Country Kind Of Love

LoveLastsForever: I loveeee that you love 13 rw! So excited about the next season, even though I don't really like Jessica that much… BUT as for this story, I don't think I'll really stop writing it just yet, but this takes place about three months after the last, so we're nearing an end… I think, not sure, cause I really like the country things...

Addison-fan: I was thinking of doing that yet but somehow I just wrote another chapter :D Sorry

Guest: I will, but still continuing for now...

Guest: Here you go :)

Newreader: I really don't like updating so many stories but somehow I can't seem to say goodbye just yet… Thank you :)

Lena-Prince08: You should write one! Addek is too great not to have Addek stories :))

Em: Somehow you always want me to update but never give me any ideas whatsoever! :D

Chapter 17

"Oh my god, why didn't you people warn me about this weather?" Addison grumbled and sat down next to Preston and Mark, who were also on their lunch break, about three months later.

"That is your boyfriend's job." Mark pointed out and laughed when she only rolled her eyes.

"I can't believe how cold it is! And people out there are wearing shorts and a hoodie! That's just wrong." She still shivered when she thought of the freezing cold outside. Fortunately Derek had shoveled his driveway and she hadn't had to deal with the snow on top of the cold.

Preston had to laugh because he really got where she was coming from. When he had first moved to Kansas he hadn't understood how those people could just never get cold, use the same tires they did in the summer and how cold it could get. "But at least we usually get a white Christmas."

"I love Christmas…" Addison smiled softly at the thought of her favorite holiday coming up.

"Are you excited about spending it with everyone in Oskaloosa though?"

"What do you mean?" She looked over at Mark, rather confused as to what he meant by that.

"He didn't ask?" His face dropped completely when he realized he really shouldn't have said anything at all.

"Who didn't ask what?" Derek had come up behind them and sat down next to Addison after pecking her cheek.

"I asked if she was excited about spending Christmas with everyone in Oskaloosa…" Mark mumbled and got a rather pissed off look from Derek while Preston awkwardly looked down at his lunch.

"I—" Derek started but was quickly interrupted by Addison.

"You don't have to invite me, I mean we haven't been dating for that long and all and we're past that age where you really have to meet each other's family right away and –"

Now it was his turn to interrupt her, "Addie," he pulled her a little closer so that she was looking at him, "I was going to ask you to come meet my family over Christmas tonight."

"You really don't have to, it's no big deal." They both knew she wasn't being honest about that but she didn't want him to feel obligated to take her.

"It is because you are my significant other," he whispered and she had to smile, "and I'd love for you to meet my family but I had to make sure we both could take some time off, which is also why I'm late for lunch." He had talked to the chief because he hadn't been sure if it really was okay for four attendings to take two weeks off during Christmas and New Year, since that usually was quite busy.

"Your significant other?" She whispered back, still smiling. "Couldn't you have just said your girlfriend?" He had to laugh and shook his head before kissing her softly, making Mark and Preston rather uncomfortable.

xxx

"Addie, I didn't mean to ambush you earlier because you don't have to go meet my family. We can just both stay here and celebrate Christmas together." He told her softly as he watched her on the sofa, his dogs halfway on top of her as she petted them. The last thing Derek wanted was to pressure her because he knew his family and how overwhelming they all could be. But of course she didn't really know that yet…

"You didn't, I'd really like to meet your family and I'm pretty sure you've never spent Christmas without them." She smiled when he nudged Herbert out of the way so he could sit down next to her.

"That's true," he chuckled and took in her messy bun, the Kansas tshirt and the gym shorts she was wearing (no wonder she was always cold) and couldn't help but notice how much her choice of clothes had changed, "and I'd love to take you, I just want to make sure you know what you're getting into."

"Well," she turned her head to rest her chin on his shoulder, "you've never brought a woman home for Christmas, just Mark and Preston each year because your sisters once chased away a college girlfriend of yours when they were visiting. And, also according to Mark, that kept you from introducing anyone else." Mark had also said that Derek really hadn't ever seriously dated anyone else but Mark had also told her never to tell Derek that she knew about that.

"Hmm…" Derek looked at her for a moment, rather amused, "what did you do to get Mark so chatty?"

"He still thinks I'm hot, guess that doesn't hurt." She laughed softly when the amused look was immediately wiped off his face. "But I'd love to meet your family and see where you grew up and all."

"Yeah?" Derek couldn't help the grin that was spreading over his face now.

"Yeah." Addison smiled and leaned in to kiss him.

xxx

"Road trip!" Mark grinned as he and Preston had arrived at Derek's house the morning they were leaving for Oskaloosa.
"It's only an hour to get there, it's hardly a road trip anymore." Preston said as they sat down on Derek's sofa to drink a cup of coffee.

"It was when we lived in Boston…"

"Seems like that was ages ago."

"So you guys have been crashing Derek's Christmas with his family since college?" Addison chuckled and petted Abby, who was resting her head on her knees.

"Preston, yes, but I've been spending Christmas with you guys since like a year after you moved there." Mark looked over at Derek, who nodded.

"Yeah, since we were eight, or nine, I think."

"And this is the first year any one of us is bringing a date to Christmas." Both Mark and Preston looked at their friend like he was some sort of traitor, who violated some secret and unspoken pact between them.

"Maybe this is the time to tell you that we'll also change another great tradition this year," Derek started and laughed at the look on their faces, "Addie and I'll drive separately."

"What?" Mark gave him a look. "But I've already had two beers and Preston drives like a grandma."

"It's ten am." Addison frowned at him. Who started drinking at 10?!

"So?! I'm on vacation, mom…" He said and she rolled her eyes. "And is this really what you're wearing?"

Addison's eyes widened as she looked down at her cashmere sweater and dark jeans before she looked back at Mark. "What's wrong with that?" She knew that she wouldn't have worn jeans when she had first moved to Kansas and now she felt pretty self-conscious.

"Nothing, he's just being an idiot because he hates change." Preston chuckled. "Even though we both love you and are very happy for the both of you, Mark is still trying to adapt to Derek taking you to Oskaloosa. He might even need a paper bag when Derek proposes." They all laughed but Mark just gave Preston a look even though he knew that his friend was right. Somehow it seemed that women would always come and go (at least in his life) and he, Derek and Preston would always stay the way they were, single.

"Relax, no one's getting married." Derek got up and padded his friend on the back before quietly adding "yet", so only Mark and Preston could hear him, after having glanced at Addison again.

I know that I said that I won't write more chapters and I really was going to write an epilogue BUT I love the country part of this story and I can't seem to be able to say goodbye just yet… I hope you all don't mind! Plus, I thought a family Christmas could be fun...

Reviews are love :)