A/N: Since I no longer watch Grey's (we can thank Gizzie and the absence of my two favorite characters, Addison and Burke, for that), I had lost interest in this fic. But I've returned and it's a different sort of compelling now. It makes me think of the good years.

Chapter Four: The Truth

One night, in bed, Richard turned off Cheers. "Adele," he asked, "Do you ever regret…anything?"

Adele pursed her lips, picking her words very, very carefully. "Of course. Everyone does. But not the important decisions." She paused. "Do you?"

He looked at her. His eyes searched hers, and then her entire body, returning to her eyes. "Not the important ones," he answered. With that, he wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. "I love you," he whispered.

Just as suddenly as it had begun, the affair had ended. And Adele knew.

It was time for Richard's fellowship. His residency at Seattle Grace was about to end and Adele, for one, was excited. She was hoping he'd take a job back in Chicago. Not that she didn't like Seattle. But it just wasn't home.

Richard didn't talk about where Ellis was going and Adele didn't dare ask. Richard had chosen her, but he obviously was very much in pain for however his affair ended. Richard had never been much of a drinker; he never even kicked back with a beer with the frequency that the average adult male would. But as the fellowship drew near and the five-year affair died, Richard began to come home later in the night, smelling of alcohol.

Adele said nothing. He was stressed. And, really, what could she do?

When Richard told her that he was going to take the fellowship in New York, Adele was disappointed, but also excited. She had never been to New York. It seemed so cosmopolitan, so international.

When they got to the airport, Richard decided to go to get a drink before waiting at the gate. Adele decided to get herself a sandwich. As she neared the generic airport bistro, she saw him.

"Thatcher. Thatcher Nicholas Grey!" she shouted happily. "I have not seen you in ages!"

He turned. "Adele! How are you?" he grinned as they hugged in greeting.

"I'm doing great. Going to New York. Richard's fellowship." She paused. "Is that why you're here? You and Ellis—"

"No." The answer was firm. "Ellis and I got divorced."

Adele was shocked. Surely Richard would have told her. "Thatcher. I'm so sorry."

He chuckled weakly. "Don't be. I left her."

Adele was still waiting for all of this to sink in. "What about Meredith?"

"Ellis has her. They just moved to Boston for Ellis's fellowship. I—I wanted joint custody, but Ellis refused. Said I wasn't a fit father. Since I wasn't working at the time." He breathed deeply. "But I am now. After five years of being a stay-at-home dad, I'm back at my old firm."

"You and your accounting," Adele teased. "You're too good with numbers."

"I try."

Adele tried to lay her next question delicately. "So, what about Meredith now? Are you going to fight for custody?"

Thatcher's expression broke. "I want to. I want to. I miss her every day. But Ellis—"

"Screw Ellis! She's more your daughter than Ellis's any day. She cheated on you."

"It's not that easy. I'm…engaged."

"What?!"

"She's a woman I met at work. She's lovely. So caring. And Ellis…she already didn't get Richard…"

Adele's eyes flashed. "What?"

Thatcher seemed to be trying to say his response as emotionlessly as possible. "She…asked him to leave you for her. She started telling me how the two of them were going to be together and I just left. Before she had the chance to dare to kick me out.

"She didn't want Meredith. All she wanted was Richard. And then he picked you and I got engaged and she's alone except for Mer. I can't take her away from Ellis as well. She'll have nothing."

"She deserves nothing," Adele spat out, scathingly.

Thatcher shook his head slowly. "I still love her, you know?" he muttered. "It's just…I can't forgive her. I can't deal with her mood swings and judgments anymore. I can't be with a woman who doesn't love me." He gave Adele a sad smile. "I don't even get to see her or hear from her. Our lawyers are the only ones talking."

Adele touched his arm softly before enveloping him in a hug. "Oh, Thatcher. She isn't worth half of you."

She could feel Thatcher's chest rise as he took a deep, composing breath. "I wish I believed that."

As they parted, Adele had a sense that the Greys were not altogether gone from her life. But the feeling came and passed and Adele moved on.

Next Chapter: Richard's interns (Derek and Addison Fun!), alcoholism, and more!