The next week flew by. Addison looked at the twins in the NICU and couldn't believe they were now one month old. They still had a long way to go before they could leave the hospital, but so far, they had overcome every obstacle thrown at them.
"Dr. Shepherd, how are you?" Dr. Clark greeted the red head as she entered the NICU. Addison looked up from the chart she was filling out, surprised to see the therapist who had worked with Gracie.
"Good Morning, Dr. Clark. I am doing well." Addison replied, setting the chart down. "How are you doing?"
"I am doing well. I am here to check on the twins." Dr. Clark answered as she walked over to look at the babies. "How are they doing?"
"Both are doing exceptionally well for how little they were at birth. Both have gained around 1 pound." Addison said proudly. "Have you heard anything from Gracie and her family?" Addison asked tentatively. She wasn't sure she wanted to know the answer but knew a decision had to be made soon about the girls' future.
"Actually, yes. That is the other reason I am here." Dr. Clark said, turning to look at Addison. "Could we talk in your office?" Addison nodded. Both women were silent as they made their way to Derek's office, which Addie was using temporarily..
Suzanne sat down in the chair across from Addison and began to tell her what Gracie's family had said. "After extensive counseling for both Gracie and her family, the family has decided to put the twins up for adoption. However, there is one catch." Dr. Clark paused. "Gracie wants you to have first choice at adopting the twins."
Addison looked at her surprised. Being a temporary guardian was one thing, but full on adopting 2 micro preemies? "Um, I am not really sure what to say…" Addison replied, running her hand through her hair.
"I know it would be a lot for your family. I explained to Gracie that your husband was recovering from a major accident and you already have 3 children. She knows it is a long shot, but still wants to give you the choice." Dr. Clark said sympathetically.
"I need to talk to Derek." Addison answered.
"Of course. I will talk to you again in a few days." Suzanne said as she stood to leave the office.
Addison continued to sit at the desk in silence. She looked around Derek's office and was struck by the lack of personal touches. She hadn't really thought of it before. It was nothing like in New York. There were no pictures of the family, no artwork, no plants. It was very bare.
As she sat there, Addison really began missing their practice in NY. They had picked out matching couches for their offices. Even the artwork matched. Addison always had the most recent school pictures of the children framed on her desk while Derek preferred the first picture they took of the three kids right after Ellie was born. Both had the same picture of them as a couple. It was a shot of them laughing at their wedding. It was one of the few unstaged pictures. Neither knew what they were laughing about but they both loved the young and carefree vibe of the photo. Some days Addison would do anything to go back to that time in her life. Today was one of those times.
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Later that evening, Addison walked into the apartment to the sounds of Derek playing Mario Kart with the kids. She smiled as she set her purse and keys down on the table by the door. She loved all the time the kids were getting to spend with Derek, especially as he was mostly healed in his back and bottom. His left ankle and right leg were still in casts, but it was only a matter of weeks before those would be coming off. It still would be a long time before he could walk though.
"Mommy!" Ellie exclaimed, jumping from the couch into Addison's arms. "Can we make the cookies now? My teacher said I could bring them to school tomorrow for my birthday!"
"We will soon, princess." Addie said, giving the girl a hug as she set her down. She walked over to Derek and sat down on the arm of the recliner.
"Hey, Babe." Derek smiled up at her while still racing his sons. "How was your day?"
"It was, um, well, interesting." Addison said distractedly. She couldn't stop thinking of the twins. Derek drew his attention away from the game and gave her a quizzical look. "I will tell you later." Addison concluded. She leaned over, gave Derek a kiss, and then left to go change into more comfortable clothes.
After dinner, Addison and Ellie were making chocolate chip cookies for Ellie's birthday at school.
"I told my teacher I couldn't bring in ALL the cookies because tomorrow is Daddy's birthday too. He needs some cookies here." Ellie said matter-of-factly as she helped stir the batter.
"That is very thoughtful of you." Addison praised her daughter. She still couldn't believe her baby would be 7 tomorrow!
"Alright, you 3, time for bed." Derek told the children. They had watched a movie as a family while the cookies were baking. It had been a fun family night, but Derek could tell Addson was distracted as she kept biting her lower lip. All 3 young Shepherds groaned.
"The sooner you go to bed the sooner you will get to see your surprise tomorrow!" Addison exclaimed. Four heads turned towards her with big eyes.
"What surprise would that be?" Derek asked, just as shocked as the children.
"You will have to wait just like the kids." Addison winked at him. She also couldn't wait to surprise all of them with a visit from Kathleen, Stuwart and their 4 children for a few days.
"Wow. It must be REALLY big if Daddy doesn't even know!" Ellie exclaimed, bouncing on the couch.
"It is. So off to bed!" Addison laughed.
Later, after all 3 children were fast asleep, Derek and Addison cuddled in their bed. Derek ran his fingers through Addison's hair. He knew something more than the surprise was on her mind as she had been very quiet most of the evening.
"What is wrong, Addie?" Derek asked. Addison didn't reply. "Addison, I know something is wrong. You didn't even say anything to Nurse Anderson while he helped me get ready for bed." he continued.
Addison finally propped herself up on her elbow to look Derek in the eye. "Dr. Clark came to see me today." she said, quietly.
"Gracie wants to put the babies up for adoption, correct?" Derek asked. As soon as Addison mentioned Dr. Clark, it became clear to Derek why Addie was so quiet.
"Yes, but it is more than that. Gracie wants us to have the first option at adopting the girls." Addison said as she sat up.
"And you don't think it is a good idea?" Derek asked. Addison nodded her head.
"It is so hard because I have grown to love those little girls. I want to adopt them in a heartbeat, but we are in no position to take on 2 micro-preemies. First of all, we don't even know what state we are going to end up in. Second, I am already being pulled in so many directions between you and the kids. Third.." Addison blurted out.
"Addie, calm down!" Derek interrupted her, pulling on her arm to get her to lay back down. "I agree with you. Those babies deserve their parents' undivided attention. They are going to have a lot of therapies and doctor appointments themselves over the next few years because they were born so early. I know they are not meant for our family."
"I have an idea of who should adopt them but it might get a little complicated." Addison said, looking Derek in the eye. "Wiess and Savvy are wanting to adopt, but they live in New York. The girls can't leave the hospital for at least another month. Possibly even 2-3 months. It would be hard on all of them with the distance."
"But they would have us in the meantime." Derek replied. "I think you should run the idea by Savvy and Wiess. This isn't a decision we can make. Call them tomorrow. Let's get some sleep…unless, you want to tell me what this big surprise is"
"Nope." Addison laughed. She leaned up and gave Derek a kiss goodnight. Derek pulled Addison closer to him.
"You know. Tomorrow IS my birthday…" he winked as his hands began to roam around her body.
"So would you like your birthday present early then, Dr. Shepherd?" Addison replied coyly as she leaned in to her husband's ministrations. "At least one part of you is saying yes." Addison laughed as she reached down to cup Derek's growing erection.
"I believe all of me is saying yes." Derek growled. Both were very thankful that Derek's back was healed enough for them to actually have sex, even if the positions they could do were very limited.
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Addison awoke early the next morning, still smiling remembering the fun Derek and her had the night before. It was really beginning to feel like they were back to their old selves. She quietly scooted out of the bed and headed to the kitchen. Pancakes, bacon, and eggs were the traditional breakfast for Derek and Ellie's birthday.
As Addison began to prepare everything for the birthday breakfast, she couldn't help but think back 7 years ago to the day her baby girl was born.
September 13, 2012
Addison waddled around the kitchen as she made Derek's birthday breakfast of bacon and eggs. He told her she didn't have to this year since she was 3 days overdue with their daughter but since 2 year old Khaliel had woken her up at 5, she decided to go ahead and make it.
"This smells amazing, Love" Derek exclaimed as he walked up behind Addison and gave her a hug. "Thank you for making this for me." He kissed her temple when all of the sudden Addison cried out in pain. "What's wrong?" Derek asked, whirling her around.
"Contraction." Addison said through gritted teeth.
"Seriously?" Derek replied, excitedly. "She is coming?"
"Mommy, are you ok?" 4 year old Apollos asked with concern from the table. Khaliel looked between his parents and brother confused as to what was going on.
"I'm fine, sweetie." Addison replied. "I think your baby sister is coming today." As soon as she said that her water broke all over the kitchen floor.
"Yup, she is definitely coming today." Derek laughed. Another contraction hit Addison again. She leaned into Derek.
"Derek! There is meconium in the amniotic fluid!" Addison gasped as she noticed the dark sticky substance after the contraction subsided.
"Ads, it is going to be ok." He said calmly. He knew Addison was immediately assuming something was wrong since there was meconium. It could mean the baby was in distress. It could cause a lung infection for the baby. Or it could mean nothing at all.
"Derek, we have to get to the hospital." Addison exclaimed, as she doubled over in pain again. Derek too was starting to get concerned. Neither of Addison's other labors had started so suddenly and with so much intensity.
"Can you feel her moving?" Derek asked. Addison nodded, which brought them both relief.
"Mommy?" Khaliel asked as he walked near his parents. Both looked down at their very scared 2 year old.
"I am ok, Khaliel." Addison said, trying to smile as normally as she could. Derek scoped up the toddler.
"Boys, let's go in the living room and watch a movie. Nanny Sandy is going to stay with you guys while I take Mommy to the hospital to have your little sister." Derek said, trying to distract the boys. He quickly got the boys settled watching Dinosaur Train while he called their nanny.
Thirty minutes later, Addison was admitted to the hospital and was being checked out.
"Addison, the baby is fine; however, it appears she might be wrapped in the chord. It looks to be tying her foot to her belly. I don't believe she is in any danger for now; however, it may be hard to birth her naturally. You are probably going to need a c-section. It is up to you if you want to try naturally for a bit first and see if her position changes." Vivian Carlsmith explained to Addison.
Derek and Addison exchanged a glance. Addison had insisted on an ultrasound as soon as they got to the hospital to make sure their daughter was ok. She was thankful her mentor was able to deliver her baby as well. Everything she knew about neonatal came from this woman.
"Give us a minute to talk about it." Derek finally said. Vivian nodded and left the room.
"What do you think, Addie?" Derek asked, slightly concerned about what Vivian had told them. "This is your area of expertise."
"Honestly, if it was one of my patients, I wouldn't even be giving them an option. I would insist on a c-section." Addison answered honestly. She couldn't take her eyes off the ultrasound screen. Clear as day to her, she could see her daughter's foot trapped under the umbilical cord on her stomach. At least it wasn't blocking her airway!
"But I am sensing you don't want a c-section…" Derek replied. Addison finally turned to look at him.
"I don't know, Derek." Addison said with tears in her eyes. Another contraction hit her before she could continue.
"Addie, I think we should do the c-section. You are already in so much pain and we both know the chances of the baby moving are very slim." Derek said once the contraction subsided.
"Ok." was all Addison managed to get out. At this point, she just wanted her daughter to be safe.
An hour later, Vivian pulled a healthy, screaming baby girl out of Addison.
"She has your set of lungs." Derek joked as he leaned over the operating table to kiss Addison.
"Perfect to boss her daddy around with." Addison joked back. Both were beyond relieved that their daughter was out safe.
Derek had always loved that he shared his birthday with his daughter. Being the only girl in the family, it made it extra special.
"Good Morning, Addison." Nurse Caleb said as he entered the apartment.
"Good morning, Caleb. Welcome to the double birthday craziness." Addison laughed as she gestured to all the food on the counter.
"Looks yummy!" The young man exclaimed. "Is anyone else awake yet?"
Before Addison could answer, Ellie came bouncing out of her room. "I am 7!" she exclaimed, running to give her mom a hug.
"Happy Birthday, Ellie!" Addison said, hugging her daughter. Derek's bell also rang, letting them know he was awake.
"I will go help Derek get ready." Caleb said as he walked over to the bedroom.
Soon both boys were also up and everyone was eating breakfast around the table.
"Thank you for breakfast, Love." Derek said as he finished his pancakes. He was very thankful Addison's cooking had improved over the years.
"Yes, mom. It was really good!" Apollos interjected.
"You are welcome. Now all 3 of you need to finish getting ready for school. We need to leave in 10 minutes." Addison informed her children.
"Are the cookies packed up, Mommy?" Ellie asked.
"Yes. They are already in your backpack." Addison smiled at her daughter. She went to start cleaning up the breakfast dishes. "I don't have to go into the hospital today, but I do have one errand I have to run after dropping the children off at school." Addison informed Derek.
"Would that errand be related to the big surprise you have for all of us?" Derek asked, raising one eyebrow.
"Actually, yes." Addison laughed. "I should be back around lunch time. Would you like me to pick something up to bring home?"
"Tacos sound amazing for lunch." Derek answered. "I guess I will just watch TV while you are off gallivanting around Seattle without me on my birthday." Derek pouted.
"Have fun with that." Addison laughed as she went to leave the kitchen. Caleb helped Derek move into the recliner while Addison helped the kids finish getting ready for school.
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"Aunt Addie!" ten year old Carmen and 7 year old Adrianne exclaimed as they met their aunt at the baggage claim.
"Hi girls!" Addison smiled as she gave her nieces a hug. Soon Kathleen, Stuart, 3 year old Regan and 9 month old Wesley caught up with the trio.
"Oh my gosh, Wesley has grown so much!" Addison exclaimed as she gave her sister-in-law a hug.
"I think he is going to walk in the next month. He wants to be everywhere his older sisters are!" Kathleen sighed. "I was kind of hoping he would be a late walker so I could keep up with him easier." she laughed.
"How is everyone doing?" Kathleen asked with concern as they all piled out to the waiting van.
"We are all well." Addison said. "I can't wait to see their faces when they see you!"
"Are you sure Derek is going to be ok with us staying with you guys for the weekend? We can get a hotel." Stuart chimed in. He knew his brother-in-law and wife didn't always get along.
"Nonsense! You are only here for a few days. We want to spend as much time as possible with you guys!" Addison answered.
Soon all the luggage and people were loaded into Addison's vehicle and the one Kathleen had rented.
As they entered the apartment complex, Carmen asked, "Aunt Addie, can I be the one to surprise Uncle Derek!"
"Me too!" exclaimed Adrianne.
"Me three!" chimed in Regan.
"How about all 3 of you?" Stuart interjected before the girls could start fighting. They all agreed to this. Addison opened the door and let the 3 young girls in.
Derek was sitting in the recliner when he noticed his nieces. "Carmen? Adrianne? Regan?" he asked, confused.
"Surprise!" All 3 shouted as they ran over to give him a hug.
"Be careful girls!" Kathleen yelled from the doorway. "He is still injured."
Derek's head whirled from his nieces to the doorway. His jaw dropped at the sight of his family.
"Surprise." Addison laughed.
"THIS is the big surprise?" Derek asked, gesturing to the whole family.
"Yup. Happy Birthday." Addison smiled. "Who wants tacos?" she asked over the excited squeals of her nieces.
Kathleen and Stuart walked over to Derek and gave him a hug.
"I can't believe how big Wesley is!" Derek exclaimed, taking the baby from his sister. Wesley stared back at him with big blue eyes, so much like his own. He realized he hadn't seen the baby in about 5 months. "He looks a lot like Khaliel." Derek commented.
"He definitely takes after the Shepherd side." Stuart commented.
"Aunt Addie, is it time to go get Ellie yet?" Adrianne asked after everyone was done eating.
"Not for another 2 hours. I was thinking we could all lay down and watch a movie." Addison answered. She knew all of them were tired after their long flight and the time change.
Soon all of the children were fast asleep curled up on couches in the living room.
The adults gathered around the table drinking coffee.
"How are you guys really doing?" Kathleen asked with concern. She had noticed the loving looks Derek and Addison had been giving each other but was still concerned about them.
"Honestly, Kathleen, we are doing well." Derek replied, taking Addison's hand. "Has Addison told you the latest developments with the twins?"
"Yes. I definitely agree that you two should not adopt them. Those girls are going to need a lot of therapy when they learn who their biological parents are." Kathleen answered.
"I left a message for Savvy to call me." Addison replied. "Hopefully she has time to call me back today or tomorrow. I know they both have been swamped with work."
The adults continued to talk for another hour before it was time to pick the children up from school. Kathleen and Addison walked with Kathleen's children to Ellie and Khaliel's school.
"Adriennnneeee!" Ellie screamed when she saw her cousin. The two little girls ran into each other's arms and jumped up and down.
"What are you guys doing here?" Khaliel asked, looking around at his aunt and cousins.
"We decided to come visit for the weekend." Kathleen smiled as she hugged her nephew.
The entourage continued on to Apollos' school. The boy's jaw dropped when he saw his extended family waiting for him.
"It looks like we are outnumbered again." Apollos whispered to Khaliel as the group made their way home. Khaliel groaned. Both boys loved their cousins, but there were so many girls!
The rest of the evening was filled with birthday cake, presents, and games. They set up sleeping bags in the living room for the older children to camp out. They even set up a tent formation out of blankets and sheets.
"Mommy, this was the best birthday ever!" Ellie exclaimed as she cuddled next to Addison before bed.
"I am glad you enjoyed it, Sweetie." Addie replied as she kissed her daughter's head. It had been a long but fun day. Soon all the children were fast asleep. Addison slowly made her way into the kitchen when she got a text from Savvy asking if it was too late to call.
Addison took a deep breath, and then called her best friend. "Hey Sav! You are up late!"
"Hey, Addie! I wanted to call earlier, but I had to get a brief done for work. I didn't want to have to do it tomorrow. How did the double birthday go?" Savvy asked.
"It went really well. Kathleen and her family are visiting this weekend." Addison sighed.
"What's wrong, Addie?" Savvy asked. She could tell by her friend's tone of voice something was bothering Addison.
"I love having everyone here, but it just makes me miss New York even more." Addison replied as she fiddled with a pen on the table.
"I know." Savvy replied. She knew there wasn't anything she could say in response to that. "What else has been going on?" she continued, trying to distract her friend.
"We heard back from Gracie about the twins." Addison whispered. She wasn't sure how to approach the subject with Savvy. "She wants to put the girls up for adoption but wanted Derek and I to consider adopting them." she continued when Savvy didn't say anything.
"Are you guys considering it?" Savvy asked cautiously.
"No. We can't bring on 2 micro preemies right now, but…" Addison paused as she took a deep breath. "I was wondering if Weiss and you would be interested in adopting them. I will be honest Sav, adopting these two little ones will be a lot. From a medical perspective, a lot is unknown about their quality of life in the future because they were born so young. Not to mention the psychological trauma there will be as they find out their origin of birth. But all that said, I know you want to be a mom…"
"Addie, slow down." Savvy laughed. "I know that adopting the twins will not be easy; however, Weiss and I have actually been discussing it since we got back."
"Really?!" Addison exclaimed a little louder than she meant to. She glanced over at the kids to make sure they were still asleep.
"We kind of thought that this might come up. " Savvy replied. "We think these girls might be a good fit. We would like to meet with the birth family and go from there."
Addison couldn't believe what she was hearing. She wanted to be a part of the twins' life. If she couldn't adopt them, being their aunt was the next best thing.