Yay! Thank you all for the positive reviews I received. I'm really happy you guys liked it! So sorry for some typos I always end up doing, I also apologize for many mistakes, grammatical mistakes and also logical ones. :)
Also, @wintermachine might have "infected" me a way or "style" of writing, so, I'm very very veryyy sorry If it seems like I copied or tried to copy her (?), so I'm very sorry if it seemed like I did(?).
But no I didn't intend or try to copy her, for sure. Giving credits anyway since I do think my "style" has changed after reading too much fluffy Addek stuff.
Anyways,
Hope you like this chapter!
•••
"You could have woken me up." She takes another sip of the glass of water before he opens the door of that tiny trailer.
He stands in there waiting for her to go through the door as soon as possible to catch the next ferryboat. "Sorry, I didn't notice it was this late." He has kept himself up for hours, stroking her hair and just listening to her constant breathing on his chest.
He knew they were going to end up having to give a long explanation to Richard as to why they didn't make an appearance last night.
She sighs and walks out of the trailer. "You know, it's fine."
He holds a laugh. For Addison nothing is really fine after a fight. "Fine?" He closes the door behind his back and locks it.
"Yeah, fine." They both walk to Derek's car.
She would have gone by herself on her red Mercedes but they were already too late and she could come back to the land on a cab if Derek has to stay later than her.
He unlocks the car with the key. Both get up, he gives her a look, a constant curious look. "I let you sleep more than you should, I make us both be late and you say it's fine?"
"Well, we're both ready now." She says, putting her seatbelt on.
He checks his watch. "It's an hour and forty four minutes later." Something shines besides the watch on his wrist. She sees it. His wedding band is back. Somehow he noticed she had noticed he hasn't been wearing his wedding band in a long time.
He didn't want her to believe that this action might be a symbol of total forgiveness because he was still hurting.
Addison looks away, not wanting to make her happiness too obvious. After all, they just had a fight which should make everything awkward and annoying as it should be.
As it has always been.
"Why are you counting anyway? You're the one who kept himself awake and didn't say a word." She snaps, but in a gently way that's almost like she's teasing him.
"You said it was fine." He points out.
"And it is." She gives him a look. The morning sun was shiny and radiant; one of the things they missed because of having to rush to the hospital so early. Today they could get to see the sun. All she wanted was to leave and being able to have a time by herself during the ferryboat trip they had to go through; this way she could think about breaking the news and many other pendant issues she had. "Now, let's go." She encourages him.
"Alright."
They are finally driving. It's a very silent way to the ferryboats. Calm. It's time she uses to think, but not about her whole pregnancy issue, she's actually non stop thinking about his wedding band. She'll probably get stuck on the thought. She already did and she won't let go.
She thought he was going to ask why she didn't ask for any coffee this morning. He didn't notice. I mean, he obviously did, but didn't find it odd or strange. Sometimes Addison did drink water in the mornings and then would drink some coffee at the hospital, as usual.
Except that now...
It wasn't going to be as usual.
They both walk through the ferryboat, the view is exquisite. "What are we going to tell the chief?" Derek asks politely. Both walking next to each other.
"Richard will understand." She doesn't make any eye contact. "I had a fever and you decided to take care of your lovely wife as you should and would." A lie was the easiest way.
He nods. "Of course I did." His hand caresses her upper arm. The touch his hand feels is the touch of that gorgeous beige coat. He remembers that coat.
•••
Four years ago...
Shopping wasn't his favorite way of wasting time or spending time; but it was Addison's for sure. She loved getting new pieces of clothing. Clothes she could wear to dinner parties at their friends' house, stunning clothes and boots that could be modeled around the streets of the upper east side when they had days off.
She enjoyed classy and comfortable clothes. His favorite part of shopping with Addison was lingerie shopping, but he could admit she looked cute wearing some outfits and he enjoyed that view too.
"What do you think?" She asks. A beige coat that's normal. It doesn't have anything out of the ordinary.
"Try it on." He suggests with a small charming smile. She smiles back at him and takes the coat out of the clothespin. He walks closer to her and takes the coat on his hands. She turns around as he helps her try the coat on.
There's a mirror in front of her. "Pretty, right?"
He stares for a while. "Beautiful." That's all he says.
They give each other a cute look through the mirror.
•••
"But then he'll ask why we are so late and I'm not going to explain that by myself." He tells her, she rolls her eyes and faces him.
"Figure that out yourself." She suggests, using a kind tone.
She tilts her head a bit. "Maybe we can just say we didn't wake up when we had to." Derek says.
She chuckles at that and looks back to the water and morning sunshine. "Correction, you didn't wake me up when I had to." He catches her hand.
He moves the union of their hands to his lips, kissing the back of Addison's hand. She gives him a curious look. Was that some kind of cheesy apology for being such an ass? "You were sleeping peacefully." He will use that excuse.
"We're late anyways." She won't drop the theme that easily. Addison has to say she was surprised by that sweet kiss.
He squeezes her hand. "You said it was fine."
"Well, it isn't." She says sincerely, sighing sharply.
"Okay, I'll come clean to Richard and I'll say I didn't wake you up at the hour I had to. Happy?" He asks.
"Pretty close."
"How come?" He chuckles softly, very McDreamy kind of way of chuckling.
"Pretty close to being happy." She explains vaguely.
He doesn't respond because he knows whatever he says could lead into another fight or misunderstanding. He just gives her a small grin and hopes that will light up the mood.
"Want some coffee?" He offers himself to go buy her some coffee.
Caffeine. No, no caffeine. "I actually feel like I'll need luck for today. Juju?" She asks, her mood seems lighten. Perhaps that friendly grin did help a bit.
He nods. "Juju, then. I'll be back in a minute." He lets go of her hand and walks away. She sighs.
She has many things to think about:
Number one: finding a trustworthy OB/GYN that could give her an ultrasound. She had to be maybe as good as she was and a respected doctor.
Number two: finding a polite and comfortable way of telling Derek. There was many ways but none of them were on her mind besides bringing it up casually on some conversation, which wasn't as ideal as it could be.
Number three: hiding any kind of reference or symptom at all costs. She didn't want to be part of the nurses gossiping.
Number four: how to convince Derek on moving from that soup can, considering they couldn't raise a kid inside of there, not at all. But before this she had to do number two.
•••
They arrive at the hospital and thankfully aren't as noticed as they could be noticed any other day. There's no much movement around anyways.
"John Jennings' chart, please?" He asks the nurse.
"There you go." The nurse says kindly and leaves it on the table.
He walks towards the nurses station. "Meredith... hey." Derek greets the intern, who's going down the stairs.
She approaches with a small grin. "Hey! You heard?" The blonde intern asks. Addison was probably on the attendings lounge not aware that her husband was talking to the twelve year old once again.
"I'm not following." Derek frowns at her, noticing some worry on her eyes.
"Um, Denny Duquette died." She explains.
Derek nods, showing his best serious face. "Oh, I'm sorry."
There was an unknown dimension when it came to Meredith, there was always wrong going on. There was always something she could worry or be unthankful about. She was like a complicated puzzle, he could tell. Maybe his brain likes complicated puzzles... Addison used to be a complicated puzzle.
She shakes her head, a little, barely. "It's not my pity... it's... Izzie. She's paralyzed in my bathroom floor." Meredith explains vaguely.
He doesn't really care who is or who is not paralyzed in her bathroom floor, but he listens anyway; a part of himself wonders why. "Oh, interesting. How was prom last night?" He asks casually.
"Good. Um, I invited Finn."
"Great. How was the Vet?" He likes this game. He really does. Acting like a jealous boyfriend.
"Good." A small grin comes through her face. "We thought we could see you there but you weren't anywhere to be seen." She adds to the short reply.
"I spent the night at home. It had been a long day." Derek says.
"I didn't see Addison either." She says. Why would she go alone anyway? She was going with Derek and if Derek wasn't there, that meant she wasn't going either for sure.
He nods casually. "She stayed home with me, she had a fever."
"Is she feeling any better?" That's not concern, that's jealousy. The young intern would die to have a fever and being taken care of by McDreamy.
Derek nods and adds a small grin to that. "Yeah, she's better."
"Good."
"Have you seen Yang? She's on my services today."
"Cristina? Yeah, um, she's probably with Bailey somewhere near here." Meredith doesn't seem that pleased by their conversation.
"Okay, thanks. See you later, Meredith." He takes the chart that the nurse had given him and leaves her in there, staring.
•••
Addison feels already very awkward. There's no many nurses near and they are all busy. She walks towards Nicole Herman, great surgeon, great obstetrician too. It seems like she's the best for this job.
She approaches very quickly. There's a headache already making things worse "Hey, Herman. I mean, Nicole." The woman looks at the redhead with a look of concern and curiousness. "Do you mind helping me with a consult?"
"Shepherd... good to see you." She first greets. "What kind of consult?" Addison Shepherd was the best in her field, why would she need any help over a simple consult?
She's wearing a messy bun that looked super good on her. "I assume I can trust you with something, right?" She tilts her head a little.
"Sure. What is it?" Nicole rests her hands on the pockets of her lab coat.
Addison sighs and looks directly at Herman in the eye. "I need a consult. Me."
"You're that you're...?" Herman catches the idea immediately.
She looks to both sides, right and left; worried someone might be hearing their conversation. "Don't say anything, please. My husband doesn't know yet."
"My mouth is shut." Nicole gives her a nod. "Let's give you a look then."
•••
Another table where she feels incredibly uncomfortable. This time she's not suffering of poison oak, so there's no ache right there and she isn't suffering. This time she's not inside of an abortion clinic letting go of the only trustworthy company she was going to have.
Now there's no guilt making her heart feel heavier.
The gel is cold but she doesn't complain. She just closes her eyes and wait until her skin gets used to the cold temperature.
"So?" Her eyes are still closed and she doesn't want to open them. Not at all.
"This looks like five weeks, if I'm not mistaken." Nicole says, watching the monitor. Addison opens her eyes slowly and gives the image a look.
Her mind does an imaginary calendar; five weeks and four days ago.
She wishes her eyes would not be forming a big amount of tears. It's definitely five weeks. She's a professional and she can tell. That night at the hotel, when he ended up sneaking out. She remembers that night perfectly and sometimes wishes she could repeat it. It was a good night.
"Yeah, five weeks for sure." That's all she says. "It's funny. My husband is a neurosurgeon and right now my baby's brain and spinal cord have begun to form." She grins at the image of that tiny embryo. That was a growing creature inside of her.
"Want a tissue?" She asks nicely. Herman hands her a small package of Kleenex; she receives it thankful. "He seems healthy, strong pulse. Wanna hear it?" Nicole smiling is almost a miracle.
"Please."
The noise fills the room. It's the sound of her baby's heart that had been almost developed and ready to work.
Meanwhile outside of that exam room, Alex Karev looks for the She Shepherd.
Derek walks by, spotting Alex. "Have you seen my wife?" By his point of view she's probably on surgery or checking on patients, but it doesn't seem that way exactly. The ER was pretty calm this morning.
Alex shakes his head in negation. "Dude, I'm also looking for her. Join the hunt if you want to." The stubborn intern offers.
"Alright then." Derek wanted to talk to her about making lunch plans. He wanted to make it up to her after their fight. Just like the old times.
"Hey, have you seen Montgomery - Shepherd?" Alex asks a nurse. The nurse points to an exam room.
Both men walk towards it. Derek knocks on the door, twice.
"Who is it?" Addison yells, she dries the tears of joy around her cheeks with the back of her hand and stays in that position, feeling the most uncomfortable right now. Herman turns the volume off, for sure.
"It's me." Derek says out loud. "And Karev." He wonders what's going on in there.
"Don't get in." She yells back.
"Why?" Derek asks. A door between them isn't the best way of communication.
"I'm examining myself, alright?" She says. Best excuse she could find at the moment. Nicole can't help but giggle.
Derek gives Derek a weird look. "What?" He yells to Addison. It's not like he's yelling for real, he's just raising his voice a lot, trying to make her hear him.
"Vaginal exam, Derek. Go away." Geez, she really did embarrass herself by using that excuse. Nicole bursts into laughs. For a moment Derek thought the poison oak was back and would have to deal with a pissed off wife.
Karev rolls his eyes as both men walk away from near that door. "I really didn't want to hear that coming from your wife's mouth." The intern seems disgusted.
"Me either." Derek chuckles and leaves Alex in there by himself.
Back inside the exam room, both obstetricians laugh non stop at such stupid episode.
"That was stupid." Nicole says.
"Ugh, I know." She shakes her head a little.
"Now, have you experienced any symptoms yet?"
"Cramps, headache and tender breasts. That's I've had for now. Oh, and fatigue."
"That's common, you already know that."
"Yeah."
"Congratulations." Nicole hands her a towel to clean the gel off of her lower abdomen.
Mission one was been accomplished.
•••
She nods. "Yeah it's actually a very interesting procedure."
"Sounds like you are a pro." Matthew Savoy says, all flirty and playing the handsome boy. Savoy was an ass, everybody knew that. But somehow the man could be a sweetheart when it came to being in Addison's presence. Literally, Savoy is one of those guys that when there's a storm and could use some help, you would gladly walk away as soon as you can with your umbrella, leaving him alone and getting wet.
Every man could turn into a sweetheart just to win a little space into Addison's reckless heart.
"I'm here for a reason!" She chuckles. Her eyes then meet Derek's, who's standing beside him.
He had been looking for Addison everywhere, he hasn't seen her in the whole day and didn't expect he would find her waiting for the elevator next to Savoy.
"Hey" he greets.
She gives him a small grin. "Oh, hi. Um, I was discussing some neonatal procedures with doctor Savoy." She explains why the conversation with that ass. Derek walks nearly her, standing just next to her.
"Doctor Savoy." He inclines his head a little, greeting the attending.
Savoy did the same. "Doctor Shepherd."
"So, are you thinking of dumping Cardiology and joining Gynecology?" Derek smiles all Mcdreamy and cracks a short, sweet laugh.
"What? No." Savoy denies. "Doctor Montgomery - Shepherd asked my advice on a surgery she's performing soon." Savoy explains why the conversation. Addison never needed help when it came to surgery. Never.
"You did?" Derek frowns at his wife, who was blushing slightly.
"I did." She nods, hands on the pockets of her lab coat. "I'm not a cardiologist and maybe I should keep on investigating more about fetal heart surgery procedures." That's her excuse.
The truth was that she sometimes liked to be flirty, specially lately. And seen Derek so jealous made her want to laugh like crazy at that cute annoyed face and those sad blue eyes.
"I see." He nods.
"Talk to you later, Addison." Savoy says.
Addison.
So, they treat each other with their names instead of last names?
"You too Matthew!" Addison says, smiling softly at him. He walks away leaving the couple alone, Addison still waiting for the elevator.
He now takes place in front of her. "I've been looking for you everywhere." He smiles at her. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm good, why? I'm fine. I'm perfect." She says.
His hand rests on her cheek, "You look a little pale."
"It's just a headache but I'm alright." She moves a little, letting his hand stop the contact. "What's up?"
"I wanted to know if you wanted to grab lunch with me?" His hand on his pockets too.
"Oh, that. Sorry honey, I'm having lunch with Karev today."
That's odd. Addison is being kind and nice to a very annoying intern that wasn't thankful for being on her services. "I could join you, maybe?"
"I don't know, you're pretty..."
"Pretty what?" He cuts her off before she can say no more.
"You always act jealous when I talk to other men." She chuckles at that, reminding what just happened around Matthew Savoy.
"What? That's not true." It is.
"I prefer to have lunch with Karev." Her explanation is lame. "Maybe dinner?"
"Alright. Dinner at the Archfield?" The elevator doors open.
This sounds like a date.
"Um, sure. I'll see you later. I'm late for a consult. Bye honey." She approaches him quick enough to being able to peck his lips and get inside of the elevator.
It was a date for sure. It felt weird, having dates. It felt like when their relationship started and they were weird around each other for a while until they both started opening theirselves to each other.
•••
She had a crazy lunch with the stubborn intern, Karev. Derek watched them laugh and share pizza together while he spent time next to Preston Burke.
Alex Karev was noble and had talent, he wasn't just another ass that somehow found a way to go through med school. Addison thought that guy could end up being a professional on her area if he kept on her services.
"My wife is eating pizza." He looks at her. She's actually enjoying pizza.
Addison Montgomery Shepherd wasn't a pizza person. Or at least she looked like one that wasn't. She used to stay late studying with Derek and they would order pizza or sushi sometimes, but she hasn't tasted such thing since a long time ago.
"Is that bad?" Preston Burke can't help but hold a laugh at the annoying expression Derek had on his face.
The brown haired man shakes his head. "Not exactly. It is actually horrifying." He takes a sip of his water bottle and keeps on staring.
"How come your wife eating pizza is something horrifying."
"If you only knew." He laughs.
"She's enjoying it at least."
•••
Thirteen years ago...
She joins her head into a messy ponytail. "Can you please concentrate?" She asks Derek.
He keeps on staring and completely ignores all books near him. "Sorry. It's difficult to even think when you look at me like that."
"Derek, this is not a joke." She sounds annoyed but she's still te cutest human being in the whole world. "Be serious."
"Want another slice?" He offers her, opening the pizza box.
"I will accept another slice." She nods, handing him her plate, that it's returned with a slice of Hawaiian pizza. A very weird mix that both enjoyed.
"So, patient has muscular pain after smiling too much, pain chest..." she knows he's teasing her, but she's too busy eating. "... tired eyes after staring too much time at a gorgeous redhead and..."
"And his name is Derek Christopher Shepherd." She finishes the sentence before he could keep on being a cheesy romantic man.
He nods, taking a sip of his beer. "You got it right. Give me a diagnosis."
She giggles and looks down. Eye contact with him made her crazy in love. "I think he might be in love with that redhead you mentioned."
"You think?" His hand now strokes her cheek.
"Oh, no. I assure you." She giggles and leans for a kiss. Soft and slow kiss.
•••
"I'm sorry honey, but I'm exhausted." She takes her coat off as soon as she is inside of there. Their little date at the Archfield went alright, he suggested wine, she had a ginger mint lemonade instead and tried not to make evident the fact that she couldn't be an alcoholic right now.
He closes the door of the trailer and turns the lights of the small kitchen on. "It's okay. You need some rest, you seem a little sick." He says. She walks past him and enters the bathroom.
She takes her blouse off inside of that small room. "I would have stayed at the Archfield, really." She looks at the mirror and can notice they are obviously bigger. "It's just I have all my things here I wanted to come here and sleep." She gets out of the bathroom, to find him on the edge of the bed taking his shoes off.
"Do you want me to prepare you anything?" While he asks she takes her heels off. "Maybe a tea?"
"Water is fine, thank you." She thanks him for being considerate and showed that he was now caring. It seemed casual, not forced, which was very appreciated by her.
He stands up and walks barefoot to the refrigerator, taking a bottle of water out of it. She's now unzipping her skirt and lets her hair be free after being on the same bun the whole day. He watches her walk back into the bathroom in a quick motion.
The shower is now on.
"I wanted to shower too!" He demands, handing her the bottle of water. She winked at him and closed the door of the bathroom.
Inside of that bathroom there was a pregnant redhead that was experiencing symptoms. All of the sudden nausea makes her feel less strong. It's just nausea. She doesn't feel like vomiting, just nausea.
She can handle this. She has had to do this before, it's nothing new.
/ okay, so, basically I ran out of inspiration for this chapter so, this is very short and doesn't contain any kind of drama :(
Sorry.