Alright, this is it. Last chapter. I was originally going to break it into two chapters, but when I re-read what I had written, a lot of the stuff in it was unnecessary. Sooo… I took it out some of that stuff and shortened it to one final chapter. I hope it lives up to what you all were expecting. Someone had asked if Derek and Addison were going to hit a few more bumps… so I briefly addressed that in this chapter. If I were writing more to this story… yes, they definitely would have. But as this is the last chapter, I wanted to end it on a happy note.

Thanks to everyone who has been reviewing and reading this story. I'm glad you guys have enjoyed it. I am currently working on another story, but I don't know when I will get around to posting it. School is taking over my life. But stay tuned… it's coming!

Okay, READ.

Chapter 15
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Let your heart be light
From now on, our troubles will be out of sight

"Addison! We need to leave now, or we're going to miss our flight."

"Hold on, I'll be out in a minute."

Derek stood in the living room of their apartment, tapping his foot impatiently while waiting for Addison to finish packing the rest of her clothes. It was as if she hadn't been aware that they were leaving today.

Almost a month had passed since the Shepherds had reconciled. To say it had been easy ever since would be a lie. More than a few conversations had ended with one or both of them in tears. There had been fights and angry words thrown around, and Derek had been banished to the couch on a few occasions.

But along with the tears and the fights, there had been even more kisses, late nights, and lazy Sunday mornings spent together in bed. This time around, all the fighting and crying didn't have the same effect on their relationship as it had before. Before, they had gone from fighting to nothing at all. No talking, no yelling, no kisses goodnight. Indifference. This time, though, there was no indifference. Both had seen what was at stake should they fall back into their old habits and worked hard not to let that happen again.

Derek had talked to Richard and asked to have his hours cut back at the hospital. Not too much, just enough to spend more time at home with Addison. She, too, had requested more help in her department. She now had another OB-GYN working under her, as well as Izzie Stevens full-time. She and Derek were almost always home every evening together, which was something that hadn't been happening back in New York.

Derek sighed impatiently, still standing in the living room. He would give Addison another minute or so before he headed in there and finished packing for her. He refused to miss their flight back home.

Thud.

"Ouch!" Addison yelped.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah… I pulled the suitcase off the bed and onto my foot."

"Well, if you hadn't packed half your wardrobe for a four-day trip, it wouldn't have hurt so badly."

"Shut up and come help me!"

Derek just smiled, shook his head, and walked toward the bedroom to help his wife.

- - - - - - - - - -

Christmas Day at the Shepherd household was as crazy as ever. With twenty-one people crowded into the living room, things were nothing short of chaotic. The floor was soon covered with wrapping paper, and the kids were loud and excited about their gifts from Santa.

Soon after opening their presents, the kids were ushered down to the basement to play while Jane, Kathleen, and Jill finished getting dinner ready for everyone.

Derek took the opportunity to pull Addison aside. He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her deeply. She responded quickly, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck.

"Merry Christmas," she murmured against his lips.

"Yes, it is."

"I love you."

"I love you more."

"Okay, you two, that's enough. Break it up," Nancy said, interrupting their quiet moment together. "You ought to be ashamed of yourselves. There are children present."

Addison simply laughed as Derek let go of her and took his sister by the arm, pulling her into the kitchen where she would inevitably get roped into helping mother and sisters with dinner.

He walked back to Addison, putting his arms around her once again.

"Now, where were we?"

- - - - - - - - - -

After dinner, the kids had gone back to the basement to play, and their parents were dispersed in the living room and the den where there was a football game playing.

Addison and Derek lay side by side on the couch in the living room, watching an old Christmas movie on TV.

"Addison, can you come in here for a minute?" Jane called from the kitchen.

She pulled herself up off the couch and walked to the kitchen.

"What's up?"

"I have another little gift that I didn't want to give you in front of everyone earlier."

Jane handed her a bag and sat down in the chair next to her.

Addison pulled the tissue paper out of the bag and set it aside. She looked down, confused at what she saw inside.

She looked at Jane and raised an eyebrow.

"What is this?" she asked, pulling out a small one-piece outfit that was clearly for a baby.

"Oh, just a feeling I have…"

Jane began to gather the dishes from the table and took them over to the sink.

"Wait," Addison said. "There's something else in here." She pulled out a pregnancy test and looked disbelievingly at Jane.

"A mother always knows, dear," she said as she made her way into the living room, leaving her shocked daughter-in-law sitting alone at the kitchen table.

Addison sat stunned at the table. Then, unconsciously, she placed a hand on her stomach and began to smile uncontrollably.

Derek walked in a moment later and looked at his wife.

"Addie? Are you okay?"

She stood up from and walked over to him, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him softly.

"So, what did you really want for Christmas?"

He looked quizzically at her, then at the table behind her where he saw the onesie and the pregnancy test.

He, too, began to smile uncontrollably and pulled her into a tight hug, lifting her slightly off the ground before kissing her again.

"Merry Christmas, Derek."

- - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - -

One Year Later

Through the years, we all will be together
If the fates allow
Hang a shining star upon the highest bough
And have yourself a merry little Christmas now

"Merry Christmas!" Derek shouted as he opened the front door to his parents' house. "Where is everyone?"

No sooner had he said that when his mother appeared from the kitchen.

"Derek!" Jane said as she engulfed him in a hug. "It's so good to see you. Where's Addison?"

"She should be right behind me," he said, glancing back out to the front porch.

Addison appeared just them, a bag on each shoulder and a large bundle in her arms.

"Merry Christmas, Addison," Jane greeted her.

"Hi, Mom. Merry Christmas," she replied as she stepped into the entryway, and Derek closed the door behind her.

"Okay, let me see her!"

Derek pulled a blanket from the bundle in Addison's arms, revealing a tiny head full of dark brown hair. He took the sleeping four-month-old from his wife and handed her to Jane.

"Here you go, Grandma. Meet Hadley Jane Shepherd."

"Hi there, baby girl," Jane cooed at Hadley. "I'm your grandma. Yes, I am, and I am going to spoil you rotten."

She continued to talk to the baby as she made her way into the kitchen to show her off.

Derek took the bags from Addison, setting them down and then pulled her into a hug. She wrapped her arms around his middle, hugging him back. He pulled back just enough to look at her and then leaned down to kiss her.

"Merry Christmas, Addie."

Well, there you have it. Addison and Derek are together. And they have a baby. A gorgeous baby, mind you. I mean, how could she not be??

Okay, well, this is it, folks. It's over. I'm hitting the "Complete" button.

Like I said, I'm working on another (Addek) story, so if you want to know when that's up, maybe you add me to your alerts. On the other hand, if you weren't a fan of this one and can't believe you just wasted a small portion of your life reading 15 chapters, maybe you don't. It's up to you.

Review one last time, por favor.