Recovery
Part XXI
Derek's sisters burst into the sunroom with boisterous chattering. Addie attempted to rise from the loveseat, but they immediately surrounded her not allowing her to get up. They all took turns giving her hugs and of course making fun of how huge she had gotten.
"Oh my god you are huge," Maureen said wide eyed rubbing her tummy like she was Buddha.
"Seriously you really are huge," Ryanne put in getting her turn to pat her tummy.
"Jesus Christ Addie, are you sure you are only having one?" Caitlin teased giving her a hug and a pat.
"I don't know Cat, I think she is much bigger then when I had the twins," Siobhan laughed moving Cat over so she could get her hug and pat in.
"I think Derek was holding out on us because there has to be three in there," Maureen grinned as she sat down next to her and rubbed her belly.
"Gee thanks guys I really appreciate how sensitive you all are," she grinned back at them. "And yes I'm positive it's only one. Knowing that kind of stuff is kind of my job," she shook her head, still laughing.
"Hey," Ryanne said, "We have to get six months of teasing into one afternoon!"
"Besides," added Siobhan, "We wouldn't tease you if we didn't love ya." They sisters all nodded.
"Yeah, yeah I love you guys too," she said with a laugh. Addie wasn't sure which was worse, having all four sisters ganging up on her at once or having them come at her one at a time. When Derek left her in New York, she had it out with each one individually and it wasn't pretty. At least this was a happy occasion. Though she still was dreading their confrontation about whether she would be marrying their brother. She didn't know how they would take it when she informed them she had no intention of marrying their brother again.
The sisters had agreed not to grill Addie right away about whether or not she planned on marrying their brother. They had already decided they had to take everything he told them with a grain of salt.
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Since Derek's sisters were visiting Addie today Mark decided to take Aubrey skiing that afternoon. He wanted to be as far away from that group as possible for as long as possible. Actually he practically thought of the women as his sisters too, but he had been on their bad side ever since his affair with Addie. He highly doubted they had changed their minds about him. It made him sad to think he lost their friendship as well.
It was a gorgeous sunny day, perfect weather to be on the ski slopes. He and Aubrey sat on the ski lift, their ski clad feet dangling as the lift moved along. She gave him a sidelong glance and asked, "So how much longer are you staying?"
"I don't know," he shook his head and said seriously, "I'll probably go back to Seattle after the baby is born."
"You aren't going to wait here until Aunt Addie is ready to go back to Seattle?" she said with surprise.
"Naw, she already told me she only plans on staying in Colorado for a month after she has the baby," he said with a smile. "And I have to get back to work. Richard has been very understanding, but once the baby is born he is going to want me back at work." Richard already told him he wanted him back in Seattle with in two days after Addie gets out of the hospital. He was right too, he was able to put off all his patients with elective surgeries, but they will only be put off for so long.
She thought about this for a moment. Yeah he should go back to Seattle and give Aunt Addie a chance to miss him, a grin appeared on her face as she thought about it, and then she would realize she's in love with him. She said happily with a nod, "Yeah, you definitely should go back to Seattle after the baby is born."
He feigned insult, "Are you getting sick of hanging out with me already?"
They hopped off the ski lift and glided across the top of the mountain, she grinned at him, "Definitely." Then she took off down the mountain "I'll race you down," she yelled as she skied past him.
He shook his head at her and laughed then headed down the mountain after her.
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Now that they were finishing up their lunch, the sisters knew it was time to finally discuss the matter of their brother. They had spent the last two hours catching up with Addie, but they completely avoided the subject of their brother. Now was the time to find out how Addison really felt about him.
"So," Maureen began. "Derek tells us you are going to get married again after the baby is born." They all carefully watched her reaction.
Oh god Addie thought, here we go. She closed her eyes and shook her head then quietly began, "He shouldn't have told you that."
"Why?" asked Ryanne.
"Because we are not getting married again," she said firmly, she didn't want there to be any mistake about how she felt.
"But he said you told him you would marry him after the baby was born," said Siobhan.
"No," Addie pursed her lips. "He asked me to consider his proposal again after the baby was born and," she sighed. "I only told him okay so he would leave me alone."
"But he still loves you," Maureen said with sincerity.
Addie shook her head. "He might love me, but he isn't in love with me." She looked at them and continued, "There's a difference you know?" she said with a shrug.
"But that's all he could talk about at Christmas, how you were going to get remarried and be a family again. He wants the three of you to be a family," Caitlin added.
"I know he wants us to be a family, and he will always be family to me, but I can't do this again." She took a deep breath and slowly let it out, "It wouldn't be fair to any of us."
"Why do you insist he isn't in love with you?" Ryanne said shaking her head.
"Because I know," said with exasperation, "I know Derek and I know I am not the one he is in love with."
"What does that mean?" said Maureen furrowing her brow.
"He is still in love with Meredith," she stated truthfully.
"What makes you think that?" Caitlin said narrowing her eyes.
"I might be here in Colorado, but I know full well what has been going on in Seattle during my absence," she informed them.
"What has Mark been telling you about our brother?" Siobhan asked fuming, "Because he has an ulterior motive."
"Mark has said nothing," she snapped back. Mark had refused to talk about Derek and what he had been up to in her absence. He felt it wasn't his place since they all had a history. "Besides, Mark has no idea what's been going on in Seattle. He has been here since Thanksgiving," she added with a nod.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Siobhan narrowed her eyes; she still did not believe that Mark wasn't trying to tell Addie things about Derek in order to keep them apart.
Addie had plenty of others in Seattle that were perfectly willing to let her know what was going on. Two of them being Miranda and Izzie both knew Addie had no intention of marrying Derek again. When she had made it clear to Izzie that she did not want to get back together with Derek, Izzie had confided in her that Meredith was still in love with Derek. She was surprised by the sense of relief that had come over her when she found that out. It was then she finally realized she was no longer in love with Derek either. Sure she loved him and wanted him to be a part of her daughter's life, but she was not in love with him anymore. She was fully aware of Izzie and Alex's plan to try and put Derek and Meredith together and they had her approval.
"Just that Derek and Meredith started up their friendship again," she said with an ever so small smile on her face.
"Why are you just giving up and not even trying? He wants to get married again and make things work." Siobhan narrowed her eyes and shook her head, and then it dawned on her, "Oh my god, you want them back together!"
Addie bit her lower lip, Siobhan was right, she did want them together. She kept silent.
The sisters all were staring at her, they finally were getting it. Their dipshit brother finally managed to do it; he had managed to make Addison fall out of love with him. They all exchanged looks; they all knew they had come to the same conclusion.
Maureen looked Addie straight in the eye and said, "You aren't in love with Derek anymore are you?" It was asked as a question, but it really was not a question, it was a simple fact and all the women in the room knew it.
Addie looked the women over; she could see the disappointment on all their faces. She loved them all dearly and hoped they would forever be a part of her life, but she wasn't sure how they were going to feel about her knowing she wasn't in love with their brother anymore. She shook her head and looked at them sadly. "No," she said with a weak smile, "I'm not in love with Derek anymore."
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Derek was a little nervous about seeing Addison, this is the first time they would be seeing each other since she left Seattle and came out to Colorado. He decided not to go to Addison's parent with his sisters, but instead to wait to give his sisters time with Addison before heading out to her parent's house. He didn't want to be there for their initial grilling.
He hoped they had finished questioning her about when she planned on marrying him, because he figured once they talked to her she might even be willing to marry him tonight. He smirked, she had to like the idea of getting remarried on her parent's anniversary. Plus both their families would be able to attend.
Derek walked into the dining room; Addison and his sisters were sitting around the table, it looked like they had recently finished their lunch. A smile appeared on his face and he said, "Good afternoon ladies."
He smiled at Addison and walked over and gave her a hug and a kiss, she turned her head so he kissed her on the cheek. His sisters watched the interaction between the two with a great deal of interest. He took a seat next to her, and then looked toward her belly and his eyes widened and he grinned. He reached out and gently put his hand on her belly, then leaned forward whispered something to her stomach and placed a kiss on it. That made her smile; she knew she didn't have to worry about him being there for their daughter, even if they were not going to be together. She sighed; she really needed to have a serious talk with Derek.
It didn't take long after seeing Addison and Derek in the same room for the first time in more then a year and half for the sisters to realize they were not the same couple anymore. Yes they could see how happy they both were about their daughter, but studying the couple they had to admit something was missing. It made them sad to realize Derek and Addison would never get back what they once had. Derek scanned the room and decided now as a good a time as any to ask Addie to married him. He turned to her and took her hand, when he looked toward her belly his eyes light up. It was unmistakable to those in the room; it was only the baby that made him light up. He cleared his throat and began, "Addison I was thinking." He paused looking up at her, "Since your family and my family are both here, we should. . .'
Addie's eyes widened and she stopped him, "Derek, please don't. . ."
"Please don't?" he furrowed his brow.
She rose from the table and looked down on him. "We need to talk Derek, and in private." She looked at the sisters; she could see they were all uncomfortable to be witnessing this exchange.
She held her hand out to Derek and he slowly rose from the table taking her hand, she then led him out of the room.
The sisters exchanged looks, they were all relieved Addie had the sense to stop him and take their conversation in private.
"Do you think she is right about this Meredith Grey person?" Siobhan asked.
"I don't know," Maureen said.
"Does it really matter?" Ryanne asked.
"No," Caitlyn sighed. "I guess it doesn't."
No, Derek's feelings for Meredith didn't really matter, because what did matter was the fact that Addison was no longer in love with their brother and it was painfully clear to them, even if their brother seemed to be clueless. The other thing that was clear was that their brother wasn't in love with Addison either, he was in love with their daughter.
It was hard for them to understand how he couldn't see it, it was painfully obvious even after a few minutes with them being in the same room that there connection was gone. They guessed he was just so focused on his daughter he didn't want to see that Addison and his relationship was over.
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Addie led Derek up to her bedroom suite, he smiled as he realized where she was taking him and when they entered the room he pulled her into his arms, he kissed the top of her head, "I think we should get married tonight" he said with a smile.
She pulled herself out of his arms and walked over to the windows. She looked out over the snow covered landscape, trying to figure out how to tell him how she felt. Of course she knew he was going to do this, she had prepared herself for it, but it didn't make it any easier.
She turned back toward him, he looked at her expectantly. "Derek," she began, "We cannot get married." She watched the smile fall from his face. She walked over to him and reached up and caressed his cheek. "Derek," she looked at him caringly. "We have to be honest about our feelings."
He furrowed his brow and said, "But I am I want us to get married."
She nodded at him. "I know that's what you want, but why?" she gave a little shrug.
"We are having a baby, she needs both her parents," he insisted.
She tilted her head and smiled at him, "She is going to have both her parents whether we get married or not."
"But. . ." Addie reached up and gently placed two fingers to his lips to stop him.
"Our daughter deserves to have two parents who are happy. If we get married again she will not have that." She looked deep into his eyes, "Now be honest, we both you know are not in love with me."
"But I do love you Addison," he insisted.
She smiled and shook her head slightly, "And I love you Derek, but," she took a deep breath and looked him straight in the eye, "I am not in love with you." She already knew she wasn't in love with Derek anymore, but it still surprised her she could look him in the eye and say it out loud. She could tell it surprised him as well. "Now be honest Derek, be honest to both of us, you are not in love with me either."
He looked into her eyes, searching them and he could see what she had told him was true; she honestly was not in love with him anymore. The most shocking part of her admission was the fact that it didn't hurt him. His heart should be searing with the pain of that admission, but it wasn't. As a matter of fact, a sense of relief came over him. He started to give her a little nod and said, "Yeah, you are right I do love you, but I am not in love with you."
Then he thought about his daughter and he could feel the back of his eyes burn, what did this mean for his daughter? Addie could see the change in his demeanor and knew exactly what he was thinking, "Derek you don't have to worry about our daughter. You will always be an important part of her life. You are her father and she is going to need you." She took his hand and placed it on her belly and held it tight in place. They both smiled as she kicked. She looked up at him and her smile grew. "Our daughter is going to be lucky because she will have both her parents. They are both going to be happy and they are going to be great friends."
He his smile grew too. "Yeah," he said with a nod. "Her parents are going to be great friends."
He gently wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. Even though they both knew this was for the best, they couldn't help but cry. They both knew they had lost something special and it was finally time to mourn that loss.
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Well I hope you all enjoyed the update. Please review and let me know what you think.