Chapter 6 - in this new chapter we finally find about Addison's condition, and some important decisions will be taken. Questions you asked on your precious reviews will find an answer in the text. I hope you will like it as much we like writing it. Reviews are always more than welcome.

"It's always strange to think about our pasts and how they've shaped who we are today. We spend all of this time trying to be someone and trying to move on when one small thing can haunt our entire being. Memories, no matter how big or small they are there's always something about them that causes you to get lost in them even for a second. The past was always something that plagued my mind with bitter regret and sorrow but for some reason it was all that I could find myself thinking about. It's the subtle reminders of him that send my senses into overdrive and flood my mind with the memories of us. Unfortunately no matter how hard we try, we can never leave our past behind."

Charlotte King walked into Addison's hospital room with the intention of lecturing the surgeon about the dangers of her overworking in her current condition and the repercussions of her actions on her and her unborn child's health. As she approached the surgeon, she couldn't help but notice the absent look on her face. Addison was always one to put up a fight but she looked somewhat defeated after checking her phone.

"Montgomery, it's nice to see you alive and not unconscious on my surgical floor."

"It's nice to see you too Charlotte. I'm fine and ready to be discharged!"

Addison was really starting to get sick of staying at the hospital, yes it was true that the hospital was in fact her second home but after being put in the patient's shoes Addison just wanted to escape.

"Addison, I'm going to put it straight with you because you're a doctor and I know that you have half a brain. Do you know why you're here?"

Addison stared at the doctor with an annoyed expression; of course she knew why she was here.

"Yes, I was doing an operation and I got a bit nauseous from the lunch I ate. It was just a bad case of food poisoning."

"I guess I was wrong, you don't have half a brain Montgomery. You're here because you collapsed whilst scrubbing out on a surgery, that you could have collapsed during mind you. When we found you, your labs indicated that you were severely dehydrated and anemic. Addison you have to slow down, I know that when things aren't going right you throw yourself into your work to mask whatever it is that you want to stop yourself from feeling. But things are different now, you're pregnant and that baby inside of you is dependent on you being healthy so that it can grow. I'm not judging you or your abilities as a mother but Addison this is a bad road that you're heading down and I want you to know that you need to take a step back because I know how much you love this baby and I don't want you to lose it."

Addison was hit hard by Charlotte's words, she had said what was paining Addison and all she wanted to do was run away from everything, but being Addison she didn't want to break down in front of her superior so she forced down her emotions and addressed the doctor in a calm and confident manner.

"Charlotte, my last set of labs are perfectly normal for a pregnant woman, and all the test I did, included the cervicometry, showed that me and my baby are perfectly fine. I'm already on bed rest as ordered by the ob/gyn who visited me, and I've been administered fluids to keep me hydrated, I'm already following an iron therapy and taking my prenatal vitamins. I'm not asking to go to work or perform another surgery. I just want to go home, please."

"Alright Montgomery you can go home, just don't let me regret my decision."

Addison's face lit up like a child at Christmas as soon as she heard the good news, she immediately started to gather her things and pack her bags.

Amelia showed in Addison's room carrying a wheelchair and pushed it alongside Addison's bed "Doctor's order, sorry Addie!"

"You know I don't need it, Amelia!" She protested.

"I know you're going to hate me but for your information it is…"

"It is hospital protocol!" Addison sighed and finished the sentence for Amelia. She followed her sister's instructions as she grabbed her handbag and sat in the wheelchair. She didn't really care that much because the thought of home and finally being at peace in her own home was enough compensate for all of her objections. "How is Lauren?" She asked as the two of them left the hospital.

"She's fine! I can affirm she looked better than you!"

"Very funny, Amelia! Since I'm forced to stay at home on bed rest, I need you to check on her and the baby daily. This was a very delicate surgery, Amelia…"

"Addie, for a moment, just for a moment, stop thinking at your job, and focus on you and your baby!"

AT HOME

Amelia had just taken Addison home and made sure if she needed anything. As much as Addison protested to her help Amelia knew that this was the only way to please Charlotte and she knew that deep down inside under all of that frustration Addison was also grateful. She then excused herself and went back to work for the duration of her shift.

Addison sat in her bed and placed her hand on the swell of her stomach. She reached for her phone on her beside table and checked to see if Jake had called, but there were no messages. It had been over the day before since he called and normally he would make sure that they talked at least once a day. Maybe he was just busy with all of this work at the conference and he also had to check out this new hospital but then her mind drifted to her biggest insecurity and her gravest fear, maybe Jake's growing absence was because he was starting to become indifferent, maybe he wasn't coming back. She was starting to panic as all of the thoughts of what Derek had done were coming back. The tears were falling from her eyes and she tried to control herself 'These are just the hormones, Addie', but nothing was working and her fears were growing the more that she thought about it "He's going to leave me!"

SEATTLE

Jake and Nancy were still at the cafeteria of SGH, they met just a couple of hours before during a complicated surgery, but they seemed already good friends, and after a very long morning they were even able to laugh, "You are really a good man, Jake" Nancy said "It seems like we know since ever!"

"I have the same feelings, Nancy" in that moment Jake's phone rang he looked at the display "Sorry, this is important… Hello…yes… I confirm the appointment" he looked at his Rolex "in about an hour… Queen Anne…We can meet there… See you later, Mr. Jacobs" he closed the phone and referring to Nancy, "Are you busy this afternoon?"

"I should spend my afternoon with my family, but rather to stay with them I prefer go to hell… Why? " she asked sipping again her coffee.

"I have an appointment with a real estate agent… And I would like a second opinion, especially a lady's one!"

"So are you taking seriously Dr. Webber's offer?"

"Yeah, it's a great opportunity for my career, but I think it wouldn't be easy convince my wife…"

"You want play the card of the house, don't you?"

"Yeah… I hope it works! We live in a house in front of the sea in Santa Monica, it would be hard to convince her to move from sunny Los Angeles to the rainiest city in the country."

"Trust me if she truly loves you she'll understand and she'll move. Just between us, my sister in-law, well my former sister-in-law, moved into a trailer for over a year in the hopes of winning back my brother!"

"I would never do that to her! God, I could never imaging what my wife would do to me if I made her move into a trailer," he said laughing about the thought of Addison living in a trailer with him. "She's a high maintenance woman."

"Where's this house?"

"Queen Anne… Do you want see it?"

"Of course!"

Nancy and Jake arrived at the appointment with Mr. Jacobs, "Mr. and Mrs. Reilly, I guess" the agent asked as the two doctors arrived at the appointment, "Jake Reilly and she's a friend of mine, Dr. Shepherd" Jake said

"Jake this house is stunning" Nancy commented as she admired the exterior of the modern construction.

"You said the perfect word, Dr. Shepherd, this is a stunning 3-level contemporary house with an amazing view of city, mountains and water… You can see the Space Needle from here!"

"Can I take some pictures?" Jake asked to the seller, "I'd like to show them to my wife. She's in Los Angeles"

"Of course, Mr. Reilly! Do you want to finish the exterior before going inside?"

"Sure" Jake said "There is also a pool?"

"Yes, it's on the back side, there is also a 2-car garage"

"How big is the lot?" Nancy asked seriously interested in the house

"0.20 acres"

"3 – level house, Dr. Shepherd!" Mr. Jacobs started the tour outside the house "This stunning contemporary home on Queen Anne's south slope enjoys panoramic views that stretch from the Cascades to the Olympics, embracing the city skyline, Puget Sound and Mt. Rainier. Built with extraordinary attention to detail and the finest surfaces, the house is also endowed with the latest high-tech advancements. Virtually everything is automated, from media equipment to window coverings. Even the water temperature of this lovely lap pool can be regulated with the touch of a finger."

As they finished to see the exterior, Mr. Jacobs invited them to come in inside the house, "The house was completed in 2009, and, I said before, it has an high tech minimal style"

Jake admired the interior and commented "Wow! I really like it!"

"It's huge! I thought my brother's house was big, but this is actually bigger"

"Glass wall and door bring this tranquil outdoor setting into soaring 2-story foyer with picture window looking out on sculptural water feature. There is a living area with a built-in bar and south-facing glass wall with door to terrace overlooking back yard, pool, city, water and mountains."

Jake admired the house while Mr. Jacobs completed the house tour "Main floor master suite offers wrap-around view windows, gas fireplace, terrace access, dressing area and abundant closet space." Jake took a look at the closet, to be sure it was enough big for Addison wardrobe, "Master bath has views, jetted platform tub, glass-walled shower and double sinks. Second bedroom on main floor served by another complete bath. Striking steel staircase leads to second level with kitchen and adjoining dining and informal living spaces. Open floor plan ideal for entertaining also maximizes natural light and views. Kitchen features dark bamboo floors, mahogany cabinetry, granite counters and center island. Top-notch appliances include Sub-Zero refrigerator/freezer, Viking 6-burner gas range and dishwasher. Adjacent family room has vaulted ceilings, clerestory windows, gas fireplace and access to terrace with breathtaking vistas. Dining area with built-in buffet and open wall overlooking entry, mahogany-appointed office with private north-facing terrace, and powder room complete second level. Lower level has media room with high-tech equipment and access to slate terrace. There is also an inviting guest suite with full kitchen, with another bathroom quarter bath and terrace access. All rooms have air conditioning and radiant heated floors. There are double pane storm windows, security system, cable TV, high speed Internet… Trust me, Mr. Reilly, this is the best investment you can do for your family!"

"If I was your wife, I had no doubts about this place!"

Jake admired again the beautiful modern house and the vaulted ceilings, he was already picturing him, Addison and their little baby living happily there, he couldn't stop a smile at the scene in his mind "Mr. Jacobs, I decide to put an offer for the house, this place is great and I can totally picturing me and my family there!" but the hardest part was to convince Addison to move there.

LOS ANGELES

Addison was in bed, sitting on the sofa not really amused about what she was seeing at the TV, her cat Milo was keeping her company peacefully sleeping near her side. She continuously changed channel, because, indeed, her mind was too busy wondering why her husband hasn't called her yet. When she suddenly heard her phone rang, without even looking at the number, she exclaimed "Honey!" she was so sure it was Jake who was calling, "Hi, Addison" she suddenly recognized the voice from the other side of the phone "I think I'm not the honey you were thinking about…"

"Derek, sorry, I was expecting a phone call by my husband, and I didn't check the number…"

"How are you?" he asked politely "Amelia, told me you didn't feel well"

She instantly and automatically put a protective hand on her little baby bump, "I'm fine now, Derek, you know the stress of our jobs and my low blood pressure" she was uncomfortable now and she didn't really want to talk with him about the real reasons why she collapsed, "I'm relaxing at home for the moment…Derek, I know you, and you didn't call me to know about my health conditions, what's wrong? Last time you called me was to inform me Mark died, so it should be something serious…"

"I need your help, Addison!"

Addison swallowed hard as she heard those words. Derek's voice sounded so fragile and so sincere that she couldn't help but feel for him. It was true that the two of them had significantly grown apart in the past few years but even being divorced didn't stop old feelings from resurfacing.

"I'm here Derek, what happened?" Derek told them all the things that happened that morning, he was destroyed, and so scared, Addison listened all his words with attention, but every word was like a stab wound for her. She needed to be as professional she could.

"It's my baby… My wife…" his voice sounded so broken "Can you please come and help, Addison? You're the only doctor I trust in this moment."

Addison paused for a moment she could face Derek, but not now. She needed Jake, Jake would fix things but right now she was all alone talking to her baby's biological father about saving the life of his other child that belonged to his real family.

"Derek, I don't know, my schedule here is pretty hectic and the doctors told me to take it easy because of my blood pressure. I'm so sorry but I can't"

"Addison I NEED YOU THOUGH, PLEASE GOD ADDIE! I did it for you"

That was it he called her Addie, sure she had heard other people call her that but whenever Derek said it, it made her knees go weak. She started to tear up as all of the memories of their life together came flooding back.

"I... I..I..I can't…I have to go, I'm so sorry." It was with that Addison hung up the phone and sat down on the bed.

"Damn!" Derek exclaimed as Addison shut down the phone, he didn't expect a 'No' by his Addie, and her behavior didn't convince him, she was surely hiding something, maybe her conditions were more serious than she told him.

"What did she say?" Carolyn asked

"She said she's busy and can't come..." he sat on the chair and put his hands on his face "She doesn't want help me mom!"

"Typical, really she's always got something better to do," Carolyn said as she tried to console her son.

"Derek, somewhere along the way you had to account for this outcome. She's not your Addie anymore and believe it or not she has her own obligations. If you need her so desperately you have to meet her halfway instead of expecting her to drop everything and come whenever you call her, she's not your wife." Liz intervened.

Those words seemed to echo in Derek's ears, 'She's not your wife', "I don't care if she's not my wife anymore, and I dropped everything to save her ass of a brother's life. Addison should do the same now!"

"Derek, you're being selfish. Firstly Addison came to you that time not vice versa so that makes this situation completely different. Second you're acknowledging her as if she is your wife, which is strangely intriguing. I'm going to have to agree with Liz on this," Kathleen said as she sipped her coffee.

Kathleen was reading into her brother's emotions trying to detect what was really at the root of his problems yes his wife and child were both in a critical condition at the moment but there was something about Addison saying 'NO' that really got to him, more than it should have.

Almost an hour later, Nancy arrived at the hospital to check on her sister-in-law' and nephew's conditions, "Where the hell have you been?" her brother protested.

"That's my business, Derek, you know the world doesn't revolve around you...now if you could all please excuse me I have some patients to check on!"

Jake put his offer on the millions dollar house in Seattle, he was thrilled and happy, and really couldn't wait to talk with his wife. So many things happened that day that the thought of calling Addison slipped his mind. He was too busy preparing this surprise for her and making sure that everything was perfect for her that he forgot to call to his precious wife.

He was dialing the familiar number when he saw her wife's number on the display.

"Did I do something wrong to upset you?" she said as soon as he answered, he heard her voice was so fragile and she was sobbing.

"Of course not, sweetheart, I was going to call you… I had a very long day, and when I called you the nurse told me you were busy in a surgery. Did you receive my messages?"

"Jake…" she was still sobbing

"Sweetheart, please, what's wrong? Why are you crying? Is everything ok? You are scaring me"

"I'm sorry, it's just that I have a very long day too, and… I just wanted to hear your voice. I miss you, Jake!"

"Addison, are you sure that you're fine?" he knew there was more, "You don't seem fine to me, Addison, why are you crying? Is Chicco ok?"

"I need to know if you love me and if you're going to come back to be with me."

"Addison, of course I love you, I can't imagine my life without you", this was what she needed to hear.

"Jake, I love you!...When are you going back home to me?"

"Sooner than you imagine, sweetheart, and with some great news, I love you too Addison, and I'm goanna repeat it every time you need to hear it!"

"How was your day?" Addison asked to relieve the situation.

Jake had to cover his tracks quickly, he knew that Addison was always one to look into things deeper than they actually were, thankfully before he could tell her his day, an intern of the hospital approached him for another consult on the patient he operated early that morning "Dr. Reilly, the patient has 6.9 g/dl Hb, do you want to start the transfusion?"

Addison heard the conversation, she was relieved his husband was really busy at work, "You really love to keep a scalpel in that hand of yours, you, busy man! Better start on that transfusion on that patient of yours!"

"I'm sorry Addie but I really have to go now! I'll talk to you soon, I promise. I miss you too, babe!"

Before heading to Meredith's room, Jake sent a message to Amelia asking her if she could check on Addison. It almost killed him hearing Addison so destroyed and fragile at the phone, especially, because he knew how strong was his wife.

LOS ANGELES

Addison was looking for a book to read on her library; she was picking a book when an old book of poems by Garcìa Lorca fell down from the shelf. She picked the book from the floor, but before put it back in the library. She opened the first page "To my one and only Addie. With infinite love, your Derek". Derek had given her that book on their first Christmas together and told her that they were going to get through school of medicine and internship together no matter what because they would always be there for each other despite anything that life threw at them. Derek promised her and she promised him that they were only ever one phone call away. She casually opened page 111.

Sonnet of the sweet complaint

Never let me lose the marvel

of your statue-like eyes, or the accent

the solitary rose of your breath

places on my cheek at night.

I am afraid of being, on this shore,

a branchless trunk, and what I most regret

is having no flower, pulp, or clay

for the worm of my despair.

If you are my hidden treasure,

if you are my cross, my dampened pain,

if I am a dog, and you alone my master,

never let me lose what I have gained,

and adorn the branches of your river

with leaves of my estranged Autumn.

'Why this book? Why this poem? Why now?' She thought Addison closing soon the book as she finished to read the sonnet. She was still amazed that her ex-husband still had such a strong influence on her even after everything that they had been through.

Impulsively, she booked a flight for Seattle, because something inside her was telling this was the right thing to do. She wrote a quick message to Amelia, telling her she was fine and to take care of the cat in her absence. She packed few things in her Louis Vuitton suitcase, and wore her black trench coat.

It was 8 pm. Addison stepped out of the taxi and pulled her thick winter coat over her small bump. After she paid the driver she grabbed her handbag and got out of the taxi taking a minute to compose herself before she braced the halls of Seattle Grace. It's true that this place held a significant place in Addison's past and it represented a lot things for her like great successes in her career and where she met some of her fondest friends but for the most part, Seattle Grace would always be the a place of great despair, it was the place where she lost her soul-mate. She took a deep breath and confidently made her way into the main lobby like she did years ago when she first came to Seattle. Once again all dressed in black, the surgeon hid all of her emotion and apprehension under a mask of composure and approached the reception desk.

"Excuse me, can you direct me as to where I could find Dr. Shepherd?" Addison said as she eyed the young clerk.

The clerk sensed that the woman before her was someone of great authority and power and frantically searched through the surgeons' schedules to locate Dr. Shepherd for the fear that the lady would yell at her for her incompetence.

Just as the nurse was about to say something to Addison, a figure closely approached the tall red head from behind and startled her.

"Addison, what are you doing here?"

We have to admit that the end of this chapter was different, then we have a sort of "brainwave" and we put Addison on a flight to Seattle, it was like the story decided itself to be written this way.

As always reviews, constructive critics and suggestions are more than welcome!