A/N: Sorry! Oh my god, I'm so sorry this took forever! Please read and review, the next update will be up sooner I promise!!!


Mark walked into Addie's room hesitantly, knowing full well what her response would be, but he still needed to ask her, if only to show that he cared. He needed her to know how much he loved her, and how willing he was to be there for her. This was only the first step.

When Mark entered the room, Addison smiled at him brightly, longing for interaction. She was really bored and restless, overall just tired of being alone. Mark took her into his arms, hugging her warmly and almost protectively. When he pulled back, he produced a plastic package from his pocket.

"Gummi bears?" she inquired, raising an eyebrow suspiciously.

"Gummi bears," He stated, then continued, "Remember that time that we went to the movies and--" She groaned, burying her face in her hands.

"I thought you had forgotten about that! Ugh, that's so embarrassing!" He chuckled,

"Actually, I find it rather attractive."

"What? Discussing the finer points of gelatinous orgies turns you on?" she asked, suppressing laughter, but simultaneously blushing. He nodded. She looked into his eyes in amazement and was startled by the admiration that she found and was entranced. Suddenly, it became too much. She cleared her throat and broke the gaze. "Thank you, Mark, really. These are…great," she said softly, her eyes dancing with laughter as she looked back up at him.

They both began to speak at the same time, then laughed.

"You go first." She urged, and he obliged.

"I know what you are going to say, but I have to ask you anyway—will you move in with me while you recover?" She looked at him sadly, sympathetically. He laughed, "Well, I knew you weren't going to…" She smiled.

"Well, then you know also that I'm sorry…right?" she asked, searching his eyes for understanding. His sadness was overwhelming, even though he had known what was coming, and Addison's heart broke for him, but she wasn't ready for that step. It wasn't fair to him, especially if she chose someone else—it would only be more painful for him in the long run. "You also must know that I am expecting you to check up on me, right?"

A broad smile spread across Mark's face. There was hope—he wasn't being completely blocked out of her life. Not that anything would have been able to keep him away from her. He smirked.

"Ad, you know I would kick down the door if I had to." She smiled her lopsided smile, eyebrows raised.

"I do know that." He kissed the top of her head.

"I'll be by to visit you later today, or whenever it is I get off." He squeezed her shoulder and exited. Addison let her breath out slowly, pressing the heels of her hands into her eyes.

--

When Derek entered Addison's room, she was still in the same position with her hands to her eyes. It crossed his mind that Mark may not have taken the rejection well and could have said something to hurt her.

"What did he do?" She moved her hands from her eyes so she could see him, looking at him curiously.

"What? Who?"

"Mark. If he did something to hurt you…" Derek's eyes were flaring with anger. Mark Sloan was an ass and Derek couldn't believe that he had ever considered Mark to be his friend. Addison rolled her eyes.

"Mark didn't do anything wrong. Don't kill him."

"Are you sure? Because I could…" She raised an eyebrow, amused.

"You. You could take Sloan?"

"I decked him before, I could do it again."

"Derek, he would KILL you! Mark is ripped." Derek shrugs.

"I could take him. But you're okay?" She nodded.

"I feel bad for him though…"

"Because you're not moving in with him?" She looked confused.

"How did you know about that?"

"Oh, I know all things. I just so happen to be absolutely brilliant." She shook her head, laughing.

"If you say so."

"Hey! What is that supposed to mean?"

"If you're so smart, why don't you figure it out?" she teased. Derek pouted. "Oh, get over it."

"Ad, you're mean."

"You knew that already! Remember, ruler of all that is evil?" she says, gesturing to herself. Derek laughs.

"Oh, right. That. Well, I guess I'll go now…I have a surgery, but I just thought I'd stop in to check up on you once more before you get discharged."

"Okay." He starts to leave.

"Oh, and Derek?" He turns around,

"Yeah?"

"Thanks. For everything. You've been really great through all of this…I'm just…I'm really glad that we can um…that we're still friends." Derek nods, smiling.

"It's been my pleasure." As he walks out the door, he feels a slight pang at her word choice. Friends…

--

Izzie returned to Addison's room several hours later when Addison was napping, something that Izzie was glad to see. In some ways, it was for the best that she had been injured because she was being forced to take care of herself. Things like this were beginning to renew Izzie's belief in fate.

It was funny, really, that Izzie found herself feeling so much compassion for the woman whom she had once despised, but recently Izzie had been viewing Addison as a human being, a woman who had made mistakes and was broken.

Izzie approached the bed and gently placed a hand on Addison's shoulder, causing the older woman to jump.

"Oh, Izzie, it's only you." She breathes, relieved.

"Yep, just me. Why? Have those men of yours been bothering you?" Addison blushes.

"I…yeah. Yes, that they have." Izzie giggles.

"They're so pathetic, aren't they? I mean, they clearly all want you. It's actually kind of sad." Addison pouts,

"It's sad that they want me?"

"Oh, God no…I mean, I would totally want you, too—you're seriously McHot—but it's sad because, I mean, obviously they can't all have you." Addison smiles, laughter in her eyes.

"True. Are they really that pathetic?" Izzie nodded enthusiastically.

"I mean, when I saw Sloan earlier, he looked like someone just killed his dog or something." Addison looked suddenly saddened.

"What's with the look?"

"Oh…I…it's nothing. He's upset because I wouldn't move in with him."

"Ah, I see. Well, I don't blame you. What do you say we get out of here?" Addison nods.

"I've already been discharged, so…why don't you go do whatever and I'll change, and we can leave?"

"Okay. I'll be back in a few."