So I can't be sure, but I may have died in the last couple of months. That's my excuse for not updating. Hope you all buy it! No…didn't think so! Well, regardless, I have update galore for you all so sit back, reread because I'm sure you have forgotten this story, and enjoy! And, o yea, reviews are sweet!

Seattle Grace
11:00 a.m.

Derek and Addison rode in relative silence to the hospital. Derek kept trying to start conversation to break up the awkwardness, but Addison was too distracted and pissed off to work with him. She couldn't understand why he was being like this, pushing her away physically. If anything, the one element of their relationship that never faltered was their sex life. Now, all of her efforts were getting shot down. Beyond pissed, Addison was scared; terrified actually of why he didn't want her.

Fighting back the tears that threatened to fall, Addison had never been happier to see the hospital and take a break from Derek. Before they could get into the hospital itself, Derek's pager went off. Silently cursing, he grabbed it from his belt. Addison stopped when he did. From the look on his face, she knew he'd make up an excuse to go with her to see Richard. After last time, he was trying awfully hard to not let work come first.

"You should take it. It could be important."

"You're more important." She was touched by his sentiment. Smiling back at him, all she could think was how it was impossible to stay mad at him for too long when he acted like that.

"It's okay. It's just a meeting with Richard. Him I can handle on my own. Meet me when you're done though and we'll get out of here."

"He always did like you better." Addison smiled in agreement. "I'll find you when I'm done. Good luck." Leaning in, he kissed her on the cheek before heading to the nurses' station to grab an empty phone and call upstairs.

Addison watched him go before leaving towards the elevator bank. Riding up to Richard's office, she couldn't help but feel conflicted. On the one hand, Derek was the same sweetheart he had always been and was really there for her, especially after the accident. But on the flip side, he seemed unable to be with her physically. All her efforts were falling short. Several scenarios ran through her brain of why he would do this, and none of them were good. They had always been a very touchy feely type of couple and she wanted that back.

The doors opened to his floor, and almost closed again before Addison even realized. Luckily, someone was waiting outside and held them open in time. Until the person even spoke, Addison was still deep in thought.

"Woah! You alright Dr. Montgomery?" O'Malley asked.

"Thanks. I'm fine O'Malley. I appreciate the assistance." Addison smiled at George and he reciprocated.

"No problem." They swapped places and George hit the down button. As the doors began to close again, Addison extended her arm to stop them.

"Hey, O'Malley? Do you know where I could find Bailey?" Addison needed to talk to someone about her concerns, and her best bet in Seattle had always been Miranda.

"Try your department actually. She's been keeping tabs on your patients in your absence."

"Thank you George." Addison moved her arm, allowing the doors to shut once and for all. Checking her watch, Addie knew she couldn't find Miranda first without being late.

Making her way down the hallway, Addison felt safe being back at the hospital in a healthier capacity. From the long, grueling hours she was often forced to work over the past 15 years, Addison had come to find hospitals homey, as long as she was on the right side of the gurney.

Reaching Richard's office, she put on her strongest face and knocked on the door. Waiting for her were Burke, Callie, and Richard himself.

"Addison, right on time as always." Richard stood up to greet his attending.

"I know how you are with punctuality." Addison hugged Richard, happy that she wasn't feeling pain in her shoulder when she reached up to embrace him.

"How are you feeling?" He asked firmly when they separated.

"I'm great Richard." He looked unimpressed, so Addison decided to work him a little. "Don't look at me that way! I'm fine. I've been taking it easy; trust me Derek wouldn't have it any other way. My pain in my shoulder has subsided and my mobility is a lot better. My stomach isn't bothering me at all, and my facial stitches are due to come out today. I'm ready to come back to work!" Addison stated adamantly.

"Alright. Why don't we take you to an exam room, have Callie check your shoulder, Burke can look at your stitches, and then we'll talk. How does that sound?"

"Great." Addison said, heavy on the sarcasm. Richard nodded his head in amusement at the clear frustration she had with his over protective nature. Callie and Burke stood up in unison next to Addison.

"Shall we?" Richard stepped out first, followed by Callie. Burke and Addison momentarily hung back.

"Nicely done." Burke whispered in her ear before moving in front of her to head out of the office. She shoved him forward, causing him to turn towards her.

"And that was my bad arm." Addison smiled and stepped around him.

Seattle Grace
12:00 p.m.

Addison made her way down to the NICU to find Bailey. After much finagling of her boss, and great reports from her doctors, Addison was cleared to return to work. With that off her mind, her focus returned to Derek. Having him deny her advances had literally never happened before, ever. No matter where they were, if she wanted to, they would. In that arena, she held a significant amount of power, and Derek never minded. Hell, even when there relationship was falling apart, the last thing to go was sex.

It was knowledge of this that worried Addison even more. She knew they were both happier than ever, so what was causing the distance? This was unseen territory for Addison, and she desperately needed someone else's opinion. Luckily, Bailey was exactly where George predicted.

Walking up to the big window, Addison could see Izzie and Miranda hovering over an incubator taking notes on the chart and discussing the situation with the parents. They were smiling, which could only mean something good. Once they finished, both doctors excused themselves, and for the first time saw Addison waiting outside.

"Dr. Montgomery! How are you feeling?" Izzie embraced her mentor.

"Much better Izzie thank you. Richard, much to his chagrin, cleared me for work so I'll be back any day now."

"That's good to hear. You look great." Izzie responded, extremely enthusiastic and clearly happy to see Addison. Over the past few months, they had become extremely close and this week with a substitute attending had been rather hellish.

"I take it my replacement is not to your liking?"

"Oh you have no idea? If it weren't for Dr. Bailey I would have killed myself already."

"Well thank you Dr. Bailey. I'd hate to lose you Stevens. We've come so far together that it would be a shame to lose you. Plus, breaking in a new intern would take so long!" Izzie and Miranda both laughed at her joke.

"Thank you for what I'm taking as a compliment."
"You're welcome."

"I better go. Dr. Welsh wants me to check-in every hour. I'll see you both later." Izzie sounded thrilled to leave.

"Bye." Addison watched Izzie go before turning her attention to Miranda. "She's great isn't she?"

"She is." Miranda looked down to sign her chart while speaking. "So what's wrong?" Addison's eyes shot down. She couldn't believe Miranda could tell something was bothering her when they had been talking less than five minutes, during which time their conversation was overly chipper with Izzie around.

"How do you do that?" Addison asked, shocked.

"It's a gift. Spill."

"Coffee?" Addison felt this conversation might be better had sitting down, for she had a lot on her mind.

"Alright."

Seattle Grace
12:15 p.m.

"So…what did he do now?" Miranda asked as the ladies found a table by the back window of the cafeteria. It was rather empty, so they could talk freely.

"Now why would you assume that my problem has to do with Derek?" Addison asked wondering how Miranda knew that when she hadn't mentioned it yet."

"You have a whole different look when it involves him. And don't try to argue because I know it's true. Now, speak quickly, god knows when my interns may kill someone." Miranda took a sip of her coffee as Addison couldn't help but laugh at the ever true intern remark.

"Where to start? Okay I may ramble a lot but this has been bothering me for the past week and I want to scream so just bare with me." Miranda nodded, and Addison sighed deeply before continuing. "Ever since the accident, Derek has been distant. Not like last time though. He's always around, there for me if I need anything: food, water, help with something, anything. He's been his originally attentive self and I love him for that."

"So then what's the problem?"

"He's being distant physically."

"But you just said…"

"Not that physical. The other kind." Addison interrupted, and Miranda leaned back in understanding.

"Oh, gotcha. Well, I can see why you're upset."

"Yeah." Addison looked slightly embarrassed, like she felt as though his distance was somehow her fault. Glancing at Miranda, she could see her fighting back laughter. "You are not laughing at me right now. This is a big deal!"

"I'm sorry." Miranda let out the laughter she had tried to hold in. Addison didn't look amused. "Hey relax."

"Don't tell me to relax. You don't know how we are. We've always been a very close couple in that sense. We enjoy sex a lot the two of us…" Miranda squirmed in her seat.

"I got it. Take it easy on the graphics if you don't mind."

"Sorry, but this is a big deal. I don't get why he doesn't want to. I mean we fool around and everything but then he comes up with a crappy excuse. I'm only worried because when your significant other is so overly attentive it usually means he's making up for something."

"You don't think he cheated again do you?"

"I don't want to think that, no, but this is really not like him."

"Have you tried to talk to him about it?"

"No, not really. Only this morning did it really get to me and I put off discussing it because I wanted time to think about it."

"If that's true, then you're talking to the wrong person. Go find him, drag him home, and talk to him about it. Talking to me isn't going to improve your sex life, trust me."

"I know that Miranda, but, I'm going to be honest, I'm a little afraid of his answer. What if it is guilt about something? I don't know if I can handle that again."

"Addison, you know from the start I was hesitant about you trying again with him. But now, seeing you two together, it's clearly different than last time. He adores you and worships the ground you walk on." Addison smiled, and blushed a little. "There is an explanation; you just need to find it."

"You're right, as always."

"He should be with Yang up on three. She needed him on a consult."

"Thanks Miranda."

"Anytime."

Seattle Grace
12:30 p.m.

Addison made her way down to the neuro department, thinking the whole way of how she should approach Derek. She decided worrying was ridiculous; she could talk to him about anything. This was no different, and plus Miranda was right, things were different this time. She just needed him to see it was bothering her. The doors opened to the floor, and Addison was forced to jump backwards to not get barreled by the gurney flying by. Yang was behind it, so Derek couldn't be far.

"Woah! What's going on Yang?" Addison asked as she helped guide the gurney in to the elevator.

"Mr. Davidson here needs emergency surgery. Chronic headaches led to a CT which shows a massive aneurysm. He just lost consciousness and Dr. Shepherd is concerned it may have burst."

"Where is Derek?"

"Changing for surgery in the locker room."

"Thanks Yang." Addison let the doors close and set off to find Derek. Peering into the window, she could see him frantically changing. She stepped inside, but he didn't notice right away. She watched him struggle with his scrub top a little longer before speaking up.

"You always did look better without a shirt on." Derek spun around to see Addison leaning against the wall. He smiled at her as he continued to turn his shirt right side up.

"Thanks." He said blushing slightly. "I was going to call you on my way upstairs."

"I ran into Yang on the way. She filled me in. I take it I'm going home alone."

"Mr. Davidson wouldn't be thrilled if I went with you." He said, praying she would understand. Finally getting his shirt right, he slammed his locker and went to her.

"He wouldn't be too fond of me either. Don't worry about it. I'll see if my mom wants to do a girls' lunch or something and then I'll see you at my place after. We should talk."

"About what Richard said?" Derek asked, not knowing of any other reason.
"It can wait. Go!"

"Alright." Derek went left the room, but quickly re-entered.

"You forget something?"

"Yep." Walking closer to her, he, without warning, gently pushed her into the wall and captured her lips in a very intense kiss. He pulled back and stared deeply into her eyes.

"Much better." His lips curled up into the smile that made her knees go weak. "I'll see you later." He left the room again. Addison watched the doors closed as she got her breath back. Heading to her car, she couldn't help but think that she was just blowing this out of proportion.

Addison's Apartment

6:00 p.m.

Addison enjoyed a very relaxing lunch with her mother, not putting to much thought on Derek. She returned home shortly after, taking up shop on her couch to do some work on her laptop and distract herself from said boyfriend. Finally, after about two hours of work, she heard someone fidgeting with her door knob. She looked up to see Derek walking through.

"Hey babe." Addison greeted him, taking off her glasses and placing them, and her laptop, on the coffee table.

"Hey." Derek responded half-heartedly as he placed his bag on the floor and his jacket on the hanger. Kicking off his shoes, he made his way over to the couch where she was. Looking her up and down, he gently kissed her on the lips before plopping down on top of her, his head resting on her stomach.

"How did it go?" She asked, laughing at him as he ran his fingers over her very ticklish stomach.

"It's touch and go. He's a resilient old man though; must have crashed four or five times before we could get him to recovery."

"Tired?" She asked, running her fingers through his hair as he made his way closer to her face.

"Oh you have no idea."

"Can you still make it to dinner tonight with my parents and Michael?" Derek sat up a bit to look at her in the eyes.

"Of course, Addie. They're leaving tomorrow and we you haven't gotten to see them very much because you were recovering."

"Great. Just wanted to make sure."

"Alright." Derek laid his head back down, not wanting to question her doubt in him further. They sat in silence for a little before Derek remembered to ask about her appointment. "Oh I almost forgot; how did it go with Richard?"

"Fine. Callie and Burke cleared me, and much to Richard's chagrin, he said I can return to work." Derek looked up again, smiling widely.

"That's great, babe. I'm happy for you." Addison smiled back, less than enthused. "Why aren't you happier? This is what you wanted, right?"

"No, it is, it's just…" Addison, even after all her thought on the topic, couldn't figure out the right way to bring it up.

"Just what?" Derek met Addison's wandering gaze, wanting an answer. Addison's resolve continued to fade until words literally weren't forming, even in her head, anymore.

"It's nothing." Addison said, removing herself from below Derek. She made her way to the kitchen without turning back. Derek watched her go, immensely confused at her attitude.

"Okay. Nice try. What's up with you?" He asked, standing up himself to join her. Addison sipped her water, still not speaking. Derek got closer, but saw her pulling away. "Hey!" Derek extended his hand to grab her arm. "What's wrong?"

"I'm fine. I'm just restless at home I guess. I am happy to be returning to work. Promise." Addison shrugged out of Derek's grip and moved towards her bedroom. Derek, unsatisfied with her answer, followed after her. He paused at the door frame, watching Addison glare out the window, her arms crossed defensively across her body. She looked fragile and upset. It broke his heart to see her like this. He approached her slowly, and only first spoke when he was directly behind her.

"Addie, please talk to me." Derek's voice was low, his tone soft, but clearly worried. Addison still didn't respond, so he brought himself closer and reached up to grab her shoulder. On his touch, Addison tightened up. She pulled away and turned to face him. "What is wrong?" Addison stared into his baby blue eyes. She could see he wanted the truth, so she was going to give it to him.

"Why won't you touch me?" Addison's own bluntness surprised her.

"What?" Derek was taken aback by her statement.

"Was I not straight forward enough for you? How come you shy away from me everytime I try to be with you?" Addison's arms remained crossed on her chest. "And don't try to tell me I'm wrong. Ever since I got back from the hospital, you've been distant."

"Addison, I've been with you everyday since your accident."

"Yes, you have, but not how I need you to be." Addison was getting emotional and Derek was still lost.

"What do you mean need me? How else could…" Derek still wasn't getting it, which made Addison even angrier. Now it seemed as though it wasn't intentional, he just didn't have a need to be with her.

"Do I have to spell it out for you Derek? We haven't slept together in two weeks! Hell, we've barely kissed since I got home." A look of understanding washed over Derek's face. He knew sooner or later she would bring up his distance, she just hadn't expected it to have this kind of effect on her.

"Everytime I try to touch you, you have some new, bullshit reason why we can't and I'm sick of it!" Derek opened his mouth to interrupt and explain his side of the story, but she quickly shushed him.

"I'm not done! This isn't like you. Let's face it Derek we are a very sensual couple. We like sex, and if I do say so myself, we enjoy sex. It's one of those things that have always worked extremely well with us." Derek couldn't help but smile, impressed that she was so pleased.

"Don't give me that look. Bigger picture here if you don't mind." Derek nodded in understanding and let her continue rambling. "So the fact that you don't want to be with me, and don't even realize that we haven't been together in so long, worries me. At first I thought maybe it was guilt over something you did, and that's why you could find time to be attentive, but were too guilty for more. And then you kissed me before your surgery and that idea went out the window. I planned on brining it up later. Then I saw you, and my resolve broke. I realized I was afraid to know the answer, afraid of losing you again. One look and you always manage to get inside me."

"Addie…" Derek tried to speak again, but was once again shushed.

"Still talking." Addison breathed in deeply, as she could feel tears threatening to fall. "So then, I come in here to gather my thoughts, and you follow me as always. And you touch my shoulder, like you always do when I'm upset. But I feel you holding back from me, and I need to know why because I can't take much more of this!"

Tears were softly flowing now, and Derek's heart broke. He reached out to take her into his arms. She pulled away, but Derek was determined and forced himself on to her. She stopped fighting and let him hold her. She sobbed softly into his chest for a few seconds before calming down. He kept her close, but pulled back to talk to her.

"My turn?" He asked gently.

"I suppose." She said, re-burying her face in his chest. Derek smiled, holding her tight once again.

"Okay good. Come here." Derek took Addison's hand and led her to the bed. They both sat down, and he reached across to grab her a tissue from the nightstand.

"Thank you." She said, laughing softly and patting her eyes. She threw the tissue aside and let Derek take her hands in his.

"So, clearly we have some stuff to talk about. First and foremost, I want to make it adamantly clear that I love you more than anything in the world. When I thought I lost you last week, I had never been so scared in my entire life. Seeing you on that gurney, I felt so helpless and couldn't imagine myself without you." Addison blushed at his sentiment and moved herself closer to him.

"Alright, number two, I am in no way making up for guilt by being attentive. I enjoy taking care of you. You're not one to let your guard down often, but when you do, I love getting to be there for you. It's the doctor in me, I guess." Addison opened her mouth to make a remark, but Derek was quick to shush her this time.

"Hey, still my turn." Addison nodded and Derek continued. "Now, number three. I'm not going to lie, I have been avoiding being intimate with you. But I don't want you to get the wrong idea in anyway. This has been the hardest week of my life because you're hot and do I love you very, very much." Derek's eyes began wandering over her body, and Addison smacked his arm.

"Focus please!"

"Sorry! Okay, like I said, I've been painfully keeping my distance because I wanted you, needed you, to be better. Although you're fine, you were still in a major car accident twelve days ago. You had major surgery, and actually almost died. I felt that rushing into anything could put your recovery at risk." A smile broke across Addison's face. She was so relived by his answer, and also very touched. She rested her hands on his knees and leaned into kiss him. The kiss intensified, but Derek stopped it momentarily.

"I'm going to guess by your response that my answer was a good one."

"Yes, very." Addison answered quickly and brought her lips back down to his. Derek responded immediately, bringing his hands to her waist and letting her push him onto the bed. His hands ran up her sides and cupped her face. He loved kissing her more than anything else in the entire world. Her lips always felt perfect against his.

Shifting his weight, he rolled Addison on to her back and was now straddling her. He pinned her hands to the bed and pulled back again momentarily.

"What time are our reservations with your folks?"

"8:00."

"Excellent." He leaned back down to kiss her again, but she stopped his lips.

"Why?"

"Addison, we haven't slept together in like two weeks. I have a lot to make up for." Derek smiled down at her as he released her hands and brought his lips to hers in a fiery kiss. She moaned in response to the magic he was working with his tongue. Her hands made their way under his sweater. She lifted up, their mouths only separating so she could take it off. She tossed it aside and resumed kissing him.

He began trailing his lips down her neck, softly touching every bit of skin he could get to. Her hands continued running through his hair as he brought his hands to her shirt and he pushed it up slowly. Every bit of skin exposed, he kissed. Halfway up, he saw the scar from her surgery. Running his fingers over it gently, he looked up at her.

"Does it hurt?"

"Only a little."

"Good." Derek smiled and brought his attention back to her stomach. He gently kissed the still-sensitive scar and continued his path up her stomach. Reaching her neck once again, he lifted her shirt over her head and tossed it next to his sweater. Addison took the moment to flip Derek over again so that she was again in control. He didn't object in the slightest as her lips found their way to his neck.

"God I missed you." Derek whispered when her ear was next to his lips. She smiled and stopped to look at him.

"I'm amazed you lasted as long as you did."

"Hey, I'm not a…." Derek's words were halted when her lips teased the spot right behind his ear that made him weak as ever. She was quite the tease when she wanted to be, and he loved it.

So now that you all had to suffer through re-reading this entire thing because I was too lazy/stupid/brainwashed by college to update, I hope you still enjoy. If so, kindly review so I know whether or not to continue!