Healing Process Chapter 39: Things my Mother Told Me, a grey's anatomy fanfic

Healing Process

Chapter 38: Things that My Mother Told Me

Desperate for changing
Starving for truth
I'm closer to where I started
Chasing after you
I'm falling even more in love with you
Letting go of all I've held onto
I'm standing here until you make me move
I'm hanging by a moment here with you

Since Quinn was admitted to the hospital, Addison and Derek had been taking turns staying with her throughout the night. After visiting hours were over at 7, Ava and Addison headed out. Ever since she received the text from Mark, Ava had been trying to stay cool. While neither Addison nor Derek mentioned Mark, Ava thought that perhaps they didn't want to say anything in front of Quinn. So needless to say as they headed out to Addison's Porche Cayanne Ava was understandably nervous. It felt like she was giving the performance of her life. They got into the car and Addison backed out and they left Seattle Grace in silence.

Silence was just fine by Ava, although she knew that she was only delaying the inevitable. She spent most of the ride home fiddling with her phone and was greatly relieved when she had to run in to retrieve the takeout they had ordered before leaving the hospital. As Addison circled the block waiting for Ava to return with the food, she started to formulate a plan. Once she had returned from the hospital, Addison had forcibly pushed all thoughts of Ava and Mark out of her mind. The last thing she wanted was for Quinn to ask her what was wrong. Thankfully, the little girl didn't mention the kiss she had witnessed to Derek or to Ava. But Addison had told her that it was probably best not to mention that to daddy anyway and Quinn, knowing that her father was still angry at Mark understood that it was better.

When Ava returned with the food, they drove home in complete silence. By the time they walked through the door the silence was starting to get to Ava. But she told herself to chill and they sat down to eat. But Ava found that she wasn't really hungry. Instead she just pushed her food around. After a few minutes, Addison noticed this and looked up. She put her fork down.

"Ava we need to talk."

"About what?"

"Mark."

"What about him?"

"I-I know that the two of you are together."

"Ok."

Addison frowned at how calm Ava seemed all of a sudden, "Why didn't you tell me?"

"What was I supposed to say? Mark doesn't exactly evoke warm and fuzzy feelings around here anymore."

"True." Addison said and paused. "How did this come about?"

"He came up to me at a party, asked what I was doing there. I told him and I was about to head out. He offered to walk me downstairs and we ended up sharing a cab home. I found out that he lives a couple of floors below me."

"So that it?"

"Yes the short version anyway, h-how did you find out?"

"Quinn saw you kissing in the hallway today."

"Oh."

"Are you sleeping with him?"

"That's none of your business," Ava said simply.

"Ava…"

"Mother!" Ava said sharply. "Stop."

Addison sighed, "Fine, forgive me for caring."

Ava looked down and let out a breath," I appreciate that you care. But who I sleep with is none of your business."

Addison studied her, "So you are sleeping with him."

"So what?"

"I just want you to be careful, that's all. Mark is very complicated."

Ava snorted, "And I'm not? Do you have any idea what a relief it is to be with someone who already knows me? I don't have to lie to him or keep secrets from him like I've done with my other relationships. I can't."

"Ava, I'm happy that you have that. But I don't want you to get hurt again."

Ava reached across the table and squeezed her hand, "Thank you. But I can take care of myself Mom. You taught me well."

"I'm sorry butterfly. But I worry, I can't help it."

"I know." She paused "Mom?"

"Yes?"

"D-did you tell dad?"

Addison smiled weakly, "No I didn't. That will be your responsibility when you're ready."

"Thank you mommy."

Forgetting all I'm lacking
Completely incomplete
I'll take your invitation
You take all of me now...

A little while, Ava entered her room intending to change into her PJs before going in to watch the first season of Weeds with her mom in the master bedroom. This was their attempt at bonding for now. After she changed, Ava checked her phone and discovered that Mark had called. She pushed send and pressed the phone to her ear. Mark answered on the first ring.

"How did it go?" He asked.

"Fine, mom just asked me how we hooked up and that was it."

"Does Derek know?"

"No, I've been tasked with that responsibility."

Mark sounded relieved, "Good. I have something to tell you."

"What is it?"

"I have to be back at work on Monday morning."

Ava sighed sadly, "That was to be expected I suppose. We'll just have to make the most out of the next few days."

"Well I have an idea if you're interested."

"An idea? I'm listening."

"I know I won't be here for your birthday. So I was thinking we could go to Vegas for the weekend and celebrate a little early. I can fly back to New York and you can fly back here on Sunday."

Ava smiled, "That's sweet of you baby, but there's not much I can do."

"Cirque du Soleil is there. I'll take you to see a couple of shows."

"You would?"

"It's your birthday. We can do whatever you want."

"Can you get plane tickets?"

"Already booked."

Ava laughed softly, "How did you know that I would say yes?"

"Because you've never been to Vegas."

"This is true. What time is the flight?"

"11am on Delta."

"Can I meet you at 9 at check-in?"

"Of course. I can't wait," He said with an obvious smile in his voice.

"Neither can I."

"See you at nine."

"See you then."

I'm falling even more in love with you
Letting go of all I've held onto
I'm standing here until you make me move
I'm hanging by a moment here with you
I'm living for the only thing I know
I'm running and not quite sure where to go
And I don't know what I'm diving into
Just hanging by a moment here with you

Derek came in at 7:00am the next morning and walked out toward his bedroom to change his clothes. Addison had come in around 6:30am and would bring Quinn home later on. He passed Ava's room on the way. Seeing that her door was open, he poked his head in and was surprised when he found that she was awake.

"Hi butterfly."

"Hey dad," She said turning to face him. "How was your night?"

"Uneventful thankfully, what are you doing up so early?"

"Oh. Megan and I are going to Las Vegas for the weekend. She has to be in New York with her family on my birthday so we're going to celebrate early."

"When are you coming back?"

"Sunday."

"That's nice. Do you have time for breakfast before you go?"

"Yeah. Are you sure though? I want you to have some time to yourself before Quinn gets home."

"And I will. But we should have breakfast first. I know we haven't really gotten a chance to talk lately."

"Ok," She said giving him a small smile.

"Let me go change and I'll meet you in the kitchen."

"Ok."

There's nothing else to lose
There's nothing else to find
There's nothing in the world
That can change my mind
There is nothing else
There is nothing else
There is nothing else

That night in their suite at the Bellagio, Mark and Ava were relaxing after spending their first day exploring parts of the strip and their hotel. They were going to take in a couple of shows the following day and do a bit more exploring. But tonight they were spending what was supposed to be a quiet night alone together.

"So did you have fun today?" Mark asked as he moved her hair aside to kiss her neck. They were sitting on a small sofa in front of a large window that overlooked the Bellagio fountains and the strip. Ava could see the Eiffel Tower rising out of the Paris hotel and into the sky across the street.

"I had a wonderful time," Ava said with a warm smile as she snuggled closer to him.

"Good, I'm glad," He said kissing her ear.

"So what do you want to do tonight?"

"I had a few ideas."

"Oh really?" Ava asked, turning to look at him, a smirk playing on her face.

"Yeah," He whispered turning her over and kissing her collarbone. However just as he was about to continue there was a knock on the door. "I'll be right back," He said and went to the door.

He opened it and someone from room service came in with a small table laden with strawberries and champagne. He signed the receipt and they were left alone once more.

"What is all of this?" Ava asked rising.

"Just a little something for us," He said grabbing the two glasses and the freshly uncorked bottle. He started to pour.

"Wait!"

Mark stopped and looked up at her in surprise, "What?"

"I don't drink, I can't drink."

"You're 20 Aves, it's ok I don't mind. And besides I can drink so therefore it's ok that you do as long as you're with me."

"Mark that's sweet, but I don't drink."

It was then that Mark realized what she meant, "Ava I'm sorry."

She went to him, "It's ok Mark. I know what you were trying to do. That's very sweet."

"I know. But I should have known," Mark said looking embarrassed and disappointed at the same time.

"Oh baby," She said cupping his face. "Don't, this is great. Listen I'll have a sip. Would that make you feel better?"

"Ava, I don't want you to do anything that you don't want to."

"I know, but if taking a sip of champagne will get that look off of your face I will," She said and finished pouring the glasses before handing him one. "To us," She said raising her glass to him,

"To us," He said with a small smile and raised his glass.

Desperate for changing
Starving for truth
I'm closer to where I started
Chasing after you...

"Is Quinn asleep?" Addison asked. She was sitting on the sofa in the living room.

Derek came out and joined her on the sofa, "She's out like a light."

"Good. What a week," She said with a sigh and resting her head on his shoulder.

"Tell me about it."

"Hey, you never did tell me where Ava went."

"Oh, she went to Vegas with Megan."

"That's nice," Addison said, although she highly doubted that Ava went with Megan.

"Yeah it is."

"Have you talked to Ava lately?"

"Yeah, we had breakfast together before she left. Why?"

"And she didn't mention anything to you?"

"Like what?"

"Oh nothing."

"Addison, what is it?"

"Nothing. It was nothing."

"Are you sure?" He asked stroking her face gently.

"Positive," She said kissing him.

Sunlight filtered into Mark and Ava's hotel room. It was around 8am. The dish of strawberries was sitting on the coffee table in front of the sofa. The bottle of champagne sat empty on the room service cart and an additional bottle of champagne sat nearly empty by the TV.

Mark was lying on his side facing away from the wall sound asleep and Ava was sleeping on her back now, the covers slightly on the floor. The only sound in the room was Mark's soft snores. Ava awoke slowly, her mind fuzzy. Before she had opened her eyes, she knew that she had gotten drunk. Mentally she cursed herself as the pounding in her head started. She opened her eyes and sat up slowly looking around the room. Last night had definitely been just the two of them but it was by no means quiet.

As she looked around, she squinted from the light, her head still pounding. As she scanned the room, her eyes settled on the wall by her side of the bed. A weird pattern of light was on the wall. She yawned, covering her mouth and the pattern jumped. She saw this and frowned. As she yawned again, the same thing happened. Ava looked down and that's when she saw the cause of the light.

"Oh my god!"

Just hanging by a moment (here with you)
Hanging by a moment (here with you)
Hanging by a moment here with you

Lyrics- "Hanging by a Moment,"- Lifehouse.

It's the end of the chapter! I know, I know I'm mean. But I'll let you in on a little secret. This is a two part chapter and I already have the next part finished. Want to see what has Ava so shocked? Then please review. When I update this time is up to you. I can update as soon as tomorrow or as late as one week from now. Have a good week everyone!