Changes in life are bound to happen.  Whether it be people, jobs, everything changes.  Just like the butterfly changes from a caterpillar to a beautiful butterfly overtime, we have the ability to change too.  Whether it be for better or worse.  Circumstances can change who we are as people.  It's inevitable.  People sometimes say they hate change but I've learned to welcome it with open arms whether its good or bad.

-

"Hey, how was visiting your parents?" Addison asked Ali as she saw her the next day.

She had heard that she took some time off to visit her parents back in South Dakota and wondered how they were doing.  For a second Alison was caught off guard but didn't let it show to Addison.  

"It was good," she lied.  "They're doing good."

"Good," Addison smiled at her resident.

"I wanted to apologize," Alison started off catching the attention of Addison.  "I realize now I judged your situation with Derek and Mark too quickly and took Derek's side almost immediately."

"It's okay-" Addison started to say but was cut off.

"No, it's not," Alison said.  "I was just thinking about what Derek was going through at the time.  But he failed to mention to me all the wrong that he did in your marriage.  I realize now that was my mistake and I judged you based on pre-conceived ideas.  I know it's not much, but I wanted to apologize for that and I hope we can start over," Alison told Addison and Addison smiled at the blonde.

"There's nothing to forgive because I already forgave you the minute it happened.  Besides, I was a pretty shitty wife towards the end of our marriage," she said shrugging her shoulders.

"Well, he was also a pretty shitty husband towards the end too," Alison said and the two women laughed as Addison laughed so hard she covered her face with her hands.

-

In life, we are taught that there are two sides to every story.  To never judge a book by its cover.  But we are never really taught how true those words are until we actually know someone whose going through something.  

-

"Hey, are you okay, Yang?" Cristina heard the voice of Doctor Alison Anderson and was shocked that she was speaking to her outside of helping them learn.

Alison, like George, had been noticing weird behaviors from Cristina lately and hoped that she was doing okay.  Because although it was her boyfriend who was shot, she also knew when her dad was shot in battle, that their family had to deal with it as well.  If there's anything that her father being in the military taught her it's that its not just that your spouse or partner who goes through it.  You all do.  While it might not be the same thing, you all deal with the different emotions, the hurt, the unknown if your loved one is okay, together.  

"What?" Cristina asked slightly startled.  "Oh yeah, I'm fine."

"Because if you need someone to talk to I can always listen.  Or I'm sure Doctor Grey can too."

She knew how close the two interns were.  If she were being honest, she wished she had a close friend like they did during her intern year but she didn't.  It wasn't until she became a resident here that she met Derek and they hit it off ever since.  Part of her felt bad for dating her person's ex-best-friend but she was hoping that they would make up soon.  They can't hate each other forever...right?

"Does Doctor Sloan seem different to you?" Alex asked Izzie as they were making their way back to their patient.  

"I don't know," she scoffed.  "I haven't been with him since I came back.  What is he normally like?"

"Well, he normally has me doing his errands...  He never lets me help him like today."

"We had to get him a sandwich earlier," Izzie pointed out.

"Yeah, but did you see the way he just stopped mid sentence about us taking his clothes to the dry cleaning?  And then he told us never mind that he would have someone else do it.  Something's odd."

"Right," Izzie said oblivious to how Mark was before.  "I don't know how you could concentrate even if you were in the same room as him anyways.  I see why Cristina and Meredith say he's McSteamy."

"Because I like vagina," Alex said.  "I know something's different with him.  I can feel it.  And I'm going to find out what one way or another."

*

"Hey, O'Malley," Alison greeted the intern.  "How's your dad doing?  Callie told me that he was admitted here last night."

"Does everyone in this damn hospital know he's here?" He asked aggravated making Alison's eyes widen and realizing that this was a touchy subject for George.

"Sorry," she smiled sheepishly at him.  "I didn't mean to make you upset."

"N-no," George shook his head.  "I'm not.  Upset about my dad I mean," he said making Alison furrow her eyebrows in confusion.

She could tell there was more to the story but decided not to push him further on the subject.

"Doctor Bailey put me on scut," he said in disgust.  "Because apparently family members aren't allowed to operate on family members.  And I know that she's protecting me because I'm almost certain that what my dad has is really bad.  But if I can't be there for my dad then I want the best intern with him," he said and his eyes lit up with excitement, almost as if he solved a mystery.  "Thank you, Doctor Anderson!" He said as he went in to almost hug her but then decided against it and ran off.

"Your welcome," she called back to him.  "Even though I didn't do anything."

"Hey best friend," Derek greeted the blonde ped's doctor after not seeing her all morning.  "It's a beautiful day today isn't it?"

"Okay who are you and what have you done with my best friend?" She asked as she put a hand on her hip making him tip his head back slightly and laugh as he flashed his pearly white teeth.

"I'm trying to be bright and shiny.  What's so wrong with that?"

"You know what that just reminded me of?" She asked and he shook his head.  "Another glorious morning... It makes me sick!  Name that movie."

He laughed and patted her shoulder.

"Hocus Pocus.  You think I wouldn't forget your favorite Halloween movie?  I've only watched it with you about a thousand times.  What's wrong with being bright and shiny?"

"Nothing," she shrugged her shoulders.  "If you're acting like you've drunk seven cups of coffee without actually drinking them though."

"Meredith and I are back together."

"Well it's about damn time.  Honestly, Derek, how many times did I say this needed to happen?"

"Only about a dozen," he muttered.  "But we're taking it slow."

"Slow?" She asked shocked.  "What's slow?" He laughed more.

"No sex," he smiled.

"And you're okay with that?" She asked not believing what she was hearing.

"If that's what it takes to be with Meredith, then yes."

Just then one of their pagers went off and what once was a light-hearted conversation between two friends turned into silence as they took a glance at their pagers and realized it was Derek's.  Derek rushed off to the emergency area to meet the ambulance.  Normally, Alison would have also been called, but the Paramedic and EMT's knew that it was best page Doctor Shepherd.

*

"Tell me about your family," Mark said as they were laying in his bed after a round of sex.  He was running his fingers through her blonde hair soothingly as she laid her head on his chest and drew circles.

"Well, I'm from South Dakota.  My dad was is retired from the military and now works as a military contractor and my mom has her own organization she runs for soldiers and veterans who suffer from PTSD.  My two brothers are in the military right now too.  One of them is twenty-one and married with a kid on the way.  His name is Adam and his wife's name is Katie.  Then the other is twenty-five and his name is James and his wife's name is Sarah," she said with a smile and laughed at the serious look on Mark's face once she told him.

"Damn," Mark muttered.  "Did you ever think of joining the military?"

"I thought about it," Alison nodded her head.  "I was thinking about being a surgeon in the Air Force, but I ended up changing my mind."

"Does it feel odd having your youngest brother being younger than you and already having a family?"

"It feels a little odd," she let out a small laugh.  "I mean we always hear that the oldest sibling marries first but I guess it was just supposed to happen the way it did."

In reality, no matter how happy she was for her brother, it was just a bitter reminder of what could have been for her.  Mark could sense something was bothering her and put a comforting hand on her thigh as he rubbed it soothingly.  He could see her drifting in a far off distance.

"Hey, you okay?" He asked her.

"Yeah," she tried to smile as she thought about the possible dangers her brothers could be in.  "Just thinking about my brother's and their safety.  I guess I should let you know now before I met you, I said some really shitty things about you," Alison told Mark as she sat up on his bed and he raised an eyebrow.

"Really?  Like what?"

"I basically called you a shit head of a best friend and other names I don't want to say right now. All of this was before I knew your side of the story and Addison's.  I understand if you don't want to be with me now," she said as she looked down at her small hands and he took them in hers making her look up.

"Alison, listen to me.  We all make mistakes and we all at some point or another want to believe one side of the story before thinking that there might be another side.  I don't blame you for that and I certainly don't blame you for the thinking you had of me before you met me.  I've had my faults too and I certainly didn't give you a better idea of me before we met.  I know I'm asking a lot for you to give me a chance.  To let me prove to you that I want to be with you and show you that I won't cheat on you.  All I can ask is for you to give me a chance," Mark said as he ran his thumb back and forth grazing it on her hand as she shivered.

Alison nodded her head with a smile on her face as she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his in what was a soft and sweet kiss and she nodded her head in confirmation making him smile.  Since Addison broke his heart, he hadn't wanted to be in a serious relationship with anyone else.  And then he met Alison.  He would have still wanted to be with her even if she wasn't a doctor.  Professions didn't matter, but it was a bonus that he got to see her almost everyday at work.  And even if he didn't just the thought that she was in the same building as him gave them both the feeling of excitement and happiness.

"Tell me about your family," she said as she cuddled into him more and he linked their hands together.

"There's not much to tell," he shrugged his shoulders.  "I'm an only child," he began and she spoke.

"Ah, so that explains the arrogance then," she joked and he laughed.

"Some people would say that's my charm," he teased back.  "I'm not close with my parents.  In fact, it was actually Derek's mom who practically raised me.  I got a lot bad habits when I was with my parents and I ended up developing insomnia as a child."

"Is that why you also became an ENT?" She asked as she turned her head to look at him.

"Yeah, I guess you could say that," he shrugged his shoulder.  "I just want people to have a better life than I did."

"I hate that you had such a rough childhood," she said as she pouted and he groaned.

"Don't do that," he said.

"What?  Pout?"

"Yes!" He exclaimed.  "You look so damn adorable when you do."

"Oh my God, Mark!" She let out a laugh of disbelief.  "We were literally just talking about your childhood and now you want to talk about how adorable I look from pouting."

"What's wrong with that?"

"You have such a one track mind," she laughed shaking her head.

"Not true," he whined slightly.  "At least I didn't say I was turned on by it," he said as he moved his hand and began tickling her making her shriek and try to get out of his grasp.

"No, Mark!  Stop!"

"Tell me I'm the hottest man you've ever slept with and then I'll stop," he teased as he continued tickling her and she thrashed her body around on his silk sheets.

"Fine, fine!" She let out a breath.  "Your the hottest man I've ever slept with!"

"There, was that so hard?" He asked with a smile as he looked down at her.

"You are such a jerk!" She laughed as she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down, closer to her.

Sometimes people can change if you give them the chance to prove you wrong.  Sometimes all it takes is an open heart and a willingness to see that change.  And then the rest is up to them.

--

hi friends!  I am SO sorry for the late update but I hope you all liked it.  I started back to school and it's been a priority for me because I'm in my last year.  I'm hoping that I won't have to wait this long to update the next chapter.

how do you all feel about Addison and Alison coming to an understanding with each other and now being friends? 

hope you all are doing well!  thank you to everyone who likes (clicks the star), reads and comments on this story!  I can't believe we are at 1k already for likes!