Recovery

Part XV

Aubrey fiddled with the search button on the car stereo, her aunt's music taste wasn't always to her liking, sure she liked Liz Phair, Rachael and Jem, but Beth Orton and Rilo Kiley? She raised an eyebrow and glanced over at her aunt. "How about we turn on the radio instead of listening to the cds?"

Addie glanced at her niece and smirked, "aAre you making fun of my taste in music?"

"No offense but," she tried keeping a straight face, "Beth Orton?"

"Hey I like her and that's my favorite song," you could hear God Song playing softly. "What would you rather listen to?"

"Oh I don't know some Nelly, Black Eyed Peas or All American Rejects," she grinned back.

They continued their debate on what qualified as good music as they pulled up to Derek's trailer. Aubrey leaned forward in her seat her mouth hanging open; her opinion of her aunt's taste in music was all but forgotten. "Oh my god, you actually lived here?" she laughed. "In a trailer, this is a joke right? Tell me you are joking," Aubrey laughed uncontrollably. "I mean seriously Aunt Addie your closet in New York was bigger then this," she continued to laugh.

"Hey it wasn't that bad," she stared straight ahead at the trailer keeping a straight face, "In fact it was kind of cozy."

Aubrey gave her a sidelong glance, not believing one word she said. "Yeah right whatever you say," she giggled.

Addie shook her head trying to stifle a laugh. "Okay you're right I hated it." She finally laughed, "Come on lets go."

Derek walked out the trailer door to greet them. "Hi," he leaned over and kissed Addie lightly on the lips, then kissed her a little more firmly, Addie pulled back slightly.

"Ugh! Minor here!" Aubrey exclaimed as she covered her eyes. Addie and Derek broke apart and looked at her laughing. "Sooo, Derek . . . um nice trailer," she said sarcastically, which was lost on him.

"Thanks," he said with a grin. "See I told you she'd love it," he said walking back to the trailer. Aubrey rolled her eyes behind his back and Addie's eyes widened as she gave her that look telling her to behave.

They settled on the deck. "Would you like something to drink? I have lemon aide, iced tea and coke," he asked smiling from Addie to Aubrey.

Addie's pager pierced the air she looked down, nine-one-one. "I have to call and see what this is about," she flipped open her phone, dialed the hospital, and walked off the deck.

They both watched as Addie paced back and forth, a deep concern washed over her face while she talked on the phone. Aubrey said absently, "Coke," as she continued to study her aunt, a small smile played on her lips.

"What?" he asked, he was busy studying Addie as well, he frowned knowing all too well how this phone call was going to turn out.

"I'll have a coke," she said quietly. Derek rose from his seat and entered the trailer; he exited a minute later with a can of coke and handed it to Aubrey. "Thanks," she said as she took it from him.

Addie hung up her phone and walked back to Derek and Aubrey. "Sorry guys I have to go to the hospital an emergency came up with the Jenkins' boy." Aubrey started to rise from her seat a smile grew on her face.

Derek smiled and put his hand on Aubrey's shoulder, but she shrugged it off. "Aubrey and I can do some fishing while you are at the hospital and by the time you get back we will have dinner ready." He wanted Addie to see that he was trying to get along with her niece. He knew in the past he really never made much of an effort and it had always upset her.

Addie tilted her head to the side, she bit the inside of her cheek contemplating how angry her niece would be if she left her behind, she pursed her lips and watched the smile fade from her niece's face as it sunk in that she was going to indeed be left here alone with Derek. She walked over to Aubrey and put her arm around her shoulder. "Okay I know you don't want to stay behind, and I know you didn't want to come here in the first place but," she said gently, "Aubrey can you please stay here? I promise won't be long. Derek really wanted to spend some time with you and take you fishing."

Aubrey dropped back into her seat stunned that she had to stay. "Fine," she said with some venom in her tone, she was most definitely pissed off.

Addie looked down on her niece sympathetically gave her a hug and tried to reassure her, "Hey it's not going to be that bad and I promise I won't be gone that long." Addie stood tweaked her niece's nose and winked at her.

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The air was filled with the scent of pine, it was peaceful but for the occasional bird call. The lake was calm except for the rippling on the surface caused by intermittent whooshing from the casting. It was cool in the shade of the tall pines that surrounded the lake. Neither one spoke as they stood side by side each working their line across the water, the fish did not seem to be biting; maybe they sensed the tension in the air.

Derek studied the sullen teenager standing next to him; she had a good rhythm to her cast something he was sure she had learned from her grandfather. He knew she didn't want to be here and it had nothing to do with the fishing. He narrowed his eyes and smiled there was no denying she was a Montgomery they all had a stubborn streak, and once they formed an opinion it was almost impossible to change it. "Look Aubrey," he began, "I want you to know that I never stopped loving your aunt."

Aubrey slowly turned her head and looked at Derek, her brow furrowed, "Are you serious?"

"Of course I am," he said sincerely.

"Then your idea of love is pretty damn shitty," she snapped back at him. Derek's mouth hung open and he tried to protest. "I might only be thirteen, but even I know you should treat someone you love better then how you treated Aunt Addie."

"You don't have a clue how. . ."

"Cut the crap Derek," she was now furious with him. "I don't have a clue? You know how close Aunt Addie and Grandma Maddie are. Our family talks, we all knew what was going on," she continued, "And you seem to forget I spend two weeks with my aunt every summer." She narrowed her eyes at him, "Oh yeah I forgot you haven't really been around for the last three!"

"Last summer I was in Seattle," he interrupted.

"Right when you ran away," she shook her head. "Okay that explains why I didn't see you last summer but what about the two summers before that? Two weeks both summers and I saw you for what an hour?"

"I was working," he countered.

"I heard her talking to you on the phone trying to get you to come home and at least have dinner with us. But no, you couldn't be bothered. Was that because you love Aunt Addie soooo much?" she narrowed her eyes at him. "You probably don't even have a clue how much that upset her. You are the only person I've ever seen make her cry." She threw her fishing pole on the ground. "Uncle Mark made the time for my visits; he always tried to put a positive spin on your absence, but I'm not stupid!" her voice level increased.

He flinched, "Why is he Uncle Mark and I am Derek?"

"Because he didn't break my aunt," she shouted at him. "You did!" she jabbed her finger into his chest. "I can't believe how much crap you put Aunt Addie through letting her believe you wanted to work things out. She gave up everything for you!" She through her hands up in frustration, "Her practice in New York, her home, her friends!"

"Mark!" he started to say, but she interrupted him.

"That's right go ahead and bring up Mark!" she put her fists on her hips and glared at him, "I know I know everything is Mark's fault."

"Your aunt was no saint in the demise of our marriage," he said in a controlled voice.

"Oh please I never said she was but you pushed her," she kicked the fishing pole. "And you know what?" she stared him down. "I wish she stayed in New York with Mark!" She narrowed her eyes at him again, "You are not good enough for her and there is no way you really love her because you are too selfish!" She balled her fists at her side, "The only reason you want her back now is because of the baby." She sneered at him, "That and because your intern won't talk to you." Now that her rant was over she turned on stomped off back to the trailer.

She was so angry, she couldn't believe that she blew up at him like that but she couldn't help it, she had been so mad at him for so long. She reached the trailer deck and climbed the steps then dropped herself into one of the chairs she planted her elbows on her knees and rested her head in her hands.

Derek stood back watching Aubrey; he didn't have a clue what to say to her. How could he tell her she was wrong when most of what she said was true? Of course he wanted to get back with Addison because of the baby; he always felt she was his family. He wasn't the one who initiated the divorce she was, and if she had waited instead of rushing the divorce then they would still be together. They would still be married, he was sure of that. Now that she was having his child they had to get back together, he only hoped he could convince her to marry him again. Their child deserved to have both its mother and father together as a family. He didn't think wanting his child to have its mother and father together was selfish.

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I hope you enjoyed this installment, please let me know what you think.