Recovery
Part XXV
It had been five weeks since the accident and Mark's death. Addie's mom had finally gone home since the doctor had taken her off all her restrictions. Derek had spent the time recuperating at Addie's home as well. Meredith had complained about this arrangement telling him he should come to her house to recuperate, but he insisted it was better this way. Meredith still had to work and Madeline was able to see to everyone's needs. The big plus to this arrangement was that he could spend as much time with Maddie as he wanted. He told her she was more then welcome to spend as much time as she wanted with him at Addie's, but she insisted she felt awkward going to Addison's house.
Derek had finally gone back to work that morning and had opted to spend the evening with his daughter instead of with Meredith which had once again irritated her. She didn't understand he missed not seeing Maddie all day and now that the doctor released him to go back to work he had no reason to stay at Addie's. It was time he moved back to his trailer.
Even though Maddie was now sleeping he decided to stay for dinner. Addie wanted to finally discuss with him who they should have as Maddie's godparents. They were almost done with their meal when Addie finally asked, "So do you have any thoughts on who we should have be Maddie's godparents?"
Derek knew Meredith was feeling neglected and he wanted to do something to show her that she was important to him. So when Addie broached the subject of who they should have as Maddie's godparents one thought instantly popped into his clueless head. "I think Meredith should be Madeline's godmother," he said with a nod. Needless to say he was so dense he was taken by surprise by harsh Addie's reaction.
"No," Addie said irritably, "Meredith Grey is not going to be my daughter's godmother." She set her fork on her plate and pushed it away glaring at him.
"Why the hell not?" Derek snapped back with anger.
Addie's eyebrows rose as she looked at him. "You cannot be serious," she said with a frown.
"I am, she a part of my life I want her to be a part of Maddie's life," he complained. "Beside you were going to have Mark be her godfather," he retorted and narrowed his eyes at her. He watched the expression on her face change from anger to pain and he felt instant regret that he could be so thoughtless. She rose from the table and hurried out of the room.
"Addison," he said in a remorseful tone as he rose from the table and followed her upstairs, she slammed the door to her bedroom. He leaned his head against the door and quietly said, "I'm sorry Addie. I. . ." his apology was interrupted by Addie opening the door.
"I never planned on having Mark as Maddie's godfather. I wouldn't do that to you," she said in a low tone, he could hear the anger in her voice.
"You don't have to deny that you wanted him to be a part of Maddie's life Addison," he tilted his head and his tone softened. "I just want Meredith feel like she is included in my daughter's life."
"I'm not denying that I wanted him to be a part of her life Derek," she said with exasperation.
"You can deny all you want that you wouldn't have asked Mark, but we both know better. We both would have insisted on him being her godfather," he said adamantly. "So you see there no reason for you to be this way Addison. Meredith is a part of my life, you need to accept that," he said defensively.
"I have accepted it Derek," she looked at him giving him a small shrug. "And no, I was not going to ask Mark to be her godfather. He and I discussed it at great length and decided it was better if he wasn't her godfather," she was so furious with him. How could he just assume things he knew nothing about? Why the hell would he want Meredith Grey to be her daughter's godmother? If things work out for them she will be her stepmother and if they don't it would be, well awkward. "Beside why would he have needed to be her godfather when in all likelihood he was going to be her stepfather," she snapped back at him and slammed the door in his face.
Derek stood stunned staring at the door that was slammed in his face. Addison had never talked about marrying Mark before. He leaned his forehead on the door regretting this fight. He inhaled deeply then let out a slow breath, thinking about what she had just said. If Meredith and he were to get married then she would be Maddie's stepmother, but if things didn't work out then what?
God he thought to himself I am a complete idiot. He softly rapped on her door then opened it. She was standing by the window staring off in the distance with her arms wrapped around her waist. He crossed the room and stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder then whispered in her ear, "I'm sorry.'" He sighed then said full of remorse, "I'm an insensitive ass."
She let out a small chuckle and her voice cracked when she answered, "You will get no argument out of me."
"I'm sorry you are right. Meredith should not be Maddie's godmother," he hugged her tighter.
"Thank you," she whispered softly.
"And I'm sorry I shouldn't have brought up Mark," he said ashamed of himself, he was supposed to be helping her get over her loss not reminding her of it. She nodded in acceptance of his apology and he gave her a light kiss on the temple.
They stood there for quite sometime taking in the view with neither one saying a word. Derek sighed softly; once again he was struck by what an amazing view Addie's home had. A wistful smile appeared on his face as he watched the ferries glide across the lake.
He finally broke the silence and said quietly, "So godparents." He smiled, "What are our options?"
Addie thought for a moment then said, "Well there is your family, but how could you choose one sister without pissing off the others?" A small smile appeared on her face as she pictured them fighting over who would get the honors.
"And if we choose Benton and Maura my sisters would still be pissed off," he grinned at her.
"I'd love to ask Savvy and Weiss but. . ." she sighed.
"But our life is in Seattle now and you wanted someone who will be here and be an everyday part of her life," he said with understanding.
"So, someone in Seattle," he gave her another squeeze, "Who isn't Meredith."
She nodded then tentatively made her list, "Well I would consider Miranda, Preston, Izzie and Alex."
"Alex?" he said with mild surprise.
She said with a small laugh, "Believe it or not he has been a very good friend to me."
"Well I think maybe we should choose someone who likes us both," he grinned.
She turned in his arms encircling her arms around his neck and with a playful smirk on her face then she said with a laugh. "Oh damn," she looked up at him the amusement shining in her eyes. "Then we are back to where we started."
"Hey that is not funny," he said with feigned insult then rested his forehead on hers and gave her a small kiss on her nose. "Okay then we should choose people who I like," he grinned back at her.
"So it's settled then, I'll ask Miranda and Preston if they would like to be Maddie's godparents," she said with a smile on her face.
He smiled back at her and nodded. "Thank god that's settled my mother has been on my case since Maddie was born to get this figured out," he said with a laugh.
Addie smiled thinking about her former mother-in-law; she had been bugging her as well. She grinned at him mischievously, "Now all we need to do is agree on a date."
"Well I think we probably need at least a month to give everyone notice so they can make arrangements to be here," he said hesitantly.
She nodded at him and considered the situation for a moment. "Actually let's shoot for Easter. Your sisters' families should all be free and Benton and Maura should have already made arrangements to have that weekend off since they usually go somewhere with the kids," she explained.
"That sounds like a perfect plan," he said grinning at her. Their discussion was interrupted and they both turned their heads when they heard the beginning cries from their daughter coming from the monitor. Derek leaned down gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and said with a smile, "I'll get her."
xxxxxxxxxx
Derek quietly crawled into bed next to Meredith, she was sleeping and he didn't want to wake her since he knew she had an early start. But she rolled over and looked at the time, it was two o'clock. She frowned and turned to him. "Why so late?" she asked drowsily.
"Shhh," he whispered, "Go back to sleep."
She was more awake now and sat up in bed. "Seriously Derek why are you so late? Maddie was in bed hours ago," she said with a frown forming on her face.
"I told you Addie and I had to discuss godparents," he quietly explained. "Now go back to sleep."
"And it took you until two o'clock in the morning to figure it out?" she asked unbelieving, the annoyance was starting to show in her voice.
"No," he said with mild irritation. "After we finally came to an agreement Maddie woke up and then I fell a sleep reading to her."
She sighed and snuggled up closer to him. "Okay I'm sorry," she said sheepishly then leaned in and kissed him.
He yawned and turned to her then said softly, "Now go back to sleep we both have to be at the hospital early." He closed his eyes and almost immediately she could hear a light snore indicating he was already a sleep. She sighed, pulled the covers up around her and rolled over on her side then tried to fall back a sleep.
xxxxxxxxxx
Addie had called Preston the night before and asked him if he could join her for breakfast. She sat across the table from him, a smile played on her lips as she watched him holding her daughter. "She seems to like you," she said as she watched him smiling down at Maddie and she was smiling back up at him making soft cooing noises at him.
"The feeling is mutual," he smiled back at her. Then he asked, "Now tell me why you wanted to have breakfast with me other then to show off your beautiful daughter?" he looked at her with anticipation, he thought he knew what this was going to be about and steeled himself.
"Derek and I have finally come to a decision regarding godparents and," she bit her lower lip before continuing, "We were hoping you would agree to being her godfather." She breathed in and held her breath while she waited for him to answer.
He relaxed and a wide smile appeared on his face then he immediately said, "Addison I'd be honored. Are you both sure about this?"
She nodded breathing a sigh of relief, "Yes, we went around and around about our options and decided we really wanted friends who live in Seattle to be her godparents. So yes we are both sure," she nodded again.
"Thank you, I consider it a real honor," he cuddled Maddie close to his chest and continued to smile ear to ear. She beamed a smile at the pair thinking they definitely made a good choice. But this wasn't the only issue she had to discuss with him. She had been worried about him lately and his refusal to perform surgery.
"Now that I have that taken care of, I have another question for you," she narrowed her eyes at him.
The smile dropped from his face and he sobered, this is what he initially thought this breakfast was going to be able. "I know what you are going. . ."
"Do you?" she sighed and shook her head at him. "Preston," she said in a tone, "Why the hell have you not gone back in the OR?"
"I'm not one hundred percent yet and I do not plan on going back in until I am," he defended himself.
"Bullshit," she snapped at him.
"Hey watch your language. No swearing in front of my goddaughter," he said playfully trying to distract her.
She shook her head and smiled at him then reached across the table and took his hand, "Your hand is fine you have full function back. It's time to get back to doing what you do best."
"What do you know about how I'm doing, you haven't been at the hospital over four months," he said with irritation.
"I might not be working, but I know what's going on," she smirked at him.
"Derek needs to learn to keep his mouth shut," he said mildly annoyed.
She grinned at him, "Derek is not my informant." Then a serious look crossed her face and she said with a small nod, "You need to get back in there, it's time." He let go of her hand and held it out flat, it was steady as a rock. She nodded, "See it's fine and I know I cannot be the only one telling to get your," he raised an eyebrow at her, she was going to say ass but glanced at her daughter and smiled, "To get back in the OR."
He chuckled at her pause to reform her language then became somber. "No you are not the only one, Cristina has been on my case for over a month now," he said gently.
"Okay then what's stopping you?" she sighed and looked at him questioningly.
"What if I'm not the best anymore?" he said quietly.
xxxxxxxxxx
Derek and Addie were exiting the pediatrician's office as Miranda approached them with a large smile on her face. She held out her arms and said smiling, "Let me have my goddaughter."
Derek whispered to Addie, "I thought you didn't ask her yet and that's why you were having lunch."
She laughed at him, "I guess asking is just going to be a formality now." Derek gave up his daughter to the smaller woman who took her immediately and began to tell her all about her William and how they were going to be the best of friends.
Derek put his arm around Addie's waist as they watched with amusement the exchange between their daughter and her soon to be godmother then Addie said with a laugh, "I guess I don't need to bribe you with lunch in order to get you to agree to be her godmother."
Maddie was snuggled into the crook of her arm and she beamed a smile at the little girl's parents. "You better believe I'm going to be her godmother, like you had any other choice," she said in that tone Miranda tended to have. "And yes, you still need to take me out to lunch," she said with a curt nod. They all burst out into laughter.
xxxxxxxxxxx
That's all for now I how you all enjoy the update. Please review and let me know what you think.