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[b] CHAPTER FOUR: A Lot to Explore [/b]

Addison held the kitten close to her chest as they got out of the car, and she waited for Derek to open the front door. The kitty was already clawing at her chest- through her brand new shirt- to be released, but she held on. The last thing she needed was their best hope to hate her and run away on the very first day- the first hour of being together. She couldn't let that happen. Even if cost her a shirt. She would mourn the shirt in silence.

"Are you okay?" Derek asked after they were inside and Addison immediately put the cat down and rubbed her chest. It wasn't until then that he realized that she was crying. "Don't cry, Addi." He sighed as he took a step towards her. He didn't know what to do. He knew he had an obligation as her husband to try to help, but he was at a loss of how to. Five years ago, he would have kissed the claw marks until she'd forgotten them, but that was five years ago. A lot had changed, and he couldn't quite dismiss the feeling that Mark had kissed her exactly where those claw marks were. He couldn't do that. Not yet.

"The cat ALREADY hates me!" She whimpered as she glanced at Derek until tears blurred her vision. "We just got home and the cat is already running away from me! My cat... my dependent freaking hates me, Derek! So yes, I am going to be crying!" She made the short walk to the stairwell and sat down on the second step. "I am going to cry until I wake up from this fucking nightmare!"

He watched as her head fell down between her knees, and he decided to take a seat beside her. It'd been months since they'd sat down and had an honest to god conversation anywhere, much less on the stairwell. His arm wrapped itself loosely around her waist, and pulled her against his chest. "Scout doesn't hate you, Addi. She's just scared of a new place is all. She's probably hungry." He eyed her carefully for reaction to the name, but it didn't seem to register to her at all that he'd name the kitten. She was too consumed.

Silence filled the room, but he didn't bother to break it. He could feel her breathing return to normal before she finally looked at him. "Well, it was a far drive." She sniffled, and he nodded at her. "And this is a pretty big house compared to her tiny cage at the shelter." Her eyes lit up, and he could tell that what he was saying was finally sinking in. He loved her eyes, they were so expressive, so in tune with her feelings. He missed the days when she didn't need to speak at all. He just knew. Now, he constantly had to ask her what she was thinking, and it bugged him a little bit more each time. Not because of her, but because he'd allowed it to happen.

"Definitely." He smiled softly as she wiped underneath her eyes. He'd been trying to gather the courage to do that himself, but he didn't mind that she'd beat him to it. He wasn't trying to create an even more awkward moment.

"It's a lot to explore." She continued as a smile finally spread across her glossy lips. His parched at the sight, but he pushed that away. They were having a serious conversation. He had to focus.

"It is." He confirmed.

"My cat doesn't hate me." She blushed as she clasped her hands in her lap. "I'm sorry that I freaked out. I just, Derek, I really don't want to mess this up. It's the first day." She stared into his eyes as she tried to make him understand how important it was to her. Yes, she'd made a huge mistake, but she hadn't given up on them. She loved him, and she was going to love their kitten as well.

"We are trying. It's not going to be perfect, Addi. There's going to be tough stuff we have to deal with. Just remember, we are Derek and Addison." He cupped her cheeks with his free hand, forcing her to meet his gaze until agreement showed in her face.

"Derek and Addison." She nodded with a smile. It felt so good to hear him say that. The only thing better would have been if Gucci would have been in her lap. Gucci! "Where's Gucci?" She blinked, looking down, and around the stairwell to find the kitten she was so determined to make a part of her life.

"Oh shit." His arm fell from her waist before he stood up to look around. "SCOUT!" He called out before cursing himself for it. Like the cat was going to know who that was. The damn thing could be anywhere.

"Gucci, Derek. Our cat's name is Gucci!" She protested immediately, and he smirked. There it was. He'd been waiting for that. A sign that she was back to clear thinking.

"KITTY!" He gave in quickly. He wasn't going to argue with her then, he just had to find the cat. She had to be alive in order to name her Scout- which is what her name was. "Come here, kitty!"

"I'll check the living room." She mumbled as she slid off her heels and stood up, sliding them against the wall so that they wouldn't be in the way.

"I got the kitchen and the bathrooms." He nodded, walking the opposite way from her. He'd never considered himself an animal person, but he didn't even particularly feel comfortable with losing the cat so fast. It- she – had a way of making him care without even trying.

An hour passed before Addison finally found her. Her heart swelled when the cat was inside the shoes that she'd slipped off. "You do love me, don't you baby?" She whispered as she picked up the sleeping kitty and held her to her chest. "You do love me." She repeated, kissing its head softly over and over as tears welled in her eyes. The cat had good taste, she smiled. Those were her favorite shoes.

"I see you found her." Derek walked up a moment later, leaning against the railing of the stairs. "I told you she didn't hate you."

"She loves me." Addi grinned before carrying her upstairs to the bedroom. "Run to the store and get a litter box and some cat food, D!" She yelled over her shoulder, not giving him a chance to protest. "My baby is hungry." She whispered, kissing the kitty once again. The therapist had given her what she always wanted, a baby.