Changing, Adapting & Moving on

Everyone Knows

The secret was out. They knew the moment they told Doctor Webber about the two of them, everyone else would find out as well, and now everyone knows.

''They are looking at me.'' Meredith said extremely annoyed for the third time.

Cristina and Izzie laughed at their friend's misery. ''Yeah well, one moment you want McDreamy, and now you're with his ex-wife, Satan.'' Cristina said sarcastically.

''Stop calling her that.'' Meredith huffed.

''C'mon Mer, they'll forget about this in no time. You're happy, aren't you? That's what matters.'' Izzie said.

'' Yeah '' Meredith replied with a stupid smile on her face.

''Oh God. Stop that. I can't with people in love. They're so annoying.'' Cristina tried to sound annoyed, but you could see the smile on her face. She was happy for her person.

'' Hey '' Addison greeted them, sitting by Meredith's side on table in the cafeteria.

'' Hi '' Meredith replied with a huge smile, which made Cristina roll her eyes.

''Everyone has been staring at me the whole day.'' Addison commented, taking a sip of her drink.

''Yeah, me too.'' Meredith looked over her shoulder and noticed everyone at the cafeteria looking at them and whispering.

''C'mon guys, it's gonna pass.'' Izzie tried.

''Yeah. They're gonna spread some gossip, create a few new nicknames and then BAM, it's gonna be in the past.'' Cristina said extremely amused.

''Thanks Yang. That made me feel so much better.'' Addison replied sarcastically.

''Your welcome.'' Cristina said with a nod.

''hmm, guys...'' Izzie called all of a sudden, looking over Meredith's shoulder. When they looked, they saw Derek making his way to them.

''What the hell is this rumor going around the hospital?'' He asked, looking at Meredith and Addison.

''Derek, good morning.'' Addison greeted him.

''Why are people saying the two of you are together? As in a couple.'' He asked irritated.

''That's because we are.'' Meredith was the one to answer him.

''What?''

''Derek. Meredith and I, we, we are together. Romantically.'' Addison replied quietly. She was aware that people were looking at them.

''You can't be serious? Are you two serious?'' He asked loudly.

''Yes, Derek. I love Addie and she loves me too.'' Meredith replied slowly.

''Oh my god.'' He shook his head and closed his eyes. When he opened them, his eyes showed so much hurt, but mostly anger.

''You destroy everything you know. You destroyed our marriage, you destroyed my life with Meredith when you showed up here and now you're taking her away from me.'' He said angrily, coming closer to Addison.

Addison didn't say anything. She knew that this would be difficult and hard for Derek, but she also knew that loving Meredith was not planned. She didn't do this to hurt him or to be some act of twisted revenge. This feeling has crept up on her unexpectedly, and now there was nothing she could do about it. Nothing she wanted to do about it. Except kiss Meredith every damn second.

''Stop it Derek.'' Meredith stood up, and put herself between Addison and Derek. ''Addison didn't do anything. We fell in love. We didn't plan it, it just happened.''

''Yeah right.'' Derek chuckled bitterly.

''Derek, what we had didn't end because of Addison. It ended because you lied to me and broke my heart. Even if I wasn't with Addie, I would not get back with you. I don't love you anymore, and you need to accept that... We are not doing this to hurt you, we're together because we fell in love, and she makes me happy. You don't need to accept we are together, but you do need to respect it.'' Meredith finished her little speech.

Derek looked at her and then at Addison. He shook his head and then said bitterly, ''She'll break your heart. She will hurt you 10 times worse; And when that happens, you'll wish you never chose her over me.''.

Addison, Cristina and Izzie were stunned by the venom in his voice. But they were really surprised when Meredith replied to him calmly and not fazed at all about what he'd just said, ''I doubted it. She's not you.''. She then pulled Addison up and started to walk out of the room, not letting go of her hand for a second.