Chapter I – Love
"You're still in love with her?"
The words echoed through his head.
"You're still in love with him!"
She heard the words over and over in her mind.
Mark stood up and paid for his drink. He turned to Meredith and put his hand on her shoulder.
"Take it easy with that tequila of yours." He smiled and startedto walkaway from her. Meredith turned to him with curiosity in her eyes.
"Givin' up already?" She said and Mark turned his head and smiled.
"The opposite." He walked out the door and Meredith stared after him. She turned to Joe, who was as surprised as she was.
"Do you really think he's going to get her?" Meredith looked at Joe, and he could see a little bit of hope sparkle in her eyes. Joe gave her a smile and sheconcentrated her look at her empty glass. She kept hearing the words.
"You're still in love with him!"
Mark drove up to the trailer. He saw lights glow in the windows but it was a quiet night. He sat in his car for a while before coming to his senses and got out. He walked up to the door and waited a second before knocking.
Derek opened his eyes at the sound of the knock He watched as Addison got of her chair and went to the door. He sat up and tried to see from the bed who it was by the door.
"Addison."
Derek knew that voice. He got up to his feet as fast as he could.
"Mark. What are you..." Addison was surprised. But she couldn't say anything more because she felt Dereks' eyes staring at her and Mark.
"What the hell is he doing here?" Derek stood behind Addison with his eyes steadily on her.
"Derek." Mark began, but Addison stopped him with her hand on his mouth.
Derek gave Mark and angry look before turning his eyes back at Addison who had turned to him.
"Derek, could you give us some time to talk?"
Derek saw the pain in her eyes. He didn't understand what Mark was doing there or why Addison didn't kick him out. The thought that they were in love crossed his mind, but he didn't want to believe it. He opened his mouth and looked at Mark, who met his eyes with the same pain in his eyes as Addison. Derek sighed deeply and backed off. He turned away and went back to the bed, waiting impatiently for their talk to be over.
Addison watched him leave them and then looked back at Mark. He gave her one of those smiles. A smile of relief.
Addison went out to the porch and closed the door behind her. She didn't meet Marks' eyes. He sighed and looked away.
"You never planned to meet me at the bar, did you?"
"Mark, we can't do this." Addison looked at him and he could see the insecurity in those eyes.
"You don't want this!" Mark stretched out his arms and meant Derek, the trailer, Seattle.
"You don't know that." She whispered angrily at him before turning away. Mark stopped her by putting his hand on her shoulder. Addison stopped and closed her eyes to stop the tears from coming out. He turned her towards him and he opened her eyes. He saw a tear fall down her cheek. Mark hated tears, especially the ones from the woman he loved. Addison pulled her arm over her face and the tear disappeared.
"I love you, Addison. That tear must mean something. If we can't be together, I don't know what I'm supposed to do." Mark saw how Addison tried to keep away more tears.
"He doesn't love you, and you know it. You need to be happy and come home, with me." He stroke her hair with his hand, and hoped that she could just realize what was best for her. Addison shivered by his words and his curess. And he saw it. He leaned down and kissed her gently. Addison didn't care to pull back. "Just this kiss." she thought and kissed him back with love. Addison pulled back and still had her eyes closed. Mark looked at her with sadness all over his face. Some part of him knew that she wouldn't leave Derek, but all the other parts of him hoped that, just this once, love would be enough.
Meredith got out of the cab and went to the door. She fumbled with her keys, and by the time she found the right one, Izzie had opened the door and let her in.
"Hey you." Izzie smiled at Meredith. Meredith muttered something and walked towards the stairs. Izzie wasn't surprised. She sighed and ran to her.
"George!" Meredith stumbled and fell down to the floor.
"She's drunk!" Izzie yelled and then heard George running down the stairs. Meredith turned over and lay on her back. She started to laugh and George and Izzie exchanged confused looks. Then they heard sobbing and they saw that Meredith had gone from laughing to crying. Izzie sighed and helped her up.
"Let's get you to bed." George just stood there. He didn't really know what to do. She looked so sad.
"George! Some help please." Izzie yelled at him and George helped her to get Meredith into bed.
Derek lay in the bed, his eyes at the ceiling. He didn't hear any argument from outside, which made him think about that love thing again. Which on the other hand made his thoughts go back to the place where he really wanted to be. He turned to his side and looked at the empty spot in the bed. Meredith...
Meredith lay in her bed staring at the ceiling. Her friends had left her to sleep, but the sleep didn't want to come. All she could think of was how it had gone for Mark. What He was doing right now. She turned to lie on her side and looked at the empty place in the bed. He.. Derek..
"Just let him go. Come with me." Mark was trying hard to get Addison to come with him. Addison sat in one of the chairs at the porch with Mark standing in front of her. She listened, but didn't want to hear what he was saying. It was too hard for her.
"Leave him!" Mark begged. Addison looked at him.
"He left his love for me, I have to do the same." She got up and started to walk to the door. Mark stopped her, pulled her to him and kissed her. She tried to pull back but he wouldn't let her. She gave up and just tried not to kiss him back. It didn't work that well, so there they were, kissing passionately.
The door opened and Derek stepped out.