Chapter 39
AN: Happy New Year. I hope you enjoy this chapter and I also hope this year is better than the last. I was planning on updating yesterday but I ended up planning the entire rest of this story. It's going to be a long journey, so I hope I'm able to write everything I am planning, and that you enjoy what I write.
After leading everyone into the small entry way of the house Derek can imagine living in Derek leads everyone across the entry and the group get to a place where there are French doors both on the right and left, and an open area where the upstairs, and downstairs stars are. Though the door stairs are behind a door. The open area leads through to the living/kitchen area, and off to the left of the stairs that lead downstairs there is a corridor that leads to the garages, laundries, a bathroom, and a wet room area.
While the white French doors to the right leads to a reasonably size study/library Derek leads everyone through the doors on the left which leads to a front room where there is a fireplace, and the current owners have a grand piano in the room.
"I thought this could be the room where Zola and the Sheplets could play," Derek explains, though he imagines there would be a couch in the room as well. He also knows that the piano would not be their if it was his and Addison's house as it's not either of their styles.
"I like that idea," Teddy admits, as she can easily picture Zola walking across the room.
"They'll love it," Amelia reveals, as everyone looks around.
After giving everyone a few moments to look around Derek leads everyone through an arch into what is clearly a large dining room. A dining room that will be big enough to fit all the family Derek and Addison might have over, though it would require some of the people to be in the sitting room if they had ever single member of their family over. At the end opposite to the arch there are another sent of French doors that lead out to the outdoor kitchen area, but Derek doesn't lead everyone through there he leads them through a door to the right that leads everyone past the walk in pantry and into the incredible kitchen.
"Wow," Callie says impressed as the kitchen is incredible. There are white cupboards, with marble counter tops, an island in the middle with two stalls, a table that fits six, wooden floors, an industrial sized stove, and huge fridge, as well as all the appliances that are needed. there is also a very large window with an incredible view. Unlike the rest of the house where the walls are painted beige, with white paneling, the walls at the end of the house have wooden finish.
"No, I want you to get the full effect," Derek says, stopping Arizona before she can look out the window.
"Why?" Amelia asks, wondering what her brother is up to, as the others exchange confused looks.
"You'll see," Derek explains, grinning slightly.
Because of the back of the part of the house is open plan the kitchen leads straight to a couched living area, and to the right of that there is a more closed off living area with a tv. The reason that living area is more closed off is because the entire back of the house, and a part of the side, are glass doors that can be opened in such a way that will make it like the whole area, with the exception of the more closed off area, open. Even though it is currently winter everyone can imagine how incredible it would be in the summer.
Leading everyone through the open double doors near the table everyone walks out to the back porch directly near the outdoor living area with TV, and Fireplace. The second everyone is out on the back porch they discover why Derek didn't want Arizona to look out the window.
"Oh my god," Amelia says amazed, as the back porch has an incredible view of Lake Sammamish which can be accessed through a private beach and large dock that are a part of the property.
"This is amazing," Mark says impressed.
On top of the lake access and private breach there is also a huge grass area directly in front of them, which is perfect for kids to play, that can be accessed by going down stone steps, and to the right there is a stone area, with huge outdoor dining table, and a stone path that leads down past a hot tub, and firepit, and to the beach.
On the other side of the table there is an indoor-outdoor infinity edge pool, and on the other side of the pool there are a whole lot of trees that borders the neighboring property, which kind of makes the house feel like it is in woods. The inside and outside parts of the pool are separated by glass doors in the water with a stone catwalk over top. The inside part of the pool is incased in glass walls and the end of the building furthest from the outside area has its own entertaining area, with a wet bar, and an extremely large storage area.
"I know Addie misses the view she had from her Malibu house," Derek admits. "How does this compare?" Derek asks Amelia, knowing she will know, as he hopes Addison will like it.
"I'd say this view is just as good, if not better," Amelia answers, taking a few steps forward. "Plus, less than twenty minutes from the hospital is an added bonus," Amelia admits. "But do you like this? I thought you were all about the woods," Amelia comments, looking at her brother.
"Addie hates the woods," Derek comments, saying what they all know. "And if we were to get this place I could fish from our backyard, Addie could run on the beach, we could all do stuff on and in the lake, the kids would have room to play, and I could build treehouses for the kids in the trees in the front yard," Derek explains, being able to imagine buying a boat for the dock. "The trees on either side makes it seem more secluded, but it's not completely. It's a part of a neighborhood, Addie will like that, and the kids can play with other kids, like we did," Derek says, looking between Amelia and Mark as he says the last part, as they both know why he wants his kids to have that.
"It would be nice," Amelia admits.
"Every kid should have that," Mark comments as he knows what that meant to him, what it gave him and he'll always be thankful for that.
"If you guys get this place, we are so coming over to use the pool every summer," Callie reveals, and Derek just laughs as he leads everyone to the left of the back porch; leading them past the outdoor kitchen where there is a barbecue, food prep area, seating, and firewood storage,. Once they get to the end of the porch Derek leads everyone down stone steps. To the left are bushes, and the creek which goes down a small waterfall before heading out to the lake.
Once down to the basement level there is another stone path that leads past the grass area and to the beach, but rather than leading everyone that way, Derek leads them the opposite way, down five steps to a large area, which most of is undercover, and would be good for entertaining, and to the first of two sets of French doors.
Walking through the French doors everyone finds themselves in a large bedroom that has a walk-in robe and an ensuite that has both a shower and large bath.
"Amy, what do you think of this?" Derek asks curious, as it is important to him that his sister likes this particular room.
"It's a pretty great room, and an ensuit is always a plus," Amelia says, sounding confused, then she realizes. "Wait, are you saying what I think you were saying?" Amelia asks her brother.
"Yeah, I though this could be your room," Derek admits, as even though he would have once never imagined it he currently can't picture he, Addison, and their kids living in a house that doesn't have room for Amelia.
"Cool," Amelia says, with a grin, looking around as she could picture herself in this room, and after everything they have been through it means a lot to her to know that her brother considered her when looking for a house.
"Glad you think so," Derek says, leading everyone through the room and to a corridor. "There's another laundry there," Derek says, pointing to a door a little way down on the right of the corridor. "And a full bathroom at the end," Derek says, pointing to another door at the very end of the corridor on the right side, but instead of leading everyone down the corridor Derek takes a couple more steps and then leads everyone through a door to the left.
Through the door everyone finds themselves in another kitchen, a lot smaller than the one upstairs, but which does have a fridge, stove, and brown cupboards which have the same benchtops as the upstairs kitchen. There is also a bench that has four chairs, and to the right of the bench, against the wall that borders the bedroom, there is a fireplace, and floor to ceiling bookshelves. There is also plenty of space and past the second set of French doors there is a living area.
"Is this like its own little apartment down here?" Amelia asks, as that's what it seems like, as Derek leads everyone through the kitchen and past the French doors.
"Yeah, it's a little like that, as you saw it does have its own access" Derek admits. "But it's a part of the house at the same time," Derek explains, feeling that that will give Amelia both privacy while still being a part of the house. "There's another bedroom there," Derek says pointing to the door to the right of the living area. "it's a large room and has a built in wardrobe, but no bathroom," Derek says, without even realizing looking at Teddy as he speaks, and he leads everyone between the living area and kitchen past a closet, and to the entry way where to the right are the stairs that lead upstairs, and to the left, directly across from the stairs, is another door. "There's another bedroom through there," Derek says, pointing to the door. "But like the other that one has no ensuit either," Derek explains, once more looking at Teddy, before leading everyone upstairs.
After leaving everyone through the inside stairs they get to the main level and then Derek leads everyone up the main staircase, where there is a space that Derek can imagine him and Addison filling with Photos. Once up the stairs there is a half-circle landing and Derek leads everyone to the left, off the landing, at the first opportunity.
To the left there are French doors directly straight, up a few steps, and double doors to the left. The French doors lead to a study which has an incredible view of the backyard, and lake, while the double doors lead to the bedroom which is connected to the study.
The main bedroom is a pretty decent size, bigger than the one at the current house, has a balcony, and there is a huge ensuite, with bath and extremely large shower, and large walk in robes. Off the side of the bedroom there is also a circular room which has 170-degree windows all of which give an incredible view of the lake. There is also a semi-circle balcony with the same view as the circular room. Both the balcony and circular room can be accessed through separate French doors.
After giving everyone a chance to look through the main bedroom Derek leads everyone back to the landing and down the next hall off the landing. Down the hall there are two large bedrooms, though both are smaller than the main and the room Derek says will be Amelia's, and the room at the end of the hall is slightly bigger. Both the bedrooms have ensuits and built in wardrobes, and in the corridor between the rooms there is a large closet.
After looking at the two bedrooms Derek leads everyone back to the landing and around the remainder of the landing where there are two steps that lead to another set of French doors. Through the French doors there is a bedroom on either side, both are around the same size as the last two bedrooms, both of which have ensuits and built in wardrobes. Directly across from the French doors there are a couple more steps which lead to a circular area with 170 degrees of windows which have a view of the front yard.
"What do you think?" Derek asks, looking between the people's whose opinions mean a hell of a lot to him.
"This place is incredible," Amelia admits as she looks around.
"I can see you and Addison here," Mark admits, as even with the current owners furniture he can see where Addison and Derek would put all of their things, he can see what they would do to the house to make it theirs.
"Addison has told me, more than once, that her childhood home never really felt like a home because it's so fancy, so open and cold, and this place is big, but it doesn't have that problem," Callie admits. "It feels warm, and the open parts make it feel more even more so,"
"I agree," Arizona admits. "This place is great," Arizona says, looking around and smiling.
"I think what's important is that you think it's right for you and Addie," Teddy admits. "I assume you've looked at a lot of places…" Teddy starts to say as she knows Derek has been looking for a while.
"Yes, about a dozen," Derek admits, as he honestly thought he wasn't going to find a place that was perfect for him and Addison.
"So, what was different about this house? What made this the place you decided to show us?" Teddy asks as she assumes Derek has his reasons for that and she thinks it will help everyone to hear what those reasons are.
"All the reasons I said downstairs," Derek admits. "The house is great, but Addie brought that for the two of you when you came to Seattle to get a fresh start, it's not really all of ours," Derek admits, looking at Amelia. "I can see this place being truly ours," Derek admits. "I can see Zola and the Sheplets playing on the lawn and learning to swim in the pool. I can see all of us spending summer nights on the back porch. I can picture moving nights and holidays; I can see our lives here," Derek admits. "For months I've been trying to figure out where I want to call home. The house I was building in the woods was always more Addie's taste than Meredith's, but Addie hates the woods and has all the Meredith memories attached. So, it's not right for us to live there. The house Addie brought is great, but for all the reasons I said isn't right, and it's too small for all of us," Derek admits. "I can see our lives here, I can see this being a home we make together with our family that includes all of you which is why I wanted you to see it before I showed Addie," Derek admits as he wanted fresh perspectives.
"You need to tell Addie all of that," Amelia tells her brother. "I agree that this place could be perfect, and I think it's everything you and Addie want, but you need to show Addie before doing more," Amelia admits.
"I was already planning on doing that," Derek admits.
"Good, because Addison won't be impressed if you brought this house without talking to her," Callie comments.
"I know," Derek admits. "If you want to have another look at something feel free," Derek says, as he knows he did a quick tour.
"Oh yeah," Amelia says, and she, Teddy, Callie, and Arizona all head out of the room they are in to have another look around, while Mark walks over to Derek.
"A daughter, triplets on the way, a new house; you know you're finally doing what you should have all those years ago," Mark tells his best friend.
"I know," Derek admits. "I'm never going to be able to make it up to Addie for all the things I did wrong, for everything that went wrong between us, but what I can do is do better. I knew that Addie hated the trailer, and I still made us live there, I was punishing her, that wasn't right," Derek admits, feeling guilty for how he treated Addison last time she lived in Seattle. "This place, it's both me and Addie, has things we both love in perfect balance, and it also has plenty of space and room for our family; it's perfect," Derek admits.
"Yeah, it is," Mark confirms, nudging his best friend as they both look out the window.
Three days have passed since Derek showed Mark, Arizona, Callie, Teddy and Amelia the house he can see becoming his and Addison's home, but due to both him and Addison being so busy she still doesn't know about the house.
It's late afternoon and as they have finished work for the day Amelia and Teddy are waiting by the third-floor nurses station for Derek, who has gone to get Zola, and Addison who is just finishing up a couple of things.
"So, full day surgery with Owen," Amelia comments. "I was in the gallery for a bit, it looked like you weren't close to killing each other," Amelia says.
"Only because the surgery was complex, we argued a few times, but couldn't really concentrate on anything other than what we were doing," Teddy admits. "I'm still furious with him, but I also miss my friend," Teddy admits. "It's hard to know whether I hate or miss him more; I think it's going to be a little while before I figure that out," Teddy reveals. "You were in the gallery?" Teddy asks, feeling touched by that.
"Just during lunch and when I had a break between surgeries," Amelia explains, as she knew that it was going to be a difficult day and so she wanted to be supportive.
"Thank you," Teddy says gratefully. "So, we're going to the house right, tonight?" Teddy asks.
"Yep, I can't wait to see Addie's reaction," Amelia admits, as she suspects that Addison is going to love it, but she wants to see how Addison will react herself.
"Yeah, I think so too," Teddy says as she and Amelia see Addison, and Derek who is carrying Zola, walking towards them.
"Hey Zo-Zo," Amelia greats, once they are close enough, and both Addison and Derek are amused that she greeted their daughter and not them.
"You two ready to go?" Derek asks, and both Amelia and Teddy nod. After seeing the nods the four adults and baby head out of the hospital together.
A little while later Derek, Addison, Teddy, Amelia and Zola are in Addison's new car together. While Addison doesn't know they aren't going to their current home the others do, and Addison realizes that fact.
"Where are we going?" Addison asks. "This isn't the way home," She notes.
"I know, there is something I want to show you," Derek reveals, and as he does Addison notices, thanks to the rear-view mirror, Amelia and Teddy smile.
"Okay, what's going on?" Addison asks, feeling really confused.
"Something good, I promise," Derek says as he takes a hand of the steering wheel to give Addison's hand a supportive squeeze.
"You're up to something, Derek Shepherd," Addison realizes.
"Like Derek said it's something good," Amelia assures her sister, and as Addison turns to look at her she sees Teddy nod.
"I don't like being the only one who doesn't know," Addison says with a pout, and in response Derek just squeezes her leg.
For the next few minutes, Addison wondering what is going on the entire time, Derek continues to drive until he finally gets to the cul-de-sac and Derek drives through the gates that been left open for him by the real-estate agent.
"Derek, who's house is this?" Addison asks confused as Derek drives across the bridge, though she can't help but notice that it looks like an incredible house.
"That's why we are here," Derek admits. "Since Christmas I've been looking at houses for us, houses that we could call home. I found this place, and I can see us in it," Derek admits as he parks the car on the concreate. "I think it's perfect, and I want to know what you think about it," Derek admits as he turns off the car.
"Amelia, Teddy, you knew about this?" Addison asks, feeling shocked about a lot of things.
"Derek showed us, Callie, Arizona and Mark a few days ago," Amelia admits. "And I agree with Derek, I think it's perfect," Amelia admits, as everyone start to get out the car.
"Same," Teddy confirms as Amelia helps Zola out of the car.
"If you don't think it's perfect, then I'll keep looking, but I just ask that you keep an open mind while we look around," Derek explains to Addison as they are all standing outside the car and looking up at the house.
"Deal," Addison responds, and the group head into the house. As they head inside Amelia caries Zola so that Derek and Addison can properly look around at everything.
About half an hour later Derek has lead Addison, Amelia, Teddy and Zola on a detailed tour of the house, and property which has ended in the main bedroom.
"So, what do you think?" Derek asks Addison curious.
"I think it's perfect," Addison admits.
"Really?" Derek asks.
"Really," Addison confirms, as the two of them kiss.
"I know we've got some things to figure out, but I was thinking…" Derek starts to say.
"Okay why you guys talk about the boring stuff Teddy and I are going to help Zo pick what room is going to be hers," Amelia says and both she and Teddy leave the room with Zola.
"I love this house," Addison admits. "That view is incredible, there's plenty of space, it's perfect for Zola and the Sheplets, and for us, Amelia, and even Teddy if she decides she wants to keep living with us," Addison admits. "And I can see us living here. I can see us spending time with our friends out the back. I can see you finishing of the dock, I can see myself running on the beach, and I can see us teaching the kids to swim in the pool," Addison explains and because he said basically the same thing Derek can't help but smile.
"I can see that too," Derek admits. "The price of this property is what you'd expect considering everything, but i've already started the process to sell my land, and if you decide to sell the house we would cover the expenses, or at least most of them," Derek tells Addison.
"I'll see the house, but we won't need to use that money," Addison admits, and Derek gives her an interested look. "After the divorce, after we both collected what we wanted from New York before I moved to LA, when I sold the Brownstone and Hamptons house, I didn't touch the money," Addison explains.
"Really?" Derek asks.
"It didn't feel right to use it," Addison admits. "I put it in a separate account and let it collected interest," Addison reveals. "That money is both of ours, we should use that; if there is any expenses left we can split the costs between us," Addison explains.
"That sounds perfect," Derek says.
"I'm also going to sell my Malibu house," Addison admits. "Because I don't want LA. I want Seattle, I want this, our life, our family; I want all of this," Addison explains, smiling at Derek as she speaks.
"Me too," Derek says, with a smile, and the two of them stand in the bedroom they hope is going to be theirs, as they kiss.
