Well, the reason for my lack of updates, is because of the circumstances surrounding my computer. First, it was the loss of internet, and then my brother downloaded a virus. How kind of him right? Well, anyway, everything is gone now, from my homework to my fic to my pictures from the last three years. So this chapter is basically an author's note accompanied with a little bit of Addison fluff... because I love her. And the authors note is... IT'S COMING! I PROMISE!

Please enjoy :)

Disclaimer: You know the drill... seriously.

"Addison," Nathaniel said waving his hand in front of her, "Earth to Addison." Addison and Nathaniel were having coffee at the bistro they'd met at years before. Addison hadn't had a long term relationship like this before – except for Derek of course – and she really, really loved this man.

"Sorry, I was just thinking," she apologized.

"Don't be sorry, I was just wondering where you'd gone off to," he said, taking a sip of his coffee, "Penny for your thoughts?"

"I was just thinking about this little girl," Addison told him, "Her name is Desiree. She's the child of two of my co-workers. I delivered her six and a half years ago, actually."

"Yeah?" he said, curious.

"I was thinking about something she said to me last night at that party. She said that she thought her parents loved their other two children more than they loved her. Can you believe that? That someone wouldn't love one of their children as much as the others, and make it obvious enough that the child knows?"

"I think it's inadvertent," Nathaniel mused, setting his coffee on the table, "I don't think that they love her any less than they do the other children. I think that probably, there are certain quirks or needs of the other children that make it easy for the parents to focus more on them. Or its middle child syndrome, more simply put. I can relate to that."

Nathaniel had come from a huge family of six, and he was the fourth child.

"Yeah, that makes sense," Addison nodded, taking a bite of her cheese scone. After a moment, and for a reason unknown to herself, she added, "Her full name is Desiree Addison Shepherd. My ex-husband and his new wife named her after me when I saved her twin."

"That's sweet, Addie," Nathaniel smiled.

"Do you want kids one day?" she asked.

"I don't know," he sighed, "Maybe. It's getting a little late for that though," he took another sip of his coffee.

"True," Addison said thoughtfully. Her pager went off, "I've got to go, I'm sorry."

"No problem," Nathaniel smiled. He understood so well when she had to leave so suddenly. She leaned across the table to give him a quick kiss before hurrying out the door.

Maybelline