A/N: It's been a minute since I last updated this, and I apologize. There are no excuses to this other than I had no idea what the fuck where I wanted to take this. I hope the wait was worth it.

"I'll always be waiting for you."
︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵

"Derek, you're here."

Addison isn't sure if she's still unconscious, in some sort of illusive state imagining all this – imagining her ex-husband standing in the doorway of her hospital room.

They're glancing at each other now and it's almost… Well, it's exactly how it was.

They're at Columbia University, oblivious to each other's presence, too engrossed in determining the cause of death of their cadaver. The room was silent, not much could be heard other than hushed murmurs and the clattering of surgical instruments. They're in groups of three, assigned randomly by their professors, though it was surprising that Derek and Mark had still ended up in the same group – an observation and assumption made by Addison after overhearing Mark and Derek's upcoming weekend plans.

"Did you two want to continue discussing your weekend plans or did you want to help me find the cause of death of her friend over here?" Addison quipped, gesturing to the cadaver lying on their table, both of her hands residing in the body cavity.

This time, Derek is the one who looks up, glancing across the cadaver, admiring Addison's work ethic and determination; despite it only being the first week of summer classes. He observes her and this isn't the first time he had seen her. Derek has seen Addison around campus but didn't really process that it was this Addison – in his gross anatomy class – that he sees every now and then walking around Columbia. Her hair, a warm crimson, is bunched up in a low ponytail; two silky tendrils falling effortlessly on either side of her face. Addison hasn't noticed, or is completely unaware about his entire existence.

Derek finds himself smiling to himself and right then and there… He knew he had to have her.

"Derek, right?" Addison asks, glancing up from the cadaver and staring intently at him. Derek nods, unable to form a coherent response as he takes notes of her luminous, cerulean eyes.

"Are you going to help us out or what?"

They haven't exchanged pleasantries, nor has Derek given any signal of communicating with her. Instead, he's gazing at her with remorseful eyes, blood-shot eyes brimming with tears. She smiles warmly at him, reassuring him that she was okay and he nods, expressing his relief. Addison's gaze doesn't leave him, fearful that he might disappear. They stare at each other, silently accepting each other's presence, and for the first time in over a year, they allow the rush of each other's comfort and warmth to overcome them.

There's so much to discuss and so much to apologize for. With so much history saturated between the two of them and so much left unsaid – but being reunited in a hospital room together, all of it seemed to fade away. No infidelity, no hurtful accusations, they can coexist as Addison-and-Derek once again. Because tonight, what was said and done in the past, none of it mattered.

They were no longer married and they were no longer obligated to each other – the commitment of adultery and signage of divorce papers were indicators of that – however, with so much history binding them together, it was difficult to adjust to no longer care for the person who Derek once claimed to be the love of his life. They had spent one-third of their life together, how could Derek not be here for Addison when he had probably almost lost her tonight.

"Yeah," Derek whispers, confirming that he was really there. He approaches Addison cautiously, settling at the side of her hospital bed and instinctively reaching for her hand. He expects her to pull away, but she doesn't, instead she squeezes his hand to assure him once again that everything is going to be okay. "I'm here, and I'm glad you're okay."

Addison squeezes his hand once again, smiling softly, "You think you could get rid of me that fast?"

Derek laughs lightheartedly, enlightened to see that Addison is still willing to tell a joke. Despite how much pain she must be in. However, Addison winces at the comment she made. Because not too long ago, Derek was doing everything it took to get rid of her, consistently addressing her infidelity in the heat of an argument and regarding her as a second choice as they – or rather Addison – managed to reconcile their marriage.

Addison loosens her grip from Derek's hand and pulls away, doing her best to turn away from him, but it wasn't a feasible task as her current condition limited her mobility.

"Addie…" Derek begins, softly. He pulls the chair from behind him and settles down, reaching for Addison's hand and resting his on top of hers. "I thought I almost lost you tonight."

He hears her scoff, accompanied by her sniffles. "You lost me a long time ago."

Maybe what was said and done in the past did matter.

"No, no that's not what I meant… Addie,"

Her half-turnt body remains still, "I know what you meant, okay?"

I want Seattle and to never see you again.

Derek retracts his hand from Addison's, running his hand through his disheveled curls and sinking back into the chair with exhaustion. He isn't sure what to say, and at this point, he isn't sure an apology would suffice. His actions and his words had affected tremendously. Their divorce was still fresh and new, and it was evident that she was still processing everything – hurt and furious at him, and upset that she couldn't do anything to save their marriage.

"Addie…" Derek begins, again. He scoots forward in his chair but this time, he doesn't reach for her hand and settles in fiddling with his own hands. "I forgave you, remember? About New York. And what had happened in Seattle. We're past that."

He can hear her sniffles, though they were louder than before. "I know, but it didn't feel like you did," Addison began, fighting against the tears that were beginning to form. "And what you did – what you said to me in New York and Seattle… It hurt me, Derek."

Maybe he was past everything that had transpired between them. But it didn't necessarily mean Addison had moved on as well.

Derek nods defeatedly, "You're right, and I'm sorry."

He sees Addison shake her head, rubbing at her eyes vigorously to wipe away her tears. The tears that she refused to show in public. "I don't think that's enough, Derek."

He isn't sure why he bothers to apologize. It won't undo all the things he said and did to her in New York and Seattle. Was it the need to be the "good guy"? He wasn't sure.

"I know," Derek replies, agreeing with Addison's statement. He wishes he can do more for her, despite how terribly he had treated her the past year (plus an additional month or so before everything had come crashing down). Before, he had walked away and gave up without hesitation when matters became too overwhelming for him to handle. Because now, Addison needed him more than ever, regardless of her reluctance to allow him to be there for her.

He may not be what she's needing. Addison needed space, the space she's desperately needing to process the tumultuous downfall of their eleven year marriage. But they had spent one-third of their life together and during those years, Derek and Addison had become aware of what the other needed and didn't need in certain situations. In Connecticut, when they would visit Bizzy and the Captain, it was an instance of Addison shutting down emotionally and pushing him away. She would shut him out, becoming cold and withdrawn. As Addison lies in a hospital bed in an unfamiliar city, Derek cannot help but notice the similarities. She didn't need the space to process her emotions alone.

Addison needed Derek.

"I know you don't want me here, Addie," Derek began, taking his time to choose his words delicately. "But I know you need me… You would never admit to it, but I know you. Whenever you were hurting, you would want me there by your side even when you would push me away."

He instinctively reaches for her hand, half expecting her to pull away and half expecting her to take his hand in hers. "I know you're hurting from this, and you're hurting from what I've done and said to you. But please…" Derek pauses, feeling Addison's hand reaching for his. "Let me be here for you."

They allow themselves to sit in silence, allowing each other's presence to be their primary source of comfort and sense of security. It was a subtle reminder that despite everything that had been said and done in the past, Addison and Derek would continue to be there for each other in times of hardship and any sort of life changing moments. Because before they were Addison-and-Derek, they were best friends. And with all the history they share together, it would be hard for both of them to not be there for each other at the end.

"Derek, can I ask you something?" Addison asked hesitantly, her hand still in his. He gently caresses the top of her hand, urging her to continue with her question. "Why did you stay with me? Even when I knew you were in love with her."

He isn't sure why he decided to stay with Addison, despite being in love with another woman – the anti-Addison. Maybe it was because he was afraid of change, afraid of letting go of what he had been accustomed to for the past 15 years. Or maybe it was because he was afraid of closing this chapter of his life.

He isn't sure how to answer her question. The question that presumably makes her wonder why she wasn't enough for him in the end. But all Derek knows, as of now, is that he willingly drove two hours down to Portland to see if Addison was okay, despite no longer being together. And with all that history that connected them all those years ago, and it still did, maybe he isn't ready to let go of her forever.

"I don't know…" Derek responded simply, slowly leaning forward. He can hear Addison suddenly holding in her breath, being caught off guard at the gesture about to happen. "But I just know that I still love you."

"What's the third option?" He asks, looking at her unknowingly.

"I don't know what the third option is. I just know I still love you."

She leans in, Derek not pulling away, allowing her lips to linger on his.

Addison doesn't push away when he lightly brushes his lips against hers, allowing herself to get lost in his touch, despite being slightly caught off guard by the gesture. But she wasn't complaining, however, she couldn't help but feel anxious. She wasn't quite sure where she was headed with Derek, and she was uncertain if this – whatever this is – would be long-term or short-term.

Derek pulls away unexpectedly, catching Addison off-guard once again. She opens her eyes and sees him grinning sheepishly at her, and she can't help but return the gesture. "Why did you stop?"

He can't contain the smile on his face, brushing a stray of her hair away from her face and gently tucking it behind her ear. "Did you want me to keep going?"

She rolls her eyes, gently placing her hands on either side of his face and pulling herself towards him, "Oh shut up,"

This time, she initiates the kiss first. It's soft and gentle, though, it's evident that the both of them have been wanting this: the love and affection they haven't shared with one another in a long time. The love and affection that they had been both craving from one another. It doesn't feel forced, like it used to feel in the remaining months in New York and Seattle.

Addison still had so much to discuss with Derek, and Derek still had so much to discuss with Addison. After this, they're not too certain of what will transpire between them. Neither of them know where they stand with each other emotionally. But there is one thing they were certain about one another, that they would always be waiting for one another, despite everything that they had gone through.

Because like parachutes, their dependency and unconditional love for each other resemble that the both of them will always be there for one another no matter the circumstances.

A/N: I do plan on posting one more chapter after this, which is where we'll explore where Addison and Derek stand with each other after this moment, and then a slight time jump into the future for them. Please do not hesitate to leave a review because those little comments make me so happy believe it or not.