#━━ ˟ ⊰ * . ⊹ 𝑫𝑬𝑹𝑬𝑲 𝑺𝑯𝑬𝑷𝑯𝑬𝑹𝑫 ⋮ 【 addison montgomery 】

[brokcnrunes]

who: Addison Montgomery ( @wcnderfulthings )

where: Naporia General Hospital

Derek had only been in Naporia for a few weeks, spending most of that time hiding out in one of the local B&B's. He had been confused, scared, mourning the loss of people he had left behind. For a while, Derek presumed he was dead, it was the only explanation for how he suddenly ended up on a strange island. Now, Derek was starting to feel more like himself, coming to terms that this may just be his new home, his new life. After finding his way to the hospital, Derek instantly felt more at home within the long, sterile hallways. He wondered through the halls, trying to lay low until his attention laid on the back of a woman. Derek felt drawn to her, a pull of familiarity that caused the male to move closer. Addison. A smile formed on his lips, just relieved to see someone he knew. "I'd know that red hair from anywhere," Derek spoke up in a tensing tone as he walked up behind her.

[brokcnrunes]

who: Addison Montgomery ( @wcnderfulthings )

where: After Sunset Beach Bar

"I have no idea what is in these," Derek confessed as he placed the two large and colorful drinks onto their chosen table. While the night was still young, the two of them had been drinking for a couple of hours now. Derek already felt the giddy buzz of the alcohol running through his veins. While he wasn't drunk, he was definitely tipsy. "I asked the bartender to make whatever drink she wanted. She said while they may look pretty, they are lethal. Derek sat back down opposite Addison, grinning over at the redhead as his elbows rested on the table.

[brokcnrunes]

"All of us being dead and in some sort of weird limbo would be the most logical answer for all of this. Which kind of goes against everything we believe in as doctors." Derek was a man of science, so life after death wasn't exactly something he often entertained in his day to day life. But, people coming back from the dead just seemed like the most unrealistic option in the matter. "It seems like everyone is from different times. Last I knew it was 2010 and now I'm suddenly in the year 2024? None of it makes sense." The more Derek tried to make it sound logical, the more confused he became. The male wasn't used to struggling in finding answers, he was a smart guy. As Addison mentioned the infamous plane crash that Derek had been hearing, he nodded his head, keeping his eyes forward. "Amelia told me. How we lost Lexie, then Mark. I can't imagine going through a loss like that." Both had meant so much to Derek, a part of him was thankful that he hadn't experienced it like the others. "You definitely don't die at some point? No one has come up to you to tell you how you meet your fate at a young age?" Derek's words were less of a question and more so of him making sure that Addison lived a long and happy life.

As they made their way out of the hospital and onto city streets, the redhead led them towards the restaurant on the corner. Walking with him, a sense of familiarity washed over Addison and she smiled to herself. She hasn't felt this relaxed since showing up on the island and she had Derek to thank for that. At his question, she looked over at him. "Yeah," she nodded. "I mean, I didn't remember dying but I remembered climbing into bed one night and waking up here. I honestly thought I had died in my sleep." She shook her head as the memory ran through her mind. When he posed his next question, she smiled sadly and shook her head. "No," she said... Mark had died too... years before Derek did but it sounded like he didn't know. Addison didn't want to be the one to break it to him but she thought he deserved to know. "You know... Mark died... Remember? He was in a plane crash along with a few other doctors."

[brokcnrunes]

"Lead the way," Derek offered as they began to walk out of the hospital together. It was a dance they had navigated hundreds of times in the past. For years, Derek would wait for Addison just so the two could leave side by side, discussing their day as they walked to the car. Over time, Meredith had become that person, but as he glanced across at the redhead, Derek felt a sense of warmth and familiarity. Walking with her was so subtle, yet he had missed it more than he first realised. "Did you think you had died as well?" It took Derek a while to believe anyone that said he was still very much alive. But, it didn't help as he felt the bullet penetrate through his chest before waking up on the island. "Is there anyone else here? Cristina, Owen, Bailey ... Mark?" There had been a pause before Derek said his best friend's name. Even though everyone had seemingly moved on from the cheating, it still pained the male whenever he thought about it. The flashbacks of seeing his friends hands all over his wife wasn't something he could get away from.

"You did," Addison nodded at his question. She felt so much relief standing here in front of Derek. It was strange but after all of the grieving she's done over his death, it felt so good to see him. When Derek smiled, it calmed her down. It was funny how after all this time, his smile could still put her at ease. "You were a hero," she said. "I mean, you still are..." Derek had always been her hero even after the divorce. She had so much respect and love for him. That's why he was the first person she called when she found out Archer was sick. "Great," she smiled easily. "There's this little Italian place on the corner that I've come to love." As they started to walk out of the hospital, Addison turned to look at him as he started to speak. "Three months," she said. "I showed up here alone and so confused... About a month in, Amelia showed up."

[brokcnrunes]

"I did?" That was new information for Derek. Amelia had been so focused on telling him about his death, how she didn't get to say goodbye, about his kids, that the brunette must have missed that part out. A saddened smile formed on the surgeon's lips. Even though hearing about your own death is never easy, at least Derek knew his death meant something. Saving lives was what he had done for most of his life, so knowing that four people got to carry on with their lives meant so much to him. "Dying a hero is always how I imagined I would go out," Derek smiled with amusement, trying his best to lighten the mood. He could see the negative effect his presence was having on Addison, he never liked seeing her upset. "I'm not actually, I was about to head out myself," even if he had been busy, Derek would have cancelled in order to catch up with Addison. He felt a sense of comfort being around the redhead, the familiar presence was just what Derek needed right now. "So how long have you been here?" Derek questioned while the pair began to walk down the hallway and towards the exit of the hospital.

"You did?" she asked then nodded when he said she told him everything that happened. So he knew that Meredith unplugged him without giving anyone, not even his family, the chance to say goodbye. Although Addison had initially gotten through her resentment towards Meredith for being with Derek in the first place, she grew more resentment towards her after his death. Running a hand through her hair as she thought about Derek's death, she looked back at him and a small smile settled on her face. "You saved four people that day," she said. "They're still alive and well." Back in L.A., Addison would call and check on them from time-to-time as a way to feel closer to her dead ex-husband who was now apparently alive. She felt her phone buzz in her purse and reached in to pick it up. Realizing the time, she remembered she was on her way to grab lunch before her next surgery. "Are you busy right now?" she asked him as she replied to the text she received. "I was on my way out to grab lunch if you'd like to join me."

[brokcnrunes]

Derek could see the sorrow in her eyes, the pain, the shock. He knew about his car accident, Derek could see it all over Addison's face as she looked at him. Despite them being divorced, Derek couldn't imagine how he would have felt if things would have been the other way around. They were no longer together, but that didn't stop the male from loving her. He gave her a sweet smile, giving her the time to process his existence, it was almost like seeing a ghost no doubt. "I've seen Amelia actually," his younger sister had been the first familiar face Derek had come across. "She told me everything that happened," he didn't feel the need to go into detail, he didn't want to bring the redhead anymore pain.

Addison couldn't take her eyes off of him, even when one of the interns who was watching them brought her back her purse that she dropped. She honestly never thought she'd see him again. When he died, it nearly broke her. She cried for days and even after that, found herself getting emotional about it for months after. Addison gave him a small smile when they pulled back from the hug. "I, uh, I don't know what to say," she said. "I never thought I'd see you again." The redhead ran a hand through her hair as she really took him in. It was really him. It was Derek. "Yeah," she nodded. "I started working here a few months ago... Oh, Amelia's here. I know she'll be shocked that you're here but I'm sure she would love to see you."

[brokcnrunes]

Derek was slightly taken back by the sudden embrace, but slowly his arms wrapped around his ex as he hugged her back. After Amelia broke the news of his death, Derek had expected this reaction. He couldn't help but wonder how he would have taken the news if it had been the other way around. The two had parted ways many years ago, and whether he wanted to admit it or not, Addison always had a place in his heart. "Surprise," he laughed softly, trying to lighten the mood for the redhead. He couldn't imagine how tough it would be to see someone come back from the dead. Pulling away from her, he smiled once more, "it's great to see you Addie." The more familiar faces Derek saw, the more at ease he became about this whole thing. "I'm guessing you're working here?"

Addison had been at the hospital all day, coming in and out of surgeries. She was honestly surprised at how hectic her day had been. Since she's been in Naporia, she hasn't had a super busy day until today. Addison was sitting in her office, updating a chart after her last surgery when she noticed it was nearly lunchtime. Finishing up the chart, she grabbed her purse and made her way down to the nurse's station. Her plan was to drop off the chart then out of the hospital to grab something from a nearby restaurant. Addison had just handed over the chart to one of the nurses when she heard the most familiar voice coming from behind her. She couldn't believe what she was hearing though. That voice belonged to someone that was no longer with them. It couldn't be. She turned around anyway and was shocked when she saw it was actually Derek. Addison dropped her purse as she walked up to him and took him in a long hug. "Derek?" she asked, still holding onto him. "Is it really you?"