A/N- Just a little something I wrote. Takes place between "Deny, Deny, Deny" and "Into You Like A Train". I was disappointed that we never got to see the scene where Derek tells Addison that he chose her, so I wrote it myself. Hope you enjoy it!

and I'll probably never have it figured out
but what I know is I wasn't meant
to walk this world without you
and I promise I'll try
I'm gonna try to give you every little part of me
every single detail you missed with your eyes
then maybe
maybe, yeah maybe

-"Maybe", Kelly Clarkson

Maybe

When Addison handed Derek the divorce papers, he was thrilled. Ecstatic. Relieved. He could finally get rid of his wife and continue a relationship with Meredith. Derek was certain he was going to sign these papers. But when he finally sat down, pen in hand, about to sign away his wife of eleven years, various thoughts and images raced through his head. Images of Addison walking down the aisle, of Addison performing her first surgery, of Addison helping him study for exams. If he signed these papers, there would be no more anniversaries spent out on the town, no more last minute Christmas shopping, no more meaningless text messages wishing him luck on a surgery.

He knew that if he chose Meredith, he would always think about Addison, and what would have happened if he had given her another shot. They could be happy again, if they both tried. They could get over the affairs and the lies and start over. They could have a life together.

Meredith was his future. When Derek was with Meredith, he was relaxed. Happy. Content. They didn't know all that much about each other. He knew that she had a mother with Alzheimer's. He knew that she wanted to become a good surgeon. She knew that he liked ferryboats. She knew that he was from New York, and that he didn't like to dance in public. Their relationship was based on the little things.

But Addison, she was his past, present, and future. She was his whole life. She knew everything about him. What drink he ordered at a bar, what color he liked his ties to be, what he would name his children. She knew his smiles, and what they meant. She knew what he was thinking just by looking into his eyes. They could have a conversation without even talking. Addison made Derek nervous, anxious, excited, and happy all at once. She had an effect on him, one that could leave his heart pounding and his mouth dry. And if he forgot about Mark and Meredith, if only for a moment, he knew that he loved her. He always would.

By the time Derek arrived at Addison's hotel, he had gone through six red lights. It was nearly midnight when he knocked on her door.

"D-Derek?" She had answered the door wearing one of his old football jerseys. He couldn't help but smile.

"Can I come in?"

She nodded, and he slipped past her into the room. When she took a seat on her bed, he handed her the divorce papers. They locked eyes before Addison glanced down at the empty space where Derek's signature should have been. When she looked up at him, he could see the confusion, as well as the relief, etched into her features.

"I couldn't do it. As much as I wanted to, I just couldn't do it. I want to start over Addison. I still want to wake up next to you every morning, and I still want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want you. I need you. Let's start over. We can do it this time."

She could feel the tears starting to form."Yeah?"

"Yeah. Please don't cry, Addie. You know I hate it when you cry."

For now her tears started to fall, and they only stopped when Addison felt Derek's warm hands snake around her waist.

"Please don't ever leave me, Derek." She swallowed. "I don't think I could take it again."

"I'll never leave you, Addison. I promise."

He made sure to look in her eyes as he said "I love you".