Hey guys,

the new chapter is finally done. Thank you for all the reviews to the last chapter. So you told me every pairing, which is possible for this story: Addek, Maddison, Addex or Addison/OC … hmmm … I'm still unsure, but I'm hopeful Addison will know what to do. ;)

So enjoy the chapter and I would be really happy if you reviewed (I give you my best puppy eyes and some delicious cookies).

Love Mariella

Holding a heart – Chapter 3

Short time later Alex and Addison arrived at the little Italian restaurant. They ate in silence for a while. Finally Alex asked her. "Care to tell me what happened earlier."

"My husband." Addison told him quietly.

Alex groaned. "I noticed that. You're really married?"

"Yes."

"How long?"
"11 years, we married right after med school."

Alex shrugged his head. "Addison …"
She looked at him. "Alex, I'm sorry, I should have told you, but … it was just so … I wanted to leave my old live behind and you … you have been such a great friend. I'm sorry for lying."

Alex looked at her for a short while. "You don't get it, do you?"

She looked at him confused.

"I really enjoy your company, but you're … I fell for you ."
"Alex, you can't …"
"It's the truth. I want us to be more than friends."

"Alex, I don't think this would be a good idea."
"What a pity." He stroke her cheek and kissed her softly. "See you at the hospital tomorrow." Before Addison could say anything more he had left.

*** The next day at the hospital ***

Alex Karev had just entered the hospital, when a good looking blond guy entered the hospital too. He walked over to him, because there was nobody there except him. "Hey, I'm searching for Dr. Addison Montgomery. Have you already seen her?"

"Nope."

"What a pitty, I came the whole way from …"

In this moment Addison came down the stairs. Mark smiled at her brightly. Addison went over to him and hugged him. "Hey Mark."

"Adds. Good to see you. You look hot as ever."

Addison only rolled her eyes. Alex stared at them in shock. A normal person wouldn't survive to say this like this to Addison, even though it was true.

"Charming as ever." Addison only replied to Alex' confusion.

Addison then noticed Alex standing next to Mark. "Oh, sorry. Alex this is Mark Sloan. Mark this is Alex Karev." The two men s nodded at each other. Alex mind was racing. Did she just say "Mark Sloan" like in Mark Sloan the greatest plastic surgeon?

"Ok, I have patients. See you later. Good to see you."

When Addison was gone, Mark looked closely at Alex. "You like her, don't you?"

Alex shrugged his shoulders, he really didn't feel like talking about it and definitely not to a guy, he didn't know.

"You do." Mark moved a bit closer. "Try to forget her, because man, she's really out of your league."

With that he left. Alex looked after him. He was too stunned to say or think anything.

Some hours later Mark was watching Addison's surgery. Derek sat down next to her. "Hey man, here are you."
"Yes."
"Did you talk to her?"
"Only a short talk."

"What did she say?"
Mark shrugged. "Not too much." Then he looked seriously at Derek. "Maybe it's time to let go."
"Mark …"

Mark looked at Derek closely and then Derek saw it and told Mark calmly. "You like her." It wasn't a question, it was a statement. Mark didn't reply.

"Mark, I trusted you with her and you …" Derek was now angry. "Did you try anything?" Still Mark was silent. Derek got up and pressed him at the wall. ".?" He said full of anger.

"Derek … we … only kissed once and …"

Derek moved backwards. "You can't be serious. She's my wife!"

"Then maybe you should treat her like she is. You send me to do all the things you should normally do. I went out with her on your wedding day, I was the one, who went with her to the galas. The people thought I was the one she was married too." Mark remembered the night when the kiss happened so well.

Addison and Derek were invited to a gala. In the hospital Derek had approached Mark and told him, he won't make it and that he should go with Addison instead. Addison was already home. Short time later Mark arrived at the Shepherds. He let himself in with his key. He looked handsome. He wore a classic black tuxedo.

"Derek finally …" Addison rushed from the master bedroom. Her face fell when she saw Mark. "Mark."

Mark looked at her. She looked so beautiful. She wore a golden dress and her hair was curled. "Addison, I'm sorry."
"He won't make it."

Mark shrugged his head. "But I thought maybe you wanted to go and …"
"Thanks." She kissed his cheek. "I'll get my purse." Short time later she came downstairs. She tried a small smile. "You look handsome."
"Yeah, because you picked out the suite."

"Oh yeah, I remember, the shopping I dragged you."

Mark smiled. "Yes." She went over to him and straightened his tie. He took her hand. "Let's go."

When they arrived at the gala Addison's mode grew a bit better than before. Short time later Addison and Mark were dancing. She smiled at him. "Thank you for coming with me."
"Always a pleasure. By the way, you look fabulous."

"Thanks." The night went by rather smooth until the chief of a hospital in Boston approached them.

"Ah, Dr. Addison Shepherd, I hoped to see you tonight. I read your new article. It was brilliant. Any chance you would move?"

Addison smiled. "You try every time, don't you chief Smith?"
"Sure." Then he looked at Mark. "Oh and you must be the fabulous husband of hers."

Addison looked at Mark in shock, but he only embraced her lightly. "Yes. Nice to meet you sir, but don't try to persuade my wife away from NY."

Chief Smith smiled at him. "Wouldn't think of that. So I have to go, have a nice evening."

When he was gone, Addison looked at Mark. "Thank you for saving me."

"Always."

Some hours later Addison and Mark entered the brownstone. "Thank you for tonight Mark."

"You're a nice company, so I would do it again."

They looked at each other for a while, before Mark leaned in a bit, but he waited and Addison leaned in too. They kissed softly. Mark embraced her carefully. The kiss grow more passionately, before Addison moved backwards. "Mark …"
He kissed her temple. "Sleep well, Addie." With that he left a stunned Addison behind.

Derek snapped him back to reality. "How dare you …"

"Derek, ask yourself: Didn't you maybe deserve this. You should make her happy. She's your wife and you acted as if you were married to your work and left Addison behind."

"Go away!" Derek told him carefully quiet. Mark shrugged and left.

Derek looked back down at his wife. She was nearly done. He decided to go down and wait for her in front of the or. He was still speechless. His best friend and wife had kissed. It seemed like an awful dream. Was Mark maybe right? Was this his own fault? Did he leave Addison behind?

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