Shades of Grey
By Misha

Disclaimer and Notes in Part One.

Part Seven: Walk Away

Addison couldn't believe what she was seeing, there sitting not ten feet away from her were Mark and Meredith.

Addison had to fight back an ironic laugh. That was just about the cap at the end of the perfect day. Derek leaves her and Mark no longer wanted her, but apparently he wanted Meredith.

Of course he did. After all, everyone wanted Meredith.

Before, Addison could stop herself, she made her way over to their table. "Isn't this cozy?" She asked. "My dirty mistress and Derek's. How quaint."

"Addie." Mark said, in a low voice.

Addison knew she should stop, but she couldn't help it. Just the sight of the two of them together, smiling and laughing.

"What is it about you?" Addison asked, ignoring Mark and focusing on Meredith. "What is so god damned irresistible about you?"

The other woman looked stricken. "Add--Dr. She--" Meredith trailed off, as if not sure what to say.

"Forget it." Addison muttered, feeling like a fool. But then she was. A fool for letting her marriage get so bad, that it was easier to sleep with her husband's best friend then actually talk to him. A fool for flying across the country and uprooting her entire life for said man. A fool for sticking out, unable to admit failure. A fool for not meeting Mark yesterday, but it still hurt that he had appeared to move on so quickly.

Yesterday, he had been declaring his undying love for her and now he was laughing and smiling with Meredith Grey. Maybe that was what really bothered her, the fact that it was Meredith. The woman Derek had fallen in love with...

Addison didn't hate Meredith Grey, but she didn't like her either and watching Mark smile at her like that...

"I can't do this." Addison said, turning on her heel and walking away. She couldn't do this. Not tonight.

No, instead she was going to go back to her hotel and get stinking drunk, that was the only recourse for a night like tonight. After all, her life sucked, getting drunk could only improve things.


"That was awkward." Meredith said quietly.

"Yeah, it was." Mark agreed quietly. "But, it had to happen eventually."

"If you want to go after her, I'd understand." Meredith said softly. "Just because I'm walking away, doesn't mean that you have to."

Mark was quiet. "Yes, I do." He said softly. "Just like you, I need to let go."

Was he tempted to go after Addison? Hell yeah, but... It wasn't a good idea. Addison didn't want him. She never had. She wanted him because Derek wasn't available and he wasn't going to get sucked back into that. He couldn't.

Besides, as much as part of him wanted to go after Addison, the rest of him wanted to stay here with Meredith and see what could happen. It was funny, and he almost couldn't believe it, but the bigger part wanted him to see where the steps that he and Meredith were going to take could lead.

Addison was bad for him, the truth was it could probably never be good--there was too much history and too much water under the good and maybe it was naive to think that it wouldn't be complicated and tainted with Meredith, but...

He really wanted to take that chance.

"So we're letting go." Meredith said quietly, almost hesitantly.

"We're letting go." Mark confirmed and then raised his wine glass. "To letting go and starting over."

"To taking steps." Meredith said with a slight smile, raising her glass as well.

Mark drank, wondering if it really could happen--if two dirty ex-mistresses could ever really find a happy ending.