---REALIZATION-- (PART XII)

Addison entered the NICU and looked up at, spotting her husband in the room. She smiled fondly at the sight of him. Earlier this morning, they had caused an intern to witness an argument between them, that went from declaring the baby non-surgical to their own personal problems. Calmly, Addison walked over and checked the baby's health status.
"Look at that, BP's stablising." she reported, an attempt to make a casual conversation with what they have in common at the moment--medicine.
"Hmm.. she's stronger since this morning. There's no way in the world why she should be stronger since this morning." Derek said, shaking his head as he settled down on the armchair in the room.
"She's really beautiful isn't she?" Addison commented, putting a hand into the incubator and stroked the baby's tiny hand.
"Tell you what, if she makes it through the night, if she's got a little bit more strength, we'll operate." Addison turned around and cast him a grateful smile. He looked up from the chart in his hands and gave her a smile in return.
This is the perfect opportunity. Don't let it go by. she thought to herself.
"You know, the way I see it we could deal with us in one of three ways." Addison started, heading towards her husband. "Option one, I could apologize, you could forgive me, and come home, and we could move on with our lives like adults. Or option two, I could apologise, you could forgive me, come home... But, you could bring it up to use against me whenever we argue."
"Are you trying to be funny?" Derek laughed. Addison laughed softly in return, leaning her hands against the arms of the chair Derek sat on and looked down on him.
"Satan has a sense of humour" she shrugged.
"What's the third?" he pushed on, intrigged. "I don't know what the third option is--" she said softly, leaning down to plant her lips onto her husband's. Surprisingly, Derek kissed back. Their lips parted, the kiss deepens, lasting for a moment. Slowly, Addison pulled back, her eyes locking onto his. "I just know I still love you."

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She walked out of the room, confused by what she just did. She turned a corner and stopped, leaning against the wall. Thoughts are running through her head. Yes, she wanted her husband back. But why? She had no idea. Maybe it's because of Meredith, maybe she wanted a little competition. Addison had always been one for competition. But after what happened, she realised the real reason of why she wanted Derek back--she is still in love with him. Addison touched her lips subconsciously, but just for a brief moment. She forced herself out of the daze and headed off to check on her next patient.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

After his shift, Derek exited the hospital, stopping at the sight of Meredith's backview. She was sitting by the bench. Her shoulders heaved up and down, soft sobbings escaped her throat as she tried the best to hide them. "Meredith?" he called out, taking a few steps forward towards the bench. She didn't turn around, she didn't respond. "Meredith." he tried again. "Don't." she warned, responding this time, her voice quivered. "Please, please just don't say anything." she cried, wiping tears away from her cheek.

"Ok." he promised, nodding, waiting for her to be ready. Meredith drew in a deep breathe and made her way to in front of Derek. She shook her head, then looked up into his eyes with her tear-stained ones. "I'm just exhausted." she said. "My mother's exhausting. What happened to Cristina, and you. Hating you is the most exhausting." she took a large step forward and kissed him on the lips. "And I don't wanna do it any more."

He stood there, speechless, watching as Meredith disappeared into the elevator to attended to her responsibilities. He smiled, only to himself. She doesn't hate me for not telling her. That's good, right? Derek looked to across the street and eyed the flashing neosign of Joe's back. With a sigh, he towards it, his suitcase swinging in one arm. Derek entered and scanned the bar but failed to see anyone he knows except for Miranda. He walked up to her and settled down on the stool beside her.

"My wife kissed me." he said. "My wife and my girlfriend kissed me on the same night"
Miranda stared at him, then looked up at the bartender. "Do I look friendly to you, Joe?" she asked, taking a sip from her glass.
"No, you definitely don't." Joe said with a laugh, then pouring Derek a drink. Derek placed his suitcase on the bar and lifted up the drink, taking a gulp. He looked down with a sigh. "Everything's going to be alright, right? Addison will go back to New York, then Meredith and I can start over again. Right?" he asked, turning to Miranda, as though for a confirmation. Instead, she just laughed and shook her head. "You're so damn stupid."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Derek, you are going to forgive me eventually, right?" Addison asked, walking towards him instead of back into the elevator that she meant to take. "I mean, you thought of me as your best friend once upon a time, right?" she challenged. Derek jerked his head back. "Once upon a time I had thought of you as the love of my life. But not anymore." he said through gritted teeth. At that, Addison felt a stab in her heart. Holding back her emotions, she pulled out an envelope from her bag and handed it to Derek, not wanting to meet his eyes. Derek just stared after Addison as he took over the envelope. He regconised the look all too well, it was the look where she was about to break down but is containing her emotions. "What is this?" He said, pushing on. He didn't care if she were to cry, or be on the verge of crying. She had hurt him too much for him to want to care. Addison took a deep breathe and turned to Derek.

"Divorce papers." she said flatly. "If you sign, I'll sign. It's your call. And if you do sign, I'll be on the first flight home tomorrow morning." she said, her eyes shifting around, still not wanting to look into Derek's. It hurted too much to do that. But I still have Mark back home, it's worth it, right? Besides, it's not like what Mark and I shared isn't something. It is something. It's over with Derek. she consoled herself. Derek laughed, pulling a pen out from the pocket of his scrubs. "I'll sign it right now. I want you out of here as soon as possible." Good god. At least she mentioned it. Well whatever, right? I don't have any feelings for her anymore, she don't exist to me. She cheated on me. Derek thought to himself. Addison bit her lower lip and turned away. The elevator bell rang, the doors opened in front of her. She started to enter, then stopped and turned around, a hand pressing against the door before it closes completely. "Derek, have you ever thought that even though I'm an adulterous bitch and Satan, that I might still be the love of your life?" she asked, her gaze lingering onto Derek, their eyes locked this time. That caught his attention. He froze, looking lovingly into his wife's eyes, once again mesmerized by her beauty like the other night in the NICU. Addison didn't say another word, but re-entered the elevator, leaving the doors to close. Derek stared down at the divorce papers with a sigh. Do I still think of her as the love of my life? Is that why I kissed her back in the NICU?