AN: Hi. Okay, no, i haven't forgotten about the last chapter of my other story. I haven't. But I've had writer's block and I'm still trying to figure out how to round it out. Saw 18x13 though and I got so many ideas to write about. This is one of them. It's just a short piece that's intended to get me writing again but also just to rekindle Amelia and Addison's relationship. I cried so much, guys. 18x13 hurt so good. The elevator scene and that last scene. And even Richard mentioning Derek and Addison back in New York. Miss Addek!

Anyway. Hope you like this very short oneshot. Take care!

There's comfortable silence between them as Amelia drives, a million and one things she wants to talk to Addison about but knowing now was not the time for all of it. They're driving to Meredith's house, so Addison can meet the kids, and Amelia is hyperaware of the fact that Addison is emotionally charged. The radio plays between them, but Addison is looking out the window, her eyes looking wistfully as the Seattle lights pass them by.

She's missed her. She used to always say Addison was a better sister than the ones she had, and she maintains that to this day. When she moved to Seattle, leaving Addison and her growing family behind, it was one of the only times she achingly felt like she was truly leaving family behind. Addison was her rock for so long, between her drug addiction and her unicorn baby, she stood steadfastly beside her even if she treated her like crap. With the benefit of hindsight, she knows she hasn't been the best sister to Addison. But Addie is here now, and her physical presence is all the strength she needs.

The radio unexpectedly plays a song by The Clash, and it startles Addison out of her thoughts. Amelia chances a glance at the redhead, her face looking older, the lines around her eyes more visible. But it's a life well-lived and she knows it. Addison looks back and offers her a small smile.

"It's Derek," she says with a shake of her head, gesturing to the radio absently. "He used to love The Clash."

Amelia nods, remembering all the posters that lined her big brother's room and how he and Mark used to chill out with a cassette tape playing behind them. They reach a stop light and she looks at Addison again, and that's when she notices it. She has to blink twice and squint under the dim light to get a better look at it.

"Um, Addie?"

Addison turns to her absentmindedly. "Yeah?"

Amelia purses her lips and suppresses a grin. "So uh… remember when you said Bizzy thought twirling a baton was trashy?"

Addison's brow creases slightly and then she raises a perfectly arched brow. "Yeah?"

Amelia laughs then. "What do you think she'd say about the 1, 2, 3—4! 4! Piercings you have on your ear?"

Addison's hand rises subconsciously to her left ear, her cheeks flushing lightly. She's too surprised by Amelia's keenness to say anything. Although, to be honest, Amelia had always been observant—the little presence in the corner of the room who often had something irreverent to say but also had her moments of silent watching.

"You have four piercings, just on your left ear. Four," Amelia says on a laugh, a hint of wonder and teasing in her tone. "I never thought I'd see the day that Addison Forbes Montgomery would ever—"

"Okay, okay!" Addison laughs, raises her hands in mock surrender. "You don't have to—"

"Bizzy must be rolling in her grave right about now," Amelia comments. "One is classy, two is okay. But four?"

"Trashy?" Addison supplies knowingly, unable to shake her head at the thought of Bizzy probably having a thing or two to say about her choices for self-expression.

Amelia shakes her head. "No. I mean—no. Except maybe for a Forbes Montgomery like you. Aren't you supposed to be wearing pearls bigger than my eyeballs and a chignon?"

"Yes, well," Addison answers, shifting in her seat. "It's unconventional."

"Damn right it is," Amelia snorts. "And downright untraditional. Unless, I mean… it's more piercings to hold more diamonds than I would ever own in my entire life."

Addison laughs then. "I've always wanted another piercing," she explains. "And of course Bizzy was against it."

"Is that why you came with me when I asked you—"

"To get your 2nd piercing even though your mom was going to get mad at both of us?" Addison finishes on a laugh. "I was living vicariously through you. I never had the guts to be as carpe diem about life as you."

"What do you mean?" This, Amelia does not understand. Since she was fourteen years old, she had looked up to Addison and admired her strength and her courage and her sass. Addison was her staunch believer, and watching her gave her the courage to live life when no one in her own family wanted anything to do with her.

Addison shrugs in response, gives Amelia a half smile. "You were always unafraid to just go for the things you wanted. I loved that about you. Still do. You just… go after life with such childlike enthusiasm. You're not afraid to make mistakes. You're not here to please people. You're here for yourself."

Amelia has to bite her lip at the sentiment, definitely not expecting the all too familiar feeling of Addison's unconditional belief in her. It was disconcerting, but it was precisely why Addison was her sister through and through, irreplaceable, no matter how many years it's been.

She clears her throat and dispels the emotion, fully aware now was still not the time for all they had missed out on each other's lives. "Well… it seems to me like you're finally doing this for yourself too."

Addison smiles but says nothing.

"And three times over at that—and that's only your left ear. Do I get to see the right?"

"Amelia… they're ear piercings," Addison says seriously. "If I were trying to hide them, I'd never put my hair up like this." A pause, and then, "Fine, there's four on the right, too."

Amelia laughs triumphantly. "Okay but… what does Henry think of it?"

"Henry?"

Amelia shrugs. "You're probably the cool mom at school."

"No actually. I'm the old mom at school," she corrects, but there's no trace of bitterness in her tone. "And I did it for myself. Jake and I were in New York for a fertility conference and he just pulled me into a tattoo salon and had it done."

"All of them at the same time?"

"No time like the present."

"Does Jake have one too? I think that would be very sexy on him."

Addison giggles. "It's very sexy… especially when he isn't clean-shaven and he's just—"

"Okay!"

Addison laughs again, hearty, full, real. She doesn't remember ever laughing this much in Seattle. Seattle had always been a conflicting place for her. She had her heart broken here, too many times than she could count that she often wonders how she's still standing today. But she wouldn't deny the good things that came out of it—a sense of self. Friendship. The determination to live her life for herself and no one else. But the ache in her chest is present, still. Because no matter how happy she is with life with Jake, Derek would always be a part of her. And she yearns unconsolably to feel him, even just a little, here. There was a reason she didn't come to the funeral—she didn't think herself strong enough. She thought, after 5 years, she'd be man enough to face it. But she discovers there are parts of her that are still raw and unhealed, and will probably remain so.

Amelia notes the shift in Addison's emotions, knows she's thinking about Derek. Knows she's replaying their lives together. Knows full well the ache that is ever present when Derek is involved. She casts her a sympathetic look, eyes so soft and heartfelt.

"He'd have liked it."

Addison turns to her again, her eyes misty and nose red as she battles against another onslaught of tears. "What?"

"Derek," she clarifies. "He'd have liked the piercings."

"I don't know," Addison replies unsurely. She can't wrap her mind around it.

"It's not the piercings, per se," Amelia continues thoughtfully, eyes on the road but aware of the importance of the moment. "He always loved you because you were confident, and he hated it when your family made you feel less."

Addison nods wordlessly. She knows this is true. Derek had never made it a secret that he hated it when Bizzy said things or the Captain did things that made Addison emotional, that made her question her own capacity. It was an overwhelming insecurity that Derek always felt was unfair.

"I think," Amelia continues. "That he'd had loved you breaking out of other people's expectations and just allowing yourself to be… you. He'd love that you are unapologetic about being yourself."

Addison pauses, an image of Derek smiling at her now at the forefront of her mind, all the moments in the past he'd prodded her gently to forget about what Bizzy would say.

"I think he'd be proud of you," Amelia finishes, casting Addison another knowing look as she parks the car at Meredith's house.

Addison meets Amelia's gaze gratefully, take her hand and squeezes it in hers. "He'd be proud of you too."

Amelia grins—that childlike grin that she kept and that always makes Addison so nostalgic for the little girl who begged her to buy her a push-up bra when she was 16. So much history, beautiful history, that she's happy to just be in the moment with her sister.

AN: Short and sweet? I know. One of the things that had me gawking, even from the promo pics, was Addison having multiple ear piercings. I thought it was kind of OOC, but so in character for Kate Walsh. She definitely made "Baddie Addie" a thing, and I'm all for it. Thought it would be nice to explore a little of that. There's another story that's half-written in the notes section of my phone, but that one's underdeveloped. Hope you guys liked it. Looking forward to reading more fics that take off from 18x13. Addison coming back to Seattle is just a beautiful, beautiful thing. Much love to all of you!