S A/N: Here's the second chapter although I didn't really get the response that I wanted, I'm still writing it anyways. Big thanks to Kerstin, my beta reader. She helped me a lot with this chapter and all the rambling Thanks hun
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters.
After a quick stop at the hotel to drop their things and a change of clothes, the mother and daughter proceeded to Seattle Grace Hospital.
Addison looked at her watch. It said a quarter past 3 pm. Addison took Christie's hand encouragingly, taking a deep breath and made her way inside the hospital lobby.
As soon as she set foot on the lobby's marbled floor, a rush of nostalgia hit her hard. Memories which she forcefully buried came flooding back in. She couldn't bring herself to take another step as if something was holding on to her feet. Her eyes hovered around the place, it looked the same, a few upgrades here and there but the feel of the place was the nonetheless, the same.
"Mommy?" The little girl's soft voice brought Addison back to reality. "Are we going to see daddy here?" she inquired.
Before even Addison could respond she heard someone call out her name.
"Dr. Mont...Montgomery?" the tall blonde doctor asked in a rather loud and high-pitched voice.
"Stevens?"
The younger doctor eyes widened, hurriedly walking towards the red-head and giving her a tight hug. This doctor whom everybody hated back then, whom everybody called Satan's mistress and the adulterous bitch was in fact her inspiration for specializing in Neonatal and OB-GYN. They never really saw the depth of her, only believing on what they wanted to believe. "I knew it was you."
"I'm glad to see you, Izzie. As I can see too you've followed my advice to specialize in my own field." She commented after seeing the name tag on Izzie's scrub top. Despite the fact that she wasn't looking forward to return to Seattle, she was actually excited to see the people who had been nothing but good to her.
"Yes I did." The younger doctor blushed and smiled. "So what brought you back to Seattle?"
Addison shrugged her shoulders. "I just needed to talk to the Chief," she answered casually.
"And hey, you brought someone with you." Izzie scooted down to the little girl's level who was trying to hide her face behind her mother's legs and still holding tight to her rug doll. "Hi I'm Izzie, I was your mommy's student before." She introduced herself and held out her hand." The little girl didn't reply but Izzie wasn't about to give up. "I think your doll's really pretty."
The little girl's eyes lit up with the mention of her doll. "You think so?" Christie asked shyly.
"I think so." Izzie beamed widely.
"Well, her name is Rosie and my name is Christie. See, her hair is also red like mine and mommy's, though mine is curly and she's all clean now because mommy put her in the washer, although I didn't want to, but mommy said that the pilot wouldn't allow her to ride the airplane if she's dirty, so I said yes." The little girl rambled on.
"I think your mommy was right with that one." Izzie replied and stood back up to face Addison. "You have an adorable daughter."
"Yeah. Thank you." She smiled softly.
"You wanted to talk to the Chief? He retired just a year ago to spend more time with his wife. Derek replaced him." Izzie's pager went off before Addison could even utter her reply. "Well, I got to go now. It's 911. Bye Christie." She waved and hurriedly went to the direction of the emergency room.
Upon hearing Derek's name, Addison just wanted to bolt out and go back to California; but she knew she couldn't, for Christie's sake. Addison closed her eyes trying to think of the best way on how to drop the bomb. Addison let out a heavy sigh and began walking again.
Five years ago she swore to herself she would not come back to Seattle and she would never walk down these corridors ever again. The walk to Derek's office was a path of memories, good and bad. Memories - millions of seconds and moments that were forever imprinted in her mind and soul. Those images of past times helped her carry on, even after the diagnosis or especially then. Addison walked slowly but determined down the corridors of Seattle Grace Teaching Hospital and towards Derek's office with one thought in mind.
Addison wanted to make more memories. Millions and millions more with her daughter, the sweetest and smartest and most beautiful girl in the world. The one girl who took away her breath and her heart without the intention of doing it at all.
Addison was determined to walk down the hall and face Derek. She was strong enough to tell him the truth and to walk away, from him and her daughter, to fight her fate.
Addison had faith. She believed in Derek and his ability to stand up and walk with her and she had even more faith in Christie who was going to come out of this changed, but stronger.
It's going be
okay, you've practiced what you're going to say to him.
Everything will turn out fine." Addison thought to herself in
an attempt to calm herself down. She knocked on the door, but there
was no answer. She knocked again, and then she heard somebody
standing up from behind the door. "Here we go."
"Hi Derek!" She greeted as soon as the door opened.
"Addison?" Derek squinted his eyes still not believing that it was in fact his ex-wife in front of him. "Is it really you?"
"Yes, all flesh and blood"
He chuckled at her statement. "Come in." He opened the door for her, at first not noticing the little girl with her.
Addison made her way inside his office and sat down on a chair, placing Christie on her lap. She stared at Derek, he looked the same and different at the same time. He had more gray hairs visible now, not that it made him look ugly, in fact, it even made him look so much more attractive. It somehow symbolized, that he too, has gone through a lot. Finally he has reached his dream of becoming The Chief. She knew that it had always been a goal of his and that was why he was working very hard, he deserved it and she is very proud of him.
Derek took a seat himself. "Wow, it's been a long time since I saw you. And you brought with you an angel" he stated with a smile.
It had been five years since he had last seen his ex-wife. It felt just like yesterday. She was just as beautiful as he remembered. Her curls fell down past her shoulders. The bright red she had been wearing as a mirror to her soul and temper had been replaced somewhere along the way, and Addison was now sporting a darker red instead. It fit her. She seemed calmer, happier and finally at peace with herself. Derek suspected the reason for this change was the little Miss Montgomery in her lap. A girl with bright blue eyes and red curly hair. She appeared to be 3 years old. Addison must have gotten pregnant soon after she left Seattle and him behind to start over in southern California. For just one solitary moment he wondered about the possibilities, the what ifs that tended to wear a soul out and burn wholes into a lover's heart. If he had tried harder, if he had been able to let go of all the resentment and the past, this girl in front of him could have been his. Derek could have been the one who she kissed good night and to read her bedtime stories. He could have made her pancakes for breakfast, buy her ice cream for lunch and snuggle with her after dinner. Addison's girl could have been his daughter and for this one moment he allowed himself to drown in the ocean of regrets. He couldn't do anything about it though, he made a big mistake, and his paying for the consequences until now.
"Yeah, she's my daughter." She agreed.
"So what's your name? I'm Derek Shepherd." He smiled, directing the question to the little girl who was playing with her doll's hair.
Christie looked up to her mother when she heard the name 'Shepherd'. "Mommy, why do we have the same…?"
"Well, I have to talk to you about something." Addison cut her off before even she could continue but the little girl would not give in. She has to know. Stubborn but inquisitive, just like her father.
"We have the same last name." Christie blurted out as if it was just like a casual thing, not a dramatic version of a hidden daughter being introduced to her father. "Coz everybody calls me Christie but my real name is Christie Elizabeth Montgomery-Shepherd."
Well, 2nd Chapter is up, I'll try to update soon. Tell me what you think about it.