What to say, what to say. Generally people seem to like the story. A couple people think that Doc should eat all of Addison's shoes, but only because they hate Addison, to that I say 1) that's mean, and 2) Addison doesn't seem the type to leave her $600 shoes just laying around. I am not saying that Doc wont eat some cherished possessions at some point but it will not be to spite Addison.

What else. Oh, ha, ok. If you are just going to send me a review to tell me that you hated my story but that it was well written, but then you manage to have 5 grammar and spelling mistakes in those 22 words, don't bother. I won't believe that you know what you are talking about. I think that's all. Sorry if I sound like a b, but well, sometimes I am.

I hope you continue to like this story (I don't actually think that this is how it happened, but I think that it is one of many rather optimistic possibilities).

XXXX

To say that Doc was rambunctious would have been an understatement. The Shepherd's played with him until they were literally to tired to play anymore. Derek had even taken him for a late night walk to introduce him to his new yard. But still he would not calm down and go to bed. Derek and Addison sat at the table in their pajama's and watched him.

"I think," began Addison, "that he is waiting for Meredith to come bring him home."

Doc stared mournfully at the door.

"Yeah," Derek agreed as he tried not to yawn.

Addison got up and sat on the floor beside Doc's bed. "Come here, baby," she said coaxing him away from the door. Doc reluctantly settled himself on the pillow but continued to stare at the door. Addison leaned her head against the couch and rubbed his head. "Go to bed Derek. I'll wait with him till he falls asleep."

Derek stared at her uncertainly until another yawn forced him to admit defeat. "Goodnight."

XXXX

90 minutes later Addison finally crawled into bed.

"Is he asleep." Derek murmured, not really awake.

"Yes."

"It's like having a large furry baby."

Addison was to tired to laugh.

45 minutes later

Addison half sat up and looked around her in confusion. What was that sound? She tried to look around but her eyes refused to adjust to the dark. "Der? Derek?"

"What?" Came his grumbled reply.

"What's that noise?"

Derek propped himself up on an elbow and looked around in confusion. Finally his eyes settled on the edge of the bed, right by Addison's elbow. "It's the dog."

"Can't sleep?" she asked Doc who stood there watching her as he whimpered.

Doc whined and put a paw up on the bed, resting his chin beside it.

Addison looked at Derek. Derek looked at Doc.

"No way."

"It's just one night." Addison countered as she patted the bed.

Doc jumped up and settled on the edge of the bed next to Addison, shooting Derek a disdainful look.

"Mama's boy." Derek muttered as he fell back asleep.

XXXX

Derek awoke a few hours later. Something was different. He opened one eye. All he saw was red. Addison's hair. It took him a minute to process. They had never been particularly cuddly sleepers, especially lately. But yet here they were, Addison's back pressed against his chest and his arm resting on her hip. Derek raised his head slightly. Doc was somehow managing to take up three-quarters of the bed forcing Addison and Derek to share the bit by the wall.

Suddenly Doc started to whimper. Then he started to shake and bark in his sleep.

Addison's eyes flew open. "What the..." she exclaimed.

Doc's paw flew out and scraped her arm.

"Ow," she exclaimed, clamoring over Derek so that he was between her and the dog.

As suddenly as it started, it stopped.

"Do you think he was dreaming?" Addison asked breathlessly.

"I think so."

"Do you think that he'll do it again?"

"I don't know."

Addison inched closer to the wall and lay back down.

"Your on my side." Derek said looking at her.

"I was injured," Addison reminded him snuggling under the sheets.

"That has been my side for... almost 15 years."

"You have to protect me from further attacks."

Derek lay down between Addison and Doc, glaring at him for the third time that night, and moving as far away from the attack zone as possible, "This is going to be a long night," he murmured .

XXXX

The next morning Derek woke up slowly. "Addy?" he murmured.

"What?" she whispered back from his right side. She seemed to be laughing.

"Why are you biting my arm?"

Addison convulsed into laughter, "I'm not."

Derek opened open eye to see Doc staring back at him. Doc held Derek's arm right above the wrist in his mouth gnawing at it as if it were a bone. Derek shot up. Slightly disoriented from waking up with Addison on his right instead of his left, he stumbled out of bed. "Ugh," he murmured wiping the drool off his forearm, it didn't really hurt but it was very very slimy. He glared at Doc as the dog crawled over to where Derek had been laying and curled up next to Addison.

"I was wrong. Meredith brainwashed him against me," he muttered disappearing into the bathroom.

XXXX

When Derek emerged from the shower 20 minutes later Addison was dressed in jeans and sitting crossed legged in the middle of the bed with his laptop. Doc's head rested on her knee.

"There is no more hot water," Derek stated matter of factly, "I felt entitled 'cause your dog used my arm as a chew toy."

"That's fine." Addison didn't even look up, "Hand me the phone."

Derek rolled his eye in annoyance, it wasn't nearly as fun if she wasn't going to react. "What are you doing?"

"I am looking for a Doggy Daycare and an Obedience class. What nights work best for you?"

"What?"

"For the classes. They say that you should go as a family, that way everyone is learning the same thing."

Derek was stunned. A family. Was that what they were now? Had the dog moved them from being just a couple to being a family?

"I was thinking that we could take the 6pm class on Monday and Wednesdays," Addison continued, "We have counseling at 8 on those nights anyway so we will already be in town. And this trainer seems highly recommended. As soon as I check the references..."

Derek cut in, "Addy, we have only had the dog 12 hours."

Addison didn't see a point, "So?"

Derek shook his head. It was no use, "So what do we do with him when we are in with the counselor? We won't have time to bring him back and I don't think that Dr.? will want Doc in his office."

"I thought that Meredith could take him."

Derek got up and left the room, Doc trailing at his heels hoping for breakfast. 'Not going to happen' he thought. "We have to go to work."

"I only have to go in for an hour. Do you want to come visit the daycare's with us?" Addison asked following him into the kitchen area.

"Us?"

Addison leaned on the fridge, "I know that I am acting kinda crazy right now, but I want this to work out."

Derek poured out two bowls of cereal and put them on the table. "What makes you think that it wont?"

Addison got the milk and sat down across from Derek. "I thought that we could do this together," She studied her breakfast, "I was hoping that we could get to know each other again. We have both changed so much but neither of us wants to take about it. This could be our last chance to get it right."

Derek stopped eating and stared at her. "Last chance? Addison..."

"Derek, I am trying so hard and... I just... I don't know what else to do. You've got to give me something."

Derek looked around him. "I'll take Doc out for a walk while you finish getting ready."

Addison looked at him expectantly.

"I have patients to check on." He continued, "But we will all drive in together, and after I am done we can do whatever you two want to do for the rest of the day."

"Even if it is shopping?"

"Even if it is shopping?"

"Good. Because Doc chewed up all our sneakers before climbing in bed with us last night."

XXXXXXXXXX

So there is the first night with Doc. I have a few ideas for a couple of scenes but I don't know if I have enough for another chapter. We will see. Just for curiosity sake, if things continue to improve with Addek with the addition of the dog how long do you think before they would go back to normal?