AN: Thank you for the reviews! You guys are going to kill me because of what I'm about to do, but I promise, everything will end up just fine! And I keep my promises! Here's chapter 15.

Chapter 15

Charlotte's POV:

6 AM:

I am sleeping soundlessly when the alarm on my iPhone wakes me up.

"Grrrrrrr..." I growl into the pillow and lift up my head slowly. Today was one of those days where I wanted to stay in bed and never leave.

That's when I remember that I'm not even in my own bed...and that I'm actually at Violet's house. I sigh. She may have started acting nicer to me but I doubt she would like it if I said I never wanted to leave.

I push myself up slowly and look at the time. It was 6 o'clock already...and I should've been up an hour ago. "Damn it..." I kick back the sheets and get up from the bed quickly. I was always up super early, because I had two jobs, but I must've slept later than I usually did.

I open up the door and walk down the hall. I end up seeing Violet all dressed up and sitting on the couch with a cup of coffee. I see that her hair was half dry and half wet so I knew she had already showered. She sees me and smiles at me. "Good morning, Charlotte! How are you?"

I give her a soft head nod and smile. "Mornin'...I'm good. I was hopin' that I would get up earlier than this...'cause now I feel off track." I lean against the wall and look at her. "How 'bout you?"

"I'm doing well!" She smiles amiably and points to the kitchen. "There's coffee if you want some...help yourself to whatever you need, Charlotte."

"Thank you, Violet." I reply back to her and shuffle into the kitchen. I grab a coffee cup off the counter and start to fill it with coffee. I put in two scoops of sugar and a little bit of milk before I start mixing it around.

Violet continues to smile at me from her spot on the couch and I return the smile. She and I weren't too friendly with each other over the years, but it meant a lot that we were actually on a talking basis now.

"This is just like old times, huh?" I ask her with a slight grin, bringing up the time where I lived with her for a little while.

Violet nods. "Oh yes...I guess it is, isn't it? Well...it's different...because I actually have Lucas now...and I'm with Pete." I listen to her and nod in agreement.

"Well...you're lucky I was only stayin' last night...'cause I'd probably drive you insane if I stayed any longer than that." I tell her truthfully and smirk.

"Yeah...you're probably right!" She replies back in a certain tone and it makes us both laugh.

"God..." I shake my head with a smug grin and look at her. The therapist really wasn't that bad. I would probably apologize to her a thousand times for being such a...witch...to her over the years, but Violet deserved to be apologized to. She only ever wanted to help me, like many others, and I shoved her away. I could never take any of the words I said to her back, but if I could...I would!

We stand there in silence for a minute or so when I think about Pete. Did he leave already? I think to myself. "Is Pete still here...? I haven't heard him around..."

Violet opens her mouth to answer me when I hear footsteps coming down the hall. Since I don't expect anything out of the ordinary, I calmly sip out of the coffee cup and stare in the direction of the sound.

"Violet, I forgot my clothes on the kitchen chair so I hope you don't mind me walking out-" I hear Pete's voice and soon, I get a pretty...big...surprise. Pete's form comes into the kitchen...his naked form. Instinctively, I look at his body up and down...then, nearly choke on the coffee I was drinking. "Oh shit...Charlotte! I-I forgot you were here! I'm so sorry!" By now, I have my eyes closed and my head turned.

Sure. I wasn't a prude in the very least...and I definitely was familiar with the male anatomy...but one thing I never thought I would see was Pete Wilder naked. I swallow the coffee with a cough and keep my head turned. "Yeah, yeah...whatever...just...go put your clothes on..."

I hear him fumbling to grab the clothes on the chair. "Way to go, Pete." I hear Violet telling him.

"I'm sorry!" Pete keeps apologizing and I hear him running up the steps. I still keep my head turned and try to erase the images of Pete from my mind.

"Is it okay to open my eyes now...?" I question Violet.

"Yes, he's gone!" When I hear that, I turn back around and open my eyes. Violet and I make eye contact from across the room and start to laugh hard. "I'm s-sorry..." Violet tells me through her laughing.

I shake my head and set the cup down on the counter so I don't drop it. "It's fine! I just...I can't!" I laugh just as hard as Violet and press my head down on the kitchen island.

"You can't what, Charlotte?" She asks me and continues to laugh.

"I saw your husband naked...and that's one thing I thought I'd never be able to say!" I lift up my head slowly and wipe away a tear. "But I...I must say...I see why you love him so much..." I snicker evilly as I say this and it makes Violet stop laughing abruptly. "Not as big as Sheldon's...but not too far behind either..."

"Hey! That's not the reason why I love him...but it's one of my favorite things about him..." Violet tells me with a straight face and laughs again. Although, it wasn't as hard and obnoxious as before.

"See! I knew it!" I chuckle softly and sigh. "Damn...I can't remember when I laughed that hard...it's been a long time!"

Violet nods in agreement. "I haven't laughed like that in a long time either..." She leans back on the couch before looking at me again. "You know...one of these days, you and I should go do something...we could go see a movie...or have lunch together...if you wanted to, anyway!" Violet suggests this to me.

If it had been a few years earlier, I would have laughed in her face...but since this was now, I couldn't help but actually think about it. I smile warmly. "Sure...why not?"

Violet smiles happily. "Great! That's good!" She takes a sip of her coffee and continues to look at me.

I look over at the clock and see that it's 6:15 already. I had to get ready soon or I would be very late. "I wanna keep talkin' Violet...but I probably should get ready...I can't go to work like this." I motion to my simple shirt and sweatpants.

"Oh, I know. God forbid if Charlotte King walked into the Practice with sweatpants on...the world might start spinning backwards." Violet says seriously and I narrow my eyes at her. "I'm sorry...that was a joke."

I cough out a laugh. "Well...the world would do the same thing if you decided to wear somethin' colorful..." Violet gives me the exact same look I gave her. I look at her innocently. "What...? I'm just kiddin' too!"

"Sure you are, Charlotte..." She finishes sipping her coffee before setting down the cup. "Well, there's a clean towel in the closet in the bathroom...and everything else you would need is in there as well...so as long as you can handle adjusting the water temperature when you get in, then I think you'll be fine!"

I grin at her. "Yeah, I think I'll be able to manage..." I laugh softly and start heading down the hall...that is, until I think of another problem. I walk back out slowly. "Violet?"

"Yes, Charlotte?" Violet looks at me curiously.

"If it's not too much trouble...could I maybe borrow somethin' of yours to wear? I'm already goin' to get work later than usual and if I have to run back to my house, I'll be even more late..."

"Hmm...I think I'll be able to find something for you..." Violet stands up from the couch and holds out her index finger. "Hold on just a minute!" She tells me before running upstairs.

"Okay..." I reply back before heading into the bathroom. I make sure everything I need is in there before returning back out.

Like she says, Violet returns a minute later with a shirt and a pair of pants in her arms. "Here you go, Charlotte...I didn't give you all black clothing...but I did give you something colorful...I hope you like the color blue." She hands them to me. "That's actually my favorite blue shirt...so please don't ruin it."

As much as I liked the color black, I at least tried to incorporate some kind of color into my wardrobe. I couldn't remember the last time I wore all black so I was glad that Violet didn't give me all black. I shouldn't complain though...because Violet was nice enough to offer some clothes to me, so I should accept them willingly...no matter what color they are or not. I laugh at that though. I take the clothes from her arms and smile gratefully. "Thank you, Violet."

"You're welcome, Charlotte." She replies back happily. "In case Pete and I are gone when you get back, make sure the door's locked behind you...I can't leave anything unlocked anymore."

I nod. "Sure thing!" I give her a smile before turning and heading into the bathroom.

7:30 AM:

It's an hour later and I am finally showered and dressed. I wouldn't have thought it was possible but Violet's clothes fit me...and they actually look good on me too...I never thought they would!

I come out into the living room to slip on my leather jacket. Pete and Violet must have left a little while earlier and they obviously took Lucas to his babysitter so I was all alone in their house.

I look over at their fireplace and see that they have pictures above it. Since I was curious, I end up walking over to it. When I get there, I end up seeing a few pictures of Lucas...some when he was real little baby and some more recent ones. I also see some pictures from Pete and Violet's wedding. I can't help but smile like a fool.

Violet was right with everything she said last night...that even though some relationships may get rough, there's almost always a way to get past it and get better. Lord knows I remember when Violet and Pete wouldn't talk to each other. They would be lucky if they even passed a glance at each other.

I know most of the time I wasn't really a patient person...and I didn't like to wait so long for things to happen but...I would wait forever if it meant that Addison and I would be okay again.

I obviously felt like the fight was mainly my fault but a relationship is a two way street. Some things were my fault...and some were Addison's. I didn't really care who was to blame anymore. I just wanted her back in my arms.

The last picture on the fireplace is a family picture of Pete, Violet and Lucas. I pick it up to investigate it more and my smile widens. They seemed like the perfect little family.

As much as I hoped Cooper and I would get back together before Addison and I got together, I realize now that maybe it was meant to happen. I didn't hate Cooper...a part of me would always love him, but I would never forget him. We can forget about someone who made us happy at one point.

This is when I realize that I need to get back with Addison...because I love her...and we can never let the person we love slip away...for all we know, we can end up regretting it in the end. As I stand looking at the picture, I realize...that I want to spend the rest of my life with Addison...until my dying breath.

Okay...I'm not saying that I'm going to whip out an engagement ring when I meet up with her sometime today...but I really want to spend the rest of my life with her...and maybe someday, we actually could get married...and maybe have kids...even though I was never the motherly type and even though it was probably never Addison's ideal way to have a child either. Although I thought this about my first husband, Billy, and then Cooper...I knew it was certain for Addison...she was the one. The third time's a charm, right?

I set down the picture with a wide smile, grab my purse and head out the door, locking it like Violet mentioned. I would make everything right...even if I had to pour my heart out like those girls in the romantic movies. I would do whatever it would take to get her back...I just hoped that this feeling was mutual.

8:10 AM:

It's ten minutes after eight when I get to St. Ambrose. As I get there, I am feeling unusually hopeful with the Addison situation. I couldn't wait until I would see her. It was the thing I was most looking forward to.

I couldn't be too focused on Addison though, because I had a job to do and a hospital to run. I am heading to my office when I feel an odd sensation...like I'm being watched by someone...and I mean really watched. Maybe Addison is here somewhere? I think to myself and spin around to gaze behind me.

All I see are random staff members; nurses, other surgeons, some family members of patients...but no Addison...or anyone that should get me worried. They will start starin' at me though, if I keep gawkin' at everyone like a paranoid weirdo.

It was probably all in my head anyway. Although I was being surprisingly hopeful, I still couldn't help but feel a bit nervous to talk to Addison. For all I knew, Addison could turn me down completely. I didn't think she would, but I still had to consider the option. I was definitely paranoid in the fact that Addison could randomly approach me when I wasn't ready and then I would mess everything up. Okay...I'm bein' a Negative Nancy again.

With that, I turn back around and head in the direction of my office, ready for what the day was ready to throw at me..well...almost ready.

8:50 AM:

I am knee deep in paperwork when I hear a knock on my door. I look up quickly and swallow nervously. What if it's Addison? What am I goin' to say? My thoughts freak out and I close my eyes. Calm down, Charlotte. I sigh and clear my throat. "Yes! Come on in!"

I expect Addison to be walking into the room but it ends up being my best friend; the one and only Amelia Shepherd.

"Hey girl!" The brunette neurosurgeon greets me as I lean back in my chair with an overly relieved sigh. "What? Were you afraid it was someone else?"

I tilt my head to the side and give her a "really?" kind of look. "What do you think, Amelia?"

She closes the door behind her and looks at me dumbly for a second, then realizes what I meant by that. "Oh! You thought I was Addison?" I nod in agreement. "Well, I'm definitely not Addison." She ends up plopping down on one of the chairs in front of my desk and smiles at me. "Were you okay all by yourself last night? I mean, I really could've stopped by for a while..."

Amelia says this to me and I stare at her for a moment. I never actually told her that I was going to see Violet...I told her that I was staying at my house, because I really thought I was...well, until I changed my mind, that is. "Really...it's okay, Amelia...I was fine...and I wasn't alone at all..."

Amelia raises her eyebrows curiously. "You weren't?" I shake my head. "Who were you with then?"

She would end up thinking I got hit in the head with a sledgehammer when I would say this, but I had to tell her. "...I was with Violet..."

"Oh..." Amelia replies back and then her jaw drops slightly. "Oh! Oh God, Charlotte...Violet, really? Why Violet? I would at least think that if there was another woman you'd do that with, it'd be me and not her...just saying!"

I had no idea Amelia's perverted mind would pervert my non perverted statement...but I shouldn't be surprised...because it's Amelia...and she almost always finds a way to pervert everything. "What? No! Amelia! I didn't have sex with her! Are you nuts?!"

"Is that a trick question?" Amelia asks me in return. "Because we both know that I am...but you're not any better off than me, darling." She winks and leans back in the chair. "Seriously! If you two weren't shacking up with each other, what were you doing?"

I tent my fingers before leaning forward with an angelic look upon my face. "You know, Oatmelia..." I use one of my all time favorite nicknames for Amelia with a straight face. "There's this thing where two people can be in a room together and not want to rip each other's clothes off at just a glance...it's called talkin'...or havin' a conversation...I don't know if you've heard of it before...but not everything is about sex or havin' sex, you know..." I give her a mini lecture, although I was about as sexual as she was and we definitely both knew that for a fact.

"Right...sure it's not, Charburger..." She rolls her eyes somewhat and grins at me. I knew Amelia was going to start yanking my chain any second now just to antagonize me. "Why
wouldn't you want to rip Violet's clothes off? I mean, look at her...she's smoking!" What did I tell you? "I bet you just want to get on top of her and-"

"Amelia! Focus, please! Get outta SexLand and come back to me!" I yell frustratedly. "I didn't do anything with Violet except for talk!"

Amelia snorts. "Well, duh! I know this already." I give her my icy stare of death. "Come on! Learn to take a joke, Charlie! You know I love kidding around with you."

"You take it a bit too far, Amelia...and I know you love it...a lil' too much, actually..." I correct her and sigh. I think of how she said that I would pick her over Violet if it ever came down to it and I look at her suspiciously. "Amelia...do you have somethin' to tell me?" When I don't get a response, I sigh. "Do you have a girl crush on me or somethin'?"

Amelia grins mischievously. "Maaaaaaybe!"

As she says this, my eyes widen. "What?!"

Amelia laughs. "What? You're hot, Charlotte. I'm not saying I'm in love with you or that I'd marry you but if you were ever feeling a little...feisty...I would definitely take you on!" I look up at the ceiling with a "Kill me now!" look and then return my gaze to her. "I already told you that I liked the ladies too."

"I recall..." I tell her softly and shake my head. I don't know if she was saying that to say it or if she meant it, but it really didn't surprise me. "Well, I'd say you're out of luck, Amelia...'cause you're a lil' too late..." I tell her, obviously talking about Addison.

"Oh, I know! I'm just saying though..." Amelia shrugs. "We wouldn't end up working out anyway...I think we're too good of friends to be anything other than that." I nod. It's true. "Although, if you picked Violet over me, I'd kick your ass." I laugh lightly. "I'm serious!"

"I know you are...but really...I'm not pickin' anyone else..." I didn't want to think about being with anyone else other than Addison. She was all that I needed.

"Okay...so, why were you at your worst enemy's house? How drunk were you that you got lost and ended up there?" Amelia inquires with a smug expression.

"Ha-ha-ha...funny!" I answer her and act like that was the funniest thing ever, then, I become serious. "I was there to talk to her...like I said earlier...and I wasn't drunk!"

"But you hate her, don't you?" Amelia asks.

"No, I don't..." I answer her right away.

"Really? Any other day you're all like, "Rawr! Rawr! Violet Turner is so annoyin'! She pisses me off! She should just go fall off a cliff and fall into a burnin' pit of hot lava!" or something like that!"

Amelia mocks me and like anyone who attempts to do this, I give her a death glare. "Okay...I do not sound like that. You're makin' me sound like a hillbilly!" She only grins at me and I cross my arms. "Alright...I'll admit that I've said nasty things 'bout the woman but I don't hate her...not anymore, anyway..." I explain to her and her eyes widen slightly. "We're actually friends now." Now, her eyes look like they'll pop out of their sockets at any moment.

"Alright...I'm going to order a head CT for you because I think you have serious problem up in the ol' noggin of yours." Amelia acts like she's getting up to do just that.

"Hey! Stop it!" I yell at her and she stands in place.

"What? How else do you explain this crazy talk, hmm?" Amelia asks before sitting back down again.

"I'm not crazy..." I reply back softly. "I was never much of a fan of her over the years but she...she really helped me last night." I watch one of my best friend's eyebrows raise in curiosity. "And not in the dirty way either! ...I went to her house to speak to her. I could've gone to see you, but I didn't...one, 'cause I was afraid Addison would find me next door and ask for me, and two, 'cause I wanted to go to somewhere Addison would never expect me to go."

"Ah...I see..." I kind of expected her to be mad that I went to talk to Violet instead of her but I was glad she wasn't. "Addison did come over looking for you though..."

"What? When?" I ask interestedly and lean forward more.

"How about you finish your story about Violet before I start my story about Addie?" Amelia suggests and I smile.

"Fine..." I sigh. "I would've gone to you...but I wanted to talk to someone different...not that talkin' to you wouldn't have helped but...I just...I needed another opinion on this whole thing, you know?" She nods. "Good...well, I told her everything that happened and she gave me some pretty good advice."

"Ooh...like what...?" Amelia leans forward now and grins widely.

"She told me that things get better...that they might not always get better in a day, but they always get better...because I'm just...I'm so afraid that Addison is never goin' to want to speak to me again..." I tell my best friend truthfully. "I obviously want Addison to forgive me right away but Violet told me it'll probably take time...and I guess that's understandable...I probably wouldn't forgive me right away if I was her either..." Amelia continues to sit there and listen to me intently. "And the biggest thing she told me was not to give up on Addison...and that I shouldn't give up on us."

Amelia smiles. "Aww...isn't that sweet?" I narrow my eyes. "What? I'm being serious! Who knew Violet was so encouraging?"

As much as I wanted to tell Amelia about the other funny moments that happened at Violet's, I wanted to hear about Addison. "So...what happened with Addison? What did she say 'bout me?"

"Well, she came over to my house a little while after you texted me...and I thought she lost her mind at first!" Amelia says that and I raise my eyebrows. "She thought I was paying you to sleep with her the whole time...that I wanted to see how long you could act like a lesbian." I look at her so shocked that my face could have stayed like that forever. "I know, right? I thought she really lost it!"

"She really thought that about me...?" I ask her sadly.

"Yeah..." I become sadder. "Hey, she only said it because she was upset...that's what Addison does when she gets like that. She blames people." Amelia sighs. "Does it make it any better that she apologized right after?"

I shrug. "I guess so..." I look into her eyes and bite my lip nervously. "So...what else did she say? And don't leave anything out...if she said she hates me and doesn't want anything to do with me, please say so."

Amelia chuckles. "No wonder you and Addison work out so well...you're both so over dramatic."

With that, I throw my pen at Amelia's chest. "Hey! That's not true!"

"Ow!" Amelia groans and picks up the pen...before getting an evil look on her face. She opens up her shirt and drops the pen inside.

"Hey! Gimme that!" Amelia just smiles. "That's my favorite pen!" She just sits there like nothing is happening. "Amelia!"

"See? Over dramatic!" Amelia grins smugly. "Who throws pens at people anyway?" I let out an exhale and clench my jaw. "Okay, okay...I want to live another day..." She grabs the pen out of her shirt and tosses it back to me.

I set it back in its place before sighing. "Can you please tell me what she said now?"

Amelia smiles proudly. "Yes!" Se folds her hands in her lap before starting to speak. "Addison thought you cheated on her, because you were kissing Cooper..." I look down sadly. "I told her she didn't know the whole story and then she thought you were feeding me things to say and all of that...like I said...over dramatic." It seemed like Addison really hated me at that moment, so I stay quiet. "I told her that she walked in on Cooper kissing you, and not you kissing Cooper...and that you didn't kiss him back. I told her that you would never do that to her and that you were so upset over the entire thing." Amelia takes a breath before continuing. "Addison continued to overreact and thought that you were two timing her with Cooper the entire time..." That statement stabs me in the heart. "I went on to explain that, no offense, that I know you better than she does, that I know when you're lying, angry, sad...even if you try to deny it..." That part was definitely true. "...I told her that your whole relationship had nothing to do with me...that there were no bets and there wasn't any money, and that everything you two have is real." I play with my fingers nervously and keep looking down. "Then...Addison asked me if you love her."

I look up quickly. "What did you say?"

"I told her that in the beginning that you were so nervous about kissing her and what everyone else would think...and I told her that no matter what you did, I'd still love you...and I do, you know..." Amelia smiles softly. "I told her that I knew you guys had sex that one night because I have never seen you that happy...ever. I also told her the fact that although you two were polar opposites, you two looked like you would work out together." I started to look back down again after a while and I hear Amelia sigh. "And by now, Addison is doing the exact same thing you are...looking down and avoiding eye contact with me..." I smile softly. "I told her how much she brightens up your world and how much you smile when we say anything about her. Hell, you even blush when we talk about Addison." My eyes widen. "Oh, don't deny it! I've seen it countless of times, Charlie!" I smile a little wider. "I told her how much she really means to you...and don't get mad at me when I say this...but also that she means way more to you than Cooper ever did."

I don't get mad...because there wasn't a truer statement in existence than that. Addison means more to me than any of my past husbands...or any guy, in fact.

"Here's the main thing..." Amelia says after a few seconds. "I told that, yes, you do love her...because I can see the love in your eyes when you think about her, when you talk to her and even when you're just in the same room as her. I can see it." She smile widely. "She's the love of your life, and that you've never loved anyone as much as her...I promised her that."

I really look at Amelia now. "So...she really doesn't hate me?"

"Of course not!" Amelia shakes her head. "I've seen Addison with a lot of guys too...and she hasn't loved anyone as much she loves you..." This makes me perk up quite a bit. "She's feeling pretty bad about the whole thing though, but I bet she'll come by to see you today...I can call her if you-"

I shake my head. "No...don't do that...as much as I want to see her and talk to her, I want her to come willingly. I don't want her to feel like she's bein' forced or anything."

"I understand..." Amelia replies back and taps the arms of the chair. "Well...I think I should maybe get going, because you seem pretty busy..." She motions to the paperwork on my desk...the paperwork I actually forgot about and I nod. "I just needed to come by and see that you were okay."

Amelia smiles and gets up. "Wait..." I get up along with her and walk over to her. I wasn't the hugging type but this was Amelia and I love her. I wrap my arms around her and hug her. "Thank you, Amelia...thank you so much."

She laughs softly and returns the hug. "You're welcome...you don't even have to thank me."

"I don't know what I'd do without you..." I tell her honestly before pulling back a bit.

"Well, for one, you'd be bored out of your mind...and two, who else would you cause havoc with?" Amelia grins cheekily and I laugh hard. "But when the day comes where you want to throw me off of a cliff 'cause I'm so annoying, you'll wish you never said that." We both laugh a little harder.

"Until then, I won't even worry 'bout it." I wink playfully and pull back from the hug. "Go and save some lives, Shepherd!"

Amelia pulls back and salutes me like I'm a general. "Will do, sir!" I punch her arm as she says that. "Ow!"

I roll my eyes and grin. "I can punch harder, you know..." I make another fist and pull back like I'm going to hit her again.

"Please don't..." She holds out her hands in defense. "I'll see you later, Charlie!" Amelia tells me as she backs up and starts to walk out of my office.

"See ya, Oatmelia!" I give her a wave and watch her depart.

I return back to my paperwork-packed desk and sigh contently. Addison doesn't hate me...she still loves me. I think to myself and smile like a fool. With that tiny yet important bit of information, I'm able to get through the ton of paperwork easily and sufficiently.

10:25 AM:

After doing paperwork for nearly two hours, I finally complete it. I was never one to complain but I needed to get out of the office for a little while.

I assumed Addison was probably busy...or maybe she was even nervous, so that was why she didn't talk to me yet. I hang up my Chief of Staff coat on a hook and leave my office. I let a few people know that if something happened, they would have to page me, because I was leaving the hospital.

I exit the building and get in my car. I start to drive off toward the Practice. I turn up the radio, not really expecting to hear a song I liked...only then, I end up hearing one of my favorite songs come on; Don't Stop Believin' by Journey.

Instinctively, I turn it up and even roll down my window. It was 78 degrees out...which was normal for October, so the breeze felt good on my skin.

I didn't do this too often but as the song starts up, I begin to sing. "Just a small town girl...livin' in a lonely world...she took the midnight train goin' anywhere..."

I let myself get lost in the music and the Fall breeze as I feel a memory rush over me.

It was a hot Summer day as Addison and I were taking a drive to a remote beach that not many people knew about. We were only together for a month and a half at this point but we were still as strong as we were now.

I am sitting in the driver's seat and look over at Addison in the passenger side. She seemed so calm at the time. "You look so...zen..." I tell her truthfully.

Addison turns her head and grins. "Oh, I am...didn't you know that? This whole city caused me to get like this. I've been this way ever since I left Seattle!"

"I love the zen Addison...she's sexy." I give her a big wink.

"Every Addison is sexy!" She adds. "I know which one is your favorite though..." I raise my eyebrows. "The angry one."

I try to hide my amused expression but I fail. "Am I that obvious 'bout it?" Addison nods. "Oh well! Screw it! Let me be obvious then, 'cause it turns me on when you're angry..." Addison growls under her breath and casually sets her hand on my knee. I look down slightly and then back at the road. "Okay...unless you wanna end up in the ocean, you better remove your hand, Red."

Addison cackles. "You never complained before..."

"Well, we're in a movin' vehicle and I kinda don't wanna die today, baby..." I explain to my girlfriend.

"What do you say that when we get to our secret spot on the beach that maybe we can make the car move in our own way...?" Addison asks in a seductive whisper and brushes her thumb across my leg slowly. "If you know what I'm saying..."

The thought of it makes me turned on...very turned on. "I know what you're sayin'..." I wink at her. "But you need to be good 'til that time..." I bob my head down to her hand on my leg.

Addison pouts before she moves her hand back to her own lap. I gaze at her from the side and watch her sitting there all bored, before she leans over and puts on the radio. "No...no...no!" She keeps changing the channel when she doesn't like the song, much like anyone else would. It's when she gets to a song with a popular piano intro when she leaves it on...and I knew the song well! "Oh my God, this song!" It was "Don't Stop Believin' by Journey". "I was only fourteen in 1981 when this came out but I still love it even now!"

I laugh hard. "I would've been two so...I wouldn't remember!"

I watch Addison pretending to play an invisible piano and I snort. "Come on, Charlie...you have to sing with me!"

I shake my head. "I don't sing, Addison!"

"Pleeeeeeeassse?!" Addison looks at me with big puppy dog eyes.

I sigh softly. She would be one of the only people I would ever do this in front of. I clear my throat. "Just a small town girl, livin' in a lonely world...she took the midnight train goin' anywhere..."

Addison smiles illustriously...probably because she actually got me to sing and then, she sings as well. "Just a city boy...born and raised in South Detroit...he took the midnight train goin' anywhere..."
We look at each other with amused looks upon our faces. Who knew the two of us would be having a mini concert in my car? But really though...how could you not sing along like a weirdo to Journey? It would be wrong if you didn't!

"A singer in a smokey room...a smell of wine and cheap perfume..." I sing out melodically.

Then, Addison sings obnoxiously...cutely but still obnoxiously. "For a smile, they can share the night. It goes on and on and on and on!"

Now it was time for the epic chorus singing. "Strangers waiting, up and down the boulevard...their shadows searching in the night. Streetlights, people...livin' just to find emotion, hidin' somewhere in the niiiiiiiiiiiiiiight!"

Addison holds the note longer than me so I laugh at her. She and I were definitely not singers at the least but at that moment, we didn't really care, because we were just two women in love, singing an 80's song like insane people and no one could stop us.

We continue to drive along to our secret destination and let our concert continue. I start once again. "Workin' hard to get my fill...everybody wants a thrill..."

"Payin' anything to roll the dice, just one more time..." Addison rolls invisible dice and let's them out of her hand.

"Some will win, some will lose...some were born to sing the blues..." I wink.

"Oh, the movie never ends, it goes on and on and on and on..." Addison rolls down her window now, causing her red hair to flutter in the breeze.

Just like the previous chorus, we also sing this one together. "Strangers waiting, up and down the boulevard...their shadows searching in the night. Streetlights, people...livin' just to find emotion, hidin', somewhere in the night!"

"Ooh, ooh! Guitar solo!" Addison blurts out excitedly before leaning forward in the seat and begins playing an invisible guitar.

I snort. "You're doin' it all wrong!" I tell her, although I don't know anything about guitars or if she's actually doing it correctly or not. I rhythmically tap on the steering wheel along to the drums in the background.

"Yeah, well, your drumming is off too, Blondie!" Addison shoots back.

"Rude!" I stick out my tongue before she does the same thing back to me.

The instrumental gets down to the end so this is where we start singing crazily...well, more crazy than before, anyway. "Don't stop believin'...hold on to that feelin'...streetlights, people!" Addison leans over and sings closely to me. If I wasn't driving, I would do the same. "Don't stop believin', hold on! Streetlights, people!" We repeat that at least one more time before the song fades out.

"Oh Lord...I haven't sang that loud in such a long time..." I admit to her.

"Me neither!" Addison admits to me as well.

I couldn't say that Cooper and I didn't have these kinds of moments together but I definitely had more fun with Addison. I look into her eyes with pure adoration. "I love you, Addison."

Addison smiles affectionately. "I love you, Charlotte."

I zone out of my reverie when the song ends. I shake my head and sigh. I miss those moments...I miss us. I need Addison back as soon as possible.

10:45 AM:

I only had one patient at the Practice today, so it would be a pretty easy day there. I get out on the fifth floor and head straight to the reception desk to check my messages. When there's nothing there, I start to amble along toward my office. I wasn't in a hurry. I was what Addison would call "zen" at that very moment.

I am about to whistle...something that I don't normally do, when I hear a deeper voice and footsteps behind me. "Charlotte...Charlotte! Hey!" I sigh irritatedly. So much for zen, huh?

I stop and turn slowly. "Yes...?" I question my ex husband through gritted teeth.

"Can we talk for a minute?" Cooper asks me apprehensively.

Remember what happened when he asked you this yesterday... My thoughts warns me. It almost felt like déjà vu, but it wasn't. "Why? Do you want to talk 'bout somethin' work related? If so, we can talk right here! You know, since it's 'bout work and nothin' else."

Cooper frowns. "Charlotte, please, I just want to talk-" I don't know why I do it, but I do. I end up slapping Cooper across the cheek. "OW! What is with you women slapping me today?!"

"Because you're an ass, Coop!" I yell at him madly...then pause. "Women?"

"You and Addison...you're both letting me have it today..." Cooper admits and tries to shake off the slap, because when I hit, I hit hard.

Addison talked to Cooper already? "Well, you deserve it...for what you did..."

He nods. "I know, which is why I wanted to talk to you...but you women never want to listen when I-"

"I'm listenin'..." I reply back with a straight expression. We were in the middle of the hall and not many people were here so anyone could hear us. Whatever Cooper had to say, he could say it in the open.

"I'm so sorry, Charlotte..." Cooper starts with his apology. "I know that any apology probably won't cut it but it's a shot. I'm an ass...and a jerk...but what I did yesterday...I shouldn't have done that. I crossed the line." He sighs. "I'm not going to lie...I thought about you ever since we got the divorce but you moved on...with Addison...and it may not seem like it, but I'm...I'm happy for you, Charlotte...maybe she won't hurt you...like I did..." Cooper looks down.

A frown starts to form on my face. "Coop..."

"No...it's true. I can't take back the words I said or the pain that I put you through during those months, but I want you to know how sorry I am." He looks up slowly and his gaze meets mine. "What we had...I don't regret it. I don't regret our relationship or our marriage...but I know when something's over..." I feel my heart breaking a little bit more now. "We're over...and it may have taken me until now to realize it...but...we're really over..."

I nod sadly. "I know...we are over..."

I swear I could see tears forming in his eyes when he looks away. I hear him sniffle and he looks back at me. "Don't worry about me though, Char...I'll be fine...and you'll be okay too, because you have Addison and the way she looks at you is the way I always looked at you...it's love..."

As much as it kills me to know that Cooper loved me the entire time, I can't help but think that it happened for a reason...like most things do. It brought Addison to me. I feel tears build up in my eyes. I hold out my arms to him and he comes into them immediately. "Coop...you're gonna find someone, okay? And you're gonna make her happy just like how you made me happy...okay?" I tell him as I feel tears roll down my cheeks. "You're gonna love someone even more than you loved me...and I know it...'cause you're a good guy, Coop..."

"I sure hope so..." Cooper pulls back and we both look at each other with tears in our eyes. "I guess it's time for Internet dating again, huh?"

I cough out a laugh and smile. "Maybe!" It was the the first time I really smiled at him in months. "It worked for you before, didn't it?"

"Yeah...it did!" He answers me and smiles back. "Well...as long as you don't hate my guts now, maybe I can rest easy at night..."

"I don't hate you, Coop...I could never..." I admit to him honestly. "Maybe we could...you know...be friends?" I wasn't one to offer being friendly with one of my exes willy-nilly...I never have actually...but this was Cooper.

"Good..." Cooper smiles widely and nods. "And yeah...I would like that!"

"Alrighty then!" I reply back to him happily.

"Well, I would stay and talk but..." He points backwards. "I have a patient in a few minutes..."

I nod. "Me too!"

"So I guess I'll see you later...?" Cooper asks as he begins to back up.

I nod. "Of course..." We both exchange a smile before heading off in different directions.

Maybe it was weird to think so, but I thought everything was great at that moment...if only I could run into Addison and talk to her next...then, everything would be perfect.

1 PM:

After having my one patient at the Practice, I end up going back to the hospital and have been there ever since around noon.

It has been almost a day since I have talked to Addison last and that bugged me. Maybe she doesn't want to talk to me after all...maybe Violet and Amelia were tryin' to make me feel better and shield me from the truth... I think to myself and sigh.

I head out over to the nurses station and lean against it. I wait for a younger nurse to look at me before speaking. I must've yelled at her before because she looks at me like I'm some kind of monster. Come to think of it...I probably yelled at everyone in this hospital, so never mind! "Hey...you haven't seen Dr. Montgomery around, have you?" I ask her curiously.

"Y-yeah...she left about a half hour ago...I think she might have went home..." The nurse tells me nervously.

"Oh really?" It would explain how I wasn't really seeing her all day. Maybe Addison is even avoidin' me. "Thank you!" She nods and I head back to my office.

It didn't seem like the hospital was going to crash down to the ground anytime soon so I thought I could get away with leaving the hospital early. Besides, I couldn't remember the last time I ever left early. It seemed like the only way I would end up being able to talk to Addison was if I would go over to her house, so I would have to do just that!

I exit the hospital and head to my car once again...before I get the feeling that someone is watching me...again.

"Dr. King...?" I hear a voice call out behind me so I turn around.

Little did I know that this conversation with this innocent looking woman would end up changing my life forever.

AN: Okay! This was a pretty long chapter, but I hope you all didn't mind! Next chapter is going to be Charlotte's POV, because something is going to happen in chapter 16 and it needs to be seen from Charlotte's POV...so keep that in mind! Please give me a review and let me know what you thought! Thank you all for sticking with me and this story! : ) I am also trying to write the chapters ahead of time so that I'll be able to update quicker but I haven't gotten around to write chapter 16 yet...so just be patient with me, you guys! : )