A/N Sorry for the delay in getting this chapter up! Between working from home and helping multiple children with distance learning, my schedule has been crazy! Hope everyone is staying safe! Thank you so much for the favs/follow/comments! They really mean a lot!

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Addison arrived at the apartment around 7:30. She was shocked to find that all 3 children had already gotten showers and were in pajamas playing the Game of Life with Amelia.

"Mommy!" Elliette said excitedly, bouncing in her chair. "I have FOUR kids! If I get anymore, I will have to get another car!" she exclaimed, pointing to the game board.

"Wow!" Addison laughed, smiling down at her daughter.

"How's Dad?" Apollos asked, as he finished his turn.

"He is doing well." Addison said contently, picking Ellie up and setting her in her lap. Amelia gave her a critical look, like she wanted to say something, but chose not too as she glanced around at the kids.

"Are you spending the night, Aunt Amelia?" Khaliel asked. Amy glanced up at Addison. She really did not want to be around her mother, but she also didn't want to assume she could spend the night.

"Of course she is!"Addison answered. "And tomorrow morning, we are all going to go to a really cool trampoline park I found." All 3 children squealed. "That also means that it is bedtime as soon as the game is over." she continued once the noise died down. None of the children complained about the earlier bedtime as they were so excited about their adventure the next day.

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An hour later, all 3 Shepherd children were in bed. Addison was making some hot tea for Amy and her. She really wanted a glass of wine, but out of respect for Amelia, chose not to.

Both women moved into the living room and sat down on the couches.

"Derek told me the story of your dad." Addison started cautiously. Amy stiffened. "Are you ok?" Addison continued with concern. Amelia was quiet for a long time.

"I feel like my whole life is a lie. I was only 5 when my dad was shot. That day is one of the few memories I have of him. Everything else is from stories of how great he was. When I was in the thick of my addiction, I always felt like I had let everyone down. I especially felt like I was a major disappointment to my father. Now, I find out that he probably would have been able to relate and help me." Amy answered, staring off into space. Addison sipped her tea for a few minutes before responding.

"Amy, I don't know what it is like to watch your father die in front of you at such a young age, but I do know what it is like to want the approval of parents that is never going to happen. It sucks. I am so sorry your mom didn't tell you about your dad's addiction until now." Addison said as she took another sip of her tea. Both women were quiet a little longer.

"For the record, you are the strongest person in your entire family." Addison smiled, giving her sister-in-laws arm a squeeze.

"Thanks, Addie." Amerlia said. She had always been uncomfortable with deep discussions, but it did mean a lot to her to hear what Addison had to say.

"So, what else did my crazy brother tell you?" Amelia asked, switching the focus off of her.

"He said he thinks it is time for us to learn to lean on each other instead of leaning on Mark or family when things get tough." Addison sighed. Amy gave her a quizzical look.

"Do you not agree with that?" she asked. Addison was quiet for a long time.

"I do agree with it. It's just, well, he seems to think we have to stay out here to do that. Away from everyone. And well, I am not sure I want to live in Seattle, or if it is fair for the kids." Addison responded, setting her cup down. "Anyway, it is getting late and a very energetic 6 year old is going to be waking me up early." Addison laughed as she stood up. "Good night, Amy."

"Good night, Addie."

Amelia stayed up a lot longer mulling things over. Maybe Derek was right. Maybe getting away from the family, getting out of New York, was exactly what she needed.

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The next morning, Apollos, Khaliel, and Ellie were up an hour earlier than usual. They were so excited to be going to the trampoline park.

"Ellie and Khaliel, be quiet so Aunt Amy and Mom can sleep longer." Apollos admonished his younger siblings. "Go watch Netflix, and I will get us some breakfast." The younger two made it into the living room, where Khaliel turned on the TV. Soon, Apollos brought in bowls of cereal for them to eat.

Thirty minutes later, Addison ventured from her room, to find all 3 of her kids cuddled together on the couch watching cartoons. Her heart skipped a beat at the site of them.

Addison walked over to the couch and joined her children. She really wished Derek was there. They had spent countless weekend mornings this way. All 5 of them cuddled together on the couch.

"Mom, we should take a selfie and send it to Dad." Apollos said, as if reading her mind.

"I think that is a great idea." Addison smiled. All 4 of them piled together so Addison could take a picture. She sent it to Derek with the caption "Get better soon. We are not complete without you."

"Alright, let's get cleaned up and head to the trampoline park!" Addison exclaimed. All 3 kids jumped off the couch and ran to get ready.

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"Good morning, Dr. Shepherd." Calie said as she entered Derek's room. "How are you feeling this morning?"

"It was a rough night, but considering I can't move half my body, I am ok." Derek replied. He had requested less pain medication over the night, so he had been in more pain.

"Well, tomorrow, we are going to start working on your mobility. We need to get you to be able to sit in a wheelchair in order for you to go home." Callie explained.

"I can hardly wait." Derek muttered. He only half listened as Callie explained the physical therapy schedule. He was well aware of how much physical therapy he was going to need. He also knew it would be awhile before he could walk again, even on crutches. He was going to need around the clock nursing for at least a month after he went home just to do simple tasks like getting a shower and going to the bathroom.

"Let's just take it one day at a time." Calie finished as she noticed the glazed over look on Derek's face. It was always harder for doctors to recover since they fully understood the extent of their injuries!

After Callie left, Derek was staring at the ceiling for the umpteenth time since his accident. He heard the text notification on his phone and saw the message from Addieson. The picture of his family was bitter sweet. It lifted his spirits to see them, but it also made his heart ache to realize how fast his kids were growing up and how much he had missed in the last year.

"Good morning, son." Carolyn said as she walked into the room.

"Hey, Mom." Derek said, giving her a weak smile. Carolyn gave Derek a quizzical look. She could tell he wasn't in the best of moods, but then again, he always had been a moody kid when he was injured.

"So, Amy and Addie told me they were taking the kids to a trampoline park. They should be here around 2. " Carolyn informed him as she sat down. Derek nodded in understanding. He was still a little overwhelmed by everything Callie had told him, so he didn't say anything in response to his mom.

Carolyn looked at Derek for a long time before saying anything else. "You do know today is August 4th, correct?" she asked, eyeing Derek suspiciously.

"Yeah…" Derek responded, confused. Why wouldn't he know that today was August 4th?!

"So, are you planning anything for Tuesday?" Carolyn continued when Derek still didn't understand. Derek just stared at her for a few more minutes before it dawned on him what his mother was getting at.

"Our 14th wedding anniversary." he said slowly. While he knew it was coming up, the 6th had come more quickly than he fully realized. Being confined to a hospital bed would do that!

"Correct." Carolyn nodded.

"What am I supposed to plan from a hospital bed?" Derek said bitterly. "Besides, Mom. After the summer we have had, I am not sure Addison even WANTS to celebrate."

"Derek Christopher Shepherd." Carolyn scolded, causing Derek to jump. "Of course, she wants to celebrate. Just because you guys have had a rough summer. Hell, you have even had a rough year. It doesn't mean you shouldn't do something special. " she finished crossing her arms.

"But Mom, I am in a hospital bed. What exactly am I supposed to do?" Derek retorted back.

"Order in dinner. Watch a movie. Send her roses. Need I go on?" Carolyn said as she got up and started pacing the room. Derek was silent for a while.

"Ok...and what about the kids?" he asked, forming an idea in his mind.

"That is what I am for." Carolyn nodded matter-of-factly. Derek thought about what Addison and him had talked about the previous night. He needed to tell his mother it was time for her to go.

"Um, Mom, about that. We really appreciate you coming all the way out here, but, um." Derek ran his hand through his hair and looked away from his mother. She stood at the end of the bed with her arms crossed. "Addison and I feel it would be best for you to go back to New York at the end of this week." he said quickly, still unable to look his mother in the eye.

Carolyn continued to stand at the end of the bed until Derek finally looked at her. He was shocked to see his mother smiling.

"And why would that be, son?" Carolyn asked.

"Because Addison and I need to learn to lean on each other instead of on family, or on..Mark." Derek choked out. Carolyn walked over and took Derek's hand.

"Yes, you do." she said softly. "Now, let's make a plan for your anniversary." Carolyn pulled out a pad of paper and sat down.

Derek was a little dumbfounded at his mom's response. He had expected her to put up a fight about going home. Instead, she seemed to have expected him to tell her they needed her to go home. Derek shook his head and proceeded to discuss his anniversary plans with his mom.

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While the kids were busy at the trampoline park, Addison decided to call Savvy. With the TTTS case surgery schedule for the next morning, she really needed some legal advice.

"Hey Addie! I was just heading over to your house to box up the stuff you requested to send out to you." Savvy said cheerfully.

"We really appreciate it, Sav. I don't know what we would do without you guys." Addison replied, missing her friend. How was she going to survive a whole coast away?!

"It is nothing, Addie. I am happy to help." Savvy answered. "How are things going with Derek and the kids?"

"The kids are currently having a blast while we are at a trampoline park." Addison said as she gave a thumbs up sign to Khaliel who was trying to show her that he could do a backflip on the trampoline.

"A trampoline park? Seriously? Aren't those places a little dangerous?" Savvy asked.

"Well, there are reports that say that can be, but well, sometimes I just have to ignore my better judgement and let the kids have fun. They have gone through so much this summer." Addison shuttered, trying not to think of the germs in places like this or the fact as to how many head injuries Derek had treated related to trampolines over the years.

"And how are Derek and you?" Savvy prodded.

"We actually had a decent conversation last night. Derek thinks we need to learn to lean on each other instead of family and friends." Addison said quietly. She didn't want to really get in a deep conversation in the middle of a crowd.

"And to do that, you need to be some place where there is no family and friends." Savvy finished.

"Exactly." Addison said. Both women were quiet for a little while.

"I think that is the best idea Derek has had in a long time, Addie." Savvy informed her friend. Addison smiled at the encouragement from her best friend.

"I do too, Sav." Addie said. "On another note, I have a slight legal question for you." she continued. Addison got up from her table and walked over to a quiet corner. She didn't want anyone else to hear this portion of the conversation.

"Wow, Addie." Savvy said stunned after Addison told her about the TTTS case and how strange the family interaction was. "What exactly are you asking me as far as legal advice?"

"I want to know if it is legal to run a paternity test without some one's permission." Addison blurted out.

"Honestly, Addie, I don't know. It depends on Washington State law. In NY, it is illegal without a court order, a letter from an attorney, or a referral from a doctor. I would assume since you are a doctor it would be legal; however, you need to go through the hospital attorney to be sure." Savvy finished.

"Ok, Sav. I kind of figured that was the case. I just really don't know what to make of this family. I guess I need to talk to the Chief." Addison sighed. She checked her watch and realized it was almost noon. "Well, Sav. As much as I would love to talk more, I need to go get my children cleaned up and fed before we head over to the hospital to see Derek."

"Alright, Addie. I'll talk to you soon. Miss you." Savvy said.

"Miss you too." Addison replied as they both hung up.

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Around 2:00, Addison entered the hospital with 3 very hyper children. She took a deep breath. Lunch had been a disaster. The family had gone out for pizza, where Khaliel had spilled his soda, and Ellie fell off her chair and hit her head. The tears that had followed the incident were mostly for show as Addison knew the fake tears from the real ones. That was after the arguing over what kind of pizza to get.

"I can't wait to tell Daddy about the trampoline park!" Ellie exclaimed as she bounced up and down. "Of course, I am a pro because of gymnastics." she said smugly.

"That doesn't make you a pro." Khaliel countered. "I am older and have been in parkour longer, so I AM the pro."

"Okaaayyy." Addison quickly interjected before another fight could break out. "Who wants to get ice cream in the cafeteria to take up to Daddy's room?"

"Me!" Both Ellie and Khaliel shouted, thoroughly distracted from their argument.

"Don't yell in the hospital." Apollos chided his siblings as he noticed people starting to stare at them.

"You're not my boss." Ellie replied to her brother. She quickly stopped when Addison gave her a pointed look.

After getting ice cream, which took way longer than it should because Ellie couldn't decide between cookie dough and strawberry, Addison herded her children towards the elevator.

The quartet entered Derek's room, where Addison was relieved to find he was not sleeping as the children were excitedly telling him about the trampoline park and offering him ice cream.

"Wow! Sounds like you guys have had an exciting day!" Derek chuckled as his head bounced between his children like a tennis ball trying to follow all of their various stories.

"Daddy, I need you to give me an MRI." Elliette said sadly.

"Oh really. Why is that?" Derek chuckled.

"I am serious. I hit my head, Hard." Ellie exclaimed. Her bottom lip started to quiver. Addison rolled her eyes.

"We have been over this, Ellie. You are fine." Addison said, raising her voice more than she meant to.

Derek eyed Addison and could tell she was stressed. He was overcome with a plethora of emotions from surprise to see his wife frazzled, which rarely happened to the desire to comfort her to frustration that he couldn't get out of the bed to help her. He was also hit with the thought that he couldn't remember the last time he had felt the desire to comfort Addison.

"Alright children. Go sit down and finish your ice cream. You can even turn the TV on." Derek interjected. The children excitedly went over to the table, sat down, and turned the TV on. Elliette quickly forgot about her head injury as the boys and her were arguing over what to watch.

Addison closed her eyes in frustration. Between the bickering of Ellie and Khaliel and the stress of what to do about the TTTS case, she was more than a little frazzled.

"Elliette, Khaliel, and Apollos." Derek said sternly. All 3 children immediately were quiet and turned to look at their father. "Stop arguing over what to watch. Either figure it out nicely, or you will not watch anything."

"Yes, Daddy." They all said in unison. Soon they agreed to watch the Cartoon Network and were engrossed in an episode of Sponge Bob.

"Babe, come here." Derek said softly. He held his hand out to Addison and gave her a sweet smile. Addison looked between the kids and him and sighed as she took his hand. He pulled her until she sat down next to him gently.

"Addison, lay down." Derek said as he slowly scooted over.

"Derek.." Addison whined. She knew the kids were going to need her again soon so she didn't see the point of laying down.

"Addison." Derek responded. He just looked at her until she gave in. As soon as she laid her head down on his chest, Derek could feel her begin to relax. It was a trick he had used since med school. He could always tell when Addison was getting worked up before anyone else noticed. He would pull her into a tight hug and she would calm down. He realized as he held her how long it had been since he had noticed when she was stressed.

"You are not alone anymore." Derek whispered in her ear and kissed the top of her head. Addison put her head up and looked Derek in the eye.

"In this together. Always and forever." she whispered. Derek smiled as he recognized the line from the vows he had written for her so many years ago. He gave her a kiss.

Slowly his hand started to make it's way up her shirt.

"Derek!" Addison jumped. "The children are RIGHT over there!" she whispered.

"They are not paying any attention to us, Ads." Derek laughed. He pulled her closer to him, where she soon was fast asleep.

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Let me know what you think! Hopefully, I will be able to update again soon!