Hi all,
Thank you so much for the many reviews! For those of you who would've liked to see Addison with a son - I hope this story will take a turn in this chapter that will still make it interesting enough for you to read. For those of you who liked the prologue - I'm so grateful for your support and I hope this chapter will not disappoint!
As a brief warning - there's a massive time jump, we're now about more than a year in the past and back in NYC.
September 2004
The board was clear for the night, that was the first thing she'd checked. Or at least, it was clear for now which meant her husband hadn't yet been able to drum up any faux emergencies to avoid coming home tonight. She sidled up to the nurses' station, looking at the patient files for the neuro post-op notes. If she could manage to inconspicuously delegate the follow-up to one of the residents, or even a decently capable intern, he'd be free tonight. And maybe she would see Derek for more than five minutes at a time in some hospital hallway.
"What are you doing, Addie?" a voice asked to her right, a hint of mocking laughter following the question.
She jumped a little but refused to look guilty as she turned to her husband's best friend. More like my best friend nowadays, she thought a little bitterly, as Derek had taken to sending Mark in his stead when he couldn't – or wouldn't – make it home on any given night.
"Luring my husband into our married lair where I'll tie him up in the basement and he'll never hold a scalpel again," she answered sarcastically, flicking some of her characteristically red hair over her shoulder.
"You need any help hiding the body? Assuming you'll just kill him off once you're done with him?" he played along, nudging her shoulder with his as he winked at one of the nurses on the other side of the hall.
Addison snorted. "Who says you won't be next? Your booty call over there won't be able to take me on to avenge you."
"Ahh, but who'd drag you out to Yankee Stadium for your annual trip outside Manhattan, then? And not to forget, who'd make you sit in the sun until you have freckles all over? Admit it, Montgomery, you need me."
"As you were the best man at my wedding, you should really know that it's Montgomery-Shepherd these days, and has been for almost ten years," she teased.
"Well, Dr. Addison Adrienne Forbes Montgomery-Shepherd, your name is quite the mouthful, and I want to say that Montgomery suits you better than Shepherd. A little less ordinary," Mark shot back at her.
Addison raised a finely trimmed eyebrow. "I'm not sure if you've just complimented me or insulted my husband, but I think with you I'll have to take what I can get."
He opened his mouth for a witty retort as they heard a throat being cleared behind them. "Excuse me, please, are you Dr. Mark Sloan?"
The both of them whirled around, taking in the petite woman in front of them. Her greying hair was carefully pulled back and accentuated the severe expression in her eyes whilst her conservative navy skirt-suit created an aura of professionalism.
Mark gave her one of his patented smiles as he held out his hand for the woman to shake. "Yes, Dr. Mark Sloan, I'm one of the plastics attendings here at New York Presbyterian."
The woman nodded as she shook his hand before her gaze briefly brushed Addison, scrutinizing her form-fitting light blue dress and the black stiletto heels under the lab coat. "Mary Cahill, Child Protective Services." She said as she turned back to Mark, showing him her ID.
"Child Protective Services?" Mark questioned. "I haven't had a case recently that would have even come close to your jurisdiction, ma'am. You, Addie?" The redhead shook her head.
"Dr. Sloan, is there any way we might speak privately? This is about your daughter," Ms. Cahill said, her voice low.
"My daughter?" Mark repeated. "I don't have a daughter. Not to my knowledge, at least," he added the last part a little self-consciously. He cleared his throat. "Eh, sure, though, follow me," he pointed towards the elevator before briefly turning back to Addison who was still standing in front of the nurses' station, her expression betraying the shock he felt himself. "Addie, can you –"
"Of course," she agreed hastily, falling into step behind him.
The elevator ride to the upper office floors was awkwardly quiet with neither Addison or Mark daring to break the silence and Ms. Cahill periodically inspecting her nails.
"This way," Mark mumbled as he pointed out the way to his office, offering one of the chairs in front of his desk to Ms. Cahill as they entered the room.
"Dr. Sloan, do you remember a Madeline Bueller?" the woman asked, fixing him with a hard stare.
"Madeline Bueller? Maddie, you mean?" He nodded slightly. He'd met Maddie in a bar a couple of years ago. Her boyfriend had just broken up with her, and he'd been her rebound guy for a few months before she'd disappeared out of his life. She'd been fun, but they'd both known they wouldn't last forever – and they hadn't tried to make it into something it wasn't because really, which great relationship started with two drunk people picking each other up in a bar?
"Yes, Madeline Bueller," Ms. Cahill confirmed. "Did you know that she was pregnant and that she gave birth to a daughter?"
Mark mutely shook his head, staring at his desk for a second. He hadn't seen Maddie for at least three and half years, maybe longer. "Uhm, how old is her daughter?"
Ms. Cahill raised an eyebrow, her expression mildly disapproving. "Anna just turned three two months ago."
"Three," Mark mumbled. Well at least the math added up more or less. He was vaguely aware of Addison reaching out and squeezing his shoulder, lending him support. "How do you know that I'm her – Anna's – father?"
"Ms. Bueller had you listed as Anna's father on her birth certificate. We will of course provide a paternity test for you if you want to contest your relationship to the child," the woman said neutrally.
"Uhm, no, I think I'm okay for the moment." He cleared his throat, trying to bring some order into the millions of thoughts that were racing through his mind. He was a father. He had a three-year-old daughter. He hadn't talked to her mother in years.
"Do you – do you have a photo of Anna by any chance?" Mark heard himself asking.
Ms. Cahill nodded, a thin smile gracing her face as she opened her briefcase and pulled a small polaroid picture out of one of her files.
"Oh, Mark, she's precious," Addison whispered as she looked over his shoulder at the photo. "She looks just like you, with the hair, and the nose, and her little chin."
He smiled a little looking at the photo. Addie was right, she definitely had the Sloan nose. They looked at the photo for a couple of seconds longer before Mark met Ms. Cahill's eyes again. "Why are you reaching out to me now? Five minutes ago, I didn't even know Anna existed so what are you doing here?"
"Dr. Sloan, Ms. Bueller was in a fatal car accident last night," Ms. Cahill explained. "She has requested that her daughter Anna will be placed in the custody of her father, that would be you. I am here to establish contact between you and your daughter and make sure that you are willing and able to take care of her."
"Maddie is dead?" he repeated. "And she wants me to care of her daughter? But I've never had a child, I don't know anything about them!"
"So, you're not taking her?" Ms. Cahill questioned.
"Give me a minute here!" Mark said harshly, pressing his face into his hands. "What happens to her if I don't take her?"
"She'll most likely be placed in a group home, we might be able to find a foster family for her, or even a couple willing to adopt her, but those outcomes are more uncertain," the woman said matter-of-factly. "We try to place children with relatives whenever possible, of course, but –"
"No, no, I don't want that for her," Mark responded firmly, still too shocked to think of a good solution right away.
"If you decide to take her, Mark, we will all help you," Addison promised, reaching out to squeeze his shoulder again.
"And who are you?" Ms. Cahill asked. "Will you be a stable presence in Anna's life if Dr. Sloan decides to assume custody of the child?"
"I'm Dr. Addison Montgomery-Shepherd, I'm an OB/GYN and neonatal surgeon. My husband is Dr. Sloan's best friend, and of course I – and my husband, too – we'd be there to help him out and support Mark and Anna both," Addison explained confidently.
Ms. Cahill nodded, making a brief note in her file. "Dr. Sloan, have you decided what you want to do?"
Mark nodded mutely. "I – uh – I'll take her, of course. And I – I'll learn about being a father, and stuff."
The older woman nodded. "That's great news, Dr. Sloan. Would you be free to meet Anna now?"
"Right now?" He looked briefly at his calendar. "Give me twenty minutes to cancel my surgeries and to change out of my scrubs."
"Of course," Ms. Cahill nodded. "Here is my card with the address of our main site in Manhattan. Come by anytime within the next hour and tell the receptionist that you want to speak to me. Anna will be there with one of my colleagues. We can go over the expectations and the paperwork, and then you'll be able to take her home." She held out her hand. "Dr. Sloan, Dr. Montgomery-Shepherd," she said, shaking their hands before she turned and left his office.
"I have a daughter," Mark said slowly, still sounding dazed.
Addison turned him to face her, making him look her in the eye. "Listen to me, Mark. I know that this throws a curveball into your womanizer lifestyle, but you're going to do great. You'll buy a barbeque and take her to the park and ballet and bring her by Carolyn's, and she'll be just perfect. That little girl is lucky to have you, Mark!"
"Do you really think so, Addie?" he asked.
She pulled him up, hugging him tightly. "Yes, Mark, I really think so."
He hugged her back closely, taking a couple of shuddering breaths. "Okay, I can do this." He took a step back, smiling a little self-consciously. "Uhm, Addie, is there any chance you could go down there with me? She might be more amenable to a woman. And you're a baby doctor, that always helps, I think."
She smiled at him. "Of course. Let me just clear my schedule."
**\\*/ *** \\*/**
An hour later, after the longest cab ride of his life, Addison unsuccessfully trying to call Derek at least five times, and an extensive conversation with Ms. Cahill about expectations, requirements, and home visits, the older woman got up from her chair and motioned for them to follow her.
"Anna is in our playroom with another case worker, I will bring you to her now."
Addison and Mark nodded, following the other woman down the hall. She quietly opened a door and let the two of them enter ahead of her.
"Anna," she said in a friendly voice, smiling at the little girl sitting on the floor and playing with a couple of colorful Lego blocks. "Your father is here, he has come to take you home." Ms. Cahill stepped back, followed by her colleague as Anna stared up at them. Addison gave Mark a little shove in the toddler's direction.
"Hey sweetheart," he said, kneeling down in front of her. His voice was hoarse as he drank in his daughter's fine features. She had wispy blonde hair and big chocolate-colored eyes and was currently eying him inquisitively. "I'm your daddy," he explained, smiling at her.
"Mommy?" the little girl asked instead. "I want Mommy!" Her eyes slowly turned glassy with unshed tears. Mark looked on helplessly as her small face scrunched up.
"Mark, pick her up," Addison whispered urgently to him, "she's about to cry."
He turned to face her, but the rest of his body felt paralyzed. "I – Addie –"
"It's okay, Mark," she said reassuringly as she bent down to pick up the toddler, settling her on her hip and bouncing her a little. Her face relaxed again, curiosity momentarily winning out over her desire to see her mother. "Hi baby," Addison cooed at the girl. "I'm your Auntie Addie. Your father is so excited to meet you, you'll have him wrapped around your little finger in no time."
"I am Annie," the toddler pointed out a little indignantly, looking at Addison reproachfully.
"Oh, your name is Annie? That is so close to mine," she averted the next tantrum masterfully. "Alright, Annie, now I think your daddy would really like a chance to talk to you." The redhead held Anna out to Mark who took her gingerly.
"Hey Annie," Mark said again, smiling at her as she reached out to pat his face.
"Ow," she said, her mouth forming a little o as her fingers caught the stubble on his chin. She stared curiously at him again, clearly puzzled by the strange sensation. An intense feeling of something – love? – washed over Mark as he got lost in her dark brown orbs.
"Dr. Sloan," Ms. Cahill interrupted their little moment. "If you just sign here, you can take your daughter home. We will reach out for a scheduled home visit within the next week."
Mark nodded as he signed the document, having transferred Anna back into Addison's arms. A little while later they were sitting in a cab back to his apartment, Anna on his lap for a lack of a booster seat, as he suddenly turned to Addison.
"Addie, where is she supposed to sleep? I don't have a nursery or anything?" Mark asked, his voice almost panicky.
Addison laughed a little, marveling at the rapid change from perpetual bachelor-Mark this morning to father-Mark this evening. "Just let her sleep next to you tonight, I'll come by tomorrow and we can turn your guest room into her room."
"You're a lifesaver, Addie," he said sincerely as the taxi stopped in front of her brownstone.
"Don't I know it?" she asked, laughing a little as she leaned over to kiss the little girl's forehead. "See you tomorrow, sweetheart. Later, Mark."
"'Later, Mark' and not even a hug? That's all I get when my daughter is a sweetheart and earns kisses?" he mock-pouted.
Addison laughed again and kissed his cheek before she opened the door of the cab. "See you tomorrow."
She looked after the taxi until the taillights had disappeared into the hustle and bustle that were the streets of New York City. She couldn't help but think that today had changed her whole life.
**\\*/ *** \\*/**
"Look who has decided to come home," she mumbled sarcastically to herself, her eyes focused on the dark red wine in her glass as the front door to the brownstone slammed shut. "The prodigal husband," Addison then said a little louder, catching a dark glare as Derek stepped into the living room.
"Hello to you, too, honey," he answered sarcastically. "Where have you been today? I saw you in front of the OR board after lunch but then you were gone for the rest of the day."
"I went with Mark to pick up his daughter," she replied casually, taking another sip of her Bordeaux.
Derek nodded, going into the kitchen and opening the fridge as he turned around sharply. "You went with Mark to pick up his daughter?" he repeated.
She snorted. "Oh, so you do listen to me sometimes, just not when I ask you to come home on time?"
"Very funny, Addie," he said, his tone exasperated. "So, what did you really do today?"
"I actually did go with Mark to Social Services to pick up his daughter. He had no idea he even had a child, and now her mother has died, and apparently she wanted him to take care of their daughter, so –" she explained.
"And Mark goes to you for that?" Derek questioned.
Addison looked at him. "Well, I am a pediatrician in the broadest sense. But I was also there when Annie's – that's Mark's daughter – social worker came by to tell Mark about her, so he asked me to tag along."
"Oh," he mused quietly. "How is he doing?"
"He's understandably nervous. He's never had to take care of anybody but himself, and I think he's afraid of messing up."
Derek nodded. "So, how old is his daughter? Do we know her mother?"
Addison shook her head. "I don't think so. Her name was Madeline Bueller, and his daughter is three. I can't remember ever meeting the mother, though."
"So, uhm, should we go over there and support them?" he asked.
"Right now? Derek, it's almost midnight, Annie will probably be asleep, and I don't think you'll be a big help to Mark if you show up with a sixpack of beer." She paused for a second. "You would have had to come home in time for dinner if you'd wanted to help him," she couldn't help but add.
"Not everything is about you, Addison." Derek said angrily.
"Not everything, no, but I don't think you can blame me for wanting my husband to come home to me every once in a while. I know you think any run-of-the-mill craniotomy is more important than your wife, but –"
"There is no run-of-the-mill craniotomy, Addison. I am the best there is, and I know that is not important to you, but I have plans and that means showing a stable presence at the hospital and doing the grunge work," he started but was interrupted as his pager went off. "The hospital," he mumbled. "We'll have to finish this some other time; I have to go back in."
"Don't worry, Derek, I rest my case." She watched him bitterly as he went back out into the den. "And I will go by Mark's tomorrow to help out with Annie. As you probably won't be back tonight, feel free to stop by at Mark's if you should suddenly feel the need to hang out with me."
He didn't answer, but the crashing noise of the door as it slammed into its lock filled the space between them better than words ever could anyways.
**\\*/ *** \\*/**
She couldn't help but be glad that today was Saturday, even if that meant a ridiculously high surcharge for the movers and painters on top of the surcharge she was already paying to get the best crews in the city on incredibly short notice. She walked into the lobby of Mark's apartment building, carrying a cardboard tray with three cups – two of her usual juju and a bone-dry cappuccino for Mark – in one hand, and two small bags in the other.
His doorman smiled at her as he picked up the phone to announce her arrival and motioned for her to go right through to the elevators.
"Hey," Mark whispered when he opened the door to his apartment for her.
Addison smiled, putting down the bags in his entryway and offering the cappuccino to him. "How are you doing?" she asked. "So bad," she joked when he just shook his head mutely.
"She was pretty out of it by the time we got back last night, so I just ordered fried rice with vegetables from our usual place, I figured that's healthy enough, and she went to bed right after that. And then sometime in the night she woke up and she was asking for her mother, and I didn't know what to tell her, and –"
"Breathe, Mark," she said, steering him over to his couch.
He smiled a little self-consciously. "Anyways, she had a meltdown, and I didn't know what to do, so I just tried to calm her down. When she stopped crying, I gave her some ice cream – don't say anything – and then I sat down in front of the TV with her, and we watched baseball reruns on ESPN together until she fell back asleep. I taught her to cheer for the Yankees," he added, almost as an afterthought, a small smile making its way across his face.
"Look at you," Addison said, bumping her shoulder against his. "All fatherly and responsible for your daughter."
"Hm," he snorted, not quite meeting her eyes.
"Mark, listen to me, I am not making fun of you," she said, nodding at him firmly as he sent her a look as if to say, really? "This might not necessarily be how I would've gone about it – I might have replaced the ice cream with popcorn," she joked a little, "but you did what every good parent does: you calmed her down, you fed her, might have forgotten to have her brush her teeth again, took care of her, and distracted her until she fell asleep again. You hung in there with her, Mark, you did well."
He nodded to himself, a bit proud of his accomplishment. "I did, didn't I? Well, maybe it's not too hard, I'll just have to do the opposite of what my parents would have done. And I'll leave the lights on."
She smiled at him. "I think that's all we can do – not being our parents I mean," she said, alluding to both of their childhoods of material wealth paired with an acute lack of emotionally and sometimes physically present parents. "So, where is little Miss Annie? I brought presents for her, and the painters will get here in half an hour." Addison looked around his apartment.
"The painters, Addison?" Mark questioned.
"Mark, have you looked at your spare room lately? It's completely bare, there's not even stuff in there. I might not be a parent myself, but I'm pretty sure that three-year-old girls don't like living in sterile white rooms." She looked away from him for her next words. "And I might have stopped by a furniture store on the way here and ordered an adorable little children's bed and a closet and a desk and a chair," she admitted quietly. "It's really cute, though, light wooden tones, so it will go with everything."
"So, what have you envisioned for her room?" he asked.
Addison smiled at him. "You're not too mad?"
"Are you kidding me? I am way out of my depth here. I think you forget that you essentially decorated my apartment when I moved in here in the first place." He gave her a one-armed hug.
"Well, I thought light greens and yellows, maybe some animals? Just make it bright and welcoming, and give her something to explore?" Addison answered.
Their conversation was interrupted when they saw Anna emerge from the hallway leading to the bedrooms. "Is Mommy back yet?" she asked.
"Good morning, sweetheart," Mark said, getting up from the couch and picking her up, looking significantly more at ease with his daughter than he had the day before. "Mommy is not here. You know how we talked about her going to another place in the clouds? You're living with daddy now because mommy's living with the angels," he explained patiently.
Annie still looked unsure about Mark's answer, but she nodded her head hesitantly as her eyes caught Addison sitting on the sofa.
"Hey Annie," the redhead said, smiling broadly. "Do you remember me? We met yesterday at the playroom when your daddy came to pick you up?"
Anna looked around the room shyly before she nodded again and stuck her thumb into her mouth.
"Can she have some hot chocolate?" Addison asked, looking at Mark. "I got juju for the both of us."
Mark nodded, setting Anna down on her feet. "Do you want to go with Auntie Addie? She has hot chocolate for you?"
Addison got up from the couch and offered her hand to the toddler, leading her over to the breakfast bar where she'd left the other two cups in the cardboard tray. She set Anna down on the counter in front of her, careful to keep her arms around the little girl so she wouldn't fall down as she handed her one of the cups.
"Thank you," Annie mumbled as she gripped the cup with both hands, cautiously leading it to her lips. Addie watched her for a couple of seconds with a smile on her face before she took a sip from her own cup and Mark joined them, having picked up his cappuccino again. He caressed Anna's blonde hair as his eyes found Addison's.
"So, when will your work crews get here again?" he asked looking at the clock.
Addie laughed. "They are about ten minutes out, I guess."
"And what's with your other bags?" Mark questioned, nodding to the bags she'd initially deposited right next to the door.
"One has a ridiculously soft teddy bear that I thought she just had to have, and in the other there are some of the toys and games Derek and I had at the brownstone for when Nancy leaves her kids with us. There is mostly puzzle stuff, some books, a couple of memory games, all age appropriate, don't worry," she reassured him.
Mark smiled. "Thanks, Addie. I appreciate it." They spent a couple of seconds in contemplative silence. "Just as a question, I know you got a bed and everything, but what do we do about the actual bedding?" he asked.
Addison reached out to wipe some her milk-mustache off Annie's upper lip. "Well, she won't be able to sleep in her room for the next couple of days anyways, because of the fumes from the paints. But I brought you a couple of catalogues that you can look through to find something that will match the décor of the room. If we order it today, it will probably get here in the middle of next week, right in time for Miss Annie to move into her own room," she explained as she smiled at the girl.
"I see you've thought of everything," he acknowledged with a grin.
"Well, I meant it when I said Derek and I would support you, so here I am."
"Supporting me – controlling everything," he teased good-naturedly as the front desk called up again to tell them that the painters had arrived. Mark took charge of leading the work crew to his spare room where they went to work with minimal delay. He could only guess that they had gotten detailed instructions from Addison in advance.
"So, now what?" Mark asked when he came back into the open living space.
"Now you go play with your daughter and I'll go to my office to catch up on some patient files," Addison pointed to the binder that was protruding from her handbag.
"You know that you can always stay here and do work at the breakfast bar, right? Just in case you wanted to have an eye on the movers when they get here. And maybe spent a little more time with Annie and me?" Mark pointed out slyly.
"Well, put like that," she said a smile gracing her features. It felt good to be seen again, to be wanted around. She grabbed the folder and sat down, jotting down notes as she went, whilst her eyes rose periodically to catch Mark's above Annie's head.
**\\*/ *** \\*/**
She had spent the whole day at Mark's, first catching up on her files, then getting grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup from the deli around the corner for lunch, watching some football game with Mark whilst Annie took a nap in the afternoon, and finally playing with the toddler as Mark called the hospital to reschedule his surgeries and organize daycare for his daughter.
The painters had left sometime in the early afternoon, at which point the movers had brought the furniture that Addison had ordered that morning and put it together in the center of the room. They were about to order pizza and joking about enrolling Mark in cooking classes when the house phone rang, announcing a visitor.
"Hey man, come on in," Mark greeted as he opened the door to his apartment, revealing her husband in the doorway.
"Addie?" Derek asked surprised as he saw her with the toddler on her lap in front of the couch.
"Hey Derek," she said neutrally, their argument from the night before not quite forgotten but also not the most pressing concern on her mind at the moment.
Derek looked rather stupefied from her to the toddler to Mark and then back to her again. "What are you doing at Mark's?"
"I told you I wanted to come over to help out with Annie a little," she replied, kissing the crown of the little girl's head.
"She's been a lifesaver, man," Mark chimed in. "I had no idea what I was doing, but Addie just swept in like some fairy godmother, and now Annie has a room, and at least some toys and stuff. I really appreciate you guys being here for me for that," he said sincerely as he lightly clapped Derek on the shoulder.
Derek nodded, smiling a little tightly.
Addie waved him over, turning Annie to face him. "Look, Annie, it's your Uncle Derek," she cooed at the toddler. "Doesn't she look just like Mark with her hair and her little nose?" she asked Derek. "I swear your nieces and nephews are already way off the cuteness scale, but Annie here is a little heartbreaker."
"Well, let's hope that she has her father's charm and gets the rest of her personality from her mother only," Derek joked.
"Thank you for that, best friend," Mark shot back, walking over to the kitchen area and opening the fridge. "You want a beer, Derek?" He waited for his friend to nod before looking at Addison. "Wine, Addie?"
"No, thank you," the redhead replied. "I'll stick to water tonight."
Mark nodded, grabbing two cans for him and Derek that he took over to the couch.
"So, how has it been going?" Derek asked.
"She's a little shy still," Mark replied, "but I guess that is to be expected. She was just ripped away from everything she's known her whole life. Like, her mom is gone, and she had to come live with me in a strange apartment and stuff. It can't be easy for her." He mulled over the situation for a moment. "She looked about ready to throw a tantrum a couple of times today, but Addie is pretty good about averting those. I think the key may be to just distract her until she forgets what she is upset about."
"You'll learn, Mark. I just spent a lot more time in peds during my rotation before I decided to go into neonatal instead. Peds people are all kinds of miracle workers with little kids, I mean it," she acknowledged appreciatively as Derek and Mark sat down on the couch behind her. She let "the boys" continue to watch sports on TV whilst she tried to capture Annie's attention with a picture book until their pizza arrived.
"Well, that was adventurous," Mark surmised after what he'd termed "the feeding of the wolves."
"Who knew that tomato sauce went so nicely with dark blonde hair," Derek joked. "You should've tried that ages ago, Mark, the girls in high school would have loved it."
Addison snorted quietly behind her last piece of pizza. "Let me finish eating, then I'll give the little miss here her bath. She looks like she could need it, maybe even more than her daddy." She looked fondly down at Annie who had tomato sauce all over her face and what looked like cheese in her hair.
"You can also take charge of my bath," Mark wiggled his eyebrows suggestively, catching a sharp elbow to his ribs from Derek.
"That's my wife you're talking about, you dog. Show some of the manners I know my mom drilled into you," he rebuked his best friend jestingly.
"Seriously, though, Addie, you don't have to do this," Mark said.
"I know. And starting tomorrow you'll probably be all on your own with bath time and so on, but for tonight I just want to steal your daughter away from you to spend some more time with her," Addison said, picking up the toddler and settling her on her hip. She waved to Derek and Mark before she took the little girl to the bathroom.
They could hear her singing off-key to the girl as the water filled the tub, Annie joining occasionally when she knew the song, and then Annie shrieking with laughter, presumably as she was settled into the bath.
"I'm thinking about taking her up to mom sometime, maybe meet your sisters, too," Mark announced after a while. "Not right away, I don't want to overwhelm her with an army of aunts, uncles, and cousins, but maybe around Thanksgiving when she's gotten used to me."
"I think mom would love that. And the others, too, of course, especially Nancy. She was always joking that there must be some mini-Marks out there," Derek answered.
"Well, Nancy-pants always was the smart one in your family," Mark acknowledged.
His friend turned to him, his expression mock appalled. "Hey, I'm the brain surgeon of the family!"
"As if brain surgery is so impressive. I create beauty from little plastic parts. When you can make a whole new person out of silicon and some skin grafts, we can talk again," Mark joked right back.
"Let's drink to that. May the false breasts and the liposuctions never run out to help you put your daughter through college!" Derek toasted, clinking his beer against Mark's. They both laughed until Addison came back with a contented Annie in her arms a couple of seconds later.
"Alright, I think she's ready for bed now," she announced as she passed the toddler to her father. "Sleep well, honey," she said as she kissed her forehead.
"I guess that's my clue that it is time to leave." Derek put his beer can down on the breakfast bar in front of him, locating his briefcase and Addison's handbag. "We'll stop by again sometime soon," he promised as he opened the door for his wife.
"Don't hesitate to call if you need anything at all," Addison told Mark as she hugged him briefly before following Derek out the door. "See you soon!"
They hailed a taxi in front of the building, spending the ride back in companionable silence.
"Does that mean you're finally ready to have kids of your own?" he asked as they got out of the cab in front of their house.
"I don't know yet, Derek," she said honestly. "I have always loved children, and I've always wanted children but right now, we're just so busy still. Let me think about it, but we might try soon-ish, alright?" she compromised.
"Well, I don't think I have much of a choice in the matter, so yes," Derek replied as he opened the door.
"Want to practice trying, though, just in case?" Addie asked, pressing a kiss to the corner of his mouth.
"Sorry, Addie, I think I'll just go to sleep, I might be called in early again tomorrow." He brushed a distracted kiss against her cheek as he went up the stairs, leaving her standing in the den, feeling cold after a whole day of familial warmth.
Thank you so much for reading, please let me know what you think!