Okay peeps. This is the last chapter. Seriously. I like this chapter though, and I hope you will too. And as always, I am starting a new story. Big surprise.

Enjoy

XXXXXXXXXX

April 2006

Derek collapsed on a bed in the on-call room.

"What was that?" Addison demanded bursting into the room, Derek could see numerous staff members looking at them curiously. Addison was not talking quietly, "Who are you to yell at me for leaving?"

"It's different situation entirely."

"No, your right," Addison nodded bitterly, "When I left, I came back."

"You call that coming back?"

Addison glared at him and threw open the door, "At least I made an effort," she spat as she slammed the door behind her.

XXXX

June 1990

Derek sat at his kitchen table, his head in his hands. He was taking the day off from life. In front of him sat a cup of coffee he had yet to touch and a picture of him Addison and Cecelia.

"You shouldn't leave your door unlocked. Anyone could walk in."

Derek looked up as Addison sat down across from him, "I was only expecting you."

Addison didn't question how he knew she was coming, she just folded her hands in her lap, "How are you Derek?"

Derek allowed his arms to fall against the table, "Miserable."

"Derek..." Addison reached across the table and rested her hand on his arm. He quickly covered her hand with his, trying to keep her close.

"I miss you."

Addison smiled and pulled her hand gently away, "I missed you too."

"Your wearing..." Derek nodded at her hand.

Addison looked briefly at Derek's ring on her thumb, "You asked me to wear it. Who knows, maybe I'll start a trend."

They sat silently for awhile, just glad to be together after being apart for almost a year.

"Janice and Robert sent these," Addison pulled a packet of letters from her purse, "I haven't read them."

Derek flipped over a stack of letters Addison assumed to be junk-mail, "Me neither."

3 hours later, Derek and Addison had moved to the living. They sat at either end of Derek's couch, their feet sharing the middle cushion. Derek watched her intently as she read the last paragraph of the last letter.

She lay the letter on the ground next to the couch with the others and gave Derek a small smile.

"Are you okay?" He asked leaning towards her.

"Yeah, I'm fine," she lied, sitting up a bit, moving her legs so she was sitting cross-legged.

Derek reached out and placed a hand on each knee, hoping she would look up at him and tell him what she was thinking. Instead her entire body seemed to sag. Derek leaned forward and wrapped his arms around her and pulled her over to his end of the couch, holding her tightly to his chest.

"Derek, no," Addison murmured as she tired to pull away and sit up.

"Shhhhhh," Derek quieted her, "Just let me hold you."

XXXX

June 1991

"Where did you find a muffin with icing on it?"

"I asked nicely."

"I bet you did." Derek sat down on the cafe chair across from Addison, "It's been awhile."

"A year."

"How is school?"

Addison face brightened a bit, "I love it."

Derek smiled, "I knew you would."

Addison smiled at him, she didn't ask how he knew where to find her, just like a year ago she didn't ask how he knew she was coming. But she was glad he was there.

There were less letters this year, and it was easier to read them. Instead of staring at them for an hour, Addison nervously watching as Derek read the first one, they each reached for one and slowly read them.

The tears were the same this year. They both cried. The pain was the same, it just wasn't as outwardly visible.

"Derek," Addison said eventually.

"Yeah?" He asked, looking up, his face slightly damp around his eyes.

"They sent us a picture."

XXXX

June 1992

The third year Derek bought flowers and made reservations for a late lunch. He was up at dawn and was standing in front of her apartment, flowers in hand at 10.

"Is Addy here?" he asked the half asleep blonde who answered the door.

"Ya," she yawned, "But I think she is going to see her dying aunt or something today."

"Derek?" Addison stepped around the corner and grinned. Taking a step forward she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck.

"Dying grandmother?" he whispered in her ear as he hugged her tightly, lifting her slightly off the ground.

"Aunt," she corrected softly, suppressing a smile. She grinned at Derek then turned back to her roommate, "Tessa, this is my... cousin Derek."

Tessa threw them a skeptical glance, "Whatever."

"Right," Addison rolled her eyes as she shook her head, "Let's go."

Tessa raised an eyebrow as they left the apartment hand in hand.

"How long have you been seeing him?" Derek asked as Addison picked at her dessert.

Addison looked up in surprise, wincing slightly as she met his gaze, "Not long."

Derek nodded, "Is it serious?"

Addison shook her head and shrugged, "You?"

Derek was silent, "She has red hair," he paused, "Clairol 456."

Addison's hand flew to her mouth. She bit her cheek as she attempted not to laugh, "I'm sorry, that's not funny."

Derek started to laugh.

Addison joined him.

"I missed you."

"I missed you too."

XXXX

June 1993

Addison glanced out the window of the fast moving train. She looked forward to her day with Derek with a mixture of excitement and dread. Like every year. They never made plans to see each other, both just trusted that they would find one another. In some ways it was the hardest most painful day of the year, catching up on all the things they had missed in their daughters life. But they spent it together, and it made it easier, and it gave the day a bit of happiness.

She instructed the cab to take her to the hospital not his apartment, if his life was anything like hers, that's were he would be. She arrived in the surgical wing and looked around uncertainly, she would prefer to find him on her own rather then having him paged.

Just the the elevator to her left opened and he stepped out.

"Addy," he grinned at her, "It's almost supper time, I thought you forgot about me," He teased.

"I was on-call last night," she shot back, "I decided I should get some sleep so you would recognize me."

Derek traced her face with his eyes, "I would know you anywhere."

Addison smiled, "So what's the food like here?"

"It sucks. Come on, I'll treat."

There were only 6 letters that year. 3 each. They carried a huge plate of french fries, which Derek swore were the only edible thing ever served, over to a bench that faced away from everyone. There were few tears that year. Mostly smiles. Their daughter was growing up, she was needing less and less surgery and seemed to be getting more and more independent, starting to use crutches and a walker to get around. There were pictures of her at the park, playing with other children, even paddling around a pool her eyes squinting against the sun as her head poked out of a life jacket.

"When do you have to leave?"

Addison looked over and sighed, "The last train leaves at 10."

Derek nodded, "I'll be in surgery."

"That's fine," Addison smiled, but she was clearly disappointed.

"Come watch."

"What?"

"Come watch the surgery."

"So you can prove that you are a macho surgeon?"

Derek grinned, "Pretty much."

"Who is the redhead?" One of Derek's peers questioned as the surgery progressed.

Derek glanced up to the observation gallery, Addison stood leaning against the corner wall away from the other occupants of the room. Her eyes were focused on him and she grinned when his eyes met hers.

"Back off," Derek muttered to the men that only a few minutes ago had been his friends, now he saw them as potential enemies.

"Please tell me she is not another sister you are overly protective of."

Derek glanced at Addison again, she was still smiling at him.

"I'll give you the number of any sister you want the second we are out of here. But she is off-limits." He paused as Addison lifted her hand to wave good-bye, "She's mine."

XXXX

June 1994

Addison arrive at Derek apartment at 9 am. She assumed that he would still be sleeping, but she wasn't above waking him.

"Hey," she grinned as he opened the door.

He stared at her blurry eyed, then pulled her roughly against him, burying his face in her hair, "What are you doing here?"

Addison pulled away, "What are you talking about? It's..."

"It's early," Derek murmured.

"I wanted to see you," her brow wrinkled, "I thought we could spend the day together. I missed you."

"Addison..." He breathed resting a hand on the side of her neck, his thumb brushing against her jaw.

Addison turned her face away from him, "But you have company."

Derek groaned and moved away from her, "5 years Addison."

"I know."

"If I'd known..."

"It's fine Derek." Addison looked around the room uncomfortably, "I'll come back later. Or you can meet me later. I only have 2 so it shouldn't take long, then you can go back to... whoever."

"Addy wait," Derek grabbed her elbow as she turned to leave. "Wait in the kitchen. Just give me 5 minutes."

Addison raised an eyebrow, "5 minutes?"

"I can do it," he assured her, "You want our day to start now, it starts now. You come first."

Addison couldn't help but peek as 4 and a half minutes later Derek escorted a tiny brunette to the door. Addison met her eyes briefly as the girl passed by.

"Bye Jessica," Derek murmured as the door closed behind her.

"No more redheads?"

"Well if you can't have the real thing, why bother."

The day did not go well.

They went to the beach.

"You don't get to be jealous Addison," Derek told her as they walked along the sand.

She tightened her arms across her chest, "I'm not. You moved on. You have a girlfriend."

"She's not my girlfriend. But you don't get to be jealous. You left me."

"I didn't leave you."

"I woke up to find your bags packed and you were handing me back your engagement ring."

"I don't want to talk about this now."

"Fine."

"Fine"

Derek turned his back on Addison and headed into the surf. Addison watched from her blanket on the shore, willing herself to be calm when he returned. It's not that she was shocked, she knew that he dated. They had talked about it a few years ago, that they both dated. But it was one thing to think about it another thing to see it. They were only together one day a year, was it so much to ask that she not have to see his latest conquest.

Derek approached her and stood to the side of the blanket drying off.

"How do you explain that?" She asked looking up at him briefly.

Derek touched her ring that hung from a chain around his neck, and had hung there for 5 years, "I don't."

"What will you tell Jessica when she asks."

"She won't." Derek replied adamantly as he sat down beside her

"She might, or someone else will."

Derek was silent.

"What would you tell me?"

Derek continued to stare ahead, silently, "I want to have a ring close by, for when I find the girl who finger it belongs on."

Addison closed her eyes,"Derek stop it."

"Addy..." Derek paused, "Why did you go?"

"I had to."

"No, you didn't."

"I should go. This was a bad idea. It just makes things harder, " Addison stood, "Send me the letters once you read them."

Derek jumped up and grabbed her arm, "No! I am not letting you walk away from me again."

"Derek! Let me go!"

"No! Addison you left! You just woke up that morning and left! I need to know why."

"What was I suppose to do Derek? Stay in the apartment that we bought for us to raise our daughter in. Stay and imagine the life that we could have had? Stayed and spent every moment of everyday regretting what we had done and knowing that I had failed. Stayed and remembered how she had your smile and how she would purse her lips together when she sleeps just like you do? Is that what I was suppose to do?"

"You were suppose to stay with me. We were suppose to be together."

"Until you started to hate me."

"I would never hate..."

"You would because I hate myself." Addison backed away as Derek moved towards her, "No Derek. I couldn't just stay and watch you grow to hate me."

"No, Addy..."

"I need to go Derek."

"Addison!"

"Don't follow me Derek. Just leave me alone."

XXXX

April 2006

Webber approached the nurses station cautiously. From where he was standing he could see both Addison and Derek, they didn't seem to be fighting.

As he got closer he could see that they were talking to a group of interns. "I should fire both of you."

Addison looked up and smiled, "You'll never let me go."

"Your right," Webber turned to Derek, "You on the other hand, I will get rid off."

"Well," Meredith spoke up, "To be fair I don't think they have anymore kids to show up."

"See!" Derek exclaimed.

Cristina nodded, "And how many times can he date an intern then break up with her by having a wife show up."

"Twice." Addison and Webber both murmured.

XXXX

June 1995

Addison arrived home from the hospital just after midnight. Derek was sitting in front of her door, duffle bag at his side.

"What are you doing here Derek?" she asked as she unlocked the door and stepped over him to go inside.

"We see each other every year on Cecelia's birthday..."

"Her birthday is tomorrow..."

"It's after midnight. Technically is Saturday."

"Listen Derek," Addison turned to face him, "I don't have anything this year. They didn't send me anything." she paused, but Derek didn't say anything in response, "I'm housesitting at my aunts for a few days, I just came back to get my bag."

"I got something the other day from the agency. A video."

Addison raised an eyebrow, "Leave it. I'll watch it when I get back and return it to you."

"I want to watch it with you." Derek caught her hand in his, "I'll come to your aunts with you. I don't work 'til Sunday afternoon, we can spend the weekend together."

"Derek, no." Addison shook her head and pulled her hand away. Giving Derek one last weary look she retreated to the back her apartment.

"Why not?" Derek called after her.

"It's a bad idea."

"Why?

"Derek don't push this." She slung her bag over her shoulder, and crossed her arms in front of her, "I'm glad you stopped by."

Derek studied her for a moment. Then he grinned, "I don't think so. Give me your keys."

Addison rolled her eyes, "Derek get out."

Derek moved closer, really close, "Give me, your keys."

His face hovered inches from hers. Addison wasn't sure if she was annoyed or turned on, "No," she breathed.

He leaned even closer, "You have worked all day, I can tell your exhausted. It's almost 1 am, and it's over an hours drive. Give me your keys."

Addison tried to move around him but he immediately blocked her, "Fine."

Derek glanced over at Addison as he drove. They had been in the car less then 20 minutes and she had fallen dead asleep.

He reached over and took her hand in his. She still wore the ring on her thumb. It was the first thing that he looked for whenever he saw her. He brought her hand quickly to his lips, then set it gently in her lap.

He expected her to wake up when he stopped the car. But she didn't. She slept through him opening up the house. She slept soundly as he unloaded the car. She barely stirred as he scooped her into his arms and carried her into the house.

"Derek?" she murmured as he set her down in bed.

"Ya Babe?" he whispered.

"Could you let the dog out?"

Derek crawled into Addison's bed early that morning.

"What?" she demanded sleepily.

"Wanna watch the video now?"

Addison dragged her eyes open, "Okay."

A few minutes later Addison was huddled against the headboard clutching a cup of coffee.

Derek glanced at her as he pressed play. He didn't glance at the TV until he saw her eyes grow wide.

Addison put her coffee cup on the night stand and crawled slowly to the end of the bed. Without taking her eyes from the TV she got off the bed and stood right in front of it.

Derek stood close beside her, unable to put into words what he was feeling.

"She's running," Addison exclaimed quietly.

Derek grinned as he watched a tiny girl with bright blue eyes and bright red hair play t-ball. Jumping excitedly on every base, grinning ear to ear.

"She's running." Addison repeated, "I mean, that's Cecelia right? I'm not imagining this? She's running."

"She's running." Derek grinned and scooped Addison into a hug, spinning her around, "You were right," he whispered into her hair, "We never would have been able to do that for her."

Addison tightened her arms around his neck, then suddenly pulled away. She grinned and leaned in and captured his lips with hers.

He smiled against her and refused to let her pull away.

"Derek," she murmured against his lips, she laughed, "Derek."

"What?" He laughed as he pulled away, brushing some hair out of her face.

She smiled at him,"Lets get married."

"Married?"

"I did promise," Addison pulled his ring off her thumb and looped a finger through her ring hanging against his chest, "Let's get married today."

"So, Mrs. Shepherd?" Derek teased as he traced circles around her stomach early sunday morning.

"Yes Mr. Shepherd?"

"We are coming up on our 12 hour anniversary, how would you like to celebrate?"

"Hrmmmm," Addison cocked her eyebrow suggestively.

"Again?" Derek teased, wrapping his arms around her waist and dragging her on top of him, "Woman, you are wearing me out."

Addison laughed and sat up, straddling his waist, "Luckily I have a plan b."

"Oh yeah? Am I going to have to move? Cause that's a deal breaker for me."

"No," She leaned down and kissed him lightly and reached for the night stand, "We are calling our parents."

Addison played with Derek's ring finger and smiled as he called his parents and delivered the news. They were clearly shocked, Derek hadn't mentioned Addison since the day she left.

"Your turn," Derek said with a smile, glad to be off the phone.

Addison leaned down and kissed him hard as she waited for the call to go through, "Mom? Guess what!" She paused and winked at Derek, "I got married."

Derek could hear his mother-in-law screech on the other end and he laughed at as Addison winced at the noise.

Suddenly a look of confusion crossed Addison's face, "It doesn't seem sudden to us I mean... Brian? No I married Derek." Addison paled, "Mom, I've got to go."

Addison clamored off of Derek and over to the side of the bed dialing furiously.

"Who's Brian?" Derek asked, scooting towards Addison and wrapping an arm around her waist, kissing her side.

"My boyfriend," she murmured.

"Ohhhh," Derek laughed rolling over on to his back.

"Brian? It's Addison. Listen..." She paused, "Your sisters engagement party? No, of course I remembered," She slapped Derek as he started to laugh, "Listen Brian... wait, the party is today?" Derek rolled towards her again, muffling his laughter against her side, "Brian the thing is, I'm sort of married. "She rushed as Derek began to laugh harder, "But I'll still go with you, I was looking forward to meeting your parents," She winced and fell back against Derek's chest. He looked up at her and smiled, resting a hand on her bare stomach and pulling her towards him, "Since yesterday, it was kinda sudden."

"Sudden," Derek commented as Addison leaned back and tangled her fingers in his hair, "We were only engaged for like 6 and a half years."

"Are you sure that this is a good idea?" Addison glanced around the hospital lobby.

Derek squeezed her fingers, "I want you to meet people. How else am I going to convince you to move out here?"

Addison raised and eyebrow as the stepped into they elevator, "I can think of a couple of ways."

Derek grabbed her around the waist and pulled her to him as the elevator doors closed. He was just pulling away as they opened again.

"Shepherd," Greeted a stern voice.

"Dr. Webber," Derek replied, "You remember Addison."

"Of course," Webber smiled, taking notice that their hands were still linked "Are you visiting Ms. Montgomery?"

"Actually," Derek began as they started down the hall, barely able to contain his excitement, "It's Mrs. Shepherd now."

"Shepherd?" Came a soft voice from behind them.

The trio turned around, standing in the middle of the hallway was a very confused looking group of interns. Addison immediately dropped his hand, and he glanced at her before leading a blonde intern away from the rest.

"I'm sorry," Webber began.

"Don't worry," Addison interrupted, "I was suppose to be meeting my boyfriend's parents right now. Things happen."

Webber smiled and shook his head, "Your going to shake things up around here aren't you."

Addison grinned, "I hope so."

XXXX

April 2006

"Twice?" Meredith repeated, "So it's a pattern for you?"

Derek looked at Addison uncomfortably.

"Don't look at me," Addison grinned.

"What's a pattern?" CJ asked tentatively, wheeling herself over to join the group.

"You are suppose to be in bed," Derek told her gruffly.

"Your trying to change the subject," CJ shot back, "What a pattern."

"Your father sucks at breakups," Meredith responded, smiling a bit.

"Oh," CJ nodded, "Me too. I tend to overlap."

Derek and Addison glanced at each other, then at their daughter.

"Great," Cristina exclaimed sarcastically, "It's hereditary."

XXXXXXXXXX

Okay thats all. What do you think? I know I just crammed 6 years of Addek backstory into one chapter, but hey, thats how things worked out.

So new story, should be starting soon. I just need to get a better idea of where it is going. And it needs a title. And since I don't know where is it going, a title is proving difficult.