I still own nothing. Although, I did eventually invest in Private Practice on DVD the other day. My plan is to spend all day on Thursday watching it, before Season Two airs on Living.

But the characters, Mark, Addison, Derek and Meredith, still belong to our beloved Shonda. Who did ruin Mark and Addison, which I'm still kind of hung up on. As you can tell.

Read. Review. Thank you kindly.

Thanksgiving came and went, Mark hated it just as much as he did every year, but this time, seeing Addison's face as Derek placed the turkey on their makeshift dining table, was enough to make him enjoy it just that little bit more. Addison would cast small glances in his direction, a smile on her face each time she looked at him, and thankfully she'd spent enough time with Derek and Meredith to get to know them and like them. Minus hearing them have ridiculously loud sex a few days before. They'd laughed about it, made a few jokes and gone on to talking about something else. After dinner, they'd settled down to watch a movie, one that both Meredith and Addison had decided on and Mark and Derek had no choice in. But just having Addison curled up beside him was enough for Mark, whether he enjoyed the movie or not.

He'd walked her home that night, despite offering his bed while he slept on the sofa, she had refused to let him do it. Mentioned something about having to study, but the thought was nice. Though, it was probably the fact that she didn't want to endure a night of listening to Derek and Meredith in the bedroom, because the five minutes had been long enough when they'd been putting the groceries away. There wasn't a chance that Mark was going to ruin things with Addison by hoping for something that she didn't want. So, they were friends, nothing more. Despite Meredith continually telling him that she knew how women's minds worked and that Addison just didn't want to get hurt. So, maybe waiting was a good idea. She'd be worth the wait though, Addison would always be worth the wait.

December 18th 1990

Almost three weeks had passed since Thanksgiving and Meredith and Addison had developed a friendship, and the amount of times that Mark and Derek had walked in on the two of them giggling about something over a tub of ice cream was shocking. Mark had tried his best to get out of Meredith what Addison wanted for Christmas, but she'd refused to say a word, and said that it wasn't her place to interfere. Of course, Mark wouldn't usually mind, but he had exactly a week until Christmas Day. One week, and Mark hated shopping at the best of times, but he wanted to get Addison something, anything. It didn't matter that they were only friends, she meant a lot to him.

"Give me a clue." He whined like a five year old as Meredith studied a cookery book. She was far from being good in the kitchen and why Derek had decided that it was a good idea to buy her the book, Mark would never know.

"Mark, just ask her yourself."

"I can't just go up to her and ask her what she wants for Christmas, there's no fun in that." He complained, peering over her shoulder to see what she was doing, only to receive her elbow in his stomach. "What was that for?"

"Whining like a five year old, pestering me about Addison, making sure I'm doing this right." Meredith glared at Mark for a few seconds before returning to the book, muttering the instructions to herself.

"I just want to make sure it's special for her, you know?" Mark muttered feeling slightly defeated at Meredith's little outburst as he leant against the counter, crossing his arms over her chest. "I'm sure she has plans with her family or something over Christmas, but I want to get her a gift."

"I assume you're spending Christmas at Derek's again?" Meredith pondered as she poured something into the bowl in front of her.

"When have I not spent it at Derek's in the time I've know him?" It was rhetorical, but no doubt because it was Meredith who he was talking to, there'd be some sort of response.

"You have a family." Meredith pointed out, looking up at Mark. Rolling her eyes when he scoffed at her comment.

"So do you." He retaliated, causing her to glare at him once again and look back down at the bowl and the cookery book. "Who, I'm sure would be delighted to see their daughter over Christmas, because when was the last time they saw you Meredith? Because I'm almost certain you spent the whole summer either crashing at mine or Derek's."

"You live at Derek's!" Meredith said as she looked up at Mark. "Well, practically."

"I live here now, Derek does too. So, yes, you're right. We live together."

"Can we just quit this whole happy family conversation before it's gets started. I know that Derek's got this amazing family, as I'm sure Addison does. We're just gonna get sucked into it, all right? This happy time of year, spread joy to the world and that crap."

"You hate holidays." Mark said blankly.

"I hate all holidays but Halloween and Thanksgiving."

"You get candy at Halloween, that's the only reason."

"And the stupidly scary movies." Meredith said with a grin on her face, pointing to something out of her reach, in a way that Mark would hopefully guess she wanted it.

"You're meant to be doing this, not me. I just want information." Mark muttered as he placed whatever it was she had been pointing at down on the counter in front of her. He had no idea what it was, he saw her point, he turned around, picked it up and passed it to her.

"Which you're not going to get." Meredith reminded him, a sly smile on her face.

"I don't know how Derek does it, I really don't."

"I don't know why Addison's doing it." She retaliated, smirking slightly.

"Addison's doing nothing, we're friends. That's it."

"Only you like her a lot more than a friend."

"I've always liked her a lot more than a friend, I'm just waiting and hoping that I'm more than a friend to her." Mark said quietly, looking at what Meredith was doing once again, not paying attention to Meredith looking at him.

"Just be patient Mark, this isn't easy for her either."

"I'm being patient. Meredith, this is me, I don't wait around for anyone. It's December, we've been here since September, in that time, I haven't slept with a single woman. I haven't even kissed a single woman, other than the odd one I've placed on the top of Addison's head, or on her cheek. Not because I can't, but because I don't want to. Because I'd wait a year, I'm pretty sure I'd wait ten years if she wanted me to."

"You've got it bad, Mark Sloan."

"Don't I fucking know it."

As if right on cue, the door opened and in walked Derek and Addison, laughing about something, but Derek's laughter stopped as he saw Meredith in the kitchen, clearly attempting to make something. He'd got the book in hope they'd do some of the things together, but Meredith seemed to have taken it upon herself to do it alone. At least Mark was there to supervise the whole thing, well, as much as he possibly could with Meredith in the kitchen.

Mark's eyes fell upon the red head who was standing near the door, looking a little awkward as Derek started to talk to Meredith about this whole cooking thing. Holding his hand out towards Addison, he watched as the smile appeared on her face before she walked over to him, taking his hand in her own. "Hey." She whispered quietly, moving so she was close beside him.

"How's your day been?" Mark asked quietly, looking down at her.

"I've had better days, I've had worse." Addison sighed as she found her arm around Mark's waist, holding him close. "Mark?" She whispered as she looked up at him.

"Yeah?"

"Can I stay here tonight?" At that moment, that very moment, she looked so vulnerable, as though she was about to break down at any minute.

"Sure, I can deal with the sofa."

"No, it's all right. I could just do with some company, I just want...." She didn't finish her sentence, but she looked at Mark hoping her knew what she was going on about, only to receive a small nod from him.

"Are you sure that you're all right?" Mark asked curiously as he felt her head rest against his chest, her arm gripping him tighter.

"I think so." She whispered as she pulled away from Mark, taking his hand again before gently pulling him in the direction of the bedroom. She wasn't in the mood to spend time around Derek and Meredith having a small domestic over Meredith cooking, at least this way, she'd be able to just sit in Mark's company for a while without any interruptions.

Mark followed Addison into his room, closing the door behind him, watching her remove her coat and placing it alongside her purse on the floor, sliding her shoes from her feet before walking over to his bed and taking a seat on it against the wall, holding one of his pillows against her. "Addie?" Mark asked quietly, watching her look up at him and gently pat the space beside her on the bed. This wasn't usual Addison behaviour, there was something the matter with her, but he knew he'd just have to wait to find out what it was.

As Mark sat down beside Addison, he felt her body move closer to his and she leant her head against his shoulder, reaching for his hand at the same time. "Mark?"

"Yeah?"

"What are you doing for Christmas?" She asked quietly, her voice barely a whisper.

"Probably going to Derek's, that's what I usually do. Why?"

"No reason."

"Addison." Mark warned carefully, not wanting to annoy her.

"I hate holidays." Was all she responded with.

"You love holidays." Mark reminded her, she'd always been the one to get excited over holidays, at least she had in high school. And since their 'reunion' she'd always said that she loved holidays, like Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentines, the usual ones.

"I don't. I hate them." She said quietly, lifting her head up from her shoulder, crossing her arms over her stomach as she stared straight ahead at the wall.

"Addison, I've known you for what, just over nine years, in that whole time, you've loved the holidays. I know I've not been around for the past four years, and I'm sorry, but a week ago, you were excited about Christmas, about going Christmas shopping. You asked me what to get Derek and Meredith for Christmas, even though you don't know them very well. You, of all people, love the holidays."

"That's a nice little speech you had there." Addison teased lightly, still looking at the wall ahead of her.

"Am I right?"

"I love the holidays." Addison mumbled, much against her own will, but it was true, she did love the holidays. She always had done, she always got excited about pretty much every holiday, or celebration. Though the ones with the snow, like Thanksgiving and Christmas, they always made her more cheerful than what any of the others did.

"What?" Mark asked, wanting her to say what she had just said again.

"I love the holidays." She repeated her words, only a little louder this time, a reluctant sigh passing through her lips as she done so.

"That's my girl." Mark smirked as wrapped his arm around her shoulder, gently pulling her against himself, pressing his lips to the top her red hair. "What brought that all on, anyway?"

"Nothing." Addison lied, leaning her head against his shoulder once again.

"Addison."

Silence fell between the two, Mark waiting for Addison to say something, and Addison hoping that Mark would just change the subject, even though she knew it was way too much to hope for. Mark chose to wait for Addison to say something, even if it did mean sitting there for hours, he'd wait for it.

After ten minutes of silence filling the air, Addison let out another reluctant sigh before looking up at Mark. "You really want to know?"

"Addison, where you're concerned, I always want to know, if you're willing to tell me." Mark said softly, trailing his fingers up and down Addison's arm.

"I don't have anywhere to go this year. It's gonna be me, alone in my dorm room, with a packet of chips, some ice cream, and some crap on television." Addison muttered, her eyes falling on a small stain on Mark's bed sheets.

"Want me to spend it with you, two packets of chips, a bit more ice cream, and some crap on television? I might even get you some chocolates too." Mark suggested, giving Addison a gentle squeeze around her shoulder.

"You're going to Derek's." Addison stated, not wanting to ruin his plans for her.

"Then, come to Derek's. I'm sure Carolyn won't mind one more around the table."

"I don't want to intrude. I can spend my day in pajamas, with chips, ice cream, crap TV, and maybe some chocolate."

"Or you could spend it with me, Derek, Meredith and Derek's family. Who I'm pretty sure will love you, because you're an amazing woman. I can go and speak to Derek now, because I'm certain he'll say yes." Mark replied hopefully. He wanted to spend time with Addison at Christmas, whether it did end up being with Derek's family or not, whether it was just the two of them at her apartment.

"Do you think, that maybe, we could have it just the two of us, maybe go and see them later on in the day?"

"You sure that's what you want?"

"Snow is our thing, and I'm hoping that they'll be snow on Christmas day. I want to spend the day with you, because since we got here, you've done everything you possibly can to make me feel like things are finally falling into place. As though you're making up for what happened, but you don't need to Mark, you really don't."

"I do." Mark interrupted, receiving a dirty glance from Addison, telling him to keep quiet.

"You've tried so hard to make up for the last four years, the last four years that you haven't been around, despite promising that you'll stay in touch when you left. You've been absolutely perfect, you really have. So, the least I can do, is spend Christmas day alone with you, because I'm pretty sure that it's what you're secretly hoping for, because we all make mistakes, Mark." That was an understatement, Addison knew it was, because if Mark had any idea about what had happened after he'd left, then he wouldn't be sitting where he was right at that moment.

"Can I talk now?" Mark questioned cautiously, waiting for Addison to nod or something to let him know that it was all right. When she did, Mark grinned at her, pressing his lips against the top of her head softly before he started to speak. "The last few months, since the day you tripped up rushing out of class, I've wanted to spend as much time with you as you'll let me. Other than the first few weeks, you've been pretty amazing at letting me be around you. I'm not doing it to make up for the last four years, maybe a little, but I'm doing it, because I want to spend time with you. Because even if we're only ever going to be friends, I'll be happy with that. But if you want Christmas with just the two of us, then we'll have Christmas, just the two of us."

"You sure?"

"I'm positive, Addie."

December 22nd 1990

It was three days before Christmas. Three Fucking Days. Three days, and Mark had no idea what to get Addison for Christmas. Derek and Meredith were pretty easy, he'd stuck to his usual type of gift for them, a Kama Sutra book and some other things like that. That was Mark's usual gift for the two of them, and he wasn't about to change that anytime soon. But Addison, he had no idea what to get her, absolutely no idea. He'd tried asking Meredith again, and Derek for that matter. None of them were much help, but this was Mark, he didn't know what to do. There hadn't been a single woman that he'd brought a Christmas present for before this, other than his Mom, Meredith, Carolyn and Addison. The first three were easy enough, Addison had been easy enough before, but not anymore.

"Come on, I need something."

"Take her shopping, see what catches her eye." Meredith stated simply, glancing up from the television to see Mark staring at her. "What?"

"You're not helping!"

"All right, in all the times you've been doing something, has she not mentioned something, or seen something she liked?"

"There was... I guess... But I doubt..." Mark started each sentence, without finishing them, knowing that it would just annoy Meredith even more.

"Go out. Buy whatever it is. Give it to her for Christmas." Meredith ended the conversation, and looked back at the television.

"You're no help, Grey." Mark muttered as he went into his room to grab his jacket and wallet, he was definitely going to be needing that. They'd decided on the day together, even with the protests from Derek, Meredith and Carolyn, who they had said they'd go and see at some point in the afternoon, after their Christmas dinner, but they just wanted some time together. Which had caused Meredith and Derek to question both Addison and Derek on separate occasions as to whether they were more than just friends. Which, they had both denied, because it was the truth.

As he walked back out of his room minutes later, he was met with the sight of Addison entering the apartment, a smile on her face as she looked over at him. It was almost as though she was up to something, but Mark wasn't going to question it, not yet anyway, because if did, he'd end up staying there and not actually going to get Addison's present. As he walked past Addison, Mark stopped and leant in, pressing his lips lightly against her cheek before he spoke quietly. "You look beautiful, by the way." As he pulled away, Mark grinned at Addison, before walking out of the door and heading down the hallway, stopping suddenly at the sound of his voice.

"Mark." It was Addison, a smile on her face as she walked towards him.

"Go back inside, I'm only going to do some Christmas shopping." He responded as he stood there watching her move closer.

"You need to stop doing that."

"Stop doing what?" Confusion clear across Mark's face.

"Complimenting me, kissing me cheek and then just walking off."

"I was stating the facts, it's not like I can kiss you anywhere else, and I was going out anyway." Mark replied to her, smiling as he saw her cheeks flush a light pink color.

"I'm not complaining about the compliments, but you don't give me enough time to say thank you. Christmas shopping, I know, if you need some help, I'm right here." Addison paused as she looked awkwardly down at the floor before back up to Mark, stepping closer to him as she reached for his hand. Her eyes searched his, and she found it somewhat amusing that he looked slightly nervous, but it didn't stop her and Addison reached up and lightly pressed her lips to his. Nothing too much, just a soft kiss that lasted no more than a few seconds before she pulled away. "Go do your Christmas shopping, Mark." Addison gently pushed him as she stepped away from him, letting go of his hand. "I'll see you later."

"Addison?" Mark asked, only to be silenced by her finger on his lips.

"A walk in the snow later. Go do your Christmas shopping."

"A walk in the snow later." Mark repeated as backed away slightly, watching Addison as she walked back down to the room, things were looking up. Maybe the holidays weren't so bad after all.

After waiting for Addison to go back into his dorm room, Mark then turned around and made his way downstairs and outside. It was cold, of course it was cold, it was New York two days before Christmas. It was bound to be cold. But right at that moment, Mark didn't care, because Addison had just kissed him. He had no idea what it meant, but it was something, it was progress. At least, Mark was hoping that it was progress, because taking a step back after that wouldn't be easy, not for him. It wasn't that he wanted to rush things, because he was fine with things how they were, even with the kiss, as long as he knew that sometime in the future, something would happen. He would wait for Addison, no matter what it took.

Mark hated shopping at the best of times, let alone two days before Christmas, but until his 'chat' with Meredith, he'd had no idea what to get Addison, which was stupid, because they'd walked past this jewellery store more times than he could remember, and each time, Addison had looked at the same necklace every time. It was nothing fancy, just a simple gold and white gold pendant on a white gold chain. It would cost him a lot more than he'd spent on anyone else, but he didn't care, he'd seen the look on Addison's face each time she'd seen it, and he loved seeing that smile. It made him smile.

When he reached the store, he looked in the window, and it was still there, still on display as it had been every single time he passed it. As he entered the store, there was a short old woman sitting behind the counter, and a couple looking at what he could only assume were wedding rings. But he didn't care, because he was here to buy the necklace and then back to his room, where hopefully, Addison would still be.

After a fifteen minute conversation with the old woman, Mark had finally paid for the necklace and it was on the counter in front of him in the small paper bag. A smile spread across his face at the thought of Addison's face as she opened it on Christmas, he couldn't wait, he really couldn't.

"She must be special." The woman said softly as she looked up at Mark, causing him to break free of his thoughts.

"She is. She really is." Mark responded as he picked up the bag, thanking the woman before leaving. Of course Addison was special, she was everything to him, absolutely everything.