A/N I am sooo sorry for the lack of updates lately! I really hope that I am forgiven.
Hope
It seemed like a long time had passed from the moment Irina had fallen asleep in his arms to when he felt someone shaking him awake. When Mark opened his eyes, Derek was shaking his shoulder rather urgently. Mark had no idea where Lexie had gone so his first concern was for her. Then he remembered what had happened the night before. Then he remembered how Arizona didn't even know her own daughter. Then he was concerned about her and about Callie. He looked at Derek, shifting a still sleeping Irina as he did so.
"What is it Derek?" Mark demanded. He had never done patience well and this was certainly no exception. He needed to know what was going on.
"We had to admit Lexie. Her blood pressure was sky high and we had to put her in a bed." Derek told her. He had no news on Arizona or Callie but he knew that Mark would want to know this. Mark couldn't believe that his fiancée was in a hospital bed with high blood pressure. He was scared for her and for their baby. This was not what he needed to keep his blood pressure under control.
"How is she?" Mark asked as he looked at Derek. He hoped that Derek would tell him the truth, but he wasn't sure that Derek would.
"She told me not to tell you because she knew you'd worry about her." Derek told Mark.
"She's my fiancée. You had to tell me." Mark pointed out. Not only was Lexie his fiancée and the mother of his unborn child, but Derek was his childhood best friend.
"She's fine. A little lightheaded, but in a few hours she'll be fine." Derek reassured Mark. Mark exhaled a sigh of relief. He needed to see her. He knew that she would be fine but for the first time in awhile, he resented the little blonde four year old sleeping on his lap. Then he felt guilty because he really should not have resented a little girl whose world could be shattered more than it already was.
"I need to see her." Mark told Derek insistently. Not that he didn't love his goddaughter or anything, but he felt like he needed to be with his fiancée right now.
"I have to go pick Addison up at the airport. Her flight comes in in an hour." Derek commented. He looked at the sleeping child in Mark's arms and he smiled. Irina looked so peaceful right now and he was reluctant to let Mark disrupt the four year olds rest to go see his fiancée. Then an idea came to him as he was watching Mark look at the sleeping child in his arms.
"I'll take Irina with me to the airport to meet Addie." Derek told Mark. Mark looked up at Derek when he spoke. He was surprised by Derek's offer, but then his thoughts went to Callie and Arizona. He didn't want them to be alone. Someone needed to be keeping a close and careful eye on them. Mark did not trust the nurses to do that.
"What about Arizona and Callie?" Mark asked, doing his best not to wake the sleeping child in his arms.
"Miranda's staying with them. She knows about Lexie's high blood pressure and she knew that you would want to be with her so she volunteered to stay with Callie and Arizona so you wouldn't have to run back and forth." Derek explained. Miranda Bailey was being a trouper throughout everything and Derek knew that she was beyond exhausted but she refused to sleep. Just then Irina's eyes fluttered open and she focused on Mark first and then she saw her Uncle Derek.
"How's Mommy and Momma?" Irina asked softly. She hadn't had any nightmares while she slept but she really wanted her Momma and Mommy back and all better so they could go home.
"Still sleeping sweetie." Derek explained. Mark just wanted to put Irina in Derek's arms and run to his fiancée, but he knew that was not fair to Irina.
"Hey, Uncle Derek has to go pick up Aunt Addie from the airport and he wants you to go with him." Mark told his goddaughter with a smile. He knew that Irina had trusted Derek from the very beginning so she would likely go with him without much complaint.
"Can I take this?" Irina asked as she held up Mark's leather jacket that was still wrapped around her small body.
"Of course you can. I don't need it right now." Mark told her. Irina broke into a megawatt smile that had not been seen since just before Mark had gotten the call about the accident. No one could ever understand her attachment to the leather jacket, but it was a definite fact that she looked adorable in it. It couldn't be just any leather jacket as Callie had found out when she had offered Irina hers. It had to be Uncle Mark's leather jacket. Irina had told her mother that she liked the smell of Uncle Mark's leather jacket. Callie had given up trying to break Irina of her love of Mark's leather jacket.
"Let's go pick up Aunt Addie." Irina insisted as she scrambled off Mark's lap and tugged impatiently on Derek's hand.
"Go Derek." Mark told Derek. He could see the look of uncertainty on Derek's face and Mark was sure that had to do with his reluctance to leave his patients. Especially since they were part of the hospital family. Both Mark and Derek knew that Miranda Bailey was more than competent to keep a watchful medical eye on both Arizona and Callie.
"Call me if you need anything." Derek told Mark as they parted ways. Mark needed to see his fiancée and Derek and Irina needed to go pick up Addison.
Forty minutes later, Derek and Irina were waiting by the elevator. They couldn't go up to the second floor because of the new security restrictions that were in place at every single airport. So they waited and when Addison finally stepped off of the elevator Irina flew into her arms and hugged her really tightly. She loved her Aunt Addison even if she didn't get to see her as much as she'd like to. When Irina let go of Addison, Addison put her purse down and hugged Derek as well.
"Aunt Addie, Mommy doesn't know me." Irina whispered, her lower lip trembling. She didn't want to cry again as she had already cried all over Uncle Mark's shirt. Addison tossed Derek a horrified glance and Derek nodded in answer. Addison hated to know that Arizona did not know her own daughter. Addison knew that Irina had to be so sad and so scared and Addison wished she could do something for her niece.
"I'm sorry sweetie." Addison told Irina. She couldn't make any promises that it would get better because no one knew for sure that it would get better.
Just then she noticed that the four year old had Mark's leather jacket on. Addison had to admit that it was adorable on Irina. She looked at Derek for the first time realizing that she had expected Mark to come pick her up and the jacket had reminded her of that.
"I thought Mark was going to pick me up?" Addison commented.
"Aunt Lexie is sicky." Irina informed Addison sweetly. Addison looked at Derek wondering if there was more to the story.
"Her blood pressure went through the roof so we had to admit her and Mark wanted to be with her." Derek explained.
"That's where he should be." Addison agreed. Mark was one of her best friends and when he was scared, she was scared for him. Addison had a feeling that he was scared for Lexie and the baby right now.
"Do you wanna see my Mommy and Momma?" Irina asked as they walked to the baggage area. Derek went to go get Addison's luggage while Addison stayed with Irina.
"Yes of course I do." Addison told the four year old. She was not looking forward to seeing her usually strong friends in very vulnerable states. She figured she'd check on Lexie too even if Lexie was not her patient.
"I love them." Irina whispered. She was scared that they would die and she would not have any parents and she would have to go back to Russia and to Ms Hadley's orphanage.
"And they love you." Addison reassured Irina with a kiss to her cheek.
"Are they gonna die Aunt Addie?" Irina asked with her lower lip jutting out again. She was not going to cry anymore. She didn't want to be sad and she didn't want Aunt Addie to be sad either.
"I hope not sweetheart." Addison told Irina gently. Again she could not make any promises because no one knew what was going to happen to Callie or Arizona. Just then Derek returned with Addison's two bags and they walked to Derek's car. In anticipation of his ex wife's luggage, Derek had borrowed Mark's car which was bigger than Derek's car.
Forty minutes later, the three of them were stepping out of the car. Addison had one destination in mind and it was Callie and Arizona's room. Then she would go see how Mark and Lexie were doing. She took Irina into Arizona and Callie's room and Irina's small hand shook a sleeping Miranda Bailey's shoulder. Miranda opened her eyes and instead of being mad as she would have been at anyone else who woke her, she smiled at Irina. Then she saw Addison and she stood up and hugged the older woman. Miranda made a mental note to tell Richard that the visitor chairs were not comfortable and that they really needed to get some new ones for all of the departments.
"Go get some rest Miranda. Irina and I will sit with them." Addison insisted. She had no idea where Derek had run off to but she figure that it was probably important.
"Are you sure? I guess I could go check on Lexie and make sure her blood pressure is going back to normal." Miranda told Addison.
"No checking on Lexie. I am sure she is fine. I'll check on her in a little bit." Addison told Miranda sternly. She locked her eyes on Miranda's exhausted face and said,
"You need sleep. Go sleep now."
Miranda scowled at Addison's direct order, but she left the room anyway. Maybe some sleep wasn't such a bad idea after all.
Once she was gone, Addison sat beside Callie's bed and Irina sat on her lap. Addison figured that it was best if they left Arizona alone for a little while. Arizona needed some adjustment and a little time to deal with everything that was going on. Addison was holding Callie's hand and Irina's hand was on top of hers. Addison felt movement under her hand and when she removed her hand, she could see Callie's hand stirring. Irina looked at her Momma's face and when she saw Callie's eyes open just a crack, Irina smiled.
"Momma, wake up." Irina whispered. She was excited but she was also scared that her Momma wouldn't know her just like Mommy hadn't known her.
"Come on Cal. Wake up." Addison encouraged. Finally Callie's eyes opened and she winced when the harsh hospital lights hit her eyes completely. When she saw Irina, Callie smiled as best as she could.
"Hi baby." Callie whispered as tears pooled in her chocolate brown eyes. Irina's blue eyes filled with tears. Her Momma knew her. That was all Irina needed to know. She was so happy.
"You know me Momma." Irina whispered. Callie was confused as to why Irina would be so glad to know that her Momma knew her.
"Arizona is suffering from severe memory loss. She doesn't know about Irina at all." Addison whispered. Callie's tears fell when she heard those words. She hated that Arizona didn't even know their daughter. She had a feeling that Irina had been crushed.
"Ari…"Callie whispered as she tried to turn her head to see her sleeping fiancée.
"Take it easy Cal." Addison warned softly.
Irina moved to sit on the edge of the bed and Callie held out her arms. Sure she was hurting but she knew a hug from her daughter would help her.
"I don't wanna hurt you Momma." Irina whispered.
"It's okay baby. Come let me hug you." Callie told her. Irina carefully crawled into her Momma's arms and Callie held her close.
"I am going to go check on Mark and Lexie. Can I leave you two alone for a few minutes?" Addison asked.
"What's wrong with Mark and Lexie?" Callie asked anxiously.
"Mark's fine, but Lexie had very high blood pressure and they had to admit her." Addison told Callie. Now Callie was scared for Mark and Lexie and the baby too in addition to Arizona.
"Go check on her. We'll be fine." Callie insisted. Addison nodded before she left Callie and Arizona's room and headed to OB where she had once spent a lot of time.
When she got to Lexie's room, Lexie and Mark were both awake discussing baby names. She was seven months pregnant and they could not decide on a single baby name.
"How are you feeling?" Addison asked as soon as she walked in.
"Much better but Mark won't let them release me yet." Lexie told Addison before she shot a glare in Mark's direction.
"How's Callie?" Was Mark's first question.
"She's awake and visiting with Irina." Addison reassured Mark. She saw him relax more and Lexie seemed to notice it as well. Mark was relieved that Callie recognized her daughter. It was a real relief for him.
"And Arizona?" Lexie asked nervously.
"She hasn't woken up since I was in there with Irina."
"I want to give Callie a present." Lexie told both Addison and Mark. She grabbed a piece of paper and a pen and wrote something down. For some reason there was adhesive tape on the bedside table and Lexie sealed the paper with the tape.
"What is it?" Addison asked as Lexie passed her the piece of taped up paper.
"Something that Callie's wanted ever since she knew we were pregnant." Lexie answered. Both Mark and Addison looked at Lexie with disbelief. They both knew what was on that piece of paper.
"When did you find out the baby's gender?" Mark demanded.
"I made Dr. Brooks tell me last week when I was on my lunch break." Lexie admitted.
"Okay so what is it?" Mark demanded.
"Sorry babe but you have to wait until it's born." Lexie told Mark apologetically. Mark was not happy about having to wait, but he didn't want to piss his fiancée off and cause her blood pressure her go up again.
"I am going to go give this to Callie. I'll come see you guys later." Addison told Mark and Lexie. Mark smiled and nodded and Lexie smiled and spoke,
"Tell her she can't share it with Mark."
Addison was still laughing as she walked out of Lexie's hospital room.
She returned to Callie's room holding up the piece of paper. She knew that this would definitely improve Callie's mood. She too was eager to find out what Lexie was having. Boy would it be funny having nearly everyone but Mark know.
"Lexie has a present for you." Addison told Callie as soon as she stepped into the hospital room. Callie and Irina were lying in bed together and Callie was singing to Irina but her voice was tired. Addison could tell. Callie struggled to sit up in bed and Addison helped her raise the bed to a sitting position. Addison undid all the tape for Callie and then let Callie hold the piece of paper with her good hand.
"This is an awesome piece of paper." Callie grinned a little more as she read what was on the paper. Addison read it over her shoulder and she could not help but smile. She was excited for Mark to have his first child. Well technically second if you counted his now nineteen year old daughter Sloane.
"Now we can buy stuff for the baby." Callie grinned excitedly.
"We just can't give it to them until after the baby's born. Lexie told me to tell you not to tell Mark." Addison informed Callie. Callie scowled but then winced with the pain that she had been trying to ignore. She was suddenly feeling the need for sleep. She looked at Addison and they understood that Callie wanted to sleep. They both looked at Irina and they were surprised to see that she had already fallen asleep. Callie quickly followed her after giving Addison the piece of paper for safekeeping.