"You know... if you offer to bring me shopping, Derek, you can't have that face. I didn't force you."
It was a Saturday afternoon and they were both in one of the many baby stores at the Pacific Place shopping center in Seattle, as they had agreed days before.
"We've been going in circles for an hour and you don't like anything."
"It's not that I don't like anything, I'm mentally making a list of the ones I like the most to come back and buy them later when we're not living in a hotel or a trailer."
"Well, then let's look at the furniture when we need it and now let's buy useful things for when the baby is born. Like clothes or diapers."
"Actually, diapers are also bought last. Why do I need them now if I don't even have a diaper bag?"
"What do you want then?"
"I don't know, we're looking ahead. Don't you think this little bear onesie is adorable? It even has a pompom on its tail," she said, showing it to him.
"I suppose so... it's cute."
"Oh, look at this little lamb one."
"Oh, no, not that one, Addison."
"Why not? It looks super soft and warm. I think it's for 0-3 months, it will fit when the baby is born. It will be full winter and...
"We're not dressing Baby Shep as a sheep, it would be ridiculous," he said, laughing.
"Did you just nickname our baby Baby Shep?"
"I said it just for fun, but it could be its nickname. Don't you like it?"
"I already told you that I want to give him or her my last name as well."
"But it's too long to call it Baby Forbes Montgomery Shepherd, don't you think?"
"That's why I think we need to choose a name soon. I already have some in mind."
"Have you changed your mind about the baby's gender?"
"No, but I have a list of gender-neutral names we can use."
"But why would I give my baby a gender-neutral name?"
"It's very common in my family to do that, Archer and I have gender-neutral names. Didn't you know?"
"Well, I had never really thought about it until now..."
"I like the name Harlow. I feel like it sounds nice when combined with our last names. Harlow Montgomery Shepherd."
"Hmm. It doesn't quite convince me."
"How about Avery?"
"The Harper Avery Awards."
"What about Jayden?"
"Jay? That's the name of a 40-year-old bartender."
"Alex."
"Like Karev? No."
"Robin."
"Robin Hood."
"Carson. You know I love that name."
"Addison, I thought that conversation was closed years ago when I explicitly forbade you from using that name for any hypothetical child we might have."
"But it's not hypothetical anymore..."
"Even worse. It won't be called Carson. That's not up for discussion."
"Derek, you don't like anything I propose. Tell me which names you like then."
"Well, to start with, I like names with a gender. I have two names like that and I don't see anything wrong with having them, all of my sisters have them too."
"I didn't say there was anything wrong with them, I just think that if we choose a unisex name now, we won't have to wait until the baby is born to start calling it by its name."
"Well, what I think is that we can have a list of possible names and decide when he or she's born. Or, we decide on a name for a girl and one for a boy beforehand, and when it's born we'll know the name."
"Okay, what names do you propose then?"
"Well, if it's a boy, it could be Spencer, Martin, Benjamin... for a girl, I like Melody, Emily, Sophia..."
"Sophia? Like my obstetrician? Not a chance."
"Well, I wasn't thinking about her specifically. Mark and I always liked that name."
"So, you're going to steal the name from Mark?"
"Addie, do you really think he'll ever use it? It's Mark."
"I don't know. Life gives you surprises, right?" she said, resting both hands on her belly.
"Baby Shep has grown a lot this week, don't you think it's time to announce it at the hospital?"
"Are you planning to make an announcement?"
"I don't know, I don't want something too extravagant, but maybe go and tell my group the news. Aren't you going to tell your friends?"
"Bailey is my only friend and she already knows, even before you."
"Why did Bailey know before me?"
"Just because, Derek. I don't remember specifically what happened that day, but you were probably thinking about sleeping with Meredith instead of paying attention to me. And Bailey was there."
"How long will it take for you to stop throwing Meredith in my face in every conversation we have?"
"Hmm, I don't know. How long did it take you to stop throwing Mark in my face? 3 months? 9 months? a year? Oh, wait. You're still doing it."
Derek fell silent, looking at the animal onesies. He knew continuing that argument would ruin their outing.
"Don't you want to take this little kitten one?" he asked, holding up the orange, long-sleeved onesie. Addison smiled.
"It's cute..."
"Well, this will be the first gift Baby Shep will receive from Dad."
"Oh, stop calling the baby that," she laughed.
~•~
"I thought we came for baby things, not for you," he said, handing her a stretchy pair of pants through the dressing room door slit. It was almost dusk and they were still at the mall.
"The baby is inside me, technically I am part of the baby, so I'm included in the things it needs," she replied.
"I doubt the baby needs to try on half a dozen pants..."
"What do you think? How does it look on me?" she asked, opening the door and showing off her figure. She was shirtless.
"Oh, Addison!" he exclaimed, surprised that she opened the door suddenly, and quickly entered the small room with her before anyone else saw her like that.
Derek couldn't help but smile at being there. She was wearing navy blue pants, with an elastic waist. On top, she only had a white lace bra. It fits perfectly with her new silhouette.
"What's wrong? Does it look terrible on me?"
"No... you look beautiful, actually."
"Don't you think it flattens my ass a bit?" she asked, looking at herself in the mirror with dissatisfaction.
"Your ass is great..."
"Do you really think so?"
"Of course, I... the pants suit you very well. The baby bump is very noticeable..."
"Really? Then I think I'll wear it later. I can't wear it to the hospital. Or maybe I could put on a loose shirt on top and hide it along with my lab coat."
"You don't need to hide it anymore, it looks too cute on you..." he said, unable to take his eyes off her.
"Oh, Derek. I don't know if you're saying that because you're a good husband or because you want us to leave this place already," she rested her hand on the top of her belly.
Through the mirror, Derek noticed how she was unconsciously incorporating that new maternal instinct of protection. She was already acting like a mother and it melted his heart.
Something inside him compelled him to take a step and stand behind Addison, taking one of his hands and placing it under hers, enclosing her belly between them. It was the first time he touched her while pregnant. Her skin was still as soft and warm as it had always been.
Addison closed her eyes and tilted her neck slightly, leaving room on her shoulder for him to rest his chin. Derek lightly brushed the tip of his nose against her neck. Her hair, loose and with slightly disheveled waves, still smelled like a perfect blend of vanilla and sweet jasmine, a scent he had been addicted to for years.
Neither of them said anything. Neither of them knew what to say either. They could stay forever in that position. Embraced, in silence, forgetting the whole world and being, for the first time, the three of them alone in this world.
"Excuse me, only one person can be inside the dressing room. It's company policy," said an employee behind the door.
Derek immediately let go and stepped away from her, still embarrassed by what had just happened.
"I think I'll keep this one," Addison said with flushed cheeks.
"Oh... yes, that's the best option... I... I'll wait outside. Okay?"
"Okay..."
~•~
"Listen... about what happened today... I wanted to clarify and..." Derek began saying. They were walking towards Addison's room in the Archfield Hotel.
"Don't worry, nothing happened today. Everything's fine."
"Did you have a good time? I mean... during the day, during our outing. Did you like the baby items?"
"Yes, I loved them. They're beautiful... and the cheeseburger was delicious, thank you for that... it was a nice outing. I liked spending this afternoon together."
"I liked it too, and I'm even happier that you had a good time. See you at the hospital on Monday?"
"See you on Monday," she smiled.
"Sweet dreams, Baby Shep," he said, laughing.
"Oh, don't start with that nickname again."
"Rest well, Addie."
"You too, Derek."
~•~
On Sunday night, Derek was taking a quick shower after returning from the hospital. He had quickly gone to see a patient he had operated on last Friday morning.
As the water ran down his body, he thought about the baby. Of course, that was what he thought about most of the time. Tomorrow, like every Monday, Addison would be one more week along. Tomorrow the baby will be 15 weeks old.
This week was a major milestone in the baby's development, as it doubled in size compared to the previous week. It now measured approximately 4.70 inches and weighed about 0.13 pounds. It was like a large apple. Its bones were starting to solidify, its spinal cord was formed, and its head already had a thin layer of hair, just like its eyebrows and eyelashes.
During this week, babies started sucking their thumb to practice their sucking reflex. He couldn't wait for the next ultrasound to see if their baby would do it.
Although Addison tried to hide it at all costs with her medical coat, the baby was already noticeable. After almost four months, it was evident that she was pregnant.
Derek turned off the tap, wrapped a towel around his waist, and stepped out of the bathroom. He was taken by surprise when he turned towards the bed and saw someone lying there.
"Oh my God!" he exclaimed, startled.
"Hello, stranger," Nancy, his older sister, said, smiling from ear to ear.
"Nancy..." he sighed, still nervous. "Don't you call ahead? What are you doing here?"
"You didn't show up for Thanksgiving, nor Christmas, let alone Easter. And besides, you live in a trailer. Where's Addie? I heard you cheated on her with that slutty intern."
"Meredith's not a slut..."
"Of course she is. She got involved with a married man."
"I don't like you," he said, rubbing his eyes.
"You love me," she smiled.
"What are you doing here?" he asked again as he went into the bathroom to put on some clothes.
"I already told you, I want to see how you're doing. It's been a year since I last saw you and Addie."
"Did Mom send you to gather information?"
"Why would Mom send me when I can do it on my own? Come on, Derek. Where's Addison?"
"She... she's living in a hotel."
"What have you done now, you bastard?"
"Why do you assume I've done something?"
"Because you always do something. What was it this time?"
"I slept with Meredith a few months ago, and she found out because I kept her panties in my tuxedo."
"Oh, no. You're a complete bastard. What on earth made you do that?"
"I don't know, the same thing that made her do it with Mark."
"Oh, don't come with that now to try to clean your image. Are you separated? Are you getting a divorce?"
"No, of course not... but... we're taking it slow. Trying to be careful at every stage. It's the only way to make sure this time goes well for..."
"For...?"
"Tomorrow when you see her at the hospital, you'll get a better understanding of the situation. Are you staying here or where you're staying?"
"Well, I was intending to stay at your house, in the guest room like normal people do, but since you have a trailer in the middle of the woods... I could go to Addison's if that bothers you..."
"No, no. Please. You can stay here. I'm sure Addison will be surprised to see you tomorrow."
Or maybe the surprise will be mutual...
