A/N: New one! A little different maybe; it's where my mind went. Reviews are love!

Antoni

"I'm sorry, Addison."

He looked older. His hair was a little longer since the last time she had seen him. Streaks of gray her gave him a distinguished air of classical beauty and intelligence. He wore glasses nowadays, Addison noticed with a smirk on her lips; he hated wearing them – at least he had when they had been married, but time and biological disposition seemed to have changed his mind or willpower.

He still spoke with strength and confidence in front of an intrigued audience of knowledge-yearning young medical students; and her, but he did not know she was there. His eyes were still as blue as she remembered but wrinkles had formed on his forehead, she supposed she had aided to this characteristic trait of lifelong struggles and occasional, unavoidable disappointments.

His work had become legendary in the medical field; his Alzheimer's study and the infamous Shepherd-Method preceded his presence wherever he went. She smiled at his seemingly unshakable determination and researching strives. He had once told her – on the verge of discovering his own potential in neurology that he planned to achieve something and create new hope for severe diseases to be overcome. He had fulfilled his own expectations, at least his professional ones.

Addison thought it would feel differently to see him again after all those years of deafening silence. Maybe, she supposed, it was true that time healed all wounds – even the non-physical cuts of deception and broken promises. Those, Addison knew they both had more than enough of.

When the last round of applause fell slowly silent, she got up and walked out of the auditorium on the grounds of the University of Columbia.

She closed her eyes for a moment, relishing the last feeling of melancholy when she bumped into someone.

"I'm sorry," a blonde woman, probably ten years her junior, apologized quickly, helping Addison to find her balance again with a hand on one of Addison's shoulders.

"No, it's okay. It was my fault. I should have watched where I was going." Addison apologized for her careless behavior and smiled politely at the younger women.

"So, did you attend the lecture…Miss Montgomery?"

Addison blinked in confusion before she asked, "How did you know my name?"

The blonde woman smiled mischievously and pointed towards the embroidery on Addison's lap coat, earning a soft laugh of understanding in return.

"Oh, yes. Sorry, " Addison said, slightly embarrassed. "I did. Did you?"

"No. I'm just here to pick him up. He's my husband." She stated proudly, smiling softly towards the door of the auditorium.

"He is? Good for you, he is something." Addison said, surprisingly sincerely and without traces of jealousy. Maybe she admitted to herself that having hurt him like she had, she had no more right to judge or decide over his happiness, especially after the time that had passed and the divorce papers that had been signed years ago.

"Do you know him? He used to go to this school." The young woman asked curiously.

"No," Addison lied. If there was one thing Addison had learned over the years it was that the truth sometimes was best kept a secret. So she smiled politely at the younger woman and excused herself, "I have to get back to work. It was nice meeting you."

"You, too." The younger woman replied warmly and watched Addison walk away.

"Meredith?" She turned around and kissed her husband chastely on the lips. "Who were you talking to?"

"Just someone who was at your lecture." Meredith paused and added beamingly," A Doctor Montgomery."

If Meredith noticed the slight change in demeanor – his face growing pale and his gaze appearing distant, she did not let it show. Together they walked down the corridors of Columbia University.

Derek thought it would feel differently to see her again after all those years. She was still stunningly beautiful with her porcelain skin, free of wrinkles, and her long, silky red hair that he supposed she dyed. But not much had changed about her, not even his feelings for her – except maybe the anger and hurt he had felt after her betrayal, he realized with an aching in his heart. She still worked with utmost precision he had always admired about her. When Addison looked up to the gallery and noticed him, she smiled in a way that made her eyes light up with excitement and joy. His heart started beating rapidly in his chest.

Derek waited for Addison by the OR board with his arms crossed in front of his chest, in a feeble attempt at keeping the emotional distance he had treated her with before.

"Hey there, stranger," Addison said softly, a smile on her lips and sparkle in her eyes that Derek had not seen in a long time, albeit sorely missed.

"Hey." Derek did not know what to say to her and it made him feel stupid and immature.

"I saw you today. You're still mesmerizing on stage when you're giving a speech."

Derek was jealous of her in that moment; jealous of her ability to set aside the years of silence and indifference and bask in the feeling of comfort and acquaintance they had once shared in each other's company.

"Thank you. I know. I heard." Derek said, hoping to spare her feelings by avoiding talking about Meredith; the one who took her place.

Addison nodded and smiled lightly at him with a playful grin on her face. "You found yourself a good girl, Hubble."

It made Derek laugh and right then Addison knew that maybe they could never be lovers again, but she would be damned if she denied him and herself the possibility of friendship.

"They Way We Were," Derek acknowledged and reached out his hand to take hers and squeezed it lightly.

Addison leaned forward and put her arms around his shoulders in a heart-felt embrace. She kissed the side of his neck tenderly before she leaned back and whispered almost inaudibly.

"The way we were."

The end.