Six – 'New York, New York'

Addison Shepherd sat alone in her office. Absentmindedly, she stared out of the window, taking in the vast Seattle skyline at dusk. The sun was setting illuminating the ferryboats and making them look mysteriously appealing to her. She didn't get her husband's obsession with those things. Sure, they were okay to travel by, but a thing of beauty? I think not. Twirling a strand of dark red hair around her perfectly manicured fingernail she sighed. She'd lost track of time a while ago but she didn't really mind. At this point she'd rather be sitting in her office daydreaming then be cooped up in that tiny trailer where you couldn't move without falling over a Manolo or nearly poking your eye out on a fishing rod. Addison's eyes once again roamed over the spectacular view and rested on the Space Needle. It's good, but it's not New York, she thought, her mind flipping back to a time long ago when her and Derek were there, and happy. Suddenly she felt a presence in the room and she knew it was Derek before she could see him. "Addison," he said, taking a step towards her. She still didn't turn around, knowing that the moment she did they'd probably relapse another argument and they'd had one to many that day already. "Addison," Derek repeated, now standing right behind her, his hands resting lightly on her shoulders.

"It's not New York Derek." She sighed, swivelling around in her chair. They were now face to face and had been in each other's company for almost five minutes without fighting. What a record!

"You miss it there don't you Addie?"

"Yeah Derek, I do. But I don't just miss New York. I miss us. You and me. Our marriage. Our life. " She looked him in the eyes. "Do you remember a time there, before Mark and Meredith, when we were actually happy?" She was taking a risk here asking him this, but she had to know.

"Honestly…" Derek paused. "Of course I do. There were some amazing times and I can remember them like they were yesterday. The memories, the songs, the photographs. Dancing to Bon Jovi in the rain. Ice skating at the Rockefeller Centre at Christmastime. Kissing in Times Square at New Year." He smiled at all the memories that came flooding back to him. He looked over to Addison who was also smiling. He knew that she was thinking the exact same thing as he was…

"That night in that seedy cocktail bar on Staten Island because we missed the last ferry!" They both said simultaneously, cracking into smiles.

"I miss that Derek."

"I know. I do too." He sat down on the desk beside her.

"How did we get from there to here?" She asked, feeling a tear roll down her cheek. Get a grip Addison.

"I think…" Derek didn't know how to answer that. How did we get from there to here? Mark was definitely the icebreaker, but not everything. "I think, it just happened. We aren't in that place anymore. That place where there's roses and champagne everyday. I thought we could go back, but…"

"It's there with Meredith." I can still finish his sentences though, Addison thought.

"Roses, champagne… fireworks, the whole thing."

"I think I get it Derek." Addison said, suddenly bitter at the thought of her husband with another woman, regardless of who it was. Guess that's how he felt about Mark, she mused. "So I guess this is it then?"

"I guess so." Derek lingered in the room. It seemed so final, yet so right. The silence between them was comforting, but Derek had to break it. It was now or never. He got up, kissed Addison on the forehead and left the room just as silently as he had entered.

At least I still have New York, Addison thought as she pulled the divorce papers towards her. At least I still have New York…