CHAPTER 2

Derek failed to get a chance from Addison. It could be a long way but he decided not to stop where Addison left him. Hell, he still loves that woman. He'd kneel towards the altar just to get the love of his life back. Yes, they had their fair shares, but he regretted everything he had done, hurting Addison and letting her go was his worst nightmare and it still haunts him every night.

"You cannot go to Los Angeles, Derek. You have a Neuro department to lead here in Seattle." Richard, the chief of surgery in former SGH now Grey's Sloan Memorial Hospital sternly stopped Derek from executing his plan. "It's just for a week Richard, after that, I'll be back here." Derek cried, pleading for Richard's affirmation. " Let me fix my mistakes to get my happy old life back."

"You built a new life here in Seattle. What's there to miss?"

" Addison. She's the missing piece to complete my puzzle. The only one I need to be genuinely happy again." Derek looked down the tiled floor, the longing pain to win back the love of his life was banging his heart like a gong. "Richard, please." Dr. Webber saw the flowing pain in Shepherd's eyes. He knew this man for a long time and he knew that Addison could bring back the old Derek Shepherd. So thinking, who am I to stop him? He let the poor man's broken heart fly to Los Angeles that same day.

~

"Sam, hi." Wide smiling Derek appeared on the other side of Sam Bennett's door. With luggage on his feet, broken heart in his hands. "Welcome to LA Dr. Shepherd, where you can spy your ex-wife next door." Sam pointed at the house next door, but it was dark and empty. "She's out for drinks with the girls in the practice. She usually gets home around 11 to 11:30." He explained, helping Derek carry his bags to his room, where of course with a nice view of Addison's room. "Are you sure you don't want to tell her you're here?"

"I want to surprise her." Tho Derek knew Addison hates surprises. "Alright man, I will let you get rest I know you're tired from the flight." Derek nodded at Sam, thanking him before he closed the door to settle his things. He looked at her room, and the light suddenly illuminated. She's home. Derek finally saw her again. She sat down the bed to remove her earrings and shoes. Then she unbuttoned her shirt, revealing her bust and Derek's eyes widened when she removed her skirt, leaving herself in just her bra and knickers. Addison was literally facing him and she had no idea that her ex-husband was staring at her, intently. Wishing he was there with her, to touch her, kiss her and hug her once again.

Addison took the robe hanging at the back of her door, then went straight to her bathroom to take a shower before going to sleep. She was trying so hard to fall asleep, but that night made it hard for her to do so. So she called someone she can rely to.

Half an hour later, someone entered her room and joined her on the bed, pulling her close to his warm, comforting body. That view angered Derek that he wanted to jump and pull the man off of Addison. His blood was boiling, he was clenching his fist, withdrawing his anger onto his palms instead, careful not to ruin his million dollar hands. "Who is he?! Is he the reason why she couldn't give me a chance?" He tried so hard to cover the pain rushing into his system. Derek was hurting so bad, feeling what Addison might have felt when she was watching him dating Meredith, instead of focusing and giving her attention and affection that he needed from him. He should've believed his wife, instead of pushing her under the rain. Now he's burning slowly as he watched her loving someone else, instead of him to forever. " Goodnight Addison."

~

"Good morning neighbors." Derek, Sam and Naomi heard Addison's voice getting closer and closer. "Go hide behind the counter. Quick!' Naomi pushed Derek to hide from Addison. She was in a good mood, smiling like there's a sunshine on top of her head. "Oooh coffee. Is this mine? Thanks." She took the cup— Derek's cup of coffee and took a sip from it. Sam and Naomi looked at each other and smiled. "What?" Addison raised one of her eyebrows, still holding Derek's cup of coffee near her lips. "Oh nothing. You're happy. Someone made you happy?"

" Ask about the man who slept with her last night." Derek whispered, so curious to know who the man he was wanting to punch so hard in the face last night. "Is that someone did you good last night?" That statement made Derek angrier. "No! Nothing happened. But that was Jake."

"The Fiji guy?" Sam asked. "Whos the Fiji guy?" Derek asked again, that only Sam could hear. "Yeah. He's just a good friend of mine."

"Who happens to be single and available to sleep with you. Right." Naomi teased, pissing Derek off, knowing he was already itchy to come out and ask the questions running in his head. "He's just a friend who puts me to sleep. Nothing more than that." Addison sipped on Derek's coffee again, then stopped. She furrowed her eyebrows, tasting the coffee one more time. "What's the matter Addie?" Naomi held her best friend's hand. "I just remembered Derek. This coffee tastes like his mix."

" Of course, it's mine my love." Derek happily whispered again. " It's our favorite mix."

"Addison. Let me ask you a question." The atmosphere had gotten serious. "Do you still love Derek? Are you still in love with him?" Addison sighed and put the cup down. "Maybe I just missed him, and it's making me crazy. I don't know, he's Derek. My Derek."

"You're dodging the question Addison." Sam backed his wife up, cornering the redhead. "I do. I still love him. Even if he had torn me into millions of pieces, my heart still beats for him. That night, I was too afraid to give him the chance, even if I wanted so bad to give it to him. I never gave my dream up to build a family with him. I still want him to be the father of my kids. I want to grow old with him. I just—I will always want that, want him."

Derek heart's melted hearing those words from the love of his life. And he couldn't hide himself anymore. He finally showed himself and Addison was perplexed seeing him. "Do you really mean all that? And I see you drank all my coffee." And that's the queue for Naomi and Sam to excuse themselves so The Shepherds could talk once again. "I ahm…" Addison was stammering, "What are you doing here Derek?" He didn't answer her, he just walked closer, until he's just inches apart from the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. He lead her to the patio so they could talk privately.

"Addie, I came here to get you back. I wasn't in peace after we separated that night. And if you still really love me, come away with me. Let's start fresh." Derek held Addison's hand and brought it to his lips. "If you're not ready to give me the chance yet, I will wait. I will wait for you even if it takes forever."

"Derek I—" He pulled Addison closer to frame her body, with his. He put her head on his chest and just held her like that. He wanted her to feel his heartbeat. "You know last night I was watching you. I felt the way how you felt when I was with Meredith. It hurts, it hurts so bad that I wanna bleed myself to dry. I regret everything I've done to you Addie. Believe me. I'd be a better man for you. I'm not asking you for an instant forgiveness. Take your time, I'll just be here waiting for you, until you're ready to love me again." Derek rested his lips on top of Addison's head. "I only have a week here in LA. And I wanna spend every single time here with you. To prove you how much I still love you. That I also want to grow old with the same Addison I met in the summer. I want to continue writing songs for you and sing it to our kids to sleep." That made Addison look at Derek straight into his glimmering ocean blue eyes. Those eyes where she lost herself to another world.

"Make your stay here worth it then."

"As long as every moment is spend with you."

"Do not tail me at the practice. I mean it Derek. You can go shopping, fishing at the pier, I know you'll like it." Addison winked. "Well, I'd rather sit in front of the beach waiting for you." Derek leaned his forehead against Addison's. "Can I ask you a favor tho?" Addison pursed her lips, trying so hard not to give in to Derek's minty breath that was hitting her face. "Can I move in with you? Last night's noise from the Bennetts made me jealous." That made Addison laugh, which Derek missed so much. "Okay. You can transfer your things in my house while…" She slowly detached herself from Derek's grip. "…I go to work."

"Are we okay now then, Addie?" Derek's voice was full of hopes and certainty. "As long as you behave yourself and cook, we are." She smiled, running her fingers through Derek's soft curls. He just stared at her with smile on his face. "You really are so beautiful Addison. I'm still in love with the lines on the side of your eyes when you smile, not to mention they even light up like the stars at night."

"Alright. You're keeping me late to work now. Bye Derek." Addison left a soft kiss on Derek's cheek, the way she used to back in New York. "See you later Addie."

~

Addison reached home with dim lights and rose petals scattered all over the floor, trailing a way to her patio where Derek was waiting for her, setting a romantic dinner for the both of them. "Welcome home stranger." Derek was still wearing the smile Addison had given him this morning. He really was making a full effort to prove to Addison that he deserves a second chance. "Dinner is served." He muttered, reaching Addison's hand, guiding her to sit down. "Your favorite. Chateau Margaux." He said as he's pouring Addison a glass of red wine. "Thank you honey." Derek's heart skipped so fast when he heard Addison calling him honey. The happiness he was feeling at that moment was beyond real. Somehow, he thought, my effort is working.

The pair's dinner was full of laughter and reminiscing their happy memories together. Derek was laughing so hard when Addison made a sandwich pizza and said "I have never eaten a pizza for a long time now." Then shoved it straight to her mouth.

They were watching the tossing of waves onto the shore, and shining of stars up the night skies, while cuddling together in one lounge chair. Addison's head was resting on Derek's toned chest, while Derek's arms were wrapped around Addison's body. No one was talking, just peacefully cuddling there, feeling each other's presence. Until Derek felt Addison's slow and deep breaths. He looked down at her and she's already drifted off to sleep. So he carried her up to her room, and carefully tucked her to bed. Covering her with her warm blanket before kissing her temple and said "You really are the best part of me, Addie. I love you, I always do." Derek was about to leave but he felt Addison's grip on his hand. "Please stay. I don't want to be alone." She muttered with her eyes closed. He was battling if that's her awake, or dreaming. But Derek still answered her. "Let me just take a quick shower, then I'll join you after." He slowly felt Addison's grip loosened.

Derek stayed in the shower a little bit longer. Thinking that Addison might have been calling her friends to put her to sleep because she didn't wanna be alone. And he was blaming himself for making her feel like that. I am really an asshole. He finished showering, then he came back to join Addison in the bed. He wrapped his arm around her waist to pull her close to him. "I am so sorry Addie. I won't stop apologizing until you completely forgive me. I know that you are afraid to be alone and I am the one to be blamed for making you feel like that for a long time." Derek sniffled, and Addison heard it. "I know you won't believe me, but Addison, I am here to stay. I won't push you away nor leave you again. All I want for you tonight is to feel loved and safe under my arms. I want you to feel home again, with me." Addison couldn't help her tears to fall from her eyes as she was listening to Derek. It was like letting go of the heavy baggage she's been carrying the whole time. "I love you Addison." She felt his grip tightened around her. She finally felt home and safe again, under the comfort of the only man she loves.

" Goodnight Derek."