Derek waited nervously for Addison. He was seated at a table in one of Seattle's best restaurants. He'd made the reservation and then arrived early. But he had ordered a bottle of Addison's favorite wine and so he supposed the time spent waiting for her had gone to a good cause.

Where was she? Was she going to show up? Now he knew how she had often felt back in New York. Was she doing it deliberately in order to give him a taste of his own medicine? But no. She wasn't that petty.

No, here she was. He stood up. You're looking much better. Not so pale. It's good to see color in your face."

"Yes, well, you try throwing up everything you've ever eaten in your whole life and then we'll talk."

"That bad."

"It was the flu. Not only couldn't I get warm no matter what I tried I had the worst headache I've ever had. It was like my head was going to explode and I tell you Derek, that would have been welcome."

Derek couldn't help but smile. Not at her misery but just at the dramatic way she had of describing the flu. He had no doubt she had been as sick and miserable as she had described because he had seen her through the illness but there was still something endearing about it.

"Well, why don't you sit down?' She did. The waiter then brought over menus. For a time, they were occupied in deciding what they wanted. Derek ended up getting a New York strip steak and Addison got sea bass.

But then they were done ordering and things were going to have to be said.

"You ordered my favorite wine. You remembered."

"Yes, I guess I did. But we're not here to make small talk, are we Addie?"

She sighed. "No, I guess we're not. Although, "I'm glad there is still something you remember about me. The fact that you still remember and know me must count for something. You still know me." She smiled at him.

'I remember a lot about you, actually. Kind of hard not to, after all this time. I think that's the problem. I certainly will never forget you naked in our bed with Mark's hands all over you."

"That was the worst mistake I've ever made in my life."

"I'm not going to argue with you there. I agree."

"Do you want to know why I did it?"

'Marriage and fidelity got boring."

"Derek!"

He sighed. "I'm sorry."

"You agreed to talk. I know we have to, but could you maybe take it easy with the cheap shots?"

"I'll try."

"Thank you. I know I deserve them, but I really don't think they're going to help anything at this point."

"You're probably right."

"I know I am."

"Anyway, back to the subject at hand."

But just then their food came and so they had to wait for privacy.

"I think you were about to tell me why you slept with Mark."

"Yes. I was. It wasn't because I loved him, that's for sure."

"You tried to."

'I did. You had left. I didn't want to face the fact that I had thrown my life away for a cheap one-night stand. So, I tried the relationship thing out with Mark. It didn't work. He's not wired for monogamy."

Derek nodded. "That's for sure. But I get it. I did the same thing with Meredith. It was only supposed to be a one-night stand. That's all she was interested in. I pursued her. "

"I didn't know that."

"Now you do."

'But I was about to tell you why I slept with Mark."

"Go on."

"It was because I was lonely. You had been absent and indifferent for awhile and I couldn't seem to get through to you. Or maybe I didn't try hard enough. I don't know. The point is, I felt invisible and inaudible. Mark saw and heard me."

After that they concentrated on the food for a while.

Finally, Derek spoke again. "I'm sorry about being indifferent and absent."

"I'm not saying that it justifies cheating. I know nothing justifies that. I was just so desperate. I wanted you to see me, hear me and I couldn't think of any healthy way to go about it."

"Well, that's not exactly your fault. The Montgomery family have hardly pioneered healthy coping skills."

"That's very true."

"And now we're left with what, exactly?"

"Love and our marriage. You left but didn't send me divorce papers. I know I'm still in love with you. I think you're still in love with me. I know that can't be easy for you because I did hurt you so badly but I'm so sorry for that."

"I know. I believe you."

"So, is there a chance that we can work this out?"

"There must be. I'm here, aren't I?"

"Yes, yes, you are."

Derek took a deep breath. "All right. So, we try." Then he quickly finished up his meal.

Addison could hardly dare to believe it. "You-you really mean that."

"Yes, I guess I do."

"Oh, Derek. This is all I've ever wanted."

"I know. It's why you came out here in the first place."

I'd follow you to hell and back."

Derek laughed. "Haven't you already?"

Addison laughed and finished her food too. "True. Seattle sucks. But you're worth everything."

"As are you."

"So, does this mean that we're reconciled? That we're going to try again."

"I would say that that is exactly what it does mean."

"Oh, Derek! I love you so much."

"I love you too, Addie." They both started at that.

"I didn't expect you to say that."

"Really. I thought you knew all this time that I did."

"No, I hoped. There's a big difference."

"I guess there is at that."

Derek signaled for the check and paid. Addison rummaged around in her purse. "What are you doing?"

"I'm getting money for my part of dinner."

"Oh, no you don't. Call me old fashioned but when I take a lady to dinner I expect to pay."

"Fine. Can I at least cover the tip?"

"Oh, all right."

They then left the restaurant and walked around downtown Seattle for a while.

"Addie, we do have other things to discuss."

"I know Derek."

'It's not like all our issues are going to be fixed with one conversation."

"I know that too. But at least now I feel like we have a future to work towards."

"It's going to be a hell of a lot of work."

"But we're both willing to put in the work. I am. Aren't you?"

"Yes. I wouldn't be here if I wasn't."

"I know and I'm so glad you are."

They stopped and sat on a bench.

"Derek would you be willing to give marriage counseling a try?"

"As long as it's not with Kathleen, then sure."

Addison laughed. "She's not a marriage counselor."

"No, but she's in a related field."

"All right. No Kathleen."

"Thank you."

"I feel like we have a future, Derek. One that's going to take a lot of work from both of us but as long as we're both willing to do the work we have a chance. I know I'm willing to do the work."

"As am I."

"Then from here we can only go up. Up and anywhere."

The End.

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Anyone who has read my other stories knows my thing is sending them back to New York. But I decided to leave it up to my readers. If you're like me, you'll send them back there. But if you want them to stay in Seattle, that's fine too. Hell, those who have seen Private Practice can even send them to L.A. It feels right for this story to let each reader decide where they go from here. The main thing is they are back together. So, please let me know what you think about the story. Feedback is what I live for.