It had been a long day, and I was so glad to finally go to bed. It just so happens that my son had other plans. Addison had put her now quite large tummy into my back, and our son was kicking with all his might. She complained that if he kept her awake, he should keep me awake too. However, Addison was sleeping soundly and little Peanut was bouncing up and down like crazy. I knew better than to try to scoot away. Addison would wake up and give me one of her hormonal speeches about how he's my son too and that she better not be the only one doing three a.m. feedings. Kick, kick, punch. He's going to be one tough kid. How does she sleep through that? Maybe she's gotten used to it by now. I guess it's worth it to watch her waddle around.

For two months she craved mayonnaise. For another two months it was sex. Though that craving was especially nice, it wore me out. There were plenty of other interesting cravings, too. The second trimester seemed to keep her full of energy as she was constantly bouncing and pouncing on me. This month her craving is pedicures. It's getting expensive, but I'd do anything for her and Peanut. We've got to give him a real name. I tried to move a little without waking Addison, but she stirred anyway.

"Will you polish my toenails?" she mumbled.

"Addie, it's four o'clock in the morning."

"So?"

"Ooh! He's kicking again!" she was fully awake now, and why shouldn't she be? She went to bed at nine.

"I know. He's been kicking since one."

"I'm sorry, Sweetie, did he wake you up?" she feigned innocence.

"I haven't actually gotten to sleep yet."

"Oh. I'm hungry."

"When are you not?" I teased.

"Can we have sex?"

"Addie, you're moving too fast here. What is it that you really want?"

"Sex. Popcorn and fajitas. Blue toenails. In that order."

I thought we were through the sex craving already! I sighed. It was going to be a long night.

"Mark?" I called into the brownstone. "Mark? MARK!"

"Yes, Dear?" he came into the foyer, covered in paint.

"Why are you all messy?"

"Well, your due date is next week, and we still haven't finished painting the nursery."

"Oh, yeah. We do need to finish that. Can we finish it later?"

"Honey, I've only got the one wall left. I'll be done in no time."

"Okay."

He went back to painting the nursery, and I went to sit on the couch. Oh! Ow! Maybe I should go take some Gas-X. My stomach is really upset today. I got up to go find some antacids and make some lunch before going back to the hospital. I'd come home to spend my lunch hour…and a half with Mark because it was his day off. Making a horrible face, I chewed some Pepto tablets and put together some sandwiches. I made a turkey sandwich with all the fixings for Mark and a PB and J for myself (and Caleb Andrew, who has decided that he doesn't like meat.)

"How's your day been?" Mark asked, polishing off his second sandwich.

"Not too bad. I walked in to find a patient and her husband having sex."

"I bet that was great for the hormones," he muttered.

"It really was," I grinned. "You know, I have some time before I have to be back at the hospital."

I began playing with his foot, then ran my foot up the inside of his leg. He shivered slightly when I reached the upper portion of his thigh. I stood and waddled over to the sink, pausing to kiss (and blow in) his ear.

"I think you're taking advantage of us guys, Addie."

"Is Dr. Mark Sloan complaining about someone wanting to sleep with him?"

He had the courtesy to blush slightly before jumping up and pushing me into the sink, his hands pulling at my clothes. That's what I thought. And, yes, I am taking advantage. We made our way through the hall half naked and broke a lamp on the way. Things were going really great when I suddenly had a sharp pain in my abdomen. Then, both us were covered in gooey water.

"Addie? Did you just…Is that…Are you…?" he sputtered, pulling away from me.

"Yup."

"Well, let's go to the hospital! C'mon!" he broke out into a sweat and was pulling on my arm.

"We have plenty of time," I replied, hinting that I wanted to finish what we'd started.

"Are you sure about that? Oh, wait. No! Addison Montgomery-soon-to-be-Sloan! I am not having sex with you while you're in labor!"

"Why not?"

"Addison!"

I reached up and pulled him back on top of me, kissing all the right spots. He moaned a little before shaking himself.

"No!"

"Fine then," I said, pouting. "Let me pack."

"You haven't packed yet?"

"I wasn't supposed to be in labor for another week!"

"You of all people should have known to pack before now!"

"I thought about it. I just haven't gotten around to it."

"Well, let's pack. What do you need?"

"Umm. Pajamas and house slippers. Something for the baby to wear. Blankets. Something for me to wear home."

"Ads, why didn't you do this before now?"

"You know I hate packing. Oh! Ow!" I bent over, catching myself on the edge of the bed.

I sat down for a few minutes to wait for the pain to pass then stood to continue packing. When I tried to put some more things in my suitcase, another contraction came. This time I landed in the floor. It hurt so much that I could hardly breathe. I sat in the floor against the dresser, panting. This sucks. No wonder so many women beg me for drugs. Just as the contraction ended, another wave of pain hit. I couldn't fight it any longer, so I started to cry.

"Mark!" I wailed, and he rushed in from another room.

"You okay? We need to go now. I'll come back and get your things when he's here safe and sound."

"No! This hurts! I can't do it. I don't want to. He can stay in."

"Addie! Addie, Baby, look at me," he put his hand under my chin and tilted my head up, taking control of the situation. "You can do this. You've already carried him this far."

"The..." I panted again, "The contractions are coming...Ow! Too fast and...oohh...They're lasting too long. There's no way we'll be able to get to the hospital in time with Manhattan rush hour traffic!"

"Take off your pants."

"What?"

"I'm going to examine your cervix. Take off your pants."

I did as he said, and he started swearing. At first, he wouldn't tell me how many centimeters, but I gathered from the look on his face that it was too many. I started panicking even more, and he gave up. He looked again, then back at my tear-streaked face.

"About eight."

"EIGHT!?" I wailed.

"Sweetie, it's okay. You're going to be fine. I'll be right here to help you."

"But…" pant "I…I can't…What if something happens? I need to get to the… AUGHHHHHH!" I began to scream and squeezed Mark's hand so hard I could hear his fingers crack.

I lay back on the bed, feeling as though my body was going to split in half. Another contraction hit, and I suddenly had the urge to push hard. When I tried to push, Mark joined me in screaming.

"Woah! Woah! We're really going to do this!"

"I think so."

"Addie?" Mark looked as though something had suddenly occurred to him. "Have you been feeling okay today?"

"Yeah. Fine. I had some gas pains earlier today, but I think it was from dinner last night. Remember when I had that heartburn?"

"Addie! You've been in labor all this time!"

"Oh…" Oops. "I guess I have," I gave a nervous laugh before another contraction hit.

"So, what are contractions really like?"

"Each one is like a little party in my uterus! What do you think?"

"Sorry. Baby, I called 911 a little bit ago. An ambulance should be here soon. Do you think you can hold off on pushing until then?"

"NOOOOOO!" I replied, giving another push. "If you're not going to help me, then leave."

"I'm going to help. What do I need to…Ohh. Ohh. I can see his head."

I gave another big push and collapsed backward onto the bed as a wailing cry filled my bedroom. Wahhh! WAAHH! I gasped, sweaty and exhausted, before pushing myself up to find Mark holding our son. He was tiny and red and covered in goo but still beautiful. His bright red hair was already obvious. Mark was wrapping him into a bath towel and trying to listen to his heart with his stethoscope. He handed my son to me, tears in his eyes.

"You did a great job, Sweetie."

"Thanks," I smiled down at my son. "Welcome to the world, Caleb Andrew."

He cooed as his cries subsided into content snuffles. I looked at him, unable to believe that he was inside my body less than two hours ago. He began to fuss again, so I lifted my shirt. He must be a smart little guy. He knows exactly what to do.

"Is anyone here?" came a voice from the front hall.

"Yes," I replied coming out of the bedroom.

"Your wife is in labor?"

"Not anymore."

"Oh, sorry. Rush hour traffic is really rough today."

"It's alright. We're both doctors. She's an obstetrician. I delivered him."

"Well, congratulations. Would you like us to go ahead and take her to the hospital?"

"If you wouldn't mind, thanks."

I returned to my future wife and son. He was still nursing away, but she'd fallen asleep with him on her chest. She needs to be sewn up a little, and he needs to be thoroughly examined. But, this is just too beautiful. Before waking her, I pulled out my camera and snapped a few shots. Gently, I nudged Addison's shoulder.

"Ads?" I whispered. "Baby, we need to get you guys to the hospital."

"Hmm. Oh, yeah. Do I need stitches?"

"Maybe just a few, but it's not too bad. There's an ambulance waiting to take you two to the hospital."

"Okay."

We arrived at the hospital, where our fellow doctors gathered around to see the newest addition. Everyone wanted to hold him until they realized he was still covered in birth goo, which Addison tells me has a real name that I can never remember. Both mother and baby checked out to be just fine. Addison needed only three stitches for some minimal tearing, and our little guy was at the top of the charts. While Addison was resting, I went into the nursery to check on Caleb, now cozy in a green and yellow sleeper and matching blanket. I looked into his little bassinet, awed at his beauty. He's the spitting image of his mother, but really, what did you expect? I put one hand on his tummy, and he reached out to me. He wrapped his tiny hand around my index finger and pulled just a little. So, this is what it's like to be your daddy. In that moment, I finally felt like I was his father.

"You know, Caleb, I'd do anything in this whole world for you, anything to make you smile. Remember that, Buddy, when you're fifteen," I whispered into his perfect little ear, and a lone tear ran down my cheek.