Wow, there are still people out there reading. I was very surprised and I am super excited. Thanks so much for reviewing.

There was one question concerning Derek and Mark. What if Derek dies? Will Mark step up? - Very good question. I haven't thought about it so far but let's see what happens with Derek :-)

"Close your eyes." Addison smiled mischievously. She reached for Meredith's hands and guided them to her eyes. "Stay till and don't look."

"Addi, I was just kidding. All I want and need is you. You and our little one." Saying these words and looking down at her stomach, a happy smile spread across her face.

"Little liar. I know ho much you love surprises!" Ignoring the just said, Addison slid down the bed and went out into the hallway to gather the presents. "Cover your eyes!" she once again shouted.

Addison had been preparing this day for quite a while now and looking forward to finally giving Meredith her presents she whistled cheerfully.
"Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy..." Addison carefully pushed open the door, trying not to lose balance and scattering all the presents and the cake on the floor. "...birthday, my love Meeeeeeredith."

Meredith giggled, eyes still closed.

"Happy birthday to you!" Addison stopped in front of the bed. "Hey, you can open your eyes now!"

Meredith didn't need a second invitation to do so. Her view fell on Addison who was holding three neatly wrapped gifts.

"Oh wow." Meredith beamed, reaching for the presents.

Addison smiled. She loved seeing Meredith happy. It has taken them quite some time to come to that place.

"Come closer!" Meredith's voice brought Addison's attention back to the present and she jumped back into bed.

"Open them."

Meredith slowly reached for the green one. "You are really a gifted wrapper. My gifts always look like somebody had already sat on them." Her fingers pulled of the yellow ribbon and the paper, revealing a white box. Addison sat next to Meredith, staring at her face to see every tiny reaction. Would she like it?

"Awwwwwwwww!" A squeal of delight broke the silence. Meredith was holding a tiny little onsie in her hands. Tiny little scrubs. "Where did you get these?" Meredith laid them carefully in front of her and immediately wrapped her arms around Addison, who beamed with pride of having found a perfect gift.

"That's my little secret."

"I just LOVE those. Can you imagine such a tiny little person?" She paused. "Silly me. Of course you can. You are constantly working with them."

Addison just nodded and smiled.

"Let's see. What's this?" She reached for a very small red box. There was no paper around it. It looked like a ring box but..Meredith stopped. No, that could not be. What if Addison was asking her to marry her? Was that even legal around here? What am I going to say? That's way too fast and..

"Mer? Everything okay?"

"Ah, yes, sure." She snapped back into the present. "I, I think I'm gonna open this one first. " She laid back the red box and reached for the yellow envelope. Trying to find back into her cheerful birthday mood she pulled out a card with what looked like a whirlpool and some flower arrangements.

"I hope you like it." Meredith's mood change hadn't gone unnoticed by Addison.

"I LOVE it! A weekend at a five star spa for just the two of us?! Oh my god, when?" Meredith was in awe. Her busy work schedules didn't leave much time for just the two of them.

"I booked over Christmas. 22nd till the 26th of December. This way.."

"..we can spend our first Christmas as a family. Oh thank you so so much!" Tears in her eyes Meredith finished Addison's sentence and leaned over to enjoy a very much needed hug. "Oh, I can't wait. Today's the 10th of November. Oh wow, not very long. Wait, what about our work schedules?"

"Everything okay. I already organized everything. The only thing you have to do is enjoy and relax." Addison passionately stroked over Meredith's long hair. "I can't wait either."

"Oh my god. Look at the time. It's almost 11 a.m. My shift starts at 12." Meredith glanced at her alarm clock at the night stand.

"Stupid work. Mine starts at 2 p.m."

Like on cue both of their pagers started to beep. Forgotten was the little red box, still waiting to be opened.

"Ah shit. Derek." Both jumped off the bed, nearly falling over their own feet, hastily trying to put on their clothes.

Meredith was already on her way to the car when she noticed that Addison was not behind her. "Addie, where are you?" She was just about to open the door when Addison came running down the stairs, tousled hair and her jeans still unbuttoned. "How on earth are you that fast?"

"Why are you NOT? Where were you?"

"Had to grab this." She opened her hand and there it was again. The red little box. "We will open it as soon as there's time."

Meredith just nodded, feeling the uneasy sensation creeping back.

"What's happening? You paged?" Meredith was out of breath. She was not athletic at all and the pregnancy gave her the rest.

"Derek's over all status has taken a turn for the worse. As we speak he's being prepped for surgery. The swelling in his brain has been increasing and due to this additional pressure he was about to go into heart and brain failure." Bailey answered Meredith's question immediately. "I'm so sorry. Is there anything I can do for the two of you?"

Addison, who was standing right next to Meredith, shook her head, took Meredith's hand and guided her into the waiting area. It was the area where families waited for news on surgeries, where good and bad, great and devastating news were told. It was one thing delivering the news but a whole other to be on the receiving side.

Addison reached into her pocket and pulled out the little red box. "I think it's a very good moment to open it."

Bewildered Meredith looked up. How on earth could THIS be the perfect moment for opening birthday presents?

"Are you sure this is the right place and time?" Awkward Meredith turned towards Addison who was sitting right next to her.

"I am sure as can be."

Meredith slowly reached for the small box and pulled it open. Her eyes started to water and she immediately closed it.

"Meredith, what, why?" Shocked about this reaction she laid both arms around Meredith and pulled her close.

"Thanks." Meredith felt stupid. Tears were flowing down her cheeks. "I have those pregnancy hormones. Make you cry even when you don't want to."

"Are you sure these are hormonal tears?" Addison whispered, pulling her into a comforting hug. The scent of lavender and the taste of salty tears mixed, letting her feel even closer to Meredith than she was in that moment.

"I don't know." Meredith pulled back and reopened the box. Inside was a tiny little red heart. The words on it read - "I will always be on your side"