A/N: Next update. Also, I got an interesting review, one that insinuated I should let Addison be on her own for awhile, I liked it...but not enough to make her not choose so she will still choose but she will be alone for a little while as I figure out where I'm going with this...

Chapter 20

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Addison opened her eyes as the door closed behind her and she was met with the face of Richard who was looking at her with tenderness in her eyes. He felt the tears rise to his eyes as he rushed to her side and pressed a gentle kiss to her temple, "Damn it Addison, you can't do this to me. I'm too old to be worrying about you."

Addison sighed and nodded as he sat down and gripped her hand and said, "So the latest gossip mills tell me that Derek Shepherd and Alex Karev have been taken their turns walking in and out of here. What's going on Addison? Are you okay or do I need to take them aside?"

Addison felt the tears fall down her cheeks as she heard the unconditional support in his voice, "I love them both Richard. I don't want to hurt either one of those amazing men but I think that is what I'm going to do. Derek was my world for 11 years and no matter how many times I remember all he put me through, my mind and heart keep turning to those 11 years. Alex, on the other hand from the moment we became a couple has done everything in his power to ensure that I'm not hurt. He learned what I liked, what I disliked he devoted himself to making me happy, something I wasn't used to. This same cocky, arrogant surgeon that I once couldn't wait to take down was the same one I turned to when things got tough or when the thoughts in my head didn't make sense. He never pressured me for more than I was willing to give, he just loved me and I wasn't used to that. I want to be everything to both of those men."

Richard sighed as he stood up and pulled his surrogate daughter into his arms and said, "You can't have both men, you have to choose one and you have to choose one quickly because they can't keep going on like this indefinitely. Addison, affairs of the heart are never easy take me for example. I had everything in Adele but I always pined after Ellis. I didn't know how to prioritize what I wanted in my life and now I'm without both women, I just don't want you to end up alone because you are too amazing to be alone."

Addison smiled through her tears knowing that his words made sense but they didn't help make the decision any easier as she looked at him and let out a choked laugh and said, "Hey you're single aren't you?"

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Two Weeks Later

Addison had been going stir-crazy in the hospital, she knew that she was being kept beyond the necessary because she had been in danger of dying but she was ready to leave the hospital and especially after the gut wrenching talk she had with her patient yesterday. It had made her pause in her assumption of how everything occurred.

Flashback

"Dr. Montgomery?"

Addison had been lost in her thoughts when the door to her room opened and she was greeted with Corrine's face that was wet with tears. Addison sat up in bed and said, "Corrine, what are you doing out of bed? How are you?"

Corrine shuffled in and closed the door behind her and said, "Dr. Montgomery, I just wanted to apologize for Jake's behavior. In his defense…."

Addison cleared her throat as she leaned over the edge of the bed to stand up and pulled the sobbing woman into her arms, "Corrine, this isn't your fault and it's not on you to apologize for Jake. I actually understand where he's coming from, I don't agree with his methods but he just wanted a good result for you and his baby and he got it."

Corrine nodded grateful for the fact that Addison's tone wasn't laced with reproach as she asked the questions that had been plaguing her to her own ally in this town, "But why didn't he think before he acted? I have to raise two little children on my own and I don't know if I'm up to the challenge, I don't know if I can handle it because I'm scared."

Addison motioned for her to take a seat and said, "Corrine, you've been through the worse. You've had the surgery and now you can focus on bringing this baby in the world, and you and Mandy can be happy."

Corrine sighed and said, "What about Jake? He's in jail and they won't let me talk to him. I just need to know what he expects me to do now."

Addison gripped her hand and said, "Once you are released from the hospital, I'll make sure that you can see Jake. I promise."

End of Flashback

The door opened as Derek stepped in with a bouquet of pink peonies and a balloon as he stood watching Addison stare off into space lost in her own thoughts. As the door closed he cleared his throat and she met his eyes, Addison rolled her eyes and said, "Shepherd don't you think you're overdoing it? I mean really this is a little over the top."

Derek sat the flowers down as he pressed a kiss to her cheek and ignored her obvious deflection of him observing her staring off into space and said, "I've been standing there for a moment before you noticed me, where were you?"

Addison sighed as she realized that he still had the uncanny ability to be able to read her and decided to admit to him what she was pondering over, after all he had been in the room with her during the whole situation and if anyone deserved to have an opinion on her thoughts, it was him, "I was thinking about Jake and Corrine Derek. She came to see me and I promised Corrine that I would help her see Jake once she's released from the hospital, I was going to call the detective in my case but I didn't have the number…."

Addison's voice trailed off as she noticed the grip that Derek currently had on the vase of flowers in his hand as his face suddenly got darker, she stopped her speech and asked, "Derek what's wrong?"

Derek flinched as she asked an unassuming question as if she didn't realize what her admission was causing him, she truly believed there was nothing wrong with the idea that she wanted to help the wife of the man that was responsible for her being in the hospital, "Why do you care what happens to that son of a bitch that shot you? He could've killed you and as far as I'm concerned he can rot in jail, you don't need to focus on him or his wife either."

Addison shook her head sadly realizing that the plight of their patients hadn't touched his heart as deeply as it had touched hers, "He just wanted to make sure his family was taken care of. His first wife died because of the incompetency of doctors and he didn't want a repeat with his second wife."

Derek looked at her incredulously, not believing for a second that she was allowing the tragedy that had befallen the family serve as an excuse for the deranged man's actions, "And that makes it okay for him to take 3 doctors hostage after shooting one and demanding they perform a surgery while you were bleeding to death? No Addison, you will stay out of this, he doesn't deserve to have anyone lift a finger to help him. I begged him for your life, and he ignored my pleas you can ignore his wife's"

Addison scowled and said, "Derek, we are not fighting about this, I will help Corrine to see Jake and that's the end of the discussion."

Derek slammed down the vase of flowers as he stormed out of her room and slammed the door behind him but not before Addison burst into frustrated tears.

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Alex shuffled into Addison's room as she was swiping away tears with a tissue and closed the door and said "Okay Montgomery, why the tears? I know it can't be because you are getting released today because that should be a cause for joy and not tears."

Addison shook her head as she blew her nose and spoke without thinking, "I had a fight with Derek." She looked up hesitant to see the look of anger on his face as she had so carelessly admitted that she ahd an argument with her ex-husband that caused her to start crying.

Alex swore under his breath as he started to turn around and leave when Addison started sobbing and he turned back around and took her in his arms, "Why did you have a fight with Derek?" Alex flinched as he prepared to hear anything having to do with their relationship but was shocked by her response.

Addison sighed hoping that with her explanation it would ease the tension in the room, "We fought over Jake and Corrine Emery. I told him that I was going to help Corrine see Jake and he told me that I couldn't and then he stalked off and I don't know why he can't understand that I want to help her."

Alex pulled back as he looked into her eyes and paused. He could literally tell Addison that Shepherd was being a jerk and come out the victor in all of this but he wouldn't be able to live with himself. He sighed as he pulled her back into his arms as the truth of Derek's feelings in this fell from his lips, "Maybe because Shepherd loves you and he was scared to lose you? I wasn't in the room while you were losing blood but I know if I had been I wouldn't want you to be anywhere near all of those memories, he's just trying to protect you Addison."

Addison stared into his eyes for a moment realizing the truth in his words. He was right, Derek had been petrified during the whole ordeal and she just stated that she was prepared to help the people who had created the crisis. Alex was looking out for Derek's feelings even while his own were involved, she was so filled with emotion at the moment that she pulled his face to hers and pressing a hard kiss against his lips. "I love you Alex."

Alex wrapped his arms around her as he pressed another urgent kiss against her mouth happy that he had gone with his first instinct about telling the truth and said, "I love you too. Can I ask what that kiss was for?"

Addison laid her head on his chest entranced by the sound of his beating heart, "You could've told me any number of things to keep me pissed at Derek but you told me the truth and I trust you. There's something so wonderful about the trust that I have in you that I don't ever want to lose that."

Alex sighed and started to say well fight for us then but held himself back; she just needed comforting now and not a reminder of what both he and Shepherd were fighting so desperately for, her heart.

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"Addison's a woman right?"

Derek looked up from his lunch at Mark and said, "What the hell kinda question is that? Of course she's a woman."

Mark laid his lunch down and then looked at him and said, "So then why would you choose to pick a fight with her about standing up for another woman? A woman who had arguably been through a lot at the hand of this woman's husband and all she was looking for was a little empathy but what does the idiot ex-husband do? Forbid her; forbid her to help the woman. God Shepherd, do I have to teach you everything?"

Derek flinched as he listened to the wisdom in his words but couldn't help but asking sarcastically, "What should I have done then oh wise Sloan?"

Mark smirked as he sipped from his drink, "Jest, that's right jest, but you just put Alex in a place to kick you out of Addison's life forever. All he has to do is go in there and take Addison's side and then you will have lost points."

Derek looked up and shook his head, "Alex won't do that. I've been going back and forth with him in this tug of war for Addison's affections and one thing I know is that Alex won't lie to Addison no matter what. They have a trust and a truth relationship that I envy. He won't cut his words just to get rid of me."

Mark shrugged as he listened to his friend stand up for the moral compass of his rival and said, "So would you? If the tables were turned would you hesitate to kick Alex out of the running if the opportunity arose?"

Derek looked down at his meal and then up at his friend, "I don't know. I know that I want her, I'm willing to fight for her but I don't know if I'm willing to play dirty for her. I think Addison deserves more than two idiots playing games for her affection."

Mark nodded even while he reached across the table and swiped a bite off of Derek's tray and said, "Good to know, let's hope that you're all on the same page."

A little Addek, A little Addex and some Addie/Richard (my favorite dad/daughter combo currently on). They aren't related by blood but you couldn't tell that from the love and support they give each other.