New York Minute
By Misha

Disclaimer and Notes in Part One.

Part Six: Shadow of the Past

"So what's it like working with Satan?" Alex asked Meredith the next day.

She sent him a disapproving look. "She's not really Satan." She chastised. "I know that now."

"She's still your husband's ex-wife." Alex pointed out. "You're allowed to hate her."

"I don't though." Meredith said honestly. "Oh, I did once, but not anymore."

It was true, time and knowledge had changed her opinion about Addison. Now that she understood what had gone wrong in Derek and Addison's marriage, what the other woman had gone through, Meredith found it impossible to hate her.

Did she really want her back in Seattle, in her life? Not really, but she could handle it. Addison wasn't a threat to her, not now.

"That doesn't sound like the dysfunctional, paranoid Meredith Grey I used to know." Alex teased.

"Hey, I've got a long way from being scary and damaged." Meredith said with a laugh. "I'm bright and shiny these days."

Alex raised an eyebrow and Meredith laughed. All right, the truth was she'd probably never be 'bright and shiny', it just wasn't in her make-up, but her lookout was a lot more positive these days, that was for sure.

"I don't know, I kinda miss the old dark-and-twisty Meredith." Alex said with a grin. "That one was more entertaining that this boring, domesticated version."

Meredith stuck out her tongue at him. "Sorry to rob you of your entertainment. I know I exist only to amuse you."

"Exactly." Alex said with a grin. "Why else do you think I put up with you?"

Meredith laughed and slapped him playfully. She didn't know what she would do without Alex...

---

"So Meredith has dinner dates with Alex Karev and you don't mind?" Addison asked, coming up behind Derek. She didn't know why it was still bothering her, but for some reason it was.

Derek shrugged. "Why should I? They're friends."

Addison stayed silent.

"Its not the same as you and Mark." Derek said quietly. "Meredith and I, we talk, we communicate, and Alex... Well, he wouldn't go there even if I wasn't in the picture."

Addison just stared at him, amazed at his ability to read her thoughts and by his absolute conviction in Alex Karev's intentions.

"I'm sorry." She said stiffly. "It's not my place."

"No, it's not." Derek agreed. "But I appreciate the concern."

He was quiet for a moment. "Speaking of Mark, do you ever talk to him?"

Addison shrugged. "Sometimes. We work at the same hospital, its inevitable that we cross paths, but it's not... He's not part of my life."

Derek just nodded. "Well, I really have to get to work." He excused before walking away.

Addison watched him go, thinking of the mess they made of their lives. She, Mark and Derek they were so close once and then they destroyed each other.

She knew that Meredith wasn't her, that Alex Karev wasn't Mark Sloane, and that Derek was a different man than he had been then, but she couldn't help see parallels and she felt guilty enough about everything that happened to not want the past to repeat itself. This was Derek's second chance and she wanted it to work for him, so tomorrow she vowed she'd have a little talk with Alex Karev...