a soft chuckle, slowly reaching out to slip an arm around her, resting the waters a bit.

 The blonde smiled at the sound of that chuckle.  “Oh my god, your sister’s lack of patience was truly remarkable… so sometimes I’d look just a little longer cause I knew I was pushing my luck.”  When that arm slipped around her she moved in closer, relaxing into the woman’s hold.  “I loved everything about the holiday season because she made it magical.  I’m honestly happy I get to spend it with you this year.  I was dreading it until we made plans.”

 “Mm, so you were acting cheeky were you? Is that what I should expect?” Evan questioned. “I'm sorry...that she can't be here with you. I wish...I wish she could be.” Evan paused and rubbed her thumb gently along her back. “As much as I'm looking forward to spending Christmas with someone, I would give anything for her to be able to be here with you instead.” She admitted with a deep sigh.

 “I have my cheeky moments. I make no promises about my behavior.”  The smile on her faces said it all.  At those somber words Meredith found herself moving closer and hanging on a little tighter.  “I know… but I wish the three of us could spend it together.”  She went quiet a moment,  “..... everything happens for a reason, as much as I hate certain things that happen at least I know that much is true.”

 Evan sighed as Meredith moved more closely to her, gently gripping her shirt. “I...wish we could too. Sorry I made that an impossibility.” Evan mused softly, resting her forehead against Meredith's for a brief moment before she then pulled back. “Sometimes that reason doesn't feel fair though. Like...it brought me back home but it...I don’t know.”

 “You don’t need to apologize.”  Meredith closed her eyes at the feeling of that warm forehead pressed against her own.   “But without her part of Home is missing?... I know.”  She bit her lower lip gently and traced idle patterns along her side with soft fingertips.

 “Yeah...it’s just...I've never slept in this house without Henri being here as well. Like...ever. Until now.” Sure Henri's spirit was still around but Meredith didn't know that and it wasn't the same anyway. She shivered slightly at the touch to her side, thoughtfulness settling over her. “You have made this as bearable as it could be though.”

“Me neither. It’s jarring and unsettling.  We never spent a night apart so… I just haven’t done the sleeping thing cause cause I didn’t know how without her.”  She offered a sad smile.  “I’m glad I’m able to do that for you… You’ve done… so much for me.”

 She nodded her head, appreciating how difficult the loss must have been for Meredith. It wasn't easy on Evan at all...but Evan had already gone through a loss when it came to Henri. The loss for Meredith was still completely fresh. “Just...helping each other as best as we can. It's nice to have that with someone.”

 “It is.” She murmured softly, her breath warm against Evan’s skin.  Meredith bit her lower lip for a moment. They needed to lighten their conversation before either one of them attempted to sleep.  “.... hmm.. are you more of a cat person or dog person?”

 She smiled at the question and shrugged. “I guess more of a dog person. But I like cats too.” Evan replied, fingers playing with her shirt slightly. “What about yourself?” She replied with her own question, “And have you ever had an animal?”

 “Same.”  She smiled some.  “I love dogs but I like cats.  I think if I ever get one I’d want to rescue though. Too many fur babies out there need homes already.”  Thinking back on her childhood the blonde hummed.  “I had a family dog- was a golden retriever named George.  And at one point we had a bunny named Patches.  Did you guys ever have any pets?”

 She nodded her head in agreement. “I'd definitely want a rescue as well. Especially one of the older ones that have done nothing but grown older. It's sad that they're all alone.” Evan mused softly, fingers resting on her lower back. “That's a cute name. And I like George too.” Evan nodded slightly. “We had a dog, a husky,  named Zeus when we were younger. We uh...had to send him to a new home after our dad died though.”

 “That’s exactly what I would wanna do. Some poor baby who still has some good time left but who no one wants cause he’s not a puppy.”  Meredith enjoyed daydreaming with Evan.  “I helped name them. My brother and sister had no interest.”  She thought for a moment.  “That must be the husky I’ve seen in family photos.”

 “Well good work on the names.” Evan said with a nod and a smile. “I helped name our dog. I'm quite the fan of Greek mythology. Would have named him Athena if he had been a girl.” She smiled at the mention and nodded. “That would be him. He was a good boy.”

 “He looked like a Zeus.”  She gave a small nod.  The blonde nuzzled into the older woman a little bit.  “... Is this going to be an every night thing?”  Not that she minded but she wanted to know what to expect.  “Sharing a bed, I mean.”  Her voice was on the quiet side but she didn’t seem uncomfortable or anything of that nature.

 “Glad you approve of my name selection.”She smiled as Meredith nuzzled against her, lifting her hand to brush through blonde locks once again. “It is.” She said after a few moments pause. She was certain about it. Meredith needed sleep and this seemed to be the best way to ensure that she was getting the sleep that she needed.

 Meredith let herself enjoy those finger threading through her hair and gave a soft hum.  “Not killing students and sharing a bed with you. I think I can manage that.”  She murmured, a smile pulling at her lips.  In her head those cemented as rules she knew she’d need to follow.

 She chuckled softly and nodded her head. “I definitely think that you can manage that, Mere.” She replied, biting down on her bottom lip. “We should probably get some rest now. Some of us have work tomorrow.” Evan said with a soft hum, pressing her forehead against Meredith's for just a moment.

 The second Evan’s forehead rested against hers those blue eyes closed.  “Mm hmm.”  She let out a breath, “work,” she muttered. Working was the furthest thing from her mind but Evan was right, they both needed sleep.  Meredith focused on her breath, breathing In the brunette.  “Good night, Ev,” she murmured softly.

FREDDIE HAYWARD

TO BE HONEST, the best thing about Wink was probably the fact that Freddie was getting some pretty solid friends out of it, too.  LIKE CAMERON JONES.  THE TACO PRINCE OF EVERYTHING.  (Because Freddie was currently crowning himself the King, but obviously that was Subject to Change at any time — you never know when you’re going to meet the Real King, you know?)

And right now, Freddie was going to meet Cameron FOR THE FIRST TIME.  FOR TACOS.  AT THE BEACH!  BEST FRIDAY NIGHT EVER!  Man, he really kept that internal caps lock in his brain pressed down at all times, didn’t he?  Yeah, he did.  But, that was beside the point!

While Freddie was still getting used to the California roads and highways, he found himself navigating his down the Pacific Coast Highway in the same yellow Jeep that had taken him all the way from Vancouver back at the beginning of the year.  It was still weird being out of Canada, but California was starting to feel more and more like home every day.  Making friends definitely helped with that.

He pulled up to park, hopping out (well, as much hopping as you can really do when your legs are as long as Freddie’s were) and making the short walk to the taco truck that he already frequented far too often as it was.

You know what he should have brought?  A SIGN.  With, like, LIGHTS OR GLITTER GLUE OR SOMETHING.  Because if anybody would have appreciated it?  Probably totally absolutely his new BFF Cameron.

But for now, he’d just have to wait.

Freddie lifted his head from his phone after another few moments of pretending he was actually any good at Candy Crush (he wasn’t), recognizing the familiar face from the app and smiling broadly.  “MY DUDE!” he exclaimed.