Thanks for all the reviews they really are quiet exciting to ready. Hope you enjoy this chapter.

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By the time Addison awoke the next morning Liv had already left for school, strolling into the kitchen to make herself a coffee she spotted Derek at the breakfast nook.

"Morning."

"Morning, where's Meredith?"

"She went for a walk," Derek didn't look up from the Times he was reading.

"Alone? Has she ever been to New York?"

"No, but she insisted on going by herself."

"Liv really hurt her last night."

"Derek…"

"Addison, what?" Derek's voice was stronger and irritated. "She deliberately set out to hurt Meredith, and to make it worse you implied that it was perfectly fine and no big deal last night. You made it seem like it was my fault our daughter embarrassed Meredith in front of half the Upper East Side."

Addison silently composed herself, in the months since their divorce she had put up with all the blame Derek had cast on her, but he had broke her last nerve. There were two ways she could possibly get through to him: a) Scream her head off, throw the many dishes that sat on the counter at his head, and then explain to the neighbours why she was dragging her dead husband's body out the back door. Or b) Civilly give him a clue. She choose that latter (though she tempted to choose her other option). "I get that it was embarrassing, Derek I really do. You expected to come back with Meredith and be the god you were before. You wanted everyone to think your life is great and instead all our old friends ended up using Meredith as the butt of their jokes. That hurt you, I get it, Liv was wrong to spread gossip about Meredith…"

"That's what I have been trying to point out, but you didn't back me up. You told me I failed her and that I basically should not be surprised."

Addison held up her hand, "I wasn't finished." He really didn't get it. "You left you were mad at me , and hurt by me, but you left Liv. You left your daughter."

Derek looked down, "It's no excuse. She's growing up." He was quiet and she knew he was feeling guilty, but still holding ground.

Addison on the other handed was furious her eyes were watering she was so frustrated. "Do you have any idea? Yeah, she's growing up. She's a teenager with enough pressures already feeling the stress of expectations, and then you, her father, the one that always had her back, leaves. And you know what ran through her mind, when she was alone, without her mother, who I admit, was a mess? She convinced herself it was her fault." Addison became quiet her watery eyes turning from being filled with rage, to tears of sadness and regret.

"It wasn't," Derek's voice is so low, Addison is sure his own regret and guilt are setting in.

"I know, but in her mind it was. In her mind she thought…" Addison had never talked to anyone about what happened with Liv when Derek left. It had always been strictly between her and her daughter. "She thought that if she was better, you would come back. That if she was smarter, more talented, prettier you would come back."

Derek looked up his eyes purely showing confusion. "Addison."

"Derek," Addison shook her head. "It got so bad so fast, she needs you."

Derek nodded his head agreeing, he didn't know exactly what had happened with Liv. But the way Addison looked at him made him wish it all hadn't faded. That they could go back to before they'd gotten caught up.

Six year old Olivia danced around Derek's office her white cotton summer dress flowing behind her. "Daddy, when are we going?" It was the first weekend of her summer break and the Shepherds, as well as the Drummonds were heading to the Hampton's for the break.

"Just let me finish this paper work, and we can go."

Olivia sighed dramatically , "I never wanna grow up."

"Why is that?" Derek stopped and looked up from his papers.

"You kinda get boring and have to work a lot instead," a sweet smirk played across her face.

Derek nodded his head smiling and stood up, "You think I'm boring?"

"Yes, you don't even get to go to school. I like school."

"Oh, well you know what you can do when you're a grown up?" Derek grabbed Olivia and picked her up sweetly.

"What?"

"Eat Little Livs!" Olivia squeled as Derek tickled her and lifted her upside down.

"Mommy! Mommy! Save me!" Addison walked in the room laughing.

"What's going on?"

Derek stopped and smiled at Liv. "Get her!" Lunging at Addison both Derek and Olivia tickled Addison until they had all fallen on the ground in laughter panting.

"Traitor," Addison smiled at her daughter as the three relaxed against the wall. Derek laughed at his wife.

Olivia looked between her parents, "Maybe it's okay if I grow up."

"See I told you it's not boring."

"Sometimes it might be fun, but I only want to grow up so I can get married to Jason."

Addison chocked back a laugh as she watched Derek's expression.

"No boys Liv," he said sternly. "You're not growing up."

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