A bright ray of sun, rare in Seattle, was shining between the slightly open blinds the next morning. When the brightness grew to an unbearable yellow glow, Addison stirred and pulled the pillow over her eyes. It took a moment for her to adjust to her surroundings and remember what was going on and where she was. Mark's sofa bed hadn't been too comfortable, but being there in his arms was better than a lonely hotel room. She stretched a little, looking to see if Mark was anywhere to be found. The spare suit on the back of his office door was no longer in its place. Mark's desk was littered with the usual things: charts, empty coffee cups, and memos. However, the one thing that she was looking for was missing. There wasn't a half eaten scone or piece of coffee cake anywhere to be seen. Stretching again, she turned over on the sofa bed to find a note on the other pillow.

Addie,

I went to check on your sister and a few other patients. I brought your suitcase in from the rental car. It's behind my desk. You are welcome to use my shower, but there isn't a blow dryer. Page me when you get ready, and I'll meet you for breakfast.

Mark

She stood and closed the bed back into the couch before heading into the minuscule bathroom. While she brushed her teeth, she let the water run to create more steam in the shower. Then, she stepped under the water, so hot that her skin burned and began to turn red. She adjusted the temperature slightly and stood, allowing the hot water to rush over her. The shower was calming and familiar. She'd showered at Seattle Grace more than she'd showered anywhere else in Seattle. The only difference was, this time, she didn't feel the need to wear a pair of wedged flip-flops. When she stepped out of the shower, clad only in the large and fluffy towel Mark had obviously not gotten from the linen department, Mark was sitting at his desk. She gasped, nearly dropping the towel that covered her wet, naked body. Well, this is certainly more awkward than last night. God, she's gotten more beautiful. I can't believe I'd forgotten how good her body wash smells. It's sweet. Kind of coconut and pineapple-y. Addison blushed to nearly the same color of her radiant red hair and ducked back into the bathroom.

"Mark? Could you hand me my clothes, please?"

"Uh. Yeah. Sure," he stuttered. "What do you…uh…need?"

The first thing he'd pulled from the boxcar on wheels was a lacy red bra. His face grew even hotter when he saw the matching underwear, and he shoved them into Addison's outstretched and waiting hand along with the first dress he came to.Minutes later, she emerged, hair still damp, in the pale blue dress that perfectly matched her eyes. She marched over to her luggage and removed a blow dryer from a small travel bag. After a few minutes, she stood straight again to find Mark still staring at her. She is just amazing. If only I could pull her to me and…NO! Don't scare her off. Don't say a word.

"You're…beautiful…" he said, slightly breathless.

Her response was to stare pointedly at him. She gathered her things together and put them back into various bags before turning to him.

"Don't do this. I appreciate it, really I do, but don't. Don't tell me." Because it hurts too much.

"I'm sorry, but you really do…"

"Stop explaining," she said through her teeth, before turning on her silver heel and prancing out of the room.

Nice job. I either scared her or made her mad. Either way... I love her. I've missed everything about her, even her little redheaded temper, and now she's angry with me. I need her. Ever since she left, I've felt so empty. Having her back at Seattle Grace seems to restore some semblance of balance to my world. And…I love her. I think I'm in love for the first time in my whole life.

" Addison, wait!" he called after her as he half ran to catch up.

"Go away!" she waved him off as if he were something slimey, but there was a hint of something in her voice.

Whether it was sadness or anger, he couldn't tell, but there was something there. Either way, she had some sort of feelings. He stared at the empty spot she'd left in his office. If he closed his eyes, he could smell her lingering perfume and almost feel her hair, but it wasn't good enough. He didn't want to smell a lingering scent, and pretend he could feel her soft hair. He wanted her with him more than ever in that moment and set out to tell her so. As he entered her sister's room, he was prepared to tell her exactly how he'd felt since she left, but a surprising sight shocked him to his very core.

"She's beautiful, Addie. She looks just like you," a voice he did not recognize was saying to Addison.

"Everyone always said no one would mistake us for strangers. It's the hair. That's what mom always says. We have Forbes hair," she replied, her fingers intertwined with the hand belonging to the strange voice.

It was at this point that Mark noticed something shiny on Addison's left hand. It was the biggest diamond he'd ever seen. Possibly, it was bigger than the one Derek had bought for his and Addison's fifth anniversary. The sight made him feel like screaming, and he couldn't prevent the hurt and angry look from coming over his face. Instead of speaking, he left the room, slamming the door slightly.

"Mark! Wait!" Addison's voice came after him seconds later. "Mark!"

He continued walking so quickly that Addison was almost running to catch up. When she finally caught up, breathless and red faced, she put her hand on Mark's arm, but he jerked away.

"Why didn't you tell me? I would've been happy for you," he growled.

"No, you wouldn't have, Mark, you would've been the way you are now. You would've pushed me away when I needed you to be there."

"You don't need me, Addison. You proved that when you left without saying good-bye."

"I wanted to tell you, but I didn't want you to beg me to stay. I wasn't sure I'd have the strength to say no, but Seattle didn't have anything left for me. There was no chance for me to be with Derek again, and I got a great offer from Naomi," she tried to explain, but he stood with his arms crossed and glared at her.

"Don't tell me," he threw her words back at her. Because it hurts way too much.

"Mark!"

"No, Addison. It's my turn to walk away now. Go back to your husband or whoever the hell he is."

"Mark!" she tried to reach out to him, but he pushed her hand away and ran toward his office.

As she headed back to her sister's room, she noticed Pete standing just outside the door. She knew he'd heard everything they said.

"What was that about?" he asked, eyebrows raised.

"Nothing."

"It didn't sound like 'nothing'."

"It's nothing, okay. I don't want to talk about something so petty when my sister could be dying."

"Was that the man you cheated on your husband with?"

"I can NOT believe you just asked me that question! My sister is in a coma, and all you are concerned about is the people in this hospital that I may have slept with! I can't believe this!" she shouted tearfully.

"I'm sorry, Addison," he'd never been able to bring himself to call her "Addie" as he knew that both Derek and Mark called her that.

"Will you just go back to LA already? You don't have a purpose in being here; you don't know Nikki."

"But I know you. I want to be here for you, but it seems to me that you don't want me here," he said accusingly.

"Pete, you have to work, and I'm not sure how long I'll be here with her. Tell Naomi I'll be back as soon as I can."

"You can't live in the hospital. Where are you staying?"

"Oh, I don't know yet. I know the couple that owns the inn next to the bay. I might go there," she referred to the hotel she'd lived in after moving to Seattle.

"Where did you stay last night?"

"Right here with Nikki."

"Mmm hmm," he nodded, but didn't really believe her. "I guess I'll go back to LA tonight then, if you don't want me to stay."

"Be careful. Call me when your flight lands."

"I will. I love you, Addison."

"I love you, too." I think.

She walked out with him and waited until he got into a cab. When she returned to her sister's room, she was greeted by another swarm of doctors and nurses going in and out. She slipped in behind a nurse, and no one noticed her presence for a few moments. Derek was bent over Nikki's pale, lifeless body, paddles in his hands.

"Charge again," he commanded the nurse. Zzzt. "Nothing. Charge again to 300."

Zzzt. Again, nothing happened. Derek waited a moment before deciding on his next move.

"Asystole," Addison whispered, and Derek immediately turned to meet her eyes.

"Asystole," he repeated. "What do you want us to do, Addie?"

Suddenly, everything seemed brighter. The voices in the room echoed, and her head swam. She felt as though she'd stepped into the fun house she'd once gotten sick in as a child. The sharp pain in her chest made it difficult to breathe, but she forced herself to breathe anyway. I can do this. I have to make my decision now. Live or die?

AN: Sorry it's been so long since I've updated. I've been so busy lately, but I'm already working on the next chapter. Please, review and forgive me for my lack of updating.