Chapter 38
AN: So in the last few days I have written multiple chapters of this, and so I really hope you like what's to come. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, let me know what you think.
A week has passed since the twins case and after working on such a long surgery Addison and Derek have been purposely making sure to spend more time with Zola, and both visit her at Day Care every change they have.
It's early evening and Addison and Derek are both home with Zola. The three of them are in the living room, having just finished dinner.
"She's just so perfect," Derek comments, as he is so beyond in love with his daughter.
"She's beyond perfect," Addison confirms, as they watch Zola play with her toys. "I think she's close to walking," Addison tells Derek.
"I think so too," Derek admits, and as he does the door opens and Amelia and Teddy walk in. "Hey how'd your surgery go?" Derek asks as he sees the pair, as he knows that the two of them were in surgery together which is why they didn't come home with him, Addison and Zola.
"Good," Amelia answers.
"We saved the patient," Teddy explains.
"There are leftovers in the kitchen if you're hungry," Addison explains, as it has become a habit for everyone in this house to make enough food for everyone whenever they get food or cook.
"We ate at the hospital," Amelia explains. "How are things here?" Amelia asks curious.
"We think Zola's about to walk," Derek explains, and Amelia can hear the pride in her brothers voice.
"Really?" Teddy asks, sounding excited.
"Seems like it," Addison confirms.
"Zola," Amelia says as she squats down on the ground a little way away from Addison and Derek. "Hey, Zola, do you want to walk to Aunty Amelia?" Amelia asks her niece.
"Do you really think that will work?" Teddy asks curious, as she squats down next to Amelia.
"I'm going to try," Amelia says. "Because whoever Zo-Zo walks towards is who she likes best," Amelia says, with a smirk.
"Really? That's what you're going to try to pull?" Derek asks his sister, honestly not at all surprised.
"Yep," Amelia responds, with a smirk.
"Well she likes me best anyway, so I'm who she is going to walk to," Derek informs his sister. "Isn't that right Zo?" Derek asks.
"Hey Zo-Zo, ignore your Aunty Amelia and Daddy, walk to me, walk to Mommy," Addison says to her daughter, and Zola looks around, clearly taking notice of all of her family who are around her.
"Zola, you can do this, we know you can," Teddy encourages.
"Aunt Teddy's right, you can totally do this," Amelia says, and Teddy can't help but feel shocked and thrilled as it is the first time she has been referred to as Aunt to Zola; and the casual way Amelia says it makes it seem like it is something that has been said a thousand times.
For a few moments Zola almost seems to consider what all the adults are saying, and then she gets a look which is almost a look of determination on her face, and she pulls herself up and takes a few steps, walking towards her mother and father.
"Yay! Go Zola!" Amelia says excitedly as her niece takes a couple more steps and once, she is close enough Addison pulls her into her arms.
"I'm so proud of you," Addison tells her daughter, as Derek kisses Zola's head.
"Well done, Zola," Teddy says, with a big grin.
A little while later Addison and Derek are putting Zola to bed while Amelia and Teddy are walking up the stairs towards what has become their floor.
"You okay? You've been quiet for a little while?" Amelia asks.
"Yeah, I've just been thinking," Teddy admits.
"Anything you want to share?" Amelia asks curious as the reach the top landing and both pause.
"Have I overstayed my welcome?" Teddy asks, sounding hesitant. "I know Derek and Addison won't say if I have, but have I?" Teddy asks as she knows she can trust Amelia to always be honest.
"No way," Amelia tells her friend. "Teddy, I love having you, Addie loves having you, Derek loves having you, Zola especially loves having you," Amelia explains. "If you want to go back to your apartment, because you're ready, because you're want to, then okay. I'll go with you and sleep on your couch if you want or need," Amelia offers. "But if you think you should leave because you have some misguided opinion that you've overstayed your welcome, then you're completely wrong. You have not, and could not, overstay your welcome," Amelia assures Teddy. "Okay?"
"Okay," Teddy admits. "For the record I know that at some point I should go back to my apartment, I just don't want to yet," Teddy admits.
"Well for the record, I was serious about sleeping on your couch when or if, you do go to your apartment," Amelia explains.
"Thank you," Teddy says gratefully. "You know I'm still feeling pretty awake. Do you want to continue Person of Interest?" Teddy asks curious.
"Definitely," Amelia confirms, and the two of them head to Teddy's room to continue watching the tv show they have been watching together when they've had a chance.
A week has passed since Zola took her first steps and ever since then every time, she takes a step her family are so happy and proud of her that it's almost like the first time.
It's early morning and Addison is just standing in her walk-in robe, staring at her full length mirror holding her shirt above her stomach staring at her stomach that has started to show. Feeling hesitant, as she is so afraid that it will disappear, Addison reaches out and puts her hand on her stomach which is getting larger.
"Addie?" Derek's voice asks, as he went downstairs to make breakfast, and he assumed Addison wouldn't be long, but it's been a while, so he left Zola with Amelia and Teddy and went in search of the woman he loves.
"In here," Addison says, and Derek, who can tell that there is something he can't quiet place in Addison's voice, heads straight to where Addison's voice is coming from.
"Addie, what's wrong?" Derek asks concerned, and Addison turns around, as soon as Addison turns around Derek realizes what's going on. "You're showing," Derek says amazed.
"I'm showing," Addison says, smiling.
"Hey there you three," Derek says, walking over and once he is close enough he bends down and kisses Addison's stomach in three different places. "How do you feel?" Derek asks, once he is standing up properly.
"Pretty good," Addison admits. "I'm going to need bigger scrubs, and I'm a little a little concerned about what the ultrasound is going to show, but I'm feeling good," Addison explains.
"Good," Derek says before kissing Addison.
A while later Addison, Derek, Amelia, Zola and Teddy have traveled to the hospital together, Zola has been taken to Day Care, and Addison and Derek are waiting in an OB exam room for Doctor Ryan, both having changed into their scrubs, Addison having purposely found some bigger than her usual ones.
Just like Addison's last scan Amelia, Teddy, Callie, Mark and Arizona are waiting outside the room for two reasons, the first being that they are worried for their friends and the second being that they want to make sure that no one who doesn't know finds out.
As they wait Addison squeezes Derek's hand as with every second that passes she feels herself becoming more and more concerned about what the ultrasound is going to show. Even though Derek is feeling nervous too he knows Addison is even more so and so he just squeezes her hand, doing his best to help.
Finally, after what feels like an eternity to Addison and Derek, the door to the exam room opens and Doctor Ryan walks in.
"Morning Addison, Derek," Doctor Ryan greats.
"Connie," Derek says, and because she can't bring herself to talk as she is so concerned, Addison just nods.
"I've checked your blood and other tests, and everything looks good, all your levels are where they should be," Doctor Ryan explains.
"Good," Derek says, relieved.
"Now, we'll do the ultrasound," Doctor Ryan explains.
"I want to watch as you do it, I want to see the screen," Addison tells Doctor Ryan.
"Addison,"
"Addie," Doctor Ryan and Derek say together, as neither think that that is a good idea.
"Please, I need this," Addison explains, giving Doctor Ryan a pleading look.
"Okay," Doctor Ryan says, and she moves the ultrasound screen into a position so that Addison can watch as the ultrasound is performed. "Let's get started," Doctor Ryan says and she gets started on performing the ultrasound on Addison, as Doctor Ryan begins Addison feels Derek squeeze her hand.
Over the next few minutes Doctor Ryan performs the ultrasound and checks on several things, and Derek and Addison once again hears the sound of their triplet's hearts.
"How is everything?" Derek asks, but instead of looking at Doctor Ryan he is looking at Addison as even though Doctor Ryan is an incredibly skilled OB no one is better than Addison.
"All three heartbeats are strong," Addison tells Derek.
"And their sizes? How are they measuring?" Derek asks, and Addison can tell he is worried, and she knows that what she has to say won't help with that.
"Baby A, and Baby B are both measuring well, they're what you'd expect considering the circumstances," Addison explains.
"What about Baby C? Still smaller?" Derek asks Addison, feeling worried about what Addison is going to says.
"Yes," Addison answers, and Derek can hear the worry in her voice.
"But Baby C has grown," Doctor Ryan says. "Not as much as the others, but it has grown, and that is important. Everything else indicates that Baby C is just as healthy as babies A and B," Doctor Ryan explains.
"Can you move the ultrasound closer?" Addison asks, and Doctor Ryan does that as she has worked with Addison long enough to know that even though she is Addison's doctor in this situation it is better to just do what she asks.
"What are you looking for?" Derek asks his wife, as he knows Addison wouldn't ask for the ultrasound to be moved unless she was looking for something specific.
"Signs of TTTS," Addison explains, as while she is also looking for any other complication, including any issues with the two separate playcenters, that is the one she is most concerned about.
"Isn't it too early to be able to see that?" Derek asks, as that's what his research, and the years he has spent around Addison, tell him.
"Yes," Doctor Ryan says at the same time Addison says, "No,".
"It's not easy, and it's not always possible, but there are times when you can see the signs of TTTS this early. I've had enough patients with the condition to be able to recognize it," Addison explains. "I just need to concentrate and look carefully," Addison explains, and over the next few minutes Addison looks, and even moves the ultrasound herself so that she can have a look at exactly what she wants to look at.
"Anything?" Derek asks, feeling absolutely terrified that Addison is going to say yes.
"No," Addison answers. "I'm not seeing any of the signs, but that could mean it's early," Addison explains.
"Or it means that the Sheplets are perfectly okay and we are just going to have one who is a smaller than their siblings," Derek says, as he bends down and kisses Addison's head.
A little while later, outside the examination room that Addison and Derek are in, Amelia, Teddy, Arizona and Callie are waiting outside for news. As she is feeling worried about what the ultrasound has shown Amelia is pacing back and forth. Due to how well she has gotten to know Amelia, Teddy can see the signs of her spiraling, and so she walks straight over to her friend, and blocks her path.
"Melia, breathe," Teddy says. "Whatever's happening in that room we'll find out, and once we do it may be that Addie and Derek need our help and support, and if that's the case then we'll be there for them, but until we know what's going on you can't imagine the worse; it will just destroy you if you do," Teddy tells her friend, wanting her to be okay as she has spent enough time around Amelia, heard her talk enough, to know what Amelia spiraling can possibly lead to.
"It's taking forever," Amelia admits, clearly annoyed.
"I know," Teddy says, and she just hugs her friend, wanting to do something to help her, and as Amelia and Teddy are hugging they do see the looks Arizona, Callie, and Mark exchange, but what they do here is the door to the exam room opening and so they quickly break apart and see Addison and Derek walk out.
Without a word Amelia and Teddy quickly walk over to Addison and Derek as they both want to know what is going on.
"How are the Sheplets?" Mark, being the first one brave enough, asks.
"They're good," Derek answers. "They're all healthy," Derek says, causing Arizona, Callie, Mark, Amelia, and Teddy to all feel relieved.
"Baby C is still measuring smaller, but I spent a while looking and at the moment, I couldn't see any signs of TTTS or anything else to be worried about," Addison explains, even though she knows that just because nothing showed up yet doesn't mean it won't.
"That's great," Amelia says relieved.
"That's really good news," Arizona says, as Callie hugs Addison as she can tell that despite what she just said, and what Addison saw on the ultrasound, that she is still worried. As Addison and Callie hug a pager goes off which causes all of the Attendings to check each of their pages.
"It's Karev, needs me in the ER," Addison says, it having been her pager that beeped. "I'll see you later," Addison says, before kissing Derek, and once the two of them break apart Addison hurries off to answer the page.
Not long after she left her friends, Addison gets to the ER where Alex is waiting.
"What have you got Karev?" Addison asks, as she walks up to Alex, and as soon as she does Alex notices the bigger scrubs and realizes exactly why that is. "Karev?" Addison asks, once he doesn't answer after a moment.
"Twenty-one-year-old female, twenty three weeks, there's some abnormalities on the ultrasound, I thought you should have a look," Alex explains as he hands the file over to Addison for her to have a look.
"Lets go meet her," Addison says, after having a look at the file, as she knows that she wants to have a look herself before paging Teddy like she is likely going to have to do.
Five days have passed since Addison's ten weeks scan and even though she is showing she is using bigger scrubs to hide it and anyone, like Alex, who has realized respect her enough not to say anything.
It's early on a Wednesday morning and Derek has paged Amelia, Teddy, Callie, Arizona and Mark to the attendings lounge.
"What is going on?" Teddy asks Amelia as she walks in, assuming that she might know what's going on.
"No idea, Derek just paged us all," Amelia answers, looking just as confused as the others feel.
"Which means it's either something really good or really bad," Mark realizes as he knows how his best friend thinks well enough to know that it's that.
"Interesting," Arizona comments, and as she does the door opens and Derek walks in.
"What's going on?" Callie asks curious.
"I checked the board, you're all free for the next couple of hours, right?" Derek asks, looking between the group of people who have become the people he and Addison are closest too.
"Yeah," Amelia says.
"Yep," Mark confirms, as the others around the room nod, all wondering why Derek is asking.
"Good," Derek says, looking relieved. "I've found a house," Derek reveals. "I went and saw it the other day…"
"When you said you were in surgery late?" Teddy asks, as she remembers that, remembers that she and Amelia had Zola and Addison arrived home alone. After that Addison mentioned that Derek was in surgery and Amelia told her later that she thought Derek had already left the hospital which lead both of them to wonder where the hell Derek was.
"Yeah," Derek confirms. "I love it, and I think it might be perfect, but before I show Addie I want other opinions," Derek explains, as he wants to check that what he is thinking is right as he doesn't want to show Addison a house unless he is sure that is their perfect home.
"Well I definitely want to see it," Amelia says, wondering what kind of place her brother could have found.
"Same," Callie says, and Arizona, Mark, and Teddy nod in agreement.
"Great, we'll meet by my car in five," Derek says, and he goes to leave the room.
"Derek," Teddy says, and Derek turns around. "Addie is going to be suspicious once she realizes we're all gone," Teddy reminds him.
"Addie's in surgery with Bailey for the next couple of hours, we're all good," Derek explains, as that is why he figured he could do this now, before leaving. After Derek leaves the other attendings get changed, all interested to see what kind of house Derek thinks is perfect for him, Addison, and their family.
Less than twenty-five minutes later Derek, Mark, Amelia, Teddy, Callie and Arizona are in Derek's new car together, driving towards the place Derek wants to show them.
"How much further is this place?" Amelia asks curious.
"We're almost there," Derek explains, as he drives towards the end of a cul-de-sac in Issaquah. Getting to the end of the street Derek drives past some on street parking that is allocated to their house he is going to show everyone, through a double iron gate, and into a property. Once in the property Derek drives over a stone bridge over a river.
"Is there seriously a creek through the property?" Amelia asks, sounding amazed.
"Yep," Derek confirms, and he drives the car over more brick, until he gets to a concrete area that has a triple car garage on one end with a basketball hoop, and then grassed area on the other end. There are also trees, and plants everywhere. "Here we are," Derek says as he parks, and once he does everyone gets out of the car.
"Wow, this is a nice place," Amelia comments, as she climbs out of the car, as it's a big two story stone house, with white beams and windows, though it also has a basement, and while it is big, it doesn't look fancy, it looks more homily as it has a very clear lake house feel.
"Wait until you see the rest," Derek explains, and once everyone is out of the car, he leads everyone along the concrete, and then along the brick, and towards the house. Once close to the house the brick turns to wood as they get to the porch that circles around the majority of the house on the main level. On the porch there is a bench right next to the door and just to the left there is a swing, while the right of the porch leads to the garage.
"How much of the house does the creek run through?" Mark asks curious.
"From one end to the other," Derek explains as he collects the key from where he was told it would be.
"Nice," Callie says, sounding impressed.
"Do you want to see the inside?" Derek asks, looking at the others.
"Of course," Amelia responds, and Derek opens the door and leads everyone inside and into the circular entry way that, like the rest of the house, has incredible hardwood floors.
