A/N: Thank you so much for all of your kind feedback on the last chapter. It was one of my favorite chapters to write (even though YouTube is still recommending videos of children's books being read aloud to me). It makes me really happy to hear that a lot of you look forward to Tuesday/Wednesday updates. I do too; I love hearing your thoughts! I hope you like this chapter, and as always, thanks so much for reading!

Nearly a month had passed, and Derek was still trying to sort through his feelings. He knew, deep down, that Addison not being pregnant made things simpler. It was a good thing. But it didn't feel like a good thing. And the fact that it didn't feel like a good thing raised a lot of questions in his mind about him and Addison, and the way he felt about her.

"Am I interrupting?" Mark asked, as he sat down next to Derek at one of the hospital cafeteria tables.

"Oh, uh, no," Derek stammered. "I was just thinking."

"Oh, yeah? About what?"

Derek hesitated for a moment before giving his friend a wide smile. "Mark, what are you doing Saturday afternoon?"

"Nothing," Mark shrugged. "Why? Do you want to do something?"

"How would you like to baby sit Noah?"

"What?"

"I was thinking about taking Addison out for lunch…just the two of us. And we'd need someone to watch Noah. So…?"

"You're asking me?"

"I am."

"Are you sure that's a good idea? I mean, Noah seems to hate me."

"He doesn't hate you," Derek disagreed.

"He always cries when I'm around."

"It's not you," Derek insisted. "He just cries a lot."

"I still think I'll pass."

"Come on, Mark; it could be a good bonding experience for the two of you. Noah needs to get to know his favorite uncle better."

"Really?" Mark asked in surprise. "I'm his favorite uncle?"

"Of course you are," Derek grinned. "I mean, hell would have to freeze over before I gave that title to Archer."

Mark chuckled, but quickly grew serious. "So, you and Addison…? Is Saturday a date? Are you two back together, or getting back together?"

"No. I just…I thought it might be nice to spend some time with her."

"You know, I'm not exactly an expert on the subject, but I'm pretty sure divorced couple's don't do that."

"Well, maybe Addison and I do," Derek shrugged nonchalantly. He turned to his friend pleadingly. "Will you please watch Noah?"

"Fine," Mark agreed with an overly dramatic sigh.

"Thank you."

"You know," Mark smirked, "I may not be an expert on divorced couples. But I'm pretty knowledgeable when it comes to dating. And what you have planned with Addison, this Saturday…that's pretty much the textbook definition of a date."

xxxxx

"Hey, do you have a minute?" Derek asked, knocking on his ex-wife's office door.

"Sure," Addison nodded, looking up from the book that she'd been reading. "Come on in."

"Thanks," Derek smiled, sitting down across from Addison. "What are you reading?"

"A book on childhood development."

"Why?"

"I'm worried about Noah," Addison admitted.

"What's wrong with Noah?" Derek asked in confusion. "He's perfect."

"I'm worried that his verbal skills aren't where they should be," Addison told her ex-husband seriously.

"Verbal skills? Addison, he's nine-months-old."

"Exactly," Addison nodded. "And I know that most babies aren't talking at nine months…but I feel like he should be gurgling and cooing more, or trying to form words. And you and I both know that a traumatic event can delay a child's development. And Noah's been through a lot these last few months. Even if can't understand what happened, a lot of changes have happened in his life lately. And I'm just scared that it's affecting his development."

"He's starting to crawl around," Derek offered, hoping to relax his ex-wife. "He's doing great on that front."

"Yeah, I guess."

"Which words are you trying to get him to say?" Derek asked. "Because I'll work with him on those words too."

"I don't know," Addison shrugged. "Things like…Addison…Derek...water."

"Addison," Derek chuckled. "Of course he's not saying those things. You and I have really tough names to say. You remember how long it took my nieces and nephews to learn how to say our names properly."

"I guess that's true," Addison chuckled.

"I mean, most babies' first words are simple words, like 'mama' or 'dada.'"

"I know that," Addison nodded. "But I…I don't know how I feel about those words yet. And until I figure it out, I thought I'd just avoid them altogether."

Derek nodded in understanding. "I honestly think Noah's verbal skills are fine," he reassured his ex-wife.

Addison shook her head. "I don't know. It's not like I'm expecting him to speak in full sentences or anything, or even say comprehensible words. He just seems a little quiet."

"Not when I'm trying to sleep," Derek chuckled.

"No," Addison agreed. "Noah's got a set of lungs on him." She met her ex-husband's eyes and gave him an appreciative smile. "Thanks, Derek."

"For what?"

"For listening to me obsess over what's probably nothing. I know this wasn't what you came in here for. By the way, what did you come in here for?"

"Oh, uh," Derek stammered. "I was wondering what you were doing this Saturday."

"Well, you have Noah," Addison began thoughtfully. "I don't think I have plans. Why?"

"I was thinking maybe we could go for lunch."

"The three of us?" Addison asked in confusion.

"No," Derek said, shaking his head. "Just you and me."

"Derek, I-"

"Come on, Addison. It doesn't have to be a big deal. Besides, I already hired a babysitter for Noah."

"You hired a babysitter?" Addison asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, no, not exactly. But Mark agreed to watch Noah."

"Really?" Addison chuckled.

"Really," Derek confirmed. "So…?"

"I don't know," Addison admitted.

"It doesn't have to be a big thing," Derek rationalized. "Saturday can mean as much or as little as we decide."

"What about Meredith?"

"Let's not invite her."

"Come on, Derek; you know what I mean. You have a sort-of girlfriend, and I don't want to be anywhere near that situation. Cheating ended our relationship; but it was never a part of our relationship. I'd like to keep it that way."

"Hey, Addie?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm not in a sort-of relationship."

"What?"

"I haven't been in a sort-of relationship for over a month. I ended things with Meredith."

"Oh."

"You're smiling."

"I am not smiling," Addison disagreed.

"You are so smiling," Derek chuckled.

"I'm not smiling," Addison insisted. "If anyone's smiling it's you. And why didn't you tell me that you ended things with Meredith? I thought we agreed to keep each other updated on our dating lives…at least, until we officially became Noah's legal guardians."

"I should have told you sooner," Derek agreed. "There just never seemed like a good way to say, 'Hey, guess what? I broke up with my sort-of girlfriend.' But you're right," he continued. "We're out of the loop on each other's lives. And that's why we need this lunch…to get caught up."

"Derek, I don't know if this is a good idea."

"So, is that a no?" Derek asked, doing his best to hide his disappointment.

"No, it's a yes," Addison said uncertainly, the corners of her mouth twitching upwards into a small smile.

"Are you sure?" Derek chuckled, noting the indecision in her voice.

"I'm sure," Addison nodded. "After all," she smirked, "I'd hate for you to have to cancel on the babysitter."

xxxxx

Saturday had arrived, and Addison was meeting Derek at his house so that they could go for lunch together. She rang the doorbell and waited for Derek answer.

But to her surprise, Derek didn't answer; Mark did.

"That's what you're wearing?" Mark asked, gesturing to Addison's navy blue wrap dress.

"Yeah. Why? What's wrong with it?" Addison asked in concern.

"Nothing," Mark shrugged. "I just…I know that Derek likes you in navy. And since I know that, I'm assuming you also know that."

"So, you're saying I'm dressing for Derek?" Addison asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Hey, if it makes you feel any better, he dressed for you too. He's wearing light blue."

"I've never told you that I like Derek in light blue," Addison defended, even though Mark was one-hundred percent right—she loved Derek in light blue.

"You didn't have to tell me," Mark chuckled. "I've been friends with you and Derek for a really long time. I could write a multi-volume textbook on the random things I know about the two of you."

Addison shook her head in amusement. "Speaking of which…where is Derek?"

"He's upstairs, changing Noah."

"Oh," Addison said, a slight smile coming to her face.

"He's either doing that, or fixing his hair," Mark smirked.

"Who's fixing their hair?" Derek asked, as he walked into the living room, carrying Noah.

Upon seeing Addison, Noah's storm-grey eyes lit up, and the little boy reached an arm out towards her.

"Hi, Noah," Addison cooed, accepting the nine-month-old from Derek. She met her ex-husband's eyes, and offered him a soft smile. "Hi."

"Hi," he smiled back. "You look nice."

"Thank you. So do you."

Mark rolled his eyes; the awkwardness between the ex-married couple was killing him. It was clear as day that Derek loved Addison—clear as day to everyone but Derek and Addison.

"So," Mark cut in, "is there anything I need to know before the two of you leave?"

"No, I don't think so," Derek shrugged. "He's been fed and changed. You have both of our phone numbers. And you're a doctor, so we trust that you'll know what to do should a medical emergency arise." He turned to Addison. "I think that covers it, right?"

"Yeah," Addison nodded, before turning her attention to the baby in her arms. "Be a good boy for Uncle Mark," she said, pressing a kiss to Noah's little cheek.

"We'll be home soon," Derek added, kissing Noah's forehead.

Addison handed Noah to Mark, and she and Derek made their way out the front door, pausing for just a moment, once outside, to make sure Noah wasn't shrieking uncontrollably.

"Okay, Noah," they heard Mark say. "Let's see if there's some type of game we can watch together on TV. And I'll tell you what," he bargained. "If you're good and don't cry too much today, I promise I'll take you to an actual game…maybe even opening day when you're older."

xxxxx

"You know, I was listening to Noah, last night," Derek began, "and I think he's cooing and gurgling a lot. His verbal skills seem like they're where they should be to me."

"Really?" Addison asked with a smile, as the waiter at the restaurant refilled their water glasses.

Derek nodded.

"Is he sleeping through the night for you?" Addison asked curiously.

"No, definitely not," Derek chuckled.

"Oh, good," Addison laughed. "I thought it was just me that he didn't sleep for."

"No," Derek grinned. "He doesn't sleep for me either. Though I am getting better at calming him down."

"Really?" Addison asked, her interest piqued. "What's your secret?"

"Oh, I, uh…it probably wouldn't work for you."

"What?" Addison asked in confusion. "Why wouldn't it work for me?"

"Well, I, um…I sing to him," Derek confessed vaguely. "And he seems to like it."

"Oh. Yeah, that wouldn't work for me," Addison said, shaking her head. "He hates it when I sing to him." She ran a hand through her hair. "I swear, those nights where he refuses to go to sleep and refuses to stop crying…they make me wonder how I ever would have survived if that pregnancy test had been positive. I mean, could you imagine having two children under the age of two?"

"Yeah," Derek whispered vulnerably. "I could."

"What?" Addison breathed in surprise.

Derek shrugged, and met his ex-wife's eyes. "I could picture it." He ran a hand through his hair, carefully deliberating his next words. "When we had that pregnancy scare last month…I was disappointed…that it wasn't positive."

"You were?" Addison asked, her voice barely a whisper.

"I know the timing would have been wrong," Derek admitted. "And that it would have made things really complicated. And that we'd pretty much be like those characters on one of those made-for-TV dramas. But I was still disappointed."

Addison swallowed thickly, unable to form words, as she let her ex-husband's words sink in.

"We always said that we wanted our kids to be close in age," Derek continued with a small smile. "Like you and Archer."

"Like me and Archer," Addison echoed.

For just a moment, she allowed herself to get lost in that fantasy—sleepless nights with fifteen-month-old Noah and his newborn sibling…a sister, maybe (with Derek's hair and her eyes; or vice-versa). The four of them snuggled up in her and Derek's bed.

Or a couple years down the line—three-year-old Noah and his two-year-old sibling, each riding a little tricycle at the park, while she and Derek supervised to make sure no one got hurt; perhaps thoughts of a third child in the back of her mind.

And for the first time since her pregnancy scare, Addison felt what Derek felt—disappointment.

"Addie," Derek said gently, cutting into his ex-wife's thoughts, when he noticed her eyes beginning to mist over. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," Addison answered quickly, as she blinked back tears. "Yeah, I'm fine. I was just…thinking."

Derek offered her a soft smile, fairly confident that they were on the same page.

"I didn't realize you were disappointed," Addison said after a moment.

Derek nodded mutely. "In your defense, you were battling the stomach bug from hell," he reminded his ex-wife with a small smirk.

"Yeah. I was."

"But, um, that day…and my reaction the pregnancy test being negative…it got me thinking," Derek admitted, growing serious. "About me. About you. About us. Addison, if I had been in that situation with any other person, I would have wanted that pregnancy test to be negative. And even in our situation, I should have been relieved that it was negative. And a part of me was. But a bigger part of me wasn't." He swallowed thickly, and met his ex-wife's eyes. "I care about you, Addison. A lot. I love watching you with Noah; it makes me happy to see you happy; and it literally hurts me to see you sad or hurting. And I realize now that maybe that's what undid us the first time…I stopped caring."

"Derek, it takes two people to end a marriage."

"I know it does. But when we talk about what went wrong with us, it always ends up going back to the cheating and Mark and Meredith. And those things happened. But I also know that I stopped caring. I stopped caring about your feelings. I stopped caring about our marriage. I had work and I had Meredith, and I thought those things were enough. But the thing is…they weren't. I don't know…losing Savvy and Weiss, and getting Noah changed everything. It made me see things clearly. It made me see what's important and what's not…what I want, and what I don't. And when it comes down to it, at the end of the day, I want you and I want Noah."

"Derek, I, um…what are you saying? Are you saying we should just pick up where we left off? Pretend the divorce never happened? Start dating each other again? Because I don't think-"

"I'm not saying we should pick up where we left off," Derek cut in. "I'm not even saying we should date. I'm just saying that I care about you, and I want to spend some more time with you…and maybe see where it leads."

"I, um…"

"And, normally, I'd wait it out. But I know you, Addison. I know you better than I know anyone else in the world. And I wouldn't ask you this if I didn't think there was a chance that you felt the same way."

"Derek, I care about you," Addison said softly. "A lot. It's just…we just got divorced, and we haven't officially been named Noah's legal guardians yet. Do you think maybe it's too soon for us to do something like this?"

"Once upon a time, I would have. But, Addie, if I've learned anything these past few months, it's that life is unpredictable. I never, in my wildest dreams, would have thought that Savvy and Weiss wouldn't live to see forty. But they didn't. And I can't help thinking about my own life, and how it could be unpredictably cut short."

"Derek, don't say that," Addison pleaded. "Don't even think it."

"I'm not saying it's going to happen," Derek backpedaled. "I'm just saying that it could happen. And if it were to happen, I'd regret not giving things another chance with you. I just…I care about you. A lot. And I want to spend some more time with you and…you know, see what happens."

"Derek, I-"Addison began vulnerably; but she was cut off by the sound of Derek's phone ringing. Both her eyes and Derek's eyes darted to Derek's phone.

"It's Mark," Derek said, hints of confusion and worry in his voice.

"You should answer it," Addison advised. "Something might be wrong with Noah."

Derek looked at his ex-wife questioningly.

"You should answer it," Addison repeated. "You and I can pick up where we left off."

Derek nodded mutely, and reached for his phone. "Hey, Mark. Is everything okay?"

As Addison watched her ex-husband's end of the phone conversation, she felt the nausea building in her throat. She was very good at reading Derek, and by watching him, she could tell that whatever Mark was saying to him wasn't good.

"Derek," she choked out fearfully, as her mind went to dark places. Did Noah have another bowel obstruction? Did he have a fatal allergic reaction to something? "Derek," she gulped, tears pooling in her eyes. She knew she was in public, and that Montgomerys weren't supposed to cry in public, but right now she couldn't care less.

Derek hung up the phone and met his ex-wife's eyes, doing his best to stay composed. "Addison, we need to go home."

Within minutes, they'd paid for the entrées they'd never eat, and were in the car heading home. They had somehow managed to make the twenty minute drive from the restaurant to Derek's house in twelve minutes flat.

They made their way from Derek's car to his house, and Derek wrapped an arm around his ex-wife's waist in attempt to comfort both of them. He unlocked the door and let himself and Addison into his house, and with his arm still around her, they made their way towards the living room.

The first thing Addison saw was Mark clutching Noah protectively. And as she looked around the room, she saw that Mark and Noah weren't alone. Elise was there with two teenagers—a guy and a girl.

"Elise," Addison breathed. "What's going on?" She looked at the two teenagers questioningly. "Who are you?"

"I'm Hailey Beil," the young girl said, stepping forward and eyeing Addison critically. "And this Rocco Zark," she said gesturing to the guy next to her. "We're Noah's parents. His real parents."

A/N: I hope the section where Derek was talking about the possibility of dying young didn't come off as callous. In all honesty, it was written before Thursday's Grey's episode, which I didn't watch; I haven't watched Grey's for a while now. But it was pretty much impossible not to hear what happened. I was surprised by the decision to kill Derek off, and I'm assuming it'll end up biting the writers in the butt—at least in the long run. I ended up watching a couple of scenes from the episode on YouTube (in part, because I wanted to see how everything was handled; in part, to get YouTube to stop recommending children's books being read aloud). The whole thing struck me as more gimmicky than anything else. And for me, gimmicky almost never translates into sincerity or rawness (which is what I think an episode like this would have needed). So I was pretty under-whelmed by the scenes that I watched. I know a lot of people were upset by the fact that Derek was killed off and by the way that he was killed off, so I just wanted to clarify that I wasn't purposely trying to hit a nerve with Derek talking about dying in this chapter. I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Thank you so much for reading!