September 24, 2012.

Derek was glancing at his wife out of the corner of his eye, trying not to lose focus on the road. Despite the nerves he felt, he couldn't help but feel completely in love as he watched her bravely going through the pains of labor. Finally, the day they had been waiting for had arrived: their second baby was about to be born.

That day, he had dropped Olive off at kinder early, and when he returned home to grab a portfolio he had forgotten, he was surprised to find Addison in labor. Minutes after her water broke, they packed up all their things and headed to the hospital.

"Oh, damn! This one is more painful than the last!" Addison complained, squeezing her eyes shut as she went through another contraction. The pains had intensified after her water broke just minutes earlier.

"Calm down, Addie. You're doing great, just keep breathing."

"Oh come on, Derek. I never stopped breathing. That's why I'm still alive and suffering... Ow!" she complained again, clutching her belly.

"In twenty minutes we'll be there, Addie. Please try to stay calm."

"I can't! I've got a thing trying to come out of me and Amelia isn't responding to my calls!"

"She must be in surgery, don't worry. Olive still has a few hours left in kindergarten. She'll pick her up."

"I didn't even get to say goodbye to Ollie!" she said, tears streaming down her face. "What if I die today and she doesn't get a chance to say goodbye? What if in a few years she forgets who I was? I'm sure you'll marry a much younger and more beautiful woman, and she'll be her stepmother, and I... I promised her last night that I'd read her two stories but... I'm gonna die without saying goodbye to her!" she cried, more frantic than ever.

"You're not going to die, Addison. Calm down."

"I can't, damn it!"

"Inhale deeply and hold it in your lungs... one... two... three..." he said without taking his eyes off the road.

"Oh, screw you, Derek..."

"Change that grumpy attitude; we are just hours away from meeting Derek Junior. Is this how you want to welcome him? By insulting his father all the way?"

"The baby's not gonna have that name!"

Derek turned his head to look at her and couldn't help but laugh. Even in pain, angry, and distressed, she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. He couldn't hide the happiness he felt at that moment.

Within minutes—which felt like an eternity to Addison—they arrived at the maternity wing of Seattle Grace Mercy West, where Sophia, their obstetrician, was waiting for them.

~•~

September 24, 2013. A year later.

"Quick, quick, Olive! Your mom will kill us if we don't get there on time," Amelia said as she hurriedly rushed to pick up her goddaughter from school.

"Do you have the cake?" the little girl asked, handing her backpack to her aunt.

Addison and Derek were at home organizing Arleth's first birthday party, and amid welcoming guests, setting up seating in the garden, decorating, and arranging food and drinks, they had completely forgotten to pick up the cake. Amelia offered to pick up Olive and get it together.

"No, I wanted you to come with me. Come on, get in the car."

Olive nodded and they quickly drove to the bakery.

"Do you remember where we were a year ago?" Amelia asked, glancing at her in the rearview mirror once they had the cake in the car.

"Yeah, at McDonald's."

"That's right, we went to have lunch while we waited for news about your sister... Do you still have that toy?"

"Yeah, of course."

"It was a swan, right?"

"No!" she laughed. "Jewel is a blue macaw from the movie Rio."

"Well, swans, macaws, potatoes, tomatoes. They both have beaks and feathers."

"No, blue macaws are special... there aren't many in the world because they're an endangered species."

"Oh, I didn't know that."

"Yeah, that's because many kids want to keep them as pets, but that can't happen. They have to live in the rainforest, not in cages."

"Of course, they need to live free."

"Yeah..."

"And do you really like that toy?"

"Yes, it's pretty. But I like it more because it reminds me of Arley..."

"Really?"

"Yeah... she's funny and loud, and sometimes a little aggressive. But she's nice... and she has the same colored eyes as Jewel."

"So it's not a coincidence that you got it the same day Arley was born, right?" Amelia smiled fondly and parked in front of the house.

"Hi, Mom!" the little girl yelled, entering through the front door holding her aunt's hand.

"Here we are!" Amelia said.

"Hey, Ollie. Hi, Amy," Addison came over to greet them, holding the baby in her arms wearing a cute light blue dress with frills and a headband in her hair.

"Mom, we can still have a pool party!" exclaimed Olive, standing on her tiptoes to kiss her little sister.

"I don't think it's possible, sweetheart. Your grandmother should be arriving soon, go put on the dress I picked for you today."

"Can't I wear the Rapunzel dress?"

"No, sweetheart. Not today. Put on the blue dress I left on your bed and..."

The front door opened before Addison finished speaking, letting Derek in followed by Carolyn, who had just come from the airport.

"Grandmaaaaa!" Olive yelled, running into her arms.

"Ollie! How are you, honey?" Carolyn asked, wrapping her in a warm hug.

"Good! I was waiting for you to arrive!"

"Hi, Carolyn," Addison said as she approached. Her mother-in-law smiled at her.

"But look at what the grandma's little princess has become! Are you turning one, Arley? Are you?" she asked in a sing-song voice upon seeing her youngest granddaughter.

"The baby of the house is already one year old," Derek said, moving closer to her wife to kiss on the crown of her head. "Addie, can you come here for a second?" he whispered in her ear.

"Yeah, I'll be right there, honey. Olive, go change before the other guests arrive. Carolyn, would you like to hold Arley?"

"Of course!"

Addison handed the baby over to her mother-in-law and took a few steps away to talk to Derek, knowing he had something important to say judging by the serious expression on his face.

"What's going on? What problem is there?"

"There's no problem..."

"Is it the cake? Didn't Amelia pick up the cake? Did the cake get ruined?"

"No, Addie. The cake is fine. Everything is fine," he anticipated before she could ask.

"Then what's going on? Why do you have that face? I know you, Derek. What did you do?"

"Don't get mad..."

"Damn it, Derek. Of course, I'm gonna get mad if you tell me not to. What did you do?"

"I invited Bizzy and The Captain to the party."

"What did you just say?"

"Their plane just landed in Seattle and they're on their way."

"Oh no, Derek. You're unbelievable. You just ruined your daughter's first birthday!"

"It's not that big of a deal..."

"Of course it is! Oh God. I urgently need a glass of wine."

"Addison, don't start drinking so early."

"I need an alcohol level in my blood to face my parents that you invited without my permission! Why did you do that?"

"Because Bizzy asked me what we were going to do for Arleth's first year, and I invited her. They were interested in meeting her."

"If they really wanted to meet her, they would've come during the 365 days of her life, not now that she's turning one."

"You know it was a complicated year..."

"They have a private plane, they can come whenever they want, and they didn't. They didn't come for her birth, they didn't come when you got shot and almost lost your life, they weren't there physically or emotionally when I had a miscarriage. They're never present, don't defend them."

"Addison, come on. Don't be bitter. They wanna get closer to the girls, give them a chance to have grandparents."

"You know very well I'm not doing it out of bitterness, I..."

"Mom, I can't find my shoes!" Olive yelled from the stairs.

"They're next to your nightstand, Ollie."

"I can't see them!"

Addison shot a disapproving glance at Derek, knowing the conversation wouldn't continue, and went up to her older daughter's room to help her change and style her hair.

"What did you do now?" Amelia asked, stealing a French fry from the main table.

"Why do you always assume I did something?"

"Am I wrong?"

"I invited Addison's parents to the party, and they're about to arrive," he said, looking at his watch, knowing his in-laws would show up any moment.

"She's gonna kill you."

"I know."

"Good luck," she gave him a pat on the shoulder and walked away laughing.

~•~

Addison was five centimeters dilated when they arrived. Since it was her second birth, it was expected to be much faster than the first one. After insisting several times—and threatening her with unkind words—Sophia placed the epidural anesthesia and admitted her.

"Five centimeters... how long do you think until the baby is born? Three or four hours maybe?" asked Derek, looking at the wall clock. He was sitting on the sofa next to bed, while Addison nervously paced, gripping the IV pole.

"I don't know. I'm trying to get Amelia to answer my calls, what the hell's going on with her today?"

"She must be in surgery. Don't worry, she'll be done before Olive gets out of kinder."

"And if not? Who will pick her up? You'll have to go, Derek."

"I won't leave you alone, Addie. I'll ask Mark to go. Stop worrying about this. Why don't you sit down for a bit?"

"Because walking eases my pain, why don't you stop getting involved in my labor? When you have a contracting uterus, I'll listen to you. Until then, shut up."

Derek looked away, stifling a laugh. He knew she might kill him if he laughed, but she looked so funny and adorable despite her anger and fatigue.

"Hey," Amelia said, entering the room out of breath. She had just come from the OR and seeing the number of missed calls from her sister-in-law assumed she was in labor.

"Oh, Amy. Finally," Addison exclaimed in relief.

"How long have you been here? How's it going?"

"My water broke at ten this morning, we've been here a little over an hour, I was checked and I'm five centimeters dilated. We're halfway there..."

"Oh, wow. So Baby Christopher will be born today!"

"That's not what it'll be named," Addison complained, placing a hand on her waist. "Can you pick up Olive from kinder and stay with her today, Amy?" she asked.

"Yes, of course. I'll take care of her, don't worry."

"Tell her I'm sorry I can't read her the stories I promised," she murmured, tearing up.

"Olive won't remember that, Addie. Stop worrying about her, she'll be in good hands. Now you need to focus on the baby. It won't be long until he's here with us, right?" Derek said, getting up from the sofa to warmly rest a hand on her waist.

"Stop saying 'he'," Addison complained.

"Olive will be fine. Right, Amelia?"

"Of course. She'll have a lot of fun with her godmother today. I'll take her to lunch at McDonald's and we'll spend the afternoon together until the baby is born. Please, let me know as soon as it's born," she said, looking at Derek with an arched eyebrow. She knew her brother was quite capable of "forgetting" to tell her that little detail.

"You'll be updated on every detail," he assured her.

"Okay... well, I'm gonna change before I go pick her up. Good luck, Addie. You know how to do this; in fact, that's what obstetricians do, but in reverse, so... you know. You'll do great. I love you and admire you so much."

Amelia gave Addison a tight hug and another to Derek before leaving to pick up Olive, who would be out of kindergarten in less than an hour.

~•~

"Why can't I wear my swimsuit?" Olive asked as Addison tied a purple bow around the waist of her dress.

"Because it's not a pool party, sweetie. I already told you. Maybe next summer we'll have a pool and we can do it then."

"But the most fun part about having a summer birthday is the pool parties."

"Yes, but we're in autumn, remember? Now turn around so I can fix your hair."

Olive nodded and stayed silent while her mother styled her hair and got her ready for the party. Addison had chosen a short navy blue dress with little white flowers and sheer frills on the sleeves. It really highlighted the reddish color of her hair.

"Listen, I want to tell you something important."

"What is it?" Olive asked, turning around to look at her.

"Bizzy and The Captain will be here soon."

"Yessssss!" she exclaimed excitedly.

"I want you to behave well today."

"I always behave well."

"No, not always. I don't want you to shout, or bombard them with questions, or pull on their arms. Don't touch them, they don't like physical contact."

"Okay."

"Also, don't talk too much, you have to be very careful with your words. You can't just say anything that pops into your head when they're here, do you understand? You can't talk about what other people are doing, or say you don't like the food, or that your feet itch, or say anything rude. Don't repeat any of the endless curse words your dad says. Don't make mud pies, and don't bring dead ants to the table. Don't pick your nose, and don't take off your shoes and leave them anywhere."

"Oh, Mom, but I never do all that."

"I want you to behave, Ollie. Do it for me and your sister."

"Okay, fine."

"Come here, hug me."

Olive smiled and hugged her mother tightly.

~•~

After making sure her eldest daughter would be fine, Addison finally relaxed. The contractions increased as Derek tried to make her laugh, to remind her that all the effort she was putting in would be worth it the moment they got to see their long-awaited baby.

After so long wishing and waiting for this day, they would finally meet him. Or her. Deciding to wait until birth to find out the gender of the baby had heightened both anxiety and excitement. They were only hours, maybe minutes, away from finally knowing.

"Do you remember what the day Liz was born was like?" Addison asked, gently caressing Derek's hand resting on her belly.

"Mmm no. I was two years old."

"And when Kathleen was born? Do you remember?"

"I was five... I guess I remember a little... not much, really. Why do you ask that?"

"I just want to know what it feels like to be an older brother. I mean... I know what it's like to have a sibling, but I'm talking about how it feels the moment you become a brother. I want to know how Olive will feel..."

"Olive will feel good, if that's what worries you... at first, it's a strange feeling... maybe I'm not the best person to talk about this because I'm also Nancy's younger brother, but... it's strange. Suddenly you see a little person who just appeared out of nowhere and steals all your parents' attention. You feel like they came and took away your most precious treasure without asking permission."

"We can't let Olive feel that way, we have to divide our attention equally and…"

"Relax... because not everything is bad... yes, that little person took a lot of your parents' time and attention... but there's still a part of you that doesn't mind. In fact, you're happy to share it."

"Really?"

"Yes. When a younger sibling is born, a sense of protection and an inexplicable love is also born in the older sibling. It's like, in some way, you feel responsible for caring for and guiding that little person who just arrived in the world. It's a very powerful feeling, like a duty that arises naturally in the older sibling. It can be overwhelming at first, especially if you're very young when your brother or sister is born, but over time you realize it's a privilege to have someone to care for and protect. It's a bond destined to last a lifetime, a unique relationship that can never be replaced."

"Oh, Derek... you never talk like this about your sisters."

"Because it's a law among siblings, we'll never speak well of each other... only if someone is sick, dying... or about to have a baby."

Addison chuckled softly, the pain she felt didn't allow her to laugh as freely as she wanted.

"Olive will love her little sibling, you'll see. She'll feel really lucky to have someone to share her childhood with."

~•~

Bizzy and The Captain had arrived. The house filled with a tense and expectant atmosphere when Derek opened the door and welcomed them. He invited them to sit on the living room sofa next to Carolyn, as they waited for Addison and Olive to come down and join them.

Meanwhile, Addison was deliberately delaying the meeting. She didn't feel ready to face the critical looks and disparaging comments she knew she would receive once she reunited with her parents.

She paced nervously around her bedroom, adjusting Olive's hair waves and the bow on her dress over and over, or checking that her frilly socks were properly in place. She was anxious to make sure that every detail of her appearance and her daughter's was impeccable, desperately trying to hide her insecurities behind a facade of perfection.

She knew that Bizzy and The Captain were critical and demanding people, unable to mask their disapproval behind a fake smile. They were constantly comparing their family to others, always finding some flaw or defect to point out. For Addison, it was an exhausting and intimidating experience to face their judgments and passive-aggressive comments once again.

"Addie, is something wrong?" Derek asked, peeking into Olive's room.

"No. We're coming, I was just finishing doing Ollie's hair."

"I've been ready for a while," the little girl complained.

Addison looked down awkwardly; she knew Derek knew she was stalling to avoid seeing her parents.

"Okay, then let's go. Your grandparents are dying to see you," he said, taking Olive's hand.

With a resigned sigh, Addison went down the stairs behind her husband and daughter. Despite her efforts to appear calm and confident, her face reflected a mix of anxiety and fear.

In the living room, Arleth was crying in Carolyn's arms. She had spent too long surrounded by strangers and the absence of her parents had frightened her.

"MAMA!" the baby yelled through her tears, reaching out her little arms.

"Oh, sweetheart, come here," Addison said, taking her in her arms, trying to soothe her.

"Grandma, Grandpa!" Olive shouted, running towards them. She had obviously forgotten the long list of prohibitions her mother had told her just moments before.

"You know you can call me Bizzy, dear," she said, cautiously receiving the enthusiastic hug from her older granddaughter.

"Look how big you are, kitten!" the Captain smiled, and Addison rolled her eyes. She hated that he used that nickname for her but hated even more that he used it for her daughters.

"Have you seen Arleth yet?" Olive asked. "She's so big!"

"Oh, yes, we saw her," Bizzy replied. "She looks just like you, dear. She has your features," she said, looking at Derek.

"She's a beautiful girl, just like you, Olive," the Captain said. "Congratulations, Addison. You have lovely daughters."

"Oh... thanks," Addison replied, a bit nervously. "They are lovely, yes..."

"Olive has the Forbes Montgomery posture and elegance. Not to mention her outstanding intelligence at such a young age. She will surely know how to carry on the family legacy," Bizzy said.

"Please, she's just a child..." Carolyn murmured, looking at her son, reflecting her disdain for the emphasis placed on these supposed attributes inherited from a wealthy family.

She had never liked Derek's in-laws for the same reason that Addison disliked her: the money. From her perspective, the Forbes Montgomery were the epitome of what was wrong with wealth and power. She thought that her daughter-in-law, like the rest of her family, was an arrogant person who was used to getting whatever she wanted thanks to her fortune, and that was why they did not value people for who they really were. Wealth made them believe they were superior to everyone else, as if money gave them the right to belittle and humiliate those who were not like them.

"Can we eat now? My stomach hurts from hunger," Olive asked, looking at her father.

"Yes, let's go to the table in the garden. Mark, Arizona, and Callie are already there, and Sofia wants to see you."

"Did Sofia come?! Aunt Amy told me she wasn't coming, what a liar."

"Olive..." Addison murmured.

"Let's go to the table, come on. Bailey and Tuck should be arriving shortly."

Carolyn looked disdainfully at her in-laws and went out to the garden behind her son and granddaughter.

Addison sighed, wondering when she had been worse off, during Arleth's birth or her first birthday.

~•~

"OH, GOD!" screamed Addison, feeling a strong contraction that lasted several seconds.

"Did it pass?" asked Derek, pressing his fingers against his wife's lower back to relieve some of the pressure.

"Yes... God... explain to me why, why did I agree to go through this again? Don't women have good memories? Why do we voluntarily decide to endure this pain again?"

Derek gently caressed Addison's face and gave her an understanding smile.

"Addie, you know that the love we feel for our children is greater than any pain. Because it's worth it the moment the baby looks you in the eyes..."

"Oh, shit! Another one... UGH!"

"Addie..."

"I want more anesthesia!"

"You're eight centimeters... you know it doesn't make sense to give more doses now. The baby will be born in less than an hour..."

"We can't know that! Maybe labor will stop and I'll be like this for half the day!"

"Don't say that... Trust your body, trust yourself. Together we will get through this, just like we always have. Just breathe and focus on the present moment," he urged her in a calm and soothing voice. "Do you want to hold my hand? Would you like a hug?"

"NO!"

Derek nodded in understanding and stepped back a little, respecting Addison's space.

"Don't leave!" she exclaimed.

"I'm not going anywhere."

"Hold me."

Derek made a loving grimace and wrapped her in his arms tenderly, conveying calm and security.

~•~

Addison was eyeing a bottle of red wine sitting on the table. It might be a children's birthday party, but wine was indispensable at lunch with her parents. Every conversation among the Montgomerys had to be mediated by alcohol; she had known that since she was a teenager.

She wasn't quite sure what they were talking about because she wasn't paying enough attention. She had Arleth sitting on her lap and could only see Derek moving his lips while her parents nodded their heads. They had always been very reserved, and family conversations were really not their thing. She still wondered why they had voluntarily decided to attend a children's birthday party.

Carolyn was talking to Amelia about some topic that clearly bothered her, given the look of irritation on her sister-in-law's face. This was the first time they were seeing each other after she had come out of rehab, and she should probably be hearing some kind of sermon. Derek had told his mother everything once she was discharged, as he didn't want to worry her.

Arleth was focused on eating a cheese roll. Olive was playing on the swing with Tucker. Mark and Callie were joking around with probably an obscene joke. Arizona was playing with little Sofia, who was almost two years old. Bailey and Richard were chatting at the end of the table. It all felt so strange and yet so ordinary at the same time. It was a party... a baby party, but still a party.

"Your brother regrets not being able to be here this time," said Bizzy, looking at Addison.

"Huh?" she asked, not really having heard her.

"Archer. He regrets not being able to come. You know, he continues with his book tour."

"Oh, that's okay. Arleth won't remember this day anyway."

"I'm glad you invited us, it's good to have the family together after all..."

"We're not family. And I didn't invite you, it was my husband."

Bizzy stayed silent for a few minutes, thinking about how to continue the tense conversation she was having with her daughter. Talking to Addison always felt complicated. It always seemed like there was an invisible barrier between them, something that emotionally separated them.

"You have lovely azaleas in your garden."

"Thanks."

"Maybe I would have opted for white azaleas instead of fuchsias, they're more elegant."

"Olive likes the fuchsias," she said, looking at her older daughter, who was energetically running after Tucker.

"And maybe I would plant some gardenias, their scent is sublime in spring..."

"Okay. Thanks for your opinion."

"But despite everything, your garden is picturesque. Maybe a bit improvised and unexpected, but... it's nice to sit and look at it. It's cheerful."

"I suppose so."

"I'm glad your garden is flourishing," she gave a small smile, looking at the baby who was curiously watching her from Addison's lap. Maybe the baby was intrigued by her large gold earrings.

"Are we talking about flowers?" she asked, looking firmly at her face. She felt like Bizzy wanted to delve a little deeper with her but didn't know how. She had never been very open emotionally with her daughter.

"You've done a good job," she said, ignoring her previous question.

"Thanks... I have a gardener... he... he has helped me a lot. I mean, with my garden. It wouldn't be the same without him..."

"Send him my congratulations. He has done a good job with your garden."

"Thanks..."

~•~

"Derek, the baby is really going to be born today..." murmured Addison, sitting on the exercise ball that was helping her with dilation.

"That's right... it will be born today. Friday, September 24," he said, looking at his cellphone screen. "Nine months after Christmas. We should give it a Christmas name, don't you think?"

"No."

"Christopher is a Christmas name..."

"So is Jesus"

"I'm serious. It could be called Derek Christopher Junior and it would be a double tribute."

"Am I about to give birth and you're making me discuss this again, Derek? It will not be named after you! I don't care if your father was named that or if it's a Christmas name. It won't be named after you, and stop insisting it's a boy because we don't know!"

"My fatherly instinct tells me it's a boy."

"Well, maybe you'll be surprised if your instinct is wrong..."

"We could give it a Christmas name if it's a girl too. What do you think of Merry?"

"God, no."

"Holly?"

"No."

"Noelle..."

"Ow!" she exclaimed, placing her hand on her lower belly, starting to feel a strong pushing sensation.

"What's happening? Are you okay?" he asked worriedly as he saw her expression change.

"I think I feel the head pressing down."

"Okay, stay calm. I'll go get Sophia."

Derek gave her a small kiss on the forehead and rushed off to find Sophia, the OB who had accompanied them during this pregnancy and Olive's from years ago. Meanwhile, in the room, Addison kept taking deep breaths, trying to stay calm despite the pain and nerves she was feeling.

~•~

Arleth's eyes sparkled with excitement as she saw the flickering candle dance on her cake while all her family and friends sang Happy Birthday in unison.

She was sitting in her high chair, at the end of the table, and everyone was cheering her on. Her parents looked at her with pride and love, unable to believe how quickly their little baby had grown, who just a blink ago was a tiny newborn, and now was a big girl smiling, clapping, and singing surrounded by loved ones.

As the song reached its climactic point, Arleth raised her little hands with enthusiasm and plunged them into the soft cream of the cake, spreading it across the plate and her face with childlike energy. Laughter from her family filled the room as she burst into giggles, catching the joy that surrounded her.

"Arley, no!" laughed Olive at the sight of her little sister's cream-covered nose. Arleth just laughed louder, happy to be the center of attention at that special moment.

Addison wiped the baby's face with a napkin and, taking on the role of hostess, began to serve slices of cake to all the guests. It was evident that she wanted to make sure everyone was enjoying the party.

However, Carolyn couldn't help but feel that the cake would have been much better if it had been homemade. She had always baked all her cakes for her children and grandchildren. It seemed totally absurd to her to buy from a bakery when it was much more gratifying to prepare food at home. But she knew neither her son nor her daughter-in-law were known for their culinary skills, and she preferred to eat that rather than risk getting salmonella if Addison cooked again.

On the other hand, Bizzy declined the slice of cake that Addison offered, justifying her decision with moderation in consuming sugars and saturated fats. She always watched what she ate because the first and foremost thing was the body image she showed to others, not her personal pleasure. Besides, someone her age couldn't eat children's food; it was ridiculous and ordinary.

For Addison, it was interesting to see the diversity of personalities present at the celebration.

Unsurprisingly, the one enjoying the moment the most was Olive, who loved chocolate cake. Her mother had let her choose the flavors for her little sister, and, as expected, she chose chocolate.

"It's delicious!" exclaimed Olive, finishing her second slice.

"Don't eat too much, Ols. Your stomach will hurt later," Derek said as he took Arleth out of her chair and sat her on a blanket on the grass to play with Sofía.

"I didn't eat that much..." murmured Olive, wiping her face with a napkin, "I hope there's leftover cake so I can eat at dinner too. And for breakfast tomorrow."

Derek laughed and went over to Addison, noticing that she seemed a bit tense watching to make sure all the guests were comfortable.

"I think we have another chocolate cake fan to compete with Olive," he said, wrapping both arms around his wife's waist and resting his chin in the space she had made on her shoulder.

"I think Arleth loves everything sweet..." Addison murmured, smiling at him.

"Oh, they definitely inherited your sweetness..."

"Really?"

"I'm holding back from biting you right now."

"Oh, I don't think that behavior is appropriate in this situation... in front of my parents... or in front of your mother. I think she hates me right now for not knowing how to bake; I can see it on her face of disgust at the bought cake. I failed as a woman and a mother," she said sarcastically.

"Oh, I wouldn't say the same..."

"Mom, look at Arley! She likes playing with Sofía!" Olive shouted.

"I'm watching her..." she smiled while stroking her husband's hair, who had no intention of letting go of her.

"Did you imagine her like this?" Derek asked, kissing her neck.

"Like what?"

"Arleth... a year ago. Did you imagine her like this? So cheerful, so happy... with those brown curls and those pointy eyelashes."

"I don't know... I think she has surpassed any expectations I had. She is so much more than I could've imagined. She is... she is light, she is love, she is hope, she is joy... Both girls are so much more than I could have imagined. And I'm so happy and grateful to have them in my life..."

"They are the most precious gift life has given us. Thank you for giving me this gift, Addie."

"Thank you too, I suppose... I didn't do it alone," she said, glancing at him.

"We make such beautiful daughters. We're a good team. Don't you think?"

"Maybe..."

"Practice makes the master..." he kissed her neck affectionately again.

"No erotic scenes in front of the kids," Mark laughed, looking at Derek. He moved away from his wife, shaking his head.

The party continued with games, gifts, and more laughter, but that moment when little Arleth found herself surrounded by love and happiness, enjoying a birthday with her loved ones, was destined to be an unforgettable memory. The sparkle in her eyes, the innocence of her smile, and the pure joy emanating from her were like a balm for the souls of everyone present, reminding them of the true meaning of life: to love, to laugh, and to enjoy the simple moments of shared happiness.

~•~

The contractions came and went, one after another in very short intervals, and the latent pain in Addison's belly made her writhe on the gurney. Despite having mentally prepared for this moment, the intensity of the pain overwhelmed her, and it was difficult to stay calm.

"Okay, Addison," Sophia said as she positioned herself between her legs, "as soon as you feel the next contraction, I want you to push."

Derek remained by her side, holding her hand firmly and whispering words of encouragement into her ear. His presence was comforting, but Addison felt a growing frustration as she saw that labor wasn't progressing as quickly as she had hoped.

"I can't do it!" she exclaimed tearfully.

"Of course you can, sweetheart. You've done it before, you can do it again," Derek said, gently wiping her forehead with a sponge.

"It's not the same, with Olive it didn't hurt this much!"

"You've forgotten, Addie. It also hurt a lot, and yet you managed to do it. Come on, you can do it one more time, you're doing great."

Addison looked at him with tear-filled eyes, as if pleading for help, and he felt a great helplessness at not being able to do much more for her at that moment. If he could, he would switch places with her so that she wouldn't have to suffer so much.

"I can see the head starting to come out. Come on, Addison, one more push and it's out," Sophia encouraged her to continue. But after several minutes of pushing in vain, Addison began to feel that it wasn't working.

"Derek... I need a mirror," she murmured with the little breath she had left.

"What?" he asked, confused. He hadn't understood what she said.

"I need a mirror!" she repeated, raising her voice.

"Addison, why do you want a mirror now?"

"I wanna see why the hell the damn head isn't coming out! Is it stuck?"

"Addison, calm down," Sophia said, "everything is fine. The head is fine, we just need one or two more pushes and it will come out. You've been doing very well so far, you can do it."

Addison nodded slightly, and taking a deep breath, she pushed with all her might as soon as she felt the next contraction. She held tightly to Derek's hand, and he could swear she cut off his circulation, but he wouldn't complain. He could see the effort on his wife's face, the sweat soaking her forehead, and the determination in her eyes. Despite her exhaustion, she kept fighting, willing to give her all to bring their baby into the world.

Derek watched in awe as the baby's head began to emerge.

"Come on, Addison, you're doing great!" Sophia shouted, encouraging her.

The room filled with tension as they awaited the next push. Derek felt tears beginning to threaten to escape from his eyes, but he managed to hold them back. He had to be strong for Addison.

Finally, with one last effort, the baby emerged amidst screams and cries.

"It's a girl!" Derek exclaimed as soon as he saw her in Sophia's hands. "Addie, we have another girl!"

He could hardly believe what he was seeing, but there she was, their second daughter, covered in blood and amniotic fluid, crying loudly.

Sophia held her in her hands, cleaned her up, and placed her on Addison's bare chest, where she held her tenderly. The emotion was so strong that it made it hard for her to speak normally.

A sense of relief and joy flooded every corner of the room. The baby, wrapped in a blanket, continued to cry, but her cries were a beautiful reminder that she was alive.

Derek, with joy overflowing from his chest, leaned down to kiss Addison, and together they embraced tightly, letting tears flow freely. They had been through so much together. The conception of the baby hadn't been easy, and going through the pregnancy was even harder. Together they had to overcome a great number of obstacles, disappointments, and challenges, but they were finally living this magical moment with their long-awaited baby.

"What's her name?" Sophia asked, smiling.

"Her name is Arleth," Derek said confidently.

"Arleth?" Addison asked, confused. They had a list of possible girl names in mind, but they had never discussed that name before.

"Arleth... the promised woman. She is our promised gift," he replied softly, looking at Addison for approval.

She nodded with a radiant smile, gently stroking her daughter's rosy cheeks.

"Arleth Elaine. Hello, sweetheart, welcome to the world," she whispered, kissing the baby's little head.

Author's note:

Hey guys! Next week I'll publish the epilogue to officially wrap things up, but this has been the last chapter of this story we've been following for several months now. Thanks for reading!