"It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not." ― André Gide, Autumn Leaves
APOV
I had just pulled up to the hospital for a morning start, as I turned off my radio I noticed Savvy's number flashing on my phone.
"Hello" I answered swiftly.
"Hi mummy" came the chipper voice of my daughter.
"Hey baby, are you having fun at your aunt and uncles?"
"Yes mummy, uncle Weiss made chocolate chip pancakes for me and aunt Savvy"
"Oh that sounds yummy! Mummy wished she could have some"
"We can make more for you mummy"
"That sounds like a great idea baby, mummy will have to eat them when she gets back"
"I miss you mummy, will you be back from Sweattle soon?" Addison smiled at her daughter's cute mispronunciation of 'Seattle'.
"Yeah baby mummy will be back really soon. I love you sweetie"
"Love you to the moon mummy. Aunt Savvy wants to say hello" I heard the phone being passed over.
"Hey Adds" came Savvy's voice.
"Hey Sav, how's my baby behaving?" I ask, knowing she always was on her best behavior with Sav and Weiss, they both worshiped the ground she walked on.
"She's being an angel like always, you know I may have to keep her forever"
"Hey she's one of a kind, you can borrow but not keep," I joked hearing Savvy laugh on the other end of the line.
"Yeah you really broke the mold with that one… you know she's really excited for her visit with Mark….."
I knew there was a question in Savs statement; she always uses a certain tone of voice when she subtly/not so subtly wants information.
"Don't give me that tone Sav" I say calling her out.
"What are you doing there Addy? I mean Grace loves Mark she calls him dad!"
"I know, but after everything that happened with him.. It's so complicated! And I just can't be with him…and now I have to deal with Derek and his intern in Seattle its…"
"WAIT! Derek's in Seattle?" Sav gasped out shocked.
"Yes unfortunately, he's been out here the whole time shacked up with some intern"
"Oh Addy I'm sorry" Sav said sympathy lacing every word
"It's fine Sav, I'll deal with Derek.. I'm going to ask for a divorce"
"Are you sure.. I mean you and Derek have a long history, plus a daughter there are other options"
"Me and Derek are different people now, he's not the same man I married, and I'm certainly not innocent in all of this. I think there's just too much that has happened for us to go back to who we were" I said truthfully, this seemed like the only option Derek clearly had moved on. I could do the same maybe this time without the guilt.
"Ok Adds, just keep me updated" Savvy said supportively.
" I knew I was your source of drama! Is this why you've kept me around all these years?" I said sarcastically, I mean why not smile during stressful times.
"Oh no you have figured it out! I'm actually going to write a novel, rollercoaster life of Addison Montgomery" Sav laughed
"This is why we're friends" I say with a smile "I have to go into the hospital, I'll call before Grace goes to sleep tonight"
"Sure, see ya Addy"
"Bye Sav, give Grace a kiss and hug from me"
"I will" Sav adds before hanging up.
DPOV
Hospital in front of surgery board
"So… I hear congratulations are in order" Derek says passively aggressive to Burke
"Don't sweat it Shepherd. I'll only be your boss for a few days." Came Preston's calm response
"I'm well aware of Richard's recovery time! I'm the one who operated on him, remember?"
"I do. You operated. He survived and chose me to take over while recruiting your wife." Burk said with a smirk loving the irony of the situation.
"Clearly, he has brain damage"
"Or is it your ex-wife? I'm a little fuzzy on that" Burk mocked a confused look.
"We're separated" Derek's irritation was beginning to show.
Addison walks over interrupting the boys testosterone match "Sorry to interrupt, Dr. Burke"
Burke turns and smiles at Addison "You're never interrupting"
"She's always interrupting." Derek said pettily, why was Addison still here he thought to himself.
Addison ignored his comment "I was just checking to see if Dr. Burke secured the intern…"
Addison was cut off by Meredith as she walked up to the group "The intern you requested? He did"
Derek looked at Addison with an annoyed look, then Burke. He can't help but notice the smug smile on Burke face, before Burke leaves the group in an awkward silence. Derek can't do anything but walk away. Meredith wants nothing to do with him, and he wants nothing to do with Addison, if he can even call her that she's more like the devil, coming along just as he rebuilds his life.
MPOV
Weiss and Savannah'sapartment
"Hey Weiss" Mark greeted his long time friend from the doorway.
"Hey man, Sav's just getting Grace ready" Weiss says moving aside to let Mark into the apartment. "She's super excited practically been bouncing all morning" he adds as they walk to the kitchen bench sitting on the bar stools.
"I bet! Has she been behaving?" Mark asks
"She always does, I just hope we don't set the bench mark to high for our own kids, surely they can't all be as well behaved as Grace?"
"Yeah I don't know? I think they broke the mould with Gracie, I'm sure as long your kids inherit from Sav they should be fine" Mark jokes
"Ha you know Sav says the same thing. Hey if ours inherit from Savvy they'll be miniature shopaholics, I'll be broke!" Weiss says with a laugh. Before Mark could respond Grace came running into the kitchen.
"DADDDDYYYYYY" she said excitedly as she jumped up for a hug.
"Hey Princess" Mark lifted Grace up "Have you been having fun with your aunt and uncle?"
"Yes I've had the bestest time, Aunt Savvy broughted me a new dollhouse" Grace rushed out the sentence, obviously excited over the new present she had received.
Savannah came into the room carrying Graces backpack. "Hey Mark" she greeted with a smile.
"Hey Sav, Grace tells me you brought a dollhouse?"
"I may have, you know she's my only goddaughter, that is permission for me to spoil her" Sav says putting Graces bag on the counter.
"Daddy can we please go to the zoo now?" Grace asked quietly
"Of course we can, give Aunt Savvy a kiss" Mark said standing up while carrying Grace, grabbing the bag with his spare arm. Grace leant towards Savannah giving her a quick kiss.
"Bye Sweetie you have fun" Sav said to Grace.
"I will. Bye Uncle Weiss" Grace said waving at her uncle who was on the other side of the island bench.
"I'll see you guys later today" Mark said. Weiss walked over to the help Mark get the door.
"Oh and Mark when you get back, we can have a beer, while I gloat about how my team kicked ass in the football game today"
"Man when are you going to learn that the giants are the best team, you can't live in New York and not support them" Mark pointed out to Weiss.
"Hey my support motto is 'where you grow not where you go', anyway you two have fun, Grace make sure you try and steal me a penguin"
"You can't steal penguins, you're not allowed to" Grace said seriously with a frown on her face, not picking up on the joke. This caused giggles from the adults in the apartment.