Here is chapter twenty one. Wow, twenty one chapters. Just to say: I never would have gotten this far if it weren't for all of your fantastic reviews.
c106: You are totally right. I forgot to write Alex into the last chapter! feels guilty... sorry everyone who loves Alex: he'll be in this chapter with a bigger role to make up for it.
FauxPoesFoes: I totally love the Beatles too! They are definitely the best. Well... after Billy Joel, in my opinion. But they are awesome.
Now for the chapter it self. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: See previous... please.
"Mummy! Mummy, it's my birthday!" Kamila exclaimed as she ran down the stairs. It was her fourth birthday today, and she was very excited. Her younger siblings, who had gotten big kid beds a few months prior, were following her down the stairs, although at a bit of a slower pace.
"Happy birthday, Kammi!" Meredith scooped her up, "You're four today!"
"This many," she said, proudly holding up four little fingers.
"Mummy, I'm hungry," Desiree whined. She wasn't very happy this morning; Kamila was getting all the attention.
"I'm making breakfast," Meredith nodded towards the frying pan on the stove, "You get pancakes today."
"With faces?" Caden asked, his eyes wide.
"Blueberry ones."
"That's my favourite," Kamila announced.
"I know; that's why I'm making them."
"Where's daddy?" Kamila asked, her smile fading slightly.
"He's at work. He'll be home in time for your birthday party this afternoon," Meredith informed her daughter, dropping blueberries into the cooking batter.
---
Derek pulled a clean shirt over his head, and exited his office. He checked his watch. He still had an hour before Kamila's party started. He pulled on his jacket and hurried down the hall. He saw Addison talking softly to a nurse.
"Going home already?" she asked.
"Yeah," he replied, "It's Kamila's birthday today. Her party starts at one, and promised Meredith I'd be there."
"Right," Addison said, pretending not to remember that this was Kamila's birthday. It wasn't exactly a forgettable date in her mind. Four years had passed, but she still remembered. There still was so much tension between them. Addison had spent the last two years avoiding him, since Mark had come back.
"Well, have fun," she offered stiffly.
"Thanks," she watched him walk out of the hospital, whistling softly to himself.
Mark was working at the hospital now, and she was sharing an apartment with him. It wasn't a real relationship; they lived together for convenient sex, and that was where it ended. Last year, Addison had tried to convince herself that there was something more; that they could be a couple. Unfortunately the sparks between them had fizzled out long ago, but their living arrangement hadn't changed.
Derek had not been pleased when he saw his once best friend arrive at the hospital. Burke had offered him a job, despite his knowledge of their history. Seattle Grace was in desperate need of a plastic surgeon, and Mark Sloan provided. Conversation between them was strictly work related and they avoided each other when at all possible.
Addison hated the tension. She often found herself wondering what had happened between them. Then it came back to her; the allure of Mark's mysterious bad-boy nature, and her lack of self control. She hated herself for that. She'd driven away the perfect man, and hadn't been able to keep the one she'd given her marriage up for. And then there was Meredith.
Meredith Grey. She couldn't believe Derek had fallen for her; quiet and unassuming. She wasn't strikingly pretty or especially witty, and there was nothing special about her, except that she was the first girl Derek had seen in a bar.
The hospital was quiet, "Keri," she said to the nurse, "I'm going out for lunch. I'm leaving my pager on. Please let the chief know, in case someone needs to find me."
Addison stopped in her office to grab her purse, and strode to her car. She started the engine and cranked the radio. The quiet bistro she wanted to go to was only a five minute drive away.
Maybe I've convinced myself I've really been in love
And I've been wrong all along
For all I know the feeling and the picture that I've tried
So hard to find isn't mine
She found herself humming the tune of this unfamiliar song. She put on her turn signal to change lanes. Addison sighed. She wasn't happy. She knew she wasn't happy. She questioned why she was even in Seattle. At first, it had been to get away from Mark. But she hadn't been forced to come to Seattle. She was one of the best neonatal surgeons in the country; she could get a job anywhere.
And on my own
Its hard to tell my heart it will be alright
This love it holds will one day find a home
As hard as love can be
Its harder still it seems
To be a lover all alone without love
But she was a sucker for punishment, it seemed. Derek's presence was familiar; she'd focused so much on her career that she hadn't made friends outside of the hospitals she'd worked in. Now that Derek wasn't hers any longer, she did the only thing she knew how to do: work. And, of course, have loveless sex with her ex-husbands one time best friend.
Picking up the pieces makes me wonder if
I only build it all to watch it fall
The faster it can go away it means the less of me
Is gone to stay and I'm ok
She pulled into the parking lot and sat in the car for a moment, belatedly checking to make sure she had enough money. The song on the radio ended.
Maybe I've convinced myself I've really been in love
But I've been wrong all along
She sat down at a table in a corner, a ringlet falling into her face as she glanced at the menu the waitress handed her. She'd been here often enough though, and didn't really need to choose what to eat this time.
She sat and ate her meal in silence. The bread felt dry in her mouth, and her favourite hot wings tasted bland. She sighed, and brushed her hair out of her face. This was a bad idea. Working was far easier.
"Excuse me," a voice said from behind her. She turned around sharply, startled. A tall man with dark hair and eyes, who was probably a little older than she, was standing there holding a newspaper under his arm. "I'm sorry," he smiled, "I didn't mean to startle you."
"Can I help you?" she asked as politely as her sour mood would allow.
"I just noticed you sitting here, all alone. Do you come in here often? Because I think I've seen you before…"
Addison paused for a moment, wondering about this man's intent. She finally decided that an answer couldn't hurt, "Yeah, I come in here every once and awhile."
"Why are you always alone?" he asked.
"I think that's a bit personal to ask someone whose name you don't even know," Addison said, raising an eyebrow at the boldness of this stranger.
"I'm sorry!" he laughed, "Nathanial Clark," he held out his hand. She reached to shake it, finding herself at ease.
"Addison Montgomery."
"Nice to meet you. May I sit down?" he asked.
"I don't see why not."
---
The doorbell rang yet again, "I'll get it!" Kamila ran to the door. Derek was fast on her heels as she stood on tip toes to reach the door knob. "Adam!" she cried as the door was swung open.
"Happy Birthday," he said, handing her a brightly wrapped package. Adam and Kamila had started preschool together two weeks prior.
"Say thank you," Derek whispered as his daughter took the present.
"Thank you!" she grinned. She was so excited.
"Come in, Nadia," Derek invited Adam's mother inside.
"It's hard to believe they're so old," she commented. Adam was already four. His birthday was six months ago, "They're already going to school."
"It's unbelievable, yeah," Derek said as he picked up Desiree, who had been tugging on his pant leg.
"Daddy, I want presents!" she pouted.
"It's not your birthday," he explained to her for probably the tenth time in the past half hour, "When it is your birthday, you will get presents."
"When's my birthday?" she asked.
"You had your birthday a couple months ago," he told her, "You have to wait until June for your next birthday."
"How old did you turn on your last birthday?" Nadia asked Desiree.
She held up two chubby fingers, "Twooo."
"Meredith's in the kitchen, Nadia, if you want to go see her. I have to go conduct some pin the tail on the donkey," he told her, and she laughed, "Do you want to play?" he asked Desiree.
"Yeah!" she brightened.
Nadia headed into the kitchen, where Caden was sitting on the floor with plastic Duplo blocks. Izzie and Meredith were putting the finishing touches on Kamila's cake. Flowers had been carefully piped by Izzie in each corner, and Meredith was helping clean up by doing the utmost important licking of the spoon ritual.
"I'm so glad you came!" Meredith exclaimed as Nadia pulled a stool up to the kitchen island.
"I wouldn't miss it. Adam was so excited. He's been talking about it for three days."
"Aw, I'm glad. They're really good friends, aren't they?" Meredith asked. Because she worked so much, she didn't get much of a chance to spend a lot of time with her daughter and her friends.
"They really are, when Kamila's not playing in the house corner of the preschool with Melinda. Adam won't go near the dolls; he's dead set against them."
Melinda was a quiet girl that Kamila had made friends with over the past two weeks. She would be beautiful when she grew up, with smooth milk chocolate skin and curly black hair. Their friendship had surprised Meredith, as Kamila was quite an outgoing four year old, and Melinda was very shy.
The doorbell rang again. All of the guests were here, even Christina and Preston, except for –
"That'll be Alex," Izzie said happily, setting down the piping bag to go answer the door.
The two had dated off and on for the past four years. He'd been Izzie's date at Christina's wedding and she had been as happy as the bride herself. They had gone through an unusually long period of 'on' lately, and Meredith and Christina speculated that the two of them might actually be getting ready to settle down.
"Hello ladies," Michaella greeted them as she came into the kitchen. Nadia noticed the ring on her finger.
"Are you and George engaged?" she asked, surprised.
"Yeah we are," she smiled, "We've set the wedding for February 14th," she blushed.
"This is news," Meredith put a hand on her hip, "I cannot believe that O'Malley never told me!"
"Well he just proposed the other day," Michaella admitted.
"It's not like I didn't see him at work yesterday, and the day before."
Michaella put a hand to her mouth, "It was supposed to be a secret I think. He was going to tell everyone tonight."
"Ah well, we all know now," Nadia said, "Congratulations!"
Izzie came into the kitchen a moment later, with Alex on her heels. He immediately turned around, "Too much estrogen in here."
Everyone laughed, and Christina passed Alex on her way into the kitchen, "Evil spawn," she grinned. It was just like old times, with a few new additions.
"Congrats, Michaella," Christina gave the pretty girl a smile. "George told me," she explained.
"Ah, well I guess it wasn't so much a secret," Michaella shrugged.
A roar of laughter was heard from the living room. The women decided that they'd go and watch the children play. Caden got up off the floor, carrying a car in his hand, and followed his mum without a word.
It turned out that the laughter was because one of the little girls, Kendra, had mistakenly stuck her donkey tail onto Desiree's head. Desiree was looking about ready to start crying. Meredith ran over to remove the tape and tail from her daughter's head, but she wasn't fast enough.
Desiree opened her mouth and let out a wail that was probably heard on the east coast. Meredith picked her up and bounced her on her hip, "Shh, its ok," she tried to calm her down. She took her into the kitchen, and George followed. All of Meredith's children loved George.
"Des! Don't cry, silly goose!" George poked her nose. She stuck her thumb in her mouth, and stopped wailing, but didn't stop crying, "Let me take her," George said to Meredith.
"Maybe Uncle George has a surprise for you!" Meredith said, giving the dark haired toddler to her friend.
George pulled a little teddy bear out of his pocket and handed it to her. He had originally intended it for Kamila, but Michaella had picked out some finger paints for her, and the small bear wouldn't be missed.
"Mine?" she asked, the tears stopping.
"Of course!" George kissed her forehead.
"Thanks George," Meredith whispered as she passed him.
Derek was just herding the six children in the living room outside, "Who wants to play tag?" he was asking.
Parents and friends assisted in the bundling up of the kids. Velcro shoes were done up and zippers on windbreakers zipped. Derek proclaimed one of the boys, Davey, 'it', and they were all off and running. Even Caden tried to play, but he mostly just ran after his big sister.
It turned out tag wasn't a very good idea, as Kendra and Melinda stopped and kneeled down, looking at a bug in the grass. The game came to a screeching halt, "You know, I really thought that was a good idea," Derek frowned, as Meredith came and wrapped her arms around his waist.
"It was a great idea," Meredith told him, "It got them outside, and they think they're doing something exciting."
"Very true," he admitted.
"Is he alright?" Preston, who was standing next to Derek, sounded concerned.
"Who?" Derek asked, looking around the small yard.
"Caden," Meredith breathed. She ran across the yard to her little boy. The toddler was standing, wide eyed by the fence and wheezing slightly. He looked about to pass out. She picked him up quickly, "Caden, honey, talk to mummy," she said.
He tried to cry, but couldn't do it. His lips were tinged a bluish purple. "Derek!" Meredith was beginning to panic her self, "I think he's having an asthma attack!" she surprised herself. "I have to take him to the hospital; we don't have any drugs here to deal with this!"
"I'll stay here and hold down the fort," Derek said, although he desperately wished that he could go with his son.
"I'll drive you, Meredith," Alex volunteered.
"Thank you," Meredith was surprised at this show of kindness. Meredith didn't even bother to put Caden into his car seat; even though she knew it was unsafe, she held the wheezing baby on her lap, and while tears welled up in his frightened eyes, she spoke to him in what she hoped was her calmest voice.
Alex let them out at emergency, and went to park the car. Addison was just sending a patient who needed stitches over to see Dr. Williams, who was now a third year resident. Wow, how time flew.
Addison was shocked to see little Caden, turning blue and a very panicked looking Meredith in the emergency room.
"Asthma attack, I think," Meredith gasped.
"Sit down and calm down before you have a panic attack," Addison directed Meredith, taking Caden out of her arms. She listened to the baby's chest with her stethoscope. She heard his fragile lungs wheezing, and immediately ordered an intern to "grab 100 mg sabutamol and a nebuliser."
Meredith's breathing slowed, and Addison handed Caden back to her and fit a miniature oxygen mask over his head, "I'm giving him oxygen and sabutamol, to calm his bronchial tubes."
"Thank you," Meredith said, rubbing her baby's back as he gasped for air.
"It's a good thing you got him here as soon as you did," Addison commended her, "any longer and I don't really want to think about what may have happened. I think his asthma is probably a result of his weak lungs at birth," she explained. She had had concerns that this might be a problem later in life, but hadn't wanted to ruin Derek's happiness with worry. She realized now it was a mistake.
Meredith nodded numbly, "Its ok, baby, you're ok."
Alex came running into the ER, "Is he ok?" he asked.
"Getting there," Addison told him, "Breathe slowly with him and look him in the eye," Addison instructed Meredith, "it'll help slow his breathing and get more medication into his lungs."
Meredith knew all this, but in the panic of her son's sudden illness, she had completely forgotten everything beyond the diagnosis.
A half hour later, Caden's breathing was back to normal. "I'd like to run a few tests, just to make sure that it was only asthma rearing its ugly head, and not something more serious."
After two hours of tests and waiting, Addison informed them that they could go home, along with a prescription for a space chamber, a ventalin inhaler for emergencies, and a metered dose fluticasone propionate.
"Is everyone gone?" Meredith asked Derek after she'd told him that Caden was ok.
"Yeah, except Izzie. Sorry Mer," he said sympathetically, lifting the sleeping toddler from her arms, "we got a lot of pictures though."
"Desiree was crying after you took Caden away," Izzie informed her, "even George couldn't make her stop." She had a tearstained Desiree on one hip, whose thumb was jammed in her mouth.
"Come here, Des," Meredith said, taking her baby from Izzie and giving her a kiss on the cheek, "Caden's ok, see?"
The usually talkative Desiree said nothing, but continued to suck her thumb. She'd known her brother was in trouble, and it was still concerning her.
"I think it's time to go," Alex said softly to Izzie.
"Yeah," she grabbed her coat, "Thank you for having us. Happy birthday Kammi!" she said to the four year old who was clinging to Derek's pant leg. Izzie and Alex left hand in hand, and the door shut on the Shepherd family.
---
It's Murphy's Law: anything that can go wrong will go wrong. It's up to us to make the best of it, and work around the situations that life throws at us. And don't forget to be happy: optimism sometimes counters Murphy's Law.
Maybelline