…
Addison glanced around the room utterly confused.
"Where am I," she mumbled to herself.
It looked like the inside of the hospital, but it seemed to be disguised with cheap décor. She looked left and saw the tall pillars in their usual spot, and then looked right. Yep, there sat the nurse's station that she frequently leaned on to question the nurses about Derek's schedule. This was definitely the hospital, but it's insides were covered in decorations and lights. The typically all white pillars had black streamers wrapped around them and the nurse's station had been covered and turned into a bar. There were tables placed everywhere and they all had silver and black balloons floating above them.
"Is this the hospital," she asked herself.
She was surrounded by her fellow doctors that were all dressed to the nines. Addison herself was wearing a dress. She pulled her hand up to her face uncomfortably and noticed a corsage on her wrist. She stared at the flowers confused.
"Am I at a…prom?"
She glanced down at her own dress which was red and shuffled her feet that appeared to be in high heels. Suddenly a song came on. A slow song that sounded familiar, but she couldn't quite place it.
"Would you like to dance," a familiar voice asked.
Addison turned immediately and saw Derek standing in front of her. He was dressed in a black tux and holding his hand out for her. His always perfect hair looked ever more in place than usual, and he was wearing his best 'Derek smile' that she loved so much. Without thinking twice, she took his hand and they were swaying.
"You look beautiful," he mumbled just for her to hear.
She leaned into him and sighed. They swayed silently as the music echoed through the air. Derek pulled her closer and started rubbing small circles on her back. Addison put her head on his shoulder in response and felt herself fall further into him, until it seemed like only his strength was holding them both up.
Suddenly there was a loud bang that caused Addison to pull her head from Derek's shoulder and looked around.
"What is it," he asked.
"Don't you hear that?"
Derek frowned at her and shook his head. He pulled her back against him and continued dancing.
Addison, desperate to enjoy the attention her very spiffy husband was giving her, decided to ignore the noise. She leaned herself back on his shoulder and began swaying. Derek moved his head so his lips were right against her ear. As they swayed, she could hear him breathing, and once again felt herself fall into him. About the time she became comfortable, she heard the loud noise again.
"You don't hear that," she asked Derek.
"Addie, what are you talking about?"
"There is was again," she said, looking around frantically.
Derek followed her eyes around the room and said, "no one hears it but you Addison."
She looked around and realized Derek was right. Everyone was in their own world, swaying to the song that she still couldn't remember the words to even though she was certain she knew it.
"Addison," a voice called.
"What," she asked.
Derek frowned at her.
"Did you say my name," she asked him.
"Honey, are you okay," he asked. "No one said your name."
"Addison," the voice called again.
Addison suddenly felt herself being pulled away from Derek. She reached her arms out for him and watched as him and the poorly decorated hospital lobby became harder to see.
"Addison, wake up!"
She jumped into consciousness with a jolt.
"Savvy is knocking on the door," Derek groaned.
Addison grabbed Derek's arm that was already wrapped around her bare waist. She clung to it grateful that he was no longer floating away.
"Addison, did you hear me," he mumbled and slightly lifted his arm.
"Oh, um yes," she said. "I'm getting up."
She reluctantly let go of Derek's arm and threw her legs over the side of the bed. After fumbling around for a few moments, she found a t-shirt and shorts. She slipped them on and glanced back at Derek who had drifted back into a somber sleep. He was almost completely uncovered from where she got up, so she walked over to cover him. Before pulling the covers over the top half of his body she stood admiring what was hers. She pulled the covers up to his chest and gave him a quick kiss, causing him to open his eyes slightly.
"Come back to bed," he groaned, half asleep.
"I have to go see Savvy."
He gave her a sleepy nod, seeming to remember that he was the one who woke her because of the knocking.
She turned towards the door and quietly opened it.
"Addie, I'm so sorry to wake you but-"
"Shhhh," Addison hushed, pointing towards a sleeping Derek. She waved her hand and lead Savvy down the stairs.
When they finally made it into the living room, she turned to Savvy and waited.
Addison herself felt the living room fill to the brim with tension. She glanced at Savvy who seemed to be drowning in it. She stood a few feet from Addison bouncing from one foot to the other and biting her lip.
"Well," Addison said.
"I slept with Mark," Savvy almost yelled.
"Yes, you did."
They stood in silence; Addison quite unsure of what exactly to say.
"I shouldn't have slept with Mark."
"Probably not," Addison agreed.
"But I did."
Addison nodded but before she could reply Savvy began her speech.
"Addison, Weiss is sleeping with someone. I wish I would have told you, but I don't have proof. Plus, you and Derek were dealing with your own problems. The last thing you needed was to hear me ramble about how I know my husband is screwing someone else even though I don't actually know. Anyways you can lecture me about how two wrongs don't make a right, but I don't regret sleeping with Mark. Yes, it was stupid, but Weiss deserves it."
"Savvy I-"
"No," Savvy cut her off. "I know adultery is awful or whatever and you have issues with it because of your childhood, but my marriage is practically over."
"Savvy-"
"The Captain and Bizzy are different," Savvy continued. "Weiss and I don't have kids. All we have is an awful marriage."
"Savannah, will you let me speak," Addison asked.
Savvy stared to speak but stopped and nodded.
"Thank you," Addison said. "Let me be very clear, I love Weiss, but my loyalty is to you. I do not care who you sleep with okay?"
Savvy nodded and wiped a newly fallen tear from her cheek.
"Now," Addison continued. "Please do not ever keep something like your husband having an affair from me again. Your feelings are always worth sharing. Plus, The Captain and Bizzy have nothing to do with this."
"Okay," Savvy replied.
They stood quietly, taking everything in. Of course, Savvy knew about Addison's father and his philandering ways. Addison had only ever told two people, Savvy being one and Derek the other. It wasn't exactly something she enjoyed talking about, but you tend to get close with someone when you share an apartment during all of pre med and med school. It didn't take long for Addison to make it clear how untrustworthy she felt men were, and Savvy couldn't help but question. By that time, Addison felt safe enough to tell her about the Captain. Derek finding out was a whole different story.
"Coffee," Addison asked, and pointed towards the kitchen.
"Please," Savvy begged.
…
"Okay, so how was it?"
Savvy looked up from her steaming mug and frowned.
"You know what I mean," Addison insisted.
"No, I don't," Savvy said.
"The sex. How was the sex?"
"Addison Adrianne Forbes Montgomery Shepherd," Savvy yelled.
They both busted out laughing. Partly at Addison's question but also at Savvy saying all of her names. It was an inside joke they had, which Savvy only brought up on rare occasions. It all started when Addison and Derek got engaged and in celebration, her and Savvy spent a very drunken night giggling about how tacking Derek's last name onto hers would infuriate Bizzy. By the end of the night they had finished far too many bottles of wine and said "Addison Adrianne Forbes Montgomery Shepherd" about fifty times. They even toasted to it.
"I need the details," Addison begged through laughter.
"It was… fine I guess."
Addison glanced at Savvy across her mug of coffee and raised her eyebrow.
"I mean, I did enjoy myself."
"On a scale from 1 to 10," Addison asked.
Savvy shrugged and said, "I would give it a six, but I would give my buzz an eleven. Everything was fine, but it just wasn't-"
"Savvy, it's okay if it wasn't perfect," Addison interrupted. "Most people like to brag about drunken sex but the fact is that most people struggle having a proper orgas-"
"Addison," Savvy interrupted. "Please do not start quoting medical journals. Especially ones about alcohol and orgasms."
"Okay, okay," Addison relented.
They both sipped their coffee silently and avoided eye contact. Addison tapped her foot gently, trying her best not to unload more unwanted medical knowledge on Savvy.
She finally gave in and said, "statistically speaking, most women do struggle to reach clima-"
"Addison," Savvy yelled. "Please spare me."
"Fine," Addison surrendered.
Savvy walked over to the coffee pot and poured another cup. She lifted it up and looked at Addison.
"Please," Addison responded, and immediately began walking over so Savvy could give her a refill.
"Can I have one of those," a voice called.
Addison knew the voice all too well and turned with a smile as Derek walked into the kitchen.
"My sleep was interrupted by girl talk so I need an extra strong cup," Derek said.
Addison retrieved a cup for him as Savvy offered up her best apology.
"We had things to talk about," Savvy said.
Derek quickly poured a cup for himself and began his perfect mixture. He gave it a sip and headed straight over to Addison.
"While I do understand that girl talk is necessary," he said, "you stole my morning cuddle partner from me."
Addison gave him a small smile as he positioned himself next to her and wrapped one of his arms around her waist.
Addison turned her face to him and nuzzled her nose against his cheek and gave it a quick kiss.
"While we are apologizing though," Derek said, "I would like to extend my sincere apologies for barging in on you and…."
"No worries," Savvy said, embarrassed.
"No, I should have knocked," Derek insisted. "But I was looking for Addison because we had…a lot to talk about and I wasn't thinking."
"No, Derek, it really is fine," Savvy insisted. "I hardly remember the entire thing anyways."
Addison felt Derek's body get very ridged against her.
"It was just all a poor choice," Savvy continued. "Weiss and I have been going through something and I just, I really don't know. Mark seemed to understand and next thing I knew we were-"
"Wait," Derek interrupted. "You told Mark you were having marital issues while you were drunk?"
Savvy gave him a questioning glance and nodded her head.
"Yes," she said. "As you guys know we've never really been the best of friends, other than hanging out with you guys in college, but he really listened to me last night. It was nice."
Addison felt Derek pull his arm from around her and looked at him confused.
"He knew you were drunk and emotional vulnerable and he-"
"Derek it wasn't like that," Savvy interrupted him.
Derek slammed his already empty coffee cup on the table and said, "yes, it is like that. I can't believe him. I thought he was better than that."
Savvy looked at Addison desperately wanting her to calm Derek down.
"He is unbelievable," Derek yelled. "It's disgusting to do that to anyone but to someone we all know…"
"Honey, please calm down," Addison begged.
Derek turned towards the door and said, "no. I will not calm down."
Addison tried to grab his arm, but he already out of her reach.
"Derek," Savyy called and then looked at Addison desperately.
Addison shrugged and said, "I don't think we can stop him."
They stood quietly and listened to Derek's footsteps go up the stairs and into the room where Mark was sleeping.
Savvy and Addison stood, both too afraid to question what was actually being said inside of Mark's room. They both knew Derek was far from violent, but even the thought of him yelling at Mark made them both uncomfortable. Although this wasn't the first time Mark had disappointed Derek with his romantic choices, this seemed different.
"He's right," Addison finally said, breaking the silence.
Savvy gave her a questioning glance and she continued with, "Mark knew you were vulnerable because of your marriage and he slept with you anyways."
"Addie, it wasn't like that he-"
"Savvy, no one is saying he forced himself," Addison interrupted, "it just wasn't appropriate."
Savvy sat down on the bar stool and put her head down. "Perhaps sleeping with Mark wasn't such a great idea," she confessed.
Addison nodded in agreement, but only because she knew Savvy couldn't see her.
"Look, Sav. No one is upset with you. It's just that Mark makes poor choices."
Before Addison could say anything else, she heard sniffling and walked over to a crying Savvy to comfort her.
"It's going to be okay," Addison said, while giving her a comforting hug.
"Is it really," Savvy asked in a shaky voice.
"I have no clue, that's just something people say," Addison said, borrowing a phrase Derek frequently used on her.
"But," Addison continued, "for what it's worth, I think it will be okay."
They both looked up suddenly when they heard footsteps coming down the stairs.
"Oh God," Savvy mumbled.
"Savvy," Derek called from the bottom of the stairs. "Mark has something he would like to say to you."
Addison and Savvy looked directly at Mark who was wearing pajama pants and a humiliated expression. An expression that looked less like a grown man and more like a child that had just been scolded by their parent.
"If you have a minute, Sav," he mumbled.
Savvy sighed and walked into the living room with him.
When she exited the room, Derek turned to the coffee pot and made himself another cup. He stirred in his cream and took a grateful sip.
"Um, excuse me," Addison said. "Are you going to tell me what happened?"
Derek took another sip of his coffee and said, "I told him he took advantage of an upset and intoxicated woman. No matter how willing she may have seemed, it was still wrong. Now he is apologizing."
Addison felt herself smiling and tried to hide the curves of her lips with her coffee mug. She was unsuccessful because Derek tilted his head and raised an eyebrow at her.
"What is it," he asked.
"Oh, nothing," she insisted.
"Addison."
"I don't know," she said. "I just think it's cute, you protecting Savvy."
"Even if it wasn't Savvy, I would still feel this way," he insisted.
"I know. I can tell."
Derek walked over to her and sat his mug down next to hers. She casually reached over for it and took a sip, his eyes on her the entire time.
"Mmmmm," she said. "You always make better coffee than me."
"Well, you mix better drinks than me," Derek said.
She smiled at him and said, "what a duo we are."
He took her mug and raised it to what she said and took a sip. After he swallowed, he frowned at her.
"I do make better coffee than you."
She playfully hit his arm and gritted her teeth.
"Hey, you said it first," he insisted.
"Whatever," she groaned. "Just for that, I'm keeping your coffee."
"No fair," Derek said, even though they both knew he was more than willing to share.
…
"Hey, hey, hey," Nancy called from the living room.
Addison, Derek, Savvy and Mark exited the kitchen to greet her and the rest of Derek's family.
"Hey, birthday girl," Derek said.
He embraced Nancy and squeezed her extra hard out of guilt.
Nancy let him and pulled back to say something, causing Derek to cringe. If she gave him a tongue lashing for missing her birthday party, it would be more than deserved.
"Well," she said. "Has anyone started thinking about lunch?"
Derek breathed a sigh of relief and pointed to Addison before saying, "Addie was just talking about going down to the pier."
"Seafood smells," Carolyn said.
"I think it sounds great," Nancy said, and gave Addison a wink.
Addison gave her a thankful smile.
"Well, you are the birthday girl," Carolyn said. "I guess it can't hurt to get some shrimp before I leave. Now, I have a bone to pick with you, mister."
Derek felt himself go red when he saw his mother's eyes on him.
"Mom, it's fine," Nancy insisted. "I'm leaving today and I would rather spend my remaining time happy."
"Today," several voices questioned.
"I know, I know. But I have children I need to be getting home to."
"You just got here Nancy Pants," Mark said.
"It's good to get away for one night, but I need to be getting back to the little ones," Nancy said. "Now, let's go get something to eat before my stomach starts taking bites out of my backbone."
Derek grimaced at her words. It was something she had always said and he hated it.
"I promise that won't happen" he insisted.
Nancy turned to him abruptly and said, "I'd watch myself mister. Just because I didn't let mom yell at you…."
"Okay, okay," Derek said. "But I do need to say how sorry I am for missing your birthday party."
"Whatever," she said with a shrug. "It must have been one hell of a patient."
Derek stared at the floor and said nothing.
Addison stepped into the center of the group and said, "okay, so lunch! Maybe we should just drive down and walk around for a bit."
Derek gave her a grateful smile that she returned.
"To the cars," Addison asked.
"Actually, I would like a mimosa first," Carolyn interjected.
Everyone went silent and looked around for a moment.
"Well, what a birthday miracle," Nancy said.
Everyone laughed in unison and continued sharing their look of shock. Carolyn never drank with them, and she certainly never suggested drinking.
"I've always heard that Addison makes a mean drink," Carolyn said. "I would like to finally give it a test."
Derek immediately looked at Addison who was trying to hide her pride.
"She definitely does," Derek agreed. "I'm sure she would be more than happy to treat everyone."
"Well," Lizzy said, "I am most certainly down for a few mimosas."
"This is how it starts," Mark said.
Everyone gave him a questioning glance. And he continued.
"You make plans, Addison starts making drinks, and then next thing you know, absolutely no one is capable of driving."
"Will that be my legacy," Addison asked, and started her trek into the kitchen.
Derek quickly followed her and slipped his hand into hers, even though it was a very short walk from the kitchen.
…
"So, the secret is a splash of raspberry vodka," Addison said.
Carolyn looked on and nodded as she waited for Addison to make her third drink. Much to everyone's surprise, Carolyn had very much enjoyed her first drink and she gleefully asked for two more, all while praising Addison.
"You just need a splash with the orange juice and champagne, but it makes it," Addison insisted.
"Plus, those little ice shivers," Derek said, while watching on proudly.
From across the room Mark yelled, "here's to the ice shivers," as he raised his glass.
"If the orange juice is slightly frozen, it's better," Addison said.
Carolyn nodded and said, "well, sweetheart it is delicious."
Carolyn then nodded towards the rest of the crowd that were talking fiercely and guzzling their drinks. "They certainly seem to agree."
Addison smiled at her gratefully and sipped her drink. Suddenly she felt Derek wrap his arm around her waist.
"Can I have another, please," he asked.
"It would be my pleasure," she said.
Addison took his glass and started her work on his drink. Derek leaned against the counter and watched her.
"And just a splash of vodka," Addison said.
"Not too much though," Derek said. He had watched her make many drinks. He couldn't ever make them taste as good as hers, but he knew what she was going to say next.
She looked up and him and smiled.
"And since this is a new jug of orange juice, I'm going to use crushed ice and crush it a little more," Addison said.
She looked up at Derek and saw that he was already holding the bowl that she used to crush ice in. He handed it to her with a smile and watched as she crushed and then poured it into the drink shaker.
"Then you pour it into your glass, and voilà," Addison said and she handed Derek his drink.
He gave her a mischievous smile and said, "thank you, ma'am."
They both looked up and saw Carolyn staring at them.
"What," Addison asked.
"It's just sweet," she said.
Derek and Addison exchanged a glance and then looked back at her.
"Nothing," she insisted, and walked back over to the island where everyone was talking.
…
"And then, Mark called me, completely sloshed," Nancy said.
"Oh god, and he started rambling about how Derek left everyone," Lizzy finished.
"Yep," Nancy said. "Mark was ranting about how Derek ditched all of us because of the girl from his anatomy class."
"Everyone was about to go down to the ski slopes, thinking he would meet them," Mark said. "I had to call hotel rooms frantically and explain that Derek was on his way back to campus with their ski passes in his suitcase."
Everyone cackled at the story they had all heard at least twenty times. It was one of those that never got boring, especially after a few drinks.
"Addison called," Derek said. "I had to go."
"No one is mad, brother," Mark insisted.
"To be fair he had waited months for her to call," Nancy said.
Derek cut his eyes at her and said, "way to call me out, Nancy."
Nancy shrugged and Lizzy leaned across the bar to say, "Derek we all heard about how obsessed you were with Addison. This is not new information."
Derek felt his cheeks turn slightly pink and turned to look at Addison who was grinning at him.
"I was happy you called," he admitted.
"To say the least," Mark mumbled.
"Look," Addison, announced. "I would like to say, for the millionth time, that I am sorry for ruining everyone's ski trip, but I had to call him."
"I'll never forget how anxious she was," Savvy said.
"He was in another state, Sav," Addison yelled. "I didn't want to ruin his vacation."
Mark snorted and said, "you didn't ruin his vacation. You made his vacation, but you ruined theirs," and he pointed to Derek's sisters.
Addison buried her face in her hands to laugh and said in a muffled voice, "I'm sorry."
Derek pulled her against him and gave the side of her head a kiss. "I'm glad you called," he mumbled against her hair.
"Okay, okay," Carolyn interrupted.
Everyone looked up because her voice had taken a serious tone.
Carolyn took a sip of her drink to ease her words and said, "the real question is when will the two of you bless me with another grandchild."
Addison felt her stomach and heart both drop to the floor.
"They would make a beautiful baby, right," Carolyn asked.
Nancy and Lizzy laughed in hopes to ease the tension and Savvy looked at Addison sympathetically.
"I mean look at them," Carolyn said. "They would make an absolutely gorgeous baby."
Everyone was quite for a second, looking around. Everyone in the room knew that babies were not an option for Addison and Derek at the moment, everyone except for Carolyn.
"Of course, our babies would be beautiful," Derek said, "I mean look at how gorgeous my wife is."
Addison felt his eyes on her and she gulped, not quite sure of what was to follow.
"But," Derek said, "Addie and I are both focused on work right now. In the meantime, we will think about how beautiful our babies are bound to be."
Addison gave him a smile that she knew he was expecting, even though he didn't act like it. They had of course discussed children over the years but every time they discussed it; it just wasn't the time. They didn't start their marriage with children being the endgame. Their endgame had always been happiness, and that happiness meant peaking in their careers together.
"But you've been working for so long," Carolyn said. "Isn't it time you work on something else."
Derek walked over to a silent Addison and said, "no. Maybe that will change with time, but at this moment we are focused on ourselves."
She looked up at him and gave a grateful smile.
"Besides," Derek said, "this is just the beginning of our life. We have so much more to come."
…
Okay that's chapter 11. After 11 years of marriage, it seems like Carolyn is finally warming up to Addison. It's about time, right?
BTW I'm feeling a little bit of a time jump coming pretty soon, so prepare for that.
As always, let me know what you guys thought. xxx