A/N: So, I had a dream that I was Addison and Derek's kid the other night…hah. It kind of wouldn't work as well, seeing as how they would've had to have had me about four or so years before they married…but sh. It's possible. It was a nice dream…there was a big crisis and then after we were all sitting on couches with Burke and the Chief talking about my career when I got older…and all I remember saying was that I didn't really have a choice, laughing as I looked over at them both, (and they were so happy!) but then my alarm rang. It was quite tragic.
Anyway, this story is affecting my mind. Honestly. (As a side, I'd trade Addison and Derek as parents for my crazy, oldest-of-six family any day.) Here's another chapter. Happy reading! Love to all my reviewers, the loyal and the new ones.
As kind of another note, this chapter involves a patient who was raped, which might be sensitive to people. I am not in any way trying to play it off by the actions of the character, if that's what it seems like. I modeled Liz after a girl in my class last year who was stuck in the same situation, and she was so nice and tried to smile and laugh a lot, so that she wouldn't be seen as falling apart. She tried to be cheerful all the time, even though inside she was horribly damaged. Anyway, I do hope no one finds fault with Liz's cheerfulness, because it's not that she's 100 fine. She just wants everyone to think she is.
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Derek found Addison standing in front of the vending machines, before pressing buttons. A small container of instant Spaghetti-O's popped out from the display and Addison picked it up before shoving it in the microwave nearby.
"Pathetic."
Addison said nothing, furiously pressing the buttons.
"You would rather eat fake meat and highly processed noodles than risk being caught by me in the cafeteria? Is it really that bad?"
Addison glared at the microwave, willing it to speed up. For the past day and a half Derek had been following her around, watching her surgeries, buying her hot chocolate and water and everything she could've thought of.
"I mean, seriously Addison, you haven't had to eat that since college. We could afford to go out to lunch every single day if we wanted. Put down the Spaghetti-O's and go out to lunch with me."
The microwave beeped and Addison grabbed her lunch and a plastic fork before stalking off, making her way back up the stairs.
"You know, I'm just going to keep following you. There will be no space given by me. None. You've had plenty of space, now it's time to crowd."
Derek kept following Addison, talking as she attempted to lose him in the hospital crowd. Addison was fed up with Derek's sudden change of heart, but yelling at him only seemed to encourage it. He was constantly joking around in attempts to lighten the mood. And joking was not the correct course of action to take.
"And so I went into the surgery and Bill didn't actually need me and-"
"Derek!"
"What, darling?"
"Shut up. I don't want to hear you talking. Or around. Or joking. Like joking will change things. Honestly."
"I'm just trying to win you back. I can't be serious then. I have to be quirky and talk all the time. Like when we first started dating. Then after a few dates we really started dating and I became a bit more serious. Likewise here."
"Are you serious?"
"What?"
"Do you think I'm having sex with you? Then you'll become serious?"
"Addison, I just want you back. Then we can talk. Right now, you're too tense, too angry. I could either ignore you again, making you more angry, or make you more angry by following you around and joking until you realize just what you're missing."
"You?"
"Yes."
"Well, that's not a lot."
"Ouch."
"Will you go away now?"
Derek shrugged. "Sure. I have some business to take care of."
"Thank God."
"But don't worry, sweetie, I'll be back."
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Derek took a taxi out to Nancy's house, further out of the depths of the city. He walked up to the black doorway and knocked on the door. His 15 year-old niece, Laura, opened the door. She held a bowl of Lucky Charms and looked at him strangely.
"Hey, Uncle Derek."
"Laura. Is your mom here?"
She shook her head, watching him amusedly. "She left about an hour ago for some emergency surgery.
"Damn." He looked up, his face guilty. "Sorry."
Laura shrugged. "Mom's called you much worse things."
Derek grimaced. Laura took a bite of her cereal and chewed it.
"I bet Mom will be back soon. Jackie's home for a week or so, we're watching TV, you can come sit awkwardly between us if you like."
Derek nodded and stepped inside. He followed Laura into the living room.
"Uncle Derek." Jackie smirked. Jackie had never really liked Derek, for some unknown reason, however, she and Addison got along quite well.
"Jackie. How's Cornell?"
"Well, I haven't exactly started yet, but I'm sure this next year will be just as great as last year."
"That's good."
"It is."
Jackie pressed play and the show started again.
"What are you watching?"
"Sh!" Laura glared at him as she paused the show. "We're watching Gilmore Girls. We had to tape the last episode, because we always watch the season finales together. Jackie just got back from stupid Germany, so we've saved it. And now you're ruining it. Shut up."
Derek nodded and Laura started the show again. He watched forty-five minutes of nonstop chatter on the show, and at the end both Jackie and Laura were on the edge of their seats, sobbing.
"You made me wait all summer? I hate you." Laura was hugging her knees to her chest, alternating between letting sighs escape, sobs escape, and glaring at her sister.
Jackie grinned. "But now you have to wait less to find out what happens next."
"But Rory…and Dean…right after Jess came back."
"I know! Jess was so…Jess…and…God, why can't he just whisk Rory away?"
"And Luke and Lorelai…finally!"
Jackie smiled as she pulled out the tape. She watched Derek struggle with the show.
"Did you get all that, Uncle Derek?"
He shrugged. "It was a bit confusing, but I think I've got it."
"So then what did you think of Rory sleeping with Dean?" Jackie had a horrible grin on her face; she enjoyed watching him in pain.
Derek squirmed. "Well…she made a mistake…"
"You're darn right she did." Nancy's voice shocked all three of them. "If I ever catch either of you girls sleeping with a married man who is not your husband, I will kill you both, understand? There are plenty of single men in the world, don't sleep with the married ones. Unless, of course, you're the one married to him."
Jackie and Laura nodded.
"Good. Now, other than that, pull yourselves together and remember it's a television show. Go fix your makeup or read a book. I have to take care of your Uncle Derek."
Laura grinned wickedly albeit her tears. "You're in for hell."
"Laura!"
"Sorry. I mean…you're in for a grand old time. Mom's completely in love with you right now."
Nancy glared at her daughter as she trailed Jackie up the stairs. "She's too sarcastic for my own tastes."
Derek wanted to comment on that, but decided keeping his mouth shut was probably the best idea right now.
"Anyway, I'm not exactly in your neighborhood so what do you want?"
"I need your help."
"Doing what?"
"Winning Addison back."
Nancy snorted. "Yeah right."
"I'm serious."
"Addison plus one?"
"Yes, both of them. You haven't talked to her recently, have you?"
"No, not for a week at least."
"Well, I've been over to her apartment. She moved out."
"I know. With good reason. I suggested it."
"But I made a room for the baby. I painted and everything. And she came to see it and then we talked. Well, she yelled. And now…now I just follow her around at the hospital."
"Follow her around…"
"Trying to make her laugh. I joke."
Nancy glared at him, confused. "You joke?"
"Yes…"
"Oh, my God. You're an idiot."
"Why?"
"You think you can erase all that by joking? You're not serious."
"I don't want to erase it all. But she's so angry right now, Nancy. I can't just leave her again, so I am my annoying self."
"And you need my help…"
"I just need you not to hate me."
Nancy smirked. "Do you remember Renee's order? I do believe it was Addison first, then us. And by the looks of it, you've got a long shot before you even get Addison to stop hating you, let alone love you."
"But I love her."
"Oh, you do? Because I would've never guessed."
"I do. Now. I didn't know before."
"But now, since you do, it's all okay, right? Wrong. Derek, you can't expect her to fall for you again right away. Do other little things, meaningful things. And give her time. Don't let her go, but don't get to close."
"Was that advice?"
"Never. I have to start dinner, and unless you planned on staying, which I hope to God you didn't, you have to go."
"I didn't plan on staying."
"Good." She led Derek to the front door. As he grabbed the handle, she spoke again. "Derek, it's not that we don't want you back. It's that we don't want an ass back. We want the real Derek back. Got it?"
Derek nodded. "I'm trying to find him amid the mess I created."
"That's the way. By the way, although we all pretty much hate you, Mom's Labor Day party is next weekend, and she expects you both there. Addison she wants to see; you she's not so sure, but you'll pass if Addison's there. And if you're not an ass. Which no one can guarantee, but you should try it."
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"Elizabeth Manex. I'm your doctor, Addison Shepherd."
"It's Liz."
"Okay, Liz. How are you feeling?"
"Well, for a girl who was raped, and then got pregnant from it; I'm feeling pretty good." She smiled weakly. Addison smiled back, trying not to notice the pain in the girl's eyes. "But I have a question. Am I supposed to feel like my heart is on fire?"
Addison nodded. "That's completely normal. However, I can give you a painkiller, if you like."
"That'd be great. If you don't mind me asking, are you pregnant?"
Addison smiled. "I am."
"When are you due?"
"December 17."
"A couple of weeks after me. I can't say you're lucky. I'm kind of looking forward to getting this baby out of me and with the Robsons."
"The Robsons are…?"
"This baby's adoptive parents."
"You're not keeping the baby?"
"God, no. I can barely remember to wear the right uniform to school; I obviously can't care for a baby. Nope. I just stuck out the pregnancy and then I'm giving it up for adoption. My parents are pretty much supportive, although I still get strife from even walking that late at night." Liz shook her head to scare off the memory of her rape. "But yeah, the Robsons want this little life and I'm happy to give it to them."
"May I ask why you didn't abort the baby?"
"I think that this baby just had to be born. I mean, this kid has a whole life ahead of them; I don't want to cut it off. A lot of people at school do, because I got expelled for being pregnant, but I'd rather be expelled and have to switch schools than cut off this little life. Besides, maybe this whole thing will discourage me from ever having kids." Liz laughed.
"Excuse me, Dr. Shepherd?"
Addison spun around to find Derek standing there, a mischievous grin on his face."
"Yes, Dr. Shepherd."
"I need a consult."
"Just give me a moment, please."
"Not a problem." Derek stepped to the side and watched Addison as she finished checking on Liz.
Liz looked at Derek, wide-eyed. "You're married to him?"
Addison nodded. "Yes."
"Oh my God, that is going to be one beautiful baby."
Addison smiled. "You think?"
"It's going to have fabulous hair, gorgeous eyes, and a perfect smile. Not to mention two parents who will make all of their friends parents cringe."
"And yours is going to have a fantastic disposition, beautiful freckles, and the prettiest wave in their hair."
"Yeah, well, I'll never really know that. However, I'll take your word for it. You've been a doctor longer than I've been studying biology, so you'll be right."
A tall boy with brown hair and green eyes walked into the room. "Liz!"
"Peter! What are you doing here?"
"Well, you're pregnant."
"It's just an exam."
"I know that. But I just wanted to make sure you're okay."
Liz smiled. Her entire face lit up and her eyes unclouded.
"I mean, aren't I still allowed to come visit my best friend even if she is pregnant by some other guy?"
Liz punched him in the arm. "Because we were so dating before I got pregnant."
"This close, Lizzie, this close."
Liz made a face. "Don't call me that."
"Why? You know you secretly love it. You wait all day for me to call you that."
"Damn you, Peter Trinket, you figured me out." Liz laughed.
"Can you go?"
"Nope. I have to stay here for a little bit while they run tests."
"Can I go buy you a book?"
Liz smiled and nodded. "But nothing too fluffy. A nice 19th century novel would be great. Something I haven't read."
Peter looked at her. "Like that gives me anything."
"Shut up and go buy me a book."
He squeezed Liz's hand before quickly walking out of the room, past Addison and Derek, as they had been semi-consciously watching from the corner.
Liz blushed as he left. "Sorry about that. I didn't know he would come."
Addison waved her hand. "It's good to have someone there."
"Yeah. It is. He's one of the few people who will still talk to me. That, or, one of the few openly defying his parents' objections to talking to me."
"I hope you're not offended by this, but I have to ask, are you sure it's not his baby?"
Liz laughed and blushed simultaneously. "I'm sixteen. I know that doesn't mean anything anymore, but I've never even been kissed." She paused, and here the same look of horror crossed her face. "Well, I've never been really kissed, so no, I'm pretty darn sure it's not his. Unless I'm like the next Mary or something. Pregnant with Jesus version 2.0"
Derek gave a full laugh from the corner of the room. Addison glared at him, but he continued laughing.
"When Peter said we were close to dating, that meant that he asked me out to dinner the same night I took my pregnancy test. We were close. But when he found out I was pregnant he stopped and just became my best friend again. Which I was good with, given the time. Anyway, I know you have to go off with your gorgeous husband, so I won't bore you."
"You're not boring me."
Liz laughed. "Well, either way. Thanks so much. I can go home in a little bit, right?"
"Later this afternoon, of course."
"Great. Thanks."
Addison turned out of the room, Derek following her. He led her down the room to a deserted corridor.
"Here, in case you feel the urge to yell at me again. This way everyone won't hear you."
Addison stared at him, her face set in stone. "Consult?"
"Well, it's more of a husband-consult."
Addison gave him a confused look.
"According to Nancy, Mom's Labor Day party is next weekend. She wants us there."
"Fine."
"Really? You can get the weekend off?"
"Yeah. I like your family. I'm just not a fan of you right now."
"Am I not part of this family?"
"Well, they all pretty much hate you, I'd say that's pretty much disownment."
"I guess that's true. I'm trying to get you back first."
"Good luck with that."
They stood there for a moment, so close it was as if they were touching, before Derek broke the silence. "Was Liz raped?"
Addison nodded.
"She's brave."
"Mhm."
"And she's got one amazing best friend."
"Yep."
"Aw, come on, you were so happy and almost…bubbly with Liz."
"Yeah, well, now I'm with Derek. You do the math." With that, Addison turned on her half-inch heels and walked away from Derek.
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A/N: I know that the reaction Jackie and Mackenzie had for the season four finale of Gilmore Girls exists, because it happened to me. My mother thought I was absolutely insane; she still does to this day. I probably am.
So, we have the entire Shepherd family together next chapter. Chaos ensues. Mark will eventually reappear, but he won't have a huge part: I don't think. Addison's still angry with Derek but he's trying…in his own way. Whether or not it's the right way, well, that's up for debate.
Review and I'll give you a pasty. And if you don't know what that is, Google it, now! Not a request.
