A/N: I am sorry for taking soooo long to upload this chapter, the draft had been saved on my personal laptop for a while, but I guess one of the things of getting older is that you stop using your own device and only use the work one where you don't write fanfiction. I really hope you're still reading this story. This chapter is heavily on Addison and Derek's relationship and picks after the next one.

Thank you to all of you who are still reading this story despite of me being a mess updating it, and many, many thanks for your reviews.

This chapter is named after a line from "the 1" by Taylor Swift.

If my wishes came true, it would've been you

A date with Derek Shepherd. Even the simple idea of having that thought around her mind didn't feel real. They spend many years together, of course they were past that stage, that part of their relationship has died many years ago, even before their respective affairs. Probably the last time they had an actual date, which they actually enjoyed was on their tenth anniversary; the celebration of their first decade together was something that they were eager to celebrate.

That time, Derek planned a special dinner just for the two of them on a cruise that would go from the Hudson and East Rivers, and Addison had made the reservations in the hotel where they spent the night, it was a magical evening for both of them. Sadly, the sparks that flew between them during that occasion, disappeared not long after, and it wasn't until one year and few months later, when their marriage went completely downhill.

During their time as a couple in Seattle, they never had anything similar, Addison tried to recover the wounds of their marriage, at the beginning she would make plans for her and Derek, tried to take him to different places that the two of them could enjoy, but at that point, he simply didn't care, and to her demise, he never showed up to her plans, not even once.

The closest they had to a date night were those noghts when they would go to Joe's bar after a long day at the hospital, which wasn't exactly ideal for a couple who is trying to make their marriage work. Then the prom night happened, even the reminder of that night, to this date, brought Addison shivers down her spine. That night she had many hopes, in her dreams, Derek would take her out of that party, and they would spend the night somewhere special, but of course, every minimal hope she kept about the possibility of recovering the man she loved, was completely crushed after the events of that dreadful evening.

"Good morning, Addison. You're looking great today." A male's voice seemed to bring Addison back to reality, far away from all the thoughts she's been having since the night before, when Derek offered her to go on that date.

"Is everything okay?" Dr. Sheldon Wallace insisted, as the elevator doors closed in front of the two of them.

Addison finally looked at him, acknowledging his presence, but still looking very much into her own thoughts. She was wearing a tight black dress, with her red hair falling over her shoulders and her high heels that would make her look taller. She nodded at Sheldon's question, keeping her confused glance and trying to keep herself in her own thoughts about her failed relationship with Derek, and how, despite of their failed history together, she was still hoping things would get better.

Being a therapist for so long, and being used to be locked against his will on that same elevator to discuss his colleagues' problems had taught Sheldon when was the correct time to step in, which is why, this time, he was the one pressing the stop bottom and turned back to Addison.

"Ten minutes. Not that I don't want to hear what you have to say, but that's actually when my next patient arrives." Sheldon clarified, knowing how the dynamic for these therapies worked by now.

Hearing Sheldon say those words, made Addison feel some kind of relief, as even though she wasn't exactly looking to have a shrink having an opinion on her personal life, she knew he was probably the only neutral opinion she could find.

"We're going out on a date tonight. It was all his idea. We have been together for weeks now, he's staying at my place, he's been sleeping on my bed, we talk about our days and whenever I'm not around him, he's all I can think about… If our last years of marriage wouldn't have been so terrible, I would say that it feels like being married all over again… But that's not what I was saying… I was…" Addison was rambling; it was what she did whenever she was nervous.

"You're going out on a date with your ex-husband." Sheldon recapped Addison's speech.

"You would say that having dinner on a restaurant would be nothing at this point but… " Addison added.

"It's a date, the whole concept of the situation makes you wonder if there's more to look into. Spending time with him doesn't guarantee that everything that took you to a breaking point years ago is now fixed. But of course, having that moment, even if it's just a couple of hours in the evening makes you wonder that…"

"…That maybe everyone was right and this is just another big mistake of my life. What kind of person does all of that with her ex-husband anyway? We're supposed to be ancient history." Addison wondered.

"The way I see it, perhaps this is exactly what you need. Whether it ends good or not, it will give you closure on a chapter of your life that hasn't been rediscovered in many years; maybe and just maybe, having this kind of gesture from your ex-husband, will make you realize exactly what you need and if even though you may call it ancient history, sometimes, history does repeat itself."

Addison frowned after Sheldon's last comment.

"Remind me why I keep talking to you? Seriously? History repeats itself? You know that I could have found that on a fortune cookie, right?"

"And yet, we keep having these conversations."

Addison rolled her eyes.

"So… Practically, what you're saying is that I need to face the music, and rip the Band-Aid off?"

"That's your interpretation of my words, Addison."

"He's going back to Seattle… He only came temporarily, now that Amelia is back at work, and his patient has been responding well, he doesn't have anything else to do here."

"Do you want him to leave? Or have you even mentioned how would you feel after his departure? Talking about a situation comes with the realization, it's okay to allow yourself to feel more. After all, your ex-husband has played a great part in your life."

"I'm not going to stop him, I fought for us before and things didn't end up well. Besides, we're different people now, we've done too damage to each other. I am not ready to deal with that, not again."

"Then, why did you accept going out with him?"

"A dinner seems to be a proper goodbye. I'm ready to move on with my life, without Derek or Sam."

"And yet, we're here talking about the consequences of what this night might imply for your relationship moving forward."

Addison sighed, realizing the meaning behind Sheldon's words. If she was being completely honest, she would agree with him. She would've wanted Derek to stay, to give them one real try this time, but the last time took all on her, she was afraid to have to go through that hell one more time. Which is why she preferred this idealized version of Derek, the one who would share a glass of wine with her after a long day at work, the one who kept her closer to him in the nights and whose smile she would see first thing in the morning. Bringing their past, talking about their present and discuss an impossible future would only add more damage to their baggage. Right?

Besides, Addison has made her decision. She had started to look into fertility doctors' profiles, she was ready to go through a fertility treatment by herself, determined to have a baby. Why would she drag someone else into what it seemed like a perfect plan?

"You're not as good as you think you are." Addison mouthed and without saying any other word, she pressed back the stop bottom, so the elevator could keep its course, and having her therapy session concluded.

XX

Later that day, Addison was on her office, while looking at some names of the best fertility specialists around the area, it was when she was checking Dr. Jake Reilly's profile and checking his success rate, when Derek's voice quickly interrupted her, and as a reaction, she closed her laptop.

"Are you ready, Addie? I'm done here."

Saying that Derek looked better than he did earlier that morning, would be an understatement. His hair was perfectly fixed, he was wearing a light blue shirt with a grey jacket, his smile was brighter than usual and his eyes had that special glance that she recognized from years ago. "You look stunning." He added.

Did he ever give me a single compliment back in Seattle? Addison asked herself, but that night there wasn't room for her insecurities.

He took her by the hand, a gesture that Addison replied with a soft "Thank you" followed by a smile.

They held conversations around their days and their patients on their way to the restaurant.

Addison and Derek were greeted by a charming facade adorned with twinkling fairy lights and fragrant flowers. The air was filled with the tantalizing aroma of gourmet cuisine, tempting them further inside.

Stepping through the doorway, they were enveloped in an atmosphere of elegance and intimacy. The soft candlelight danced across the walls, casting a warm glow over the cozy tables set for two. The gentle hum of conversation and soft music added to the enchanting ambiance, creating a sense of tranquility and romance.

As they entered, Derek confidently announced, "Hi, I'm Derek Shepherd. I have a reservation for two."

The young woman at the entrance smiled warmly and nodded. "Yes, of course. There you are. Please follow me to your table, Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd."

The unexpected assumption caught them by surprise, as it had been years since they had been addressed that way. Yet, they shared a glance and a knowing smile, deciding not to correct her.

It felt oddly comforting to be mistaken for a couple, even if it was just for the evening. With a sense of newfound warmth between them, they followed the hostess to their table, eager to enjoy the romantic ambiance and each other's company.

"You did that on purpose." Addison accused him with a glowing smile across her face.

"I swear I didn't, that was all on that girl. I mean, she wasn't that wrong. That was what we used to be."

"Many years ago." Addison added with a sense of melancholic on her voice.

"So, one of the reasons why I wanted to bring you here, besides the obvious one…" They both smiled briefly, but he knew that wasn't going to last for much longer. "The other one is because Richard called me... He- uh… He needs me back to the hospital tomorrow."

As Derek broke the news to Addison that he was leaving back to Seattle, her initial shock was quickly followed by a wave of mixed emotions. Sitting across from him, she couldn't help but feel a sense of resignation settle over her, mingled with a sense of sadness that threatened to overwhelmed her entirely. On the other hand, he didn't want to bring up to the table Charlotte's job proposal, not if Addison didn't want him there.

"Wow, you're still good at keeping things, aren't you?" Addison's words came out in a whisper, her voice tinged with a hint of bitterness that she couldn't quite suppress. "I mean, of course I knew you were leaving eventually but..."

Derek's expression softened at her words, his gaze flickering with a silent apology. "No, no, I just... I don't have more excuses to delay my return," he explained, his voice filled with regret. "I have patients there, my work is there... I've been asked to be Chief again. I'll take it until they find someone else to step in. Things didn't end up well the last time I had that position."

Addison's heart ached at the mention of Derek's troubled past in Seattle, of course she was aware of how things ended for Derek the last time he stepped in as Chief in the Seattle Grace Mercy West. "I'm sorry about that... I didn't mean to..." she trailed off, her words faltering as she struggled to find the right thing to say.

Derek reached across the table, gently taking Addison's hand in his own, his touch felt warm and comforting. "No, it's okay. Honestly, it's just... I wanted our last night together here to be special," he admitted, his voice was filled with regret. "It wasn't that I wanted to keep things from you."

Addison's eyes welled with tears at his words, the weight of their impending separation bearing down on her like a crushing weight. Despite her best efforts to remain composed, she felt herself beginning to crumble, the walls she had built around her heart threatening to come crashing down.

"I know," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "I just... I wish things were different."

Derek closed his eyes, a silent tear slipping down his cheek as he struggled to find the right words to say. "I do too, Addie," he whispered.

For a moment, they simply sat there, their hearts heavy with the weight of their upcoming goodbye. And as the silence stretched between them, they both knew that this was the end of the road for them, the final chapter in a love story that had once burned bright but had since faded into memory, only starting to rise from the ashes weeks ago.

Not long after that, they were served with wine, and asked for their respective food. There were few seconds of silence after that, there wasn't any need to mention what they were both thinking. But it was Derek the one who decided to break it.

"Addie… I was actually looking forward to this, I know we've been spending a lot of time together and despite everything that has been happening lately…"

Addison felt her heart tighten at Derek's words, they were filled with the weight of impending farewell heavy in the air. Despite the bittersweetness of the moment, she couldn't help but appreciate his honesty, his willingness to confront the difficult truths they had long avoided.

"There's no need to do that, can we just enjoy tonight? The way I see it, it's the perfect closure for whatever we had over these past few weeks, don't you think?" She said after taking another sip of her glass of wine.

"Please, I'll just say this once and I promise we can go back to pretending we don't want to talk about it."

Addison sighed and nodded in approval, his bright-blue eyes were on her.

"Thank you," Derek said before continuing with the conversation he had been avoiding from many years ago. "I know that when we brought up our past, things didn't end up very well, but that's something I want you to know… I don't think I ever apologized for the way I treated you back in Seattle... I was still so angry at you, that I didn't allow myself to actually see that you were also going through a lot, and that you probably needed me the most at that time… And that, Addison, is something that I've never admitted, but these days, these weeks with you, it made me realize many things, the biggest one being that you deserved much better and the way I behaved around you, isn't something that you should have to deal with, not from me, not from anyone, not ever."

As Derek spoke, Addison felt a wave of emotions crash over her, her mind started to rerun all those memories and past regrets. His words, even after all the years since their separation, were a remedy to the wounds she had long since learned to ignore, especially now when he was showing a depth of remorse and sincerity on his intentions.

Tears welled in her eyes as she listened, her heart aching with a mixture of sadness and gratitude. For years, she had carried the weight of their shared history alone, the burden of unspoken truths and unresolved emotions weighing heavily on her. Now, in the warm ambiance of the restaurant, she found comfort in Derek's words, a glimmer of hope amidst the wreckage of their past.

"I – I also made my fair share of mistakes, besides… I believe, at that point, our marriage was beyond repair… I guess I should have done things differently; I should've walked away from the moment I…"

"You're a fighter, you never give up so easily. That's one of the things I always admired about you. It wouldn't have been you if you wouldn't have tried."

Addison's heart swelled with a bittersweet mixture of pain and longing as Derek's words echoed in her mind.

"We never really tried to work on our marriage, Derek. That's the awful truth of it and what still haunts me to this date. Not in Seattle, not in New York."

"You're right, but… All I'm saying is that we should have done things differently, not just you… We should have done things like this; the fact that I never took you out on a proper date, or told you how beautiful you are, or the fact that you kept using our wedding rings even when I didn't even bother to use mine; or stayed later at the hospital only to watch my surgeries, as if you didn't have your own patients to worry about, you know? Those small details that once made us a great couple…"

"So… You did notice those things," Addison said sadly.

"Of course I did, and I hate the fact that it took me years to finally realize it."

The weight of Derek's confession hung heavy in the air, a silent acknowledgment of the wounds they had inflicted upon each other. Despite the pain of their past, there was a sense of catharsis in their shared vulnerability, a release from the burdens that had long weighed heavily on their hearts.

"I… I don't know what you want me to say, Derek," Addison fought with the urge of crying.

"Nothing, I just couldn't leave without letting you know that there aren't enough years in my life to apologize for everything I did to you, for stop telling you how much I love you every day and for not having these conversations when we were still together."

After those words, the tears began to stream down her face. "Damn it, Derek. I was ready to let you go, you know that? Because, yes, it's been years, we've moved on… But there's always that little voice inside of my head who keeps telling me 'He's not Derek' whenever I meet someone… I guess it made more sense whenever I thought that everything that happened was actually my fault but… I wanted you to be happy, you know? After I left Seattle, despite of my own thoughts about your new relationship, I kept thinking, at least he's happy now… Because isn't that what you're supposed to want for the people you love?" There it was that word again, not in past tense, it was still present. More present than ever.

Derek held Addison's hand tightly, his gaze unwavering as he looked into her eyes, feeling the weight of their shared history bearing down on them like a heavy cloak.

"And that's exactly why you will always be the bigger person between you and I. Because in the moment I found out about you and Sam, I knew I wanted to kill him for even laying his eyes on you. And the fact that he was after you since Med School? I swear that I would punch him in the face one more time only because of that."

Addison felt the urge to burst a small laughter after hearing Derek's confession about her relationship with Sam.

"…Besides, he has to be crazy for not waiting to have children with you."

Addison's surprise was evident in the widening of her eyes, a faint blush coloring her cheeks at Derek's unexpected comment.

"How do you even know about that?" She asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Addison, something I noticed during my weeks at your practice is that those people can't keep their mouths shut. I even began to wonder if they really like the coffee in the kitchen, or if that's just an excuse to meet every morning and catch up on the lives of the rest of them."

Addison felt a pang of embarrassment wash over her, feeling her cheeks burning.

"I'm sorry about that… I shouldn't have brought it up," Derek added, his tone tinged with regret for letting out those words.

"It's okay, at least now I know that my personal life is once again being a main discussion at the coffee table in my workplace."

"Being fair, they probably forgot about it since that woman showed up with Cooper's kid, that's all they talk about lately, especially Violet. She has a lot to say about Charlotte's reaction on having a kid in her life."

"You sound like one of them now, do you realize that?" Addison admitted with a soft laugh, the tension of the moment easing with the warmth of their shared laughter.

"Derek… Do you remember that time, after we got engaged when… When we thought we were…"

She didn't have to say more, of course he remembered.

FLASHBACK – MARCH 1994

"Are you completely sure?" Derek's voice trembled with excitement, his eyes bright with anticipation.

"Of course I'm not! I just said that I think I might be pregnant… Oh God, Bizzy is going to kill us if we have a baby out of wedlock… Or worst, if we have to move the wedding for an early date because of it… This is a complete disaster, Derek…" Despite her reaction, Derek was simply smiling. "Stop that!" Addison exclaimed, with her anxiety filling the room.

"What?" Derek's smile softened as he moved closer to her.

"Stop being happy about it, this wasn't supposed to happen now," Addison pleaded, her fear rising at the unexpected possibility of a pregnancy.

"Well… I'm just saying that it wouldn't be the end of the world, you know? Besides, we do want to have children eventually."

"Of course we do, only not while we're both residents. There's just…"

"Addison, it will be okay… Of course, it's not what we planned, but isn't that how life works? What's that thing Bizzy always says? People plan and…"

"Derek, if you finish that sentence, I swear to God I will start throwing things at you."

He smiled and approached his fiancée, wrapping her in his arms, offering comfort. Addison sighed and buried her face in Derek's shoulder, tears of anxiety streaming down her cheeks.

"Things will be okay, if you're actually pregnant I swear to you that I'll be the happiest man on earth. Besides, we always talked about it, right? Three kids, two planned and one by accident, if you see it that way, it's not really different from what we said… Besides, you're the best of our class, pregnant or not, you'll still shine brighter than everyone in that hospital, and you'll become the best doctor out of all of us. There's no doubt of that, and the fact that we have a baby or not, it's not going to change that." He kissed the top of her head while keeping her wrapped in his arms.

"I mean, it doesn't sound that bad if you put it that way."

"Of course it's not, Addie. Sure, it would be nice to wait a few more years, but I'm honestly very happy with this."

Addison looked up to meet his eyes. "I love you so much, Derek."

He smiled. "I love you too, Addie." He sealed those words with a warm kiss on her lips. "I'll go to the pharmacy to get a pregnancy test, and whatever the result is, we'll be going through it together."

As Derek returned with the pregnancy test, Addison retreated to the bathroom to take it, leaving him standing outside the door. Inside, Addison's thoughts churned with a whirlwind of emotions, and her heart racing with the uncertainly of the result.

"You know, the more I think about it, the more I like the idea of having a baby. Sure, probably Bizzy will ask us to move the wedding to an earlier date before you start to show, but I honestly just want to be married to you, I don't care if we elope, though probably she'd kill us for that…" Derek's voice drifted through the door, his words were all the comfort she needed in that moment.

"I don't think I ever told you this, but I have always dreamed of becoming a father…" His words trailed off, but Addison could sense the love and hope in his voice, warming her heart. "…I didn't have the chance to grow up with mine, so the idea of always being there for the big and small moments of my own children's life will be fulfilling, it's what my dad would have done for all of us… And you? God, Addie, you're going to be a wonderful mom, I can already picture that kid in your arms and…"

But before Derek could say more, Addison emerged from the bathroom, the test in her hands, with a huge disappointment look marked on her face. "I'm so sorry, honey," she murmured softly, her voice laden with regret.

When Derek saw the test, he sighed, pulling her into a comforting embrace. "It's okay, I mean… It's for the best, right? Besides, we'll have more time to practice until we actually try to have a baby."

"I really like the sound of that plan," Addison whispered, her heart heavy with the weight of dashed hopes and dreams.

END OF THE FLASHBACK

"I can't believe that was about fifteen years ago." Derek said sadly on the memory they had just recalled.

If you had been pregnant, that kid would be a full teenager now.

"Waiting seemed to be the right choice at the time, it was the clever thing to do. Getting married, finishing our residency, then our fellowship… But I don't know, lately I've been thinking "What if"…" Addison sighed realizing that conversation wouldn't lead anywhere. "I'm sorry, I – You probably don't even want to hear about things that happened so long ago, but... You're probably the only person who can actually get that."

"I do… And if it works, I also think about it from time to time… And I know, probably I didn't end up being the most communicating husband but if there's something I can take from these few weeks is that we'll always have those great moments we shared together, and I hope that despite of everything, I can still be someone you can trust, because, Addison, if there's something I've learn is that, for me, that never changed."

I don't want to force you on anything, but if you say that I shouldn't go, this is where I'll stay, I'll accept Charlotte's offer, I'll join the practice and we can build a life together, this time for real – He wanted to say, it's what his eyes were showing, that desire mixed with those old memories and the final letting go of their past mistakes. Or maybe she was right and we're still were beyond repair, besides she wouldn't want me to stay, right?

Addison was actually surprised how their conversation had turned out, would things have been better if we had these conversations before? Would he still be leaving? I can't ask him to stay, not now.

But after that heartfelt conversation, Addison and Derek found themselves enveloped in a cloud of unspoken words, lingering in the air between them.

As they leaned in closer, the weight of those unspoken words added an undercurrent of tension to the tender moment. With a hesitant yet determined touch, Derek's hand found its way to Addison's cheek, his fingers trembling slightly with emotion. Their lips met in a tender kiss, a silent exchange of all the words they couldn't bring themselves to say aloud. In that fleeting moment, the weight of what they were still keeping to themselves melted away, leaving only the warmth of their embrace.

"…So, Chief of Surgery?" She said changing the subject drastically as soon as they broke their kiss.

"Richard is finally retiring and… Well, I guess I'm the only one he actually trusts to do that job…"

Unless I stay here with you

"Addison?" Derek pledged, perhaps keeping those thoughts to himself was what started to ruin things between them.

Tell me you want me to stay.

I don't want to ever leave you again.

I love you.

"Yes?" She asked, she could feel her heartbeat running fast, it hasn't calmed since that kiss.

Don't go.

What do you have in Seattle anyway?

Stay with me.

"I… I don't think I ever thanked you for everything that happened these past few weeks, being here with you was… It was all I needed. And not only for what's been happening between us, but the fact that you were there even for my sister whe she wasn't…"

"She's my family. That never changed." Her eyes remained on each other, she didn't want to say more. "Let's get out of here." She suggested before Derek could say something else, she preferred to stop him before he could go deeper on what they've been actively ignoring, forcing a smile on her face, if this was their farewell, then why not make the best out it.

Derek nodded and asked for the check. Realizing the fact that probably she planned only to keep these days as a good memory and as a closure to their once damaged relationship. "A proper goodbye it is." He whispered to himself.

They walked together, holding hands outside the restaurant. But it wasn't until they were on their way to Addison's place, when her phone started ringing.

Fuck.

"It's from the hospital." Addison sighed, being the worst possible timing to be called in to work. "It's Nora, she's in labor."

Fuck.

"Isn't anyone else on-call tonight?" Derek pledged, knowing the answer that would come after this.

"I'm her doctor – We are her doctors… I don't think she'd want anyone else delivering that baby. Will I see you tomorrow?"

"My flight is leaving at 6 AM – But I can stay with you for a while, the baby will need a neuro consult anyway and…" Derek trailed off, his words showing a mix of hope and reluctance.

Addison shook her head. "It's okay, you handed the case to the doctor replacing Amelia, remember? You don't need to stay, she'll be in labor for God knows how long and… And you should get some rest before your flight."

"So this is it?" Derek asked, the finality of the moment sinking in.

"This is it," Addison confirmed, her voice steady despite the turmoil within.

"Addison?"

"Yes?" she replied, her heart pounding in her chest.

"I'm done keeping things to myself. You were right. That's something I keep doing, because I tend to avoid many things but…"

"Derek, please don't say it," Addison pleaded softly, her emotions threatening to spill over.

"I want to stay right here, where I belong, with you. I don't want to be Chief of Surgery, I don't wanna go back to Seattle, I know it's a long shot, but I want another chance with you… These past few weeks are the happiest I've been and…"

"Derek, please stop," Addison interrupted, her voice catching with emotion. "Believe me, I'll always be grateful for having this closure, it was the one we deserved after everything… Let's just not make things more complicated and let's end things as they are."

But screw all of that, I want you here, I want you to stay with me. You're the love of my life, and that never changed.

"Is that really what you want?" Derek asked one more time, his eyes searching hers for any sign of doubt.

Of course not. But it's how things should be.

"I really have to go inside the hospital, Derek. My patient is waiting for me." She finally said, her voice heavy with the weight of their goodbye, she couldn't deny the fact that she wanted exactly that. But the alternative was the only realistic option, right?

He nodded in agreement. "I will miss you, Addie," he replied softly, his heart heavy with the knowledge that their time together was coming to an end. "And please, don't ever forget everything that we talked about today."

After that, a heavy silence hung between them, suffused with the weight of unspoken words and unresolved emotions. Addison sat beside him, her gaze fixed on the dashboard as if unable to meet his eyes.

Their conversation had been difficult, fraught with the painful truths they had both been avoiding for far too long. Now, as Addison prepared to leave, the tension in the car was palpable, a silent testament to the depth of their shared history and the uncertainty of their future.

With a sigh, Derek reached out to gently take Addison's hand in his own, his touch tentative yet filled with a longing that mirrored her own. For a moment, they simply sat there, neither of them daring to break the fragile silence that enveloped them.

But then, as if drawn together by an invisible force, their eyes met, and in that moment, all of the unspoken words and unfulfilled promises hung heavy in the air between them. Without a word, Derek leaned in closer, his lips finding hers in a tender, achingly familiar kiss.

In that same moment, it was as if time stood still, the world outside fading away as they lost themselves in each other once more. The warmth of Derek's lips against hers sent a shiver down Addison's spine, stirring a wellspring of emotions she had long since buried beneath the surface.

But even as their kiss deepened, a sense of finality hung over them like a dark cloud, a silent reminder that this was their goodbye. As Derek finally pulled away, his eyes brimming with unshed tears, Addison knew that they had reached the end of their days together.

"Keep me posted on how the surgery goes." Derek added once their lips found their way apart from each other, to which Addison simply nodded.

"Goodbye Derek." Those were her last words to him and how she decided to put closure to their rediscovered love. In the quiet moment that followed, Derek's heart ached with the weight of her departure. He watched as Addison, stepped out of the car, each step a painful reminder of the growing distance between them.

As she walked away, Derek felt the bittersweet sting of their parting, knowing that their love alone could not bridge the gap that had formed. With a heavy heart, he whispered into the empty space, "I love you, Addie," That silent confession tinged with regret and longing, knowing that he could only watch as she faded from his sight.

A/N: I loved writing everything about this chapter, the fact that both Addison and Derek finally admitted their own fair of mistakes in their marriage after all those years without ending screaming to one another is a huge step for them... There's of course still love for each other, but they're both too proud to admit it first. Not directly at least. Despite of them being honest, there are still so many things left unsaid.

While the chapter was mainly Derek and Addison talking about their relationship, I loved to bring up Addison's elevator therapies with Sheldon, those were some of my favorite scenes in Private Practice. I wish we could have seen more of it.

So, Derek is leaving and they said their goodbyes already. There's just one more chapter left to this story... Let's see how it ends for them.