A new Christmas story from me. I wanted to write something with children, at a time where they are all happy. So it's set around 5/6 years after season 2 where at some point Derek and Addison had really made a go of things and Derek had really worked on his marriage and they decided to move back to New York. There will be more to come after this chapter. Set around Christmas for at least a few more chapters. But I also really love the kids in this story so I was thinking of writing another story with them in set after all this but as a sequel cause I want to give this story a Christmas title and so people can really this as an Addek Christmas story and then go on to read more about this family in another story if they want. Maybe with some flashbacks too. Please review and let me know what you think.

Derek awoke to the sound of a little voice calling out his name. "Daddy, has Santa been yet?"

Derek groaned. "Not yet buddy." Looking at the clock he sees it's only 2am. Addison stirs beside him and rubs her eyes. They hadn't been asleep for long. "Go back to sleep and try not to wake your sister. Santa won't come until he's sure you're asleep."

"Yes go back to sleep, Henry. We have a long day ahead of us in the morning."

"Ok, mommy and daddy. I'm just so excited for the morning."

"I know, buddy. We are too but first we all need plenty of sleep."

"Ok goodnight mommy and daddy, I love you."

"We love you too, Henry. Goodnight." Henry gives them one last look before heading out of the room and pulling the door shut behind him.

Derek turns to face his wife and gives her a smile. "We made the cutest kids ever didn't we."

"Not that we're biased at all but definitely. He's so cute that I'll forgive him waking me up at 2 in the morning. But now we need to get some sleep before they really won't take no for answer about getting up."

"Yes we best do that cause we have a busy day ahead. Opening presents here and going to my mom's for Christmas dinner. I love you, Addison." Derek tells her before kissing her softly on the lips.

"I love you too, Derek. Merry Christmas - being with you here and with our beautiful family. It's all I've ever wanted and I'm so glad that we have it. We got through all the worst times and now we have all this. I know that nothing is ever perfect but I'm so grateful for this every single day. There were times in Seattle when I thought we never make it through, this really is all worth it."

"Oh Addie - I love you too so much and I'm so grateful for you and our children. I just hope I can show you everyday how much I regret how I treated you back then and how I'm so sorry for all the hurt I caused you. I'm so happy that we got through it all and that now we're here and we have our beautiful family."

"I know you're sorry Derek, and you prove it to me everyday. Things might not be perfect all the time and nothing ever is but at the end of the day, I know you love me and I know you love Henry and Annabelle. We really have everything we dreamed of all those years ago."

Derek kisses Addison again and she smiles brightly at him as they pull apart. "Goodnight Addie."

"Goodnight honey." Addison tells him before giving him one last kiss and resting her head against his chest as he puts his arms around her.

- - - - —- —-

"Mommy! Daddy! It's morning!" Two excited voices shout as they run into their bedroom and jump on to the bed.

Derek sits up and sees the time on the alarm clock that it is 6.30am.

"Hey munchkins. Merry Christmas!" Derek tells them.

"Merry Christmas Daddy!" Annabelle tells him before turning to her mom. "Merry Christmas mommy!"

"Merry Christmas Annabelle and Henry! I bet if we go downstairs we can see if Santa has left you some presents downstairs. But first go and put your slippers and dressing gowns on please."

"Ok mommy we'll go and do that now won't we Annabelle? I can't wait to see what Santa might have brought us this year." Henry tells her.

"Ok well you too go and do that and me and your daddy will do the same and then we can all go downstairs."

Henry and Annabelle leave their bedroom and Addison turns to Derek.

"Merry Christmas Derek!" Addison tells him.

"Merry Christmas Addison!" Derek replies before pulling her in for a kiss.

She kisses him back and moans as he deepens the kiss. "Mmm I love you."

"I love you more." Derek tells her.

"We best get ready to go downstairs as the kids are so excited and I am too but we can definitely continue this later tonight hopefully."

"I'll look forward to it." Derek tells her with one last kiss. Before grabbing both their dressing gowns and handing Addison's to her to put on.

"Thanks honey."

—- — —- —

Making their way downstairs and into the living room, Henry and Annabelle so excited to see what Santa has brought for them. Addison and Derek so happy to share their special season with the two wonderful children who had brought so much joy to their lives.

The children see the presents under the tree and run towards it. "Mommy! Daddy! Santa's been to our house." Annabelle shouts out excitedly.

"Wow Santa is amazing!" Henry tells them.

"He sure is. Let's open some presents and we can see what he got for you." Addison tells them loving to see her children so happy and excited.

"Yes let's all find a present with our names on and open something each and then you can find the tags that have your names on them and sort them so you know which presents are yours." Derek tells them.

"That's a great idea, honey. Henry, Annabelle if you can find a present with your names on and ones with mommy and daddy's name on and then we can see what we got."

They open a present each - Chanel no.5 perfume for Addison, Tom Ford cologne for Derek, an Ariel doll for Annabelle, and a Spider-Man toy for Henry.

"Wow Mommy, I love Ariel she's so beautiful and has red hair just like you." Annabelle tells Addison.

"I just wish I could swim in the ocean like her, it would be so fun to be a mermaid like Ariel." Addison tells her.

"It would be amazing but we wouldn't be able to breathe underwater mommy." Annabelle laughs.

"You're so clever, sweetheart."

"You and daddy really do look a lot like Ariel and Prince Eric. You're really handsome too, daddy."

"Why thank you, Princess Annabelle." Derek smiles at his daughter, before turning to his son. "What do you think of your Spider-Man, Henry?" He asks.

"I love it daddy! Can I take it to Grandma's later?"

"Of course you can, Henry. So shall we see what other presents you and Annabelle got? There should be some there from me and your mommy too."

"Yes, thank you mommy and daddy."

—- — —- —- —- —-

After a morning spent opening presents and having breakfast before getting the children dressed, a beautiful dress for Annabelle and a smart shirt for Henry, and getting ready themselves. They were now on the way to Derek's mom's house for Christmas dinner. The children were looking forward to seeing their cousins and the rest of the family and Derek and Addison were looking forward to it too.

Over the years, Addison had felt that Carolyn hadn't always liked her. But since Addison and Derek had truly decided to work on their marriage and had the children. Things had been better between them and Carolyn had really been making an effort to make it up to Addison. Derek had confronted his mother about the way she had treated Addison a few years previously and since then things had been better between them.

There was always a chance for fireworks whenever so many Shepherd's got together for a family gathering but they were all excited for what the day would bring.

"Mommy are we there yet?" Annabelle asks.

"Not yet sweetie. Maybe another hour or so to go yet. Why don't we put some Christmas songs on and sing along to them?"

The children cheer in excitement and Addison switches the music on and they all sing along to their favourite Christmas songs.

Derek continues to drive and glancing over at his wife next to him and his children in the backseat all singing along, Derek can't remember a time when he ever felt happier.