Monday, August 12, 1989.
Columbia University.
The first day of classes is never exactly the best day, thought Derek as he got off the bus with Mark.
The atmosphere can be a bit overwhelming. It's full of unfamiliar people walking everywhere, so it's easy to get lost in the crowds and labyrinths like buildings. There's too much information entering through all your senses.
A new stage of their lives was beginning where the lack of familiarity, independence, and responsibility in learning would become paramount. It was no longer like high school, now they would be entering the place that would transform them into doctors. Into professionals, it would give them the permission and ability to deal with the health of real people.
"Change that expression, Derek. We'll have fun here," said Mark, laughing. Obviously, he was relaxed, as he always had been.
"Do you know which classroom we have today?" he asked nervously, looking at the university campus map.
"I don't know, but do you see that group of girls over there up the stairs? They'll be our first conquest in university."
"Did you know that we came here to be doctors, not to stare at women? They are our classmates."
"Doctors are the ones who have the most women behind them. Dr. Sloan, doesn't that name excite you a little?"
"No. Mmm... 3rd floor, room 23. Gross Anatomy with Dr. Phillips," he said, looking at a brochure they had received by mail.
"Alright. Let's go. I think it's up this staircase behind the fountain."
~•~
"My water broke."
"What?"
"What you heard," she said, pulling back the duvet. He saw that it was indeed all wet.
Derek started to feel real fear. Now it was really happening, just as he had wished for all day. All day? He wished for it for months. He just hadn't imagined it would happen so fast.
"It's okay, don't worry... I... you... let's... um... change the sheets, and... hmm… oh my God, it's happening."
"Derek, you're making me even more nervous," she said, with a trembling voice. She was scared now too. Much more than he was.
"N-no... Addie," he took a deep breath, "I'll help you change. Do you want to take a quick shower? How much time do we have?"
"A few hours."
"Well... what do we do? God, why didn't we go to the birthing classes?"
"Because it's more fun to have sex," she said, feeling a new contraction and trying to get up from the bed.
Derek got up first and went to help her. He accompanied her to the bathroom and turned on the shower.
"Listen, I'll be right back, I'm going to change the wet sheets and put them in the washer. Okay? Can you stay alone?"
"No, don't leave me. I'm scared, Der."
"It's just a second, Addie... I... it's okay, I'll stay with you. Lean on my shoulders, I'll take off these wet pants."
"Is it see-through?"
"Yes, don't worry," he said, gently pulling the pants down her legs.
"Derek..."
"Yes?"
"She's going to be born today."
"She's going to be born today," he repeated, smiling.
~•~
Addison had been the first to arrive in the classroom. She had placed her books on her desk and had sat down to watch as the room slowly filled up.
It was a feeling she couldn't describe. She had longed to be able to sit in one of those desks for so long, and now she was there. Minutes away from starting one of the most important adventures of her life.
She had thousands of expectations, doubts, fears, and longings. Everything that any first-year medical student would have at that moment.
Professor Joseph Phillips, a surgeon specializing in general surgery, welcomed them to the university world and began the introduction to the class. Today they would work for the first time with a real cadaver, one assigned to each group of five people.
They would work as a team throughout the academic cycle with that cadaver and learn every part of the human body, as well as diagnose the cause of death.
Addison was calm. To be honest, she had already seen corpses when she was a little girl. Perhaps for an average person, it might seem strange and a little eerie, but she used to accompany her father to the university and would stay at the back of the classroom while her father's students worked with human bodies. That procedure was similar to what is done in brain surgeries when removing the dura mater from the brain. And at such a young age, she was already familiar with that technique.
She had always been a very curious and intelligent girl, so she used to sneak in to see what the older boys were doing. She knew that one day she would be the one holding a scalpel and occupying that place at the university.
"Hey, redhead. Do you have a group yet?" a blond guy, with a quiff up, interrupted her thoughts.
"Me?"
"Yes, you. Do you have a group?"
"No."
"I'm Mark, and he is Derek, my friend. Do you want to join our group?"
"Okay..."
"What 's your name?"
"Addison Forbes Montgomery..."
"Great. I'll find two more people. Stay with Derek, Addison."
Mark went to look for the missing members while Addison and Derek were left alone. They looked at each other, uncomfortable, not knowing what to say.
~•~
Addison was staring Derek in the eyes as the hot water ran down her body. The contractions had intensified after her water broke. They were coming at intervals of 4 to 6 minutes, quite close to each other.
Derek wrapped his arms around her waist, trying to contain her and let her know he was there for her.
"Addie, I think it's time to go to the hospital," he said, tucking a wet strand of hair behind her ear.
"Not yet, I can handle a little while longer at home... the water calms me..."
"Let me at least call Sophia. I'll tell her we're on our way."
"Okay."
Derek stepped away from the shower, grabbed a towel, and dried his hands. He left the bathroom still in his wet clothes, picked up his phone, and notified Sophia of what had happened. She will be heading to the hospital shortly.
"What's the matter, Derek? It's almost 2 in the morning," Amelia said, appearing in the hallway, half asleep.
"Addie's water broke, we're about to go to the hospital."
"Is the baby going to be born today?" she asked, impressed. Suddenly, all her sleepiness disappeared.
"Yes. I'll go back to her and help her get dressed."
"Do you want me to help with anything?"
"Yes, go check that the baby's and Addie's bags are in the car. Make sure the documents and medical records are in order."
"I thought you checked that 80 times already..."
"Amelia!"
"Okay, okay..."
~•~
Sam and Naomi had joined the group after a few minutes. Mark handed the list of names to the professor, and he handed them a kit of surgical items.
After all the student groups were formed, they were assigned a cadaver. Their group got a 45-year-old man who had died suddenly.
"You will take turns opening the bodies. While one of you cuts, the rest will analyze the parts. Remove the organs, examine them, note your conclusions, and place them back inside the abdominal cavity of the body," the professor said.
"Who has the steadiest hand for cutting among all of you?" Mark joked. Derek didn't seem to find it funny.
Naomi was a little disgusted by the smell coming from the body, so she refused to go first.
"I'll do it," Addison said confidently. "It's not the first time I've held a scalpel."
"Have you done it before?" Derek asked timidly.
"I have years of practice, my dad let me use his scalpels since I was 8."
"Are you a surgeon's daughter?"
"Yes, well... that doesn't matter. But what I can say is that if none of you are up to it, I have no problem being the one to start. I can teach you the techniques for cutting each layer of skin and I even know some sutures for afterward..."
"Wow," Derek said, surprised.
"You're dangerous, Red," Mark said ironically.
"Oh, I can be even more dangerous if you call me that again. I could stick this scalpel in the middle of the synovial sheath of the flexor muscles."
"In the what?" Mark asked, not understanding.
"In the hand," Derek laughed. He liked this girl.
~•~
"Take my hand," Derek said as he drove. They were on their way to the hospital.
"Both hands on the wheel! For God's sake, we want to arrive alive," Addison replied as she suffered another contraction. They were getting more and more intense.
"Relax, Addie. Breathe," Amelia said from the back seat. Obviously, she was going to want to accompany them.
"I am breathing!" she complained.
"We're less than ten minutes away, we're almost there, honey... Amelia, did you time the last contraction?" Derek asked.
"Yes, it lasted 35 seconds, intervals of about 4 minutes."
"Another one is coming!" Addison screamed.
~•~
"It's not another one, it's her," Derek said as he left the university.
"I get it, she's sexy, you can't deny how attractive and intelligent she is, but Derek... she's so bossy and arrogant. Did you see how she took over the scalpel today? Just because she's a surgeon's daughter, blah, blah. I am too and I'm not that arrogant."
"First of all, she's not arrogant. She's amazing. It's clear that she has been familiar with scalpels for years... and second, your dad didn't teach you anything about medicine and you didn't show interest in the subject until late in high school. It's not the same."
"Right, because the jerk was more interested in starting another family than maintaining the one he already had..."
"You can't blame Addison for being brilliant. In fact, I actually think you don't like her because she didn't fall at your feet at first and she proved that she's more skilled and intelligent than you."
"That remains to be seen. None can resist the charm of Mark Sloan."
"Friend, it's not like that. I think I might already be in love with her."
"Derek, you can't fall in love at first sight."
~•~
"At first sight, it looks like you're about four centimeters dilated," Sophia said as she checked Addison. She was already admitted to one of the maternity rooms at Seattle Grace Hospital.
"Only four? That can't be," Addison complained with a tired voice.
"It's actually very good. It's progressing quite quickly. If everything continues at this pace, the baby could be here by around 9 in the morning."
"I can't handle six more hours, I need the epidural."
"If I give it to you now, the anesthesia might wear off when the contractions get worse. Let's wait until you dilate a little more. At least to get to five centimeters."
"I don't care, I want the anesthesia!" she said, crying.
~•~
"Wow, without anesthesia," said Addison, surprised. They were in one of the internal gardens of the medical school and Derek had just asked the question. It hadn't been more than three months since they first met.
"What do you say?"
"You and me being boyfriend and girlfriend?" she asked to confirm if she had heard correctly.
"Don't you want to?"
"I..." she smiled shyly. Her cheeks started to turn a rosy hue.
"I know it might be early, we've only known each other for a short time but there's something inside me that tells me that you are, will be, the woman of my life. I don't want to spend a single day of my life without letting you know how important and special you are to me, Addie. I want to be with you."
"Really?"
"I can't explain it logically, because there's no answer beyond my feelings. This connection... it's something more, something that... " he sighed nervously, unable to find the right words to explain it. "Something that I feel like I've already lived before and in this life, all I've done so far is wait for you to arrive. I waited 23 years for you to come... to complete my other half."
"Oh, Derek," she said, starting to get emotional. She also felt that connection he was talking about. Maybe not at first, but over the months.
"What do you say? Will you be my girlfriend?"
"Yes!" she answered, smiling.
Derek also smiled and gently kissed her lips. That kiss was magical, even more than the first one at the door of their building. That was their first official kiss as a couple.
The cool wind made the autumn leaves fall on their faces and tousled their hair, but nothing mattered more to them than sharing that moment.
"I have a gift for you," Derek said as he pulled away from her mouth.
"Really?"
"It's a surgeon bear. For my surgeon girlfriend."
"Oh, Derek. You're so sweet. I love it!" she kissed him again, excited. It was the first gift he had given her.
~•~
Addison angrily squeezed one of the stuffed bears Derek had kept in the baby's bag. She had repeatedly told him that she wouldn't use any of those toys while in the hospital, but he wanted to bring them anyway. He said that the pastel pink bear would be her comfort object.
"Stupid Sophia... what does she know if I really need the epidural or not?" she said as she paced impatiently.
Derek looked at her with a smile on his face. Even dead tired, disheveled, sleepy, and angry, she looked adorable.
"Are you enjoying your situation? Privileged specimen that doesn't have to go through this torture for the perpetuation of your offspring... AAH!" she screamed again as she felt another contraction.
"Calm down, Addie... lie down."
"I won't lie down! It's worse. Are you also going to tell me what position I have to be in to endure the pain? Typical men! I'm the obstetrician here! I know how to relieve the pain!"
"I'll go call my mother," Derek said, pulling his cellphone out of his pocket. It was already seven in the morning on the East Coast, and Carolyn always woke up early. She was most likely already awake.
~•~
"Spending Christmas at your mother's house?" Addison asked nervously. They had only been dating for a month and she hadn't met his family yet.
"Yes, they will love to meet you. Mom is eager to see you."
"But isn't Christmas one of those ridiculous family celebrations? I'm not really into Christmas things and..."
"What do you mean? You don't like Christmas? Are you Jewish or something?"
"No, it's not that. It's just... in my house, we don't usually celebrate those kinds of events. I mean, we do... but it's just another day. We don't give it the importance that most Americans do... besides, I'm not even part of your family. It would be awkward."
"Of course, you're part of my family."
"We've only been dating for a month! It's not like we're getting married or anything."
"But I will marry you," he said, taking her by the waist and pulling her close.
"Oh, really? What makes you so sure?"
"I've never been sure of anything in this life, except that you will be my wife. Come, spend Christmas with us."
"Okay."
"You'll be a Shepherd."
~•~
"Addison Shepherd," she said, reading his bracelet, "Why the hell did they put Shepherd on it?"
"You were happy to take my last name..."
"I don't understand how I could have married you. Why did I do this?" she said, crying as she squeezed his hand.
"Because you love me... now you may not think so, but you love me. And you're very happy because, in a few hours, we will have our baby here. We will be able to see her face, feel her hands, caress her hair, her rosy cheeks, her..."
"Call a damn nurse and tell them that their damn boss says to come and give me the epidural or I'll kill them all!" she shouted as she felt another contraction.
"Addison... please. Calm down. Come, why don't you sit on the ball? It will help to dilate faster."
"Why don't you go to hell, Derek? Why don't you sink into the sea or fall into a well?"
He looked at her, perplexed. Satan was taking over her body, and he would be his next victim. She didn't even seem surprised by what she had just said; she was too focused on controlling her breathing.
"In the only class we went to, I heard that if you sit on the ball, and I press the lower back area with two of my fingers, I can relieve the pressure. Let's try it."
Addison was still upset, but she did what he told her. She sat with her legs open on the ball and he stood behind her, wrapping his arms around her and putting pressure on the lower part of her waist.
"Ohh... keep going... oh... there..." she exclaimed, squeezing her eyes shut. She had felt relief for the first time that night.
"Addison, please, don't make those noises..."
"Shut up! The last thing I want right now is to have sex with you. This is how I am after doing it. I hate you, your damn penis, and the privilege you have for being a man. How long did it take you to make a baby, five minutes? I've been pregnant for months!"
"Shhh! Lower your voice, people can hear through the walls. Our colleagues are nearby."
"Derek, everyone knows we had sex, it's not news how babies are made... AAH!"
"Shhhh!"
She laughed and turned to look at him. Even in that state, she enjoyed making him uncomfortable.
"Aren't I sexy in this dress? It's open at the back..."
"You mean the hospital gown?"
"White is my color."
Derek smiled at her and kissed her on the top of her head affectionately. Addison always looked beautiful in whatever she wore.
~•~
August 12, 1994.
From the altar of the church, Derek's heart started to beat uncontrollably when he saw his future wife walking through the door, dressed in white and holding onto her father's arm. Emotion flowed through his whole body. It was the moment he had been waiting for, ever since he was a freshman, he knew he wanted to marry her.
He wished with all his might that time would stop there so he could admire her more. He saw her advancing slowly, and although the church was filled with people, it felt like it was just the two of them. Addison was radiant. She wore a white dress with a long train trailing down the aisle. She had gone to the beauty salon early that morning, and her hair was perfectly styled and adorned with delicate white flowers. She had applied very light makeup, which only enhanced her natural beauty.
Derek was wearing his best suit, his best smile, and his best heart, prepared to make that day unforgettable. He looked at her and couldn't stop thinking about how he had gotten to this point. How many times he had dreamed of this moment, what it would be like to see her in a wedding dress, what it would be like to say "I do" in front of all their friends and loved ones. And now that the moment had arrived, he couldn't believe how happy it made him.
She couldn't help but smile shyly as she walked towards him, and he knew everything was okay. With her father by her side, she walked to him as if it were the easiest decision she had ever made in her life.
And for him, it was too. He had never had any doubts that she was the one. Despite his mother's criticisms, her parents and brother, or anyone who tried to convince him otherwise, they both knew they were meant for each other. It didn't require a religious event or a grand ceremony to confirm it, because when they looked into each other's eyes, they knew their souls were already connected, perhaps from time immemorial. They had a pact, an endless story. Something difficult to comprehend for the human mind.
Addison reached his side, and her father handed her over to Derek. He thanked him with his eyes and took her, and it was as if their love seeped through his hands.
The rest of the day was a mix of emotions, laughter, hugs, dancing, and happiness. It was the most incredible day of their lives. Until now...
~•~
"Take my hand, Addie," Derek said as he ran a sweaty strand of hair away from her face and tucked it behind her ear.
Sophia had checked on her a few minutes ago. The dilation had progressed to 7 centimeters and she had administered a low dose of epidural since she was close to fully dilated and needed to feel the contractions during delivery. At first, the anesthesia took a while to take effect, but then it relaxed her.
She knew there were still a few hours before the baby would crown, but now they could wait more calmly.
Addison took his hand, and even though she didn't feel as much pain, she continued to cry softly. Derek's heart broke seeing how much it hurt to bring such a special being into the world.
"Don't you want to sleep for a bit? It's only 5:30 in the morning..."
She nodded and made room for Derek in the bed to lie down next to her. Once they were both in bed, Addison rested her head on his chest and managed to get a few hours of rest. It had been a very hectic night and her body was really tired.
~•~
"Do you imagine what our children will be like?" Addison asked with her head resting on Derek's chest. They were both naked, lying on the bed of a hotel in Paris, it was their honeymoon.
"They will be a little girl with red hair like you and a mischievous boy with black curls and freckles."
"Will they be our mini versions?" she laughed.
"Of course, every good couple has mini doubles," he said while gently caressing her back.
"I hope they inherit your kindness... your eyes... your smile," Addison said, kissing his lips for the twenty-third time that day.
"And I hope they get your sweetness, your generosity, your kindness, your intelligence... your elegance and power of seduction," he looked at her provocatively.
"Oh, our babies will be perfect then."
"We could go back to New York with one of them on the way..."
"Der, no... I'm not ready yet. We just started our residency. Have you seen how Sam and Naomi are? I couldn't do it. I'm not ready for my life to change forever now."
"I know... And in 3 or 4 years?"
"I don't know, maybe," she smiled and kissed him again.
~•~
Derek stroked Addison's hair as she slept. There was peace and tranquility for the first time in the day in that room. But he knew that soon that peace would dissolve. He knew that in a matter of hours, both of their lives would change forever.
He had already heard stories from other parents saying that childbirth was decisive before and after in their lives. But at this moment he wondered... how?
How would it be? What would the baby be like? Would she resemble him or Addison? What would her personality be like? Would she like to dance? Or maybe prefer to play sports? Hockey? Handball? Or would she go for something artistic? Would she play an instrument or draw? Would she like fries or ice cream? What will her voice be like? What will her first cry be like?
They were literally hours, and minutes away from hearing her for the first time. How can they love someone they've never met so much?
Addison opened her eyes and looked at him with a confused expression.
"What's wrong?" Derek asked.
"What time is it? Did you call your mother?"
"Yes, she's already on her way to Seattle. Liz is coming with her."
~•~
"In three years you will turn 40 years old and you don't have children!" Carolyn said. They were at a family gathering at their house, celebrating the birthday of one of Nancy's children.
"We don't have time for children right now, mom. We are very busy with work."
"That's no excuse, Derek. I had five kids and never stopped working. There's always room for them. You're being selfish."
"Why selfish?" Derek laughed.
"If Addison were to get pregnant right now, in around nine months, when the baby arrives, she will already be 36 years old. We all know that the risks in pregnancy increase progressively from the age of 35."
"She's healthy, I don't understand why she would have a risky pregnancy."
"Derek, my pregnancy with Amelia was at 37 years old, it was much riskier than yours or your sisters'."
"It was a different time, there weren't as many medical advances. Nowadays, motherhood has been postponed. It used to be very common to start having children at 20 years old. Now, there are other priorities. Women seek to develop their professional careers, study, travel, and grow. And only then, be mothers," said Addison, already getting annoyed by her mother-in-law's intrusive remarks. As if she had ever made any comments about her motherhood.
"Dear, that's exactly why you are being remarkably selfish with those decisions. You prioritize your careers, but what about the baby's life? You are already ruining the quality of life!"
"I don't understand, there is no baby. We are not affecting a baby's life if it doesn't exist," Addison laughed sarcastically.
"If you have a baby now when they turn 10, you will be about to turn 50. When they are only 18, they will have two almost 60-year-old parents."
"It's worse to have parents who are 16 years old and haven't even finished high school," said Addison, tired of the conversation.
"You have a biological clock, dear. And every day a grain of sand falls and you know you won't be able to get it back. You won't be fertile forever."
"Mom, I think that's enough. The day we have a baby will be because we both want to. Not because you or other people demand it from us."
"But I have a right to be a grandmother."
"You are already a grandmother! Fourteen grandchildren made you a grandmother!"
"I mean a grandchild from your side, Derek. You deprive me of that right."
"And you deprive me of the right to choose not to be a father!" Derek shouted.
"Will you not be parents?"
~•~
"We are going to be parents," said Addison, taking a sip of ice water that Derek had passed her.
"You have said that countless times, yet I still can't believe it's happening. That it will happen today."
"Me neither... you know, I thought I would never be a mother."
"I thought the same."
"I know it doesn't make sense to ask ourselves this now, but... why did we postpone it so much, Derek? What were we waiting for?"
"I don't know."
"If you could go back in time, and change something in your life. What would you change?"
"I would be lying if I said there's nothing I want to change because that's not true but... I feel like any small decision I change would have a butterfly effect creating a totally different universe than what we have today. And I don't want to risk losing what we have. So... I guess despite the mistakes and successes we had, I wouldn't change anything. I feel like they were necessary to help us grow as a couple and if the baby came now, it's because it had to be this way. Don't you think? Or would you change something?"
Addison remained silent for a moment, not because she was thinking about what Derek had just said.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"I feel like pushing. I think... I think I feel the head or something pushing."
"Addie..." he began to get nervous again.
"Call Sophia."
~•~
"Derek!" Amelia said as soon as she saw him come out of the room.
"Amy, not now."
"How's everything going? How's Addie?"
"I have to find her obstetrician right now, she thinks she's already in the pushing stage."
"Go back to her, I'll call her."
"Would you do that?"
"Yes, don't leave her alone."
"Thank you, Amy. Uhm, mom is on her way..."
"I figured... don't worry, I can handle that."
"Okay, I'll go back to Addison. Sophia Michells is the obstetrician."
"Understood."
"Thank you."
~•~
"Addison, you've dilated to 10 centimeters," Sophia said once she finished examining her.
"I need to push," she said with a distressed voice.
"Okay, due to the low dose of epidural I've given you, you'll be able to feel the contractions. When you feel one coming, you'll push."
She nodded.
"Okay, shall we begin?"
~•~
"Mom?" asked Amelia, answering her cell phone.
"Amy, we're at the New York airport. The nearest flight we found is in half an hour."
"Okay... so you'll be here at... 3 pm?" she said, looking at her wristwatch.
"I think so. How's everything? Has the baby been born?"
"No, well... I don't know. Derek hasn't come out to say anything yet."
"I'm with Liz, your other sisters might come tomorrow."
"Okay."
"Do you know if Addison's parents are coming?"
"I don't think she told them."
"And won't you tell them?"
"I don't know, Mom. It's not up to me or you. She will tell them."
"I wouldn't be surprised if they don't come to the birth of their only granddaughter."
"Maybe they don't want to come because they know the mother is stressed and tired, and the last thing she needs is the interfering grandparents bothering her, right?"
"How rude you are, Amelia."
"Okay, listen, I'll have to hang up. From what Derek told me half an hour ago, Addison is already in the final phase. Send me a message if you want me to pick you up from the airport. Goodbye."
~•~
Addison had been pushing for about 20 minutes, and the baby's head still hasn't come out. Derek was sitting by her side, holding her hand tightly and giving her words of support, while Sophia asked her to calm down and try to breathe. She was starting to get distressed as it was taking so long.
"What if she's tangled in the umbilical cord? Or if she's facing the wrong way?" Addison asked, distressed.
"In the last ultrasound, there was nothing like that, she's fine. Keep pushing. Take a deep breath when you feel the next contraction, and push slowly until there's no more air left."
"I can't do it!" exclaimed Addison through tears.
"Of course, you can come on. She's almost here," said Sophia.
"I can't! She won't come out!" she continued crying.
"Addie, you can do it," said Derek, wiping his forehead with a damp cloth.
"I can't! Maybe I wasn't made for this, maybe I won't be a good mother. When did I think I could handle this? It's not in my DNA to be a good mother!"
She cried and shook her head. Derek sighed and let go of her hand. He put one of his legs behind her on the bed and sat behind her, surrounding her with his body and making her feel more secure. She leaned against him.
"I'm here, you're not alone," he said, kissing her neck. "You're a strong and brave woman. You can definitely do this. She hasn't been born yet, and you're already the best mother our daughter could have. You've done many things that not just anyone could do. You've carried her with you for nine months inside you. You've been her home, her protection, her safe place all this time. You've created each of her tissues, organs, bones, blood vessels... you've made a human being all by yourself. Isn't that amazing? Now it's just a matter of giving one more little push to get her out of there. She's dying to meet her mom. She wants to know who the wonderful woman who gave her life is," he spoke gently while kissing her cheek and taking her hands again.
Sophia smiled at the scene between the two of them. The couple's support was crucial at that moment.
"Come on, Addie, let's have a baby."
"You're pregnant...," he said with a thread of voice, still impressed by the image of her standing in front of him.
"Wow, I guess you know how to play hide and seek," she said ironically as she turned around and walked into the room.
"Push, Addison!" exclaimed Sophia.
Addison gathered strength from where she didn't know she had and made her greatest effort to bring the baby out of her body.
"God, thinking about it gives me goosebumps. Addison, we made a baby. We created a person. A person who will be half you and half me."
"Almost there, one more push!"
"Come on, my love."
"Maybe it's twins. What am I going to do if I have two babies kicking my ribs?"
"Well, it would be a double joy."
"Joy for you because you won't have them inside. My God...what am I going to do with two children?" She covered her face with both hands, worried.
"Addison..." he couldn't help but laugh.
She turned angrily to look at him.
"I hate you."
"Of course you don't."
"The head is coming out, keep going, Addison!"
"Tell an oriental legend that there is a red thread that connects people who are destined to be together. This thread can stretch, tangle, and wear out, but never break. Because as long as there is a thread, any little rupture that may occur will be repaired. Oh Addie, don't cry.
"I can't help it, I'm so emotional and you're being so loving like I never thought you'd be again," she said as she wiped her tears with her hands.
"Just a little more!"
"It hurts!"
"Addie, just a little more."
"Derek!'' She quickly took his hand and placed it on her belly. "The baby moved!"
"It moved?" he asked with a hopeful smile on his face.
"Yes! It's the first time I've felt it."
"I can't feel it."
"Come on, baby, move again," she said, gently pressing her belly over and over. "Move for dad, Baby Shep..."
"Oh no. If you call it that, it'll never move again, Derek."
"Addison, I need one last strong push, she's practically out!"
"AAAAAAAHHHH!"
"It's a girl!"
"What?" a nervous smile began to form on his face.
"It's a girl. Der, we have a girl," she smiled, wiping her tears with her hand.
"My God, you've made me the happiest man in the world, Addison," he hugged her tightly, unable to contain his excitement. They both cried with happiness.
Addison made her last effort, and after a few seconds, a shrill and loud voice echoed in all the walls of the room, announcing to all present that the baby had been born.
Sophia took her in her arms and quickly placed her on Addison. She hugged her, unable to believe what had just happened. Derek was still in shock at seeing that little pink and slippery ball scream and take hold of their hearts.
"Addie, she's beautiful!" Derek said with a broken voice from the emotion.
Addison simply nodded and continued crying as she held her little one. Throughout her professional life, she has witnessed hundreds of births per year. She had held all kinds of babies with her own hands, and for that reason, one might think that she wouldn't be so surprised to see her own. However, that wasn't the case.
Seeing her newborn daughter cry so strongly on her chest was like seeing a baby for the first time. She could swear that her daughter was special. It was a feeling that she could never put into words because none came close to describing that moment. It was all so indefinable.
Her heart was filled with joy along with Derek's, who couldn't stop wiping the tears streaming down his cheeks with his cap. He was so happy, so proud of Addison and their baby. They had experienced many exciting moments together, but the birth of their daughter was by far the best experience they had. They couldn't have imagined it to be so magical in a thousand dreams.
"What's the baby's name?" asked one of the nurses in charge of recording the birth data.
"Her name is Olive," Derek replied with a proud smile on his face.
"Olive?" Addison looked surprised.
"She looks like an Olive, you were right," he said, kissing her with excitement.
Addison broke down in tears again at this gesture Derek had made for her. She knew that this name was the one she wanted, and he had given up the other just to see her happy.
~•~
Derek cut the umbilical cord three minutes after the birth. Addison had requested an hour of skin-to-skin contact with the baby, and the doctors in the room respected her decision. Olive easily latched onto her breast and soon fell asleep in her mother's arms.
After that hour, nurses took her for routine check-ups. They measured her body temperature, her breathing, and her pulse, weighed her, then bathed and dressed her. Everything was perfect with her.
"I can't believe how beautiful she is," said Addison, caressing one of Olive's pink cheeks. They were mesmerized by her.
"She looks like you," whispered Derek.
"Really? I think she has your mouth..."
"Maybe, but they're your eyes, your nose..."
"They're your eyebrows... and your chin..."
"I think she's a redhead."
"Do you think so? She doesn't have much hair."
"Yes, she's definitely a redhead. In the light, her eyelashes look coppery. Just like yours."
Olive furrowed her brows and made a small whimper. She was waking up again.
"Hey, we're saying how beautiful you are, you don't have to cry," said Addison sweetly as she adjusted Olive's hat.
She slowly opened her eyes and looked confused at her parents. Why were those two giants staring at her so much?
"Yes, they're your eyes, Addie," Derek confirmed.
"The color isn't definitive yet..."
"But the shape, they're big and almond-shaped, like yours."
Olive started to cry.
"Dad, stop looking for similarities in me, can't you see that I'm unique?" said Addison in a childish voice.
"Yes, you're unique, my love," he smiled, kissing her little head. She cried even louder.
"I think she's hungry... or she hates you."
"Maybe she inherited that from you."
Addison laughed as she placed Olive on her breast, quickly calming her down.
"It's so much more than I could have ever imagined. If you told Derek from the past, that boy just out of high school who had fallen in love at first sight with his lab partner, that he was going to end up marrying her and having the most beautiful baby in the world, he would never have believed you."
"So much crazy stuff happened in these years... I wouldn't have imagined ending up like this either."
"Life surprised us and blessed us in the best way. I feel so fortunate to have you both. Thank you for this, Addie. Thank you for giving me a movie-worthy love and for giving me the most perfect baby in the world."
She smiled sweetly. Her excited gaze said more than a thousand words. Derek knew she felt the same way. She was still very tired, but joy overflowed from her body.
"I love you."
"I love you too, Der."
"Addie..."
"Hmm?" she asked as she watched Olive fall asleep again.
"We're parents," he said, showing her the identification paper in their daughter's crib.
"Montgomery Shepherd, Olive Kara
January 22, 2007, 09:15 a.m.
7,804 pounds – 20.08 inches."