It's pretty obvious that I do not own Grey's Anatomy since Derek never tried to repair his marriage, which would have worked out if I'd owned it. So all credit to Shonda and co for that!

CHAPTER 1.

Derek freezes when he notices the familiar redhead standing a few feet away, his heart instantly beating faster.

Not now.

He sighs, turning to the small blonde next to him when he notices the woman approaching them.

"Meredith, I am so sorry…"

"What?"

Then she's with them, holding her hand out to Meredith with a smirk.

"I'm Addison Shepherd."

Meredith looks at the taller woman innocently, her eyes wide.

"Shepherd?"

"And you must be the woman who's been screwing my husband…"

"Husband?"

Meredith's eyes travel between Addison and Derek before she steps back, holding her hands in the air.

"I have to… go. You two stay and… talk. Just… bye."

She storms off and Derek sighs, wanting to rush after her. He turns back, glaring at Addison.

"What are you doing here?"

"Richard called me, I'm here for work."

Derek smirks and Addison shakes her head.

"Don't worry, Derek. I'll just do my job and be out of your life again."

"Are the kids with you?"

"No, Derek. I left them in New York all alone. Of course they're here!"

"I want to see them."

"If you wanted to see them, you wouldn't have left."

"Do you honestly blame me for leaving?"

"We could have talked, Derek."

"Talking wouldn't have helped."

Addison sighs, staring at the ground sadly.

"No. You're right. We were beyond help. Even before…"

"Don't even say his name."

"So… Seattle, huh?"

"I don't have time for this."

He turns around, but Addison grabs onto his hand, looking at him angrily.

"That's your problem, isn't it, Derek? You don't have time for this. For us. You never had time for me, or Brad or Ashley. Although you don't seem to have a problem with time when it concerns your new girlfriend. What's her name?"

"It's none of your business."

"I'm still your wife, Derek. It is my business."

"Oh so now you remember that you're my wife."

"Derek, I was lonely. I…"

"STOP IT!"

She steps back when he raises his voice and looks at her angrily, his hands shaking.

"I don't want to hear your excuses. I don't want to hear anything. Just get out of my life."

"You have two kids, Derek. Do you want them out of your life as well?"

She turns around without waiting for an answer, storming up the stairs to Richard's room. He is sitting on his bed; two-year-old Ashley asleep on his lap while five-year-old Brad is sitting on the foot of the bed, looking bored.

"Sorry I took so long."

Richard immediately notices the tears in her voice, looking at her with concern. She shakes her head at the question in his voice, ruffling Brad's dark hair lovingly. He looks up at her with piercing blue eyes, the spitting image of his father.

"Mommy, daddy fixed uncle Richie's brain!"

Addison smiles, biting back tears.

"I…"

"I want to fix people's brains when I'm old too!"

"That's nice sweetie… Sorry for packing them off on you, Richard. I just… didn't want them to see him yet. Especially with…"

"Meredith?"

"That's her name? Yeah. With Meredith. It would have upset them."

"So you talked?"

"You could say that."

"You're going to work things out, Addie."

"I'm here to do a job, Richard. Then I'm going back home with my kids."

She picks Ashley up carefully, motioning for Brad to come. He immediately jumps off the bed, taking his mother's hand.

Addison smiles at Richard before walking off with her kids, her heart stopping when she notices the dark haired man at the other end of the hallway.

"Hurry up, Brad…"

She walks a bit faster, desperately hoping that Brad doesn't notice him. But there is no such luck as the man turns around just when the three enter the elevator and Brad lunges forward with a shrill cry.

"Daddy!"

Derek grins, holding his arms out for his son, hugging him closely.

"Hey big boy!"

Addison groans, holding the elevator open for Derek and Brad. They get in next to her and Derek smiles, leaning over to kiss Ashley.

"Hey sweetie!"

"Dadda!"
She opens her eyes tiredly, holding her arms out to Derek. He grins, putting Brad down before taking Ashley to give her a hug.

"She's grown so much."

Addison smirks, kneeling down to pick up Brad.

Derek shifts Ashley to his hip, looking at Addison curiously.

"Can I take you three out to dinner?"

"No."

"Addison…"
"I'm here for work, Derek. Take Meredith out."

"Addie, please. I want to spend some time with my kids."

"Our kids."

"Our kids."

Brad looks at his mother, his eyes instantly filling with tears.

"Mommy, isn't daddy going to stay with us tonight?"

Addison suppresses a groan, while Derek smirks, ruffling Brad's hair happily

"Of course I am. We can get junk food and DVD's, what do you say?"

"Can we watch Ninja turtles?"

"Of course we can!"