Author's Note: Sorry it took me forever to update! I wasn't sure if I was going to continue because I don't even really like this chapter much right now. But hopefully this chapter will help it go where I want it to. I'm determined to finish a story! Read and review please, whether your comments are positive or negative. Oh, and I think this chapter focuses more on Addison, but the next chapter should incorporate more with Derek and Mark and what they're thinking too. I should also do that for the interns. There was supposed to be a scene with them at the restaurant in this chapter, but I was too tired to write it last night so I said I'd do it today, but I just got back from my dance recital and it's already after midnight and the chapter is long-ish anyway so I'll save their conversation in my head until next chapter! And some of this may seem out of character, but maybe they don't need to be in character in this story? Why? Um…because I said so! Not a good enough reason? Okay, I'll work on keeping them more in character next time!

Disclaimer: So it's been a while, but unfortunately I still don't own the characters or the TV show. I tried to gain some rights, but Shonda won't return my calls! ( haha, I love when people put funny things here so I try to come up with funny ones, but they're just not as good! Um…at least I tried!)

The next day at the hospital Addison walked into the cafeteria by herself. When she entered it felt as if time froze; it seemed that the room fell silent and all eyes were fixed on her. She told herself that she was just imagining it. She scanned the room for someone to sit with. Derek was sitting with the Chief. Normally she could have sat with Richard, but not today, not with Derek there. She saw some of the interns at a table together, but she knew she'd start more rumors I she sat there. Mark was at a table by himself and when Addison looked over at him, he gave her a look that seemed to say, 'Don't even think about sitting here.' She wondered how long she had been standing in the doorway. It felt like forever and she knew if she didn't move soon she would attract more unwanted attention. She felt like turning around and leaving the cafeteria, but that would be running from her problems. She had to be strong. Luckily for Addison, Dr. Bailey walked up next to her at that moment carrying a tray of food.

"Come on Addie, let's go find a seat."

"Thank you Miranda," she said quietly once they sat down.

"Hey, what are friends for?" She smiled and joked, "I'm only a Nazi when I'm dealing with my interns!"

Addison laughed.

"Speaking of interns, are you really living at Grey's house?"

"I'm just staying there for a short time. It's really just temporary. I'll start looking for my own place soon."

"You could've come to me, you know. Tucker and I always have room for you."

"I appreciate that, but you guys have baby William now and I don't want to impose."

"Don't worry."

"It's okay. I'm fine at Meredith's for now."

"And she's okay with it?" Dr. Bailey asked, skeptically.

"She seems to be." Addison shrugged.

"I never thought I'd hear that!"

They both laughed.

The rest of the day seemed to pass quickly and although no one had directly said anything to her, Addison was sure they had all heard about what happened between her and Mark. She could tell by the pitying glances and dirty looks she received, and the whispering seemed to follow her everywhere. She couldn't wait to get out of there and back home. Then she realized that her current 'home' was Meredith Grey's house and with three gossip-loving interns, it wasn't likely that she would get much of a break there either. She decided she'd spend the remainder of her evening in "her" room by herself.

Later that night Izzie, George, and Meredith decided to go out to dinner since none of them were on-call that night.

A few minutes before the left George asked, "Hey guys, do you think we should invite the She-Shepherd? She seemed upset before and maybe this would cheer her up."

Izzie nodded and looked at Meredith.

Meredith sighed. "Fine. But you have to ask her since it was your idea," she said, directing the comment at George.

"Okay." He walked down the hall to the guest room where Addison was staying. He knocked lightly and called uneasily, "Dr. Montgomery-Shepherd? It's George."

"Come in," she answered.

He walked in and found her sitting on the bed reading.

Before he had a chance to say anything she took off her glasses and spoke, "When we're not at the hospital I told you to call me Addison. Hey, I'll even answer to Satan!" she joked. "Dr. Montgomery-Shepherd is just so long and formal to say outside of work." She gave a small smile.

"Yea, okay." He smiled awkwardly. "We, uh…me, Meredith, and Izzie, we're going out to dinner in a while. Do you wanna come?"

Addison thought about it for a minute. She hadn't been invited anywhere in a while and it might be nice. Their impromptu movie had been kinda fun too. In some ways being with them reminded her of when she and Derek were interns and how they fell in love. But then she thought of the looks of pity people had given her all day and wondered if this was a pity invite too. She wasn't feeling all that great anyway and refused to appear vulnerable in front of them again.

"Um…I'll pass tonight, but thanks anyway." She barely looked up.

"Okay, see you later." He closed her door as he left the room, and then headed back to the living room.

Meredith and Izzie looked at him expectedly.

"She's not coming."

"That woman is so hot and cold, friendly one minute, harsh the next. And then she wonders why I'm afraid of her!" he muttered as he walked to the door. Then he turned to the girls, "You guys coming?"

"Yup."

"Let's go."

As soon as Addison heard the front door slam shut and the car pull away, she broke down into tears. She took off her glasses, put down her book, and cried for everything she had been holding in. She just lay in bed sobbing, not caring about anything but her problems, first with Derek, then with Mark. Despite the fact that her pregnancy had caused some of her problems, she already loved her unborn baby. Secretly she worried about bringing her baby into the world. How would a child adjust to a situation that even she couldn't adapt to? What if she wasn't a good enough mother? What if neither Derek nor Mark wanted to be a father figure to this innocent child? She hadn't realized how long she'd been dwelling on these thoughts until she heard the front door open and voices heading towards the living room.

Half an hour later the first floor was quiet. She had heard the voices go upstairs about ten minutes earlier so she figured it was safe to sneak to the kitchen for a glass of warm milk before bed.

When she reached the kitchen she flipped the light on and then gasped, surprised to find Meredith sitting at the table eating one of the cookies Izzie had made earlier in the week.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. I'm just having a quick snack. Want some?" Meredith pushed the cookie tin towards the other woman. "Izzie makes great cookies."

Addison shook her head and instead went to the refrigerator. She poured her milk and heated it in the microwave.

Meredith hadn't said anything more, but Addison felt the intern's eyes following her. She figured she should be polite and join Meredith at the table until one of them had finished.

She pulled her chair out. "Is it okay…?"

Meredith nodded.

"So, why were you sitting in the dark?"

Meredith shrugged. "It's just peaceful I guess."

"I'll be gone in a minute and I'll turn the light back off on my way out."

"Nah, it's fine." Meredith waved her hand dismissing it.

Meredith hadn't looked closely at Addison when she entered the kitchen, but now in the light, she saw sadness in the older woman's eyes. She noticed they were a bit red and her face was slightly puffy. She knew, from her own experience, that Addison must have been crying.

"Are you okay?" Meredith asked.

Addison gave a small nod and a weak smile. "I'm fine."

"Because you look upset and you have a lot going on, so I totally understand why you'd be upset."

"Meredith, I am not having this conversation, especially not with you," she replied firmly.

"You don't want to talk to me about it, I get that. You do need to talk though. What about Izzie? She's a good listener. I can go get her right now."

"No. I'm fine."

"You're not fine. You need someone to be there for you. Friends help, I promise. They helped me."

"I don't need anyone," Addison said, fully knowing that it was a lie. She needed someone now more than ever, but she wasn't ready to trust anyone and let them in. She had been hurt too much lately and lonely too often.

Tears stung her eyes but she didn't let them fall. She wouldn't let Meredith see her cry.

"I know what it's like Addison…to have everyone gossip about you, the looks, the whispers. And at the end of the day you go home…alone…feeling like crap. And nothing can get rid of the pain. Everyone needs someone."

"Well I don't," Addison snapped.

"Fine. Be stubborn then," Meredith shot back. "Why do I even try to be nice!"

She pushed back her chair and stood up, ready to go up to her room for the night.

This was too much for Addison to deal with. 'Damn pregnancy hormones,' she thought to herself. The tears began to spill down her cheeks uncontrollably.

Meredith wasn't quite sure what to do. She hadn't expected Addison to start crying.

"I-I'm sorry Addison. I didn't mean that. You'll talk when you're ready," she said soothingly.

"It's not what you said," Addison said through tears.

Despite their past history, Meredith did what she would have done for one of her friends in this situation. She walked around the table and sat down in the chair next to Addison. She put her arm around the other doctor and pulled the attending's head to rest on her shoulder.

Meredith smoothed the redhead's hair and comfortingly whispered, "It's okay. It'll be okay."

Of course neither of them knew if it really would be okay, but Meredith didn't know what else to say and Addison was grateful to hear it.

Addison allowed the tears to continue falling for another few minutes before wiping her eyes and standing up.

"Well I should get to bed. I have an early day tomorrow and I'm sure you do too."

Meredith nodded.

Addison started to walk away, but then turned back. "Meredith?"

As an answer, Meredith looked up at her, ready to listen.

"Thank you. And can we please just keep this between us? I really don't need the whole hospital or even just my current roommates to find out about my mini-meltdown."

Meredith half-smiled. "Sure. Night."

"Good night."

Addison walked back to her room. She was slightly embarrassed, but at least Meredith had been understanding. She was just hoping that either Mark or Derek would change their attitude towards her, preferably by tomorrow, because she didn't want to go through another day like today.