So. I'm back with another story. Which is actually not the one I promised you guys when I ended the last one. Sorry! I was working on that one, and then I got this idea. So I've been putting off homework lately by writing it. I am still working on the other one, so I will start getting that up as soon as I can. But school takes priority, as much as I wish it didn't.

Anyway. This story starts out after the last episode of Private Practice where Addison kisses Pete (In Which Charlotte Goes Down the Rabbit Hole) and during part of the Grey's episode from last week (Kung Fu Fighting). Everything after those episodes is not relevant. Oh, and the name of the story is the title of a song by Bon Jovi.

In case it's not obvious, I own nothing related to Grey's Anatomy or Private Practice. Believe me, if I did own them, I would be doing things a little bit differently. Starting with having Addison and Derek in the same city... grrr.

I think that's it. Read.

Chapter 1
Wishful Thinking

Today was going to be a good day.

This is what Addison told herself that morning. Today was going to be a good day. Today she would not have to tell a patient that she had a terminal illness. Today she would not have to talk said patient into not leaving her husband and giving up on everything she ever wanted. Today she would not have to give a speech about how woman should have her whole life when it killed her that once upon a time, she herself used to have her whole life. And today… today she would not kiss a man who was clearly not interested in anything but a good time. She deserved more than that.

She got ready for the day and headed off to work. She sat in her car for a few minutes after pulling up in the parking lot, repeating her mantra in her head and vowing that today was going to be a good day. No matter what.

Walking inside, she realized that besides her, the only two people who were already here were Dell and Pete. She could be a friendly co-worker and go say "good morning" to Pete… but after last night, that didn't exactly fit well with her current plan for the day. So instead, she decided to go into her office and pretend to look over her schedule until Naomi, Sam, Cooper, and Violet arrived for the usual morning meeting.

She picked up the paper and sat down at her desk. Two patients. She had two patients scheduled the whole day. Both just routine check-ups.

Today was going to be a boring day.

Setting her schedule down on her desk, she looked around the office, thinking about how different her life was compared to what she thought it would be like. When she had accepted Naomi's job offer, she hadn't fully taken into consideration the fact that co-op medicine was vastly different than working at the hospital. Sure, she knew that it would be slower-paced, but she didn't realize how much she would miss the fast-paced environment where she had to be at the top of her game every day. And the cutting. She definitely missed the cutting. Surgery was her forte. And boy, did she miss it.

"Hey," Naomi's voice startled her back to reality.

"Hey," Addison replied.

"So…"

"So… what?"

"You kissed Pete last night."

"Yeah, I vaguely remember something to that effect," she replied sarcastically.

"Care to explain?"

"Not particularly."

"Addison, I'm saying this because I'm your friend, and I care about you. Pete is not the commitment kind of guy. He hasn't had a relationship since Anna died. And quite frankly, I don't think he wants one. He's a good guy… I just don't think he's the kind of guy for you. Do you get what I'm saying?"

Addison was annoyed. She didn't need Naomi to tell her something that she already knew. Something that Pete had already told her himself. So she said bitterly, "What happened to me telling you that I don't need you to take care of me?"

"I'm not taking care of you. I was just… okay, fine. I'm taking care of you. But Addison, what's so bad about that?"

"What's so bad about it is that you feel this need to protect me from things that I don't need to be protected from. I'm a big girl, Nae. I can take care of myself, despite what my past track record might say."

"Addie… if you want to talk about anything… like De--"

"No," she cut her off. "I don't. It's over and done with, and there's no need to relive the past."

"It's just that he was a huge part of your life for so long, and you haven't said a word about him since you've been here."

"I've moved on. Okay? End of discussion." Addison glanced out the window behind Naomi. "It looks like everyone else is here."

She got up and walked past Naomi out of her office.

- - - - - - - - - -

It was 11:45 am, and Addison had already finished with her scheduled patients for the day. And she was bored.

Wandering out to the lobby, she saw Dell blatantly staring at Naomi, who was walking a patient out. She almost felt bad for the guy. It was pretty obvious that he worshiped the ground Naomi walked on. But seriously, he didn't stand a chance in hell. No matter how many cakes he had his grandmother bake.

Addison rolled her eyes at him and walked into the kitchen.

"You're avoiding me."

She hadn't seen Pete in there. Damnit.

"No, I haven't. I had patients."

"And you've been avoiding me."

She sighed and rolled her eyes as she walked over to the fridge.

"So are we just going to pretend that last night didn't happen?"

"No. I kissed you, and you're not interested in anything more."

"Well, I wouldn't say that."

"There's really nothing else to talk about," she said, ignoring his remark. "You know I'm the marrying kind, and I know you're not."

"Addison, I--"

"On second thought, I think I'm going to go out for lunch."

Today was definitely not going as planned. Not at all.

- - - - - - - - - -

"I'm going out," Addison said as she poked her head into Naomi's office. "Wanna come?"

"I have a patient in an hour."

"Okay. Fine. But just be aware that the man-child will probably be watching your every move if you stay here."

"I'll get my purse."

Ten minutes later, the two were sitting at an outdoor café a few blocks away from the office. Addison absently stared off at the ocean, only half hearing what Naomi was talking about.

"Addison? Are you listening to me?"

"What? Yeah. Of course."

"Okay, what gives?"

"Nothing. I'm fine."

"I know you better than that. Spill."

"Today was supposed to be a good day. I told myself that it would be. And all I can think about is that stupid kiss."

Naomi opened her mouth to say something, but Addison cut her off.

"Before you start, let me just say that I knew what I was doing. I don't need to hear another lecture on how Pete isn't the commitment kind of guy." She sighed, frustrated. "You know, this isn't really even about Pete."

"What's it about then?"

"It's just… yesterday… talking to Angie… telling her that a person should get to have everything they want… I felt like such a hypocrite. How can I tell someone something like that when most of the time I feel like there's some big, cosmic force keeping me from getting everything I want… like the reason I'm alone and childless is because of everything wrong I've done the past few years. I mean, I had the opportunity to have it all, and I just threw it all away."

"Addison. You can't think that way. It's not good. It's not healthy."

"I know. But still…"

"Listen, you are going to find someone. You are going to get your whole life. It'll happen."

"You think?"

"I know. And I'm your best friend. I wouldn't lie to you."

"You already did," Addison pointed out, remembering Naomi's little speech about absolutely no fertility potential.

"It was a one-time thing. Won't happen again."

"You are so full of shit. But thank you."

"You're welcome," Naomi said with a smile. "Let's order now. I'm starving."

- - - - - - - - - -

"Hey, Dell, where's Naomi?" Pete asked. "I need her to swing by and see my patient."

"She went out to lunch with Addison. They should be back soon. She has a patient scheduled in twenty minutes."

"Okay. When she gets back, let her know I'm looking for her."

Dell nodded and went back to the paperwork he had been working on.

A few minutes later, he heard the elevator door open. He jerked his head up from his desk, hoping it was Naomi coming back from lunch early.

The doors opened, revealing a person that Dell had never seen before. She was tall with long, dark auburn hair. She had a familiar appearance, but he was sure she had never been to the practice before.

She walked off the elevator and strolled right past the reception desk without a second glance.

"Uh, excuse me?" he called after her. "Can I help you?"

"Nope," she replied casually and continued on down the hall.

He followed behind her, wondering just where she thought she was going. A second later, she opened the door to Addison's office and went in, taking a seat at her desk.

"Do you have an appointment? Because you're not really supposed to be back here without one of the doctors."

"It's fine," she replied simply. "Addison won't care."

"Actually, it's--"

"You have a patient," she said, pointing at the front desk.

Dell turned around, seeing that there was indeed someone at the desk.

"Don't go anywhere."

He went back to his desk and got the patient checked in and escorted her to the exam room, assuring her that Naomi would be there in just a few minutes.

As he returned to front to pull the woman's chart, the elevator doors opened, and Addison and Naomi stepped out.

"Hey, Dell," Naomi greeted him.

"Hey. Your patient is ready to go in exam #1," he said, handing her the chart. "And Addison, there's someone in your office."

She looked confused. "Who? I'm not expecting anyone."

"I don't know. She just strolled on in there and wouldn't leave."

"Okay, thanks."

Addison walked the short distance to her office and stopped in her tracks when she saw who was sitting in her chair.

Today had just taken a really unexpected turn.

"Teagan. What are you doing here?"

You know the drill.

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