Thanks to all who reviewed. I was a little hesitant to post a story like this at first, 'cause the whole 'season three' thing has been used so many times. I don't really consider this the next season. Rather-the realization (In everyone's eyes) that nothing is as perfect as they wish it were.-All ultimately leading to Addison (being as this is a pro-Addison, non Addek fic) coming to terms with...well, everything.

Like I said before, I'll be featuring other POV's here and there amidst Addison's because of the fact that other things are happening that ultimately lead to the end. Anyway, without giving anything away, I guess I should move on, huh?

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Plans are a good things to have-until you realize that no matter what you do, something is going to happen-be it falling in love with a different person, being in a car crash, or even taking a phone call-that can ruin that plan. The point? The best laid plans often fall through. And when they do, you have to face the truth-wether you like it or not.

(Derek's POV)

We rode home in the same car that night, though it didn't feel like it. Addison sat on her side of the car while I drove. There were times earlier in our marriage when I'd "accidentally" brush my hand against hers-but not now.

Now-she was in the bedroom getting dressed for bed and I was at the dining table downing a glass of water trying to muster the strength to tell her the truth.

Why did the truth have to be so hard? If it was easy, she would have known by now. Actually, if it was easy-she probably wouldn't even be in Seattle now.

But she is, and so am I. And so is Meredith.

She stares at me from the bedroom doorway. I can feel her eyes staring into me, wondering any number of things. She's just as afraid to speak as I am at that moment. The last thing we said to each other was "You ready to go home?"

She clears her throat, walking past me to the kitchen. I should follow her, I should apoligize. I should tell the truth, I know. But I don't know how.

The chair across from mine is now occupied. She stares across at me, glass of water in hand. She's waiting for me to speak. She knows I have something to say. But I still refuse to say anything.

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(Meredith's POV)

I'm in the kitchen, taking a batch of cookies out of the oven. Izzie has been baking like crazy the past couple of days, and truthfully I don't blaim her.

She barely speaks, except to say we need eggs or flour. Cristina called from the hospital to talk to her, but she wouldn't speak.

I don't know who I am anymore. A funny time for that thought to strike me-eleven at night, oven mits on.

Finn called twice today, and I didn't reply to either call. I hate what I did, and maybe that's what hurts the most. This is punishment. This is the punishment I need to get over what I did.

What we did. I wonder what he's doing now. He's been quiet, not in shock just-quiet. Derek and I have this awkward speaking thing-but we try and avoid getting in the same elevator.

George stumbles into the kitchen, Callie quickly follows. "Where is she?"He asks.

"Upstairs with Alex...he came over earlier."I say, pulling the oven mit off.

"So you're on cookie duty, huh?"He asks, pulling an already cooled off one from the counter.

"I woudn't do that-"Callie warns, not that it helps. "You remember what happened yesterday-she went off on me because I touched a brownie.She counts those things."

But it's too late, the cookie's already in his mouth.

"So why'd you guys come home early?"I ask, knowing it's none of my business. Anything to get my mind off the fact that I'm in the kitchen, counting cookies. And-oh yeah-my problems.

"There was a fight at Joe's.George here tried to break it up and well..."Callie trailed off, assuming that I'd fill in the blanks. I guess the bruise on his cheek should have been my first clue.

She just stands there awkwardly. She's not sure if she should be here, and yet she still is. I don't mean to treat her like an outcast, Callie actually seems sort of nice. But she doesn't want to talk. And she doesn't want to accept our crazy, twisted version of a family.

The fact that she saw me and Derek together adds extra tension. "Well-George..."She says after casting me a warning glance. "I should go.Tell Izzie I said hello."

"I will."George says, walking to the door. When he returns, I'm sitting at the table. He sits next to me, seemingly worried.

"Okay-spill."

I stare at him, puzzled. ''What?"

"What does Callie know that I don't?I try talking to her...and she seems almost afraid. The way she looked at you...what happened, Mer?''

That's all it took. I buried my head in my hands, my elbows resting on the table. It's a time like this that I wish Cristina was here. She's knock sense into me. But instead-I get George. The one I broke. The one that turned to someone else. George.

"I...I slept with Derek.I didn't mean to. I don't even know if I wanted to. He kept looking at me-and he followed me.I just..."I stopped, looking at his clearly stunned face. "Don't know."

"Oh."He says. I can't decide if the look on his face is of disappointment or understanding.

"I'm sorry."I say, realizing how pathetic I sound. "For...For pouring this out on you. I just-"

"I understand, Mer.What are you going to do?''

I realize then that he's not mad. It's almost as if he saw it coming. "I don't know."

"Have you talked about it?"

"Not really. Callie...she...she came to tell me that Izzie needed me."

"And you ran."

Smiling sadly, I took a sip from my drink. "Yep.I wish I could stop running.I wish-"

He stops me, grabbing the cordless phone off the counter. Looking at me almost sadly, he sighs.

"I'm supposed to call him?At eleven at night?"

He then does something very odd. Very un-george. "What's his number?"

"What?"

"I'm tired of McDreamy hurting you, Mer.What's his number?"

It hits me. George wants to call him. We still have an awkwardness about us, but he's my friend. And he wants to help me. "You know what...maybe I should...I should do it."

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(Addison's POV)

At some point I gave up, going to bed. I lay, staring at the wall. I wish he'd talk to me. I know something's wrong. I can feel it. Derek's never this quiet. His cell phone ringing breaks the silence. I wait for him to answer.

"Hello?"He says, almost relieved. "I'm sorry, I can't-" He sighs, almost as if he's trying to come up with an excuse. "I know, that's very true but...Okay.What?...No.I know...but please...okay.Bye."

I know better than to ask who it was, but I already know. It's out of the question. "Derek?"

He turns towards me.

"What are we doing?"

He gets up, turning on the light. "I uh...I have to leave."

"Where are you going?"

He looks at me, sadness tinging his eyes. "I'm sorry."

"Derek...talk to me here. Please?"

He motion for me to come towards him. Awkwardly, I climb out of bed. Going towards him, he kisses me. I try to pretend I liked it-it's not that I didn't. But he's acting so different, so forceful.

Derek pulls back, sighing. "I'm sorry, Addy."

"Sorry for what, Derek?What's going on?" He goes about his business, pulling on a pair of pants.

"I don't really know.But this...us..."

"That was Meredith on the phone, wasn't it?"

He doesn't answer me. He pulls a shirt over his head, walking into the living room. He pulls on his boots, almost angry.

"Derek, talk to me!"I say, almost desperate now. And then it hits me. He's leaving. He's going to her.

He's choosing her this time.

"I don't want to hurt you, Addison."Derek says, standing up. Sighing, he walks towards me. Reaching up, he moves the hair out of my face. "We tried."

"We tried?"I cry. "We're not over, Derek.I love you..."

"I slept with her.In an empty exam room.I...I lied about the patient.I've tried being the husband that you wanted. But I can't, Addy.I'm sorry."

He heads toward the door, leaving me in a mess of confusion and wonder. I feel tears, begging to fall.

"Derek."

He turns toward me.

"That's...That's all I get?'We tried'...'I'm sorry' ? We're still married, Derek. I still love you. I chose you over Mark...over New York. And everything that I had going there to come here...I came to you. I don't deserve this."

"You're right."

I'm not sure which one of us is more wrong. I should have known. I shouldn't have come. But I'm here. And I've got to worry about what this will do to us. It's clear that we're over. What isn't clear is which one of us will admit it first.

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I'm not sure how long this'll be...if any of you have any ideas, feel free to let me know.I do know that there'll probably be some angst-ish stuff coming up. I know Derek was a little OOC-I tried to avoid that, but still capture the whole raw emotion thing.

I chose "Punishment" as the title, because it's a song I like. It's from a group called SHeDAISY. I won't post the lyrics here, but I think it really fits with the whole "I guess that love became a crime" type of thing. Anyway-R&R!