Chance Encountered

Chapter 23 Part 2

Addison had appropriated the perfect spot on the beach. The sun was sparkling against the water as it set and was replaced with the moon. Derek laid the blanket down and Addison watched as he began to unpack the basket.

As far as she could see, he had every possible dessert her little heart could desire. She saw chocolate mousse, vanilla-raspberry cheesecake, coconut cream pie, lemon bars, it all looked delicious.

"What's that?" Addison asked as she pointed out a particular desert.

Derek followed her finger then looked back at her. He had the most devilish twinkle in his eyes, "Death by chocolate-chocolate cake."

Addison laughed a little, "How did you know?"

Derek looked back at her with a raised eyebrow and curious expression, "How did I know what?"

"Chocolate is my weakness. How did you know?" Addison whispered seductively. He grinned at her wickedly.

"It was a lucky guess."

Addison smiled as he winked before placing two champagne flutes on the blanket.

"Champagne? Are you trying to get my tipsy?" Addison asked with a coy grin.

"You know that thought had crossed my mind." Derek said, "But then I thought better of it."

Addison blinked, "You did?"

"Yep," Derek said and pulled out a carton of milk and Addison couldn't help laughing.

Derek seemed a little offended as she continued to laugh at him but couldn't stay mad for long. Her eyes were shining and her nose crinkled as her smile went from ear to ear.

"What goes better with dessert than milk?" Derek asked seriously, filling both glasses as her laughter subsided.

"You have a point." Addison breathed out. She looked down at her champagne flute filled with milk then back at Derek.

"You're cute." Addison said, and Derek smiled.

"You know you've mentioned it a time or two." He joked but then continued, "But I would rather be incredibly handsome."

"Oh, well you're that too." She laughed.

Derek pulled out the strawberries and laid them down in between him and Addison on the blanket. Addison grabbed one and popped it into her mouth.

"So, what about you, any siblings," Derek asked.

"Umm, no," She said and took another bite of strawberry, "Mhmm, this is really good."

"What about your parents, are you close with them?" Derek asked.

"Not really, my mom was never really the nurturing type of woman. She tried but we could never really connect and my father was a lawyer for a big corporation and he was never around. You know, always away at the office that sort of thing." Addison sighed out, glancing at Derek. He had a concerned expression on his face.

"That—must have been really hard on you to grow up that way." He said.

"It wasn't as bad as it sounds. My parents tried well my mom did. We could just never connect like we were supposed to. Anyway, what about you? What about your parents?"

Addison watched as Derek's eyes clouded over in pain and sorrow. Derek glanced down and concentrated on the strawberry in his hand.

"They were great. My Mom is my rock. The one person that always supports me in whatever I do. She is the most amazing woman I know. She raised us, me and my sisters, on her own."

Derek looked up at her and stared straight into her eyes, "My Dad died when I was a kid. He died of cancer. My Mom kept our family together. She lost her husband but she never let it ruin her, she was strong for all of us."

Addison's heart broke a little as she listened to his painful words. His face was contorted in hurt and pain as he spoke with a shaky voice.

"I—I remember at the funeral, looking over at my Mom. She was so heartbroken and I was so mad at him. Don't get me wrong, I love my Dad but he just left. He left her all alone and I was so mad at him. I was too young to process it."

Addison felt something inside of her chest tighten at his confession. She slowly crawled over to him. He watched her every move as she positioned herself on his lap. Addison grinned a little and Derek shivered as her breath hit his face.

She softly ran her fingers through his hair, scratching his scalp lightly. Then Addison began to place gentle kisses on his forehead then his cheeks then his jawline before moving back to his forehead.

As she continued to kiss him, he wrapped one arm around her waist and then he spoke.

"I have an important question." Addison pulled back to look at the playful, curious expression on his face.

"Okay. Shoot." Addison said with their faces still very close.

"Mets or Yankees?"

Addison laughed a little, running her fingers through his hair again.

"Well it is obvious, there is only one obvious option." She said dancing around the question.

"And it is," Derek prompted.

"The Yankees, of course," Addison said with a shrug of her shoulders.

"Good answer." Derek said with a sigh of relief.

"I am glad we think alike."

"Me too. That could have caused major problems."

"You're telling me. so now that we have the important stuff out of the way, we can relax." She said and climbed off of him then she stretched out on the blanket and rested her head in his lap.

He smirked down at her with a raised eyebrow. She just smiled innocently at him and received a wink as his reply.

"So how did you find this place?" Addison asked.

"I bring Max here sometimes. He likes to play in the water." He explained.

"We should bring him here with us next time." Addison suggested.

"So is there going to be a second date," Derek asked.

"I don't know I might need some more convincing." She said mischievously. Derek looked at her, and matched her smirk with one of his own that was equally mischievous.

"I think I could do that."

Hours later, they had eaten their food, talked about anything and everything they could think of and then they had decided to take a walk.

"Have you done any apartment hunting?" Derek asked.

"I have not done very much."

"You can't stay in that hotel forever." Derek said looking over at her.

"I know, I know but I just haven't put any serious time into looking." Addison said and met his eye quickly before looking out over the ocean.

"I could help you if you want." Derek suggested.

"That would be sweet but you don't have to. You're just as busy at the hospital as I am, and the last thing you need is to waste your time searching for an apartment with me."

"You wouldn't be wasting my time." Derek said. Addison looked at him and saw how much he meant what he said, and her heart melted. She grinned at him.

"Well then I would love some help."

Derek smiled back at her.

"Hey did I ever tell you that I lived in a trailer?" Derek asked suddenly.

Addison shot him shocked expression, "A trailer?"

Derek nodded his head with a smile, "Yep for like eight months."

"Why?" Addison laughed out.

"Uh—actually I had to. I was living in an apartment in the city when I got Max. And since he is a husky, he needs lots of space…so I bought the land but I couldn't build the house right away. So I had to live in a trailer, so that Max could have space."

"Hmmm, so you being the cute and honorable guy sacrificed your space and comfort for you dog. I think you just got yourself that second date." Addison joked.

Derek laughed, "Well then I am glad I mentioned that."

"So what else should I know?" Addison asked, "I know your favorite book, favorite baseball team, you have four sisters. What about your favorite movie?"

"Easy. The Godfather." Derek said immediately.

"Never seen it," Addison said.

Derek stopped walking and turned to look at her. Addison stopped too, and looked at him.

"What? Why did you stop?" Addison asked, a little confused as Derek just stared at her with a dumbfounded look on his face.

"You have neverseen The Godfather?" Derek asked, "Never?"

"Nope, why is that such a big deal?" She asked, with her eyebrow furrowed.

Derek started to walk again at a slower pace, Addison followed.

"I just can't comprehend that you have never seen The Godfather. It is one of the best cinematic experiences in the history of –of cinema."

Addison laughed at how serious he was being.

"Yeah, well I am impartial to Out of Africa and movies like that." She said.

"In other words, you mean chick flicks."

"What is wrong with chick flicks?" Addison asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Did I say there was something wrong with chick flicks?" Derek countered, "I have even seen Out of Africa. I didn't think it was too bad. I like Robert Redford. I prefer him in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid but whatever."

"Wow, not only have you seen it but you can name one of the actors in it. I'm impressed." Addison said, "But can you name the other one?"

"Meryl Streep." Derek said confidently.

"Bonus points." She said with a laugh, "You might score a goodnight kiss."

"Well, then I am on the right track. But we have to watch The Godfather. You have to see it." Derek said.

"Well if you insist." She said. A content smile grin graced her face as an image floated through her mind.

Derek and her, curled up under the blankets, eating popcorn and candy with Derek holding her close. Yeah, they would have to watch that movie.

"I do insist." He said, and then Derek looked at her and then stopped walking again.

"Derek, what?"

"Dance with me." It was more of a statement than a question.

"Dance?" Addison asked with a hesitant smile. "Sure."

Derek held out his hand to her, which she took then, she placed her other hand on his shoulder. Derek put a hand on the small of her back pulling her as close as possible.

He started into her eyes as he began to sway them. There was no real rhythm or rhyme to their movement but it didn't really matter. Addison breathed in the scent of his cologne mixed with salty air. She looked over at their hands.

They fit perfectly. Like puzzle pieces and it felt so…right.

"You know what is weird?" Addison asked.

"What?" Derek replied quietly.

"That this isn't weird. That there has never been any awkwardness or first date lulls. I mean not even that very first night at Joes' there was never any weirdness, you know?"

Derek nodded his head, "Yeah, weird."

Addison sighed and laid her head down on his chest, and listened to his heartbeat.

She felt Derek place a light kiss on her head before resting his chin against her. Neither said anything else as they enjoyed the moment together.

End of Chapter 23 Part 2