Okay, this chapter has quite a bit of dialogue, and I don't think I am the best at writing that, so please bear with me.

I have so many ideas for upcoming chapters, but I need the dialogue to get there!

Anyways, I only planned for this story to be maybe two or three chapters. So, I can't believe I am saying this, but here is chapter 6.

…

"Wait, so now you're going to the Hamptons?"

"Yes, Savvy! And Derek actually agreed to go," Addison chimed back.

"That's great. This could really be a turning point for you guys."

Addison felt a wide smile spread across her face and said, "that's what I am hoping for."

"But even if it isn't a complete 180, it is something."

Addison nodded, even though she knew Savvy couldn't see her through the phone. Typical Savvy. Always optimistic but with a hint of realism. "Yeah, it's something, and that is much better than what we have been doing."

"Exactly! Just keep that attitude and hold Derek to his word."

"That is going to be the hard part. He bucked a little when I said we needed to call in Monday and Tuesday."

Savvy let out a sigh and said, "baby steps, Addie. Baby steps. This man hasn't taken a workday off in, what? Years? So, taking just Monday is difficult for him."

"I know, I know. That is why I thanked him for agreeing."

"What did he say?"

"That I don't have to thank him for spending time with family," Addison mumbled, rolling her eyes.

"Well, he has made you feel like you have to be thankful."

"Exactly."

"But," Savvy added, in a high-pitched voice that always indicated she was about to take a positive turn. "At least he realizes that family time is expected and not worthy of praise."

"And that is something."

"Exactly. Okay, anyways, do you actually think Nancy will be surprised? I mean you know how she is."

Addison laughed and said, "I have no clue, but I'm going to try."

"Well, let me know how it goes and wish her a happy birthday for me, okay?"

"I will, Sav. Talk to you later."

"Bye, Addie."

…

"Are you sure it's alright," Derek asked into the phone.

"Derek, you didn't even take Thanksgiving off last year. I think two days will be fine."

Derek cringed at his response. He had completely forgotten about last Thanksgiving. Addison had to eat at his mom's house alone because he was pulled into a surgery. She didn't speak to him for two days after.

"Thanks, Chief. If the attending covering me has any questions, tell her to call me."

"I will not tell her that because she might listen, and knowing you, you will come to the hospital."

"You sound like my wife," Derek said.

"Well, maybe you should think about what that means."

"Fine, fine. We will see you Wednesday, Chief."

"Have a good time, Derek."

Derek hung-up the phone and sat down at the bar. He spent so much time at work that his boss was actually grateful he was taking two days off.

God, this is exactly what Addison was talking about.

He ran an exhausted hand through his hair and walked over to the coffee pot. He quickly topped off his and made another cup for Addison.

She's going to need this. A weekend with my family and party planning. Yes, she will definitely need this.

He started towards the stairs hearing her voice in his head, "yes, coffee. It always helps."

…

"Mmmm, you do love me," Addison said taking the coffee from his hand.

"I figured you would need it," he mumbled and gestured to all of the clothes on the bed.

She glared at him and said, "I need all of this, Derek."

He sat down on the one empty spot on the bed and said, "oh, how well I know. You always need absolutely all of it."

She pointed a finger at him and said, "thin ice, Derek. Thin ice."

He held up his free hand in surrender and said, "okay, okay."

"So, I have been brainstorming about the vibe we want for this party, and I keep hitting a roadblock."

"And what might that be," Derek asked.

"Your mother." Derek let out a loud laugh and she continued, "typically I would say fancy. You know with dresses and ties, but your mother-"

"Would hate that," Derek finished.

"Exactly. So, I thought, what if we toned it down a bit to dressy casual, but-"

"My mother would question why you are the only one wearing a dress and heels," Derek added.

Addison nodded and said, "exactly. So, I can't do anything right for her."

"Addison, my mother loves you."

"And I love when you lie to me like that," she said sweetly, but Derek knew she was being anything other than sweet.

"You are very different people, and that's okay," he added.

Addison raised an eyebrow and said, "gosh, that's such a great way of saying she thinks I am all wrong for you."

"Addison, I am tired of this argument."

"Oh, I am just getting started," she mumbled while taking a sip of her coffee.

"No, I mean in general. We have been bickering about this since-"

"Medical school," Addison finished. "Because your mother has hated me ever since I first came home with you for Thanksgiving. Remember? She was appalled that I had not even considered going to be with my family for the holidays."

"Addison, you know my family is very close, so it is just hard for her to imagine one of us wanting to spend Thanksgiving break away from home."

"But here's the thing, Derek! If I would have gone home for Thanksgiving, you would have gone with me, and she would have hated me for that. So, like always with her, I am damned if I do and damned if I don't."

Derek got up from the bed and took Addison's coffee cup from her hand. "But I love you no matter what, so you still win."

"It doesn't feel that way."

He frowned and said, "what does that mean?"

"No, no, no. I mean it feels like I am not winning because your mom still hates me. I want her to like me, Derek."

Derek grabbed her waist and pulled her in for a hug. "My mother doesn't hate you."

"Your hug says 'truth', but your words are lies," Addison mumbled into his neck.

He let out a small laugh and said, "you are ridiculous."

Addison suddenly pulled away and said, "okay! We need to pack. I got your bag out, and I took some of your shirts out of the closet."

"I'll handle my clothes, don't worry. It seems like you have…. a lot to worry about," Derek mumbled glancing around at all of her clothes.

"Derek, one more time and I swear!"

"Okay, okay. But I mean you do have to admit that it looks a little bit like…"

"Like what, Derek? Like what?"

Derek glanced around awkwardly and said, "like your closet vomited."

"Out" she yelled, pointing towards the door with one hand and throwing some fabric at him with the other.

Laughing as he went, Derek pretended to be blocking more clothing. "I will give you and… your clothes some space."

…

Derek walked back into the kitchen and opened the fridge. His eyes landed on the wrapped-up chicken they had both ruined. He pulled it out and with it came the memories of the night before. He thought about how hopeful Addison was about the food and how hurt she was when he didn't want to cook. She spent so much time planning, and then it didn't even go as she wanted. It embarrassed her, and he could tell. The look on her face when they pulled the chicken out still hurt him.

She planned all of this and you fought her every single step of the way. That's probably why the recipe wasn't right. She was flustered. No. Addison never let nerves get to her. Right?

He put the chicken on a plate and started warming it in the microwave.

I went upstairs to work on charts, and I did not even need to. Why did I do that?

He pulled the chicken out of the microwave, cut a small piece, and took a bite. It was actually pretty good. He wouldn't pay money for it, but it was good.

I have to remember to tell Addison.

Derek was pulled from his thoughts by his phone ringing.

"Derek," the voice on the other end said. "What's up, buddy? You have a second to talk?"

"Oh, yeah. I'm eating some leftover chicken, and Addison is packing, so I have a few minutes."

"Why are you eating chicken this early in the morning?"

Derek paused for a moment because he also realized that this was an odd thing to do. "Oh, um it's leftovers and I was just….it doesn't matter. What's up Weiss?"

Weiss quickly moved on and said, "listen, I have to work this weekend, and Savvy mentioned you guys going to the Hamptons?

"Yes."

"Well, she actually nagged me about how we never go to the Hamptons anymore. But anyways, I was wondering if Savvy could go. If it's not an imposition."

"Weiss, you know it's never an imposition. Especially to Addison."

"Okay, great," Weiss said, in a relieved voice.

"Since when do you work on the weekend?"

"Oh, um I just have a lot going on. Massive case, but Savvy will be home alone, and she has been nagging me about it."

Derek took another bite of the leftover chicken and said, "Savvy is always welcome. That is if she wants to come."

"I'm sure she will," Weiss said. "She hates spending the weekend alone."

"Okay, well I'll tell Addison to ask her."

"Thanks, Derek."

"Of course."

As Derek was about to hang-up the phone Weiss stopped him.

"Hey, one more thing. Could you maybe not tell Addison about this?"

Derek paused for a moment and said, "yeah, sure."

"Thanks, Derek. I just…. want it to feel authentic."

Derek hung up the phone and continued to think about Weiss. He never worked over the weekend. Ever. As long as he had known Weiss, he never did that. Derek was well aware that he did not have a leg to stand on, but still. It was out of character for Weiss.

"ADDISON," Derek yelled.

He heard her feet coming down the stairs.

"What, honey? I don't have time to- Wait. Are you eating the chicken?"

Derek looked down at the plate, remembering it again. "Oh, yeah. It's actually pretty good. I was going to tell you."

"Oh really," she asked. There was a light in her eyes that she couldn't hide.

Derek put a piece on the fork and said, "have a bite."

Addison walked over, took a bite from the fork and looked at him. "It isn't bad."

"I know. I have no clue what we did wrong."

"I thought we agreed that it was your incision that ruined the chicken, Derek."

"Oh, right! I completely forgot," Derek said. "It's all my fault."

"Exactly," Addison said putting another piece of chicken in her mouth. "Did you bring me down here to admit, yet again, that you ruined the chicken?"

Derek took the fork back and said, "actually, I wanted to talk to you about Savvy."

"What about Savvy?"

"What if we invited her to the Hamptons with us?"

Addison swallowed her bite of chicken and said, "I mean, your sister said she wanted it to be a family thing. Savvy is pretty much family, but still."

"Savvy is very much family, and I know Nancy will feel the same way."

Addison looked at him for a second and raised her eyebrow. "Derek, Savvy already knows we are going, and she did not ask to go. Besides, it's short notice."

Derek knew her response was more than just inquisitiveness, and he also felt a pang of guilt from attempting to keep a secret from her. "I'm sure she wouldn't want to invite herself, so we should extend an invitation."

She looked at him, trying desperately to read his face. Derek was typically a generous person, but this was completely out of left field, and she knew it. He loved Savvy, and so did his family, but his was different. Him suggesting that Savvy be invited to a Shepherd Family party…that was out of left field. And judging by his face, Derek knew that Addison was suspicious.

"Derek, where is this coming from?"

"She's your best friend, Addie. Plus, my sisters love her."

Addison eyed him for a moment, still not completely convinced by his response, so he continued, "well, it's going to be a stressful weekend, and I thought you would appreciate having a close friend to help you cope with my family."

"Well, I don't know if Weiss will be able to go. He has been working a lot more, so we'll have to ask."

Derek breathed a sigh of relief and said, "call her and ask, but maybe don't tell her I suggested it."

"Derek, I know how to talk to people."

"I know you do, Addison. I'm just saying."

Addison took another bite of the leftover chicken and said, "it isn't bad, you know."

He gave her a small smile and said, "maybe we should have ditched the ramen noodles."

"I wouldn't go quite that far."

Taking the fork from her he said, "we'll have to figure out how to prefect this for next time."

She couldn't help but grin at him. "Next time?"

"Well, we are both perfectionists, so I assumed you would want to try again."

"Maybe next weekend?"

Derek laughed and said, "yeah, maybe next weekend."

"Okay, I'm gonna go call Savvy to see if she has plans."

"Okay. I'll be up in a few minutes to help pack."

Addison walked towards the door and then suddenly turned back. "Thank you."

"For what?"

She sighed and said, "I don't know. I guess everything. Last night, taking off of work, and wanting to invite Savvy."

He looked up at her standing there with her fingers held up as she numbered the great things he had done. "Of course," he mumbled, feeling his chest hurt from the guilt.

"Hurry up and finish the chicken. We have a lot to do," she said, and then disappeared up the stairs.

He watched her go and felt his heart jerk.

Why didn't I just tell her? Weiss asking you to keep it a secret makes it even worse because now you are both keeping secrets from your wives.

But why was Weiss asking him to keep it a secret? Him and Weiss had always been close, but they were not the kind of friends that kept secrets from their wives.

Maybe that's because I'm not the guy that keeps secrets from his wife, and Weiss knows that. But why would he keep work a secret from Savvy?

Savvy and Weiss had a great relationship, as far as Derek knew. Or at least Addison had not ever told him differently. Also, why was Weiss working more? Him and Savvy worked at the same law firm and frequently worked on the same cases.

All of these thoughts ran through Derek's mind but the one that bothered him most was how Addison was unaware.

Savvy is her best friend. How have Savvy and Weiss reached a point where Weiss is working so much that he does this, and Addison isn't even questioning it?

Derek stood up and shook his head. Savvy and Weiss were none of his business. They had a marriage, and he had one. Right now, his marriage was the important one, and he needed to focus on that. He needed to go upstairs, ignore the ridicules amount of clothes Addison was packing, and be present for her.

…

I think this is the longest chapter I have ever written? I did not plan that, but when I started writing it kind of happened.
I know this is controversial to say because Amelia is the popular Shephard sister, but Nancy is my favorite. That one episode of Greys she was in has really stuck with me because of her friendship with Addison, and the way she is so McBitchy (in the best way).

Anyways, Savvy and Weiss! I reallllly hope you like them because their storyline is def gonna continue here. I have a whole plot twist idea that I can't wait to write about, but it's gonna take a few more chapters before we can get there.

So, as always, leave a review to let me know what you think. xxx