A/N: Okay, I'm not going to be around this weekend to update so I thought I'd give you an update now. I hope when I get back home on Monday that my inbox is full of reviews *hint hint* :P Enjoy.
Addison was sat on one of the exam tables in the practice and watched Naomi prepare everything for the start of her hormone therapy. Addison took a deep breath and drew her attention to somewhere else in the office.
"So," Naomi began as she stood at the counter. "How are things with you and Pete?"
"The same really." Addison shrugged and swung her legs slightly underneath the exam table.
Naomi nodded slowly. "That's good, I guess."
"It is," she agreed and nodded. Naomi looked down at the syringe and pulled it back before turning to face Addison. "I hate needles being put into me," Addison mumbled.
"I know." Naomi nodded. "But you'll have to get used to it."
"Just do it quick."
"I'll try." She took hold of her arm before inserting the needle. Addison had already looked away from her friend and was biting down on her bottom lip. Naomi pressed down on it and inserted the hormones before pulling the syringe back out. "All done."
"Good." Addison breathed in relief and pressed the cotton wool into her arm to stop the small bleeding. Naomi put the syringe away and took of her gloves before throwing them into the bin.
"I wish the process wouldn't take so long." Addison sighed and looked at her friend.
"Only a couple of weeks." Naomi gave a smile. "Gives you time to try naturally as well."
"I never should have taken it for granted."
"You wanted a career first. No one can blame you for that."
"Because I always believed that no matter what, I could still become a mother. I was wrong."
"You can still be a mum. Even if this won't work, there are other options."
"I know." Addison nodded. "I've already decided I'll adopt if this doesn't work."
"I know." Naomi nodded as well. "And I'm glad you did."
"Maybe I'll adopt anyway." Addison shrugged.
"Maybe you should. You'll make a great mum, Addi."
"You think so?" she asked quietly and looked up at her friend.
"I know so." Naomi gave her a reassuring smile.
"Thank you," Addison whispered and gave a small smile.
"Just telling you the truth." She shrugged. Addison smiled again and dropped the cotton wool from her arm. "Do you have time to hang out after work or do you already, you know, plans." Naomi smirked at the last part.
"Oh, we haven't actually mentioned it so we can hang out." Addison nodded. "Yours or mine?"
"Yours," she decided.
"Seven?"
"Sounds good."
"Great. Bring food." Addison grinned.
"I will, don't worry." Naomi nodded.
"So, am I free to leave now?"
"You are." Naomi nodded. "Get your butt to your patients, I've got my own." Addison laughed and shook her head at her friend. She hugged Naomi quickly before she left the office to see to her own patients.
Addison sat on Pete's couch the next evening and looked around the living room. He had insisted on making dinner for them. There was a glass of wine for him and a glass of water for her on the table while Pete finished their food in the kitchen before serving it.
"Do you need any help?" Addison called into the kitchen as she heard a noise.
"No, I'm fine. Nearly done," he called back. "You just sit."
Addison nodded and took a sip of her water before she stood up and wandered over to the mantle piece to look at the few photos there. There were photos of him with friends and some of his time in Africa and China. She noticed that there were no photos of his family and she couldn't help but wonder about them. She couldn't recall him ever really mentioning parents or siblings either. Carefully Addison picked up a photo of Pete and another guy and studied it.
"What are you looking at?" Pete's voice appeared behind her as he carried two full plates into the living room.
"Oh!" She jumped and turned to face him before she held the photo up for him to see. "Who are you with?"
He put the plates down on the table before he looked at the picture and gave a small shrug. "That's my brother."
"Your brother?" She looked surprised and looked back down at the two men. "You don't look alike."
"I know. He looks like my mother."
"And you look like your father?" she questioned and set the photo back down in its place.
"I don't actually know," Pete replied and she could tell that he was uncomfortable. Addison turned to face him and titled her head to the side. "I've never met my father," he explained at her questioning look before he sat down on the couch. "Dinner is ready."
She nodded and didn't pry anymore. "You're experimental with food?"
"A little." Pete smiled. "Why?"
She shrugged and sat down. "I'd never even dream of cooking something like this." She gestured towards the chicken in white wine sauce, carrots and baby potatoes.
"I can teach you some time." He shrugged. "People seem to like my cooking."
"That would be a good skill for being a mother." She smiled softly. "Thanks."
"No problem." He smiled back. "I can always cook meals once the baby is here."
"It's unfair for you to cook all the time."
"I don't mind cooking." Pete shook his head.
"But still," she protested. "It wouldn't be fair." She pushed some food onto her fork before she took a bite.
"Well, I'll try and teach you."
"This is really good." Addison swallowed. "Like really good."
Pete grinned at her reaction. "I'm glad you think so."
"Where did you learn to cook like this?"
"I taught myself." He shrugged. "I always loved food."
"That's impressive." She nodded before she took another bite. "Maybe I will let you cook every night."
"You just said it's unfair for me to cook all the time." Pete grinned at her.
"That was before I tasted your cooking." Addison pointed her fork at him. "I now realise it would be a lot more beneficial for the baby if you were to be the cook."
"Oh really, just for the baby?"
"Yes." She nodded and continued to eat. Pete smiled and shook his head at her as he took a sip of his wine.
"So," she started after a few minutes of comfortable silence, "will our baby have any cousins to play with?"
"No." He shook his head. "Not that I know of, anyway."
"Do you not talk to your brother?" she questioned and looked up at him as they ate.
"Not much. I saw him a couple weeks ago but we barely hear from each other."
She nodded. "Do you not get along?"
"It's a little complicated." Pete gave a small shrug.
"What about your mum?"
"My mother I haven't seen in years." He looked down at his plate as he ate and talked. Addison watched him for a few moments before she looked down at her food as well. "If I tell you all about my family you'll probably change your mind about having a baby with me." Pete gave a sad smile.
"I'm sure it's not that bad. Anyway, I'm not having a baby with them, am I? I'm having a baby with you."
"It's just hard to believe that I'm not anything like them, that's all."
"If you knew my family you might change your mind as well," Addison tried to reassure him.
"Oh I doubt that." Pete shook his head.
"How can you be so sure that if I knew your family I'd change my mind?" She raised an eyebrow and looked at him.
"I don't know." Pete shrugged. "I'm sure there are women that would."
"Will I ever meet them?"
"My mother is in jail." He looked up at her. He knew he'd have to tell her sooner or later, but he was dreading her reaction.
"In jail?" she repeated slowly and lowered her knife and fork. "Why?"
"She's an alcoholic," Pete began to explain. "Always has been. She's had a lot of men and the only father figure I ever had she killed in a drunken haze." Addison was speechless. She had no idea what to say or even how to react. "I know." He nodded as he saw the expression on her face. "Changed your mind yet?" She opened her mouth to say something but then closed it again as she looked at Pete. Pete could feel his heart sink at the reaction but he knew he shouldn't be surprised.
"I don't know what to say," she whispered. "I don't think there is anything I can say."
"Yeah, guess there isn't," he agreed and looked back down at his nearly empty plate.
"I don't want her anywhere near the baby." Addison shook her head. Pete looked at her and gave a small nod. "I don't want to worry every time she's with the baby. I don't want the baby to be exposed to an alcoholic."
"She's in jail. She's not going to be with anyone. I haven't seen her in years and that's not going to change."
"Okay." Addison nodded. "That's good."
"Yeah." Pete nodded as well. She reached across the table and took hold of his hand before she gave it a squeeze. He gave her a small smile. "I'm fine."
"I still want a baby with you, Pete. I'm having the baby with you, not your family."
"My family is a mess though. This must all sound so horrible to you."
"Mine aren't that much better," she admitted.
"I bet neither of them are in jail though."
"No." She shook her head. "They're not, but they're still not great people."
Pete looked at her and gave a small nod. "We'll make it better with our baby. We'll give them the life they deserve."
"We will," Addison agreed. "We'll give our baby the childhood both of us didn't have."
"We will." He smiled softly.
She smiled back and squeezed his hand. "Would you like to come to my next hormone therapy appointment?"
"Do you want me to be there?"
"Would you like to be there?"
"I would." Pete nodded.
"My appointment is at ten tomorrow."
"I'll be there." He gave another nod. Addison smiled softly before they finished their meals and moved into the living room. Pete put his glass of wine on the coffee table before he sat down next to her.
"I'm so full I could burst." She sighed contently and briefly closed her eyes.
"You look content." He smiled as he leaned into the back of the couch. Addison slowly opened her eyes and turned her head to look at him. "Anything else I can do for your contentment?" Pete looked back at her.
"Not right now," she spoke softly and began to lean into him. He nodded slightly and watched her. "I could go to sleep," she whispered and closed her eyes again.
"You can if you want to." Pete wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"I didn't come here to sleep."
"Doesn't mean you can't."
"But what about?" She looked up at him as her head rested against his shoulder.
"We don't have to right now. There's the whole night, and tomorrow." Pete gave a soft shrug.
"Do you mind?"
"No." He shook his head. "Sleep if you're tired."
"I've just had such a long day. I could nap for an hour and then we could."
"It's alright, just sleep." Pete gave a smile.
"Really?" Addison chewed on her bottom lip. "I don't want to disappoint you."
"Don't worry about me." He shook his head.
"I'm still going to."
"Just sleep. It's fine."
"I just need an hour, that's all," she promised.
"You don't owe me anything, Addison. Just sleep, there's always tomorrow," Pete assured her as he settled back into the couch with her against his side.
"If you're sure." She looked at him before she laid her hest against his chest. Pete gave a nod and kept an arm around her. It wasn't long before Addison had fallen into a deep sleep against his side. Pete tried not to move too much as he reached for a blanket at the end of the couch and covered her with it, carefully.