Not getting a lot of feedback. Is it really that stupid? LOL. Well, for the people still reading! Here's another short chapter!


"It was so sweet. I cried a little." Adrianna is in the passenger seat of Alex's car.

"Oh. That's nice. Too bad I missed it." She replies glibly.

"Yeah… it was sweet. So I was thinking we could do something small for lunch, like salad. I'm pretty sure I'm still full from Thai last night." She turns down the music a little.

"Salad is good." She turns back up the music.

"How was Laguna yesterday?"

"Great. Good. I had a lot of fun." Alex stomach begins to churn. "Ow!" She grabs her stomach.

"What's wrong?"

"I don't know. Shit. My stomach hurts all of a sudden." She pulls to the side of the road and gets out. She runs to the side of the freeway and hurls up her morning breakfast. Adrianna runs to grab her hair to pull it back.

"Are you okay?" She asks in a concerned tone.

"Yeah, I think. Ew. I don't know where that came from. Let's just go, I want to miss the crowds."

"Are you sure? We can always go shopping another day."

"No it's fine let's just go." She replies dryly, confirming Adrianna's suspicions that this is more of an obligation for Alex rather than a pleasant outing.

"If you're going to be like this all day, I'd really rather not shop with you." She releases her hands from her hair and heads back to the car.

Alex stands there for a couple seconds wishing that she wasn't here right now. She wasn't going to lie to herself—this did feel like an obligation. She really didn't want to be here. She heads to the car. "We're already on San Vincente. I'm not driving back." She announces.

"Whatever." This time Adrianna turns up the music


"Hey Ma." Mason walks into the Freedman house with his laptop.

"Hey there, Mace. Whatchya got?" Charlotte asks as she arises from the couch to give her son a hug.

"What I got is writer's block. I figured I'd come here and sit outside. Maybe find some inspiration."

"Writer's block? Sounds frustrating."

"You have no idea. Where's dad?"

"Hospital." She sits back down on the couch. Mason sits next to her on the recliner. "You look tan."

"Oh. Yeah. I actually went to Laguna yesterday with Alex." He replies as he puts his arm forward to check. "Anyways, what's new over here?"

"Nothing exciting over here."

"Look, Mom, I do have writer's block and I did come here to write. But I also have to ask you something."

"Shoot."

"Did Amelia ever tell Adrianna about Ryan?"

She seems caught off guard. "Huh? Um… no, she never brought it up, actually. Why you ask?"

"Just wondering. She's going through something and, I don't know. I guess I miss my mother still—everyday. Sometimes I wonder if deep down somewhere in Alex's subconscious she knows Mark isn't her real father."

"Mason, I doubt that. She has no reason to think otherwise."

"I know. I was just thinking. I worry about her all the time. I remember that one time I met Ryan. God, I was so young."

Charlotte looks a little confused. "Where's all this coming from?"

"Nowhere. I don't know, honestly. Just been thinking about my mom a lot lately and when I met you guys… ah… forget I asked."

"It's okay to talk about this stuff with me, I was just wondering. Have you been to visit her?"

"I went this morning." He replies as he gets up. "I'm going to try and write."

"Okay—let me know if you want lunch."


"Mmmm, what do you have here?" Derek sneaks up behind Addison in the hospital cafeteria and kisses her on the head.

"Chicken Caesar salad. Want some?" She kisses him on the lips.

"No thanks. Had a big breakfast with Mark." He sits down. "I still can't believe our baby girl is getting married. Have you guys talked about any wedding plans?" He steals a bite of the salad.

"Nope. I'm going to stop by after I finish seeing my patients. She took the day off. I'm going to bring some dinner over."

"Does Blake know about this?"

"Ha-ha, very funny. Yes. I think she wants to start talking venues maybe."

"Or maybe she just wants to have dinner with her mother."

"That, too. I don't know I guess we'll see." Addison's pager goes off. "Crap, I gotta take this. Finish the salad. Love you!" She gets up and walks out of the cafeteria.