Summary: A/U This is my take on what should have happened after Addison's conversation with Meredith, and how these events will affect the lives of Addison and Derek, and those around them.
ThanX go out to my excellent Beta, Agent Extremis
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
"Rain"
By: Patty Griffin
It's hard to listen to a hard hard heart
Beating close to mine
Pounding up against the stone and steel
Walls that I won't climb
Sometimes a hurt is so deep deep deep
You think that you're gonna drown
Sometimes all I can do is weep weep weep
With all this rain falling down
Strange how hard it rains now
Rows and rows of big dark clouds
When I'm holding on underneath this shroud
Rain
Previously On 'Maybe':
"Hello?"
"Derek"
"Addie, are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine. I just got checked out by Naomi and she said I was in good shape."
"That's great! I was worried."
"I know, so was I...I think I made a mistake...telling you to go and make it work with Meredith. What the hell was I thinking?"
"I don't know, but I understood. Listen Addie, I gave my two weeks notice, I'm moving to Los Angeles to be near you and the twins."
"Really?"
"Yes. I was hoping that I could convince you to say yes."
"Of course! I was actually just headed to the airport to fly out to you and tell you what a mistake it was for you to leave."
"Naomi approved you flying?"
"Yes, she did."
"Do you still want to come and wait out the two weeks with me?"
"I do."
"When do you get in?"
"Around 12:30pm, will you come get me?"
"Nah...you should probably take a cab..."
"Derek!" They both burst out in laughter.
"Of course I'll come get you silly, it would be my pleasure.
"It should be." she said with a smile, "See you soon."
"See you soon...and Addie?"
"Yes"
"I love you."
"I love you too"
'Maybe'-By Agent Addek
Chapter 11: Rain
The drumming of the rain against her roof sounded through her bedroom as she laid still in her bed, counting invisible lines across her ceiling. Last night there had been a thunder storm and she could have sworn that the raging outside her window was somehow taunting and harassing her. The distant pounding on her door interrupted the makeshift percussion concert for one. Meredith knew that she needed to be up and getting ready for the day, but she couldn't bring herself to do so. The rumor mill was on overdrive since word spread about "THE" breakup and she couldn't take the sad stares anymore. Besides, ever since Derek had ended things with her and then smacked her with a "we're definitely over/twins combo", she didn't care about anything...but she also knew that Christina wasn't gonna go away, so she begrudgingly got out of bed and opened the door.
"Well, I've got you out of bed. I say that definitely earns me points." Christina dead-panned.
"Thanks for playing..." Meredith retorted. "...but I'm going back in. so technically, you shouldn't get any points."
"That's because you're assuming that I'm letting you get anywhere near it." Christina quickly rushed in front of Meredith to stop her in her tracks.
"Christina, please move. I'm not in the mood for games."
"Who says I'm playing? Mer, you have to stop this. you're starting to annoy me...and you know I don't like to be annoyed."
"I'm sorry that my broken heart is annoying you, but..." she tried to dodge Christina to hop on the bed, but Christina was too fast. "damn! Please move out of my way! I just want to crawl into bed and go to sleep."
"You know I can't let you do that."
"Why not?"
"Because I'm your person, and my duties as your person is to get you out of this house and back into the hospital where you belong."
"I can't go back there."
"Yes, you can!" Christina insisted as she turned Meredith around and pointed her towards the bathroom. "Now get in there, take a shower, and I'll pull out your clothes." Meredith slightly resisted, but then obliged.
"How could he do this to me again?"
"Because he's an asshole, that's why."
"How could I let him do this to me again?"
Christina softened a bit and replied, "Because you love him...and love makes you do stupid things. Now get undressed and hop in the shower, I swear it will make you feel better."
"Nothing can make me feel better."
"Believe me, having clean hair can do wonders sometimes...and brush your teeth, your breath stinks."
"Thanks."
"Anytime."
XXXXXXXXX
The symphony of droplets against the car windows were the only music playing in the car. She lowered her window briefly to let the water touch her hand. It felt cool and inviting. It's funny how she had always associated the rain with heartbreak, but today it was different. today it felt like it was washing away the past and allowing for a new beginning. She smiled to herself. Derek who was concentrating on the road ahead, felt her smile and reached out to squeeze her hand.
"You okay?"
"I am. I never thought I'd say this, but it's good to be back in Seattle."
"I'm glad you came. I'm sorry that it's raining, I know you hate the rain."
"Actually, it's nice. I like it!" She replied as she put the window up. as much as she was enjoying it, she didn't want to get drenched.
"Really?"
"Yup...You know, I use to think that rain was a bad thing because it was attached to several painful moments, but actually in theology, rain brings blessings and allows for things to flourish. I like that."
"Me too!" He said with a smile. "We're here." Derek informed her as they drove up to the Archfield.
"I thought we were headed to the trailer?" She asked, confused.
"No way I'm letting you stay in a cramped trailer in the middle of nowhere. We'll be more comfortable here."
"Derek, I don't mind. The trailer is...cozy!" Addison offered.
"Thanks babe, but I'm not buying that for one minute." He chuckled.
"You're right, but are you sure you're okay with this? I know how you love your space out there in the woods...and your trailer is like one of your limbs." She half-joked.
"Ha ha very funny!" he said as he stepped out of the car to go around and help her out.
He opened the door and stretched his arm to her. Addison gladly accepted it.
The doorman began to make his way over to them with an umbrella, but Addison politely waved him off. She stepped out of the car, still holding on to Derek and took a deep breath. the rain was still pouring, but she welcomed it. Derek turned briefly to give the bellman their room number, then turned his attention back to Addison.
"Let's get inside before we get soaked." They quickly went inside, then slowed their pace once in the lobby. Derek circled to look at her and was amazed at how beautiful she looked. he stopped for a moment, then noticed the concerned look that she was giving him. "Derek, are you okay?" She asked, genuinely concerned. She was rewarded with a ear to ear smile. "I'm better than okay, babe. You're here, we're here, and I couldn't be happier, and you couldn't be more beautiful." He leaned in to kiss her and Addison gladly accepted and reciprocated. A few moments passed, then they separated, but held their foreheads together. Derek was the first to break the easy silence that had settled between them. "We should probably head up to get you settled. I have to make a quick appearance at the hospital, but after that I'm all yours." He offered with a smile, as he turned to guide her to the elevator. "I'll come with you. I want to say hello to the girls, and to Mark and Richard." she replied. His eyebrow creased a bit. "You're actually volunteering to go into the lion's den?" he joked. She shot him a devilish grin, one that told him that she was the lioness and could easily rule that den. "I'll be fine...besides, this time, I have you by my side, so I like my odds." She slyly winked at him.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"I still can't believe I let you get me out of bed and back into this hospital. Look at them, they're all staring at me." Meredith griped.
"No one is staring at you." Christina offered for the umpteenth time.
"Yes they are! I can hear their whispers. 'She had it coming. If he cheated on his wife to be with her, how could she not think he'd cheat on her to be with his ex-wife?', 'I wonder when She-Shepard will be back?' 'How gorgeous will their babies?', seriously?! Don't they have anything better to do?!"
"Did we have anything better to do when Addison was here?" Izzie blurted, before realizing what she had said.
Meredith and Christina simultaneously glared at her. "Oh come on Yang, like you weren't thinking the same thing?" Alex threw back, defending Izzie to them.
"I'm sorry Mer, I didn't mean...well, you know what I mean? Sorry!" Izzie tried to recover.
"It's fine. And you're right, as much as I don't care for Addison, I'm really getting a dose of what she went through here. People have no lives and are vicious...and then having his nurse give me those bambi-like eyes, like I had anything to do with what that son of..."
"Who are you talking about Grey? You know what, I don't even want to know. I need you all to focus, because I have a board to run and I don't have time to be dealing with any of your personal lives, so get it together. Can you do that for me Grey?" At Meredith's nod, Miranda Bailey proceeded to assign everyone their charts for the day.
"So, who's lucky enough to be on my service today?" Callie cheerfully approached.
"Why are you in such a good mood, Torres?" Bailey asked quizzically.
"What? Can't a girl just wake up in an impressively great mood?" She tossed back with her famous shit-eating grin.
"No. Oh...girl, you nasty. Did you sleep with him again? Don't tell me, I'd rather not know. I can't believe you fell for that again."
"Oh come on Miranda! Just look at the man! Besides, Mark has always been good to me, why not have a little go at it."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Did you tell anyone I was coming?" She asked, as Derek guided her out of the jeep. "I didn't. although, I was thinking of meeting up with Callie and Mark for dinner tonight. Should I have let everyone know?" He asked curiously. "No, it's fine. Besides, Miranda and Callie would be hurt if I didn't tell them myself, since they found out I was pregnant through the grapevine. Which, by the way, thanks for that!" Addison said as she smacked his arm. He half-laughed and then whined "Addie, I'm so sorry! It just sort of came out...and I don't regret it. I'm the happiest I've ever been and I don't care who knows and what they say." He reached over to lace his fingers with hers and then brought her hand up to his lips and softly placed a kiss. "I'm just teasing, I don't care what anyone has to say. Ideally, I would have liked to have waited to be at 12 weeks, but we're at 9 weeks and looking good." She smiled.
The double doors slipped open as Addison and Derek walked hand in hand, they could instantly hear the whispers slowly build like a choir. They breezed through the front lobby like pros, never acknowledging anyone, and made it safely to the elevator. Derek reached to push the button that would take them to the floor where his office and the Chief's office were located. "That wasn't so bad." he offered. Addison couldn't hold back the laugh that was threatening to take over. "If you say so. It's ridiculous how very high school this all is. You'd think that we'd grow out of all of this, but we don't. Makes you think that we enjoy treating each other like this."
"We can leave. I don't want you to be uncomfortable in any way. Just say the word." He offered sincerely. "Derek, I'm fine. I appreciate you being so attentive, but it's fine. It's nothing that I can't handle." She squeezed his hand reassuringly. The ding of the elevator snapped them back to the present. Addison stepped out first, as Derek walked next to her, now guiding her with his hand at the small of her back. As they rounded the corner, Addison quickly caught sight of Callie and Miranda, and just as she was about to call out to them, Callie beat her to it. "Addison?! Oh my god! It's you! When did you get here?" Miranda and Callie quickly made their way over to their friend and embraced her in tight hugs.
"I just got in about 2 hours ago. I would have called, but it was so last minute, so I decided to surprise you. I'm so glad to see such friendly faces. I missed you both dearly."
"We missed you too! But wait...I thought you weren't allowed to fly?" Miranda asked, concerned. "Naomi cleared me. she told me just to be cautious and not let myself get too excited. I have to monitor myself while here, but everything is fine for now." She smiled at both of them warmly. Derek cleared his throat softly. "Derek, I didn't realize you were there." Callie said.
"Sorry to break this reunion up, but we have to get going. I want to have her in and out of this hospital within an hour. Actually, now that I have you both here, I was thinking of having dinner at the Archfield tonight, would you both care to join us? It'll just be Richard, Mark, and both of you." He offered.
"Count me in!" Callie quickly replied. "I'll be there too!" Miranda followed. "We'll let you get back to where you were going. Addison, we have a lot to catching up on, see you tonight." With that, Bailey turned to leave and Callie followed, giving Addison another quick hug before departing.
"Thank you for inviting them both to come out. I'm so happy to see them again."
"I know you are, so that's why I did it. I know how much you miss them. Ready to go find Richard?" She nodded. "I probably should steer clear of Richard, he'll want me in one of his O.R.'s while I'm here." She chuckled lightly. "Not while I'm here. You need to get as much rest as possible, no stress whatsoever. Honestly, I would have preferred that you stayed at the hotel after your flight."
"Derek, I appreciate your..." She stopped mid-sentence. there she was, standing next to Yang and Stevens. the woman that she almost lost Derek to. Addison's gaze was unwavering. the waifey blonde still hadn't noticed her, until she did. Meredith slowly raised her eyes and they were met by Addison's. She blinked and glanced from Addison to Derek, then back. As soon as Derek noticed what had stopped Addison mid-conversation, he instantly reached around Addison's waist and gripped her protectively. At this, Addison stood to her full height, never wavering in her regard towards Meredith.
The rain could still be heard dancing around the hospital, cascading it like a shield. The chanting was building into a symphonic slow crescendo. This tango of three set to begin.
It's hard to know when to give up the fight
Two things you want, will just never be right
It's never rained like it has tonight before
Now I don't wanna beg you baby
For something maybe you could never give
I'm not looking for the rest of your life
I just want another chance to live
Strange how hard it rains now
Rows and rows of big dark clouds
When I'm holding on underneath this shroud
Rain
Strange how hard it rains now
Rows and rows of big dark clouds
When I'm holding on underneath this shroud
Rain
Strange how hard it rains now
Rows and rows of big dark clouds
When I'm still alive underneath this shroud
Rain Rain Rain