A/N: Alright, this is it. The Final scene. Thanks everyone for being patient. As you might have concluded the fic was basically done by the beginning of this week, but I just wasn't sure about a few minor details and wanted to wait until I was. Now I am and started working on the sequel which, as I said, I hope being able to start posting on Christmas Eve or at least around Christmas. Hope everyobdy's satisfied with how I left things for now but make sure to check out the sequel in any case because things might not be what they look like and there's a reason why I didn't specify any pairings yet. Just keep bearing with me and maybe enjoy the ride while you're at it. Merry Christmas everybody!

Seattle Grace Hospital
ICU,
Nighttime

-

Standing in the observation room and peering at the ICU bed on the other side of the window pane, Mark couldn't help but feel a slight twinge. He just wasn't sure why.

This is what you wanted, isn't it?

Addison's surgery had gone well, her chances to make a full recovery were excellent, and maybe, in time, things would generally be good again. It was what he wanted.

Still, he would be lying to say it didn't hurt just a little bit. Then again, lying - or for the sake of sounding less like a jerk - not being completely honest had always come naturally to him, especially when it came to himself. Sometimes, most of the time, it was just easier not to see certain things or face up certain truths.

"Hey," he heard a familiar voice, and when he turned his head it wasn't to confirm the identity of his company. He already knew.

"Hey," he replied and watched carefully as Meredith stepped closer and peered through the window as well. It didn't take a mind-reader or a doctor to tell that she felt just the same twinge he had felt a moment ago.

At least he wasn't the only one.

"So," she said, crossing her arms in a defensive manner she probably wasn't aware off, "She's going to be fine."

"Yes," he nodded, not sure whether it was a question or a statement. He turned back to stare into the adjacent room again as well. "She is."

Silence fell between them as they took in the scene in front of them.

"That's good," Meredith said then and he briefly glanced at her. There was no doubt on his mind she really wished nothing but the best for Addison, but the whole situation had to be…unsettling for her, to say the least.

Another few seconds passed with both of them indulging in their own thoughts before it was once again Meredith who broke the silence.

"It's good he's there for her," she declared, nodding as if to emphasize her words or maybe to convince herself she really meant them. "He should be," she added, her body turning a little towards Mark but her eyes never leaving the bed in the other room.

For a moment he considered not pointing to the giant elephant in the room. He could see she was rattled and torn enough. On the other hand, sugarcoating had never been his strong side.

"He'll always be," he said and turned back to the window pane once more. "He just didn't know it for a while."

He didn't have to look at Meredith to sense her tensing up while she processed his words and so they just stood and stared, watching Derek sitting at Addison's bedside, his back towards them, resting in a chair, protectively watching over his wife's sleep.

In my restless hour I'm holding
The words you say that lay my soul to sleep
I dream of buildings that burn
The sky turns black I toss and turn…

So, that's the problem with starting over. Because sometimes, no matter how hard we want to make that clean cut, some ties just can't be separated. We can pretend they can, or, we can try to ignore they exist altogether. But every now and then, we'll stumble upon them. And whether we falter or fall, bang our knees, or end up with a bloody nose – they ground us. And remind us who we are, and most likely, who we're always going to be.

This love branches out like an oak tree
Reach for the sky and roots to the sea
So when you're shaken, down and broken
Find your peace of mind in knowing
I'd throw them all away, when I'm hollow
Deep as the sea goes, all I know is I would throw them all away