short i know, but enjoy! off to disneyland, but i'll be back soon!
For the next few weeks Addison, Mark, and Aiden were actually some semblance of happy. Aiden still refused to call Mark anything with the word "Dad" in it, but she did allow him to talk to her, which was a big improvement from the first week. She was so stubborn that she refused to talk to him or Addison for a week. It made Mark sad, sure, but it broke Addison's heart.
One day Addison got a little time off and decided to go visit Aiden in the daycare. When she got there, however, she found that Aiden was otherwise occupied. Alex was sitting with her and Amaryl, listening to the two of the babble on. Addison beckoned the woman in charge over. "Alex is here?" she asked.
"Oh yeah," the woman said, as if it were no big deal. "He's in here everyday, when he can find the time. Aiden loves him."
"Oh."
"Oh crap!" the lady nearly yelled. "Jimmy! Don't put the paste in your mouth!"
Addison walked over to Aiden, Amaryl, and Alex. "Hey," she said quietly.
"Mommy!" Aiden cried, wrapping her arms around her mother's leg. "Look! Alex is here!"
"I can see that, sweetie," Addison said and smiled awkwardly at Alex. They hadn't really talked in the past couple weeks and Addison knew they were drifting apart and she hated it.
"How come you never talk to Alex anymore?" Aiden asked innocently, as her mother pried her of her leg and sat down.
Addison's eyes widened at that. "I still- I still talk to Alex."
"No you don't, you only say big, long words that make no sense. But you never talk about anything except the big, long words." Addison gathered that the big, long words were medical terms. "Why don't you talk to him? I talk to him all the time."
"I guess we just don't have enough time…" Addison trailed off, hoping that would be enough to satisfy her daughter,
"Yeah, Aidie, we don't see each other a lot," Alex stepped in. Addison smiled at him gratefully. "But I'd love to talk to her if she could find time," he said, never looking away from Addison.
"I-" Addison suddenly became aware of just how close she and Alex were sitting, leaning in to hear Aiden. She swallowed and continued. "I'd like that," she said, trying to keep her composure and pretending that she didn't want to lean in that extra couple inches and let him meet her halfway. "Um, Aiden's spending the night at Izzie and Denny's Saturday and Mark's doing something with Derek. Joe's?"
"Eight work for you?" Alex asked. Addison found herself wondering if it all was just some show for Aiden.
"Perfectly."
"I'll see you then," Alex said and got up to leave.
"O-okay."
GAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGA
Addison was a little early to their "date". She sat at the bar, swirling her drink, when Alex came in. He didn't think he'd ever seen anything quite so beautiful. But he ignored that feeling and walked over to the bar. "Hey," he greeted her as he sat down.
"Hi."
They sat in an awkward silence until Addison said, "Thanks. For everything, I mean. For taking care of Aiden and all that."
"No problem."
"I mean you really don't have to, what with…" She wasn't sure whether she should bring up Mark so she just finished, "you know."
"Mark?" he asked. "Screw Mark. Aiden's a great kid, I like her." They sat in more silence, until he asked, "Are you happy?"
"Am I happy?" Addison repeated. "What kind of question is that?"
"The kind that you need to answer."
Well, what's she supposed to say to that? Kind of lie and say yes? Say no and partially tell the truth? So she kind of lies and after a considerable silence she says, "Yeah. I am."
"Good. Stay happy," he told her. It's kind of topped off his list of priorities now, keep Addison happy. If she's happy with Mark, he's not ever going to do anything to break that up.
That's why when he looks over her shoulder and sees Mark flirting with a blond twenty-something, he says nothing and tries to keep Addison's attention towards him. He's not happy about it, but what's a little unhappiness if she's happy?
reviews would be beyond loverly!
-Lauren
