Hi! It's been about a decade, but I'm back! I started this story 5 years ago on a piece of paper and never got round to finishing it. That was until the world was in the middle of a pandemic and you get furloughed! This story is also a thank you to winter machine, who has literally saved my sanity the last couple weeks. Quid Pro Quo is my FAVOURITE fanfiction ever written, and seeing it was updated gave me the biggest smile I've had in the last 8 weeks. Not to mention the stream of updates that have come out this week- seriously, how do you do it!? So thank you Winter, and thank you for being the undisputed Queen of Addek fanfiction. I hope you all enjoy it!
Everything's going to be fine
Another minute passed, and another and another. Addison was fixed on the clock, its dull ticking capturing her concentration. Derek was sat next to her, his leg resting on his thigh as he flicked through a worn and boring leaflet. He soon grew tired of the reading material and swung around in his chair to throw it onto the desk in the room. He blew air out of his cheeks, clicking his tongue as he looked around the room for something to entertain himself with. Derek began to pace the small doctor's office, stopping to look at the posters on the wall and fiddling with everything within his reach. His fidgety behaviour caught Addison's attention, breaking her daydreaming.
"Derek…" She sighed. "Sit down, you're going to break something." Derek put the instrument in his hand down and sat next to Addison.
"She's running late." Derek muttered. Addison glared at Derek in lieu of comment and shifted on the bed, the paper beneath her rustling as she did so. Derek sighed, sneaking a look at his watch before fiddling on his phone. Addison ignored Derek's impatience and continued to stare at the clock. After what felt like 20 minutes (or hours if Derek hazarded a guess) the Doctor finally entered the office.
"Shepherd's!" she greeted jovially, setting her files on the desk.
"Hi Susan." Addison replied, smiling tiredly at her Doctor. Derek stood up and waited by Addison's head, his arm resting on the back of the bed.
"Nice to see you Susan." Derek said as Addison shifted on the bed once again, attempting to sit herself up as best she could. Susan Bedford had been Addison's student and colleague in New York, and had recently moved to the west coast for a change of pace and the opportunity to continue her work with Addison. She was the only one Addison trusted as her own doctor- after all, she herself had taught Susan everything she knows.
"How you feeling?" Susan asked as she washed her hands.
"Colossal." Addison replied quickly making Susan laugh.
"Wimp!" Susan smirked. Addison raised her eyebrow whilst glaring at Susan.
"That isn't the kind of bedside manner I taught you." Addison quipped.
"I save it for all my favourite patients… scooch down." Susan asked, as she pulled over a chair and started putting on gloves. " So 40+7, Any twinges?" Susan asked whilst putting Addison's feet in stirrups.
"The usual Braxton Hicks, plenty pressure in my pelvis… he's head down and still presenting cephalic…" Derek looked between Addison and Susan, jokingly rolling his eyes to the latter. "What? It's not like I'm not going to be checking." Addison semi huffed.
"Let's just be glad the baby's not posterior, I'm not sure Derek signed up for an at home inversion." Susan smiled warmly at the couple whilst Derek stroked the top of Addison's head. "Ok, let's see if you're dilated at all, take a deep breath and relax for me Addison." Addison fidgeted for a moment and took a deep breath.
"Let it be known, this is not my favourite part of this whole process." Addison grumbled whilst doing as she was told. Derek rested his head on top of Addison's whispering encouragements to her. Addison winced slightly whilst still breathing deeply during the pressure she was feeling. She's relieved when it's over, and lets out a deep breath she wasn't aware she'd been holding. Susan spun in her chair before quickly discarding her gloves and washing her hands once more. She approached Addison and began to manipulate her stomach gently, getting an idea of the baby's position.
"Textbook cephalic presentation. You haven't lost your touch." Susan jibed.
"It's a gift." Addison retorted, whilst moving further up the bed. "So…?"
" You're 2 cm dilated and 30 percent effaced. If I was to make a professional guess, I'd say this baby is getting ready to start this show in the next day or two." Addison sat up on her elbows slightly shocked.
"I'm two already? Ok, I can get on board with that." Addison craned her head round to smile at Derek who had moved to the side of her. "2 cm honey!" Addison exclaimed.
"Champ." Derek replied whilst kissing her on her head. Susan sat on her chair and began to fill out her notes in Addison's medical file.
"I'm not expecting to see you for a couple days… long walks, plenty hydration and sleep- get it whilst you can. I know it's a difficult concept to adjust to, but rest Addison. You'll thank me later." Addison nodded dutifully. "I mean it, If I get one whiff of you in the NICU just helping out I'll admit you for bed rest myself." Addison frowned at her colleague.
"I'll behave… I promise!" She added as Susan gave her a sceptical look. Susan picked up Addison's file ready to leave.
"Call me at any hour if there's any changes or you think you're in early labour." Derek shook her hand and she kissed Addison on the cheek.
"We will. Thank you Susan." They said in unison. After Susan left, Addison relaxed back into the bed and rubbed her stomach.
"Your times nearly up in the Four Seasons little one." she joked whilst Derek's hand joined hers.
"You know speaking of Hotels…" Derek said coyly.
"Yeh?..."
"We should go back to that one place."
"The one with the..."
"With the sheets…"
"And the bed… oh and the room service. I'll need room service after all of this!"
"I think you'll be deserving of more than room service honey." Addison laughed and Derek helped her sit upright, her legs swinging off the side of the bed.
"I'll take seeing my toes and lying on those sheets. That sounds pretty perfect to me." She groaned as she stood upright, stretching her back as she did so.
. .
"Derek?"
"hm?"
"You know I can be at the trailer by myself, you don't need to bring your paperwork home." Derek stopped collecting his patients files and turned to his wife, who was currently pacing his office, repeatedly stretching her hips and pelvis as she did so.
"Honey…" Addison turned to Derek, her hands firmly pressed on her lower back, pushing her stomach forward. "I think given you're currently trying to activate your labour in my office, I'm going to bring my work home…seems the sensible play." Addison stopped pacing, but mumbled an inaudible response. "Let's go home."
Addison and Derek waited for the elevator, the hubbub of the hospital continuing around them. They casually waved to colleagues, thanking them for their sentiments regarding their impending arrival. Derek looked at Addison as she chatted casually with a fellow attending. He marvelled at the newness of her face, he thought he had seen all aspects of her, but the last nine months had surprised him and he can't stop looking at how she glowed, her tired but plump face making her look like the young girl he remembered from college. He can't get enough of the fullness of her, the way she's blooming in front of him. When the elevator arrived, he ushered them inside, his hand lingering on her lower back. The door closed, enclosing the two of them alone. Derek moved Addison's hair to the side and pressed a kiss to the nape of her neck. She sighed and smiled. Her eyes closed.
"You smell good." Derek whispered into her neck. Addison turned so she was facing him. She played with the hair at the back of his neck and kissed him, the roughness of his facial hair prickling her chin.
"You already got her pregnant Shepherd." Miranda Bailey looked at the Shepherds, an eyebrow quirked. "Sorry to interrupt." The Shepherds smiled surreptitiously and separated.
"Nice to see you Dr Bailey."
"How are you Addison?" Miranda asked, completely ignoring Derek's last remark. Derek turned to Addison, somewhat bemused. He mouthed "seriously?" to Addison. Addison smirked, and elbowed Derek in his side.
"I'm still 14 months pregnant." Addison sighed.
"I don't miss that." Miranda replied whilst looking caringly at Addison. "You taking care of her Shepherd?" Miranda asked, whilst sizing Derek up.
"Oh she acknowledges me…" Derek whispered to Addison. "Of course I am Dr Bailey, we're just heading home now so I can wait on her every need." Addison elbowed Derek again, and he bumped his hip into hers.
"That shouldn't be too hard in that trailer you call home." Miranda tutted.
"We prefer the term 'Tin Can'." Addison replied, receiving a glare from Derek. Addison smirked at Miranda, aware that her husband hated being ganged up on when it came to their current housing situation.
"The 'tin can' is temporary, the house is almost finished, it's just lacking a few minor necessities…"
"Like running water?" Miranda asked sarcastically.
"We have water, we just don't have heating yet." Derek answered.
"Minor." Addison added mockingly with a shrug of her shoulders.
"uh hmm." Miranda murmured.
"We're going home to rest and get this baby out- his time is up." Addison said, trying to change the conversation. She held up two fingers. "I'm 2 cm's dilated- it's time to get him evicted. Any tips?" Miranda smiled and took a pause before replying.
"He'll make his way into this world when he's damn ready to." Addison puffed her cheeks, blowing out an restless breath. "Enjoy this whilst you can." Miranda added, with a note of softness. Addison rubbed her stomach fondly and smiled at the resident.
"Thank you Miranda, we'll take your advice." Addison replied, whilst holding Derek's hand briefly. She rested her head on Derek's shoulder. The Shepherd's and Dr Bailey exited the elevator and turned to say goodbye to one another.
"Take care Addison." Miranda touched Addison's hand fleetingly and cleared her throat as if she was slightly uncomfortable. "You'll be fine." She added before raising her eyebrows disapprovingly at Derek and leaving the couple by the elevator.
"Seriously?" Derek exclaimed. Addison laughed and inserted her arm into the crook of Derek's elbow.
"Let's go home Honey."
. .
"Do you want some tea?" Derek asked Addison, who was sitting at the trailer's table, folding impossibly tiny baby grows.
"Um…" Addison was distracted by the softness of the baby grows, running the fabric between her thumb and finger. Derek crossed the small distance to the table and sat next to Addison, joining her in tracing the stitching on the clothing.
"I can't believe he's going to be wearing these soon." Derek said tenderly. Addison moved her body slightly so her shoulder grazed Derek's.
"Knowing my luck he won't fit into these. You know what your mother said…" Addison shuddered slightly.
"The Shepherd's produce big babies. Derek was over 10 pounds…" Derek repeated his Mother's words verbatim. Addison slumped defeatedly into Derek's side and he put his arm around her shoulders. "I'm sure he'll be small and delicate, just like his Mom." Derek sympathised as he rested his cheek on Addison's head.
"Nice try."
"So, Tea?" Derek asked again. Addison sighed indecisively.
"No…um… no, I don't want one. I'm ok, I don't know what I want."
"Water? Juice?" Derek tried.
"No. I'm fine, honestly. There's no room in there for any more liquids right now." Addison massaged her side, where the baby's legs were currently digging into her ribs.
"We could lie down?" Addison looked at her husband, appreciating his desperation to make her comfortable.
"That sounds good… You know the drill." Derek stood up, holding out his hands to help Addison up. He pulled, and her stomach pressed into him.
"Come on." Derek said, holding onto Addison's hand and pulling her into the bedroom.
. .
Derek lay silently in the bed. He had woken a while ago, but was happily lying, continually running his thumb up and down Addison's arm. She was lying on her side, her head resting on Derek's chest. Addison fidgeted in her sleep, her hand manoeuvring her protruding stomach until she was comfortable. Derek held his breath, hoping Addison wouldn't stir and began his soothing arm stroking again. Time passed, and Derek must have dozed off to sleep again. He woke to Addison squirming in the bed, but this time she was roused from her discomfort. She sighed, nuzzling into Derek's neck before turning her body over so she was lying on her back exasperated.
"Your son is determined to rob me of my sleep already." She half yawned/groaned.
"He's a menace." Derek replied, rolling onto his side so he could rub her stomach where their son was letting himself be known. Addison moved again, pulling herself further up so she was resting into the pillows in a half seated position. She closed her eyes, flinching slightly.
"I feel like he's burrowing into my pelvis. I can't get comfortable, no matter what I try." Addison ran her hands through her hair, pushing It back off her face. Derek kissed her shoulder and moved in the bed so he mirrored Addison.
"That's normal right?" He asked, whilst putting a loose hair behind her ear. Addison nodded, but Derek could tell she was growing increasingly more upset. "Hey, it's ok." He said understandingly and wrapped his arms around her.
"I know its normal. I know that professionally… but its just…" Derek nodded and waited for her to continue. "It's just, overwhelming…a bit. And I'm sore and I can't sleep and I'm just so uncomfortable… and I want him here but I don't know if I'm ready…" Derek pressed a deep kiss into Addison's forehead before turning her chin so she was looking directly at him.
"I'm scared too." Addison let out a half sob/laugh. "Every time you wince or rub your back I think he's coming… and we're probably not ready, but no one is ready Addie. We live in a trailer the size of a closet and he's a huge Shepherd baby. But we're going to be ok, everything's going to be fine, and we're going to bring him home to live in a drawer and we'll have never been happier." Addison laughed and wiped her eyes before kissing Derek, her hand lingering on his cheek.
"Maybe we can convert one of my shoe boxes for him?" Addison suggests. Derek smiles at his wife, wiping a stray tear from her cheek. "Thank you." She whispers, nestling closer into Derek.
"We're Derek and Addison, we can do this." Derek added.
"You're right, I know you're right. But Derek?
"Yeh?"
"If this baby is bigger than 8 pounds, I swear to…" Derek cleared his throat.
"Can I make you a tea?"
. .
I think there could be another chapter or two to this story. I will try my best to get that done as soon as possible but until then, reviews are always appreciated! Take care everyone!