A/N: Thanks so much to everyone who's reviewing and reading this story. I really love hearing your thoughts. I hope you like this next chapter. Thanks again for reading and reviewing!


"I'm confused," Richard admitted. He stared at the ex-married couple sitting across from him at his office desk. "I …" he trailed off, as he thought about his recent interactions with Addison and Derek.

Lately, Addison had been standoffish. As if she was hiding something. Clearly she was.

Derek, on the other hand, had been noticeably happier than usual. In fact, several members of the hospital staff had commented on Derek's recent good mood. But never in a million years had Richard thought to attribute Derek's pleasant demeanor to Addison. And never in a million and one years had he thought to attribute it to impending fatherhood. But now that he thought about it, both of these things seemed to be very plausible explanations for Derek's good mood.

"Chief?" Derek prompted; and Richard blushed in embarrassment. In his attempt to unpack Derek and Addison's relationship, he'd left the two of them sitting in awkward silence.

"So, you're happy about this?" Richard ventured. "Everything's okay?"

"Our patient just stormed out of the hospital without letting me examine her." Addison shook her head. "I'm not happy about that."

"No, of course not," Richard conceded. "But you two," he clarified, gesturing towards Addison and Derek. "You're having a baby together … and you seem civil. You seem united. You seem … happy."

"We are," Addison said. "I mean, I am," she amended when she realized she'd accidentally spoken for Derek.

"We are," Derek said firmly, giving Addison a small smile.

Richard watched the ex-married couple for a moment, and a slight smile formed on his face as well. "If you two are happy … then I'm happy for you. Now, as far as this hospital goes," he continued, growing serious. "I already told Derek that this case was complicated and delicate, and asked him not to make it any more complicated than it already was." He shot Derek and Addison the best stern look he could muster. "Clearly, my words fell on deaf ears."

"We're sorry about the way things played out," Addison apologized. This time she didn't correct herself for using the word, "we."

"Don't worry about it," Richard reassured her.

Derek did his best not to roll his eyes at that; Addison had always been Richard's favorite, so Derek wasn't the least bit surprised by the fact that Richard was annoyed with him, but not with her.

"Julie will come back," Richard said assuredly.

"I don't know," Addison disagreed. "She was very angry."

Richard shook his head. "You two are the best in your fields, and you're probably the only two doctors skilled enough to perform the surgery successfully. Once she realizes this, she'll come back."

Addison nodded, but Derek could tell his ex-wife wasn't convinced.

"So, uh, is there anything else you'd like to discuss with us?" Derek asked Richard, hoping to move the conversation along.

Richard shook his head. "Nope, that's pretty much it. We'll figure the rest out when Julie comes back. But for now, get back to work. Be professional, and save lives."

"Okay," Derek nodded, as he and Addison made their way out of Richard's office.

"Addie … Derek, wait," Richard called out. And Addison and Derek turned to face their boss. "There's just one more thing."

"Yeah?" Addison asked warily.

Richard offered the ex-married couple a warm smile. "Congratulations, you two."

xxxxx

"Do you want to get lunch?" Derek asked as he and Addison exited Richard's office.

Addison shook her head. "I need to talk to Mark. I have to tell him about all this before he hears it from someone else. Like Nurse Oliva … or an intern." She shuddered. "I've got to find him."

Derek swallowed thickly. He got that Addison needed to talk to Mark. But that didn't mean he had to like it.

"Do you want me to come with you?" he asked, even though he was pretty sure he knew what her answer would be.

Addison shook her head. "No. I owe it to Mark to do this alone."

With that in mind, she made her way toward Mark's office. He was sitting at his desk, intently studying what Addison assumed to be a patient file.

"Can I come in?" she asked, lightly tapping on his slightly ajar office door.

Mark gave her a broad smile. "Sure." He motioned toward the chair across from his. "Take a seat."

"Thanks," Addison said, taking her time to sit down, delaying the inevitable. "I need to tell you something," she began, doing her best to conceal her uneasiness. "Mark, I … I'm … The thing is … Mark, I'm—"

"Addison, we don't need to do this," Mark interrupted, sensing her discomfort. He ran a hand through his hair. "I already know."

"You do?"

"Your patients were loud," Mark said flatly. "And the rumor mill here is efficient."

"Oh," Addison said quietly, guilt washing over her. "I didn't want you to find out this way, Mark. This was the last way I wanted you to find out. I'm sorry. That wasn't fair to you."

Mark shrugged casually, but his expression quickly softened. "I'm happy for you guys."

"You're … what?" Addison asked in confusion.

"I'm happy for you," Mark repeated. "This is what you always wanted, right? A baby with Derek."

Addison swallowed roughly.

I wanted Derek. I wanted to have a baby with Derek.

She had told Callie this, but she couldn't imagine she would have shared this with Mark, But then again, she had said lots of things to Mark that she probably shouldn't have.

"I … I never said that to you, did I?" she asked hesitantly.

"You didn't have to."

Had she implied it?

No, I did want a baby, Mark, she had once told him. I just didn't want a baby with you.

"Mark," Addison began apologetically. "I didn't handle this well … any of it. And I'm sorry."

"I'm not mad, Addison."

"I wouldn't blame you if you were."

Mark shrugged. "I mean, sure, I would have preferred to hear the news from you and Derek instead of overhearing Stevens and O'Malley gossiping about it. But I'm not mad."

"You're not?"

"No. You and Derek are my family … at least I like to think you still are. And I know how much you both wanted this. And I know how much you both still want this."

"This?" Addison clarified.

"Marriage, a baby, the whole enchilada."

"Mark, just because Derek and I are having a baby together, doesn't mean that we're—"

"Derek wants to be with you," Mark reassured her. "Trust me. I've known him a long time. And ever since you came back, Derek has been different … better. He's the Derek I remember. Not some angry, broody guy who has no regard for other people's feelings. And as dumb as it sounds," Mark continued, "for the first time in a long time, it feels like I have my best friend back."

Addison shook her head. "It doesn't sound dumb." Because she felt the same way.

You know, there was a time when you thought of me as your best friend.

"And you," Mark went on, cutting into Addison's thoughts. "You belong with us. Not alone in LA."

"I'm not alone," Addison pointed out. "I have Naomi and Sam."

"It's not the same."

She couldn't argue with him there.

I'm lonely, Derek. Yes, she had said that to him in Seattle. But how many texts had she sent him from LA to that extent? She could count on more than one hand. And even if she hadn't said it to him explicitly, their constant texting was evidence in itself … she was lonely. And maybe he was too.

"Look," Mark sighed, "after you left for LA, I made a promise to myself to never again get involved in your and Derek's relationship."

"We were divorced, Mark. There was no relationship to get involved in," Addison reminded him, acutely aware of her use of the past tense.

Mark shook his head. "I knew it wasn't over. I had feeling you two would somehow manage to find your way back to each other again." He chuckled. "Admittedly, I wasn't expecting this. But that's not the point. The point is that I've kept my promise and haven't interfered … up until now." He gave Addison a small smile. "I know you and I know Derek. And I know the two of you prefer to just … not talk about things. But you owe it to yourselves to talk about this. You two want the same thing. I know you do. All you need to do is admit it … out loud … to each other."

Addison nodded mutely as she let Mark's words sink in.

"Oh, and when you see Derek next … because I'm certain you'll see him before I see him … let him know I'm up for watching the Seahawks game with him this weekend."

Addison smiled. It was nice to hear Derek and Mark making plans to do things together again.

"And tell him to bring beer or scotch … or something manly," Mark continued. "Because I'm pretty sure after some of the things I just said to you, I could be co-captain of the vagina squad."

"Shut up, Mark," Addison laughed. She met his eyes and grew serious. "Thank you."

With Mark's words echoing in her head, she made her way towards Derek's office. He had texted her and had asked her to meet him there when she was finished talking to Mark.

"Hey," she said, walking into Derek's office. In hindsight, maybe she should have knocked on the door. But they never used to and old habits die hard.

"Hey," Derek smiled, obviously unbothered by her choice of entrances. He looked at her hesitantly. "How'd it go?"

"Good," Addison said, giving her ex-husband a genuine smile. "He's happy for us."

"Really?" Derek asked, a smile coming to his face as well.

"Really."

Derek shook his head. "I guess sometimes I underestimate him."

"Hard not to," Addison offered with a causal shrug.

Derek chuckled. "I got you something," he said, changing the subject.

Addison looked at her ex-husband in confusion. Between Julie and Matthew's outburst, her and Derek's conversation with Richard, and her conversation with Mark, she wasn't sure she could handle much more today.

"Here," Derek said, handing Addison a gift box, wrapped in shiny silver wrapping paper. On top of it was a card that read, Can I tell you something?

Derek gave Addison a wide smile. "Today seemed like a good day for this."

Addison smiled slightly. She'd had a doctor's appointment yesterday; and in addition to telling them that their baby was healthy, their OB also told them the sex of their baby. Well, technically, she only told Derek.

It was a given that they were going to find out the sex of their baby before he or she was born. Addison read sonograms for a living, and neither of them particularly liked surprises.

But a few days before the appointment, Derek asked Addison if she remembered that once upon a time they'd agreed to let him be the one to tell her the sex of their first child.

She remembered. And to be honest, she was surprised that he remembered. But maybe she shouldn't have been; after all, it had been Derek's idea all those years ago. He'd reasoned that she told people the sex of their babies every day, and when the time came, it would be nice for someone to tell her for a change … and he wanted to be that someone.

Apparently, he still wanted to be that someone.

Addison figured Derek would probably tell her at the appointment, but she learned that he had come up with a plan, years ago, for how he wanted to share the news with her (just like she had come up with a pregnancy announcement for him all those years ago).

If she was being honest, she wasn't a fan of elaborate gender reveals—she'd rather celebrate who her child would be, rather than what her child would be. But Derek was so into it, it has hard not to catch his enthusiasm.

"You want to do this now?" Addison asked, accepting the box from her ex-husband.

"Yeah," Derek smiled.

"Okay."

It was funny how much things had changed. When they used to talk about having kids in the past, they wanted healthy kids, first and foremost; but he wanted boys and she wanted girls.

He'd grown up surrounded by women and wanted a chance to have the father/son relationship that had been cut short with his own father.

She wanted a shot at the mother/daughter relationship she never had with Bizzy … and she always figured she'd be better with daughters.

Now, however, things were different. Their main concern was still having a healthy baby. That part hadn't changed. But now, he was hoping for a little girl and she was hoping for a little boy.

He loved the idea of a mini Addie. And she thought she might actually be better with a boy. Because the thought of being her daughter's primary example of adult femininity seemed daunting … and a role, given her past, she was pretty sure she was no longer equipped for.

"Open the card," Derek urged.

Addison did as she was told and was surprised to learn the card didn't have words … just two pictures. The first was a picture of her, taken years ago. She was dressed in her salmon scrubs, consulting a chart, completely oblivious that her picture was being taken. The second was a more recent photo … a few days old, tops. Derek—well aware that his picture was being taken—was smiling widely dressed in his navy blue scrubs.

"Mark took the picture," Derek chuckled when he noticed his ex-wife's eyes lingering on the picture of him. "I told him one of Kathleen's kids needed it for a school project." He shook his head. "I'm not sure he believed me."

"And this one?" Addison asked holding up the picture of her.

Derek's cheeks tinged red. "I've been hanging onto that one for a while."

Addison gave her ex-husband a slight smile. Blue and pink scrubs. She had to admit, it was a sweet idea … and pretty perfect for them. But she also knew that their whole situation needed unpacking. And she couldn't help thinking about the conversation she'd had with Mark and his advice to her.

She knew there were conversations that she and Derek needed to have … feelings she needed to acknowledge … things she needed to admit to herself.

But that was complicated … and potentially messy.

What wasn't, was finding out the sex of their child.

So she opened the box Derek had given her and felt her heart flutter in her chest when she unwrapped a tiny pair of scrubs … a tiny pair of pink scrubs.

"Really?" Addison asked, her smile growing wider.

"Really," Derek confirmed, wrapping his arms around her.

"A girl?" Addison asked, still in shock.

"Yeah," Derek grinned, still holding her close.

She wrapped her arms around him and let everything sink in. She was having a daughter. They were having a daughter.

"You're going to be so great with her," Derek whispered into Addison's hair.

He knew from various conversations that Addison's confidence about mothering a daughter had been shaken. It was an insecurity that he found completely ridiculous. But at the same time, he recognized that it was an insecurity that he may have contributed to. It's hard not to have your confidence shaken when you're constantly painted as the villain … the adulterous bitch. And he'd had a hand in painting her that way. (Truth be told, he may have been the main artist).

"You really think I'll be good?" Addison echoed uncertainly, ripping Derek from his thoughts.

He gave her a warm smile. "I think you'll be great."

A small smile graced her lips. "Derek," she whispered.

"Hmm?"

"I think we should try again."

"Like, for a son?" Derek asked in confusion.

"No," Addison chuckled. She wrapped her arms around his neck and brushed her lips against his. "I meant you and me," she said, kissing him softly. "I want to—"

But she was cut off by him crashing his lips against hers. And she kissed him back just as fiercely, raking her hands through his wavy hair, caressing his cheek with her fingers.

"Wait," she panted, pulling back breathlessly after a moment. "Derek, wait."

"Addison," he groaned; his eyes still dark with desire as he pulled her back into his arms.

She was tempted to give in. They were good at this. They were less good at talking.

"We need to talk, Derek," she breathed, distracted by the feather-light kisses he was trailing up and down her neck.

"Talk later," Derek mumbled in between kisses.

"Derek, please," Addison breathed. Talking was hard, but if they were going to make this work, they needed to talk. "Can I tell you something?" she asked suddenly growing very serious.

"Okay," he said, sensing the gravity in her voice. He met her eyes. "What is it?"

"I don't know how we're supposed to make this work," she admitted. "I mean, for starters, you live here, and I live in LA."

"One of us could move."

Addison shook her head. "I'm an outcast here. And the work in LA isn't very exciting. You'd hate it." She bit her lip contemplatively. "And we can't go back to New York. And, Derek, it's not just you and me."

"Ad—"

"But in spite of all that … and so many other things we need to work through, I still want to try again."

Derek smiled. "I want to try again too. And not just because we're having a baby together." He ran a hand through his hair. "I-I can't explain it, but earlier today … when Julie and Matthew were saying all those horrible things to you, something inside me … just snapped. I hated seeing them talk to you like that. And I hated that I didn't do more to stand up to them."

"Derek."

"I know; it would have cost us our professional reputations." He sighed. "I get that. But it was hard … because … it's really hard to watch someone you love get talked to in that way."

Addison felt her throat quiver "Derek, can I ask you something?"

"Yeah."

"Did you just say … do you love me?"

He smiled. "You know I do."

She shook her head. "I didn't know you did."

"Well, then can I tell you something?"

She nodded.

"I love you."

A wide smile graced her lips. "Derek, can I—"

But they were cut off by the sound of their pagers beeping wildly.

"911," Derek breathed.

Addison nodded. "In the E.R."

They quickly made their way towards the E.R. and gasped at what they saw … Julie and Matthew. Julie was in a wheelchair, writhing in pain, her eyes filled with tears, and her cheeks stained with tears and streaks of mascara. Matthew looked just as disheveled … his face ghostly pale and his eyes hollow.

"Please say you'll help me!" Julie cried. She turned to Addison. "You have to help me. I'm sorry about what I said. So sorry—"

"We're sorry," Matthews choked out. "We need you."

"Please," Julie begged. "Please help."

"Julie," Addison breathed, as she felt Derek's hand move reassuringly to her lower back. "What's wrong? What happened?"

Julie's eyes filled with fresh tears. "My water broke," she sobbed. "And it's too soon. You've got to help me."