Author's Notes: A slightly shorter update this time, not because I don't have a lot more written (because I do), but that's how the scenes fit. Some will be longer, some will be shorter. Enjoy and please provide feedback. As always many thanks to my beta, Mediatorsk, love you, hon!


Violet hopes it doesn't look too conspicuous the way they arrive at the practice together, Pete still wearing his clothes from last night. Wordlessly heading into opposite directions, Violet barely remembers to say hello to Dell as he hands over her patient files for the day. With Naomi already in place in her office, Violet opts to head there, seeing as the kitchen seems to be temporarily occupied by the guys. Cooper's rejection from last night may not be stinging as much anymore, but she still feels awkward facing him, and she really can't do that in front of Pete. It'd be too much of a distraction, her mind already wandering to the many delicious ways he kept her up last night…

For a fraction of a second she considers telling Naomi about what happened, but then Addison comes stomping in, announcing, "I need ten minutes with Naomi…"

She realizes she probably should grant her this wish considering everything that happened last night, but at the same time Violet resents the way she seems to have been pushed aside by Naomi ever since Addison moved here. Naomi was her friend first… okay, maybe not in the grander scale of things, seeing as Naomi knew Addison back in med-school, but in Violet's world it feels a bit like her territory is being trampled all over. "I was here first," she responds, "And the guys are occupying the kitchen, so I don't exactly have anywhere to go…"

"You have an office," Addison begins, then stops herself, "I'm sorry, that came out wrong… I just need a moment with my best friend. I have… stuff…" she finishes lamely.

"And I don't?" Violet counters, glancing towards the kitchen where the two men currently responsible of complicating her life are staring back. Cooper averts his eyes the minute he sees her watching. Pete holds her gaze for a few seconds… and her mind wanders right back to memories of last night… Her inner beast has finally come out of hibernation and all she can think about is getting another fill…

Seeing her flush, Addison asks concerned, "Is everything alright?"

Having watched the whole display, Naomi decides to put the record straight, pointing to Violet, "She slept with Cooper," pointing to Addison, "She slept with Pete."

Both women instantly turn their heads, "She didn't sleep with Cooper/Pete," they say in unison, then turn to each other, "How did you know that?"

Seriously? Addison knows what didn't happen between Cooper and her? "There are no secrets around here," Violet grumbles, sinking into an available chair.

"I know," Addison exclaims.

"Oh, there are secrets," Naomi disagrees, "I mean, I didn't know. Wow, neither one of you," she looks between Addison and Violet as she takes a seat as well, "Really? I didn't know. That's all I'm saying…"

"Pete literally stood me up," Addison exclaims, "I don't get stood up. I'm Addison, which… means something… in places where things mean… things…" she deflates into a nearby chair, "It was humiliating…"

"At least you weren't naked," Violet points out, willing the tinge of guilt she feels about Pete to the back of her mind. She shouldn't feel guilty. While maybe as far as the practice is concerned Addison might have some kind of claim on Pete, he made it pretty clear last night that he isn't interested in being claimed. And besides, they are adults, making an adult decision about doing adult things… together… She realizes her mind is trailing off yet again as she sees both women looking at her with raised brows, expecting her to follow up, "Cooper waited until I was completely naked before he decided he didn't want me…"

Naomi visibly winces.

"Okay," Addison concedes, "That is worse… But still, why when I finally get onboard on doing things his way… sort of… does he go and do this? I don't get it!"

Violet feels compelled to say something, but realizes at the same time with everything that's happened that she might be a bit too close to the situation. Not only did Pete say what he did in confidence, but it's not going to reflect on her well should this thing with her and Pete get into the open, which experience tells her it will… at some point… Secrets never last long in this place.

Addison looks in the direction of the kitchen, "They're still there. Great, how am I supposed to get my coffee? I need my coffee…"

"Can we skip the morning meeting," Violet asks. She'd rather put off seeing Cooper as long as possible, and she's not sure how she'll handle being in Pete's presence with her recently awakened libido.

"There is no morning meeting," Naomi informs them both.

"Thank you," Violet sighs in relief.

"…because Charlotte King is coming by to walk us, all of us," Naomi stresses, "through the Safe Surrender Program."

Crap, so much for avoiding the men in her life…

"That's today..?" Addison asks with a similar oh crap expression on her face, "…I signed up with Pete…"


"Hey," Pete announces his presence in her doorway, "You're still here…"

"I had some files to catch up on," Violet shrugs. To be honest she's putting off going home just in case Cooper wants to talk, which he generally does if a date goes poorly or he needs someone to bail him out of a sticky situation. If he calls her cell, and he's really in trouble, fine, she will take care of it, but for anything else she wants to have every excuse available to her.

"Want some company?" he asks, the wriggle of his brows tells her he's not just talking about the ordinary kind… the family friendly kind.

"What about Safe Surrender?" Violet asks, "I thought you and Addison were on baby saving duty tonight…"

"Well Addison has gone on a date with that patient of yours…" Oh crap, Trunk. "…and I'm certainly not going to tag along to that. I have the cell here if anyone calls and as long as it's loud enough for me to hear, well… You interested?"

Violet cocks her brows, "I really hope you don't plan on using me as a replacement whenever Addison has a thing."

Pete sighs and sits down next to her, "I thought we came to some kind of an understanding about that last night…"

"Well, we did, but…" Violet sighs, "Listen, I'm all for sex without attachment, but if you're going to keep moping over Addison, then frankly I'd rather keep out of it… It complicates matters, and…" she shrugs, "I don't want complicated…"

"I don't either," Pete agrees.

"Okay," Violet nods, "So we agree, no moping, no substituting… This is just about you and me, and feeling good…"

"Feeling great," Pete corrects, luring a smile out of her, "So, how about it?"

"We're in the office," Violet reminds him.

"The blinds close," Pete points out…