A/N: Here is the next chapter for you guys, thanks to my amazing beta Beth for beta-ing, thaxs hun!! And a big thanks to Emily for helping me with this fic!!

Enjoy

A few days later Addison decided to take a walk in the park and clear her head. She hadn't been feeling that great and thought the fresh air would do her some good. It was a nice place and she felt relaxed there. She smiled to herself as she walked along. She had decided to venture further this time. If she got lost she would just ring Derek.

They had become close in the space of two days. He could relate to her problems and she found herself talking to him, telling him what had happened, and he had convinced her to stop cutting, and that's what she was trying to do. Addison felt that a walk was needed so that was what she was doing.

She turned a corner and strolled along happily. She was finally happy and relaxed, then she heard a familiar voice. "Hello Addison." Addison turned to see him stood there with a smug look on his face. "You can run but you can't hide." Steve stepped towards her. "Now I'm a little hurt you never told me you were leaving. I'm your boyfriend and you never even told me, that's a bit harsh don't you think? I mean we shared something special."

"There was nothing special about it." Addison glared at him.

"There was." He smirked and took a step closer to her.

"No." She shook her head.

"What have I told you about saying no to me?" Anger flashed in his eyes and he clenched his hand into a fist, swinging it towards her, but she ducked and he punched the wall, crying out in pain. He looked at her angrily and Addison quickly turned, running back home, away from Steve.

Addison ran as fast as she could, she didn't dare look back to see if he was behind her. She dodged the few people she met and ran towards Derek's house, knowing her dad was not in.

By the time she had reached Derek's she was out of breath. She quickly knocked on the door, hoping someone would answer soon. Addison looked around making sure he hadn't followed as the door opened and Derek stood there.

"Addison." She quickly walked in and shut the door behind her. He watched her, concerned. "What's wrong?"

"He. He. He found me." She tried to catch her breath.

"Who?" Derek was confused.

"Steve." Addison took deep breaths and looked at him. "He wanted…"

"It's okay, you're safe now, he can't touch you here." He pulled Addison into his arms and held her tightly. "It'll be okay," he whispered.

A sudden feeling swept over Addison and she pushed off Derek, running up the stairs and into the bathroom. He saw the look in her eyes. "Addison, no." He ran after her, but she'd locked the bathroom door after her. "Addison." He banged on the door. "Don't do this."

Addison tried to ignore the pleas that came from the other side of the door. She searched frantically in the cupboard for a razor or anything sharp she could use to cut, anything, she wanted anything. Tears began to roll down her cheeks as she searched and found nothing.

"Addison, please, let me in. Please don't do this to yourself. Please." He let his head rest against the door. "Please." He sighed. Inside the room, Addison continued to search, desperate to cut. There was nothing. "Addison please!"

Derek continued to plead with her from the other side of the door. He was afraid of what she might do. From what she had told him, she would actually kill herself if it made her feel better. He looked around before he realised the only way was to kick the door down. Derek took a step back before he rammed his shoulder into the door.

Addison jumped as she heard him trying to get into her. She stopped searching and turned to face the door. "Addison, let me in, don't make me break the door down."

Derek moved back again before his shoulder hit the door again and he felt it ease, but too much and it swung open, letting him fall to the floor. Addison jumped back and looked at him. "Are you okay?" He looked up at her worried and she just nodded slightly. "You haven't??" He sat up quickly scanning her arms.

"No."

"Good." He stood up in front of her and took hold of her hands. "Please don't do that again, please don't cut, talk, just talk to me, let your emotions out, scream, throw things, but please don't cut." Addison looked into his eyes and saw the tears shining there. "Please."

She nodded. "Okay." Her voice was small.

"Thank you." He pulled her into his arms. She buried her head into his shoulder and wrapped her arms around his neck while he held her tightly. "I'm not going to let him hurt you anymore." Derek just wished this guy would leave Addison alone, he'd do anything to keep her safe.

--

Derek set a cup of tea down on the table in front of Addison. She was sat on the couch in the lounge just staring ahead of her. Derek sat down next to her and took hold of her hand, just watching her. His thumb soothingly rubbed her knuckle and she continued to stare in front of her. "Addison?" He tried after a few minutes. She slowly turned to look at him. "Are you okay?"

"I thought I wouldn't have to see him again." Her voice was quiet. "I thought he wouldn't be able to hurt me or make me feel like this again, but I was wrong." Tears glistened in her eyes.

"He's not going to hurt you again, I won't let him, ever."

"But you don't even know me properly…"

"I know that, but you don't deserve this, and I want to get to know you. I want to be your friend, someone you can turn to." Derek gave her a reassuring smile. Addison nodded and turned away again. He sighed and looked at her before he pulled her into his arms again. "It'll get better." Addison didn't reply, she just let him hold her and gripped his top tightly, needing to be held.

--

Derek buried his head into his hands as his sisters told another embarrassing story about him to Addison, who was now smiling. She was laughing at the story and he groaned, letting his head drop to the table. "And there's that time he came home from school crying because he had called the teacher mommy!"

"No, I didn't!" he yelled at his sisters.

"You did!" Nancy nodded. "You were crying your eyes out and all the boys were making fun of you."

"I wasn't! I really wasn't." He turned to Addison and saw her smiling widely, making him smile.

"You did, just ask mom."

"No, I know I didn't, you're just making it up now."

"No we're not."

"Dinner!" Kathryn called from the kitchen and they all made their way into the dining room. Peter was out of town and wasn't going to get back until late, so Kathryn has offered to let Addison have dinner with them.

They all sat down and began to eat once everyone had a plate in front of them. The conversation stayed light, and Addison joined in occasionally. She was content to just sit and listen as a light banter took place between the siblings.

"So, Addison, how are you enjoying the place?" Kathryn smiled at her.

"It's nice here, really relaxed, I think I'll enjoy it here."

"I'm sure you will." She smiled. "If you ever need anything, don't hesitate to ask any of us, we'll be more than willing to help, and Derek will look after you once you start school, make sure you know your way around and all." Kathryn smiled at Derek.

"Thank you." Addison smiled at them gratefully.

After dinner Kathryn put the girls in charge of washing up and drying. Addison felt like she should help in some way but Kathryn wouldn't let her do anything. Derek had smiled and said the same thing. "Why don't you stay the night here? Your dad won't be back until late."

"I should really go home." She didn't want to run the risk of them seeing her arms, it just wasn't something they needed to know. "I'll be fine, thank you for dinner." Addison stood up.

"Derek will walk you home."

"Yeah." He stood up as well and noticed the 'stay with her tonight so she's not on her own' look his mother was wearing. He had told her that she hadn't had an easy life but he gave no details. Kathryn wanted to make her feel as welcomed as possible, and knew Derek would take great care of her, he had seemed to develop a sense of care over her.

"Let her borrow a jacket to wear home, it's a bit chilly out. I'll see you again, Addison." Kathryn smiled and left the dining room, walking into the kitchen.

"Come on, I'll walk you home." They walked into the hallway and Derek let Addison borrow a jacket and he pulled one on himself. He turned to face Addison and smiled.

"What?"

"Nothing." He shook his head. "You just look cute in my jacket, it's too big for you."

"Oh." She smiled. "It's nice and warm though."

"It's my favourite jacket." He smiled. "Come on." He held the door open for her and she walked out. Addison shivered a bit and pulled the jacket tighter around her. "Cold?" Derek looked at her.

"A bit."

"The jacket should keep you warm." Addison nodded and pulled it tighter. "Although it is a bit big for you." He chuckled slightly.

"You gave it to me to wear."

"I did." He smiled again. "Come here." He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close. "That warmer?"

"Yes, thanks." Addison smiled and leaned into his touch, glad for the warmth in the chill night air. They walked along together until they reached her front door. She pulled out her key, opened the door and they walked into her hallway. "Thank you for walking me home." She smiled at him.

"No problem, will you be alright here on you own? Or do you want me to crash on the couch or something so you're not alone?"

"Would you mind staying?" Addison bit her lip nervously.

"No." He smiled. "Only if you're comfortable with it?" She nodded. "Okay then, I'll crash on the couch."

"You can use the guest room."

"Okay." Addison led him upstairs and into the guest room, where they said their goodnights and Addison retreated to her own room, where it didn't take long for her to fall asleep.

--

Addison woke up screaming and sweating. She opened her eyes and saw Derek sat on her bed, watching her with a worried look on his face. "Hey, calm down. It's okay, it was only a dream. Calm down, I'm here." Addison took deep breaths and looked at him. "It's okay, it was only a dream."

"He, he, he tried to…but…you were…and he….then…"

"Shh, okay, I'm here, it'll be okay." He soothed her, taking her hand in his.

"Don't leave me." She asked.

"I won't, just try and sleep now." Addison nodded and looked at him. "Sleep." He shifted so she could still hold his hand and he was lying down next to her. "Just sleep, I'm right here." She turned on her side so she was facing him and moved closer. Derek wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close.

Addison wasn't sure if this was the right thing, but she felt so safe with Derek. It was different than being with Steve, she could sense that Derek would never hurt her on purpose. She felt so relaxed laying in his arms. It wasn't long until she had drifted off to sleep.