Note: This is a part of the All Too Well Series, but it can be read as a stand alone fic. Each part of the series has a number in front, as there are no series indicators here :)
No copyright infringement intended.
On to the fic!
"Where's Addie?" Richard asked him as he played with the scotch, for the last hour in Emerald City Bar.
He took his time to answer, Addison's words replaying like a broken record in his mind, cutting through the chatter and festivities around him.
I wished I never married you
Somehow, that's worse than seeing her in bed with Mark. Not only was trust between them tarnished, but their memories were now tainted with regret from Addison, and remorse… from Derek.
"Back in the trailer," He finally answered. He kept seeing her face, the moment she said those hurtful words. The flashes of regret and relief he saw, scarier than a horror movie.
Her relief seemingly heavy as lead in his stomach.
"She willingly stayed there alone?" He ignored Richard's chuckle at the end, ashamed to break the news that he didn't actually leave Addison any choice.
... the moment I realized you weren't coming home for dinner anymore, or to my birthday, or holidays.
"Were we ever happy?" Derek suddenly asked, downing the scotch before facing Richard. The chief frowned at him, confused with his question. "Back when we were in New York, you were there. Did Addison and I… did we seem happy? Or her… did she look happy?"
"Where is this coming… something happened, huh?" Derek nodded and faced the bar again, immediately convinced that Richard would not be offering any answers.
He briefly glanced at a table to the chief's left, locking eyes with Meredith Grey. Her face was unreadable, eyes enthralling, yet he can't, for the life of him, lift up a corner of his lips even just a fraction.
I wish we didn't happen 'cause maybe, we would be happy now. You, free from me.
He knows all Meredith got was a miserable look.
It was painful, Derek, and now, I honestly don't have any more to give.
"... were happy. Adele and I, even if we were older and married longer by years, we were half jealous of your relationship. I mean, it's got to be a different kind of strength and love if you two survived med school, internship, and residency, right? Those times were definite hell for everyone, yet you two pushed through together. That's… unmatchable, Shepherd."