I am sorry, Mer fans, but after last night- - - Im disgusted with her. Okay, so she has problems. Yes, life sucks-- but that gives her NO RIGHT to take advantage of George. He loves her and she misuses that. He deserves better,
I wish she had slept with Mark. I think that would have been a big wake up call to Derek.
Was Mark not delicious to look at? Omg! He is a beautiful man. The similarites between him and Derek were there. If you can't have the real thing, the sub is the next best thing. It sure as hell was not a down grade in the looks department. I think Ken and I went on about Mark for a half hour. Seriously, he was mmm good. If my husband was ignoring me and his best friend looked like Mark--- I would so swoon. swoon. swoon. swoon.
Why does Derek like to run away? Has anybody else noticed that he likes to ignore or run away from issues? He ignored that he was married and avoided Addison because Mark was around.
Okay, so enough of my rant. On to the chapter! This will probably be my last update for the month of February. I have a couple of essays and research papers to have done by March 2. So till then, read and review!

..11..

The room was filled with tension. Three of the four Shepherd sisters looked ready to pounce on their favorite in law.

room was filled with tension. Three of the four Shepherd sisters looked ready to pounce on their in law.

"Oh, Addi! You didn't tell me that the gang was all here. Hello Shepherds!" Kendel greeted. She smiled sweetly at them, before joining her daughter on the floor.

"Oh god, Christmas with you and your sidekick-"

"We are an equal opportunist duo!" Kendel replied. She knew how annoyed Monica would get if she was sugary sweet. Inwardly, she gagged. She will be extra sarcastic later.

"Addi, he's adorable," the youngest Shepherd, Alyssa gushed. Alyssa was the only sister Addison was close with. Alyssa pushed her hair behind her shoulder and took the baby from Addison. Aidan looked up at the woman with interest.

"Alyssa!" Julia gaped. "Have you forgotten what she has done?"

Alyssa shook her head. "So she cheated on Derek. She didn't cheat on me. You don't know everything, Julia!" Alyssa snapped. "He's so beautiful. His eyes, Addison. Its like looking into Derek's."

Addison smiled and half hugged her favorite sister.

"Seriously?" Patricia blurted. " We are seriously going to stand here and awe over a baby that may not be our brothers?"

"Oh Patricia, Monica, Julia, it isn't your business," Alaina snapped at her daughters.

"As long as your brother's happy we should respect that."

" Are you kidding me?" Monica rolled her eyes. The three oldest Shepherd girls were in the process of defying their ages of 42,36, and 32 with their childish attitudes. "I mean, seriously, mom? This is Derek!"

Alaina massaged her temples in annoyance. Now she remembered why she dreaded the holiday season.

"That is enough, all of you. Look, I know you don't like me. I get it. I don't blame you, but this is my home. That is my son. And you are disrespecting me in my home in front of my son. If you have something to say to me, say it. Get it out. Let it all out, right now. If you can't suck it up and accept that my husband loves me, then you can leave. Now excuse me, I have to put my son to bed," Addison growled. She took Aidan from Alyssa and walked out of the room with her head held high.

"If you ladies would excuse me. This is where my daughter and I are sleeping. I would very much appreciate if you would remove your negative selves from my sleeping place. Don't want Bronte to have nightmares of the three witches," Kendel added with a grin.

Alyssa stifled a giggle as her 3 sisters stormed from the room. Alaina sighed and threw her arm around her baby. " Good night, Kendel, dearest."

Kendel and Bronte waved merrily goodbye. Oh what fun they all were going to have.

Monica, Julia, and Patricia were sitting around the kitchen table with sour looks on their faces. Alaina stood next to Alyssa at the island, drinking a cup of coffee.

" I know you aren't happy with your brother's choices--"

Julia snorted in response. " But Addison is the choice he made. He is choosing to move on with his wife, to work on their marriage."

"She threw the marriage away when she slept with Mark!" Julia ranted.

Alaina gave her daughter the look. " Julia Christine Shepherd! You will not interrupt me any further!" Alaina took a minute to regain composure. " We all may not be Addison's biggest fans, but Christmas is Sunday. It only gives us 3 days to settle in and find some ground of compromise. You know how much your brother loves this holiday. I don't want any of you to ruin it. You can deal with your Addison issues on your own time. Don't RUIN this for YOUR BROTHER!"

Alyssa was pleased with the guilty expressions on her sisters' faces.

"Fine, we'll play nice with the adulterous bitch."

" I prefer Addison. Though Satan was popular for a while. Mc Satan, Devil in too high heels, Satan's Whore, the list wasn't that long now that I think about it," Addison mused out loud.

"Mc Satan?" Alyssa quipped.

"Went well with Mc Dreamy."

"Mc Dreamy?"

"It's your brother's nickname at the hospital."

"Ha! Mc Moron is more like it."

"Thanks, Tricia. I feel the love," Derek commented, entering the house. The sisters cringed when Derek gave Addison a quick peck, while removing his jacket. Ewan, Tom, and Andrew filed in soon after.

"Hi Daddy," Addison smiled. "Mom has gone to bed. She was on the phone with her editor all night."

Tom Montgomery shook his head and kissed his little girl on her cheek. " I'll hide all lines of communication. Its Christmas, she needs to take a break. She's been real busy with some political case."

Addison nodded and hugged her father. "Let me know if you need anything."

"Night, Little Rouge," he said into her hair. Addison smiled at her childhood nick name. "Good night, Daddy."

"Is Del and Bronte asleep yet?" Ewan inquired.

"Bronte is out like a light. I think Kendel is in the office watching some medical drama. I think it's called Heigl's Anatomy. She keeps telling me that I am so Kate Walsh! Whoever that is," Addison replied.

Ewan sighed. " Your best friend is obsessed with that show. She keeps saying seriously. She loves the characters of Kate and Patrick. She keeps calling herself a Katrick fan. I am going to try to pull her away."

"Good luck!" Addison called after him. She turned her attention from those close to her other family. Derek was glaring at his sisters. No one looked happy. Yup, it was Christmas.

"Don't give me that, Monica!" Derek hissed.

"She cheated on you, Derek! CHEATED on YOU with YOUR BEST FRIEND!" Monica shouted.

"I am aware, Mon," Derek snapped. He massaged his temples. A migraine was clearly coming on.

"You hate her! What happened to that other girl. Mer- Marigold, Mary, Meredith! Yes, Meredith. What happened to Meredith?" Julia demanded.

Derek looked ready to throw something. He slammed his hand on the counter top startling the Shepherd family.

"I do NOT need any of YOU to tell me how to live my life. This is my life now. Addison and my son are now my life. Seattle is my life. You cannot stand there and yell at me when you all have done stupid things. You know what? Forget it! Just forget it," He yelled. Derek picked up his jacket and his keys. He grabbed Addison's hand and started to pull her towards the door.

" We are going to Joe's. Mom, can you watch Aidan for us?"

"Derek?" Addison said. Her husband shook his head at her.

"Mom?"

"Sure, Der," Alaina replied. Derek nodded and pulled Addison out the backdoor.

As soon as the door was shut, Alaina turned on her daughters.

"Ladies."

"Derek!" Addison called out as he started walking to his van.

"Addi, please."

Addison gave in. Derek was in no mood to argue. Hesitantly, she walked up to her husband and kissed him. " I love you," she muttered against his lips. Derek smiled.

"Me too," he mumbled and deepened the kiss.

"Look at them girls. He loves her."