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CHAPTER 4

The Following Year

"Mark, we have been jogging forever! Where are you taking me to?"

"You'll see. You'll see. Now shut up and move it. You're almost a big time brain surgeon; you have to look hot for the ladies. What's with that anyway? I feel like you go on a million first dates, but me and Ad never get to meet any of them?"

"I don't know. I have been dating a lot, I guess. It's just I never feel any chemistry with them. It's just never a spark." Kind of like the spark I feel whenever Addison walks in the room.

"I feel ya. Just be patient man, you will find the women of your dreams. I found mine." So did I! Sucks it's the same girl. Derek's thought was broken by a girl running in between the two men. She was young, and beautiful, causing both men to turn around as they jogged. "There you go. Beautiful woman, right over there. She stopped to stretch, go talk to her."

"Nah, she's not my type." Addi's my type.

"Mind if I do?"

"Dude your dating my best friend. Of course I mind. What the hell?"

"Just playing with you, Derek. Come on the place is right up ahead." Very funny. He almost wanted to encourage Mark to go over to her, strike up a conversation, fall in love, and leave Addison to him. Over the past few months, his emotions towards him were more filled with jealousy and anger as his love for Addison, beyond just friends, grew. His conscious, however, kept him at bay. Sort of. Derek kept jogging as all of these thoughts flew in and out of his mind. He was so deep in thought he ran right past the paused Mark.

"Hello? Derek. Back here."

"Sorry, caught up in thought. So where are we?"

"Turn around idiot." Derek threw him a look, and slowly turned around. His heart instantly dropped into his stomach. They were in front of a jewelry store, the top jewelry store in Manhattan, especially for engagement rings. The display case was full of them, and Derek quickly put two and two together.

"You're proposing to Addison?"

"Thinking about it, yes. I mean we have been together for almost five years now, I think its time. But I of course needed my best friend's approval before doing anything. See that one in the right back corner, that's mine. Think she'll like it?"

"She'll love it."

"Think I'm crazy?"

"No, not at all. Congratulations!" Flashing the fakest happy face he could, Derek welcomed his friend into a manly embrace. Below the surface, he was crushed. Addison was the love of his life. He knew it since the minute he saw her in the library that day back in med school. He loved everything about her: her laugh, her smile, the way she always reads the fashion section of the newspaper first. And now, Mark was taking her from him, permanently. You have to tell her. You have no other choice. She will literally marry another man if you bite your tongue.

"Mum's the word though, k? I want to plan a big elaborate surprise. And I will need your help."

"Yeah man, whatever you need."

"Great! Look we better get back, Addison's making lunch. Wants us to enjoy our only day off just the three of us together, before we are paged away." Derek's thoughts still lay on Addison.

"Yep. Let's go." Without another look back, Derek took off jogging. He felt Mark catch up with him, and they jogged home in silence. Mark was going over proposal ideas, and Derek was doing his best to block them out. He needed to talk to Addison, and soon.

Derek and Mark reached Mark and Addison's apartment just before 12:30. They took the elevator, deciding they had exercised enough for one day. Opening the door, they found a seemingly empty apartment. The table was set, but Addison was no where inside.

"Add?"

"Back here. Hang on." Addison walked out of the room and met up with her men. "Well, if it isn't my two favorite people. Damn, where the hell did you guys run to? Your sweating like crazy."

"We had some stuff to discuss." Mark said, his head buried in the fridge. He was doing his best to hide his smile.

"Yeah, what he said. Who's hungry?" Derek said, wishing to divert the conversation. "I'm going to go wash up." He needed to leave the room. He needed to clear his head, in a major way. As he walked out, he paused in the doorway by an all too familiar scream.

"Mark, your sweaty and disgusting go change. Mark, stop it. Mark…" Before Addison could finish her ranting, Mark had gathered her lips into a warm embrace. "Thank you. Now go change!" Addison replied as Mark placed her up right again. Derek saw the whole thing, but neither of them realized. He wanted to hit himself for wishing they would break up, but he couldn't help how he felt. Almost as if God was listening, Derek felt his belt vibrating. It was the hospital. Relieved, he picked up the nearest phone to check in. He caught Addison's disappointment as he moved towards her.

"I'm sure its nothing, just patient follow-up. Hello, this is Dr. Shepherd I was just paged."

"Yes, Dr. Shepherd, please hold." Derek sat tapping his fingers, watching Addison put the finishing touched on lunch. There eyes met for a moment, and she smiled at him. Going over to the sink behind him, she fuddled with some dishes, eager to hear the conversation for herself. Derek was different, and she couldn't figure out why.

"Okay Dr. Shepherd. It's Dr. Price. I just had two quick questions on medicine adjustments." Addison heard all she needed, and returned to the counter adjacent to the sink. I'm just being paranoid. Derek is fine. He's…Derek. Her mindless train of thought was broken by Derek shouting to Mark he had to go.

"Sorry man. That was the hospital. Patient is having unexplainable headaches. I need to go in."

"Yeah, don't worry about it. We will finish our conversation later."

"No problem." He walked over to Addison, doing his best to keep a straight face and hide his thoughts, because she always knew them. She had overhead the conversation, but wouldn't have needed to to know the truth. "Addi, I'm sorry. I know you wanted the three of us to hang out. I just need to take care of my patient. Forgive me?"

"Yeah, call me later and tell me how it goes."

"Great." He leaned in to kiss her on the cheek. He made contact but he felt her pull away slightly. She could read him like a book, and he knew it. Defeated, he walked out of the apartment and rested his head on the closed door. That was the first time he had ever lied to her. She knew it. He knew it. She wasn't going to be happy. He wasn't happy with himself. He finally picked himself up and wandered towards the elevator, head down, and heart broken.

Later That Night

Derek was at home, alone, sipping a beer. He stared through his 20th floor terrace view; the city looked beautiful at night. He loved being out there, and always hoped that a certain someone would be next to him. Speaking of, he needed to figure out something to say to her. She would come with questions; it was only a matter of time. She hated lying, and was not going to tolerate it from him. Before he could linger on the subject for the hundredth time since it happened, he heard a knock at his door. It was rapid, and unhappy. It was her. He did not want to answer. He approached the door quietly, lingering a few steps to the side. He didn't make a sound, he was sure of it.

"Derek, I know your in their. Answer the door. We need to talk…now!" She wasn't happy. Derek slowly unlocked the door, an angry Addison in his hallway. She didn't even wait for an invite, just blew past him.

"Come on in. Want a drink?"

"I am too angry for a drink. Damn it, Derek. Why did you lie to me?" She paced his living room, and Derek could do nothing but stare and smile. God she was cute when she was angry. How he would have loved to grab her violently, yet gently, by the shoulders, take her into his arms, and kiss her passionately.In another life, maybe.

"Excuse me, Derek? I am ranting here. Snap out of it. I want some answers. Why did you lie to me? I mean I spent the entire afternoon piecing it together in my head, and it doesn't make sense. The first time the three of us have some actual time together and you make up some lie about the hospital. What gives?"

"The hospital needed me. I couldn't just ignore my duty to my patients." That's good dude, lie more. She's just going to jump you here and now.

"Don't even try it. Your eyes gave you away. They always do. You're an awful liar. How about the truth? Please."

"Addi, its nothing. I just wanted to give you and Mark some time together. That's all. I'm fine." He must have repeated that exact line so much he believed it, because she didn't push any further. "It just always seems like you're missing each other. Come here." Derek motioned towards himself, offering his arms up for a hug. She stared him up and down, finally giving in and hugging him.

"I don't recommend lying, you're awful at it."

"I'll keep that in mind. Thanks." He said laughing. Pulling away, there bodies remained close. She moved her hand up to his cheek, and softly ran the back of her fingers across it.

"I love you, Derek. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"I love you, too." He responded, heart heavy. He meant that in a way she didn't. They remained close, bodies touching. He leaned in; close enough to her mouth to just get out his emotions in one fiery kiss. Do it man, she's right there. She feels it to. You need to get it out! He veered off course, and placed a smooth kiss on her smoother cheek. Her eyes closed on impact, and she felt his warmth take over her. A shiver went down her spine. She hadn't felt that way for a long time. Their gaze remained, neither sure what to do next. DEREK! Get in there. Just….Kiss….Her!

"I should get going. Mark expects me back soon."

"Yeah, don't want to worry him."

"Lunch tomorrow?"

"Always. You're buying?"

"We will see about that. Good night D." She replied with a smile.

"We will. Night Ad." With that, she spun around, walked to the door, and let herself out. Derek followed behind, closing it gently. Leaning his head against it, he could feel his heart beating nearly out of his chest. You were so close. Why didn't you just kiss her you fool? Derek leaned against the door, pushing himself up. Tomorrow was a new day. He was carrying the same baggage, but at least it was a fresher start. Little did he know Addison had been leaning against the door in a similar fashion, also pondering the events of a few minutes prior. She had always loved Derek in that best friend way. She trusted him with her life. But now, she could feel their relationship changing. Whenever they were alone, there was an inherent closeness. Whenever Mark was around, that changed. But why? Questions for another day, I guess. And without another thought, Addison gently touched the door with a kiss, and wandered to the elevator.