A/N: I hope you all are enjoying... and, yeah, FHBs... I've got a soft spot for them
"And don't you worry for a moment, your husband is going to be fine Mrs. Thomas," Derek assured the woman as he was turning to leave the exam room, "I'm the best at what I do."
He smiled at the couple and stepped into the hallway. As he was putting the chart in the holder just outside the door, something caught his eye.
Addison walked self-confidently from the bathroom, followed closely by Miranda Bailey. He watched as his wife turned cautiously to face the other doctor and ask her something. It was easy to tell that Bailey's response was sarcastic even though Derek was out of hearing range. After a moment of discussion and a glance at the board, Addison and Bailey made their way down the hall and disappeared into an exam room Derek knew wasn't being used.
Derek's curiosity was instantly piqued. The last time Bailey and Addison had taken over an empty exam room, his wife had been suffering from a poison oak rash in an uncomfortable spot. It was logical that his mind would jump to conclusions, and now he was dying to figure out what was going on. Most likely, they were discussing an intern or a patient in a private locale, but there was always the possibility that something else was going on.
And, now, as his mind drifted to all sorts of possibilities, he really wanted to know what was going on. He also knew that it would seem overprotective and nosy if he entered the room and demanded to know.
Derek didn't have any more time to dwell on whatever it was his wife and Bailey were doing behind closed doors because at that moment Meredith Grey came walking up.
"Hey, Der—Dr. Shepherd," Meredith smiled.
"Meredith," Derek was relieved by the distraction, "How are you?"
"I'm doing alright," Meredith glanced at the piece of paper in her hand, "Have you, uh, seen Dr. Montgomery-Shepherd? I have the lab results on our patient, and I was trying to find her."
Derek grinned, seeing this as the perfect opportunity, "I know exactly where she is. Why don't you give me the labs and I'll deliver them?"
"Um," Meredith gave Derek a quizzical look.
"She's with Bailey," He gave the intern a reassuring "McDreamy" smile, "I'll take care of it, Mer."
"Alright," She observed the other doctor curiously, "Thanks."
Derek took the paper from Meredith and moved to walk away before stopping. He looked back at Meredith, hoping this next topic wouldn't be too awkward considering their touchy situation, "You've been working with my wife today, right Mer?"
"Uh, yeah, I have," She nodded, "Why?"
He sighed, "Has she seemed sick to you? I don't think she's been feeling well lately, and she won't admit to it."
It took Meredith several moments to answer. Derek could tell she was waffling between being petty and not answering her ex-boyfriend's question about his wife and answering him honestly. Finally, she spoke, "I honestly haven't noticed anything, Derek. She seems like Addison to me."
"Well, thanks," Derek glanced down at the labs he had just taken from Meredith, "I'll go bring these to her."
"Alright," Meredith smiled and moved to slide past him.
"Wait, Meredith," Derek called to her.
"Hmm?" She gave him a smile.
"I'm sorry; I know how awkward this is for you. I don't try to make it awkward for you," Derek told her honestly.
"We're friends," She smiled.
He nodded and motioned for her to walk on. His eyes watched her receding figure and he noticed, for what may have been the first time, that Meredith's walk was nothing like his wife's. Meredith was casual; her walk made the statement that she wasn't in a hurry to get anywhere. Addison was sleek and stylish; her walk was always confident and with a purpose.
It was as if a woman's walk highlighted who she was as a person. He finally tore his eyes away from Meredith's retreating figure and looked down at the paper in his hand. His attention was now focused on finding his wife, and he turned and sauntered toward the exam room.
- -
"Miranda, this test is pointless," Addison repeated for the hundredth time, "I'm not pregnant. I can't be pregnant. It's not possible."
Bailey rolled her eyes, "I thought you were a doctor. Honestly."
"I'm not pregnant," Addison sighed heavily, in such a way that suggested she knew very well that she was.
"And if you are?" The other woman wondered cautiously.
Addison didn't answer; she couldn't. Having a baby would change everything in such a way that she couldn't even fathom. And that wasn't even taking into account what Derek's reaction would be.
Her husband was still hesitant to touch her. He was often reluctant to make love to her. Even if he had apologized for his part in the destruction of their marriage and told her he was working on it, she had yet to see the fruit of his labors. They were, at best, on shaky ground. It was impossible to tell if they could even handle a baby at this point in their relationship.
She sighed and answered, her voice laden with uncertainty, "Then I'm going to handle a baby. I'll handle it."
If there were something she could have done to comfort her friend, Miranda Bailey would have done it. She could read Addison easily and knew that her uncertainty was a byproduct of her shaky marriage. Bailey momentarily considered hitting "McDreamy" upside the head with a clipboard, but she didn't figure that would help in his situation with Addison.
"You'll be a good mother," Bailey reassured her, "Besides, the child will have some fantastic hair."
Addison chuckled at that, feeling the mood lift a little bit, "They will have fantastic hair."
Bailey looked down at the test, turning serious again, "So, do you want to know?"
Addison nodded and bit her bottom lip.
"You are," Bailey answered simply.
A small smile crept onto Addison's lips, "Okay."
Bailey opened her mouth to respond, but she was interrupted by a knock at the door. She gave Addison a look that said, "I'll take care of it" and walked to the door and cracked it open.
"Do you need something, Shepherd?" Bailey wondered.
"Miranda," Derek flashed her a smile, "Is my wife in there?"
"Yes she is," Bailey nodded.
"Can I see her?" Derek rolled his eyes.
"Come on in, Derek," Addison called from the exam room.
Reluctantly, Bailey stepped away from guarding the door and allowed Derek to enter.
"What's going on?" Derek looked from his wife to Bailey.
"What are you doing here?" Addison avoided his question.
"I ran into Meredith; she asked me to give you this," He handed Addison the piece of paper in his hand, "Labs for your patient."
"Thanks," Addison was relieved that Derek wasn't solely checking up on her.
Derek nodded, once again looking between his wife and Bailey in hopes of an answer, "So, what are you doing in here?"
Addison took a moment to observe her husband. His eyes were focused on her in concern and interest. Lately it was becoming more rare for Derek to look at her and see Addison. She couldn't help but wonder if maybe this would be the last time Derek would actually see her.
She swallowed hard, "I have something to tell you, Derek."
"What is it?" Derek urged her to continue.
"Please don't freak out when I tell you," She begged, "It's going to be a shock, but you can't go crazy."
"Fine, I promise," Derek agreed, "Just tell me."
Addison's eyes drifted to Bailey for reassurance before fixing them on her husband's face. She sighed and spoke softly, "I'm pregnant, Derek."
She felt a pang in her heart when Derek's face dropped from avid curiosity to a look of shock and terror. His eyes searched her face, almost as if he were waiting for the punch line to a joke.
His eyes drifted upward as he simply said, "Okay."
Addison gaped at him. Of all the reactions she had been expecting from Derek, this one had never even entered her mind. It was almost a non-reaction, and it nearly broke her heart.
She sighed and was trying to formulate an Addison-esque remark when the ringing of a pager filled the room. All three doctors glanced instinctively to their waists.
"It's me," Derek looked back up at his wife, "I have to go."
With that, he made a speedy exit leaving Addison and Bailey in the room. Bailey's eyes drifted to Addison who was sitting in shock.
"I can go kick his McDreamy ass, if you'd like," She offered.
Addison shook her head and forced back the tears, "You know, Miranda, I'm not even sure it's worth it anymore."