After finishing the last chapter story, I told myself "Self, you are not writing another continuing fic". Self agreed, and I've written only one shots so far until this. This is originally supposed to be a little drabble in respond to Inge's (Ccke) prompt table, but then it blew out of proportion and became this long ass one shot. But then it blew up even bigger and messier, and now I end up with this continuing story. Damn those plot bunnies, heh….
So on with the story. I don't own these characters. They're Shonda's. I make no profit from this, if anything, I get stress when the chapters don't want to get written. Please don't sue me, because I'm a student and I'm broke.
The chapter is called First, because that was
the prompt I picked.
---------
Addison shifted anxiously in her seat as her plane touched down on the runway of Logan Airport. She was in Boston for Sarah Hanson's nuptial this weekend; Sarah was Derek's half sister, her father, Patrick, had married Laura Shepherd when Derek was thirteen. Sarah had asked Addison to be one of her bridesmaids, and as if it that wasn't awkward enough for Addison to partake in a Shepherd-Hanson family gathering after her divorce, she was paired with Derek, who was one of the groomsmen.
Addison's list of why she should not come to the wedding let alone be in it never made it to reason number one as Mama Shepherd called to assure her that she was still a part of the family regardless of the impending divorce, hence her required attendance. That conversation and Sarah's begging and the Shepherd sisters' threat to fly to Seattle to drag her ass to Boston themselves if she refused had sealed the deal.
However, since the divorce, her words with Derek were only exchanged in a manner of works and the subject of Sarah's wedding was never brought up between them, even after Nancy's arrival in Seattle a week after. And Addison was grateful that Mark had cancelled on attending when an intricate case requiring his expertise came a few days before the wedding.
XXXXX
Addison took a deep breath as she pulled her rental car into the parking lot of the wedding location for the rehearsal. As she walked into the lobby, she felt as scared as she had been the first time Derek had brought her to meet his family. She had no idea how they would receive her then, and she had no idea how they would receive her now.
A chant of "Aunt Addie's" rang through as she opened the big wooden door of the chapel and she had not taken two steps forward when the children tackled her three steps back. For a moment, all her worries disappeared as she hugged her nephews and nieces and grinned at their excitement to see her. At least a few people here wanted her around, she thought.
She knelt down and tried to keep up with the kids talking all at once.
"We miss you, Aunt Addie!"
"Thank you for the birthday present, I love it!"
"I got an 'A' on my Math test!"
"We got a new puppy!"
"Why didn't you come with Uncle Derek yesterday?"
The last question rendered her speechless. Samantha, who was only four, had asked the question and clearly was too young to understand that the mess that was her Uncle Derek and Aunt Addie's marriage.
"Kids, give Aunt Addie a chance to breath, will ya?"
Addison looked up to see Nancy's smiling at her and when she looked past her sister in law, the rest of the Shepherd clan—sans Derek who was nowhere to bee seen inside the chapel—were making their way to greet her. The hugs and the kisses were not what she expected, but she was thankful of the warm welcome.
"Aunt Addie, you are going to stay at the beach with us after the wedding, right?" Tommy, who was six, asked her after the adults finished their greeting.
"The beach?" She looked around confused, "No, Aunt Addie is going back Sunday morning after the wedding."
Sure enough, she was bombarded by the children's protests—complete with their perfected pouts and puppy dog eyes.
"But why? We miss you, Aunt Addie…."
"You have to come with us, pleaaaaaaseeee…."
"We want Aunt Addie!"
"I have to go back to work on Monday, kids," she replied with a sad smile.
"But Uncle Derek is coming…."
Once again, Addison was speechless. She could not, would not, agree to come to the family's vacation house in Cape Cod, Derek would throw a fit. She noticed the Shepherds exchanged looks, also not knowing exactly what to say.
"Hey kids, why don't you come with me and see what else we can help Aunt Kelly with," Robert, Jane's—the sister after Derek—husband suggested. Along with the rest of the sisters' husbands, he ushered the kids back into the chapel and closed the wooden door.
Addison fidgeted as Patrick and Laura exchanged looks with each other. Finally, Mama Shepherd spoke up, "We decided to take the kids off school for two days since we're all here and the Cape is only a couple of hours away. Why don't you come and stay with us until Tuesday?"
"Wha…," she said in surprise, "Oh no, no…I can't come."
"Why not?" Jane inquired.
"I have to wo…"
"Yea, yea, whatever…" Sarah, the bride-to-be, cut in and rolled her eyes.
"Come to the Cape with us Addie," Nancy, who was between Kathleen and Derek in the family line up, repeated the invitation.
"I don't want to intrude your vaca…"
"Addison!" Kathleen scolded, "You are family. You are not intruding."
"Look," Nancy started, "I told you just last week that we all know what you did, but we still love you. You've been in our family for nearly two decades; a divorce doesn't erase that, Addie."
"Derek wouldn't want me there," she said softly, mustering the courage to look at all of the family members. "It means a lot to me that you still think of me as one of you and that you still want me around, but Derek doesn't."
"The kids couldn't stop talking about seeing you again this weekend. They miss you, Add, they want you there…"
"We all want you there…"
Addison sighed, the sisters and the children were the same when it came to disagreeing. "I can't, I'm sorry. He is your family, more so that I am. You don't want to hurt him." She looked down at her hands, "I've done enough of that. Having me here is probably a torture enough for him, I don't need to be around anymore than I have to."
"Addie?" Laura waited until she looked up before continuing, "This is why we still consider you as our family. You still care about all of us."
She smiled at the words and tried not to let her tears flow as Mama Shepherd enveloped her in a loving hug. "Thank you," she whispered.
"There they are," Sarah pointed to the lobby's glass door as Derek made his way to the building from the parking lot with four of his nephews and nieces.
"Please don't mention to him about this," Addison pleaded.
Everyone agreed and watched as the kids ran happily towards the door when they saw Addison. They watched as Derek stopped at his track outside when he realized who was behind the glass door. They watched as he locked eyes with Addison briefly and ran a hand through his hair and looking around, deciding whether to meet them or use the side door.
"This," Addison said, turning the family's attention to her, "This is why I can't come with you."
Groans of frustration were heard from the sisters after Addison went inside the chapel.
"He is so stupid sometimes!" Nancy grumbled.
"Why do I feel like he is making the biggest mistake…" Sarah muttered.
"Because he is," the rest of the family simultaneously replied.
XXXXXXXXX
Derek leaned back against the wall in the quiet hall, trying to get a moment to himself amidst the madness that was a family gathering. A lot of thought had been on his mind ever since the divorce, Addison's revelation and Nancy's visit to Seattle in particular; not to mention this weekend filled with his family's questions and their piece of mind over his life. In the last two weeks, he had thought about Addison and their failed marriage more that he would like to admit. Before, his mind was filled with getting back with Meredith, but now he found himself letting go of that thought, and it didn't bother him.
It was here, away from the hassle bustle of the hospital, Seattle, Mark, and Meredith, that he saw Addison. Addison who would kneel down to be on eye level with his little nephew and nieces when they talked to her, Addison who would converse sweetly with his aunts and uncles even though they must had bored her, Addison who would crack jokes with his sisters and brothers in law, Addison who fit so well with his family. And Derek found himself second guessing the decisions he had made in the past year.
"Are you okay?"
He heard her voice and opened his eyes to her worried ones. She was gorgeous in her light blue bridesmaid dress, her hair in lose curls, and her make up perfectly applied.
"Yeah," he answered, "I didn't know anyone was around here."
"The bathroom is here," She said as she pointed down the hall, "You sure you're okay? You've been quiet…."
"Have a lot on my mind," he answered shortly.
She nodded, "I'll leave you alone."
Addison walked passed him, and instinctively he almost pulled her to him for a quick kiss but he stopped himself and let her pass. He leaned his head back on the wall, not understanding why lately he found himself watching Addison, having the desire to hold her, kiss her, or to at least be close to her. He missed her.
Fifteen minutes later at ten in the morning, Derek and Addison walked down the aisle together as bridesmaid and groomsman. He told her how beautiful she was as he took her hand right before they entered the chapel, and when she blushed and whispered "thank you", Derek felt his heart skipped a beat.
XXXXXXXX
The reception was held at the lush garden at the back of the building. As the family and friends mingled and exchanged congratulations, Addison was deep in an animated conversation with Frances, Jane's eight year old daughter. Frances was telling her about the new puppy they recently got when she heard Sarah asked the photographer to take pictures of her with the sisters. A year ago, Addison wouldn't hesitate to make a beeline with Kathleen, Nancy, and Jane towards Sarah because she was deemed one of the Shepherd-Hanson sisters. However, things have changed and she opted to pretend not to notice the camaraderie created as the sisters started to line up for the pictures.
"Wait, don't take the picture yet!" Addison heard Sarah instructed the photographer.
"We're missing one more!" This time it was Kathleen.
"Where is Addie?" Now it was Nancy.
"Addie!" Jane called out for her and gestured for her to come.
Frances tugged on her aunt's hand, "Aunt Addie, go!"
Before Addison could refuse, Patrick and Laura had dragged her away from her table.
"Don't be silly, Ad. Derek isn't going to be in the picture, don't worry," Laura rolled her eyes.
"Plus, not everything goes his way," Patrick whispered as he playfully pushed her towards the rest of his daughters.
"Alright we're ready!" Sarah exclaimed when Nancy and Jane grabbed Addison to stand between them.
Derek couldn't help but laugh at the sight of the women making silly poses after the regular smiling pose, and he actually felt relieved that Addison was still welcomed in his family. He was so sure he wanted nothing to do with her after he made that clear to Addison, but as the two weeks passed and the wedding neared, he worried about how she would be received after the skeleton in her closet was out. But that worry soon evaporated the minute he saw Addison by the lobby surrounded by his parents and sisters, she belonged in his family.
XXXXXXXXXX
Addison sat on the swing at the playground at the side of the building, hidden from the party, and dug her feet at the soft sand, her shoes kicked to the side. She had been dancing with Patrick, but when the music of the next song started, she excused herself from the dance floor. So here she was on the swing set, feeling her heart ached as she listened to the song she and Derek had danced their first dance as husband and wife to twelve years ago.
I finally found someone, who knocks me off my
feet
I finally found the one, who makes me feel complete
We
started over coffee, we started out as friends
It's funny how
from simple things, the best things begin
When Addison started medical school, she was determined not to let any men interfere with her study, so she had turned down every single guy who had offered to take her out—including Derek. But Derek somehow managed to sneak his way to get closer to her, offering to study for their Neuroscience class—something she had trouble understanding and knew Derek had a knack for—at a local coffee shop. They had become friends afterward, and she made it clear to Derek that she wanted nothing more that friendship at that point. Derek respected her wish—for six months.
This time it's different
It's all because of you
It's better than it's ever been
Cause we can talk it through
My favorite line was "Can I
call you sometime?"
It's all you had to say to take my
breath away
They were talking about an upcoming exam as he walked her back to her dorm after lab when she noticed him acting slightly different than usual, and when they got to her door, she saw him moving and tapping his feet on the same spot.
"What?" she asked him."
Um…nothing," he lied.
"Derek, just spill it out already."
He looked at her for a moment, "Can I call you sometime?"
She furrowed her brows, "You're my friend, of course you can…." She stopped mid sentence when he looked down, trying to hide his disappointment, and Addison understood what he had meant. "Oh…."
She thought of how cute he was when he was vulnerable like this and it only took two seconds before her no dating rule went bye-bye.
She touched his arm, "Derek, you can call me."
"Really?" His hopeful eyes met hers.
Damn, he was handsome, she thought. "Yeah, I would love that."
"Can I also take you out for dinner sometime?" He smiled and Addison felt her knees went weak. A faint "okay" was all she managed in reply.
For a minute they both just stood at her door, not knowing what else to say, stealing glances at each other and blushing when one caught the other. They were like a pair of giddy six graders going on their very first date.
"I should go," Derek reluctantly offered.
"Alright," Addison reluctantly agreed.
"I'll call you," he gave her another charming smile of his.
She bit her bottom lip, "Okay."
This is it, oh…
I finally found
someone
Someone to share my life
I finally found the one
To
be with every night
Cause whatever I do
It's just got to be
you
My life has just begun
I finally found someone
I
finally found someone
Derek looked back at the party to make sure one last time that Addison wasn't somewhere amongst the guests. He couldn't bear to stay there any longer with the song bringing a rush of memories of him and Addison. He figured she must have felt the same ache he felt when he scanned the room and didn't see her anywhere. After going inside the building to look for her proved unsuccessful, he went out the front door, around the side of building, and found her swinging absentmindedly on playground set. He studied her for a moment, taking in everything about her that he had missed, the way her forehead wrinkled as she appeared to be deep in thought and how her feet playfully kicked the sand around the swing set.
Did I keep you waiting (I didn't mind)
I
apologize (Baby, that's fine)
I would wait forever just to know
you were mine
And I love your hair (Sure it looks right?)
I
love what you wear (Isn't it too tight?)
You're exceptional
I
can't wait for the rest of my life
This is it, oh…
Derek remembered the first time he took her to meet his family. He had planned to bring her to church on Easter Sunday to meet the whole Shepherd-Hanson clan. What could be more perfect than Addison meeting his parents and sisters in a gorgeous Easter dress, he had reasoned.
Derek panted heavily as he knocked on Addison's door, "I'm so sorry I'm late." He was ready to plunge for a long explanation of why he was late but couldn't find his words when Addison appeared behind the door.
"Baby, it's okay," she assured him. "You gave me more time to get ready."
'My god, she was gorgeous' was the only thing running through his mind. "Your hair looks good," he finally said.
"Really?" she asked unsure. "What about the dress? It's appropriate for church, right?"
Addison had kept the dress as a surprise and Derek thought how cute she was when she was nervous like this.
"I love it," he grinned, "You're gorgeous." His kiss calmed her and off they went to meet his family.
He remembered spending the day observing her with his family and how proud he was to see how well she got along with them, how well she fit in his family.
"So," Addison snuggled closer as they lay on his couch later that night, "Did they like me?"
He deadpanned, "No."
She shot up in horror, "Seriously?!"
He laughed and she hit his arm as he sat up to pull her closer. "They love you," he whispered in her ears.
"Okay, did I make joke to you after my dad grilled you that night?!" she frowned.
"No, you didn't," He chuckled at the memory of the first time Addison brought him to meet her family. "I'm sorry," he mumbled before he kissed her.
I finally found someone
Someone to
share my life
I finally found the one
To be with every night
Cause whatever I do
It's just got to be you
My life has
just begun
I finally found someone
I finally found
someone
"Hey," he greeted her and sat down on the swing next to her.
"Oh hey…" she greeted back, very much surprised to see him.
"I've been thinking…a lot…these past two weeks," Derek started. "About the decisions I made, about what I did, what you did…. Mostly I thought about us."
"And this thinking just re-affirmed how much you hate me and how much you don't want me around, right?" She kept her eyes focused on her the sand beneath her, "I'm sorry I'm intruding. This is your family event and I'm here where I shouldn't be."
"Addie, no…" he stood up, "That's not what I meant to say. I wanted to say I'm sorry. I'm sorry about how I treated you, how I handled us."
She watched as his shoes moved and tapped on the same spot, his sign of nervousness.
"Addie, look at me," he stepped closer.
She reluctantly looked up, "What?"
"I'm sorry."
For the first time, she truly believed that he was indeed sorry, but she said nothing. She heard his 'sorry' once before and it yielded nothing to their marriage. But then again, Derek had been different this weekend. She believed him when he said he had a lot on his mind because he seemed rather distracted since yesterday. She caught his watching her—looking at her like she had wished for—several times during the rehearsal, the dinner after, during the ceremony and reception, and when she met his stare he would give a half smile and look away. Then as she passed him near the bathroom, she was almost sure that he almost leaned in to kiss her. At last, he had told her she looked beautiful, another first after years of indifference.
"Dance with me?" he extended his hand.
Now she was really confused, "What have gotten into you?"
"I realizing I've made the biggest mistake of my life and I figured out what I want…. And I'm wondering if I'm too late to fix it, and if I'm not…I'm trying to find ways to make it up. Please, Addie, just one dance," he pleaded. "It's our song."
She took his hand cautiously. He pulled her close to him and they danced in silence.
Cause whatever I do
It's just got to be you
My life has just begun
I finally found someone
I finally
found someone
"Addie?" he softly called her name.
"Yes?"
They held each other's gaze before they both leaned in towards each other. Addison didn't slap him as she did Mark, and the kiss had been hesitant and slow at first, but when Derek deepened it she returned the gesture.
"I want you to come to the Cape with me," he whispered. "Everybody's, well, except for Sarah and Andrew, is going tomorrow morning. We're staying there until Tuesday."
Addison didn't know if it was the kiss or his request that made her heart beat faster. She knew the gang hadn't told him of their invitation, so this one was purely Derek's initiative.
"Come with me, Addie?"
"My flight leaves tomorrow morning."
"They would want you there, I want you there. Please? There is a lot I want to tell you…"
"What's the use of talking now, Derek."
She let herself out of his arms and sat down on the swing to put her shoes back on. "We should go back," She told him before walking back to the party, fast, leaving Derek behind.
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
The next time Derek spoke to Addison was later that evening at the lobby of the hotel she and their family were staying at. Her flight was scheduled very early in the morning, so they had gathered to say goodbye.
"I asked Addie to come with us tomorrow and she refused," he blurted out just as she started to hug the children. He looked around at his family to get a sense of approval, "I don't think she gets to refuse."
Her mouth slightly agape as the kids stared expectantly at her. Kathleen, Nancy, and Jane darted their eyes between her and Derek, they were clearly amused.
"My flight leaves at five in the morning," she said firmly.
"I've booked you on my flight back," his voice not less firm than hers.
"I have work tomorrow."
"I've called Richard. We'll go back on Wednesday."
"I didn't bring enough clothes."
"I'll take you shopping tomorrow."
"What about my rental car?"
"We'll both drive our cars to the airport. You turn yours in, hop in mine, we'll shop, and we'll drive to the house."
The sisters smirked at each other and exchanged knowing looks to their husbands as they watched the bickering pair. Patrick and Laura tried to keep a straight face, and the children were already grinning from ear to ear.
"But…"
"Oh good Lord, just give it up, Addie!" Nancy cried out. "You can't win this one. We want you to go, so you're going. Deal with it!" T
he family burst into laughter.
"Fine," she groaned.
The kids shrieked with joy, hugging and jumping around their Aunt Addie.
She glared at Derek when he sported a smug look, "Don't you dare gloat!"
"I'm not gloating," He insisted and feigned an innocent look.
"Shut up!" she pouted. She hated the fact he still knew how to get ahead of her.
"Yes, Mam," he obeyed, all the while trying not to grin widely.
He put a hand on her back and ushered her toward the elevator, "I'll take you up."
"Don't forget to get down here at 8 for breakfast!" Patrick reminded them.
"Why do I feel like they're already on their way to get back together…." Jane mused as Derek and Addison left.
"Because they are," the rest of the family simultaneously replied.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
They rode up to Addison's floor in silence. She caught Derek glancing sideways at her, and when he caught her doing the same she blushed and he smiled. He kept his hand at the small of her back as they walked to her room and she let him.
"I'm glad you're coming with us," he stated as she went through her purse for her room key.
"Well, you didn't give me a choice, did you?" She put the card in its slot, "Evil…."
He chuckled, "Just enjoy the vacation, Addie. It'll be great."
She pushed the door open and turned around to face him, "Why are you doing this, Derek?"
"Trying to pick up the pieces of what I've broken."
"It's a little too late for that, don't you think?"
"Am I? I won't know unless I try, really try."
"I can't promise you anything."
"I'm not asking you for anything...not if you can't right now."
She shook her head, "Derek…"
"Look, I'll call you…tomorrow, I mean. I'll call you to wake you up. I'll pick you up ten to eight, and we'll go from there, okay?"
She couldn't help but smile at his rambling, "Okay…. Goodnight, Derek."
He kissed her forehead and lingered there for a second, "Goodnight, Addie."
Addison kept her eyes on Derek for a while as he walked back to the elevator before closing the door behind her. For the first time in a long time, the old Derek she fell in love with was back and she had a feeling he was back for good.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
So, I decided to write this story to get all these scenes out of my head so Addison and Derek can leave me alone. Alas, they think otherwise, so this will continue even know I have no idea what I'm doing. Please read and review, I'd like to know what you think. You like? You no like? Next chapter: shopping.
Here's a secret: Derek likes to shop with Addison….