Addison chuckled to herself as she slid into her hotel bed. It was four in the afternoon and here she was getting into bed. She picked up her cup of tea and took a drink. Her cell phone on the night stand laid there silently. She wondered if Derek would call when he signed the papers or just hand them to her. She knew he liked Meredith Grey. It was clear in the way he looked at her. But Addison knew that Derek LOVED her. At that moment in time, she did not know what to expect from her husband. His guard was up and not even she could penetrate it. Addison placed her empty tea cup on the nightstand. Slowly, she removed her gold wedding band. If he signed the papers, she would have to get used to having a naked hand.

> > > >

Meredith Grey had been avoiding anyone and everyone. If it were possible she would have never stepped into Seattle Grace Hospital today. No, Meredith Grey would be in her bed moping or drinking. Perhaps both, maybe even cleaning out the fridge with a bottle of tequila next to her. It would be much healthier on her to hit the mall, but Meredith was Dr. Grey. And Dr. Grey was currently on her break laying on an empty hospital bed.

"Hey Meredith," George greeted, handing her a cup of hot chocolate. " I hear this stuff works wonders."

Meredith gave George a small smile before laying back on the bed.

"George, you would choose me over "Satan's whore", right?"

It had been the question of Meredith's mind since she witnessed a kiss between the Shepherds. Or well "Satan" kissing "Rat Bastard." She wanted Derek to choose her, but something at the back of her mind told her, he wouldn't. She could not give up hope. But the way he defended their relationship… she found herself bitter, depressed, and insecure than ever before. She didn't know Derek at all. Why was she in love with him? She did not want to think about this right now. It hurt too much. She felt so blessed to be stuck with Burke most of her shift and rounds afterwards. She knew Addison Shepherd had left for the day. Where was Derek though? And more importantly, where was the tequila when you need it?

> > > >

Derek was preparing for his shift when he stopped by the neonatal nursery to check on one of the babyies Addison was caring for. No one had ever known that Derek had kept tabs on his wife's cases.

"Baby boy Mennen," he read quietly. "Hey little man," he greeted the quiet baby.

"Hello Dr. Shepherd. What brings you to our neck of the woods?" Nurse Brianna Carmine asked.

"I am just checking up on my wife's case. How is he doing?"

Brianna smiled at the scene in front of her. Dr. Gorgeous leaning over an incubator. His finger being held captive by the strength of a 2 day old baby.

"Better. If you want, you can hold him. He hasn't been fed since Dr. Stevens was here," Brianna suggested. Derek looked conflicted before nodding yes. His sisters' kids had given him a lot of experience with babies. Which reminded him: his niece Celia was turning 13 next week and nephew Patrick was going to be 3. He had some shopping and shipping to do, unless, Addi remembered for him. He would have to call his sisters Monica and Patricia to make sure. He wasn't sure if he was ready to talk to Addison about anything, much less his siblings and their kids. Nurse Carmine prepared the bottle and baby for feeding. Once Derek was sitting in the rocking chair, Baby Mennen was placed in his arms.

"I'll be back in about 20 minutes to check on you and the little guy."

With that said, the nurse turned to resume her work in the next room.

Derek looked down into the bright hazel eyes that were gazing up at him.

If only life were so simple again.

> > > >

Cristina stood against the nurses station filling in some paper work. She had a couple of minutes before another set of rounds and prepping for surgery with Bailey.

"Have you seen Izzie?" inquired Alex.

Cristina glared at her fellow intern. "Why?"

"She was freaking out about Shepherds offer."

"Which Shepherd?"

" Addison. She offered Izzie to work with her."

"Did she accept?"

"I don't know. I'm looking for her to ask."

"George! Has Izzie took Shepherd's offer?" Cristina shouted at the man walking out of a hospital room across the hall.

"What offer?" Meredith asked joining their little gossip fest.

Alex and Cristina looked at each other. Neither were sure what to say. It wouldn't hurt if she knew…

"Dr. Addison Shepherd offered me a chance to work with her exclusively," Izzie declared. Her friends all looked to her for more details.

"And?" Meredith asked a bit harshly. "You said no, right? If you work with her, she'll stay!"

"I'm going to accept it. Webber and Bailey have pushed for it," Izzie admitted hesitantly.

Meredith's eyes narrowed. She threw her hands up in the air exasperatedly and stomped off.

"You made a good choice, Is. This will be a big step for your career," Alex encouraged with a smile.

"Satan's spawn is right. Mer will understand. Dr. Shepherd is top in her field. This is your career were talking about. She'll come around. Let's just hope that Mc Dreamy chooses our girl," Cristina added.

Izzie smiled at her friends and leaned against George. This was about her career.

> > > >

Meredith stomped down the hallway. She was so irked with Addison Shepherd. First, she flew in and smashed her dreams with Derek to pieces. Second, she requests her as an inter, third, she parades around being kind and pretty, then she kisses HER boyfriend, now she is taking her friend away. Her rational mind told her she was being ridiculous. She didn't want to be rational. She was hurt, emotional, and in need of a pity party and chocolate.