Alex asking Addison to give him a chance to get to know him was the end of their conversation at the park due to Ella running up and dragging Alex over to the monkey bars, reminding him that he promised to play with her.
A week later, Amelia had returned to Los Angeles, Addison was starting back at the hospital, and Ella would be spending her days in the hospital daycare until school started. Addison knew it would just be a matter of time before the entire hospital knew about her pregnancy and she didn't want Ella to hear it from someone there. Even though she was only six weeks along and knew there was a chance of this being a high-risk pregnancy, she decided to tell Ella.
Following dinner the night before starting work and daycare, Addison decided it was the best time to tell Ella. "Ella, sweetie, I need to talk to you," Addison said, patting the couch next to her, indicating she wanted her daughter to join her.
Ella put down the toys she was playing with on the coffee table and climbed on the couch, snuggling next to her mother. "I'm a good listener and I like to talk. What do you need to talk to me about, Mommy?"
"Do you remember when we talked about where babies come from?" Addison asked, looking at Ella to see her nodding her head. "And you know Alex?" Another nod. "What would you say if I told you that you're going to have another little brother or sister?"
"I already know Daddy and Lexie are having a baby, Mommy," stated Ella as she twisted her body to almost be lying in Addison's lap.
Sighing, Addison knew this wasn't going to be easy. "What about another one? So you'll have Sofia, Daddy and Lexie's baby, and another one?"
"I don't get it."
"Sweetie, I'm going to have a baby. Alex is going to be the baby's daddy."
"Okay. So is Daddy not going to be my daddy anymore?"
Sometimes Addison loved the way her six-year-old's mind worked, more worried about her father than the fact that Addison was pregnant. "No, sweetheart. Daddy is still going to be your daddy. You know how Sofia is your sister even though you have different moms?" Another nod against her lap. "It's the same thing, except you and the baby will have different dads."
"Is the baby going to live with us all the time or is it going to live with Alex?" So far, Ella was grasping this pretty well.
"The baby is going to live with us most of the time. You know how you stay with Daddy sometimes? The baby is going to stay with Alex sometimes."
"Is the baby going to be really little like Sofia was?"
"I hope not. Babies usually aren't that small when they're born, but Sofia was because she and Callie got hurt in a car accident," explained Addison.
"Okay. When is the baby going to come?" asked Ella.
"I went to the doctor to find out the other day and the baby should come around the beginning of March."
"My birthday's in March! Is it going to come on my birthday? I don't want to share my birthday." Ella's birthday was near the end of March.
"The doctor thinks it will come a few weeks before your birthday, so you shouldn't have to share your birthday. Do you want to keep talking about this or do you want to get your stuff ready for tomorrow? Remember you're staying with Daddy and Lexie tomorrow night. They'll pick you up from daycare and bring you to their apartment."
"I'm kinda sleepy, so get my stuff ready. What time do I have to get up tomorrow? Can I set my new alarm clock?"
Working at the hospital meant earlier days than working at the practice, so Addison let Ella choose an alarm clock to help get her up. Addison wasn't expecting the alarm clock to help get her up, but it excited her and made her feel grown-up.
The next morning, Ella was up before Addison and made it known that she was wide awake when she entered Addison's room and climbed onto the bed, placing her face just inches from Addison's. Addison could sense that she was being watched and slowly opened one eye, then the other. While Ella was distracted by the fact that Addison was waking up, Addison grabbed her daughter and began to tickle her, causing the girl to laugh uncontrollably.
After a brief tickle attack, Addison realized they had to get ready to leave. She poured Ella a bowl of cereal and set an outfit on Ella's bed for her to change into while Addison took a quick shower. By the time Addison finished her shower and exited the bathroom, the six-year-old was sitting on Addison's bed wearing the jean skirt, yellow flowered shirt and pink tights Addison had set out. Seeing her daughter dressed and almost ready to go, Addison hurried her pace. They still had plenty of time before needing to leave, but Addison hated making the girl wait.
After finishing her make-up, Addison sat on the bed behind Ella and took the hairbrush from her hand. "Do you want your hair down or pigtails today?"
"Braided pigtails, please. Do I have to take my stuff for Daddy's with me or can we pick it up later?"
"I gave Daddy a key for our apartment to pick your stuff up after you leave daycare. I'm working later than Daddy, so he's picking you up and you'll stop here to get your bag before going upstairs for the night. I'll try to visit you at lunchtime, but I can't promise that. Are you scared about starting daycare?"
"Nope. I'm excited cuz Sofia's there and I get to spend all day with her."
Glancing at her watch, Addison realized they had to leave in the next few minutes. "Go grab your daycare backpack. We've gotta leave."