Where You Belong

80

"This is what you invited me to?" Addison asked, walking up to the table at Joe's that Derek was sharing with Mark and Preston. "This is your big bachelor party?"

Derek shrugged. "It was last minute and I needed some warm bodies."

"Which would explain why I'm here," Mark stated, not missing a beat.

Derek chuckled, but if he was honest with himself, he wasn't minding the plastic surgeon's presence at all. It was almost...nice. Despite all of his intentions not to, maybe he was slowly getting his best friend back.

Addison laughed at the exchange, before quieting. "Why am I the only girl, by the way?" She asked as she took of her coat.

"The girls are doing the bachelorette thing with Cristina. Thought you'd be more comfortable here."

His ex-wife nodded in understanding. They were working on the friend thing too. She understood that he had wanted to include her. "As long as I'm not expected to be the entertainment. I am not stripping," she joked.

"That's okay," Derek countered, "We've seen it already."

"True," Mark added, again not missing a beat.

"I haven't," Preston joined in, causing Derek and Mark to laugh and Addison to glare at the three of them.

"Well, why don't I buy you a drink instead," she offered, now ignoring the laughing. "First round's on me."

"I'll give you a hand with that," Mark called, following her to the bar.

Derek watched them go thoughtfully. For a while there, he had started to believe his ex-wife and his ex-best friend were going to make a go of it. But his talk with Mark the week before had put an end to that thought. And he wasn't sure how he felt about any of it. He was, however, surprised to find himself hoping they could both be as happy as he was.

"So," Derek prompted, turning his attention back to Preston. "Did Cristina write her vows?"

"I guess I'll find out tomorrow. I wasn't allowed to talk about it today because it was test day."

"Right. Of course."

"How's Meredith doing?"

"Okay. I think. I want to kill Thatcher. But she seems to be okay. She's struggling to hold on, but after tomorrow we have two weeks off to deal with everything."

"I'd want to kill Thatcher too, if I was in your position, but that's not going to accomplish anything."

"Hmm, that's what Mark said."

"Meredith didn't deserve what happened this week. She's a very good friend to Cristina."

Derek smiled at this. "They're not like other women, are they?"

Preston laughed and shook his head. "No, they're not."

"But they're worth it. Thatcher gave her this crap today about how I should 'get out while I still can,' and when I look back over the year I get that a lot of things have happened. There's been a lot of stress and pain, but it's all worth it. We've gotten through everything together. So as long as I can remind her that I'm not going anywhere, we should be fine. I've never been happier, regardless of all the crap."

Preston nodded slowly, evaluating his words. "Sometimes I don't feel so sure. Cristina and I...don't always get through everything."

Derek shook his head. "But you have, because you're here." He clapped him on the back. "You're getting married tomorrow."

"Sometimes I just wish we could be stronger."

"You'll get stronger," Derek assured.

"I hope so. Right now I..."