Chapter 28
Disclaimer: I do not own anything. Everything belongs to their rightful owners and I am not making any profit from this.
A little over a week has passed since Naomi, Maya, Betsy, and Olivia came to visit and since then Addison, and Derek, as well as Amelia, have been getting used to having Zola in their lives, and all three of them love the fact their lives now include the seven-month-old.
It is a Monday morning, Addison's fist day back at work, and She, Derek, and Amelia are walking into the hospital, Addison being the one of them holding Zola and her diaper bag.
"What if Zola doesn't like day-care?" Addison asks concerned.
"It will be fine." Amelia assures her, "Sofia's there so she has one person she knows and she's Zola so she'll make plenty more friends."
"Amy's right, Addie, it will be fine." Derek assures her.
"What if it's not?" Addison asks, clearly concerned as she has gotten used to spending every moment with Zola.
"It will be." Amelia assures her, "Who can pick Zola up from the day-care?" Amelia asks curious, as she wants to make sure her niece is safe, plus she figures it will distract Addison.
"Well the three of us, and Callie, or Mark, or Arizona, and then just in case something happens and none of us can pick her up, Bailey." Addison explains.
"Right. I've got to get to surgery, I'll see you guys later." Amelia says, before walking away, leaving Addison and Derek to take Zola to the day care together.
A few minutes later Addison and Derek are up in the day car with Zola, it being more than clear that neither are too keen to say goodbye to her, though they both know they have to.
"Maybe this is too soon, maybe one of us should stay home with her a little longer." Addison says to Derek.
"Addie, we both agreed this is the right time." Derek says, trying to be the rational one, even though he isn't too keen on the idea of leaving Zola either, "It will be okay, Zola is going to have fun, she's going to have a great time, aren't you, Sweetie?" Derek asks, picking Zola up out of Addison's arms, "We'll be able to visit her, and she'll be fine." Derek tells his daughter.
"Okay." Addison says, "I'm going to go before I can't bring myself to." Addison says, "I love you, Zo." Addison says, kissing her daughters head, "I'll see you later." Addison tells Derek, before kissing him and walking away, having needed to force herself to take ever step.
"You're Mom worries, you're going to quickly realise that." Derek tells Zola once Addison leaves, "Most people don't, but you will." He says, "Mommy and Daddy are both working, but we'll check in with you and you have your friend Sofia, and you're going to have a lot of fun." Derek tells his daughter, and for a little while he continues to just hold his daughter until his pager goes off, "Okay Daddy's really got to go, I love you Zo Zo." Derek tells his daughter, kissing her head, and quiet reluctantly putting her on the ground.
"It's hard to leave her, isn't it Doctor Shepherd?" The day care director asks.
"Yeah, I had to convince Addison too and now I don't want to." Derek admits.
"She'll be fine." The Day care director assures her.
"I know, I just worry." Derek admits, "Um, that pink Unicorn is her favourite toy, if she gets upset just make sure she has that."
"Of course." The Day care director says and once more Derek's pager goes off again.
"Okay, I've really got to go. Bye Zo Zo." Derek says, waving at his daughter again before leaving, honestly it being one of the hardest things he has done to walk away from his little girl.
After walking away from the day care Addison has to duck into a supply room to stop herself from getting upset, and as she tries to calm down the door opens and Bailey walks into the room,
"First time leaving, Zola?" Bailey asks, having seen Addison duck into the room and having been able to guess the reason.
"Yes." Addison confirms, "it was so much harder than I thought it would be."
"Yeah, it is." Bailey assures her, "But your girl is in good hands, I wouldn't leave Tucker there if they weren't great, and you can visit her. It will be okay."
"I know." Addison says, "It's strange, it's only been two weeks, but I got so used to being with her, it's hard to remember not being with her all the time."
"That's your life now." Bailey says, "It's motherhood, and it's going to be okay." Bailey assures her friend, "Now, pull yourself together and come on, your baby is okay, now you have to go save other peoples babies."
"Yeah, I do." Addison says, "Thanks Miranda."
"No problem." Bailey says and the two of them head out of the supply room, Addison being pretty thankful for Bailey's kind but frank attitude as she is pretty sure that nothing else could have gotten her to leave.
After a morning of surgery Addison finds herself missing Zola completely as even though she was completely focused on her work thoughts of her little girl kept invading Addison's mind.
As she has a little bit of time before her next consult Addison is making her way to the day care, feeling the desire to check in on Zola,
"Addie!" A voice calls and Addison turn to see Amelia walking towards her.
"Hey." Addison greats, turning to look at Amelia, but she continues to walk at the same time.
"Something wrong?" Amelia asks, jogging to catch up with sister.
"I've got half an hour before my next patient, I just want to check in on Zola." Addison explains.
"Ah." Amelia says, completely understanding, "I'll join you." She says, and the two of them head to the day care together.
About five minutes later Addison and Amelia are sitting in the day care with Zola who is happily playing with toy though she still has her pink unicorn close.
"You made a good choice with the unicorn, she really loves it." Addison informs Amelia.
"I'm glad." Amelia says, grinning slightly as she feels rather proud at the fact that her niece loves her gift so much, "How you going being apart from her?"
"It's hard, really hard." Addison admits.
"I'm not surprised, but look how happy she is." Amelia says, looking down at her niece, "She's okay Addie."
"I know, I still don't like leaving her." Addison says, hugging Zola and as she does he pager goes off, "911, I've got to go." Addison realises.
"Go, Zo's gonna spend a bit of time with Aunty Amelia." Amelia reveals as she has a bit of time before her next surgery.
"That sounds great. I love you Zo, Mommy's going to see you later." Addison says, and as she stands up and starts to walk away Zola starts to cry, causing Addison to turn back around, and from the look on her face it is clear that Addison doesn't want to leave her daughter.
"It's okay, go, I've got Zo." Amelia assures her.
"But…." Addison starts to say.
"It's a 911, you've got to go. I've got Zola." Amelia assures her, as she picks up her niece, and quiet reluctantly Addison leaves the room hearing her daughter cry as she goes, "It's okay Zo, you'll see your Mommy later." Amelia says as she cuddles her niece, "Your Mommy and Daddy both have very important jobs and while there might be times where they have to leave you should never doubt how much they love you, because they do. You're their world." Amelia assures her niece as she continues to rock her back and forth trying to get Zola to calm down.
A few hours after Addison and Amelia were with Zola it is lunch time and Derek is visiting his daughter, along with Mark who is visiting his own daughter.
"So how does it feel, being her dad?" Mark asks curious, as he knows how he feels, but he wants to know what Derek feels like.
"Incredible, I love her so much." Derek admits, "Everything she does is fascinating, and she's only been in my life a short time, but I can't imagine my life without her."
"I know exactly how you feel." Mark says, looking at Sofia, "Did you ever think this would be our lives, raising our daughters together?" he asks curious.
"I hoped so." Derek admits, "How are things going with Julia?" he asks curious.
"Good, I think." Mark admits, "I like her, I like her a lot, but I don't want to get ahead of myself." He admits.
"I'm happy for you." Derek says, telling the truth.
"How are things going with you and Addie?" Mark ask curious, not overly sure that they are in a place where they can easily talk about this, but he is hoping that they are.
"Good, really good. We're good, and thing with Zola are good, I don't remember the last time I spent a night at the trailer." Derek says, as while he hasn't technically moved into Addison's house he doesn't remember the last time he was at his.
"Wow." Mark says, realising that the only thing he is feeling is happiness for his friends, not any jealousy, "Have you figured out what you're going to do with the land yet?" he asks curious.
"No." Derek admits, as he took a look at the plans he drew up and realised that the design, was a lot more Addison like than Meredith, but even with that being said he isn't sure about how Addison would feel living in the woods, even if it was in a house, so he hasn't brought it up, "I don't know what to do."
"You'll figure it out." Mark says, and the two of them drift into silence as they watch their respective daughters play together.
A while after she had to leave Zola because of a 911 page Addison is walking up to a nurses station where Callie and Arizona are and puts down her file and sighs,
"Look, it's only two o'clock and already I feel like it's been a whole day." Addison admits.
"Too much work or struggling with being away from Zola?" Callie asks curious.
"Both." Addison admits, turning to look at her friend.
"It gets easier to leave her, it's still hard, but it does get a little easier." Arizona assures her friend.
"It doesn't seem like it ever will." Addison admits, "I was visiting with her earlier and I got a 911 page, and as soon as I started to leave Zola started to cry, and Amelia told me that I had to go so I did, but I felt horrible, like i'm a horrible mother, it felt like exactly the kind of thing Bizzy would do." Addison admits.
"It does not make you a horrible mother." Callie assures her friend, "And from what you've told me you are nothing like Bizzy." Callie reveals.
"Callie's right. You felt bad about leaving your girl, but you had to, that proves that you're a good mom." Arizona tells her, "Addison, I feet the same way when I have to leave Sofia, but it's what we have to do, we've got important jobs but that doesn't mean we don't love our girls any less."
"I know, it's just hard to remember that sometimes." Addison admits.
"Yep." Callie confirms.
"Definitely." Arizona says, and the three of them drift into silence.
Hours later Addison, Derek, and Amelia have all finished their days and Addison and Derek are picking up Zola from the day care.
"So, everything was okay?" Addison asks.
"Everything was perfect." The Day care director assures Addison and Derek, "We'll see you tomorrow Zola." She says, as Amelia walks in and over to Addison and Derek.
"Hey Addie, Derek, Zola, you guys ready to go?" Amelia asks her family.
"Yeah, we're ready." Derek says and he, Addison and Amelia head out of the day care centre, Addison carrying her daughter all three of them looking forward to spending time with Zola as they have spent most of the day apart.
Two weeks have passed since Addison returned to work and Zola started at day care and even though leaving Zola still isn't easy for Addison and Derek to do they have gotten more used to doing so.
It is a Monday morning and Addison and Derek are hurrying around the kitchen, and study, getting ready for the day,
"So, what's the plan for tonight?" Derek asks, being pretty sure he doesn't know.
"Callie, Arizona, Mark, Sofia, Bailey and Little Tuck are all coming over after work and then we're going to go trick or treating together, as a group. Both Zola and Sofia are both a little young to understand things, but we'll remember, and Tuck is old enough to have fun." Addison explains.
"Did Zola try on the costume Mom sent?" Derek asks curious.
"Yep, it's a bumblebee and she love it." Addison explains as Amelia walks into the room.
"Mom sent Zola a Halloween costume?" Amelia asks curious.
"Yep, seems handmade." Addison says.
"Thing she did it because she knew you can't make one or because she was trying to be nice?" Amelia asks curious.
"Amy." Derek says, in a warning tone of voice.
"Truthfully, I think it was a bit of both, but I'm choosing to believe she was trying to be nice." Addison admits.
"Which you should." Derek says, while giving his sister a less than impressed look.
"Um guys, we've really got to go? Look at the time." Amelia says, noticing the time.
"We really do." Addison realises, "Come on Zo." Addison says, picking up her daughter, and as she does Derek picks up the diaper bag and his and Addison's briefcases and Addison's handbag, and the three of them head out the house.
"For the record I'll be the official photographer and candy eater for tonight." Amelia reveals, as they walk out, it being more than clear that she is going to enjoy that, a lot.
"Of course, you are." Derek says, opening the door so that Addison, Amelia, and Zola can leave first, and once they walk through the door he does too, closing and locking the door behind them.
A few hours later Addison and Derek have both performed a surgery and the two of them are at a nurse's station with Callie, Mark, Arizona, Mark, Bailey, and Teddy.
"Is everything ready for tonight?" Arizona asks curious.
"Yes." Addison confirms.
"What's tonight?" Teddy asks curious.
"Halloween for the kids." Callie answers.
"We've got candy, and Amelia volunteered to take photos, mainly so she can eat the candy, and the house is ready so we're all ready to go." Addison explains.
"Good." Mark says, looking relieved, "It's Sofia and Zola's first Halloween's, it has to be great." He says, meaning that, and as he speaks a delivery person walks up to the nurses station.
"I have a letter for Doctor Addison Montgomery, where can I find her?" The delivery person asks the nurse at the desk.
"I'm Doctor Montgomery." Addison says, stepping forward.
"Special delivery for you." He says, handing the envelope over and Addison takes the large manila envelope before walking away.
"Addie, what is it?" Derek asks as Addison opens it, and as she does Addison sees what is on the papers and looks completely shocked about it.
"Addison, what is it?" Bailey asks concerned, seeing the look on Addison's face.
"It's official." Addison says, sounding amazed, and as she does, so that he can get some idea what is going on, Derek takes the papers so that he can have a look.
"The adoption's been approved." Derek reveals, looking thrilled, "Zola's officially Zola Naomi Forbes Montgomery." Derek explains, Addison having chosen to put Naomi as Zola's middle name, while Amelia is her godmother, as it's thanks to Naomi's help that the adoption was given such high priority.
"Shepherd." Addison corrects, "He name is Montgomery-Shepherd." She informs Derek.
"Not yet it's not." Derek says, and he is okay with that fact, as he knows it will be her name soon.
"Soon she will be, I have the forms upstairs." Addison reveals, "She's our daughter." She says, smiling at Derek who hugs her and kisses her head.
"She is." Derek says, smiling back at her.
"Congratulations guys." Mark says, looking between his two oldest friends, feeling beyond happy for them.
A few hours later Addison has gone to get the forms to send them in so that Derek can officially adopt her too, and as she did one more review of the documents Addison came to a realisation and so she has gone searching for Derek who is in the scrub room with Lexie, Bailey, and Meredith,
"Derek, I need your signature." Addison says, as she walks in, being glad that from the looks of things Derek hasn't started to scrub yet.
"What for?" Derek asks.
"The forms so that you can adopt Zola. I need you to sign them and then I'll express post them." Addison explains.
"Okay." Derek says, taking Addison's pen and signing the forms where he has to.
"Thanks." Addison says, "Um, can you get Zola from Day care and take her home?" Addison asks, "I'm not sure how long I will be and Arizona and Amelia think we need more candy." She reveals.
"Sure." Derek answers.
"You do realise that the reason those two want more candy is so that they can eat more, right?" Bailey asks curious.
"I'm aware." Addison admits, "Derek, Miranda, I'll see you both later." Addison says, before walking out of the scrub room, causing both Lexie and Meredith to exchange looks as they go, it being clear that they both realise how comfortable Derek and Addison are together.
A few hours later Addison, Derek, Mark, Arizona, Callie, Bailey, and Amelia are all at Addison and Amelia's house, Addison having sent in the forms for Derek to officially adopt Zola, with Zola, Sofia, and little tuck. While Zola is a bumblebee, Sofia is a pumpkin, Tuck is a police officer, Amelia is wonder women, Addison, who couldn't resist the joke is a devil, Derek is a pirate, Bailey is a witch, Mark is a vampire, Callie is a rhinestone cowgirl, and Arizona is a princess.
"Okay, Tuck, that's great." Amelia says to the little boy who's picture she is taking.
"Thank you, Amelia." Tuck says, having been told by her to call her Amelia even though her mother said Doctor Shepherd.
"It's not a problem, Buddy." Amelia says, with a smile, "Now everyone, we've got to get a picture of everyone."
"Amy…" Derek starts to say.
"Don't even start Derek, you know that a group picture will be a great keepsake… plus Mom wants one." Amelia explains.
"Okay, group photo it is, but that includes you too Amelia." Mark informs her.
"Okay, I have a tri-pod." Amelia reveals, and she goes to get it while everyone starts to get into position to take the photo.
A few minutes later Amelia has set up the tri-pod and everyone is crowed in close to take the picture, with Zola, Sofia, and Tuck who are down the front.
"Say Happy Halloween." Amelia requests, when the timer tells her that it is about to go off.
"Happy Halloween." Everyone else, except for Sofia and Zola who are both too young say together as they do the camera goes off.
"Okay, let's go." Derek says, and everyone grabs their Halloween buckets and heads out to enjoy Zola and Sofia's first ever Halloween.
Having had an amazing thanksgiving, that resulted in Amelia eating more candy than anyone, everyone returned home and the following evening Addison and Derek are attempting to put Zola down in her own room for the first time ever.
"I don't know, maybe this isn't a good idea." Addison says as she looks down at Zola in her crib, in the room next to the room that both Ariel and Derek have slept in, "Maybe she should sleep in our room a little longer, causing Derek to smile at the fact that Addison said 'our room' instead of 'my room'.
"Addie, we agreed, it's better for Zola's sleep pattern in her own room." Derek reminds his girlfriend.
"I know, I'm just going to miss having her close." Addison admits.
"I know."' Derek says, reaching over to turn on Zola's lullaby music, and make sure that the baby monitor is working, "Come on." He says, before gently leaving Addison out of their daughter's room and down to their bedroom, leaving the door open slightly as they go.
Over the next few hours Zola sleeps peacefully, Addison and Derek on the other hand don't, they both keep getting up to check on her, sometimes together, or sometimes apart.
Getting up again Addison and Derek are just walking past the stairs to head to Zola's room when they hear,
"What is going on?" and they turn to see Amelia standing on the landing leading up to the upper level, "You two have been moving around down here for the last few hours." Amelia says, as the truth is the sound has been annoying her.
"We're checking on Zola." Addison explains, "She's in her own room for the first time."
"True." Amelia says, walking down the stairs, "But I haven't heard a peep out of her, it's you two who are making noise, and annoying noise at that." Amelia explains, getting to her brother and Addison, "Go, get some rest, Zola is fine, you two need sleep." Amelia says, gently pushing Addison and Derek into their room.
"Amy…." Derek starts to say.
"You two are being ridiculous, Zola is fine, and if she's not you'll know, you need to stop checking on her." Amelia tells her brother and sister, "Get some sleep." She says, closing the door to Addison and Derek's room before heading upstairs.
"Is she really telling us what to do?" Derek asks.
"Apparently." Addison says, with a sigh, "Maybe we should listen."
"Yeah, maybe." Derek realises and they both head back over to the bed, and lay down.
Even though both Addison and Derek want to go check on Zola they both manage to stop themselves as from the monitor they both know Zola is okay, and after a few minutes they both manage to finally fall asleep, both of them thinking about their daughter as they do.
