a/n: This just came to me, as most of my stories do, while I was listening to music. This one is inspired by "7 Years" by Norah Jones. Enjoy.

disclaimer: I, in no way, am making any sort of money off of this. If I were... Well, that'd be nice.

It happens outside the hospital. For the first time, Alex looks at his boss—his teacher. Really, truly looks at her. For the first time, he doesn't just see the tyrannical overseer, or the incredibly hot woman. In fact, he looks straight past the broken remains of a shell, left once Derek and Mark had finished scavenging for anything she had left to give them. Looks past all the baggage, past every heartbreak. He finally sees Addison.

He hadn't meant to. Really, he would have preferred it if he hadn't ever seen this new side of her. Because he's already finding himself steadily more and more drawn in by the woman, and knowing this other, more real, side is not helping him escape the pull. But he did, and now he's never getting out.

The only trigger is a smile. He's passing through the lobby when he sees her sitting alone on a bench outside the hospital, lost in thought. He doesn't mean to stop and watch her, but he can't help it. He thinks about approaching her, asking her what she's doing sitting outside, but decides against it.

It's overcast outside, but not too cold. She sits with only her lab coat on, nothing for warmth. And then all of a sudden, the clouds decide to burst. He expects her to come running and screaming for the safety and warmth of the hospital. Instead, she tips her face up to meet the falling drops, a slight smile playing on her lips.

And that's when he sees her. The real, true Addison. The seven year old girl playing in the park, the fourteen year old with her first boyfriend, the twenty six year old getting married. The hopeful Addison, the one who has yet to acquire all her baggage. The resilient Addison, the one who has made it through her life, carrying all that baggage. The peaceful Addison, the one who has the patience to deal with facing that baggage every single day. Just Addison.

The lonely Addison, the heartbroken Addison, the tired Addison—he sees those too. But they fade into the background. Those are only temporary and this new Addison—this one's much more permanent.

She sits in the rain for a minute, allowing it to soak her, all the while smiling that curious little smile. And he stands still to watch her, wondering if she'll ever come in. And then he realizes just how much stronger than anyone else in this hospital she is. She's the only one in the hospital to come in daily, face her mistakes, and let them smack her around. She's the only one to have been battered and bruised by her coworkers, called a slut behind her back and even to her face. And she's the only one who hasn't left, who hasn't reacted to any of the rumors or names flying behind her back. She's the only one above that.

Finally, she gets up and walks into the hospital. He tries to move away, but he's not quick enough and she spots him. Still wearing her smile, she comments, "It's raining."

"Yeah," he replies. "It is."

"Sometimes, I love the rain," she informs him.

"Yeah," he nods.

Her pager beeps, and she checks it. "It's the Geoffrey baby. You coming?" He doesn't have to be asked twice. As they step onto the elevator, he sneaks a look at her. And that's when he knows that he's seen something special. And he knows that now that he's seen her, he'd follow her anywhere.

She catches him looking. "What?" she laughs.

"N-nothing," he stutters. "You just look like you're enjoying the rain."

"You know what?" she asks with a smile. "I am."

So I hope you enjoyed it!

-Juli-