A/N- Yes, another story. I honestly can't help it. Ever since that horrible finale, I've just been on an Addison/Derek writing spree (go figure). So, I hope you guys like it. This is the first part, I'll probably add the second part in a couple of days. Enjoy and review!

set me free, why don't you babe
get out my life, why don't you babe
'cause you don't really love me
you just keep me hanging on

why do you keep a-comin' around
playing with my heart
why don't you get out of my life
and let me make a brand new start
let me get over you
the way you've gotten over me, yeah

You Keep Me Hangin' On, Kim Wilde

You Keep Me Hangin' On

"Does Weiss like chocolate cake, Sav? Or maybe I can pick up an ice cream cake. Does he like ice cream?" Addison asked as she blew up balloons.

"Chocolate's good. I should run out and buy some cake mix for-"

"I'll do it. I don't mind."

"You sure? You look exhausted, Addison."

Addison pretended to be offended, but instead she just shrugged it off. "It's fine. I wanted to take a walk anyway. So, chocolate cake? Vanilla frosting?"

"Sounds good."

As Addison grabbed her purse and headed for the door, Sav's voice stopped her.

"Thanks again for helping me with this, Addison. I know how tired you are, but it means so much to me."

Addison merely smiled and walked out the door.

---------

By the time Addison reached the grocery store, a light rain had begun to fall. The rain always reminded her of Seattle. And Derek. The rain always managed to remind her of Derek. These days, everything seemed to remind her of him. Meaningless things, like the rain, and Central Park. He had always loved to run in Central Park. She figured it was a place where he could just forget about work, even if it was only for a mere twenty or so minutes.

Addison made her way through the store until she found the cake mix. Tonight was Weiss' thirty-eighth birthday, and she had volunteered to help Sav throw him a party. It had seemed like a good idea at the time to volunteer, but now Addison couldn't hide the fact that she was exhausted. Emotionally and physically. She had been putting in extra hours at the hospital, which only meant that she hadn't slept in days. Mark wouldn't stop chasing her. And on top of all that, she was divorced. She had left Derek three months ago after she had found out about his "episode" with Meredith Grey.

As she reached for the cake mix and frosting, she saw a figure out of the corner of her eye. When she turned to look, she didn't gasp or scream, which he probably expected her to. She just stood there and watched him.

"Hey, Addie," he said as he walked closer to her. He looked different. Maybe it was because there wasn't a fish in his hand, or a sad expression on his face, but he looked different. Changed, even.

"What do you want?" The words came out colder than she had intended them to.

"I came here for Weiss' party. Savvy invited me."

Addison tried to hide the look of shock on her face, but to no avail.

"You didn't know I was coming?"

"No, I didn't. But it doesn't matter now, because I wasn't going to the party anyway," she stated defiantly as she walked to the registers.

"Oh, is that so?" he replied smugly. She could hear the grin in his voice.

"I'm just going to drop this stuff at their apartment, and then I'm going home."

"I'll come with you."

Addison laughed bitterly as she paid the cashier. "Wouldn't you rather be home with Meredith? She's probably waiting for you in an exam room somewhere."

She expected him to get upset, to defend the intern, or to do something. But he merely smiled at her.

"I'm not with Meredith. I'm over her. I want you."

Addison waited until they were outside before she replied. "Now you want me? After you lied to me? After you told me you were "working on it", when all you wanted was her? After you told me you guys were "just friends", when you were just waiting to fuck her?"

She was screaming now, but she didn't care. The rain continued to fall, and a streak of lightning illuminated the hurt look on Derek's face. When he didn't reply, she rolled her eyes and continued.

"I'm over you, Derek. You hurt me, and you broke me. There's nothing to worry about though, because I'm fine. And for the first time in five years, I'm happy. I'm sorry you had to spend all those months in Seattle with me, because I know it killed you. It fucking killed you to be with me. So leave me alone." She managed to take three steps before he grabbed her wrist and turned her around. She tried to pull away, but his grip on her was too strong.

"I'm not letting you go. Not again. I know I was an ass back in Seattle, and here in New York. I let work become my first priority, when it was supposed to be you. I'm sorry. I'm sorry I had sex with Meredith. It meant nothing. I'm sorry that I'm such a jackass. And I'm sorry that I haven't treated you the way you deserve. I love you. I love you so much it hurts."

She looked down, and willed herself not to cry. She tried to convince herself that this wasn't real, that she was dreaming, or that he was putting on an act. But when she looked into his eyes, she knew he meant every word he said. And it was killing her. This wasn't supposed to happen. He wasn't supposed to come for me.

"It's too late for apologies," she managed to reply before she ran away.

---------

She didn't bother hailing a taxi to take her back to Sav's apartment. She ran instead, just because it felt so good. It felt good to hear the pounding of your heart and the sound of your feet hitting the ground. Addison was grateful she wore sneakers today, instead of her usual four-inch Louboutin heels.

When the door to the apartment opened, the party was in full swing. Music was blaring from the speakers, and the smell of cigarette smoke filled the air. Addison looked like a mess, but she didn't care. She wasn't going to stay long. She found Sav and Weiss in the kitchen.

"Happy birthday, Weiss," she greeted as she gave him a hug.

"Thanks, Addie. Thanks for helping Sav with everything. She really appreciated it."

"Oh, it was nothing," she replied with a fake smile. Addison noticed Sav looking away guiltily. "Hey, can I talk to you for a minute?"

Her friend looked up and nodded.

Once they had some privacy, Addison let loose.

"How the hell could you invite Derek here? Without telling me?"

"How do you know-"

"Because I saw him at the grocery store! The grocery store, Sav. You know I've been having a hard time dealing with everything, but still, you went behind my-"

"He wanted to see you!" she interrupted.

"Wh-what?"

"He loves you! He's been calling up every other day, asking how you are. I told him about the party, and he begged to come. He was desperate. What was I supposed to do?"

"You should have said no, Savvy. That's what friends do. And he's lying, because he doesn't love me."

"Keep telling yourself that, Addison."