To This Day

Curiosity

Addison

"Did she take a test yet?"

Mark had been asking me the same questions every single morning at work while bringing me coffee; did Meredith take a test, was she going to soon, would we call when she does.

"It's only been two weeks, Mark. She wants to wait at least four before taking a test. That way we won't get a false negative" I explain for the third time that week "you've got to give the swimmers time to swim; they know what they're doing" I shrug, trying to keep him from worrying. I knew it was useless though; my own futile attempt to keep Mark form worrying himself into a coma.

"Do you think it worked?" He asks for what has to be the millionth time "because she doesn't seem any different" I just had to laugh at that; I don't know what he was expecting. As if when women became pregnant it was suddenly obnoxiously noticeable, like a bright neon sign on her belly that said 'baby on board' would conjure up from thin air.

"She seems the same to me. She hasn't gotten her period, but everything else is the same" I tell him honestly, knowing this information would make him doubtful "She hasn't been nauseous, she hasn't been feeling any more tired than normal, she's been eating fine" I list off, knowing that Mark would ask me all of these anyway. "Her boobs aren't sore. She isn't bloated. She seems alright" and that was my final diagnosis of my wife; perfectly, beautifully, wonderfully, normal.

He nods, sipping his coffee with a sigh. "I'm just excited, I'm gonna be a Dad again" he grins, and it warms my heart.

I knew Derek was excited too, but even when I'd been pregnant with Sutton, Mark had been ecstatic. Like a child failing to contain excitement on Christmas morning, Mark beamed when he found out he was going to be a Father too.

"Hopefully" I chuckle, amused at his expression but also wanting to keep his expectations reasonable"as long as this works. We can always try again if the first time didn't work" I reassure him, but he doesn't seem phased.

"My guys are tough; it worked, I know it did" he confirms, nodding his head soundly, and if Mark had the power to wish something into existence I knew he'd with for this.

"When she wants to take one, you'll be the first to know" I promise "we'll call. This is a group project, you know" it's a joke, but it's also strangely true. This baby was going to be a team effort, the same as our first two.

Well, almost the same. This baby would be conceived a little differently, but still loved all the same.

"I appreciate it, Addie" he smiles gratefully "I'm just so fucking excited! I feel like a kid on Christmas morning just waiting to get a positive piss stick!"

I laugh at that, knowing that Mark was being completely honest. He was so excited to have another baby, because this would be the first baby he and Derek had as an official couple.

Sutton was conceived before they'd acknowledged that they're obsessed with one another, but this time everything was thought out and planned; it was exciting.

"Don't worry, give her another week or two and I'm sure she'll be ready to take one. She's just paranoid" I explain, knowing Meredith's nerves were shot worrying about not being pregnant. She was constantly asking if I'd still love her if she wasn't pregnant, or if she lost the baby, or if she turned out to be infertile. All sorts of scenarios ran through her mind, and every single time I assured her no matter what.

Of course, I didn't need to hesitate before immediately telling her that she could have six fingers on each hand and a third eyeball, and I'd still love her.

"You're right; Rome wasn't built in a day" he sighs "shit takes time. This is a baby, not a microwaveable pizza"

"Only you would compare your future child to a microwave pizza"