"How do I look?" Derek asked as he looked at himself in the mirror in his room. Addison was awake, breastfeeding the baby.

"You look fine, I told you that you look good."

"Should I wear this shirt or should I change it for a white one?"

"I like the blue one more, it matches your eyes."

"Really?"

"It makes you look sexier..."

"Oh, Addie. I don't want to look sexy in front of Dr. Harper Avery."

"Are you nervous?"

"I'm the chief, I can't be nervous."

"You're nervous," she said laughing.

"The guy is a medical legend and he will be operated on in my hospital. Yes, of course, I'm nervous."

"Relax, everything will be fine."

"Today is Richard's reinstatement."

"Really? Was he discharged?"

"It looks like it... well, I'll go wake up Olive before it gets late. Is everything okay with Arley?"

"Yes, she's happy with her breast," she smiled as she looked at her, enjoying wrapping Addison's finger with her hand while she ate.

"She has grown so much," Derek said as he approached her.

"She's still small... isn't that right, my baby? I'm little, Daddy."

Derek smiled tenderly and kissed his wife's forehead, saying goodbye to her.

~•~

"Why do I feel like you're hiding something, Amelia?" asked Addison as she cradled Arleth in her arms. It was morning and her sister-in-law hadn't gone to the hospital that day.

"Why do you say that?"

"I don't know, it's been a while since we talked. Where have you been?"

"I'm always here."

"Are you? Because I go back and forth in my house during the day and night, and I haven't seen you in a long time."

"I've had a streak of complex surgeries. Now that Derek is in charge, he's delegated his tasks to me. Hasn't he told you about me becoming the head of neuro?"

"Oh, so you want to be a head too..."

"You're the head of two departments, he's the head of surgery. Why couldn't I be one too? Or do you prefer Nelson to be the head? We all know he's not as good as me and..."

"Where do you sleep?" she asked, returning to the previous topic, knowing that Amelia was trying to avoid it.

"At the hospital, I do shifts..."

"Oh, shifts. Have you been doing shifts for two months?"

"Sometimes I sleep with Ryan. Okay? Is that what you wanted to hear? Did Derek say anything to you?"

"What should Derek have told me?"

"Nothing. Forget it. I sleep at his place sometimes. Actually, quite often, because we have a lot of hot sex. Do you and Derek know what that is? Maybe you need it to fill your time and stop meddling in my life."

"Are you officially moving in with him?"

"What? No."

"And when will we meet him? Don't you plan on bringing him to dinner someday?"

"I don't know, Addie. We've been together for a few months. I think it's too soon for that, I wouldn't want to confuse Olive..."

"As far as I know, Olive knows about him. You told her."

Amelia sighed nervously. She didn't know what her niece had told Addison, but she couldn't introduce Ryan to them. They wouldn't approve. God, she didn't even fully approve of him herself. What would Derek say as soon as he saw him and found out the guy couldn't stay sober for even 6 hours?

"Addison, you should talk to your daughter."

"What's wrong with her?"

"I'm just saying you should pay more attention to what she does and feels. Take care of her and not me, I'm old enough to take care of myself."

"What's wrong with Olive?" she repeated.

"Talk to her and see if punishments are the way to educate a child..."

"What?"

"Look at the emotional and psychological damage you are causing your daughter daily. Olive feels unloved."

Amelia took an apple from a basket in the kitchen and left, leaving Addison even more confused than before.

~•~

"I get it, you're upset. But if you intend to forget about Lexie and Alex, you shouldn't be doing this. Screwing drug reps is not gonna make you feel better," Derek said seriously to Mark in his office.

"Yeah, it is."

"No screwing drug reps in my hospital. Are we clear?"

"You were much more fun when you weren't the chief, you know that?"

"Get out of here."

Derek's page began to ring and he focused on that. Richard opened the office door at that moment and entered timidly.

"Ah, Doctor Webber! Welcome back," exclaimed Mark.

"Well, thank you, Doctor Sloan," he shook hands and Mark left through the door.

"Richard, how's your first day back?" asked Derek quickly getting up from his chair.

"Oh, well, so far so good. I... had to drop this off," he approached Derek's desk and placed a container of urine on it.

"I'm sorry you have to do this," he pressed his lips and lowered his head.

"Drug testing is part of the rehab program... just… run it under a John Doe, would you?"

"Of course. Whatever you need today, Richard. And I mean that."

"A low stress day. Let's start there... routine surgeries, a light schedule, home by five…"

"Done," he said, reaching out his hand. Richard shook it and turned around, leaving the office.

Derek sat back down at his desk and looked at the container. He would take it to the lab for analysis, and he desperately hoped that Richard was telling the truth.

~•~

Addison had gone to pick up Olive from kindergarten earlier than usual. She wanted to take her out to lunch, something they hadn't done since the baby was born.

"Mommy?" she asked as soon as she saw Addison arrive.

"Hello, Ollie. I came early today so we could go out for lunch."

"We're going out to eat?"

"Yes. Like we used to, don't you want to go?"

"Yes!"

"Alright, let's go," she said as she grabbed Olive's backpack and hung it over her shoulder. She also had Arleth in a baby carrier, sleeping with her head resting on Addison's chest.

"Where are we going?"

"Wherever you want."

"Can we go to McDonald's?"

"Yes, we can."

"But wasn't I grounded?"

"Yes, but I've decided to give you a day off from punishment."

"Why?"

"Do you prefer I cancel the outing? Because I can leave you in the kinder again and..."

"No!"

"Okay, get in the car."

When they arrived, they ordered their food and sat down at a nearby table. Olive ordered a happy meal and was more excited about the toy than the burger.

"Ollie, eat the food first and then you can play as much as you want."

"Can I go to the games after?"

"Yes, but I want you to eat and talk to me first."

"Talk about what?" she asked while biting into her burger.

"How are you?"

"Good. This is delicious!"

"Is it? I'm glad you like it."

"But it's even tastier if I put the fries inside," she said, removing the top of her burger and putting fries between the meat and the bun.

"When I was a little girl, I used to do the same..."

"Were there hamburgers when you were a little girl?"

"Hey, girl. How old do you think I am?" she said, laughing.

"Umm, fifty-nine?"

"That's your dad."

Olive laughed mischievously. Of course, she knew her parents' age and wanted to tease her.

"How do you feel?" Addison asked again.

"Good, Mommy."

"Are you mad at me?"

"No."

"And Dad?"

"No."

"Aren't you angry about the punishments?"

"A little."

"And what makes you angry?"

"When you scold me and scream at me. It scares me."

"I know, it's just that... sometimes you make me very angry, Ollie. And that's the reaction I have at the moment. It's not right for me to yell at you, but it's also not right for you to take your sister out of my bed and carry her alone down the stairs."

"I know."

"Do you understand that I'm not telling you this because I'm mean and enjoy yelling at you? I'm saying this because I'm afraid for her life and yours."

"But I didn't want to hurt her, she was crying!"

"I know, but you should have woken me up."

"But you wouldn't wake up, you were almost dead."

"Olive, don't say that. I was very tired. Arley cries a lot some nights and doesn't let us rest well."

"Yes, I know," she said rolling her eyes.

"And that day I was very exhausted..."

"I wanted to help you! I wanted to make her stop crying, and I did."

"But you shouldn't have taken her downstairs. You shouldn't have carried her. Do you understand that?"

"Mm-hmm," she said taking a sip of her soda.

"Babies are very fragile. Any blow could cause them mortal injuries. When they're as little as Arley, their skull isn't even fully solidified. It's not hard and firm."

"Why?"

"Babies have more bones in their head because they need it to be molded to pass through the birth canal. It's a very narrow space, and a baby's head would get stuck if it were completely rigid, right? Imagine you have a roll of toilet paper a ping pong ball and a ball of Play-Doh, all the same size. Which one do you think would pass through more easily?"

"Um..."

"The ping pong ball is hard and rigid. Almost the same size as the hole in the roll. It would get stuck and not come down. On the other hand, the ball of Play-Doh can be stretched a little to mold to the tube, and it would pass through. Isn't that right?"

"Yeah."

"Well, the same thing happens with the heads of babies. When they're born, their heads are more similar to a ball of Play-Doh than a ping pong ball. And for their head to be that soft and moldable, their bones shouldn't be completely solidified, not joined. As they grow, those bones unite to form the full skull. But that takes some time, at least a year."

"Does Arley have a Play-Doh head?"

"Yes. If we keep using this example, Arley's head isn't fully unified yet. The skull, as Dad taught you, is to protect the brain. It's like a helmet that surrounds and protects it from any blow. And what happens if the parts of the helmet aren't united?"

"It breaks."

"Yes, it breaks. It's easier for the blows to directly affect the brain. And what does the brain do?"

"Controls the body."

"Very good. So if you suffer a blow to the brain, you could have irreparable damage to your whole body. Arley is exposed to these kinds of risks. If you hit your head, it will hurt, you might get a bruise, but it wouldn't be as serious as if she hit her head, right?"

"Yes."

"But be careful, I don't want you to think you can hit your head and nothing will happen to you. The helmet can break at any age. You always have to be very careful with blows to the head."

"Yes, Mom."

"Do you understand why I got mad at you the other day? If your sister slipped from your arms and fell down the stairs, she would hit her head multiple times and it could have been fatal. You're too small to carry her, your little arms can't support her weight."

"Mmm... I actually can."

"But you won't anymore. Is that clear?"

"Yes, I won't do it anymore. But we were just playing!"

"I understand that you didn't have bad intentions, but you can't play like that. You'll see that in the coming months, she will learn to do more things and then you can play, right now she's too little for that."

"But I get bored waiting."

"I know that it seems like an eternity to you, but time passes very quickly. She won't be a baby forever, just like you weren't. She'll grow up and you'll be able to play without putting each other in danger."

"Okay."

"I'll lift your punishment, but I want to be sure that you learned the lesson."

"I did."

"And did you also learn that you can't steal nests you find in the woods? The mother of those eggs was very angry about that. You took her babies, Olive."

"But I was going to take care of them!"

"It's not the same. The birds need their mother to sit on them, to keep them warm. Bird moms sit on their eggs and keep them warm until they hatch. Without that warmth, they'll die. The eggs you stole were under your sister's crib, in the cold."

"Did they die?"

"Yes, Ollie. They died from the cold. And their mother was very angry with us for that."

"I'm sorry... it wasn't my intention!" she said with tears in her eyes.

"I know, sweetie."

"I'm sorry!"

"It's okay. She'll have more babies over time, don't worry about that... but I don't want you to do it again, okay?"

"Okay."

"And about the kindergarten..."

"I understand already, Mom! I won't dig anymore!" she said tired of hearing everything she had done wrong.

"Good. I'm glad to know you learned that lesson too."

"Can I go to the playground now?" she said wiping her tears with the sleeve of her sweater.

"Finish the hamburger first."

"Okay."

"I love you, Ollie..." she smiled with teary eyes.

"I love you too, Mommy."

"I never want you to doubt that, I love you very much. Every cell of my body loves you madly."

"I know."

"You and your sister are the most special things I have in this life. All I want is for you to be happy, surrounded by love and joy. I hate having to be the bad guy sometimes... but I need you to learn how things work and... I'm sorry for the times I made you aware of it in the wrong way. I should never have yelled at you and made you doubt my love for you. I'm really sorry."

"I forgive you."

"Thank you, my love."

~•~

"Are you the same Shepherd who did the clinical trial on the gliomas?" Harper Avery asked Derek.

"Yes, sir," Derek smiled.

"You brought me a neurosurgeon for some abdominal cramps?"

"Oh, no," Bailey said. "Dr. Shepherd is our Chief of Surgery, sir."

"I don't need a cruise director. I need an experienced surgeon. Page Dr. Grey."

"I'm Dr. Grey," Meredith said.

Avery clucked. "Either the world's most talented plastic surgeon works here, or you're not Ellis Grey."

"She was my mother. She passed away."

"Oh… I didn't know. My condolences. Who else then? Does Richard Webber still work here?"

"Yes, uh…" Derek said, nervously. "Unfortunately, he is… uh… he is not available today."

"I want Webber."

"Uh… okay… I'll page Dr.Webber," he sighted.

~•~

"As you can see, you've got dilated bowel here… and here, indicating an obstruction..." Richard said as he performed an abdominal ultrasound on Harper Avery, "It's a good thing that our young Dr. Avery brought you straight in. Dr. Bailey can do the surgery right away."

"Was it a student, Webber? A board member's wife?" asked Harper.

Richard looked at him uncomprehendingly. Derek also looked confused.

"What?" asked Richard.

"No one gives up a chief of surgery gig. And they don't oust you unless it's for something juicy. So... who were you slipping it to?"

"Grandpa!" Jackson said embarrassed. "I'm sorry, Dr. Webber."

"It was a joke. He doesn't get me. So, Webber?"

"Oh, Dr. Webber decided to focus on his research," Derek quickly interrupted.

"Ah, the "research" line. Well, either way, at least you'll be free to do my surgery."

"Dr. Bailey is more than capable of performing the surgery," Derek said.

"I want Webber," demanded Harper. "No offense."

"None taken," said Bailey.

"And I want to watch."

"What?" Derek laughed, incredulous.

"I'm going to be awake during my surgery. Watch."

Derek exhaled, pressed his eyes, nervous.

"So much for the low stress day..." murmured Richard.

"Mmm," Derek pressed his lips, forcing a smile.

~•~

"Ollie, don't run in the hallways!" Addison exclaimed while trying to find her cell phone in her bag. She had hundreds of things in it.

Olive had insisted on going to the hospital after lunch, because she wanted to surprise her father with a hamburger, and it had been a long time since she had gone since she had stayed at home with Addison instead of going to daycare since Arleth was born.

"I've never been to Dad's new office!"

"It's Richard's... Don't wander off, there are lots of people around, and I haven't told Dad we're here yet..." She placed her bag on top of Arley's stroller and continued searching.

"Addison?" Bailey asked, surprised.

"Oh, Miranda. Hi, long time."

"Hi, Miranda!" Olive shouted, jumping.

"Hey, what are you doing here Ollie? Did you come to see your father?"

"Yess! I brought him a hamburger!" she said, showing her McDonald's paper bag.

"Hmm, I doubt he'll eat now..."

"Has something happened?" Addison asked, worried.

"Things always happen in a hospital, especially if there are men... And this sleeping beauty?" she smiled, looking into the stroller.

"Oh, with Arleth it seems that the noisier the place I take her to, the better she sleeps. Ah, but wait until I put her in her crib in complete silence in the middle of the night, she starts crying..."

"It's typical of babies."

"How's Derek? Is Harper Avery here?"

"Oh, yes."

"Did you see him?"

"Yes, and he told me, without meaning to offend, that he didn't want me in his surgery. Because he prefers a man who has just returned to the hospital today over a woman who has been operating on intestinal obstructions for years."

"Oh, I'm sorry..."

"Don't worry. Your husband is with Avery in his room. The old man insists on watching his own surgery."

"Watch his own surgery?"

"He wants to be awake and watch the procedure. He insists it will be a chance to be a student again and gain a new perspective on reaching the potential of medicine. He says this way he'll teach the young ones what it means to "be one of the greats".

"That's crazy. And what does Derek think?"

"He doesn't want to agree. But Richard is willing to do it."

"I can imagine…"

"Is Amelia okay?"

"What's wrong with Amelia?"

"She called to say she was sick today..."

"Oh, yes," she lied. "She's at home, resting..."

"Mom, let's go!"

"Dad's busy right now, Ollie..."

"Can't we wait for him in his office?"

"I'm talking to Miranda."

"Go with her, I have to keep attending patients, the emergency room is as crowded as always."

"Oh, okay. It was nice to see you."

~•~

"To be awake for my own surgery? An opportunity like this?" Harper Avery said. "To be a student again, get a new perspective. It's what we got into this business for in the first place. Those moments that challenge and terrify and dare us to reach the potential that we were meant to reach. So let's stop the talk and get into an OR and teach those kids, teach ourselves… what it means to be great."

"I'm sorry," Derek said after a few seconds of remaining silence. "I can't authorize an awake surgery, no matter-"

"We can do it," Richard interrupt him. "Derek, we can do this"

"That's what I like to hear. That's the way a chief does things," Avery smiled. "Shepherd, take note."

Derek glared at Richard with hatred and left the room without saying a word. He disagreed with what they were proposing and was bothered by Avery's lack of respect for his authority.

Richard left the room and went after him.

"Derek... I know what you're going to say."

"No," he said, shaking his head, "As the sole person in this hospital assigned to look out for our welfare, I don't support this decision."

Richard went silent for a few seconds and then responded.

"I apologize, Chief Shepherd."

"You really wanna do this thing?"

"I do."

Derek's phone rang, showing Addison's number on the screen.

"So it's on you then," he sighed and walked away to answer the call.

~•~

Olive ran into her father's arms, as she always did when she saw him.

"Hey, Ols," he smiled and hugged her back, "what are you doing here?"

"I brought you a burger! It has bacon like you like!"

"Really? Wow, thank you. Hey, Addie," he said, looking at her.

"Hi, Der," she approached to kiss his lips gently.

"We went to McDonald's!"

"I see, that's great. You must have had a lot of fun."

"Yes!"

"Is everything okay?" Addison asked, noticing that Derek was uncomfortable.

"Yes, everything's fine... Did something happen? Is Arleth okay?"

"Yes, we just wanted to stop by to see you, an idea of you-know-who... "

"I can imagine."

"Your office is huge! Can I spin in your office chair?" Olive exclaimed, super excited.

Derek was still nervous and Addison noticed.

"Ollie, Dad has to go back to work. We came to bring him lunch and then leave."

"But I wanted to stay here!"

"We'll come back another time."

"Don't worry, Addie. She can stay here, but I have to take care of the matter with Avery and Richard."

~•~

"Your CT shows that there's been a complication. Dr. Webber will take you back to the OR and fix it right away," Derek said, very seriously. Harper Avery had suffered a heart attack after the surgery and had just been stabilized.

"Fine," Harper Avery said, barely breathing, "but you're not putting me out. Clearly, a mistake was made. I'm not letting that happen again."

"That's not gonna happen this time," Derek forced an uncomfortable smile and became increasingly serious, "you're in my hospital today. You will abide by my rules. That means you go under general. Your grandson will be sitting in the waiting room as a family member." Jackson looked at him, "If you refuse, then I'll personally declare you unfit to make decisions regarding your own care."

Harper Avery sighed, indignant.

"That is how a chief does things. Take note."

He said that and left the room. Richard followed him. Derek could see Addison outside watching everything.

"Have Bailey do the surgery," Richard said.

"Richard..."

"It could've been my mistake in there, Derek. Do you understand what this would mean, making a error on this man? I want to drink. Not operate, not hold another man's life in my hands. So please, let Bailey to perform the surgery."

"Bailey will assist. Two months ago, you never would've told me you wanted a drink. You would have one, you would have drunk. You can do this, Richard," Derek said, giving him a pat on the arm and walking away.

Addison followed him, still surprised.

"Wow... Derek," she exclaimed as she walked next to him.

"I can't right now, Addison. Where are the girls? he asked without stopping.

"I left them in daycare, Olive wanted to see Sofia... hey, "that is how a chief does things, take note."

"Oh, I'm not in the mood for your teasing now."

"I'm not teasing... your display of authority..." she said in a seductive voice... "standing up to a medical eminence like Harper Avery... I... I think I'm turned on."

Derek stopped abruptly and turned to look at her, obviously not expecting her to say that at that moment.

"Addie, I have to be in Avery's surgery..."

"Do you?" she asked with a sly smile.

Derek nervously looked at his wristwatch.

"Is my office available?"

Addison nodded, still locking eyes with him. She knew she could get whatever she wanted from her husband just by looking at him.

"Let's go, I have some time while they do the pre-operation."