Chapter 4 - Breathing Space

Since buying the house they had painted and fixed everything they had wanted. Their old furniture had been shipped to them from Manhattan and everything was set up. It had taken a lot of work but it was finally done. They had closed the trailer, with the promise of staying there on the weekends when they weren't busy at the hospital. They were in a prime location and only a 10 minute drive to the hospital.

On the way to work 2 weeks after buying the house Derek turned to Addison with an excited look on his face. To Addison that only meant trouble.

"What kind of trouble are you thinking of now?" she said with a smile

"Funny girl, but seriously I was thinking we could have house warming this weekend. I mean the house is done and we could have a bunch of people over from work, maybe even some family. What do you say?"

"I say it's a great idea, but who are we going to invite? You forget that nobody likes me here."

"Of course they do. We can invite Richard and Adele, Bailey and Tucker, Burke and Yang..."

"Ah but once we invite Yang the rest of the interns will know we are having a party. Do we have to invite them? I wouldn't mind inviting Stevens, but once we invite one we have to invite them all."

"Why don't we just have an open house. We could just tell people to come and bring a friend. Tell them we want to keep it small but they are welcome to being whomever they want."

"What if Meredith shows up?"

"Then she shows up. She parties with the rest of us and goes home. I will be friendly but nothing more."

"Then I guess we are having a party."

"So how does Saturday night sound?"

"Perfect. I have Saturday off."

The days leading up to the party were filled with chaos and excitement. Everyone was looking forward to it, including Meredith who had told Derek she was looking forward to attending.

On Friday night Addison had gone out and bought a bunch of little white Christmas lights and strung them up all around the backyard. It was a magical sight to see. Derek had gone out and bought all the food and drinks, after he was done in the kitchen he stood in the doorway to the backyard and watched as Addison looked around making things perfect. He didn't know how things were going to turn out tomorrow night but he wasn't going to let Addison out of his sight.

Work that day couldn't have gotten over sooner. Everyone was on a high as they left the hospital that day. They all went home to get ready for the party.

At around 9 most of the guests had arrived. The music was going and everyone was having a great time. Addison was talking with Adele and Richard on one side of the room. Derek was out in the Kitchen talking to Bailey. Miranda excused herself to get another drink and Meredith swooped in.

"So do I get a tour?"

"I think that could be an option if you play your cards right." Derek said with a smirk on his face.

"There is actually something I wanted to talk with you about, if we can find somewhere to talk in private."

"Well then am I to take it you have seen everything there is to see down here?" Meredith nodded and laughed "Then shall we head upstairs to conclude the rest of our tour?" Derek offered Meredith his arm and they both headed up the stairs. Most of the party saw where they were going, including Addison. She tried to stay downstairs and give them the benefit of the doubt by Adele finally turned to her and spoke.

"What are you still doing down here girl? Go up there and get your man!"

Addison excused herself and quietly headed upstairs. She couldn't hear anything once she got up there. Tiptoeing to one of the empty rooms with the lights on she peeked in and stopped dead. There was Derek and Meredith nose to nose quietly whispering to each other. She was about to say something to them when Meredith leaned forward and captured Derek in a kiss. Instead of breaking away from the kiss Derek seemed to be savoring it. It broke her heart, she turned and headed back down the stairs. Everyone saw her come downstairs in a hurry and assumed the worst. She went to the hall closet and grabbed her coat and headed for the door. Richard intercepted her before she got there.

"Addi what happened?"

"Oh you know, just caught my husband making out with Meredith."

"Where are you going?"

"I don't know, I hadn't got that far yet. Probably a hotel."

"Just call me when you get there. I want to know you are safe."

Richard pulled her into a fatherly hug and then let her go. The next thing everyone knew he was telling them all to leave.

"The party is over. Get your stuff and leave as quietly as possible." There were just a few people left in the house once everyone had gone. Bailey and Tucker, Izzie who had come to the party with Meredith, and the Chief and Adele. They all took a seat on the couch and waited for the two to come downstairs. When they finally did they expected it to be so busy that no one would notice. Unfortunately they were wrong.

"Where is everybody?" Derek asked while leaving Meredith's side.

"I asked them to leave. Now where were you too?"

"I was just giving Meredith the tour." Derek said lying through his teeth.

"I wasn't aware that tours included kissing." Both Derek and Meredith were stunned. They hadn't heard anyone come up the stairs.

"You saw us?"

"Ah no that would be your wife. We all saw you go up there together, she tried to trust you and let you be but we wouldn't let her. So she went up after you and not 5 minutes later came back down in a rush. Everyone in this house knew what had happened so I made them leave."

"Addison saw us! Where is she?"

"She left."

"Left? Well where did she go?"

"I don't know."

Izzie stood up, not able to take it any longer. "Meredith what are you thinking! They are Married and trying to make it work. Is it like your mission in life to ruin everyone else's!"

Meredith didn't have anything to say to that. But Izzie wasn't done yet.

"And you! You picked Addison! I think it's time you started acting like it. Stop ignoring her and start treating her like a second class citizen. I am just so sick of this whole thing. I am leaving now. Meredith if you have any sense at all you will get in the car with me and leave." Izzie turned and left the house. Meredith took one last look at Derek and left. The rest of the staff left soon afterwards. Derek just collapsed on the couch trying to get Addison to answer her phone, but all he was getting was the busy signal.

Across town Addison sat out on a bench overlooking the water. Her phone pressed to her ear.

"Hello?"

"Mark..."

"Addison, what wrong"

"Everything was going fine. We bought a house, the open house was tonight and it was going well until everyone saw him and Meredith go upstairs together. I didn't want to go up there cause I want to trust him but Adele made me. They were kissing! In our new house. It was supposed to be our new beginning." Mark could hear Addison sobbing on the other line and it broke his heart.

"What can I do for you?"

"Can you come here?"

Ok well this is another chapter that I just let my fingers do the talking. I kind of like it tho. Hope you all do too. Please review.