When last we met: Okay, I'm not going over everything that happened, if you haven't read Sexual Healing, Science vs Romance, Love on Drugs or Knocking on Forbidden Doors go back and do that. I mean you don't have too. You just should. You are looking at about 26 chapters. So, it's up to you. I'm not explaining 26 chapters worth of Drama. Here's what I will tell you ­­­–– At the end of Knocking on Forbidden Doors:

- Mark and Sydney were expecting twins (and got married)

- Derek and Addison managed to carry on their affair for almost a year without anyone finding out (except Mark and Sydney. Izzie came close but no cigar).

- Addison asked Derek to leave Meredith in order to be with her. Derek never said outright if he would, but he didn't seem to be leaving Addison anyway.

- Meredith told Derek they were having their own bundle of joy.

- But then it turns out that Addison didn't really tell Derek all of the details –– she had her own bun in the oven (I know, I know, I know. But why have 1 when you can have 4). Tricky thing about that is she didn't know who the father of the bun was. But she did know who the father of Meredith's bundle of joy was, so she dumped Derek (he wasn't pleased with this, he thought that they could figure something out… and he still didn't know about the bun).

- So, Addison told Geoffrey (that's her BF if you are choosing not to read the other 26 chapters) that THEY were having a baby, and then agreed to marry him.

It's not as corny as it seems when I list it off like that. Or maybe it is. Who knows.

Are you still with me?

You can read the chapter now.

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Sydney Heron-Sloan wandered aimlessly down the hall towards the OR's. She was calmly reviewing her current situation; which was: she was not in fact wandering but waddling, and rearview mirrors would be helpful considering a sudden movement to check behind her would disrupt her precarious center of balance and land her on the ground –– helpless, and at the mercy of colleagues who were either intimidated by her now massive girth, or who hated her.

It was at that moment that Sydney began to suspect that something else was amiss. Nothing big. She was just beginning to think that maybe she was wearing 2 different shoes.

She made her way slowly to the side of the corridor and leaned against the wall, gripping the thick wooden railing in order to keep her balance. She stuck out her right foot –– white and navy Nike with white springy laces so she could just slip them on. She shifted slowly and stuck out her left foot –– red croc.

"Alright," she straightened up and started gently massaging her tremendous tummy, "Which one of you picked out the croc? It's January kids. Next time pick something that will keep Mommy's feet dry. And please," she continued, "Try to pick shoes that match. Shoes should be identical, just like you." She patted her abdomen affectionately, "It would be easier for you two to learn how to compromise now. I know right now you're thinking that 9 months together in a warm cozy uterus is enough, but you are stuck with each other for the next 90 years, and you won't always have my bladder to take out your aggressions on."

"Sydney?" Addison interrupted Sydney's narrative with an amused smile, "Are you talking to your stomach?"

"These babies are a very captive audience."

"They have no choice," Addison smiled and crossed her arms, "I believe I told you to stay home and off your feet."

"I got bored," Sydney shrugged, "All there is to do at home is watch the food network which just makes me hungry; but, I'm too huge to get myself off the couch to make anything. And whenever Mark finally gets home someone immediately pages him back. So, I'm spending most of my time hungry and lonely. And then the pizza boy spurned my advances."

Addison raised an eyebrow, "I think I also told you to refrain from sexual activity."

"You take all the fun out of pregnancy, you know that?"

"I try my hardest, but despite my efforts women insist on having babies and as 'the best', I'm morally obligated not to retire to Aruba."

"I never realized how hard your life is."

"I try to hide it as best I can."

"I'd feel worse if you weren't gorgeous with annoyingly long legs, a tiny waist, fantastic rack and a fiancée that makes me go weak in my swollen knees."

"I can see how that would make it hard," Addison smiled as she continued to walk slowly at Sydney's side listening to her heels click loudly on the hard floors.

"Mark still thinks we are having boys."

Addison smiled, "I told you it's two of the same, and the test say identical. That's all you wanted to know."

"We are having girls aren't we?"

Addison didn't say anything.

"I've known all along they were girls. They feel like girls. But I didn't think it would hurt to let Mark believe they could be boys."

Addison glanced at her out of the corner of her eye, "How long have you been in labour for Syd?"

"Since about 5am," she admitted easily.

Addison smiled gently; "When your contractions get to about 5 minutes I want you to go check yourself in and page me ok?"

"What tipped you off?" Sydney asked curiously.

Addison grinned, "You weren't talking as much."

XXXX

Derek stretched out his shoulder and stared at the blank walls of what used to be George's room.

Meredith shuffled in, barely awake, "Your doing this now?" She yawned.

"I don't have much time off in the next few weeks," he explained, "Are you sure that this is the colour that you want?"

She nodded and carefully sat in the middle of the room, the tarp that was protecting the floor shifting stiffly underneath her.

"It's lime green."

Meredith smiled sleepily, "It won't dry like that," she paused, "I hope."

"You are sure this is the colour you want? Not yellow or something neutral?"

"I want this one," she affirmed.

"Okay," Derek sighed and looked at the walls with a concerned look on his face.

"Here," Meredith called his attention back to her, "Look at this," she reached forward carefully, her arm crossing protectively over her tummy as she did. She flipped open a magazine and rapidly turned the pages, "See bright green with pink, and bright green with blue," she looked at him earnestly, "So when the McBaby is born and we know if it's a boy or a girl, we'll have pink stuff or blue stuff all ready to go with the green. I don't want McBaby coming home to a gender non-specific room."

"Don't call our baby McBaby," Derek chuckled, reaching out to help her up, "And why don't we just find out if it's a boy or a girl and then we can skip the green and go right to pink or blue."

"We are not finding out the sex of Gumby to make decorating easier," she leaned forward to kiss him good morning, "That's ridiculous."

XXXX

"So I hear," Callie leaned casually against the counter, "That Sloan's spawn are trying to leave the Mothership."

"Yes, they are," Addison nodded with a smile, "6cm's, drugged up and comfortable, and playing poker with Mark, the anesthesiologist and Cristina."

"Yang?"

"Apparently she's a shark," Addison shook her head, "I also saw Mark going with a game of Monopoly and a Bop It."

"Bop It?" Callie grinned, "You and me. 3 o'clock Bop It match. To the death."

"You make that sound like there will be a competition and not just me kicking your ass."

Callie grinned broadly, but then slowly her face softened, "How are you doing?"

"Me?" Addison's brow furrowed, "I'm fine."

"I just thought that with… Mark and the babies actually arriving…"

"Callie," Addison gave her a funny look, "I've been Syd's OB pretty much from the beginning. If the fact that she's having Mark's babies bothered me I would have stepped aside a long time ago."

"I just…" Callie paused then rushed on, "Geoffrey told me about the… thing…"

Addison turned to look at Callie, her face hard and expressionless. "When?"

Callie looked away, "Right after it happened. He wanted me to make sure you were okay coming back to work."

"I was fine," Addison said harshly, "Millions of women have miscarriages."

"That's true," Callie agreed, "But not all of them miscarry so soon after learning that her ex-husband and ex-lover are having babies too. And most women don't react to miscarriages by having their tubes tied. He was just worried."

"I was okay," Addison said softly, "I'm okay."

"I know but…"

"I am Callie," Addison's voice pleaded for Callie to stop pushing it, "I was sad. And, yes, it still feels unfair sometimes, but I'm happy for them. All of them," she continued softly, "I do wish that it could have been me. But I really am okay. I'm older then Sydney and Meredith so it was a high-risk pregnancy. And when… when I… I was heartbroken, and I took steps so it wouldn't happen again. But I'm okay and you really don't have to worry about me."

"Okay," Callie nodded, "Still on for Bop It?"

"If your still willing to be utterly humiliated."

XXXX

"How are you doing?" Addison settled herself on a stool and snapped on some gloves.

"Oh great. Cristina took all my money playing poker, Mark bankrupted me during Monopoly and I stubbed my toe trying to Bop It."

"I'm going to assume that that last one was a joke."

"Clearly. I can't feel anything below my boobs. From now on I'm getting hooked up to this thing every time I feel even a twinge of PMS cramps."

"If only," Addison smiled, "Where's Mark?"

"I encouraged him to take Meredith to find Derek for supper. If I had to look at her skinny self for one more minute I couldn't be held responsible for my actions. I don't care if I'm numb, I would've heaved myself from this bed and smothered her. And if she moved out of the way I would've dragged myself across the floor until I caught her," Sydney reached for her ice chips, "It's not fair that she looks that good. She's due in 10 weeks and she is like the size I was at 4 months. And I know that I am having twins and she's just having one, but seriously. She has this cute little baby bump and I look like the Titanic. She's a twig, I was really looking forward to her growing to epic proportions and she's barely wearing the medium scrubs. The only part of her that's growing is her boobs."

"How unfair," Addison replied dryly.

"I know," Sydney exclaimed, "And she's talking about play dates. She wants my giant babies to play with her twiggy baby. I liked it so much better when you were with Derek. I didn't have to deal with Meredith nearly as much. We maybe had dinner together twice before, now it's like every other weekend. And Meredith just sits there, silently. I have to do all the talking."

"Imagine."

"Okay. Shut up. You'll fight me for the attention. Please. I'm begging you. Do whatever it is that you do to seduce men and get him back. Do it for me. Do it for the self-esteem for my 2 ton babies."

Addison stood, "Only 2 centimeters to go," she smiled at Sydney, "Not long now."

XXXX

"Alex?" Addison approached Alex in the locker room and sat down on the bench, "I need help."

"Did you sleep with Derek again?"

She glared at him, "No."

"Sorry, but usually when you ask me for help it's somehow related to you having sex with him."

"Stop talking."

"Okay."

"Has Meredith been having problems with her pregnancy?"

"Not that I know of. Why?"

"I was talking to Sydney and she thinks that Meredith should be enormous."

"Nice, Addison."

"She's right though. Meredith is remarkably small for this stage of her pregnancy. She's a tiny girl, she should be showing more."

"You're serious?"

Addison nodded.

"I'll talk to Meredith."

Addison smiled, "Thank you."

XXXX

"Jade?" Meredith tapped at the keyboard keys as she scrolled through lists of names, "Oh I like it better with a 'y'. Jayde."

Derek smiled.

"I'm adding it to the list. And Jude if it's a boy."

"Like the Beatles song?"

"No. Like Jude Law," Meredith laughed, "Hey. What about Ace for a boy?"

"Ace?"

"Ya. I like it. He could grow up to be a Rock Star. Or Ryker."

"Ryker," Derek repeated.

"I need more boys names. My list for boys is really short. What do you have for boys?"

"What do you have for boys?"

"Ummm…" Meredith consulted her list, "Well, Ryker, Ace and Jude. And I have Dane, Max, Pollack, Miller and Dashell. Oh, Dashell. I think that's my favorite."

"Dashell."

"And Beckett and Radley," Meredith added, "But I like those for girl's too."

Derek sighed and closed his eyes, "What do you have for girls? Other then Jade or Jayde."

"Okay. Mason. Paxton. Cady. Carys. Sailor…"

"Sailor? We are having a baby not a Golden Retriever."

"I like it," Meredith said defensively, "You probably won't like Scout either."

"No."

"Okay," Meredith sighed, " Constance, Grier, Spencer, Persephone…"

"What?"

"Persephone."

"How in the world do you spell that?"

"P.E.R.S.E.P.H.O.N.E."

"Per-se-phone?"

"No. It's like Stephanie," Meredith explained, "Per-sef-anie"

"No."

"Lola?"

"Meredith," Derek gave her an indulgent smile, "Give me your top five and well argue about them from there."

Meredith shot him a look as she chewed on her lip, "Okay… Piper, Riley, Spencer, Beckett and Paisley."

"Paisley?" Derek ran his hands over his face, "Are you kidding?"

"Piper Paisley for a girl and Dashell Ace for a boy."

"Meredith. Our child has to live with these names for the rest of his or her life."

"I like those names. They have character."

"Our baby will be murdered by Mark and Sydney's twins with those names."

"What are they naming the twins?"

"I don't know," Derek finally went back to eating his cafeteria spaghetti, "But no matter what they pick their kids will beat up someone named Dashell."

"And 'Derek' is so manly," Meredith sighed, "Well, what names do you like?"

Derek shrugged, "Haven't really thought about it."

Meredith's eyes narrowed, "You already named Gumby didn't you. Tell me."

Derek smiled guiltily, reached across the table, and took Meredith's hands, "I thought maybe Julian for a boy, after my dad."

"You don't think Julian would be beaten up by the Sloan twins?" but her face had softened. "I like Julian. Julian Dashell."

"And I assumed that you would want to name a girl after your mom."

Meredith shrugged, "Maybe a middle name. Maybe."

"Okay," Derek shifted uncomfortably, "Then maybe Julianne? Julie? Or Julia? Julia Grey-Shepherd," his eyes pleaded.

Meredith sat silently for a long moment. "Julie-Grey. One name. Julie-Grey Ellis Shepherd."

"Julie or Julian," Derek leaned back and smiled.

"Julian Dashell or Julie-Grey."

"I can live with those."

XXXX

Addison closed the door firmly behind her and crossed the room to her locker. It was around the corner from Derek's and she was now cursing the day she begged Richard to let her switch.

It was the day after Mark agreed to come to Seattle Grace. Mark was lobbying with a naïve young doctor to give up her locker –– right next to Addison's. Addison was desperate not to be sandwiched between Derek and Mark and tried unsuccessfully to trade with Callie who at that point didn't know Mark and didn't want to know Mark. Derek slyly tried to switch with Bailey, who agreed ––until she found out that Addison has successfully traded with Sydney Heron, who had just that morning graced the staff with cupcakes for her own birthday.

Richard put his foot down, ordered all 20 doctors that had lockers in that room to clean them out; they were reorganizing. They stood around the room holding boxes of belongings and waiting for Richard to realize what everyone in the room already knew ­­–– Addison Shepherd, Derek Shepherd and Mark Sloane were going to end up in a row, with a very annoyed Callie Torres beside them. Now all the females had the right hand bay of lockers and the males had the left. They were arranged alphabetically by first name and everyone was pleased with the arrangement.

But it was going to make it very difficult for Addison to break into Derek's locker.

She waited until the room was empty then crossed quickly to the other side of the room and thanked the heavens that Derek was a man of habit and had been using the same lock since med school.

Six seconds later she was opening the door. Twenty-three seconds after that she found what she was looking for. Three seconds and her heart stopped beating. And less then a minute of opening Derek's locker –– the door to the locker room swung open.

"What are you doing?" He demanded in a harsh whisper.

"I was just…" She though fast but couldn't come up with a convincing lie for why she was rifling though his locker when she hadn't so much as looked him in the eye since she had last spoken to him in the trailer.

Derek crossed the room in 3 angry steps and ripped the sonogram out of Addison's hand. "What are you doing with this?"

"Nothing," Addison stuttered, "I was…"

"Get out," he ordered harshly. The locker door slammed with such force that both their lab coats billowed.

"I'm trying to help you." Addison's body visibly tensed as she fought her emotions.

"Help? You broke into my locker."

"I needed to see…"

"Addison," his voice caught sharply on her name as he looked at her eyes for the first time and for a moment it seemed like he would let her continue and say whatever is was that she needed to say, "What ever it is," his voice was gruff and doleful as he rubbed his palms resignedly over his face, "I can't –– I don't want to hear it."

"Fine," Addison's eye's flashed with betrayal, "I'll go to Meredith."

Derek grabbed her arm as she turned away, "Stay away from her."

Addison wrenched her arm free from his grasp but didn't move away, "I would love to be able to just ignore this Derek," her voice was eerily even, "But there might be something wrong with your baby and I'm not cruel enough pretend there isn't."

Derek stared at her, his face blank.

"That ultrasound, it says December 18th. If she's due in March then that baby is dangerously underdeveloped."

"What are you saying?" Derek hissed harshly.

"Are you sure of the date the baby was conceived?"

"Unbelievable," his face flushed with anger, "I know that things with us didn't work out like you wanted, but you have no business accusing Meredith of…"

"I'm not accusing her of anything Derek. This has nothing to do," she lowered her voice to barely a whisper ––the room felt loud and suffocating even though neither of them had raised their voice above a murmur, "This has nothing to do with us or what I did or didn't want from that relationship," her eyes hardened "I am a doctor, and a damn good one, and I am telling you that either Meredith was clairvoyant when she told you she was pregnant, or there is something very wrong with that baby."

XXXX

Meredith stared uneasily at Derek sitting beside her. He looked like he wanted to punch the wall.

She spread her hands wide over the span of her stomach, measuring it. She didn't believe Alex. She'd gained a lot of weight, and she was positive about how far along she was. Maybe her baby was just petit.

She'd dismissed the idea until she saw Derek. He was tense, angry and silent. She was beginning to suspect that Addison has talked to him about that same thing that Alex had spoken to her about.

Derek looked over at her, his eyes resting on her hands on her stomach before he met her eyes. The rims of his eyes were red but the whites of his eyes were stark white. She reached over and rested her palm against his cheek, watching him closely as he pressed his cheek against her hand until it was trapped between his shoulder and his cheek.

The door swung open and Mark appeared, "Girls," he grinned, his chest puffed out proudly, "2 little girls!"

Meredith stood when Derek did and followed him into the room. She watched Derek pointedly ignore Addison, then hug his best friend and kiss Sydney on the cheek before peering at the baby in her arms. She barely registered Mark saying something about Derek being the babies godfather and watched blankly as Derek reached eagerly to hold the baby. Meredith's eyes panned the room slowly, her eyes finally settling on Addison standing to the side monitoring the other twin.

"What's wrong with her?"

"Nothing," Addison smiled softly, "Just needs a little extra oxygen to pink'n her up."

Meredith watched the infant squinting against the bright lights despite her tightly closed eyes; her limbs jerked and her fist clenched as she cried loudly, "She looks like a perfect little person."

"That's how we want them," Addison's voice faltered a bit, "Beatrix and Roxana. Can you believe that?"

Meredith waited until Addison looked up at her, "Do you really think there is something wrong with my baby?"

Addison held her gaze, "I would love to be proven wrong."

"What we have to do?"

"I'd like to admit you. Tonight."

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What do you think? Happy eh.

And I don't want to be a skank about this, but an author/story alert is not a review. All it does is send me an email that says that someone liked my story enough to want to read more… but not enough to take 30 seconds to tell me why. Crap like this doesn't just happen. I have to work to make it suck this much.

That said. You Rock.

Have some scrambled eggs, toast and hashbrowns.