more from your lazy author: I am sorry for the lack of structure,grammar, spelling, etc. With the schedule I have, its amazing I can fit in writing. The next two chapters are on the short side- have no fear, 11 is all about Shepherd/ Montgomery family lovin.
.9.

Addison sat next to Derek across from their silent parents. She had managed to quiet Aidan and put him down for a nap. Derek reached over and took Addison's hand in his. Both suddenly felt 20 years younger.

Thomas and Andrew were nursing glasses of Derek's finest scotch. Alaina looked upset and Mona wore no expression at all.

"Will you two please explain why you have a baby? I saw you before you left New York, you were not pregnant," Mona demanded.

"His name is Aidan. Aidan Montgomery Shepherd. We adopted him from his teenage birth mother," Derek answered softly.

"You adopted a baby? Derek, Addison, you two just spent how many months a part? There is no way you two are the picture of bliss to bring into a child!" Thomas ranted.

"Tom is right!" Andrew added. "You barely moved in to a house. You've barely begun to repair the cracks in the marriage."

"We know that. We are almost 40 years old, dad. We aren't teenagers," Derek replied.

"We love our son. We fell in love with him the moment we set eyes on him. Look, we are not the picture of marital bliss. We get that. The honeymoon phase has been over for a while, but Derek and I are trying. We are working towards a better marriage. We love each other. We love Aidan." Addison explained.

"Love isn't enough to base a marriage on, Addison," her mother pointed out. Addison groaned with frustration and stomped from the room.

"Must you be like that with her?" Thomas inquired of his wife.

Derek looked from his in laws to his own parents. He shook his head and followed after his wife.

" I am freaking out. Meredith, I don't freak out. I don't do a lot of things I've been doing, lately. Like pack to go across the country to meet someone's mother!" Cristina ranted flinging around her clothes. Meredith quirked a brow from her perch in the middle of Burke's bed. She had never seen Cristina so normal.

"You really love him."

Cristina threw down the clothes in her hand in bewilderment. "No, I am going to visit the mother of a man I hate! You are not helping!"

Meredith chuckled to herself. Cristina let out a shriek of annoyance and flung herself on the bed. Meredith reached out and patted the stressed woman on her head. Boy, was she glad her family was coming to her.

"So, what are you and Meredith doing for the holidays?" Izzie asked as she and George exited the OR.

"The O'Malley family goes ice skating every Christmas eve. I am inviting Meredith to join us."

"That is so sweet!" Izzie cooed.

George shrugged. "What about you, Miss my boyfriend is a hot rocker?"

"I am so sick of everyone saying that!" Izzie snapped.

"Sick of what?" Alex asked, from behind George and Izzie.

"My boyfriend being called the hot rock star! His name is Gavin!"

"Did I hear somebody say my name?" a new voice inquired. Izzie spun around to find her boyfriend leaning against a wall. Izzie smiled and allowed him to pull her into a quick embrace.

Alex sighed and watched the scene with sadness in his eyes. George put his hand on Alex's shoulder and pulled him around the corner. He really did not need to see Izzie kissing his replacement.

"I thought you guys weren't getting back till tomorrow," Izzie muttered against Gavin's lips.

"I lied. I wanted to surprise you. I was also quite surprise to find out that Sam was willing to talk to Mitch."

"That was all Sam. I cannot believe that she is going to marry him! He cheated on her. There is no excuse," Izzie ranted.

"Iz, you don't know them well enough to pass that sort of judgment."

"Have you ever cheated on anyone?"

"No, but I have been cheated on. Iz, it isn't always black and white. There is a grey area."

"I don't want to talk about it anymore. I have patients to check on." With that sad, Izzie pecked Gavin on the lips and walked off.

"Hi Mom," Meredith greeted. As soon as Cristina was packed, she made her way to her mother. Ellis looked at Meredith with recognition in her eyes.

"Hello Meredith. What are you doing here?"

Meredith smiled. "The doctor called to tell me that you were having a good day. I have a day today. I thought I would spend it with you."

Ellis nodded and offered Meredith a seat next to her on the couch.

"How old are you, scrubby?" Ellis asked, using Meredith's childhood nickname.

"Twenty-eight, mom," Meredith answer.

"I remember when I was twenty eight. I found the smell of the OR so refreshing."

"It is. Its exiting."

"How is Richard?"

Meredith sighed. "He's good, mom. I hear his god- son is coming out to Seattle."

"Oh, Wesley is coming. He was such a nice young man. Richard thought the world of him."

Meredith nodded. She wasn't sure what to say.

"Honey, you will find happiness."

Meredith was surprised by her mother's words. "I know, mom."

"Now tell me. What has been your favorite surgery so far?"

"Well," Meredith smiled, before launching into the subject pleasing to both her and her mother.

"Addi?" Derek called out. Addison had locked herself in the bathroom.

"Derek, I need a minute!"

"Addi, you have been in there for 20."

"I cant stand my mother! Where is Auntie Kane? I am not coming out until Auntie Kane or Kendel gets here! "

"Sweetheart, Aidan will be up in a little while."

Addison didn't say anything. She stuck her head out the door. Derek reached out and pushed a strand of her messy hair behind her ears.

"Why can't she be understanding, Derek? We know we have issues. They don't need to tell us over and over again."

Derek sighed and pulled his wife into a hug. "It will be okay. They'll fall in love with Aidan and it will be okay. All else fails, you have Kendel."

Addison nodded and placed a kiss on her husband's cheek. God, did she love him.