"Addie, don't be so nervous," Derek placed a small kiss on his girlfriend's cheek as they stood on the porch of his parent's house, "They'll love you."

The door opened and a girl, not much younger than Derek, opened the door and threw her arms around Derek's neck, "Bubba! Merry Christmas! And this must be the girlfriend."

"Yes, Emily, this is Addison," Derek gave his sister a kiss on the forehead, "Addie, this is my baby sister Emily."

"Hi, I'd shake your hand, but," Addison nodded towards the gifts she was holding, "I'm a little bit full."

"Here, let me help you," Emily relieved Addison of the gifts and carried them inside. The instant they were in the entryway she announced loudly, "Bubbas home!"

Soon, Addison was being introduced to a mass of people, babies, husbands, parents and sisters. After the newness of "Bubba's" arrival had worn off, Addison entered the kitchen to help the women prepare Christmas dinner.

"He lets you call him Bubba?" Addison wondered aloud.

Amanda, the oldest Shepherd sister, laughed, "Not something you'd expect, huh?"

"He's Derek, any attempt to call him by any other name is met with silence," Addison answered.

"I would say we kind of ruined him with the whole Bubba thing," Sarah, the sister directly older than Derek, explained, "It kind of embarrasses him."

Addison nodded and soon found herself reveling in listening to the four women swap embarrassing stories about their Bubba. She, the only child of distant parents, had never known what siblings were like, but, in only minutes, she was treated as if she belonged.

She would later find out that Derek had leaned against the door jamb and watched Addison interact with his sisters for over an hour, and that was what had made him decide to propose marriage to her that evening as they were crawling into bed.

That Christmas was the subject of Addison's dreams, at least until the shrill ring of the phone interrupted them. She reached to the other side of the bed, but when she didn't feel Derek beside her she knew she was obligated to answer.

"Hello?" She grabbed the handset and held it to her ear.

"Addie?" A voice, which Addison deemed entirely too chipper for 7:30 on a Saturday, came across the line.

"This is she," Addison answered, desperately searching for who was on the other line.

"It's Emily."

Addison smiled, forcing herself awake for her sister-in-law, "Hi Em. How are you and the boys?"

"I'm doing well," Emily answered, "Zack and Timmy are doing well. They actually have a soccer game in a few hours. What about yourself?"

"As good as one can be living in Seattle," She joked.

"Not exactly New York," Emily agreed, "How's Bubba?"

Addison chuckled, after nearly 12 years of hearing his sisters use that name it still caused her laughter, "He's fine."

"And the two of you…" Emily warily wondered about the shaky state of her brother's marriage.

"We're working on it," Addison answered as honestly as she could muster.

"Good," Emily responded, "Now, the real reason I'm calling: Do you guys have any plans for Christmas?"

"Derek and I haven't discussed the holidays," Addison admitted.

"I understand. Well, we're doing a big family thing at Mom and Dad's, like always, and we'd love to have you guys," Emily explained, "We miss both of you."

"I'll have to talk to him about it."

"Thanks, Addie."

"No problem, Em."

After a long pause, Emily awkwardly spoke, "I'm glad you went after him, Addie. You were good for Bubba; I wish you the best, both of you."

"That means a lot, Emily," Addison thanked her genuinely.

"Well, I meant it," Emily said and then segued into, "Okay, I have to go, the boys are in need of a mother, I just had to call and invite you guys. I hope you can come. Give Bubba all our love."

"Will do," Addison agreed and exchanged goodbyes with her sister-in-law before disconnecting the call just as Derek came walking in.

"You awake?" Derek called softly as he walked to the refrigerator to retrieve a bottle of water.

"Yeah," She crawled from the bed and crossed the trailer to the kitchen area where he was now sitting on the counter, "Good run?"

"Until it started to rain," He smiled, "I figure you'd still be asleep. I thought you reserved Saturdays for an extra few hours."

"You sister called and woke me up," Addison answered.

Derek's face lit up, "Which one?"

"Emily."

"Really? What did she want? How are the boys?"

"Timmy and Zack are obviously doing well, she was getting ready to take them to a soccer game," Addison opened the cupboards in search of food, "And she was calling to invite us to the craziness that is the Shepherd Christmas dinner."

Derek froze at the mention of his family's Christmas. Addison had moved back in with him just over a month before, and they still hadn't managed to consummate their relationship. He couldn't bring Addison to what he saw as the happiest place on earth when he was still struggling to consider her his family. After what she'd done to him, he didn't really feel that she deserved the Shepherds.

Addison noted his cold reaction and crossed her arms over her chest and wondered, "So?"

"I'm going to take a shower, I'll talk to you when I get out," Derek slipped from the counter and started for the bathroom, only a few steps away.

"Derek, don't even consider taking a step closer to that bathroom," Addison instructed him simply.

Derek stopped. He took a moment and turned to face his wife.

"I moved back in here a month ago, and that month has been all about the silence. It's time you remember that we are, in fact, married. Be mean, be spiteful, hate me, but, for god sakes, talk to me! I'm sick of your silent act."

Derek sighed, half tempted to step into the bathroom just to spite her, "Fine. I was actually wondering if you belonged at my family dinner. Do you really deserve it?"

Hearing Derek question her part in his family infuriated Addison, and she retaliated, "I don't deserve to be there? Have you forgotten the countless Christmases and Thanksgivings I spent with your family and not you because you were too busy with your work? Have you forgotten the 6 children I delivered for your sisters? Tell me, Derek, if that doesn't qualify me as deserving of your family, then what does?"

The hurt in Addison's eyes called out to him. She had betrayed him in the worst way possible, but she was also right. In their 12-year relationship, Addison had been as much a part of his family as he had. He couldn't deny that.

Derek sighed, "You belong at my family Christmas, Addie. But I don't know if I can share something that special with you, not right now."

Addison nodded, "Is this still because of Mark?"

The answer was in Derek's silence.

"Fine, if I weren't here would you take Meredith?"

"That's not fair," Derek turned and went into the bathroom, refusing to continue the conversation.