Post by x.Emelie.x on Feb 3, 2007 1:35:30 GMT 10
Fading Memories
A/N; My first ever Greys anatomy fic. Its a one-shot that is kind of AU. Addison left Seattle soon after her divorce from Derek and never came back...until now that is.
Summary – She always knew life was short…but now she is stuck at the end of the road with no way out. And its time to clear out some business…
Disclaimer – I don’t own Greys anatomy or any of the characters from the show. I only own season 1 on DVD and soon season 2…oh and I own all characters that were never on the show which are my own creation.
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Life is short; it’s filled with emotions and hurt. But for most people they have all the time in the world to make for it…not everyone has that luxury…
“Mommy!” five year old Ava ran into the kitchen, flashing a paper in her hand. “Mommy looks what I did” she spotted her mother sitting by the kitchen table and ran up to her.
“Wow baby, it’s very pretty” Addison looked at the drawing her daughter held out. She squinted slightly and wasn’t sure she was holding it the right way.
“It’s a hopital” Ava stated as she climbed into her mother’s lap.
“A hopital…” Addison smiled. “And what’s that?” she pointed to the right of what was supposed to be the hospital.
“You as a doctor” Ava stated with a wide smile. “And there is daddy” she added and pointed at a mess of blue colors next to what was Addison.
“Daddy” Addison said. “Why him?”
“Because…” Ava drew the word out to make sure her mother knew it was very obvious. “…he lives at the hopital.”
“Oh sweetie” Addison laughed. “Daddy doesn’t live at the hospital, he works there. I told you that he lives with his other family.”
“I know” Ava snuggled closer t o her mommy. “I just wish he would live here.”
The statement was so pure and filled with emotions that Addison felt tears stocking up in her eyes.
“I know baby…I know” she let her head lay down on her daughters and they sat there for several moments without saying anything. “You know…maybe it’s time we go see him, would you like that?” she lifted her head up.
“Yeah” Ava nodded and a huge smile spread over her face.
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“Come on” Ava pulled on her hand as she moved towards the large white building.
“You go ahead, I’ll be just a minute” Addison said and let go of her daughter’s hand.
Ava hurried over to the large doors and got inside while Addison watched. She made sure she was alone before she slipped her hand into her pocket and took up the tiny pill. She took it in her mouth and flushed it down with some water from the bottle in her hand.
Sometimes we don’t want to think about what secrets we hide. Sometimes we don’t want to face the truth…and just sometimes we face it head on while shielding the people we love…
She walked in to the all too familiar hospital, the one thing that hit her first was the smell. She would remember that smell anywhere…that was one of the things she missed the most.
“Mommy come on…” Ava was standing by the wall with all the signs. “You’re too slow.”
“I’m not slow” Addison replied with a smile as she hurried over to her daughter.
“We need to go…” Ava let her finger go over the many signs.
“This one” Addison pointed at the one sliver sign that told them the right floor. “We take the elevator up to the fourth floor.”
“And daddy is there?” Ava asked as the two walked towards the elevators.
“Yes” Addison nodded and she was starting to feel the butterflies in her stomach.
“Will he like me?” Ava asked as the walked into the elevators among with some people dressed in white or blue.
“Of course he will, baby” Addison answered. “Everyone likes you.”
“Evan don’t” the five year old stated as she moved around the small space, trying to figure everything out around her.
“Well Evan’s weird” Addison said even though she knew it was the wrong thing to say.
“You think?”
“Yeah, he’d be much better off if his mother didn’t put him in those shirts all the time” Addison said as the elevator stopped and the doors opened. “Okay come on” she held out her hand which Ava happily took.
They walked down the corridor and moved up to the reception. Addison leaned down onto the counter and waited for the nurse to finish up her work.
“Could you keep en eye on Mr. Davidson for me” the voice was all to familiar and Addison turned around.
“Meredith” she smiled as the woman turned towards her.
“Wow Addison” Meredith said in shock. “How…how have you been?”
“Can’t complain” Addison shrugged. “You?”
“Great, just got back to work last month after Lily started kindergarten” Meredith said.
“Aw that’s great” Addison said.
“How this work?” Addison turned around and found Ava sitting on the counter placing an all too big stethoscope on the nurse’s chest.
“Ava honey don’t tease the nurses” Addison said.
“Oh don’t worry about it” the nurse said. “She’s got the right touch.”
“Yeah my little doctor” Addison smiled weakly as she turned back to Meredith.
“Is she yours?” Meredith asked. “She’s adorable.”
“Yeah…” Addison sighed.
“So you’re married?”
“Oh no…that is just a long story” Addison tried to move away but Meredith grabbed her sleeve, the movement didn’t just stop Addison but slid up her shirt, showing the fresh mark.
“She’s his isn’t she?” Meredith asked as she looked over at Ava. “Don’t even deny it, she looks so much like him.”
“Yeah you’re right” Addison said. “She’s his, that’s why we’re here. She wants to meet him.”
“That’s not it” Meredith eyed her closer. “You’re not well…”
“That’s ridicules” Addison moved away. “Ava come on sweetie” she added and the girl came running.
“Who was that woman?” she asked and looked back at Meredith.
“That is your daddy’s wife” Addison answered, too tired to get into anything else. “And someone mommy once knew…”
Sometimes all you need to see the truth is a friend…but mostly it someone you never saw coming…
“So where he is?” Ava looked around the corridor inspecting everyone that they passed. “Is that him?”
“No that’s the guy that cleans the floors” Addison answered and took a left turn.
“Is that him?” Ava asked a few seconds later.
“No he brings the food” Addison answered.
“Is that him?” Ava looked at another man.
“Ava!” Addison turned to her daughter but stopped as she saw the man before her.
“Well hello ladies” he smiled. “Did I miss the call where you said you were coming to visit?”
“Derek” Addison straightened up and smiled weakly. “How nice to see you.”
“Addison” he smiled. “And who’s your little friend?” he asked and bent down to Ava’s level.
“Ava” The girl answered and placed the end of the stethoscope that still hung around her neck to his chest.
“Ah a little doctor maybe” he laughed.
“My daddy is a doctor…you know him?” Ava asked hopefully.
“Your daddy is a doctor” Derek rose and looked at Addison. “Anyone I know?”
“Yeah” se said quietly. “…it’s you…”
A truth is only a truth until you give it air…a like will always be a lie no matter what…
“This is nuts” e walked across the small room. “I mean I didn’t even…you Addison, you are better then this.”
“Derek” Meredith tried to speak but he cut her off.
“No, how do I know She’s mine?” he asked.
“Look at her” Addison said and his eyes walked out the small window to the chair outside were Ava was trying her stethoscope on a male nurse. Her soft curly red air was clearly Addison’s but those eyes…he knew those eyes. He looked into those eyes even that second in the glass window.
“So why didn’t you tell me?” he turned to Addison again.
“You had your life” she answered.
“Addie” he said angrily. “Why now then?”
“She wants to know you” Addison said. “I was thinking maybe you wanted to know her.”
“So what now, you go back with her to New York or wherever you live and I never see her again?” Derek asked.
“No” Addison shook her head. “How about she stays for the summer?” she suggested. “You can get to know her.”
“Addie are you sure there is nothing….” Meredith started but Addison sot her a look.
“It’s only the summer” she said, the lie feeling so true inside of her.
There is a time to know when its time to do the right thing.
“Ava honey” Addison sunk down to the floor before her daughter. “Would you like to stay with your daddy and Meredith for the summer?”
Ava looked from her mother to the man se had just met. “What about you?”
“I will come and get you as soon as the first sign of fall…” Addison smiled.
“Promise…”
“Promise” Addison said as se felt the tears coming.
She slowly rose and prepared to leave but Meredith grabbed her arm.
“Addie…”
Addison just shook her head slowly and then walked with slow steps down the corridor.
“Mommy” Ava came running at her and Addison turned around and fell to her knees, catching the young girl in a hug. “Mommy don’t cry” she said and brushed her mother’s tears away. “You come back soon…remember.”
“Yeah” Addison rose and moved down the hall again, this time her steps were faster and se didn’t stop until the glass doors shut behind her.
She let her back rest against them as the tears fell…se knew se would never come back. And se knew she would break the one promise she would give anything to keep.
But the truth is…sometimes to love is to learn to let go…