CHAPTER 5

Mark proposed to Addison a week after their conversation in the park. She excitedly said yes, and her first call was to Derek. She sounded thrilled. In fact, she hadn't been that happy since that passing that midterm for Thompson's class, the one that solidified her spot in Manhattan's most prestigious residency program. Derek listened intently as she rambled on about all the details he already knew: he helped plan the proposal after all. Apart of him loved her, but the happiness in her voice was able to suppress that emotion within him, and he was happy for his two best friends. Truly, whole-heartedly happy. His gaze fell on the only picture in his apartment. It was the three of them at med school graduation. He smiled looking at it, but was interrupted by a phone call.

"Hello?"

"Derek! It's good to hear your voice."

"Richard. How are you? How's Seattle? Rainy?"

"Yes, but I love it. New hospital's great, everyone calls me chief."

"I'm sure you love that!"

"Still as smug as the day you came into my residency program, huh?"

"Yep."

"Cute. Anyway, I called to talk to you about a job offer. Our head of neurosurgery is retiring, and you're the first name that popped into my head."

"Richard, I don't know what to say. I'm honored. Really, I am."

"But?"

"But, I'm happy in Manhattan. The practice is great. The other doctors in it are great. I'm great."

"Derek, this position would put you on the map. 'Solo department head of neurosurgery at a major metropolitan hospital'. Add to that the money I would put into supporting you and you're going to be a star." Derek considered his mentor's words. He was tempted to say yes. His ego was badgering him to say yes. He was about to, but his eyes veered back to the lone picture on his desk. No matter what deeper feelings he felt for Addison, she was still his best friend, as was Mark. He couldn't imagine life without them, especially now with things going so well.

"Richard, I'm sorry but I'm going to have to decline. I am truly happy here. Thank you for the offer."

"You're welcome. Don't think I'm going to stop pursuing you though."

"Wouldn't have it any other way. By the way, you talk to Addison lately?"

"She called the other day to tell me the news. I can't believe Sloan finally asked. Took him long enough."

"I know, right? Yeah she's ecstatic."

"When's the date?"

"Not sure yet. The kind of wedding Addi will plan give it a couple of years."

"I'm sure. Look Derek I do have to go but we will talk again. Soon. And assuming Addi gets to it, I'll be back to New York in no time to entice you more."

"Thanks Richard. Good night." Hanging up the phone, Derek leaned back in his chair, pondering his proposal. He grabbed the photo off his desk and fingered the frame. Addi picked it out for him. He stared at it long and hard. In the end, it wasn't work keeping him in NY. It wasn't Mark. It wasn't other friends. It was her. No matter what kind of relationship Derek shared with her, she needed to be in his live, metaphorically and physically. He looked forward to their lunches in the cafeteria and time on the roof after long days too much. It was going to be hard to watch her marry another man, even if it was Mark, but he would come to deal with it. Hopefully.

One Year Later

"Do you, Addison, take Mark to be your lawfully wedded husband? In sickness, and in health, until death parts you." Derek stared long and hard at Addison as she began to answer. This is harder than I thought it would be. Apart of him screamed to interrupt the ceremony, but he knew way to better. If it's meant to be, it will be. Instead, Derek sat up front, hands crossed, smiling as best he could. His struggle, however, did not go unnoticed.

"I do."

"By the power invested in me by the state of New York, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." With that, Mark kissed Addison to the applause of the friends and family of the packed church. Every seat was filled, but who was surprised? Two of the most respected surgeons on the east coast we're getting married. Some of the greatest medical minds, scrub-less and dressed up, we're here to celebrate with two of their own. Everyone stood and followed the couple out to the reception hall. Derek patted his breast pocket, making sure his best man speech was in there. Well, all he could put into words. He wrote down Mark's half, but the Addison part gave him trouble. He was going to ad-lib it, for better or worse. Putting his feelings into words was too daunting a task, so he chose to let the moment take him. Here we go.

"…..I love you man." Derek finished his part to Mark, and raised his glass. He moved on to Addison. Placing the paper down, he touched his heart, head down, and looked for the right thing to say. Almost on cue, the words came to him.

"Addison. I couldn't put into words what I wanted to say to you today. I tried, but found myself hating whatever I wrote. Instead, I'm letting the moment take me, so hang on." Giggles spread across the audience, and Addison flashed her amazing smile Derek's way. He definitely knew what to say now. "Addi, it was exactly six years ago today that we met. I remember it because we were both trying to cram for Thompson's final in the library at school. I saw you sitting in the library, and the suave guy I am, bumped in to a table and screwed up some guys note system. He stood up, making enough noise to break your studying. You smiled at me, and returned to work. Half an hour later, we both went for the same book, neither of us paying attention to the other as we pulled it down together. Instead of studying, we spent the next hour talking to each other about, well nothing. We just talked. From that moment on, I knew we would be best friends." He paused for a breath, the room in silence, wondering what he would say next. He glanced at Addison beginning to tear before he continued. "There is no one in the world I would rather see marry my other best friend then you. You're the kind of person every one wishes they could have in their lives: considerate, caring, funny, emotional, and the list goes on. Your smile lights up a room, and our ability to have wordless conversations still amazes me. I would trust you with my life, but kind of wish I never have to considering your profession." More giggles, but Addison remained serious, never breaking eye contact with Derek. "With that, I would like everyone to raise a glass to the happy couple. Mark, Addison, I love you guys. Cheers." Cheers were thrown around the room. Most women were tearing, if not crying. Mark came over and hugged Derek first, thanking him for the beautiful speech. When they broke, Derek saw Addison's eyes still on him. Mark was out of range, talking to other family.

"Addi? Was it that bad?" Derek said jokingly.

"No." She responded firmly. Getting up, she hugged Derek firmly. He was caught off guard by her sudden movement, but didn't miss a beat in scooping her up into his arms. She pulled back, ready to talk. "That was the nicest thing anyone has ever said about me. How do you remember all of that so vividly?"

"Better question: how could I forget?" He through her his signature smile, but she still had the same look on her face. It wasn't anger, it wasn't sadness; it was almost shock.

"I love you Derek. I don't know what I would do without you, and I never want to know. You get that right?"

"Of course. I'm not going anywhere. I love you Addi." There moment was interrupted with the Webbers coming up to congratulate the couple. When Derek moved on to mingle with the crowd, Addison followed him with her eyes as long as she could. The excitement of the party broke her train of thought, but the emotion she felt in Derek's eyes as he was talking was unmistakable.

"Congratulations, kid."

"Thanks Richard."

"You look beautiful sweetie."

"Thank you Adele."

"Quite the speech, huh?"

"I know." Although she wanted to, Addi could no longer linger in her thoughts; it was time for her first dance with Mark. The room was silenced, and Derek found himself standing next to the Webbers as the music began. They moved seemingly as one, swaying back and forth. Addison had a clear shot of Derek over Mark's shoulder, there eyes meeting only briefly before Mark dipped her. Derek looked down right after, visible pain in his eyes that it wasn't him up there with her. As much as he wanted to suppress those particular feelings, especially today, he couldn't. He meant every word of that speech: she was his best friend, and he did love her. But it was more than friends for him, and in her eyes, he believed it might be for her too. Adele, the observant one she is, caught all of this.

"Would you like to dance, Derek?"

"Of course. I'd be honored. As long as Richard doesn't mind."

"As long as she isn't asking me, I'm good."

"Alright then." Taking Adele's hand, he led her out to the dance floor, followed by an assortment of other couples.

"That was quite the speech, mister."

"Thanks, I tried."

"I could tell. Espeically the part about Addison. It was touching."

"I'm glad you approve. She's great. They are going to be really happy."

"Yeah. I bet. So how long has it been?"

"How long has what been?" Derek responded, perplexed.

"How long have you been in love with her?" Derek stopped dead in his tracks and looked down at Adele's face. She was serious. Not to be obvious, Adele took the lead and kept them moving.

"I don't know what you mean." Derek felt his throat closing and the room heating up.

"Don't do that Derek. I heard the speech, I saw the looks." His face began to change, and Adele was aware. "Why didn't you say something?"

"What was I supposed to say?"

"I am in love with you Addison is a pretty good place to start. She just married another man for crying out loud."

"I'm aware of that. That other man happens to be my best friend. You don't just do that. You don't just break up your two best friends on the off chance that…." Before he could finish, Adele chimed back in.

"You have loved her from the beginning. You poor boy." Derek lost all the color in his face, clearly confused as to how she knew. "It's a woman thing. We just perceive this sort of stuff."

"Adele, I love Mark. I love Addison. She's my best friend. I can't risk losing either of them, or worse, both. If I have to live with unrequited love to keep them in my life, so be it. For now, I'm dealing. But please don't say anything."

"I won't. But I want you to know something. You're not as alone in your feelings as you think you are." And with that, the song ended and everyone clapped, Adele and Derek included. His clapping was mindless, as he was still staring at Adele in utter confusion. "It's the woman thing. Thank you for the dance." With that, she left the dance floor to sit with her husband. Derek stood in the same spot, still in shock over her intuition.