Breathing Space - Chapter 6
Derek held the door open for Addison before coming in behind her and shutting the door. Addison just stood over by the window wringing her hands together. Derek was unsure how to start but just decided to jump right in with the first thing that popped into his head. It turns out that was not the best plan.
"It was just a kiss."
"Excuse me!"
"No! I mean it was like a goodbye kiss. It was like the final step to really getting over her."
"Somehow I picture that more as a friendly kiss rather than pushing your tongue's her throat."
"I know...but you have to know that I really want to be with you. You are my past, and while you may have had to share the present with Meredith you are the only one I see myself with in the future."
"Where did you get that, a greeting card?"
"Actually that one is 100 original." Derek said trying to lighten up the conversation. It only got him a sad smile from Addison, but he figured that was better than nothing.
"What are we going to do about us?"
"Do you still love me?"
"Against my better judgment. Do you really still love me or are you just holding onto the past?"
"I most definitely still love you. Can we forget this whole year has happened? Mark, Meredith, everything."
"I want to so badly, but I'm not sure my heart could take it if something else happened."
"Then lets start fresh. I'll move out into the trailer and you can stay in the house. Let me take you out on dates, buy you flowers, woo you. Lets give ourselves a chance to fall in love again."
"I don't know Derek. Should it be this hard? I didn't think life was supposed to be this hard"
"My life isn't worth living if you're not in it. Please give us another chance."
"Can you give me some time to think it over?"
"Of course."
"So you will let me know?"
"As soon as I figure it out."
They both headed out of the office and walked back to their waiting friends. Just before they reached them Derek saw Mark standing there waiting for Addison. He still didn't like the fact that he was here, but understood her need for a friend. He spoke out her name to stop her.
"Addi" She turned with questioning eyes and saw the look of fear in his eyes. Not caring that everyone was watching she pulled him into a quick hug an then ran her palm down the side of his cheek before walking towards Mark. By the looks of it they were saying goodbye. The question that was on everyone's was if it was forever.
Mark and Addison had walked together up to the NICU with Izzie trailing a good distance behind.
"So what did he say?"
"He want to start fresh. He wants to start dating me again and give us that chance to fall in love all over again."
"It's good. I have to give him that."
"So you think I should say yes?"
"I think you should think it over and then decide. For now lets just get to work."
Mark headed off to the cosmetic surgery unit of the hospital and Izzie caught Addison up on her patients. The day went by pretty quickly. Lunch was an awkward event. Mark and Addison had both headed down to the cafeteria for lunch when Derek showed up. He knew she wasn't ready to talk to him yet so he got his food and then left.
It took Addison a week to really make up her mind. In that time she had only seen Derek in passing. Mark was staying in the guest room at their house and Derek had moved to the trailer. Every evening after work She and Mark would make dinner together and talk.
"So what are you going to tell him?"
"I have no clue. It's been the only thing I have been thinking about this past week and I have come no closer to an answer."
"Then answer these questions for me. Do you still love him?"
"Yes."
"Can you see yourself being with anybody besides him?" Addison looked at Mark unsure if she wanted to answer, knowing his feelings for her."Just answer the question Addie"
"No not really. In the end its always Derek."
"Then I think you have your answer. You have both hurt each other, but you are getting a second chance here. You can move on and learn from your mistakes so that it won't happen again."
"I guess you are right. How am I going to tell him?"
"I don't know but do me a favor and tell him outside of the hospital, those people don't need another show from you two." Addison just smiled and walked over and gave Mark a hug.
"I just want to thank you for being here with me. I know how hard it must be for you."
"I would rather have you as a friend than nothing at all. I think I always knew you two would end up together so it's alright."
The next day at work Addison saw Derek talking to one of the nurses. She waited for them to finish and then approached him.
"Hey" Derek looked up in surprise.
"Hey! How are you?"
"I'm good, I actually wanted to talk to you about your offer."
"What have you decided?"
"Maybe we could get together for lunch, someone recently told me that we put on too many shows for the people in this hospital."
Derek whined "Addi... I don't think I will be able to work if I have to think about it until lunch time."
He looked around to see if anyone was nearby, then looked back at Addison.
"We are practically alone here, just tell me. Please I beg of you."
"So confident I am going to say yes aren't you. You wouldn't be so excited if you thought I was going to say no."
"you're not going to say no though...right?"
"Fine whatever. Derek when you said I was your future it got me to thinking about my own. Mark asked me a bunch of questions to help me figure this out. In the end I realized I don't want to be with you any more...I'm sorry" Derek's face went blank, he was in shock. Addison watched him process what she had just said for about 30 seconds before she started laughing.
"You think this is funny. You broke my heart Addison." Derek said in anger.
"I am laughing because I just wanted to see what you would say if I said no to you, you cocky bastard." Addison laughed harder at the expressions that crossed Derek's face.
"You...there are no words for how cruel you are. You bitch!" Derek said laughing. Thinking a fight was about to happen, people turned to see what was going on.
Addison was still laughing. When Derek made a grab for her sides. Luckily she had just come out of surgery and was in her scrubs and running shoes. Addison backed away and started walking quickly down the hall away from Derek. He ran after her, which in turn caused her to start running away. They were both laughing , dodging around people who were watching them with smiles on their faces.
The chief was currently in the conference room talking to all of the interns about the upcoming months when they all saw Addison run by with Derek right behind her. The Chief got up thinking the worst. When they all saw Derek catch Addison and pull her into his arms and spin her around. He put her down and proceeded to push her up against the wall and kiss her soundly. The Chief just shook his head with a smile and then called out to Patricia.
"Patricia put in a double order of condoms. If this is anything like when they were interns things are about to get very interesting around here. I don't know if I can take it a second time. Never have I met two people who cause more trouble in my life. Good Grief!"
Ok i think that is the last chapter of this particular story unless you all want to see the dating process, which i think i am going to end up doing. There are so many possibilities for mischief there. Let me know what you think, and if you think i should continue.
I also made a Addison/Markmusic video for all of you out there that wanted to see them together in the fic...sorry. You can view it, and my other addek music video's on youtube...Ok for some reason the site isn't letting me post the link. Just go to youtube and look up the video's the Addison/Mark video is called 'Life Before Seattle' , 'Baracuda' and 'Eve, the apple of my eye' are the other two. Enjoy
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