Chapter 45
AN: So, I'm back. You can thank Addie's return and the amazingness. It was almost everything I wanted. I just loved Addie/Amelia and Addie meeting the kids, and Addie in the elevator!
So I may end up writing more private practice/Greys fics, but I really wanted to write more of this first.
A couple of days have passed since Addison and Derek found out the genders of their triplets. While Derek has wanted to talk to Addison multiple times to choose names, he respects Addison's wishes and so he hasn't brought it up even though he would very much like to.
It's early morning and just like every morning Addison, Derek, Teddy, Amelia, and Zola are all in the kitchen of the old house and having breakfast together.
"So, we can start moving this weekend?" Amelia asks, as they are having a conversation about the move to the Lake House.
"Yep, with none of us being on call on Saturday it's a good time to start," Derek admits, as he continues to feed Zola. "Mark, Owen, and Ben are all willing to help in whatever way they can," Derek explains.
"Miranda, Callie and Arizona too," Addison admits. "Are you going to be okay with Owen around?" Addison asks, looking at Teddy as she wants to make sure her friend is okay.
"Yeah, we're trying to be friends again," Teddy explains as while things are still awkward between them they are getting better.
"Dada," a quiet voice says, and everyone looks towards Zola.
"Did she just…?" Amelia asks, sounding amazed, and looking shocked.
"Say her first word, yeah," Addison says, sounding amazed, though she is also a little jealous as she was hoping 'Mama' would be Zola's first word, but she does not dwell on the ladder feeling.
"Zo-Zo, what did you just say sweetheart?" Derek asks his daughter as he grins from ear to ear.
"Dada," Zola repeats.
"Yeah, honey, I'm your Dada," Derek says, feeling overjoyed, picking up his daughter and cuddling her, kissing her head as he does. As she can't resist Addison pulls her phone and takes a picture of the adorable sight, which she makes as her new screen saver.
Hours after Zola said her first word an Intern of Alex's, Morgan, who is twenty-four weeks pregnant has collapsed, and so Addison, Teddy, and even though they are hoping she is not needed, Arizona, are working on her case together. Due to her current situation, it is a rather difficult case for Addison.
Having gotten paged by a nurse Teddy is running into Morgan's room while Addison is walking as fast as she is currently able to. As soon as they get into the room Teddy is given the readout from the nurse.
"Okay Morgan, you had an Acute MI from a spontaneous coronary artery dissection," Teddy explains, as she hands Addison the information.
"Are you kidding? I don't have any of the risk factors," Morgan comments, sounding shocked as due to being a doctor she feels like she should have been able to tell that this was coming.
"It's most likely related to your pregnancy. We need to get you upstairs right now," Addison explains, as Arizona hurries into the room as she was paged, because Addison knows if she is going to save the baby then she needs extra help.
"Doctor Robbins, why are you here?" Morgan asks confused.
"We need to repair the dissection immediately," Teddy explains, as the three doctors, with help from nurses and ordinally start to get Morgan ready to move.
"My baby's fine right?" Morgan asks, looking at Addison. "You said my baby was fine!" Morgan exclaims.
"Morgan, listen to me… "Arizona starts to explain.
"If my baby's fine, why are you here too?" Morgan asks shocked, and confused, looking at Arizona.
"Lie back, lie back and listen to me," Addison instructs. "All right, we need to go right now," Addison explains, as they start to move, Addison doing her best to try to keep up even though it is difficult for her.
"But it's too early to take the baby out. He… he she could have. R.D.S. or get septic?" Morgan asks, sounding terrified.
"The dissections extensive. We have to put you on bypass in order to fix it," Teddy explains, knowing that even with how risky it is for the baby that it is Morgan's only chance.
"Which means the baby needs to be delivered now," Addison adds.
"She barely has any lungs!" Morgan objects.
"Twenty-four weeks is premature, but there's a very good chance, I have a very good record with preemies born at twenty-four weeks," Addison explains as they get into the elevator.
"No, you… you can't say that, okay? I know what you can and what you can't say is very good, and you can't say that," Morgan says, as the elevator doors open and Alex is waiting there.
"Listen, my baby was born at 23 weeks, and it's terrifying, I know, but we'll all be here for you," Arizona promises.
"Will someone call my boyfriend?" Morgan requests. "His name is the first in my phone," Morgan explains.
"All right, Karev, call her boyfriend and let him know what's happening," Addison says as she and Teddy head into the scrub room while Morgan is taken into the OR.
"I'm scrubbing in," Alex says, starting to follow Addison and Teddy, but Arizona stops him.
"She's your intern Karev," Arizona points out.
"Yeah, okay. Um, right, her name's uh Megan right?" Alex asks.
"It's Morgan," Arizona says annoyed as she enters the scrub room where Addison and Teddy are scrubbing in, and she quickly starts to scrub in too. As Arizona starts to scrub in Teddy notices that Addison has paused.
"Addie, are you okay?" Teddy asks concerned.
"Morgan's only six weeks further than me," Addison reveals. "We actually talked when she was on my service last week; nothing was wrong. Her pregnancy had no risk factors," Addison admits, and both Teddy and Arizona know that Addison is thinking about her pregnancy which has a lot of risk factors.
"I can take this Addison, if it will help," Arizona offers, wanting to help her friend.
"No, I've got this," Addison says, feeling that she owes it to Morgan, as they continue to scrub in.
While Addison, Teddy, and Arizona are scrubbing into their surgery Derek, who doesn't have a surgery is sitting in the Attendings lounge. While he should be catching up on all different types of paperwork he is just sitting at his computer, basically staring out into space. As he is so distracted Derek doesn't even notice when Mark walks in, he doesn't even realize that Mark is talking to him.
"Earth to Derek!" Mark says, trying to get his friends attention, and by doing that Mark manages to get through to him.
"Did you say something?" Derek asks his friend.
"Yeah, a lot," Mark confirms. "What's going on with you?" Mark asks, feeling concerned about his friend.
"Addie won't even discuss names; she's too scared," Derek tells Mark. "She's scared we're going to lose them, and I'm terrified I'm going to lose her," Derek admits, and his voice displays just how afraid he is.
"You're not going to lose her, or them," Mark tells his friend.
"You don't know that," Derek tells Mark. "Triplets and Addie's age are both against us," Derek admits. "I just got Addie back, we have Zola, and our sons and daughter on their way; I can't raise them alone. I need Addie," Derek admits, as while he is doing his best to be a good father he knows Addison is an incredible mother and after growing up without his father he doesn't want his kids not to have their mother.
"I know," Mark says, honestly having no idea what else to say, so instead he just sits with his friend and offers quiet support.
"Addison, how long do you need to get the baby out?" Teddy asks as she, Arizona and Addison enter the OR.
"Minutes," Addison answers as she, Teddy and Arizona approach the table. "Ten blade," Addison says, and she gets to work.
Just like Addison said it would it takes her mere minutes to get the baby out.
"She's crashing," Teddy says, just as Addison gets the baby out.
"We've got a hemorrhage," Addison says, as she tries to get the baby breathing. "Arizona, take the baby," Addison requests, as she can't help both the baby and Morgan.
"No, you take the baby," Arizona says, to everyone's surprise.
"What?" Addison asks surprised, as Arizona is the peds surgeon.
"You have more experience with neonates this small, and a better track record. I will handle the hemorrhage, the baby needs you," Arizona explains, as while she operates on preemies, she doesn't have as much experience as Addison with babies this premature.
"Join me soon as you can," Addison requests, as she knows that Arizona is right and she has the better record with preemies who are born this early, and Arizona can handle a hemorrhage.
"Yep," Arizona confirms, as she continues to work on Morgan to try and control the bleeding.
While Arizona and Teddy work on Morgan Addison had to take the baby to another OR because she discovered that the baby had an intestinal perf.
"What the hell happened?" Alex asks as he hurries into Addison's OR.
"The baby suffered an intestinal perf," Addison explains. "Go, see if Arizona is free to join, if not scrub in, I need extra hands," Addison explains, and she does Morgan's phone starts to ring.
"Got it," Alex says, as he quickly leaves the OR to answer the call, and see if Arizona can join Addison or whether he will.
A while later Addison and Arizona, both together and apart, have done everything they can for both Morgan and the Baby. As Morgan is currently stable, they are both in the NICU, sitting with the baby, when Alex walks in.
"Hey Little, boy. I'm Doctor Montgomery, and this is Doctor Robbins, and that is Doctor Karev," Addison says. "You've got a long road ahead of you, but we're going to do everything we can to help you," Addison explains.
"And your Mom too," Arizona adds. "How's she doing?" Arizona asks, looking at Alex.
"Morgan? Oh. I haven't checked," Alex admits.
"Alex…" Addison says, in a disappointed tone that Alex knows well from his intern year.
"I know. I ran a pregnant chick all over the hospital today, made her quiz me on my stupid boards till she damn near died, and I haven't checked to see how she's doing," Alex explains, and the guilt is clear in his voice. "Apparently, I'm the only person in this hospital who didn't know she was pregnant… because I'm too busy worrying about my own stupid damn self to even make an effort to learn my interns freakin' names. It doesn't matter if I pass those boards or not, I don't deserve a fellowship with either of you," Alex admits as while he has been focusing on Peds he works with Addison every opportunity he has; from what he understands that will continue to a degree in his fellowship even though it will technically be a fellowship under Arizona. Hearing Alex's words Addison and Arizona exchange looks.
"You know why I like you so much?" Arizona asks curious.
"I honestly have no idea why either of you like me," Alex admits, knowing that Addison was the first person to see his talent, and that Arizona has been the one who nurtured it.
"You remind me of myself," Arizona explains.
"Me too, that's what I saw in you all those years ago," Addison admits.
"Peds surgeons, neonatal surgeons, we're vicious, we have to be because our fields are so new and advance so quickly," Addison explains.
"Addison and I, we're the most hardcore surgeons in this hospital; and you can be too," Arizona explains. "I mean, when I was a resident, I was…I was a full-on horror show," Arizona admits.
"Honestly so was I," Addison admits, sounding a little amused. "Because that's what it takes to learn how to save babies like this," Addison admits.
"Yeah?" Alex asks, looking between his two mentors.
"Yeah," Arizona confirms. "But do us a favor, learn your interns freakin' names," Arizona requests, and Alex nods.
A little while later Alex has left the NICU but Addison and Arizona are still sitting either side of Morgan's baby, as they sit either side of the incubator Arizona notices that Addison has her hands rested on her stomach.
"You know today was a good day, Addison," Arizona reminds her. "We saved Morgan; we saved her baby."
"I know," Addison admits. "But that doesn't change the fact that they both have a long road ahead of them," Addison points out.
"And the two of us, Alex, and Teddy will do everything we can for both of them," Arizona tells Addison.
"Yeah, we will," Addison confirms, and as she does the doors to the NICU open and Derek walks in.
"After hearing the rumors I figured I'd find you here," Derek says, walking over to Addison, and once he is close enough he kisses her, his face not portraying how terrified he is of losing her, but wanting to do what he can to comfort her as he knows that today must have been difficult.
"Hey, watch for the tiny humans," Arizona says amused.
"How's he doing?" Derek asks Addison, once the two of them break apart.
"As well as he can, considering," Addison admits.
"Can you leave? I thought we could get our girl, meet Amy and Teddy and head home," Derek offers, and both Arizona and Derek notice a look of hesitation pass over Addison's face as it is clear that she doesn't want to leave.
"I can stay with the baby; I'll call if anything changes," Arizona explains to Addison.
"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow," Addison says, and she stands up. Once Addison is standing she and Derek head out of the NICU together, heading to the Attendings lounge and then the Daycare.
Not long after Addison and Derek left the NICU they have gotten changed in the Attendings lounge and headed to the Daycare. Once at the Daycare the two of them headed straight to where their daughter is.
"Hey Zo-Zo," Derek says, as Addison picks her up.
"Mama," Zola says, sounding happy.
"Yeah Sweetheart, I'm your Mama," Addison says, tears of joy coming to her eyes, as all the jealous she felt about Zola saying Dad first is forgotten. "Derek, promise that when the Sheplets are here we won't let her suffer, she'll always be just as much of a priority," Addison says as she knows that when they have three newborns' things are going to be hard she doesn't want Zola to suffer because of that.
"She will," Derek promises as he kisses Addison's cheek and then Zola's head. "Zo, you want to go see Aunt Amy and Aunt Teddy?" Derek asks, and Zola just smiles.
"I think she does," Addison says, as no matter how many times she sees Zola's smile she is always amazed by it.
Four days after Zola said her first, and second words, for the first time she has continued to say both Mama and Dada, but nothing else. The fact that those two words are what Zola says amazes both Addison and Derek and causes both of them to fill with joy.
Its extremely early on a Saturday, the day where the move to the lake house will begin, and while Derek and Teddy are in the kitchen, Addison is getting Zola ready, and Amelia is still in the shower.
"Are you making breakfast for everyone?" Teddy asks curious, as she has noticed how much food Derek is making.
"They're helping us move, it's the least I can do," Derek admits.
"Then I'll help," Teddy says, walking over to Derek, and helping him.
"Thanks," Derek says, and the two of them start to work together. "So, I figured, for now we can store a lot of the boxes in the spare room near yours and Amy's rooms, and then just unpack when we can," Derek tells Teddy after a couple of minutes of working together.
"My room?" Teddy asks, sounding amazed as she has been worried about bringing up if she could come to the Lake House for a while, and so Derek turns to look at her.
"Teddy, Addie and I told you that you're welcome to live with us as long as you need. If you want to move to the lake house the room is yours; for as long as you want," Derek assures Teddy. "I for one couldn't imagine the Lake House without you living in it too," Derek admits. Honestly, considering his and Teddy's rocky history he wasn't sure how it would go when Amelia asked Teddy to stay, but now, after months of living together, she has become like a sister to him; because apparently adopting new sisters is what he does.
"Thank you, Derek," Teddy says, giving Derek a brief hug, and the two of them break apart.
"No problem," Derek assures Teddy as the two of them break apart and continue to make breakfast.
"Something smells amazing," Amelia says as she walks into the kitchen.
"Teddy and I are making breakfast for everyone if you want to help," Derek tells his sister.
"Yeah, I guess I can do that," Amelia says, as while there isn't a lot of things she can do there are somethings, and she gets started on helping too.
Not long after Amelia starts to work with Teddy and Derek on the breakfast not just for them, but for all those who are going to help them, there is a knock on the door.
"I'll get it," Addison's voice says from the entry way as she had just walked down the stairs, and holding Zola Addison heads straight to the door and opens it to reveal Callie, Arizona, Sofia, Mark, Owen, Ben and Bailey. "Hi, thank you for helping, come in," Addison says, letting everyone into the house.
"Something smells amazing," Callie comments.
"That would be breakfast," Addison says, as everyone heads to the kitchen.
"So, are you going to miss this place?" Bailey asks, walking with Addison.
"It was Zola's first home, so that will always mean something to me," Addison admits. "But I look forward to the life we're going to build at the Lake House," Addison explains.
"I'm really happy for you," Bailey admits. "You've come a long way, Addison Montgomery," Bailey tells her friend.
"You too, Miranda Bailey," Addison says as she glances to over where Ben is happily talking to Mark and Owen.
Once in the kitchen the group of doctors, and two toddlers all have an incredible breakfast together, followed by a day of moving Addison, Derek, Amelia, Zola, and Teddy into the incredible lake house.
After a day of moving Addison, Derek, Teddy, Amelia, Mark, Callie, Arizona, Owen, Ben, Bailey, Zola and Sofia are all sitting on the ground of the couched living area with the incredible view sharing pizza as they look at the Lake through the open doors.
"This view is incredible," Owen comments.
"It really is," Addison says amazed. "I love it," Addison says, as she leans against Derek, and the group of doctors have an incredible meal together and truly enjoy each other's company while enjoying the incredible view of the sunsetting over the lake.