Addison's, a couple of days later.

[adddddie]

To say that Mark and her had put the past behind them and were quickly becoming the new subject of the Seattle Grace gossip mill would be highly inaccurate. Although they had made it a priority to discuss their past, their regrets and uncertainties, it was with the mutual understanding that their history would always stay a part of them and their

Comments

[marksloan]

Mark's eyes gleamed with amusement. "No thanks," he smirked, digging his hands into the pockets of his jacket. "I think I've been sufficiently grilled for the evening."

He joked about the long conversations they'd had over the past week-- the hours spend over a meal or on the phone, but in all honesty, he knew it was good that they'd been doing things this way.

[adddddie]

"Mm I think I agree," Addison chuckled, staring down at her keys, which jingled between her fingers as she played with them nervously.

Her eyes skipped to Mark's feet, standing more than a yard's length away. The way she saw it, she had two options - thank him for the evening and the cotton candy stick he had gotten her earlier in the evening and wish him goodnight, or finally invite him inside, if only for a little while. The night had been a good one, and she opted for the latter option, not wanting it to come to an end just yet.

"Do you want to, maybe, come in?" Addison asked as she tucked a curly strand of hair behind her ear and motioned towards the mahogany door with the other hand. "For some coffee, or something?" She quickly clarified before she could receive a questioning look from his side.

[marksloan]

Mark's eyebrow quirked up. "You sure?" he asked, trying to sound casual while rocking back on his heels.

He hadn't been in Addison's apartment since that one morning when she hurriedly dressed for work, and although he respected the slow pace they were moving at, wasn't sure if being in her apartment late at night would help matters.

[adddddie]

Addison opened her mouth to assure him she's sure but then closed it when a thought came to her. She bit the inside of her lip. Did Mark not want to come inside?

"Well, it's okay if you have to go, I just thought I'd you know, offer," she tried, rewarding her stumbling with a mental kick. She couldn't chase the disappointment out of her voice, but she tried her best to mask it with a reassuring smile.

Maybe they weren't read for some one-on-one in an apartment, especially at night? Maybe this was Mark's opinion, and the possibility that it was sent her own doubt soaring through her.