"Yes this is Addison Shepherd…" The frustration in her voice pictured the hiding sadness from the plan that was once again canceled. "Apologies, but we have to cancel our reservation for tonight." There was a brief explanation from the line, stating the cancellation fee. "It's fine, you can charge my card for the fee." For all I care. "Thank you, and again I'm sorry for canceling. Have a good night."

Addison looked at her reflection in the mirror, she spent an hour putting on her makeup and doing her hair just to look beautiful tonight–12th Wedding Anniversary. Where was her partner though? Digging someone else's brain. She was ready to undo everything for tonight, when there was some knocking on the front door. 9pm for her was already late, and people were still bothering her. She just waited until they'd stop but they didn't. It irritated her so she finally walked down the stairs to check who was at the other side of the door. She was taken aback when she saw a man standing in front of their apartment wearing an expensive suit, holding a bouquet of hydrangeas. "Sorry I'm late." He muttered after Addison opened the door for him. "You are one and a half hours late sir. I canceled the reservation." She leaned her shoulder on the doorframe, hiding her smile. "Thought you'd do that. I have other plans though." Addison raised her eyebrows. "Derek, are you going to give me those flowers or not?"

"Oh yeah. Here." He handed the bouquet of hydrangeas to his wife. There was a card sitting on top but there was no message at all. "It's blank, D."

"Is it?" Derek took the card and pretended he didn't purposely put that there. "Well it's because…" He pulled Addison close to his body. "I personally want to tell you my message." Under the falling snow on the night of February 14th, with bright streetlights, honking cars in the background, Derek put his forehead against Addison's and said "I love you. You are the best thing that ever happened to me. Happy 12th Anniversary to us, Mrs. Shepherd." His lips slowly drew patterns from her forehead down to her cheeks, and to her nose down to her chin. Lastly, Derek softly captured Addison's shivering lips, warming them up until they melted on each other. "You look beautiful tonight, honey." He caressed her blushing cheeks with his knuckles. "You're too beautiful to keep inside this Brownstone so I'm going to show you to the whole world."

"Tonight? When almost half of the people are sleeping?"

"It's New York honey, nobody sleeps."

"Fine. Let me just get my coat. Where are you taking me anyway?"

"Somewhere you've never been before."

"Honey, that's impossible. You have already taken me to every place in this city."

Derek hooked Addison's arm on his. "Not yet." Actually you're right. We never had that time to go out together anymore. We became busy. I come home while you're working your way to be the greatest. Those were the things running inside Addison's mind, but she kept those away for her to enjoy their anniversary night. Little by little however, she could feel him slipping away.

xxx

It stopped snowing, and the celestial sky started to become visible. Derek Shepherd just rented the whole Greenacre Park so no one would come in and disturb them. There were flowers, fairy lights and candlelights everywhere, and in front of the mini waterfall, a table with two chairs and a bottle of wine was set. Addison then insisted "It's beautiful Derek." She gasped with awe. "You're more beautiful."

"We've been here before, right?"

"Yes." He whispered, pulling a chair for her. "But not with the sky full of stars, where you can see the constellation." Addison looked up and grinned. "Maybe if we get lucky, we'll catch a falling star tonight." He kissed her cheek, and then called the waiter who was patiently waiting for them to settle. "By the way, I talked to the restaurant's manager when our reservation would be and asked them to bring what you ordered here instead." Addison opened her mouth but she couldn't find her words. "That's why I'm late, I'm really sorry about that Addison." He held her hand and ran his thumb on her knuckles slowly. "And don't worry about the cancellation fee, it was on me."

"Derek!"

"I wonder if you were so upset that you didn't recognize my voice when you called."

"You played me!"

"Well you…" Derek cleared his throat. "Can play with me tonight." And then winked. "Oh don't get your hopes high, mister."

Their anniversary date went well, they had too much laughter and catching up with each other. Derek then discovered that their friends, Savannah and Weiss were expecting a child. "That's great news Addie! Wow." Deep inside, Addison wanted to ask him if he will ever be ready to have their mini mes, because she's already to face that stage, all she needed to know was if Derek's ready to face that stage too. She wanted to stop taking her birth control pills so bad, the only thing she was afraid of was Derek. Is he ready? Will he ever be? Does he want to? "Mhm. They have been planning it for years now. I'm so happy for them." Addison sipped her wine and then looked away so Derek won't see her eyes brimming with tears. The night got colder and the snow started falling again. Her satin red dress wasn't enough to give her heat and especially when the coldness of their flames was freezing her. "Shall we call it a night?" Addison started gathering her things, but Derek held her hand, his tongue rolling her name "Addison." with hope. "Are you ready to do the math?"

"What?" Addison widened her eyes, curious about what the question was. "Derek, if you want to split the bill, just tell me. I'm willing to pay."

"Oh no Addie. That's not…" He himself didn't know how to place it either. He could also make simple things complicated. "That's not what I meant. I mean…" Derek slowly felt the grain of sweat on his forehead gather. "Do you…" He took a deep breath, hoping he'd get a positive answer from his wife. "Uh…do you want to have a baby?"

Addison's heart was beating so hard, she could hear it. All of the things around them moved in slow motion. He finally asked the question. That question pressured her to answer more than his wedding proposal. "Derek…" She'd gladly say yes because that's what she's been waiting for. Although there was a voice in her head bugging her to say not yet. The battle between the yes or no kept her head hurt physically–and then everything went black.

xxx

Addison couldn't deny the nervousness she felt as Derek told her about meeting his family. She was used on meeting families in a gathering, not her boyfriend taking her home to his family house to meet his family. That was one of the things that made her nervous. Not to mention the doubt if his mother would like her or not. "Honey, you're fidgeting. Relax."

"Derek how can I relax when I'm about to meet your mother? I don't even know if I'm dressed right. I feel like my heart is about to explode. Is she going to like me? Is she going to ask about my family too? Is she going to ask me more complicated questions than the ones from the board exams? Do I look presentable? Oh my god, i think i'm going to pass out. Derek I–" Finally, Derek put a halt on her rambling by pressing his lips on hers. "You're beautiful inside and out. My mother will love you. Not more than I love you though, but she will." He gave he assurance to make her relax because apparently Addison was shaking. "You're easy to love Addison, when they get to know the real you, people will fall in love. My mom, my sisters, their husbands and their kids. And for the record, I think they love you now more than they love me."

"Derek!" She repressed a smile but couldn't hold it since Derek tickled her side. "Okay, that stops now." Addison warned, pointing her finger on Derek's face. "But seriously Der, thank you. That helps a lot." Once again, their lips met, locking with assurance and calmness.

They finally arrived at Derek's childhood home. Of course, Mrs. Shepherd opened the door and welcomed them with a tigh and warm hug. "It's nice to put a face on the name. You're more beautiful in person than Derek stories of you." Addison blushed as Carolyn released her from their hug. "Come on dear, make yourself at home." She just smiled at the old woman and then looked at Derek who couldn't help but to pull her back in his arms. "I told you she'll love you. She even ignored her favorite son."

"Oh shut up, you're her only son."

The two settled down on the living room as they waited for Derek's sister to come down. First it was Nancy who was holding a little boy on her hips–that must be little Hector. "Wow. Derek never mentioned that he's bringing home a Disney Princess." Addison just chuckled from that statement. It was her first time to be referred as a princess and that melted her heart for some reason. "What did you see in my brother? I mean, look at him." Nancy continued as she set her son down to play. "Nancy!" Derek stopped her from going further. Addison then took that opportunity to defend Derek's honor. "He's actually a gentleman, he knows how to treat a woman right. He knows the right words to say to comfort you. He doesn't let go until he knows you're okay." She looked at Derek and smiled. "Derek loved unconditionally. And he looks good, so I'm kinda stuck with him."

"Oh God! Keep her Derek, I love her already."

"I don't have plans on letting her go."

It was almost dinner, so Addison decided to help Carolyn in the kitchen. At first, she really dind't have any idea what to do. She grew up just watching their family chef cook, she might have learned a little but that wasn't enough to feign for herself when she started living her life alone. Thankfully, Derek came into her life so the Chinese takeouts were already crossed out the list. Anyway, she just wanted to ask Carolyn something. "Uhm Mrs. Shepherd." Carolyn look at her over her shoulder. "Hey Addison. Do you need something?"

"No, I uh…I'm here to help you." the older woman nodded. "Sure. You can peel the vegetables. I already washed them." So Addison started peeling the carrots first and continued the conversation. "I don't know how much Derek told you about me, but you seem like a warm and loving mother."

"Why thank you dear." Carolyn smiled at her. Addison smiled back saying "I want that." At that moment, Carolyn stopped what she was doing and sat down in front of her son's girlfriend. "What do you mean dear?"

"My brother and I, growing up…we didn't actually experience the ahm…we didn't actually have someone to call "mom" or "mommy". Maybe somehow when I was still a toddler, I mumbled those words but I'm not sure." Carolyn was still confused, she didn't know what to say so… "I'm sorry to hear that, Addison."

"Thank you. I mean, my mother is very much alive. She just wanted us to call her Bizzy. We never called her anything but that. And my father, The Captain. I don't remember calling him "dad" either. I basically grew up with my nannies and my brother beside me. So if you'd let me, Mrs. Shepherd. Can I call you "mom"?

Carolyn stood beside Addison "You are very much welcome to call me how everyone calls me." and then pulled her for a hug. "I'm going to treat you like my own daughter. And you have my permission to kick Derek on the ass if he's going to hurt you." Both of them laugh, until Derek questioned what happened.

Little by little, his plan was falling into the right places. His girlfriend, his mother and his sisters were getting closer. This was what he wanted from the moment he laid his eyes to the beautiful redhead who was busy studying the cadaver in between them. And he had no plans on letting her go.