so this idea just kind of came to me and i just wrote it. i hope you like it. i do.

paring: ADDEX of course!

-insert disclaimer of your choice here-

Los Angeles, city of angels, and a new start for Addison. She is making a clean break, barely telling anyone she is leaving, and now, several weeks later, she has only heard from Callie, and that was the way she wants it. No more hate filled looks from Derek, no more relapses into Mark, and definitely no more scorching hot looks from that intern, her one major embarrassment. She is so glad to be rid of him, now maybe she can actually concentrate it. She would have nothing more to do with him, she decides.

The best way to make God laugh is to make plans and let Him ruin them. God is cracking up, but Addison doesn't know it.

It all starts with one of the receptionists, a college student looking for some cash. Addison thinks she is a sweet girl, a little quiet, but sweet. And pretty. She has long, wavy brown hair that she always wears down in true California style, and she has deep brown eyes. Addison has seen those eyes somewhere before, and it rather bugs her that she can't place them. Her eyes are sad, even when she smiles, like she has seen something in her life that shouldn't have been seen, not by her. She looks tired, but not just physically. She doesn't come in enough for Addison to even know her name, let alone actually know her, but Addison makes sure to smile at her every time she sees her and say thank you anytime she does something for her.

It all changes one day when the girl comes in with a poorly concealed bruise on her jaw. Addison wants to say something, but doesn't. The next time she comes in, the girl has a bruise on her arm and is limping. Addison starts to get suspicious and worried. She tries to get to know the girl, but her advances are deftly avoided and deflected.

"Who's that receptionist?" Addison asks Naomi.

"Oh, that's Lila."

"Lila."

"Yeah. She a senior at UCLA. I think she lives with her boyfriend or something, I always see him waiting around for her. That's all I know about her, other than work related things."

"Her boyfriend, huh? I wonder…"

0ooo0

Addison is early leaving the office, and she leaves about the same time as Lila. She watches as Lila greets her boyfriend. She is standing close enough to hear little bits of the conversation. "You're late," the boyfriend says coldly. Addison immediately decides she doesn't like him.

"I know, I'm sorry."

The boyfriend begins to speak in a hushed tone, meaning Addison can't hear him. "I was working," Lila replies to whatever he said. "I can't help it. I don't control when I get off."

"I know, but I expect you to be where you say you're going to be, when you say you're going to be there," the boyfriend says unkindly.

"I'm like five minutes late!"

"Don't raise your voice with me!" the boyfriend says and raises his arm. He hits Lila and Addison can't take it anymore.

"I think you'd better go now," she says calmly, putting herself between him and Lila. It's obviously not a suggestion.

The boyfriend reaches around her and grabs Lila's wrist. "Let's go Lila," he commands, roughly pulling her with him.

"Sorry, no," Addison says, grabbing Lila's other wrist. "She's not going anywhere, not with you."

"Bitch," the boyfriend spits. Then to Lila, "Good luck finding a place to live, you whore."

He storms off and Lila begins to cry. Addison gathers her into a hug. "Honey, I know it's hard, but you couldn't possibly stay with him, I've seen what he's done to you," she consoles her.

"No, it's not that," she says as she dries her tears. "It's just that nobody's ever done anything like that for me before. Except now I have to find some place to live. Crap."

"Is there someone you want to call?" Addison asks.

"All my friends live with their boyfriends or with twenty zillion other people," she sniffs. "I can't stay with any of them."

"You can stay with me," Addison offers.

"No. No. I couldn't possibly-"

"No, I insist."

Lila thinks for a moment. "Okay. Thanks a lot. I mean, you don't even know me and I barely know you, Dr. Montgomery, and-"

"Addison," she says kindly. "It's Addison. Dr. Montgomery sounds so formal." She grimaces at the end of her sentence, letting Lila know just how much she dislikes formality outside of the workplace.

"I'm Lila," she says. "Lila Karev."

some reviews would be loverly!

-Juli