Hey guys remember me? I'm not dead! In fact I'm another year older as today is my birthday! So I decided to cast off my woes and do something that makes me happy, namely writing. Things should start to pick up from here, so I hope you like the next installment. But, without further ado, read. And don't forget to review.

Good air in, bad air out.

The plane touched down on the runway, the slight jostle bringing her out of her reverie. She looked out of the window at the familiar skyline. She was home.

The collection of baggage went smoothly and soon she was in a town car making her way to Connecticut. Addison leaned back against the cushioned leather seats as the landscape sped by. She had a novel that she could finish, but she knew that she wouldn't be able to concentrate. This was crazy; she was walking into the lion's den. This wasn't her family anymore; it didn't even make sense for her to be here. She sighed, but she couldn't not be here either. Plus, it seemed that fate had taken a hand in getting her to New York, she had been invited to speak at a meeting of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology on its new recommendation for treatment of mothers in preterm labor. Ironically enough, she was subbing for a good friend of hers who had gone into labor at 30 weeks and was now herself on bedrest. She sighed again; it seemed she was destined to be here one way or another.

"Hey, are you okay?" She turned to look at her fellow passenger. "That was a big sigh," he continued.

"Yea, fine, just thinking.

Kevin reached over and grabbed her hand. "We don't have to go you know. We could just make this a mini-break for the two of us and hole up in what I'm sure is a decadent hotel room until your conference."

"No, no I want to do this. I miss them so much. And I know that I screwed up, but it's just not fair that Derek gets them." He gave her a sympathetic look. "I'm sorry, I know that you don't want to hear about my ex-husbands family. I think you're amazing for coming out here with me."

"Well, I wasn't going to let you walk into the lion's den alone. Besides, you needed an extra person to carry all those gifts. Did Christmas come early this year?"

"Shut up," she gave him a playful shove, "Those are necessary. It's a tradition, you'll see. And I'll make it up to you later in our fabulous hotel room," she stated with a wink.

"We're here Ms. Montgomery."

"Thank you," Addison smiled at the older gentleman who held the door open for her and made her way up the front stoop. Addison took a deep breath before she knocked on the door; Kevin rubbed her back as they waited for it to open.

"Aunt Addie!" Clarie, Emily's little sister screamed. She promptly threw her skinny arms around Addison's waist before running off screaming, "Aunt Addie's here, Aunt Addie's here!"

Nancy promptly arrived at the door. "Addie, come in, come in," she stated ushering them inside, "You look great," she gave Addison a hug, and turned to Kevin giving him a once over, "and so do you." She smiled flirtatiously, "I don't believe I've had the pleasure."

Addison grabbed his hand, "Nancy, this is Kevin," she smiled up at him, "my boyfriend."

"Well, Kevin, it's very nice to meet you," she stated and they shook hands before they were bombarded by 13 kids, plus Claire, all clamoring to hug their Aunt Addie.

"Aunt Addie, what did you bring me?" Claire asked, tugging on her skirt.

"Claire," Nancy scolded.

"Now, what makes you think I brought you anything?" Addison asked slyly.

"Cuz, you always bring stuff," Ben chimed in.

"Please, Aunt Addie?" Cynthia asked.

"Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease?"

"Okay, okay," Addison laughed and held her hands up as the plea began to increase in volume. "Maybe there is something in that bag over there."

There was a general squeal as the kids attacked the bag, each pulling out their own perfectly wrapped gift. The thanks that she received was deafening and brought a huge smile to her face. She turned to Kevin, "That's why it was necessary."

Nancy chuckled and shook her head, "You spoil them."

"I haven't seen them in forever, and it's my prerogative as an aunt."

"Ex-Aunt, isn't it?" Carolyn stated as she came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a dish towel. "Or have you forgotten?"

Addison turned to look at her former mother-in-law. "No, Mrs. Shepherd, I haven't forgotten. How are you?"

"I'm fine dear, just a bit puzzled as to what you're doing here."

"I invited her," Emily spoke up, coming to embrace Addison in a hug. "After all, she is my favorite aunt," Em stated with a wink to Addison.

"EX-Aunt," Carolyn clarified, "Meredith is Uncle Derek's wife now, Emily."

"I'm well aware," Emily replied with a well-hidden roll of her eyes. "She keeps calling me Erica," she whispered to Addison as she led her into the sitting room. "As if I look like my eight year old cousin." Addison stifled a laugh as they sat on the couch. "Hey, who's the hottie by the door?"

Addison turned and held her hand out for him, "Sorry, this is my boyfriend Kevin. Kevin this is Emily."

Kevin held out his hand, "Nice to meet you Emily, and congratulations."

"Thanks, Kevin is it?" Emily replied with a flirtatious smile, "I'm glad you could make it."

Addison yanked her niece back down onto the couch, "Down girl."

Emily laughed as the rest of the family poured in. As everyone settled into seats and the conversation began to pick up, there was another ring of the doorbell. "I got it", Claire yelled as she ran to the door, Nancy hot on her heels. "Uncle Derek!" she screeched. Addison did her best not to stiffen. Claire ran back to the room, "Everyone, Uncle Derek's here!"

Derek walked in with his trademark grin and accepted a round of hugs from the family. He stopped when he reached his ex-wife, "Addie?"

"Hello, Derek," Addison replied smoothly, maintaining eye contact.

Carolyn interrupted the moment by walking in between them to where Meredith was standing nearly forgotten by the door. "Aren't you kids going to greet your Aunt Meredith?"

"Hi, Meredith," they chorused dutifully without looking up once.

"Hi, guys," she replied with a tentative wave.

"Come in dear, have a seat." Carolyn led her to a loveseat across the room, "Don't mind the kids, they just received some new gifts. Some feel that they need to buy affection instead of earning it."

Addison fought to keep her face from turning red. Derek cleared his throat as he looked from his mother back to Addison and then to the man at her side. Addison followed his gaze, "Oh, sorry, Derek Shepherd, this is my boyfriend Kevin Nelson, Kevin this is Derek."

Kevin stood and extended his hand, "It's nice to meet you, Derek.

"I'm her ex-husband," Derek filled in as he took in the slightly taller man.

"I know, I've heard a lot about you." Kevin replied easily.

"Hmm, I can't say the same." Derek stated still shaking the other man's hand, tightening his grip ever so slightly.

"Well, that's not really surprising is it? Seeing as how you two don't really keep in touch," he responded with a slight narrowing of his eyes and strengthening his own grip.

The family was watching the interaction like a well-played tennis match.

"Oh, we're in touch more than you would think," Derek retorted with a smug smirk.

More than one eyebrow went up at that last statement, Addison's included.

"Well, I know that I can't be the reason for this tension because I just got here." All heads swerved toward the entryway, where Amelia was standing.

"Amelia," Nancy, Kathleen, and Julia called out, standing to embrace their sister.

With the attention moved from them, the men gave each other one last bone crushing squeeze before releasing their hold.

Derek moved to fix himself a scotch, before plopping next to Meredith on the love seat in his mother's recently vacated seat. "What the hell was that?" Meredith whispered harshly.

"Nothing," Derek replied, "forget about it." He narrowed his eyes as he watched his own sister greet Kevin with more enthusiasm than she had shown him in years. Who the hell did this guy think he was?

Amelia sat next to Addison on the couch. "How did the surgery go?" Addison asked.

"Kid's okay, I'm sure he'll be out of the ICU by the time we get back."

"What surgery?" Derek asked.

Addison and Amelia turned to him in surprise, "Uh, 14 month former 30 weeker with history of spina bifida and hydrocephalus came in with VP shunt malfunction. I pushed back my flight so I could do the surgery before I came out here." Amelia turned back to Addison, "Kim wanted me to ask you if you could squeeze her in when you get back. She's at 29 weeks now and she's pretty nervous."

"Yea, no problem."

"So you just left immediately after performing surgery on a 14 month old? Kind of irresponsible don't you think." Derek interjected.

"No, actually, I saw him through post-op, made sure he was tucked in in the PICU, and ensured that the pediatric team and parents had all of their questions answered. Also unlike you I trust my fellow surgeons and respect that they can care for my patients." Amelia stood up, "I need a drink."

"Well, that didn't last long." Derek smirked.

"Derek, Amelia you both stop it. Now." Carolyn stated with her patented stare, "And Amelia sit down. We're about to leave anyway. Everyone go get your things together." She turned to look at the couch, "Addison, if you and your, um, friend, would like to go on ahead we'll meet you there. Frankly, I don't know why you came to the house at all, I'm sure it was out of your way," she continued with false sweetness.

Addison stood at the obvious dismissal and hugged Emily, "I'll see you later."

Amelia stood as well, "Yea, I think I'll go with Addie. I already sent my cab off anyway."

"Well, you could ride with-" her mother began.

"No trust me, I'd rather be with Addie." She reached down and grabbed Kevin's arm, "C'mon copper, let's go."

The graduation was uneventful, though Emily Collins most certainly had the loudest cheering section. The family had returned to the homestead to commence the graduation festivities. Lunch was served, as was cake and ice cream, and the numerous presents including a car from her parents and a new laptop from Aunt Addie. Amelia brought her a box of condoms.

Derek looked to Meredith to present Em with their present and she looked back at him in confusion. "What?"

"Where's our gift?"

"I dunno. What did you get her?"

"Wait," Derek sat up on the couch, "You mean you forgot to get my niece a graduation present?"

"No, I didn't forget because I was never asked." Meredith snapped.

"I didn't think that I needed to. It seems implied that if you're going to a graduation party someone needs to bring a present." Derek took another sip of his scotch, "I never had to ask Addison to bring a gift," he muttered.

"Do I look like Addison to you?"

"Certainly not." He spoke into his glass, as Meredith walked off in a huff.

Addison pretended not to have heard a word.

As more of Emily's friends showed up the level of talk and music increased to an exponential level, and the backyard was near filled to capacity. Add to that the six younger children that were hopped up on sugar from the cake and the noise level was rapidly reaching deafening. Addie and Nancy were chatting in the living room, when the doorbell began to ring incessantly. Nancy began to rise to answer the door, but her mother shooed her back into her seat. "Sit, sit dear, I've got it." She glanced through the window on the side of the door and paled, "Derek!" she cried.

Derek reached the door just as his mother opened it to the two officers standing on the stoop. "Hello officers, is there a problem?"

"Are you the owner of this home, sir?"

"No, it belongs to my mother. What's wrong?"

"We've received complaints about the noise. I'm going to have to ask you to tone it down."

"Oh, well you see, it's my niece's graduation party-" he began, but was interrupted.

"Sir, I don't care if it's for the Queen of England, quiet it down or shut it down. Or you can receive a citation if you like."

"I don't think that's really necessary-"

"Josh?" They all turned to see Kevin making his way to the door. "Josh Thomas is that you?"

"Kev? Kevin, man it's been years, how are you?" he asked with a manly embrace.

"I'm good, you?" Kevin replied patting the other man on the back.

"Good, good, what the hell are you doing here?"

"My girlfriend's niece graduated, we're here for the party. Why're you here?"

"Been getting complaints. Hey don't worry about it. Some people around here aren't happy unless they're complaining about something. Just don't get any louder, cool?"

"Yea, thanks man. I'll give you a call later, maybe we can grab a beer." Kevin extended his hand.

"Sounds good," Josh replied as they shook. "You folks have a good night," he nodded to the ladies as he and his partner walked back to the patrol car.

"Thank you, Kevin." Carolyn gave him a genuinely warm smile.

"No problem, Mrs. Shepherd" She took his arm as she led him back to the party, "Let's get you some more cake dear."

Addison and Nancy watched them walk away, "You know I could have handled that," Derek spoke up from the door. Addison and Nancy exchanged glances, "Yea, we saw what a great job you were doing," Nancy snickered as she led Addison back to the party.

"Aunt Addie, will you play jacks with me?"

Addison turned to see Brianna standing there with a bag of jacks in one hand and the trademark ball in the other. "Sure, sweetie." They had gotten up to fivesies before the ball went rogue and rolled into the kitchen. "I got it." Addison uncurled her legs and followed the ball into the kitchen where she watched it roll under the stove. Dammit. She laid flat on Carolyn's sparkling floor and spotted the ball just underneath and reached out for it, but it was just out of her reach. If Bizzy could see me now. Addison stretched out a little farther to grab the ball. Gotcha. She was about to get up when she heard voices enter.

"I still can't believe that you forgot to buy a present," came the male voice, followed by the sound of ice clinking into a glass.

"Okay, for the last time, you didn't ask me! Stop being such a jerk," replied a squeaky female.

Great, I'm trapped by the golden couple. She pulled her legs up and huddled against the kitchen island as best she could, hoping that no one would walk around to the other side.

"I'm not being a jerk; the jerk is that cop boyfriend of hers out there." She could hear liquid splashing over the ice. Scotch.

A sigh. "You know he actually seems very nice." Thank you, Meredith.

"What the hell is he even doing here?" The ice rattled, and then clinked as the glass was set back onto the counter.

"Well, people generally invite their significant others to events like this."

"Significant other." Another clink of the ice. "She's so out of his league. And then the way he injected himself into the situation with the police."

"He was just trying to help out."

"Just being presumptuous is more like it. I had it handled."

"You know what? I don't know what your problem is today, but you need to get over it. Everyone here is trying to have a good time, so stop being such a dick."

Addison felt the reverberation as the door slammed. She waited until she heard the door close for a second time before she got off the floor and brushed herself off. She turned around and found herself staring into the crystal blue eyes she knew so well. "I thought you left."

He kept her gaze as he took another drink. "I didn't."

"I see that." She shifted uncomfortably as he leered at her. "You know Kevin really was just trying to help."

"Well, no one asked him for his help. I was-"

"I know. You were handling it. Well, Derek here's a little tidbit for you. The way you were handling it would have had the party shut down and a citation in your hand. So, just get over yourself."

"You know that he's not good enough for you."

"Who the hell are you to judge that?" She placed her hands on her hips.

"He's a cop, Addison."

"He's SWAT," she corrected.

"He's a cop. Stop trying to class it up."

Addison threw her hands in the air. "Why are you acting like such an ass? What the hell is your problem?"

"You know what my problem is," he looked her steadily in the eye.

"I'm not talking about this here," she started to move toward the back door.

He quickly stepped around the island and blocked her exit. "Then where are we going to talk about it, huh? When?"

She stepped back. "We have nothing to discuss. If you'll excuse me." Addison walked around him to the door. Her hand was on the doorknob before he spoke again.

He still stood looking towards the stove. "It's not working out. Between Meredith and me," he stated quietly. Derek turned around to face her back and ran his hand through his thick locks. "We're not compatible. We're," he sighed. "I don't know. I don't know what we are. But I'm tired of trying." He walked up behind her and whispered in her ear. "I'm getting out." He nuzzled her neck, before returning to her ear. "I just thought you might like to know."

Addison took a deep breath before turning around. "Okay, one you're drunk, so I wouldn't believe anything that you say right now. Two, I am in a happy, fulfilling relationship with a man I love. Three, you should keep that to yourself because trust me no one is interested in that information. Least of all me." After giving him one last look of contempt she let herself out of the house.

Hey, so the next chapter is burning through my hard drive aching to be posted so give me reviews and I'll post in a week. C'mon it's my birthday!