Chapter 7

Addison woke up to a frantic knocking of the bedroom door. Why is Sloan up at this hour? Doesn't she usually sleep in? Addison wondered..

"Mark! Open the door!"

Mark woke up groggily and made his way to the door.

"I'm coming! Wait up," he called back.

"Dad! Open the door fast. My water broke, the baby is coming! Now!"

Mark opened the door quickly...

"Sloan! Calm down," he patted her back. "Let's go to the hospital. Get your bag.

ADDISON! Addison wake up!"

"Mark!?"

She saw Sloan sitting on the floor, in quickly went to her side to check her out.

"Mark, we don't have much time. We need to reach the hospital quickly, her labour is progressing fast. Otherwise, I'll have to deliver the baby here."

"Yes Addison! I know!" He hurried in to get everything.

"Sloan, it's going to be all right." she tried to comfort the young girl. "Some more time and you'll have a brand new baby boy."

"Be careful..." Addison cautioned as she helped Sloan to the car while Mark gathered all the things he thought Sloan might need.


They were at St. Ambrose in no time. Mark drove as fast as he could. Addison had called Charlotte, and she had a room ready for Sloan's delivery and also the best available OB-GYN staff.

"Sloan we are almost there. When I tell you, push, with all your strength."

"You can do this." Mark said trying to comfort her.

"Ok, Sloan, push now...I can see the top of his head...Now one more strong push...

Yes! That was great! Mark, do you want to cut the cord?"

"Why isn't he crying?" Sloan asked as Addison took the towel wrapped baby to the incubator, just in case.

"Don't worry, he will..."

She patted the baby's back. And the wails of the newborn filled the room.

"Here, you can hold him." Addison placed the new born in his mothers arms.

"He is so cute, isn't he?"

"Yes. He is the cutest baby I have ever seen...my grandson!"

"Grandpa!" Addison nudged Marks shoulder, teasing him. He just smiled back.

"Ok guys, let me clean up the baby and take him to the nursery. Sloan, they will take you to the room, you take some rest."


Later in the afternoon, at the hospital, Addison and Mark were in Sloan's room, Mark was sitting on the chair, holding the sleeping baby. Addison was just watching how happy he was. In the past few years, Mark had certainly changed a lot...

"Addison? Can you please get me my bag?"

"Yes, here it is..."

Sloan rummaged through her bag, and took out a bunch of papers.

"Addison, these are the adoption papers, can you please call the couple who is going to adopt my son?"

Mark looked up, hurt evident in his eyes. "Sloan...you don't have to do this, I can help you. It's ok if you change your mind."

"Dad, I have decided on this a long time ago. Please...will you call the couple for me?"

"Yes...I will..." Mark said, holding the baby just a little bit closer.

Mark picked up the phone and keeps back on the desk for the fourth time now. He is pacing in the room, with a worried look on his face.

"What are you doing Mark?"

"She wants me to call the prospective parents Addie! "

"I know, I was there in the room."

"I don't think I can do this. We can take care of the baby Addie. I can raise him as my own, and you can help me, and Sloan can go back to high school and then attend college. She doesn't have to give him up."

"I know Mark, and I am sure she does too. But, it is her choice. And if she thinks that giving him up is for the best, we should respect her choice."

"But she's a child herself! How can she decide?"

"Mark, I know what you are thinking, but she's legally an adult. She can do as she wants..."

"But Addie..."

"Do you want me to make the call for you?"

"No, I'll do it, I have to. Just wait here with me please."

She went closer and hugged him from the side and kissed his arm. "You can do this Mark." She tried to assure him.

He picked up the phone and finally dialled the number that Sloan had given him.

"Hello? Mr. Adam Taylor?"

"Yes..."

"Hi, I am Mark Sloan, Sloan Riley's father..."


"Sloan, your dad called the couple, they'll be here soon."

"Thank You Addison! I never thought he would have make the call..."

"Well, he did..."

"Addison, do you think I can talk to the baby before they take him?"

"Yes, you can. You know what, we can do even better, you can pick a toy, and we'll give it to him as a gift, so that he can always have it."

"Yes, that sounds good. I used to love this dolphin stuffed toy I had as a child, maybe he'll love dolphins too."

An hour or so later Addison asked nurse to being the baby to Sloan's room.

"Sloan, here's the toy, and the nurse will bring the baby in a few minutes, and then you can talk to him...I'll be waiting outside if you need me..."

"Addison, can you please stay?"

"Sure..." she said surprised that Sloan wanted her in the room while she talked to the baby.

A nurse brought the baby in the room and placed him in Sloan's arms...

"Hi Baby! You look so pretty in your blue onesie...I am...um...your mother. But soon you are going to have another mom, and she will care for you and love you. And you will never know me, or meet me again, but always know this, I love you very much and will always will. I hope you have the best life possible. And, I know that you are too young to understand why I can't keep you, please know that it is for your best. Here's something to remember me by" And then she handed him the stuffed dolphin."I always liked dolphins, I hope you like them too. I love you so much!" She kissed his forehead. "Bye Baby" she whispered in his ear.


Mark packed up all the stuff that the baby needed in a small bag, then he added the dolphin toy that Sloan had picked for the baby on top. He could see the couple in the nursery, fawning over the baby. Mark could see the happiness on their faces. And he knew that they would take good care of his grandson. He went over and handed them the bag, and then told them the significance of the stuffed toy. They thanked Mark profusely over and over. And, Mark knew that Sloan had picked the right people as the parents, and he couldn't help but be happy for his grandson, who will have a real functional family to take care of him.