Despite Addison's opposition, Derek started working that Monday. Overnight, he became Chief Shepherd, and everyone at the hospital was baffled. Richard's sudden departure had taken them by surprise and left them a bit confused, but they had full confidence in Derek leading the hospital. He had always been one of the most respected and experienced doctors in the world of medicine.

Carolyn and Nancy had found out the night before, after Amelia told them. Nancy, as always, was on Addison's side, knowing from her great experience as a mother of five that the father's presence in the early months was crucial.

But Carolyn, on the contrary, was happy for her son. She was super proud that for the first time one of her children had reached such a position.

After Derek and Amelia left early to take Olive to kindergarten and then stay at the hospital, Addison, Nancy, and Carolyn stayed at home having breakfast. They were all sitting at the dining table.

Addison was not in a good mood. She was tired, sleepy, sore from the recent childbirth and breastfeeding. She was very angry with her husband who, despite having argued the night before, got up as if nothing had happened and went to the hospital. Pretending that everything was fine when it was not, he didn't seem to show any remorse for betraying Richard or leaving his wife.

Nancy could sense Addison's discomfort and had chosen to stay quiet and help serve breakfast, but Carolyn could not miss the opportunity to talk about her son.

"I'm so proud of Derek. I always knew he would go far in life. He has charisma, intelligence and skill. Leadership runs in his veins. I'm sure he will lead that hospital to be one of the best in the country again. Derek knows how to be number one."

"Bravo," said Addison sarcastically.

"Addison, I know you're into the feminist movement and all that, but if you really want to empower yourself, you should stop complaining about this and be grateful that your husband's not leaving you. Or worse, dying. You should be grateful for the position he has and not be complaining about nonsense."

"Excuse me? Is this really what I'm hearing?"

"Mom, please," said Nancy, knowing what was coming.

"I was able to raise five children practically alone. When Christopher died, Amelia was Olive's age. And I didn't have all the resources you have. I didn't have a trust fund or a house with all the luxuries, or the best job."

"I'm sorry for what happened, Carolyn. But, honestly and without any intention of offending you, what you're proposing is bullshit. What I want is for Derek to be equally or at least similarly involved in raising the girls."

"And I don't want to be rude or offend you, but you knew what you were getting into when you got pregnant."

"Mom, this is too much," said Nancy.

"Excuse me? Am I now to blame for getting pregnant?"

"What I mean is that Derek will take care of it, but there are things that only you can do. You can't expect him to experience pregnancy or feed the baby, because it's physically impossible. So, whether you like it or not, you will never be equal. And that's why you can't punish him."

Addison sarcastically laughed. She couldn't believe she had to listen to that.

"You're behaving like an envious person who can't recognize other people's success. Instead of being like this, you should be happy for what Derek achieved."

"Derek didn't achieve anything. Derek reported a colleague and a long-time friend of ours to take his position. Should I celebrate that? Are those the values that you instilled in him? When a friend is in trouble, do you just remove him from your path and take his place?"

Carolyn fell silent. She didn't know that part of the story.

~•~

"So you did it. Congratulations, Chief," Meredith said sarcastically, entering his office.

"Meredith..."

"How could you betray Richard like that? I warned you for you to help him, not to sink him!"

"I told you, it's for the best for the hospital."

"For the hospital or for you? What about your daughters? What does Addison think about this?"

"That's none of your business."

"Oh, she's mad at you."

"Of course not. She's happy in her own way."

"That says it all. She hates you. You're a selfish and greedy man."

"No, she would never hate me. She's happy. We're happy and living our best life. If you'll excuse me, I have to give my welcome speech, you're taking away the little time I have left."

"You could make a little more effort to lie," she said, turning around and angrily leaving the room.

~•~

"Daddy!" exclaimed Olive as soon as she saw him come home from work.

"Hey, Ols!" he took her in his arms and lifted her off the ground. "How was your day?"

"We went to the lake with Aunt Nancy and Grandma!"

"Oh yeah? And how was it?"

"I showed them the fish! And the rocks! And all the trees!"

"You're an expert at that, honey. Where's Mom?"

"She's with Arley. She's mad. Why's she mad?"

"She's not mad, she's just tired..."

"Can we play with the dolls?"

"Not right now, Ols. It's time for dinner. Your grandma is preparing something, right?"

"Yes, she's making turkey and pumpkin mash."

"And you're not helping her?"

"No, because it's already in the oven."

"Well, go see if she needs anything. I need to talk to your mother, okay?"

"And then you'll come play with me?"

"I don't know, honey. I'm tired and you need to take a bath."

"Can we play in the bathtub?"

"Not today, Olive."

"I can play in the bathtub with you, Ollie," Nancy said, appearing in the living room and nodding at Derek.

"Yes!" the little girl jumped.

"Thank you, Nance."

"You're welcome... Shall we go, sweetheart?"

"I have hundreds of water toys that I haven't shown you yet!" the girl said.

"I can't wait to see them."

Nancy took her niece to the bathroom and Derek went to the master bedroom, where Addison was holding Arleth.

He entered slowly, with the same face Olive made when she was scolded for mischief. She ignored him, busy watching the baby rest.

"Hi, Addie," he said approaching her to see Arleth.

"Hi."

"How are you? How was your day?"

"Do you actually care? Or do you just want me to answer so you can ask me how your first day as the Chief Shepherd was? Because I'll tell you what, I'm not interested in how it went."

Derek sighed. Addison was just as upset as the day before.

"How was Arley?"

"Oh, she's miraculously alive, considering she has the most incompetent and selfish mother in the world who can't be happy for someone else's success," referring to her earlier argument with her mother-in-law.

"What are you talking about?"

"Forget it."

"How's the baby?"

"Sleeping, don't you see?"

"Yes, I see. I meant how she was during the day. Did she eat well? How many feedings?"

"Do you want me to send you a daily report, Chief? Will you analyze my numbers?"

"Can you stop it, Addison? I'm asking because I genuinely care about her!"

"Oh, do you care about her? Since when? Since you traded her for a stupid job three days after she was born?"

"I can't talk to you."

"Since when do you want to talk to me? You make important decisions without talking to me."

"I won't continue this. My mother is making dinner and Nancy is bathing Olive, in case you're interested to know."

"Things you should be doing, not them. Fulfill your role as a father, does that term sound familiar to you?"

"If you need me, I'll be downstairs."

Derek left the room and Addison exhaled, annoyed.

~•~

On Friday at noon, Arleth had her first appointment with her pediatrician, as she had turned one week old and was due for a check-up. Her parents had chosen to go with Arizona, who not only knew her and was friends with them, but also was the best in her field. And she accepted with all the enthusiasm in the world to attend to the little one.

Besides meeting with them often and working together, they were practically family. Addison and Derek were Sofia's godparents, the eight-month-old baby they had with Callie and Mark.

"Here I am, here I am," said Derek, entering the office in a rush. Arizona was already examining Arleth on the examination table.

"Oh, Derek. You arrive just in time, let's see how this little one is doing," Arizona smiled.

Addison was silent, upset. She hadn't even turned around to look at him. During that week, they had been talking very little.

"Well, her lungs are functioning wonderfully, and her heartbeat is strong and steady," said Arizona, removing the stethoscope.

"It's no surprise that she has strong lungs, when she's angry she lets us know," said Derek, trying to be funny. His wife didn't find it amusing at all.

"Let's weigh her... here I have it recorded that she was born at 7 pounds, 54 ounces..."

"That's right..." said Addison nervously. She was afraid of hearing the worst.

"Today she weighs... 6 pounds, 8 ounces. She has lost 11.84 ounces in a week. Don't worry, it's normal for this to happen."

"I know..."

"Babies are born with accumulated fluid inside them. They eliminate this fluid in the first few days through urine or sweat. It's also estimated that they have at least 3.2 ounces of meconium inside their intestines at birth, which they also expel in the first few days."

"Yes, that part was my job," said Derek, forcing a smile. Addison just rolled her eyes upwards, she had changed many more diapers in that week than he had.

"While it's normal for them to lose weight, Arley has lost 10%, and that's a little... worrisome. I won't say it's serious or alarming yet, because I don't want to start thinking about possible complications too soon. But we'll take it slow, how is she eating?"

"I feel like she's not latching on properly. She gets tired of sucking and falls asleep," Addison replied.

"Alright. It's not uncommon for this to happen in some newborns. What we're going to do is help her with a syringe."

"Syringe?" Derek asked, frowning. They had never done that with Olive.

"The syringe-finger method is ideal for training the baby's latch," Arizona began to explain, "it allows the baby to place the tongue in a position quite similar to the one they would make when latching onto the breast. It allows the milk to be administered as the baby sucks, ensuring that she will take the milk she needs. It's also ideal for very sleepy babies, like Arley, as they don't need to be awake to suck."

"Okay, we give her milk with a syringe... " said Derek.

"Not just with the syringe, it's important for you to have your pinky finger in her mouth. Since the finger resembles the nipple and allows the baby to know to swallow the milk. Without the finger in the mouth, it's easier for her to choke or not know how to suck."

"I know the technique," Addison said before Arizona continued explaining.

"Does the mother have to do this alone?" Derek asked.

"No, anyone can do it. This won't confuse the baby or make her reject the breast later. All it will do is help her to suck. We will try this for a week, and if it doesn't work, we will opt for a bottle."

"Okay."

"After that, everything else is fine. Her vision, hearing, and reflexes are normal. There are no longer any signs of jaundice in her, and her organs are functioning properly. She's a healthy baby, we just need to make sure she gains more weight for next week."

"She will, thank you, Arizona," said Addison as she began to dress Arleth.

"You're welcome, I'll say it again, she's a beauty, just like her sister."

"Thank you," they both responded in unison.

~•~

"Are you going home now?" Derek asked.

"Yes."

"Don't you want to stay for a while? I'll be leaving for lunch in less than two hours, you could wait in my office and..."

"I'm not going to leave a newborn baby exposed to hospital viruses just because you're leaving later."

"You can go to my office."

"Do you mean Richard's office?"

"It's my office now."

"Until he comes back. Remember, this is not about you, it's about Richard."

"Will you stay or not?"

"No. I have to go buy a breast pump and some syringes. That's how exciting a dairy cow's life is."

"Addie, don't start again."

"I'm not starting anything, I'm taking care of the baby and her feeding. Because I can't even do that right."

"You know this is not your fault."

"Whatever."

"And Olive? Are you going to pick her up?"

"Your mother will. By the way, my dear, I would like her to leave now."

"Why?"

"Because she never liked me and every chance she gets, she lets me know."

"My mother loves you."

"Stop lying, Derek! We all know it's not true. She tolerates me because I'm your wife, but she is far from loving me. Please tell her to go back to New York because if I hear any more suggestions or comments about my motherhood, I won't control my words and I won't care if I sound rude."

"They'll leave tomorrow. They have Julie's party on Sunday."

"That's good."

"I have to go back. I'll see you at home."

"Well, I won't be anywhere else."

"I love you," he said, kissing her cheek.

"Sure."

~•~

"Mommy!" Olive said excitedly when she arrived home from the kindergarten.

"Hi, honey. How was your day today?"

"We made oat and banana muffins!"

"Really? How delicious!"

"I brought one for you," she said, opening her small backpack and pulling out a squished muffin wrapped in a paper napkin.

"Oh... thank you, my love. I'll eat it later."

"Mommy, can I go to New York with Grandma?"

"No, Ollie. Why are you asking me this?"

"Because I wanna go to Julie's birthday. And Dad said I can't travel alone."

"Dad is right."

"But I'm not going alone! I'm going with Grandma."

"You can't, love. You can only travel with Mom and Dad."

"But Morgan and Valerie traveled with Grandma once. And Erick too. And Stephanie."

"But they are older than you, you are little."

"I'm not little. I'm almost six!"

"When you turn ten, you can travel with Grandma."

"But that's a long time! I'll miss the party!"

"Ollie, you'll see your cousins next mon-..." she suddenly went silent. She didn't know if they would travel to New York for Halloween, they had decided that before Derek became chief.

"But that's a long time!"

"Well, you have to be patient. It can't happen now."

"It's not fair!"

"Come, why don't you tell me more about the muffins? Did you like them?"

"No."

"They look very delicious."

"No."

"Ollie..."

"I wanted to go, Mommy," she said, crying.

"When your father comes, talk to him about it," she said, getting up from the couch. She wasn't very patient that day.

~•~

Derek returned home late. A conflict between the relatives of a patient and the residents had caused him to be delayed longer than expected. On his way home, he passed by a florist and bought some yellow daffodils, knowing that Addison loved them. He was aware that this wouldn't make her any less angry, but perhaps it could ease the fury.

Upon entering the house, he found his three girls asleep on the living room sofa. Olive had her head resting on Addison's legs, holding a small bag with a muffin inside, and Arley was curled up on her mother's chest.

His heart squeezed at the sight of the three people he loved most in his life sleeping so peacefully. He put the daffodils in a vase with water, hung his coat and briefcase on the rack, and approached them gently.

"Do you want me to take her to her bed?" he whispered in Addison's ear, who had woken up feeling him close.

"She fell asleep waiting for you," she said, yawning.

Derek felt a pang of guilt in his chest. His daughter had fallen asleep waiting for him and couldn't see him.

"Oh... I..."

"Don't say anything. In moments like this, I prefer that you don't say anything."

Derek nodded and carefully picked up Olive to take her to her room. The girl was so tired that she didn't even notice when he put her in her bed. He kissed her forehead and returned to Addison, who was still asleep on the sofa.

"And my mother and Nancy?"

"They're in their room, I suppose they're sleeping. Amelia hasn't returned yet."

"I know, she had complications with a patient. She probably won't be home tonight."

"Mm-hmm..."

"How are you? Have you had dinner already?"

"We had dinner a while ago, Derek."

"And Arley? Did you try the syringe method?"

"Not yet. This afternoon, I pumped out a little milk but didn't give it to her. I wanted to do it in a little while when she wakes up."

"I'll do it."

"Really?"

"Yes, Arizona sent me an article with the steps well explained. I know how to do it."

"Oh... alright."

"I want this to work, Addie. I know you don't believe me and that I arrived home overly late from work today, but... it's not something that never happened in the past, right? We've always had complicated patients, surgeries, and complex post-operative recoveries that require us to spend more time in the hospital. Whether as a chief or a simple doctor, it's something that happens and will continue to happen."

"I know."

"With this I'm telling you... it's not that I'm informing you that I'm going to be late from now on, not at all, it's just that... it will happen. And I don't want this to bother you because..."

"I understand, Derek."

"Really?"

"Yes. I know what it's like to be a doctor. My job actually requires me to be on call 24/7... it's just that... I thought that this time, you were going to put your family first."

"But my family comes first."

"Today, Olive came up with the idea, which I don't know where she got it from and I don't want to know either, to go to New York with your mother tomorrow."

"Oh, for Julie's birthday."

"Is it really for Julie's birthday or because she doesn't want to be with us?"

"Why do you say that, Addie?"

"Because in just one week, the baby was born and you became the chief of surgery. We've spent less time with our daughter, and it might be troubling her to the point of wanting to leave."

"I don't think that's the case, Addie. She's just a child. She just wants to go and play with her cousins. I'll talk to her."

"I don't want her to feel excluded under any circumstances. And I'm afraid of not being able to achieve that, the baby is very demanding."

"We'll find a way to make it all work. For Olive to feel good and for Arleth too. I promise you," he said, slowly approaching her face until their noses touched.

"Can I trust you?" she murmured with a slight voice.

"Of course you can," he took her lips gently in his, in a warm kiss.

Arleth began to complain; she had woken up and was about to start crying. Derek laughed and moved away from Addison.

"They always interrupt at the best part," he said, kissing her little head.

"She must be hungry already, take the milk out of the fridge and heat it by submerging the container in a pot of hot water until it reaches room temperature."

Derek nodded and did as Addison instructed. In the meantime, she had gone to get a syringe.

After a few minutes, with his hands thoroughly washed and the milk at room temperature, Derek approached her.

"Do you hold her while I do it?" he said after filling the syringe. Addison nodded.

"Remember that your finger should touch the roof of her mouth. Once you feel her tongue move, it means she's suctioning, and you should start introducing the milk little by little."

"Got it."

Derek gently inserted his pinky finger into the baby's mouth, and once he made sure she was sucking, he introduced the syringe. Arleth slowly took everything, and both sighed in relief. It was a relief to know that she was eating better and would soon learn to suck properly.

After a short time of eating, she fell asleep again in her mother's arms. Derek kissed her on her head and after washing and tidying everything up, they both went to bed in their room. It was already eleven in the evening, and everyone was tired, and as everyone always said, they had to take advantage of sleeping while the baby slept.