Grey's Anatomy

Why Can't Life Be Like the Movies?

Chapter Twelve: Just Friends

By Ducks

Disclaimer: None of the characters from the show Grey's Anatomy are mine. Any other characters not in the show are my creations. This story takes place after episode 2x12 "Owner of a Lonely Heart" and has stuff from the newer episodes…not much but some littlish things. Definitely not going to use major plot lines. And sorry guys, no Cristina Ricci or naked linen closet sex.

Author's Note: Now, I want to be able to say now literally take off your pants, do I have those kind of cojones? I think not so much. SO HOT! I want to be Izzie sometimes. But my friends have now decided I am the female version of George, with bits of Bailey, Alex, and Meredith. Oh yeah and some Cristina. Too bad I am not any bit of McDreamy or McSteamy…I guess I am just not that le sigh. Whatever. Sorry it took me longer than I expected to update, but I am still doing it not as large a gap as there was between 10 and 11. AND I am going to Florence on Wednesday RIGHT before I have midtermish stuff so you all should feel SO DAMN SPECIAL for me getting this up before I go… let's not even mention that the parents are coming right on the heels of the midterm craze.

Author likes to talk some more: Tthis chapter might seem a little strange at first but I promise it'll be worth your while. And as much as I am all about the Derek/Meredith love, is it wrong that I liked this most recent episode? I feel like I am cheating on MerDer. And if you like Veronica Mars, DUNCAN was on Grey's… the only two shows I download are colliding! OHHH and listen to the lyrics of Just Friends because it is exactly how I picture Addison to feel about Derek…and Meredith.

Artist: Gavin DeGraw (because he makes my life happy right now J)


Who the HELL could be calling me at this hour? Derek, Addison thought hopefully as she picked up the receiver. "Hello?" she croaked into the phone. Lord, Addie thought as she winced at the lovely sound her voice made.

"Addie?" A very familiar voice filtered through Addison's receiver.

"No! You can't be calling! I haven't talked to you in…" Addie faltered. "Lord, I am so glad you called Mac."

"I am trying to be an adult and be called Mackenzie in the real world but no, you just have to go and make me sound like I'm 5 years old by calling me that. Slut."

"Oh I am so sorry. Mackenzie. Super Mom. Ruler of the known-world, that IS your title right?" Addison laughed as she sat up in bed.

"For today. Tomorrow I am working on the universe…and my doctorate."

"How is that going?"

"You don't even want me to get started, but I called to talk to you and about you. I was all snuggly in bed and woke up with this absolute need to call me some Addie." Mackenzie said as she twirled the phone cord around her finger.

"I was going to say…what time is it there? I am just too lazy to do the math."

"Not that late. It's only 2 in the morning. This is my time to be alone and work out or think, without the three kids clamoring for my attention all the time. I swear, they get louder and louder every day." Mackenzie huffed.

"But I thought you only had two…" at the same time they both said, "Tristan." Addie continued, "I forgot about how…umm childlike he can be."

"You know what I mean. When he gets around the kids and me, he just wants, I don't know, me to hold his hand and listen to every second of his day. Good for you Tris, you had lunch with clients. Oh you got to eat what? LORD! DO I CARE! Well, actually, I really do care, lord I think I might be pregnant again," Mac stated with tears in her voice.

"Oh that is SO great! I am so happy for you!" Addie said, trying not to sound jealous.

"Addie yeah, we can talk about that later. I called because I wanted to hear about you. I haven't heard from you in a while. We haven't talked on the phone since you've moved to Seattle. Emails just aren't enough. I want to HEAR you laugh, smile, growl, and scream. Email emotions don't even come close to the real thing, you drama queen."

Addison laughed, "ME, the drama queen in this relationship, I think not. You my dear, take the prize, and the whole damn game for that one. You are one to not suffer in silence, or do anything in silence for that matter. God! It feels so good to laugh."

"Didn't I tell you, becoming a doctor is much to serious for Batty Addie, MADison? Do you remember when you used to just crack yourself up with the jokes in your head? People used to think you were a kid with some, um, problems. And by people I mean me, and by used to I mean about five minutes ago…" Mac paused and took a serious tone, "Seriously Addie, I can't take life in the big city without you. Move home. I miss you like CRAZY! My life is just normal and you know how I thrive in chaos, you are my chaos lady." Trying to pry but without being totally obvious Mac said hesitantly, "You can also bring that gorgeous husband of yours with you, if you must. You do know that I get very jealous when I can't have you all to myself, but I will deal if it makes you happy."

Addie sighed. She knew Mac too well to not see her attempt at subtlety. "Motherhood must be agreeing with you because you are getting good at digging for information, much better than the elephant-like grace you once had at bringing up touchy subjects. And if you call me that horrid nickname ever again I think I might have to kill you. And I laughed about the most random things when we were little because I had much more insight into life than most during those years. Things just made me laugh and even trying to explain them to you, the person who knows knows me, well just didn't work; you would think I was even weirder than you first imagined. So yeah, no more of that name for the rest of eternity. Because death would be eminent for you. Or something worse, I could I don't know, take you into surgery and remove your ability to have any sort of orgasm…" Addie paused to let that sink in and continued with, "then life really wouldn't be worth much…do you really want to chance it?"

"Now I remember why I enjoyed not having you here. Other people fear me and actually take to heart my threats. You never have been afraid of me."

"Vice versa. I swear people thought we were the scariest kids in kindergarten."

"Umm who is talking about were. We still are scary. Don't you harass interns and stuff like that now?" Crap crap. Was not supposed to mention the i word. Bad bad Mac, that was just not a friend thing to do. Boy have I stuck my foot in my mouth. "I get my own offspring to scare. And the husband, never forget him."

"Yeah, it is fun to scare the interns…but I was never into that whole yelling at them, unless they deserve it. Having them bend to my will, awesome. I am much more covert about my power than you are. There is definitely one intern that doesn't get frightened by me at all. You know which one I am talking about."

"You mean the dirty mistress?"

"Of course. But her name is Meredith. As much as I want to think of her as the slutty woman who took away my husband, I can't call her that and work with her at the same time. What if I accidentally called her it to her face? That would be so funny, bad, but really funny."

"Well then just let me call her all the names. It might take me a while to move on from stinky bottomed poo-head to better insults. It's the price I pay for living with and I guess trying to rear children. Why did you let me have twins?"

"Well you know I must have been asleep at the wheel when I was with you while you and Tristan were having your romantic evening on the boat and I just let two slip through while I was guarding your eggs… WHAT? You are just strange you know that. It wasn't my fault. I could have kept one of them you know, after I helped you while your 18-hour labor."

"Yeah, I forgot about that. Fun times had by all. Especially my vagina. But again, as much as I love talking about myself, my sex life, and my vagina, how are you? And you can call her all the mean names in the world, then when you see her, you can revert back to your old self who would laugh like a hyena when nothing around you was remotely funny."

"I'll think about it." Addie sighed and wanted to share with her friend everything that had been bothering her. "You have no idea how glad I am that you called me. I have missed you so much. You need to come visit if you have time. I didn't realize how much I needed to hear your voice until you called."

"Aww, baby! Of course I'll visit. Maybe I'll let Tristan take care of the twins while I have myself a vacation. So what's up?"

In a very small, child-like voice, Addison stated, "I think my marriage is over."

Trying to sound surprised, but ever-supportive, Mac said, "Sweetie. Why? What happened?"

"Everything, and nothing all at the same time. I am in limbo over here trying to move anywhere I can, backwards is the easiest direction to move, but then I hit this point where I am stuck again. I don't know what to do. Derek left to go on a mini vacation to clear his head. Away from me. Away from his job. And luckily away from the intern." Addison hit the back of her head against the wall. "What can I do to fix this?"

"Do you want to fix your marriage? Or do you want to fix your life?"

"I want to be happy."

I am really surprised she said that she wants to be happy instead of be married to Derek, she really must be much further along in the moving on process than I thought. Good for her, I am glad that she is finally looking out for number one again. "Is Derek what makes you happy?"

"He did."

The use of past tense. Very good, separating herself from the emotional mess that is her marriage, probably meaning that she wants to get out. Unless she doesn't even realize she said it in the past tense… because she lets her guard down with me. Lord why am I not out there with her helping her through this? Wait Mac, FOCUS, you are talking to her right now… "Does he now?"

Addison shook her head, trying not to let reality in. "He just can't get past getting back at me to move forward."

"Is that really fair to you? Were you the only one in the relationship when it fell apart? We both know that your marriage was in desperate need of repair before Mark became an outlet."

"I know that, and I think he somewhere in his mind knows that too, but, we just don't…talk. He doesn't yell, which is even worse than him not talking. At least yelling takes some sort of emotion. Honestly, if he chose me, he needs to follow through with that choice and do something with it. You know what I mean?"

You have no idea how much I understand that. I have been praying since you went out to Seattle for some sort of resolution to this mess that you marriage has become. Mac closed her eyes, she and Addison had been friends since practically the beginning of their existences, so she could feel her friend's pain, even a country apart. But at least I know, without a doubt, that Addison is strong enough to handle this and move on, whether that be with Derek or by herself. "Sorry, I was contemplating what I should eat so I can get nice and fat. I completely understand hun. You know I always agree with you, except when you are for some strange reason, arguing with me… but that's not the point. The point is that you need to be happy. At whatever cost. You need to be doing something that you love with someone who makes you happy. Someone who makes it his job to make you happy all the time…and if that is Derek, then stick with him and fight for him, make him fight with you and want you the way you deserve to be wanted."

"Honestly, if he could just accept that he chose me, ME his wife, the woman he pledged to love and be with forever, then I would just let all of this go and move on. As much as his Meredith episode hurt me and continues to hurt me because he throws it in my face a lot, I am willing to just get over it. He just has to actually decide and stick with choosing me. Because him being in limbo is not only confusing himself, but it's also fucking with my life."

"Tell him that. Have you been honest with him or have you been waiting for him to make the first move? Remember you had to go up to him and start talking to him because he was to nervous to talk to you. He is a very good-looking man, but sweetheart, you are a fox. You are on the scale of hotness, way above him. He just isn't as hot and you intimidated him, so you have to make the first move again. But he started you down a good path. He did choose you." Damn, this is not the way I wanted to take this conversation. Why can't I say MOVE ON! YOU'RE TOO GOOD FOR HIM? Easy answer: I want her to be happy and think she's happy, so that means I'll let her make what I think is a mistake. "But are you completely sure that you want to be with him? Because you and I both know that Mark was more than just an itch…but dayum, does he make me itch…all over."

Addie let out a bark of unexpected laughter. "Oh it feels so nice to laugh, you are the best Mac." But she sighed before she continued on. "I just am afraid to face reality if my marriage is over. Because I don't know how I can fix this, especially with him being so unwilling to help."

"One more thing about Mark, I am not trying to throw him on you but I just wanted to say that he also had staying power, and treated you the way you deserve to be treated: like a queen who is also an equal partner. The best combo for the greatest person of course. But the most important thing in the world that I have to ask is what do you want? If you could have anything, anything at all in the world, that would make you happy, what would it be?"

"I want to go back to the way things were when Derek and I first got married."

"You want to be an intern again? Are you serious? Seattle must be making you crazy because I remember my friend from those years, she was not happy."

"No I wasn't happy with my job, but Derek and I were great together."

"But are either of you the same person you were back then?" Here's the moment of truth. Will she be honest with me and herself, or will she elude the question and change the topic?

"Lord, I know I am definitely not the same person I was then. I was a kid then." She smiled, thinking about the past. "I was a kid in love, with no money and no time, but a great sex life. Lord I did not get sleep any of those years, I think all seven years of residency, if I am correct. Is he the same person? He is still definitely a maverick cocky bastard, but at the same time so gentle and sweet. But he's mature now, something I never thought he would become. He is responsible."

"But is he gentle and sweet, cocky and responsible when it comes to you and your marriage?"

"No. That's why I am afraid that he has checked out of this marriage." In an extremely painful voice, Addie asked, "What will I do if it is really over?"


The interns all ordered pizza and watched more of Meredith's mom's surgeries, reminiscent of their initial days as interns and friends. But they definitely were not the same people from just barely 6 months before. George was no longer jockeying to get the seat next to Meredith. Izzie had stopped looking at Meredith and Cristina's relationship with jealousy, but accepted that she was part of the close-knit group of girls and didn't have to be in the center of it to appreciate the friendship. She also had a deeper relationship with George than either of the two women in the room did. Cristina didn't look at the other 3 competitively anymore, at least outside of the hospital. She had friends who she was working with

Cristina looked over at Izzie and said, "Why aren't you gone yet? I want you to go so you can bring back some guy to sleep with, so I can hear all the details to wake me up in the morning. And did I mention how much I love not living here? If you do bring back said random guy, I won't have to hear all the sex noises. Life is just plain good. I get the best of both worlds." Cristina leaned back into the couch and laced her fingers together behind her head.

"Ok maybe I wanted to pre-party a little bit before I go out, you know to psyche myself up for the fun night ahead. And besides, I really wanted pizza. Why am I explaining myself to you?"

"You are afraid of me. When I tell you jump, you ask how high. It's a curse. I am just scary."

"Yeah, that just must be it. Or it could be the fact that I am such a nice person that I actually answer questioned when I am asked them. Do my boobs look too just much in this shirt guys?" They all turned and looked at Izzie's breasts. Cristina and Meredith even turned their heads sideways to get a better look at them.

"You can never have too much boob action," Meredith said.

"Says the woman who is practically inverted in that department," Cristina quipped.

"I wouldn't be talking Cristina," Izzie laughed.

George hadn't said anything and when all three women looked in his direction, he turned his head up so that he was staring at the ceiling, trying to look inconspicuous but failing horridly. "I can't believe you were staring that long. You are almost in perve status here kid."

"Cristina! What. Who. I am MALE. We like breasts. When given the chance to look at them for long periods of time to supposedly look for something, we take advantage."

"Not going to lie, I can't argue with that. Remember when that guy, with the hard-on/broken penis came in Mere? Yeah I had to stare at that baby. Boy was he out to play."

Meredith shook her head. "Things I don't need to remember, thanks."

"Ok guys, I am going to head out now, I got my pizza fix and enough harassing to last me a while. We are good to go. Anyone want to come with? George?"

"Well you know how much I wanted to stay here and listen to them talk about McDreamy and Burke, but I might be able to drag myself away, can you give me a few minutes?" When Izzie said sure, he ran upstairs to take a quick shower. Izzie grabbed another piece of pizza and sat down again.

"Good I actually wasn't quite ready to leave, I really wanted another slice. Life is good when pizza is around," Izzie said as she slipped off her shoes. "And this way, if there is a man and we go either here or to his place, I don't have to worry about a car at Joe's in the morning. Or if I get really drunk like I might just be planning to do, I have a designated driver. Life is good. George takes care of me."

"George is a good guy, just don't take advantage of him now." Meredith said, jokingly. "Or actually, take advantage of him, get yours. He looks like he would be good. And he has his own bed here."

"Well one time, about a few weeks ago I told him that I really really needed sex and he told me that no matter how hard I begged…granted it was all in good fun but still."

"Kidding Izz, kidding."

"Oh, yeah well then that makes life a whole lot easier." She said as George came downstairs ready to go. Izzie got up and put her shoes on, tossing George the keys to her car.

When the front door closed, Cristina turned to Meredith and said, "I guess it's just you and me kid, let's break out the hard stuff!" They went into the kitchen, Cristina grabbed the ice cream while Meredith took out the bailey's liquor from her special hiding place and they proceeded to make very strong bailey's shakes. Life was good. And a lot fuzzier after the first couple of shakes, but Cristina had to slow down so she could drive home to Burke's.


"You'll pick yourself up, hurt like you can't go on, but fight like hell and move on. I have no doubt in any fiber of my being that you can get through this difficult part. I promise you."

Addison sniffed a little laugh through her tears, "You were always the dramatic one. Good lord, every fiber of your being? That is totally rich. You are the best Mac. Thanks. I know I can get through this whatever the outcome may be, I just am tired of working so hard on my personal life, that stuff is supposed to be easier than being a surgeon. At least that's what I heard."

"Everyone has to work at that. It's not something that comes easy to anyone, you know from your parents, my parents, even Derek's parents. Life is difficult, and you have to take responsibility for you actions. You have to man-up and live. It's so much easier to give advice than to actually take it and apply it to life, you know that, you are a doctor and following your advice is just as hard."

"I know, I know…it's just that honestly, if he finally truly decided to choose me, I would be able to forget everything these last couple of hellish months just to be with him. If he says that I am definitely the one, then I'll forgive him for all this mess."

"Ohh Addie," Mac sighed, "Is that fair to you? Is that what will definitely make you happy in the long run? And the big question is: is he worth that?"

Addison was quite for a minute, mulling over her response. "If you had asked me this, I don't know, before Christmas, before he told me that he fell in love with the dirty intern, then yes, I would have not even hesitated to tell you that he was worth it."

"And now?" Damn that man, I could just kill him for putting her through all this pain. I can't listen to my friend like this, she sounds like she is dying on the inside.

"Now I am not so sure he is worth it to me anymore. God here I go saying that I would forgive him all this crap if he chose me, then I am saying that I think I might have outgrown our relationship. Which is true and real? Where do I stand?"

"Sweetie, that I can definitely answer. You stand in both places. There is no definite decision in your head yet and that is fine. You are open to either, which is good. You need to talk to your husband when he gets back and be ready to be confrontational for once in this marriage and see whether or not it is going to work. You can also make a decision but still talk everything out with Shep to see where he is and where you are. I want to give you all the answers, believe me, but that's not fair to you because as much as I know you and am inside your head, I don't know what or who makes you complete, besides me of course. Just like you don't understand why Tristan and I click, only that we do, it's the same way I don't understand what makes you and Dere work or not work. You understand?"

In a voice reminiscent of a child's, Addison said, "Humph, maybe."

"Oh Addie, I know it's hard."

"Yeah, I just want to be a kid and throw the covers over my head and let the world pass me by, fixing itself of course. See this is why they pay you the big bucks, being super mom and cracking crazy people's heads open, to figure out what makes them tick."

"The bill is in the mail. I know you are good for it, you are, what is it? One of the top neo-natal doctors on the West Coast, not to mention New York? I might have to jack up my price a bit."

"Remember, I know all your secrets." Addison laughed, glad to be on an easier subject.

"Yeah, did I mention what my bill was? Babysitting once, or maybe just a check up…or if I actually am preggers again, you can do that whole doctor thing. I can come live out in Seattle until the baby is ready to make an appearance. What do you say?"

"I think that works," Addie said with a laugh. "Lord, I miss you Mac." After they hung up, Addie rested back into her mountain of pillows thinking, God talking to Mac made everything click. It all makes sense now. How did she do that without me even realizing? It's so clear now.


"Burke?" Cristina called out as she tripped into the door. She wasn't exactly drunk, but she wasn't entirely sober either. As a responsible adult, she called a cab from Mere's house so that meant she was dependent on either Mere picking her up in the morning or Burke driving her in for pre pre pre pre rounds. Maybe I shouldn't even go to sleep. Honestly I am just going to have to get up without having enough sleep and start a new day. Cristina walked over to the kitchen and opened the fridge in case Burke was sleeping so she wouldn't wake him up with the light. Should have thought about that before you yelled his name as soon as you got into the apartment. But I was trying to be friendly and a good girlfriend…why am I arguing with myself in my head? She turned around to get the layout of the apartment so she didn't run into anything on the way to the bed, but something caught her eye. There was a take-away cup from a coffee shop on the counter. Propped up by the cup was a note in an envelope that said Cristina on it. She picked up the mug and looked at the logo. She had been to that coffee place, but not many times because she usually didn't have time before work, and why would she want coffee for anything other than to wake her up? So the only times she had been there had been with Burke since it was on his way, well now their way, to work. Actually, this is the same brand as the first cup of coffee he got me, to make his first really almost passive-aggressive move. She smiled. I am damn impressed that I remembered such a girly little detail, that's usually his job. She sniffed the opening of the cup and her nostrils were welcomed with the warm and heavy scent of hot chocolate. She greedily took a big swig and grabbed the envelope, taking it with her to sit at one of the chairs at the counter.
Author's note: Don't hate me. I really shouldn't start out with that should I? I wanted to go into the Cristina Burke cuteness but I thought Addison resolution took more precedence. But next chapter I promise there will be plenty of Burke and Cristina ohhing and aahhhing going on. I just have to think of it first, with out being really cheesy and predictable. Then there is the whole issue of Izzie getting some. And that whole finishing the story, yeah that's important. Thank you all SO VERY MUCH for all the fantabulous reviews, you all make this writing thing worth while and you give GREAT suggestions. AMAZING ONES. OH also thanks to the people who read to, you all are just great, make my life happy by wanting to read my work. THANKS!

Lightning LindyYou are amazing you know that right? Your note was amazing and perfect to not be in review format because that would have given stuff away. Majorly helped by the way. I am DYING to know what you think of the way I took this chapter and the phone call. I couldn't think of who I wanted Mac to be like so I definitely based her very heavily on me and my many conversations with my friends in this instance. Thanks SO SO SO MUCH for the note. It was FANTABULOUS because that is what you are! You are a 10 in my book for being awesome. TRULY, thanks

Val'istarEn' Alu: Next chapter and I will try to get that one up as soon as I can, maybe Thursday…but I can't promise anything. I want to write the chapter as much as people seem to want to read it. Thanks so much for reading and reviewing!

Ctfallengoddess: GOOD LORD! All in one day! I guess it seems longer to me since I wrote it so spread out…good for you. You rock for liking it so much that you read it in one day! AHH just made my day! THANKS A BUNCH for the review. YOU ARE AMAZING!

D0RKY GiiiRL: Jerks make life more fun to be bitchy. Seriously one day just bitch at them and you'll feel better. But then seriously the keepers are ones you just don't notice until some party or when someone says something to you that makes you look at him in a different way. So no Starbucks man but there is another one that might be happening this week! Keep your fingers crossed, and I'll definitely do the same for you! PS I LOVE GEORGE in almost an unhealthy way, or not because I am George but female…which means I just have female friends, life is confusing. Next chapter george and izzie will have their night…burke and xtina will have some great loveliness. Thanks doll for the review!

Flying-pink-llamas-attack: K so I am glad that you approve of long chapters. Or else i could just have a warning for just you at the top of the page to let you know it would be a long one. Like this one kinda is. Not too long but longer. I am on my way to Florence, Italy…but still in Spain as of right now. Thanks for the review, you are grrrrreat.

Jerseyrae: OHH YAY! Thanks for the review. I hope this isn't too late of an update for you! Life is crazy and so is Grey's. sometimes I don't know what to do with the show going all crazy and me just sitting there wanting to make it alright in my story. Thanks again.

kcapflow87: Writing is all I have to do, especially with all the essays in SPANISH and tests, it's all I am going to be doing for quite a while. This is my release. Thanks for the review and don't hate me because this isn't up as quickly as either of us intended!

BANG415: THANKS BUNCHES! You are great. I am seriously working on Cristina and Burke because I know one wrong turn and you people will hurt me! Thanks again!

luv24+Alias: this was as soon as I could get it in a foreign country where my comp goes AWOL! I swear it really goes crazy, fun times I'll tell you. Here it is and I hope you like the chapter.

Crookedpen: I think they should definitely get together…and be cute with each other. I am working on it I promise. THANKS for the review!

Rachel452: THANKS! Woot you are great for the review. I am working on the stuff that can make Mere/Dere goodness happen! I promise!

Trunina: they are an epic couple who rock SO MUCH! I love how the writers didn't want another resident intern romance but the two actors just have so much chemistry…and the story tells itself. Sorry I didn't get to the scavenger hunt in this chapter, I didn't want to rush Burke adorableness. Thanks for the review!

Freeplaces: thanks so very much for the review! Your review by the way is the hot one of the two of us, by far, hands down. I hope you'll stick around to read the next chapter because there will be loads of Burke cuteness! Thanks again!