A/N: So I have no idea where I got the inspiration for this story, but this is a little something I'm attempting because I basically have no life during the summer. It's a little more than slightly AU because I couldn't think of another reason for Addison to be giddy. The song for this chapter is "Gravity" by John Mayer, and I might use other songs with the word "gravity" in them later, depending on how long I can stretch it out. Since this is something new for me, I'd love some feedback, and reviews make me extremely happy. Oh, and the italics are flashbacks, just so you know.

Disclaimer: Yeah, the only things that belong to me are the computer I'm typing this on and my original character. Don't rub it in.


Gravity is working against me And gravity wants to bring me down

"It's just a beautiful day, isn't it?" Dr. Addison Montgomery gushed. She leaned against the wall of one of Seattle Grace's elevators and sighed. "Sunny, not a hint of rain in the air." She grinned. "I love Seattle."

Her ex-husband, Dr. Derek Shepherd, glared at her. "All right, who are you and what have you done with my ex-wife?"

"You know, not even you can ruin my day today, Derek. I'm bright and shiny, because for the first time, everything is going my way."

Derek raised an eyebrow at her. "I think in the fifteen years I've known you, you've never said something like that."

"I mean, seriously, I'm flying high."

He chuckled. "You're high on something."

"I'm defying gravity."

"Defying reality."

"I seriously love Seattle."

"Since when?"

Addison grinned at him. "Since we're being civil and Mark went back to New York."

"Really?"

Addison nodded enthusiastically. "Left this morning. Said he couldn't stand Seattle rain. Said, and I quote, 'Screw Seattle.'"

Derek smiled. "That is a reason to be bright and shiny. So what are you going to with the surgeries you've got planned?"

"Surgeries? You mean the C-section and hysterectomy?" Addison pushed a strand of red hair out of her face. "Piece of cake for a neonatal surgeon of my caliber."

"Uh-huh. We'll have to see about that," Derek replied as the elevator doors slid open.

"Seriously, Derek, you check back with me at lunch and I'll tell you that I'm still incredibly, irreversibly happy."

"I'll do that," he said, smiling as he turned left to go to his office. "Hey, if you see Meredith, tell her I need to see her."

Addison turned around. "See, normally, a comment like that would bother me, but not today!"

"Yeah, okay, just pass on the message."

"Whatever you say, Dr. Shepherd!" Addison grinned as she turned around and headed toward her office. She tossed her bag to the floor and put her coat on the hook that graced the wall of her office, replacing the coat with her white lab coat. For once she was proud to wearing the Seattle Grace logo, because now the man that had made her last year and half a living hell was gone. She smiled to herself at that thought as she grabbed some charts off her desk.

She exited her office and nearly bumped into Dr. Miranda Bailey, who was taking her group of "suck-ups" on their rounds. "Good morning, Dr. Bailey," she greeted the feisty resident cheerfully.

Dr. Bailey scowled at her. "It isn't quite a good morning yet, Dr. Montgomery."

Addison turned to walk with Bailey and her interns, who were snickering behind her back. "Oh, did someone have a rough morning?"

"Someone had a rough night," Alex Karev whispered to Izzie Stevens. Izzie fell into a fit of giggles.

Addison turned to look at him. "You're lucky it's a good day, Karev," she said, giving him a withering look. "You're still in my service." That earned a groan from the intern.

Addison glanced at Meredith Grey. "Oh, Grey, Shepherd said he wanted to see you in his office."

Meredith looked at Bailey for permission, trying unsuccessfully to mask the eagerness in her eyes.

Bailey rolled her eyes. "Go, and tell Shepherd we need him for a consult in 1312."

Addison raised her eyebrows. "Consult?"

"Yeah, we haven't done a CAT scan yet, but it's not looking good." Bailey grabbed some charts as they walked by another nurses' station. "If you're interested, you're welcome to stop by."

Addison glanced at her watch. "Yeah, I've gotta be in surgery in a couple of hours, but if you're heading there now, I can certainly take a look." She looked back at Karev and Stevens. "Karev, Stevens, prep Mrs. Higgins in 1236 for her hysterectomy." Alex rolled his eyes as Izzie grabbed his sleeve and pulled him toward the elevators.

"Dr. Bailey," Cristina Yang piped up from behind Addison. "Burke's doing a double-bypass on a patient with pectus excavatum. Can I…?"

"If you don't, you'll give me hell for the rest of the week, so go!" Bailey snapped.

Addison suppressed a smile as Yang ran off. "Now, Miranda, is it really necessary to yell at her like that?"

Bailey looked at her sharply. "You're not that far removed from your residency! And what's got you in such a damn good mood this morning?"

"Well, it just might have something to do with the fact that Mark has finally gone back to New York," Addison replied with a grin.

"Seriously?" George O'Malley spoke up from behind them, his voice cracking slightly in surprise. "Dr. Sloan went back to New York?"

"Yep," Addison replied. "Making my life so much better. No more transcontinental booty calls." She turned to glare at George. "That doesn't get repeated."

"No ma'am," he replied sheepishly.

They soon rounded the corner to take them to Room 1312. As expected, Derek and Meredith weren't there yet, so the three doctors opened the door to the room. "O'Malley, give the report," Bailey said, going to the opposite side of the bed.

"Christopher Hatcher, age nineteen, complaining of severe headaches, nausea, and dizziness. Checked himself in when the headaches got too bad."

Bailey glanced over at Addison, who had stayed in the doorway. The attending surgeon had a look of shock and utter disbelief frozen on her face. Bailey looked back at pale young man in the hospital bed. His blue eyes never left Addison's face. "Dr. Montgomery?" she asked.

Addison wasn't listening. Her mind had traveled to twenty-one years before.

"C'mon, Addie, it's just a frat party," Elizabeth Nelson said as she curled one last piece of brown hair.

"Nuh-uh," eighteen-year-old Addison Montgomery shook her head at her roommate. "College is for studying, not partying."

"Please, Addie." Liz looked at her with her big blue eyes and a pout on her face. "Just one party. You can get caught up on studying tomorrow morning."

"Look, we've only been here two weeks. I don't wanna get behind."

Liz put down the curling iron and moved to stand behind her roommate, looking at their reflection in the mirror. "You won't get behind. Besides, I bet I can make that hair look absolutely gorgeous." She ran her fingers through Addison's flaming hair.

"I bet you can't," she replied, grinning at Liz.

"If I do, will you go with me?"

Addison sighed resignedly. "Fine. I'll go."

Liz clapped her hands in delight. "I'll make you look so beautiful, Addison. You never know who we might meet."

"Maybe the loves of our lives," she replied, looking up at Liz with a twinkle in her eye.

"Maybe." Liz smiled. "Keep still."

"Dr. Montgomery?" Bailey's voice broke into her thoughts, shaking her out of her reverie.

She moved into the room, still completely shocked.

The boy in the bed with Liz's eyes grinned at her. "It's been a long time, Addie."

Oh, gravity is working against me And gravity wants to bring me down.


So should I continue? What did ya'll think? Reviews make me happy!