Hey guys, this is my first Addison story, and it happens to be my first Kaddison story too! I fell in love with this shipp, and a lot of people seemed to love it as well, so inspired in a fanvideo of them, I decided to create this fanfic of same name. I recomend you to listen to the song "Stripped" by Shiny Toy Guns while reading the story. It's already finished in 6 parts, so there will not be a long time between the chapters. I already apologize if there's any mistakes about the tv shows (Castle and Private Practice), but I've tried to follow the storylines and the characters. It takes place after the end of the second season of Castle, and at the half of the second season of Private.

I'm thankfull to Kristen who had read and betaed my story, correcting my grammar mistakes.

I hope you guys like it and enjoy the story!

Part 01

I needed to get away from Los Angeles. I couldn't stand that suffocating feeling anymore. When I finally moved from Seattle to LA, everything changed, maybe for the better. I changed the way I looked, breathed the fresh air of the city, and the sun gave me a tan. I was way more relaxed and less tense than I was in Seattle Grace, but I need to be honest. After living in LA for a few years, I needed this change of air again. The troubles with the practice, with Sam and Nai… The break up with Kevin… I needed at least one weekend away from all that craziness to be able to clear my mind and think properly, to take a good rest, and relax. I just didn't expect this new fresh air would come from a city as gray as New York.

Who knew that I'd be back at NY after so long? I thought a lot about it, and I wondered if I should follow Derek's steps and rent a trailer or a cabin somewhere far away to spend a few days isolated from the world. Unfortunately, it wouldn't help me at all. Maybe it would be better to come back to the fuss of the concrete jungle, so that is what I did. I let Naomi in charge at the practice just for a few days; I packed a suitcase with some clothes and I took the first flight to New York. The trip was almost six hours long. I slept for the first couple of hours, and then I read a book I took for a while. When we were arriving, I saw the sun rising in the horizon, lighting up the highest skyscrapers of the city. It was a good feeling. It was my home.

I stepped out of the plane at the airport, feeling out of place. For the first time in that city, there was no one waiting for me. I stood there for a while, from foot to foot, reminding me of the days I used to live there. My life with Derek… My work… It was everything so good and so far away… After the affair with Mark, then the sudden disappearance of Derek… He was gone, but I thought he would come back. A few months had passed until I finally realized he wouldn't. Then, I finally got out of there and there was my terrible arrive at Seattle. I shook my head, trying not to think about the past since I couldn't erase the bad memories. Fortunately, everything was settled up with my ex-husband and his best friend. Now I had to move on.

I've already booked a hotel at Brooklyn, so I took a cab there. I left my suitcase in the room, and I decided to walk around to find some good coffee. I remembered a café store where I used to go every morning, and it was great! I took another cab and stopped a few blocks away, so I could enjoy the walking in the fresh morning air. It was so long since I saw so many people in the streets, the practice at LA had changed me. I entered into the store and chose one of the tables near the window. I ordered a coffee with vanilla and stayed there, enjoying the view and reading the book I had brought with me. I saw a lot of people walking by in suits and ties, with suitcases, talking on the phone… Some mothers were holding their sons. I wondered if one day I'd have a child…Who knows? I didn't think I was ready yet. Maybe in the future, when I find the right guy… this thought made me laugh. I thought Derek was the right one and look where we are now.

When I finished my coffee, I came down the street, going to the commercial part of the neighborhood. I entered into some stores, tried some things… It was so awkward to not have time for anything… Even in the practice, having just a few patients, I had to be always present, always working things out and talking to people. I got used to talking to Violet, Naomi, Sam, Peter… And before that, in Seattle Grace, I had the fuss from the hospital, always full of surgeries. God! How I missed the surgeries. I loved my work at LA, but nothing compared to being inside an O.R.

I kept wandering around until lunch time. I stopped at a restaurant and I ate, thinking if I should come back to the hotel and go out at night. What was the point to be there and do nothing with my weekend? I then took a cab back to the hotel. When I got to my room, I changed my clothes, wearing something more comfortable. I looked in the mirror. My red hair was short, like channel, all brushed; my blue eyes…on my lips there were some traces of red lipstick… I smiled, caressing my hair, messing it around. I liked what was in front of me.

I didn't have dinner, just had a lunch at evening, and then I took a hot and relaxing shower. I always liked hot baths. I put a black simple dress that went down to the knees, with a big v shaped cleavage with no sleeves. I brushed and dried my hair; put my silver high heels, and just two rings and a big golden bracelet in my left wrist. Despite of loving red lipstick, I chose a color darker, almost a red brown, and I put some golden and brown eye shadow. I looked at the mirror once more. I was ready. I checked if everything looked okay, then I took my purse and walked out of the room. I took a cab to 4th Avenue where there was this bar called Cherry Tree. I had been there a couple of times with Derek. I liked the place; there was good beer, good drinks and a good atmosphere.

I sat at the bar, ordered a drink and I sipped it slowly. The place was big with a long counter at the right side, and a barman serving the drinks. There were some red tables, a lot of yellow light luminaries, two pool tables, a jukebox… It wasn't crowded, and I prefered it that way. I couldn't help but remember Joe's. While I was working with Derek in Seattle, we were always there to drink something after a long shift. For a moment, I wished I had someone to talk to; I never liked to be alone. I always had a lot of friends surrounding me. Maybe I should make some calls within the next day, see some old friends, some old companionship, to chat and have a good time.

Suddenly, I heard a sweet voice right next to me, ordering a drink with cherries, the house specialty. I turned my head to the right side and saw a lady next to me. Red dress, brown straightened hair… She looked at me and smiled; a beautiful smile, I might add. She friendly nodded and sat right next to me. I waited, thinking someone would appear to meet her, but no one came. So, after a while, I talked to her.

"Alone?"

"Yes, unfortunately…" she smiled, lowering her head, hiding a lock of hair behind her ear. "How about you?"

"Same, unfortunately." I smiled back, raising my glass for a toast. "I have had a lot of trouble with ex-husbands, lovers and boyfriends."

"Really? Were you married?"

"Yes, for a long time. Surprised?"

"Yeah, I didn't think you were."

"And you?"

"Well… It's complicated."

"Oh if you don't want to talk about that..." I said in a hush.

"No, that's okay. Well, the truth is he went to the Hamptons with his ex-wife."

"Oh really? Yeah I know how you feel…" I remembered Derek and Meredith. "But I'm sure if he really likes you, he will come back. Nothing will happen between them, you'll see it."

"I hope so." We stayed in silence for a little while, till she broke it up. "Kate Beckett." she extended her arm at me.

"Addison Montgomery." We shook hands. "So… What do you do?"

"I'm a homicide detective, from the 12th Precinct of NYPD."

"Wow, detective?" I smiled surprised. "Nice. My last boyfriend was a cop…"

"You?"

"Doctor… I work as an obstetrician and gynecologist in a practice at LA."

"LA? Why are you so far from home?" she asked, interested.

"Actually, I am home. I have lived here with my ex-husband, then I went to Seattle, and then from there, I went to LA. Things got complicated there, so I needed to chill out, relax… I took the weekend off and came here."

"It's a weird place to relax in…" she laughed, brushing her fingers through her hair. "New York is one of the most agitated places."

"I know, that's why I decided to come. Maybe this fuss is what I need."

"Maybe…" she finished her drink and ordered another one. She looked at me and asked, "Would you like one of these?"

"Alright… Give me one with cherries too."

The barman gave her two drinks, putting one of them in front of me. We toasted, and while she drank it, I observed her. I had liked her; she seemed to be a friendly person, interesting, and beautiful… I don't know why, but I felt comfortable around her. I took a few sips from my glass, and then I realized she was looking at some point beside me. I turned around and followed her eyes. There was the pool table.

"Do you play?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"A little…" I answered. "Let's play?"

She smiled back at me and got up. I did the same and realized I wasn't much taller than her. I took my glass and followed her to the end of the bar, standing next to the pool table. She took a cue and handed me one. We started playing while chatting. She told me about her childhood, that she used to play pool with her father sometimes, and talked briefly about her mother's death. I didn't want to go further in the subject, because I could clearly see she was uncomfortable with it. She just said it was the main reason to her decision to become a cop. I commented about my failed marriage and about my affair with Mark, but then I changed the subject, talking about my job.

"Do you like being a doctor?" she asked, while positioning and hitting the third ball.

"I love it. And I'm good at it." I leaned and hit the sixth ball, pocketing it. "But I miss the thrill of being in an operation room. The sensation of feeling…"

"Special…" she completed my sentence, leaning on the table, ready to hit it, and then gazed my eyes. "For saving a life." She smiled. I was hypnotized from that look for a while; I smiled back, answering her.

"Exactly. Do you…"

"I understand." She hit the ball fifth, straightening, and supported herself in the cue, resting her head in her hands while talking, "I have this same feeling sometimes. I love the investigation, to assemble the puzzle, the adrenaline in my veins of the suspect chase… To be able to save someone, just like I would like that had happened with…" she stopped talking suddenly.

"With your mother." I finished for her.

She looked at me with tears in her eyes, and smiled grateful, swallowing, and looking down. I felt bad suddenly, wanting to hug her; I didn't want her to be sad like that. I approached her, slowly caressing her soft straight hair.

"Hey, it's everything okay..." I whispered smiling. I backed off, giving her some space.

"Thank you." She thanked me with a nod. "Your turn."

I played again, but this time I didn't hit any ball. We kept playing it, till some people approached, wanting to play, so we stopped. The place was full now, and when we got closer to the counter, there was almost no empty space. I leaned in, asking for more two drinks, and I felt her presence right behind me. I felt a shiver running down my spine, and I was feeling odd. I was bothered with Kate so close to me like that. Suddenly, I shivered, feeling her arm holding my waist, while she appeared by my side, taking her drink. For a moment I froze, dizzied, but I recovered soon, sipping my drink and feeling the good taste of cherries at my lips. I was going crazy. With the glass in my hand, I turned out to get out, and I slightly bumped her, front to front. Her eyes smiled at mine, and she apologized, getting out of my way.

I smiled back, gawky, and we walked to the only empty table around there. We sat side by side. I crossed my legs, thinking… I was mature enough to understand what was happening to me. I thought it could be only my imagination, but then I remembered of my own words when I talked to Callie about Erica… "I am all for it! Ok… I think it's fantastic!" And then, when Callie didn't believe me, I even said the reasons why I thought that. "Because you seem like a couple! A really happy couple…" She thought I was insane, and she even declared she was a man's fan, but I didn't buy it. And I found out I was right about it when I came back to Seattle Grace after a while, and she confidently told me she had this crush on a girl named Arizona.

What if the same thing was happening to me? I was in the same boat as Callie… I had never felt attracted to women… By the way I only hooked up with a girl, but it was years ago. I looked at Kate once more, who seemed distracted. She was with her legs crossed too, and I thought she was simply beautiful. A lock of her hair was falling over her face, so I instinctively raised my hand, putting the lock behind her ear. I saw she shyly smiled, and lifted her drink, leaning it to her mouth. I took my hand away, smiling with a grimace, putting my arm down, thinking to myself what the hell I was doing. She seemed not to mind it, but then she leaned her head to the right, locking her eyes on mine deeply.

"Sorry." I stammered, sipping my drink. "It must be the cherry…"

"Yeah, it must." She laughed amused. "Are you nervous?"

"M-me? No…" I laughed, because I was very nervous, but I wouldn't let her notice it.

"Yeah right…" she kept quiet for some seconds, analyzing me. I got irritated. I wasn't used to people making me uncomfortable like that, even more a person younger than me.

"What?" I finally asked.

"Nothing… I'm just wondering… My time for craziness has been a long time ago, when I was a college girl…"

"Well my time is further than yours!" I laughed, trying to disguise. "But I think it's enough of insanities in my life."

"Really? But didn't you tell me you came here looking for some adventure?"

"I didn't say so…" I promptly replied.

"Maybe this fuss is what I need. Your words. What would be this search for fuss but not adventures?" she laughed at my surprised face.

"You are right." I agreed.

"I know I am." She laughed, amused, straightening up. She put her hand over mine, caressing my fingers.

"I'm not…" I looked at her embarrassed, but she interrupted me.

"Neither am I." She stopped her movements, asking me seriously, "Unless you really don't want to." She was about to take her hand away, but I quickly replied.

"No, I… I want to." I decided. "Lets' go." I got up.

"Where?" now she seemed confused.

"To my hotel, of course."

"But… Just like that… I didn't think…" she tried to argue, clearly uncomfortable.

"You didn't want to come? Didn't want adventure? So why the sudden change of mind?"

"I didn't change my mind." She answered. "I simply am not used to things happening so fast like that!"

"I didn't say something would happen, I just asked you to come with me to the hotel. You added the idea to do something…" I commented, amused. She got grumpy, frowning, angry, which made me laugh even more. "Relax, girl! We are just going to the hotel to talk and have a good time, and we see what will come out of it. If nothing happens, we passed some more time talking. I'm on my own, without anybody to spend some time with."

"Alright… So let's go." She accepted after a few minutes.