Derek leads Addison slowly to the sofa, he helps her sit down, arranges the cushions and asks frantically:

"Are you in pain? Hungry? Want me to get you a blanket?"

She lets out a small laugh and holds his hand as she states:

"Derek, I'm fine and you're a doctor, calm down!

He arches his eyebrows. Addison shakes her head negatively and speaks in na affected voice:

"I'm not in pain or hungry. I want a blanket and I want our baby here."

Derek smiles at the last part:

"I'll call to bring him. Mom offered to help with you, if we want she can come here."

"And what did you answer?"

"That I can take care of my family by myself."

The phrase brings tears to both of their eyes, they face each other hand in hand and he kisses her forehead before pulling away to grab the blanket. Addison smiles as she watches him climb the stairs, if someone had told her in Seattle that they would be there one day, she would have laughed, or cried, but she would never believe it. She has her family back and what's more, finally everything she's dreamed of since she was 22 is coming true.

It doesn't take long before Lizzie arrives at the Brownstone with Chris, who immediately snuggles into her mother's lap. Derek then explains to his son that Addison is hurt and helps him stay close to her as comfortably as possible.

AAAAA

It's early evening and a pizza arrives. Sitting on the couch, Addison watches as Derek helps Chris eat. He talks to his son adorablely while trying to teach Fop good manners and make sure she has everything she needs.

Still during dinner Derek goes to the kitchen to help Chris drink water and when he returns he notices Addison looking at him with a full smile. She looks at him like this and he asks a little reticently:

"What is it? Is there something on my face?"

"I love you! And you're the only man I've ever said that to and I want it to be forever."

Derek smiles, a lump forming in his throat, he sets Chris on the floor and kneels before her on the couch as he states:

"I will be, Addie, I promise."

He then approaches and touches her lips gently. At that moment, Chris stands beside them and says excitedly:

"Uncle Dylan does that to Aunt Lizzie too, I saw that."

Addison and Derek exchange amused smiles and he explains while playing with his son's hair:

"It's because Uncle Dylan loves Aunt Lizzie as much as your daddy loves your mommy."

"I love you too, Mommy!"

Chris states proudly. Addison smiles, caresses her son's cheek and pulls him close. Derek sits next to her and the three of them are snuggled on the couch for a long time, until they notice Chris asleep with his little head in his mother's lap.

It's the home life they've always wanted.

AAAAA

Addison, Derek and Chris manage to get a few days alone at home, making the most of their time together, no questions asked. On the day that completes a week after the accident, however, that luck ends.

Derek enters the room, cell phone in hand and a troubled expression, before Addison has the chance to ask, he complains:

"I can't stop my mother from coming to see you and Chris anymore."

"Then don't stop."

Addison states it like it's the most obvious thing in the world. Derek struggles not to roll his eyes as he talks like she's a child.

"You know she won't come without at least one of the girls with her and that they'll be asking questions."

"Do you have something to hide?"

She asks with arched eyebrows. Derek lets out a deep sigh and explains himself quickly:

"I just don't want them meddling."

"They'll give their opinion, probably, but it doesn't matter. We don't need to take anything into consideration."

"It's easy for you to talk, it's not you that the sister who comes will pick on you."

Derek dramatically states. Addison lets out a laugh, plays with the curls on the back of his neck and says:

"Definitely call your mother!"

He sticks his tongue out at her, but then kisses her cheek and takes out his cell phone, actually calling her mother.

AAAAA

A few hours later, Derek opens the door for Carolyn Shepherd, as he expected, one of the sisters is with her, but his jaw drops at the sight of Amelia. The young woman smiles brightly at her brother and jokes even before entering:

"I was the last one you were expecting, wasn't I?"

"Yes. Aren't you supposed to be in Baltimore?"

"I took some time off to do laundry and see Addie. I'll be back tomorrow."

She speaks quietly and then enters the house. Soon Chris comes running and jumps on her aunt's lap, while Carolyn sits next to Addison.

When Derek joins them on the couch, Amelia asks as she cradles Chris:

"So, you got back together?"

"Amelia!"

Carolyn chides giving her youngest daughter a dirty look. Derek gives a soft smile, shakes Addison's hand and says:

"We are together again."

"Did Addie have na accident for you to stop being na idiot?"

This time, Derek also gives his sister a hard look, but takes a deep breath and explains:

"We had already decided to be together before the accident."

"And you hadn't told me anything, Addie?!"

Amelia asks indignantly. Addisonrie explains a little embarrassed:

"I was still with Pete, so we decided I'd break up with him first, then we'd be together."

"Poor Pete... Do you think he's still single?"

When she gets three dirty looks, Amelia laughs. She raises her hands in surrender and then proceeds to get up from the couch with Chris, stating:

"I think my godson better take me to see his toys before I run out of dinner."

"I think it is a great idea."

Derek says irritably. Amelia then shakes hands with Chris who leads her excitedly, talking about cars.

Derek watches them walk away, he then rests both hands on his knees and justifies himself:

"After that memorable moment, I'm going to make dinner."

"Do you want help, dear?"

"No mom, thanks."

Carolyn nods and then Derek stands.

Alone in the room, Carolyn and Addison fall silent for a few moments. Suddenly the older woman asks:

"Are you getting married again?"

"What? I don't know…we've been back together for literally a week now."

Addison fumbles, quite taken aback by her mother-in-law's question. Carolyn smiles, she pats the redhead's thigh and says:

"It doesn't matter, it only matters that you are happy."

Addison nods. A few seconds later, she decides to be honest:

"I know I was never the wife you dreamed of Derek and I know it hasn't worked our relationship in the past, but I don't want that to happen again. Carolyn, I really appreciate where we are now."

"You're right, I never considered you the right woman for Derek. But as far as I know, the girl from Seattle wasn't either... And today I understand that the woman I idealized for my son wasn't the one I wanted. Would make you happy."

Carolyn's words surprise Addison and she continues:

"Besides, you definitely showed what a woman you are during pregnancy. You're as good a mother as I am."

Addison feels teary-eyed and smiles at her mother-in-law. They fall silent again, but soon Carolyn breaks it by asking about the accident.

It doesn't take long for Derek to announce that dinner is ready and everyone sits down at the table. Derek sits at the head of the table, across from him, Addison, Carolyn, Amelia and Chris laugh.

He watches them, the voices and excitement and confusion it's all so familiar and natural... He's finally home.

AAAAA

Derek settles down on the bed next to Addison. She is sitting, glasses on the end of her nose and a medical article in her hands, totally focused. After a few seconds, Addison feels watched, she downloads the article and turns towards Derek, asking:

"What's it?"

"You and beautiful."

He states with a goofy smile. Addison laughs, but Derek approaches, he caresses her face and says:

"Seriously, you were always beautiful, in every way."

She smiles even more and it's her turn to speak:

"I'm happy. You make me happy."

"You too."

So Derek lies down, Addison puts her head on his chest and he snuggles her into his arms. They are silent for several seconds, until Addison confesses:

"Your mother told me today that I am as good a mother as she is."

There's a proud tone to her voice that makes Derek smile. He kisses the top of her head and says:

"I agree with her."

"Means a lot to me."

"I know, Addie. And I also know that the beef she had with you was my responsibility to resolve. I've been mitigating the situation for sixteen years and I regret it."

Addison doesn't respond, she just snuggles even closer against him and nods. He understands that she agrees, but that he wants to end the matter and accepts, knowing that it is time to leave the mistakes of the past there.

He feels something snap inside him and suddenly speaks:

"I want to marry you again."

Addison audibly swallows and then lifts herself out of his arms, asking with wide eyes:

"Are you asking me to marry you?"

"Based on past experience, when I ask you to marry me, you'll know."

He speaks presumptuously. Addison frowns, but before she can ask, he explains:

"What I'm saying is that I want to marry you again and I want it to be as special as the first time."

Addison smiles, her eyes glistening with tears, she strokes his cheek and shyly confesses:

"It would be nice to have a wedding without all the pressure from Bizzy. Although our ceremony was beautiful..."

"That's what we're going to have. I want us to have it all, even better than the first time."

She smiles again and gives him a long kiss, when they pull away she snuggles into him again.

So Derek turns off the lamp, places another kiss on Addison's head and closes his eyes ready to fall asleep.

AAAAA

FOUR WEEKS LATER

Derek wakes up to the sound of the alarm clock, he just mutters something incoherent and grips Addison's waist tighter. Addison watches him with a smile, she caresses his cheek and speaks softly:

"Derek, we need to get up."

"I don't want to go back to work."

"Who are you and what did you do with Derek?"

Addison asks in a dramatic tone, making him laugh. He raises his body, leans on his arm to face her and says:

"This month alone with you and Chris, practically isolated from the rest of the world, has been the best I've ever had."

"I know, Derek. But I confess I'm looking forward to getting back to work. I don't know how I let you convince me to take a month off work."

"Like I'm going to let you go to work dying of pain."

"One more reason now that I'm fine, not to be late on the first day."

Derek laughs, he kisses her lips and stands up giving up:

"Fine, but don't call me in the middle of the day because you miss me, I won't pick up."

She rolls her eyes and throws a pillow at him, he just laughs and runs to the bathroom.

Soon she is also in the bathroom and while he takes a shower, she starts brushing her teeth. Suddenly he surprises her:

"I'm thinking of spending a weekend in the Hamptons."

Addison stops brushing and approaches the shower with arched eyebrows:

"You hate the Hamptons."

"First, hate is too strong a word. Second, we have great memories there." He speaks the second part giving her a look that makes her blush a little and then continues- It's finally not summer season yet which means the place is totally bearable."

She laughs and then asks:

"And when do you want to go, Doctor Shepherd?"

"Next weekend anyway, Dr. Montgomery."

He gives her one more sly look that makes her laugh again and then turns her attention back to her shower. Addison goes back to brushing her teeth, totally happy with how comfortable they are with the domestic routine again. She really missed it.

AAAAA

We are reaching the end of this story. Coming soon the penultimate chapter.

Always remembering that I own nothing and that my mother tongue is not English.