Chapter Text
Mark was loading his bag into the trunk of Amelia’s car when Derek walked out of the house with his own duffel slung over one shoulder and a coffee in hand.
“I still don’t get how you got the happy ending,” Derek muttered, taking a sip.
Mark grinned. “Because I’m charming. And hot. And clearly better in bed.”
Behind them, the front door opened. Addison appeared in the doorway, barefoot and glowing, holding Lillian on her hip like some kind of annoyingly perfect beachside goddess.
“Don’t forget your protein ,” she called after Mark, smirking.
“I never do, babe.” Mark blew her a kiss.
Derek made a gagging sound. “I liked it better when you two hated each other.”
Amelia stepped up behind Addison, already dressed but looking severely under-caffeinated.
“You two were not quiet last night,” she said flatly, eyeing them both.
Addison raised an eyebrow. “We weren’t trying to be.”
Amelia groaned. “Okay, ground rules—Mark, if you’re staying at the house again, I need a heads-up. Preferably a week’s notice and maybe a noise-canceling helmet.”
Mark winked. “You’re welcome for the soundtrack.”
“Oh my God,” Amelia said, shoving her fingers into her ears. “No. No, no. I want you to be happy, just… silently.”
Derek snorted. “You could just get your own place.”
“Why should I be exiled?” Amelia shot back. “I’ve been living here for months. It’s not my fault Mark and Addison are in their nauseating rom-com era.”
“I’m not nauseating,” Mark said, lifting Lillian and spinning her gently in the air. “I’m thriving.”
Addison grinned. “He’s thriving in love.”
Derek held up a hand. “Nope. I’m done. I’m going to the car before I throw up.”
Amelia followed. “Me too. I need to be as far away from this domestic bliss as possible.”
Mark and Addison watched the siblings bicker their way down the driveway. Mark turned to her, still holding their baby.
“Do you think they’re secretly jealous?”
Addison leaned her head on his shoulder. “Oh, definitely. But they’ll never admit it.”
“I’ll call you tonight. And every night until I come back, okay?” Mark said.
Addison nodded.
Mark gave Lillian one last kiss on the forehead, then kissed Addison—long and slow.
A horn honked from the driveway.
“Stop sucking face! You’re going to miss your flight!” Amelia yelled.
“Wish me luck with Richard,” Mark said before finally leaving.
Mark walked into Seattle Grace the next day, happier than he could remember being in years. He had his resignation letter in his bag and just needed to give it to Richard.
He found Derek on his way to the attendings’ lounge.
“You look smug,” Derek noted.
“I am smug. I’ve got a beautiful baby, a hot girlfriend, and the ocean waiting for me in L.A. Oh, and by the way—did you and Meredith start trying yet?”
“Mark, we’re not talking about me and my girlfriend’s sex life” Derek said, pushing open the lounge door.
Inside, the room was packed—attendings and residents all loitering like it was a surprise party.
“Is this a welcoming committee?” Mark asked.
“We were just wondering how your trip went,” Cristina said, trying and failing to sound casual.
“How was L.A.?” Callie chimed in.
“You all made a bet, didn’t you?” Derek asked. Everyone nodded. “Even you, Dr. Bailey?”
“Don’t judge me. I had to listen to you both obsess about that baby for a whole day. I deserve something for my suffering.”
Mark grinned. “I don’t think we should tell them.”
A collective groan rippled through the room.
Callie stepped forward. “Mark Sloan, if you don’t tell us right now, I’m going to tell everyone what happened that night.”
Mark blinked. “What night?” A beat. “Oh! That night… Okay, fine. Honestly, I don’t know why this was even a question. Given how superior my genetic material is—yes, I’m the father.”
The room exploded in mixed reactions—cheers, groans, fist bumps, and cash changing hands.
“Come on, Evil Spawn. Pay up,” Cristina said to Alex.
“Whatever, dude,” Alex muttered, slapping bills into her hand. “I’m just glad it’s not me.”
“What?” Mark asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Never mind. I gotta go,” Alex said quickly, slipping out the door.
Callie gave Mark a hug. “Congratulations,” she said before following the others out.
Soon, only Meredith and Derek were left.
“Are you disappointed?” Meredith asked softly.
“I’m not gonna lie—I was,” Derek admitted. “You’d understand if you knew her. But I’m okay. I’m glad Mark’s happy.”
“You two have come a long way,” she said.
He nodded. “He said Lillian’s going to need a playmate when she comes to Seattle.”
“Not the worst idea’” Meredith said, smiling before she left.
Richard Webber’s office
There was a soft knock on the door.
“Chief?” Mark leaned in, that familiar cocky-but-sincere smile on his face.
Richard didn’t even look up. “You only call me ‘Chief’ when you’re about to do something reckless or permanent.”
Mark stepped fully into the office, envelope in hand. “Permanent, this time.”
Richard finally looked up, his eyes falling to the envelope. He took a slow breath. “Is that your resignation?”
Mark gave a single nod. “It’s time. I’m heading back to L.A. for good.”
Richard stared at him for a beat, then took the envelope and set it gently on his desk without opening it.
“You waited until you knew for sure about the baby?”
Mark shrugged. “I knew before. I just… needed Addison to believe it.”
Richard was quiet for a long moment.
“You know,” he said finally, “Addison is like a daughter to me. I’ve known her since she was a resident. I’ve seen her break her back to become the best, and I’ve seen her get broken in return.”
Mark met his gaze without flinching. “I know. And I’ve been the cause of some of that. But not this time.”
Richard studied him.
“She’s got a baby now. That’s not just Addison anymore. That’s a family.”
“That’s why I’m going,” Mark said, voice lower now. “To be what they need. What she deserves.”
Richard gave a slow nod. “I believe you mean that.”
“I do.”
Richard sighed and sank into his chair. “You’ve grown up, Sloan. And I hate that I have to say it, but… I’m proud of you.”
Mark blinked, surprised by the sentiment.
“But,” Richard added, sitting forward, “you can’t just vanish tomorrow. I need time to find someone to take over Plastics.”
Mark opened his mouth, then closed it.
“How long?” he asked cautiously.
“A month. Minimum. You’ve built a strong department here—I’d like you to help me make sure it doesn’t fall apart the second you leave.”
Mark nodded slowly. “Okay. A month.”
“You’ll help train the next head of Plastics. Whoever we bring in, you’ll make sure they can fill those oversized, designer shoes of yours.”
Mark chuckled. “Fine. But you’ll tell Addison I didn’t try to escape?”
Richard smirked. “You can tell her yourself. But I will be checking in.”
Mark moved toward the door, then hesitated.
“Thanks,” he said. “For everything. And for always looking out for her.”
Richard nodded once. “Just don’t make me regret this.”
“I won’t.”
“And tell Addison me and Adele will be expecting Pictures—preferably with the baby, not just your shirtless selfies.”
Mark grinned. “No promises.”
“Out,” Richard said with a wave.
Mark left, and Richard sat back, letting out a breath that was half sadness, half pride.
The sun had just gone down. Addison was curled on the couch in pajama shorts and a worn T-shirt, Lillian dozing in her arms. The baby’s little hand clutched Addison’s necklace, her soft breaths warm against her mother’s skin.
Her phone buzzed on the coffee table.
Mark Sloan calling.
She answered quickly, adjusting the baby. “Hey.”
“Hey, beautiful,” Mark said. His voice was gentle, but there was something in the way he said it that made her sit up a little straighter.
“Everything okay?” she asked. “You sound… weird.”
“I talked to Richard,” he said.
Her heart skipped. “Did he take the resignation?”
“Yeah,” Mark said slowly. “But he asked me for a favor first. He wants me to stay in Seattle for another month—to help train my replacement and keep the Plastics program steady.”
There was a beat of silence on Addison’s end.
“Oh,” she said, trying to keep her voice light. “Right. That makes sense. You’re… important there.”
“Addie,” he said, instantly hearing the shift.
“It’s fine,” she said quickly, too quickly. “I mean, a month isn’t that long—”
“Addison.”
She let out a breath, tried to laugh it off. “You’re not—this isn’t you backing out, right? Like, you’re not getting cold feet or second-guessing or easing into a clean exit strategy?”
“Whoa, hey. No,” he said firmly. “Absolutely not. This is just logistics. I gave Richard my word. And you know I don’t break my word anymore.”
Addison bit her lip. “I just… I guess I got scared. That you’d get back there, see your old life, remember who you used to be—”
“Addison,” Mark said, soft but serious. “I remember who I used to be every time I look at you. And I remember how much I nearly lost because of him. I don’t want that life. I want this one. With you. With her.”
Lillian gave a soft sigh in her sleep.
“I’ll call you every night,” Mark said. “I’ll FaceTime you so much you’ll be sick of my face. I’ll send you videos of Derek being a drama queen. And then I’ll get on a plane, come home, and never leave again. You hear me?”
Addison closed her eyes, letting the words sink in. “Okay,” she whispered.
“You believe me?”
“I believe you,” she said. Then smiled. “You’re still on thin ice though.”
“Fair,” he said with a soft laugh. “I’ll make it up to you in a month. One very naked, very convincing apology at a time.”
Addison laughed quietly, careful not to wake the baby. “You better.”
“I love you,” he said.
“I love you more,” she murmured.
“Not possible.”
“Still true.”
They sat in the quiet for a moment, breathing in sync despite the miles between them.
Addison sat at the Oceanside Wellness kitchen table, cradling her mug like it might give her answers. The coffee had gone cold, but she hadn’t noticed. Mark had been gone a week—just one week—and she was already falling apart in the most humiliatingly domestic way. How had she managed to live without him for nearly two years? Had she been this empty then too?
Naomi and Violet entered, mid-conversation, but paused when they saw her.
Naomi sighed and crossed her arms. “Okay, this is getting really depressing. You’ve officially been in the same seat for three mornings in a row, staring into your coffee like it holds the secret to his return.”
Addison blinked, snapped out of her haze. “I’m not doing that.”
“You are absolutely doing that,” Violet said, sitting down across from her. “And we’re worried.”
“I’m fine,” Addison said, sitting up straighter. “I just didn’t sleep much.”
Naomi raised a brow. “Because you were up thinking about him or because Lillian had a rough night?”
Addison hesitated. “…Both.”
Violet leaned forward. “Are you afraid he’s not coming back?”
Addison gave a small shrug, trying not to look as fragile as she felt. “A little, I guess.”
“Addison.” Naomi’s voice softened. “That man is obsessed with you. If he doesn’t come back, I will personally fly to Seattle and punch him in the throat.”
Addison let out a short, surprised laugh.
Just then, Charlotte stormed in, already looking like she’d been through three patients and a malpractice threat before 9 a.m. She headed straight for the coffee pot.
“Montgomery,” she barked, “when is your baby daddy coming back? Because the plastics guy at St. Ambrose just almost re-attached a left ear to a right side. We nearly had a lawsuit.”
“Charlotte!” Violet snapped.
“What? I’m asking a question.”
“We’re trying not to remind Addison that Mark won’t be back for another three weeks,” Naomi said through gritted teeth.
“Four, if the hospital drags their feet,” Addison muttered, glumly.
Charlotte blinked. “Wait—so he is coming back?”
Addison gave a small, uncertain nod. “Yes. He said he was. He promised.”
“Well then stop acting like someone died,” Charlotte said, pouring her coffee. “You’re not a widow, you’re just temporarily sexually frustrated.”
Violet gave an exasperated sigh. “Very helpful, Charlotte.”
Amelia strolled in next, earbuds in, looking way too chipper for someone who hated mornings. She pulled one earbud out.
“Wow,” she said, looking at Addison. “You’ve got it bad. Already having Mark Sloan withdrawals?”
Addison glared. “Amelia, not now.”
“I’m just saying,” Amelia said, grabbing a banana from the counter. “It’s only been a week and you’re sitting here like a Jane Austen heroine in a corset waiting for her man to return from sea.”
Naomi groaned. “Don’t encourage her.”
Amelia grinned. “Relax, Addie. He’s coming back. The man is so whipped he’d let you tattoo his name on his forehead if you asked.”
“I wouldn’t ask,” Addison said quickly, then added with a sigh, “But yeah, he’s… kind of disgustingly in love with me.”
“Exactly,” Violet said, patting her hand. “You’re just sad because for once, you actually let yourself be happy, and now you’re scared something’s going to ruin it.”
Addison looked around at the women who’d become her second family. “Is it that obvious?”
All of them: “Yes.”
“Well.” Addison took a breath and forced a smile. “In that case, somebody better pour me a fresh cup. I can’t mope properly with cold coffee.”
Charlotte slid the carafe over without a word.
Amelia raised her banana in a toast. “To pathetic, love-sick Addison. May her man return soon and resume his post as resident sex god.”
“Amelia!” Addison yelped again, but she was laughing now, and it felt like something in her chest had loosened.
Naomi smiled. “That’s better.”
Mark sat alone in the lounge, a takeout container half-eaten on the table in front of him, his laptop open but untouched. He’d been back in Seattle for three weeks, and the novelty of “catching up” had already worn off. Richard was still dragging his feet on hiring a replacement, his patients kept asking when he was leaving, and Derek was already making cracks about Mark being a “California dad” now.
And he missed them. God, he missed them.
He opened his phone for the fifth time that hour and stared at the last picture Addison had sent—a blurry selfie of her and Lillian on the back patio, the baby chewing on a teething ring and Addison looking tired but still stupidly beautiful. He could practically hear Lillian’s gurgling laugh and Addison’s sarcastic muttering in the background.
He tapped the screen and hit FaceTime.
It rang twice before Addison picked up. Her face filled the screen, flushed and glowing in that golden L.A. light he was starting to resent.
“Hey, stranger,” she said. “I was starting to think you forgot about us.”
Mark smiled immediately. “Never. You two are literally all I think about.”
Addison smirked. “Don’t get cheesy on me.”
“I’m serious.” He shifted, lowering his voice. “This sucks. I miss your face. I miss the weird noises the baby makes when she sleeps. I even miss Amelia complaining about my ‘obnoxiously heterosexual’ energy.”
Addison laughed, her hand covering her mouth. “Yeah, she said the house feels too quiet without you .”
“Tell her I miss her too. But not as much as I miss you.” He leaned back and sighed. “Richard’s still stalling. Said he needs at least a few more weeks.”
Addison’s smile faltered for a split second. “Right. A few more weeks.”
“Hey.” Mark noticed it immediately. “Don’t do that.”
“Do what?” she asked, too quickly.
“That thing where you think I’m backing out. I’m not, Addie. I’m coming back. You, me, the baby, our weird, noisy little life—I want all of it.”
Addison was quiet, then nodded. “Okay.”
He softened. “You can say you miss me too, you know.”
“I do,” she said quietly. “But I’m mad that I miss you this much. It’s… undignified.”
Mark grinned. “It’s hot. I love that I’ve reduced the great Addison Montgomery to mush.”
“You’re such an ass.”
“But you love me.”
Addison sighed. “Unfortunately.”
Just then, a nurse peeked into the lounge. “Dr. Sloan, the board meeting’s starting.”
Mark waved her off. “Be right there.” He looked back at the screen. “I gotta go. But I’ll call again before bed, yeah?”
“Yeah. Don’t forget your vitamins.”
He laughed. “Never do, babe.”
As the call ended, he stared at the black screen for a moment longer before standing and grabbing his suit jacket.
He was counting the days.
Addison sat hunched over the kitchen island at Oceanside Wellness, cradling a mug of ginger tea like it was the last thing tethering her to the planet. Her skin was pale, her hair was messily pinned back, and her eyes had that puffy, just-cried-or-hasn’t-slept look. Every few minutes she’d wince or press a hand to her stomach with a groan.
Amelia plopped down next to her, already holding a Red Bull. “Okay. You look like garbage and your vibes are rancid. Are you dying, or are you having withdrawals from Mark being gone for six weeks ?”
Addison groaned. “Don’t be mean to me. My stomach hates me. I think my pancreas is failing. Or my gallbladder. Or I’ve developed sudden adult-onset pregnancy trauma.”
Naomi and Violet walked in, both immediately pausing at the sight of her.
“You look worse than yesterday,” Naomi said, not even pretending to sugarcoat it.
“She hasn’t touched caffeine in three days,” Amelia added. “This might be serious.”
“I think my body is staging a coup,” Addison muttered.
Naomi crossed her arms. “You know you’re probably pregnant, right?”
Addison gave her a half-glare. “You always say that.”
“Well, you always are,” Naomi said dryly. “Besides, you’ve got that look.”
“What look?”
“The nauseous, hormonal, you knocked me up again you bastard look.”
“I do not have that look,” Addison argued weakly.
“You absolutely do,” Violet said. “And not for nothing, but this is exactly how you acted with Lillian”
“That’s impossible,” Addison snapped, then paused. “…Isn’t it?”
Amelia tilted her head, suspicious. “Wait. You haven’t taken a test yet?”
“No, because I’ve just been tired and maybe depressed and emotionally fragile and missing my boyfriend—not that I owe any of you an explanation—”
“Bathroom. Now,” Naomi said, already grabbing a pregnancy test from the supply closet.
Addison groaned. “This is so invasive.”
Amelia stood too. “You think this is invasive? I wasn’t here the first time. You’re damn right I’m not missing the sequel.”
“Sequel implies a happy continuation,” Addison grumbled, letting them herd her toward the bathroom. “This might be a horror reboot.”
—
Ten minutes later, the kitchen was full.
“I heard she’s peeing on a stick,” Cooper said, casually grabbing a donut from the counter. “Are we placing bets yet?”
“I’m saying girl,” Sam said, crossing his arms.
“Twins,” Pete said with a smirk. “It’s always twins when people swear it’s just the flu.”
“There’s no bet,” Naomi warned.
“No paternity bet,” Cooper corrected. “But gender is still fair game. Plus, we can bet on whether or not Sloan cries when he finds out.”
“He will,” Amelia said confidently, leaning against the counter. “I’ve seen that man get misty-eyed over Lillian babbling. He’s gonna weep.”
Charlotte walked in looking exhausted. “Are we seriously doing this again?”
“Different baby, same chaos,” Naomi muttered.
“Let me guess,” Charlotte said, pouring her coffee. “Addison’s knocked up and spiraling?”
“She’s testing right now,” Violet confirmed.
“I leave the room for five minutes and she creates life,” Charlotte muttered. “Sloan’s sperm must have GPS.”
The bathroom door creaked open.
Addison emerged with the test in hand and a stunned expression. Amelia was the first one to step forward.
Addison just held out the test.
Amelia took it, glanced at it, then raised both eyebrows. “Well. Holy shit.”
“It’s positive?” Naomi asked.
Addison nodded numbly. “Very.”
A chorus of reactions erupted.
“YES! I KNEW IT!” Cooper shouted.
“Are you okay?” Violet asked gently.
“No, I am not okay!” Addison said, finally coming back to life as she paced the room. “I have a baby, I’m barely sleeping, and my boyfriend is in Seattle and keeps saying ‘just a few more days’ like I don’t know what that means!”
“Addie—” Amelia started.
“I’m thirty-nine, and I got pregnant by accident—again. I can’t do this alone again, I swore I wouldn’t—”
“You’re not alone,” Naomi said firmly.
Addison didn’t seem to hear her. “What if he freaked out? What if he sensed this pregnancy and that’s why he’s been putting off coming back?”
Amelia grabbed her by the shoulders. “Addison. Listen to me. Mark Sloan is head-over-heels stupid in love with you. He will crawl back here through an earthquake if he has to.”
“He better,” Addison said, teary-eyed. “Because I’m not doing anything until he’s here. No scans. No heartbeat. No nickname. Nothing.”
“Totally fair,” Violet said. “This is your pregnancy. You call the shots.”
“Except for gender betting,” Cooper piped up. “That’s community property now.”
Addison threw a granola bar at his head.
He ducked. “Worth it!”
Amelia wrapped an arm around Addison’s shoulder and squeezed. “We’ve got you. I wasn’t here for round one, but you better believe I’m showing up for this one. Like, aggressively.”
Addison sighed and leaned into her. “God, I really hope he comes back soon.”
Amelia grinned. “If not, we’ll steal a helicopter.”
Addison let out a watery laugh. “Fine. But you’re flying it.”
“Please. I’d never get cleared. We’ll just crash it into the driveway. He’ll get the message.”
Addison started at her phone for a long time that night wondering if she should call him or if he would call. Wondering if she should tell him.
She decided it was the right thing to do she had already hid her first pregnancy from him.
The phone rang and she saw it was mark calling like every night. She took a deep breath before answering.
“Hi beautiful” he said in a husky voice “ how was your day”
“Interesting” she said
“I miss you”
“I miss you too, so much i miss..”
“Yeah i miss that too” she heard the laugh in his voice “what are you wearing?”
“Mark! That’s not where i was going…how much longer is Richard keeping you there?”
“I should be done this weekend, I had to put my foot down, I already gave him enough time”
“Okay good that’s good”
“Something is going on Addison?”
“Yes, but I don’t know if I should even tell you its the kind of thing I would rather say in person”
“Okay you’re kind of worrying me”
“Im pregnant Mark”
There was a silence
“You’re pregnant? Like for real?
“Yes they made me take a test today and it was positive”
“Woah ok… how are you feeling?”
“I feel nauseous and anxious and emotionally bloated. And I’m not getting an ultrasound or hearing a heartbeat until you’re back because the last time i was hiding my pregnancy like it was a state secret and i want you to be there”
Silence again. Addison flopped back gainst her pillow, covering her eyes with her arm.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to dump that on you, I just—six weeks is a long time and I thought maybe you were—what if you don’t want this again? What if that’s why you’re staying away?”
“Addison. Hey. No. That’s not why. I want to be there. I just—I promised Richard I’d stay through the end of the month. And then there was an apartment building fire and i had to manage the burn department and follow up with several patients it’s been a mess”
“You really didn’t see this coming?”
Mark laughed softly
“Addie, I was careful. You were chaotic. That’s not birth control, that’s just wishful thinking.”
Addison groaned and threw a pillow.
“But yeah. I didn’t see it coming. I didn’t expect it. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want it. I want you. I want all of it. You, Lillian, chaos baby number two. All of it.”
“I miss you” Addison said
“I miss you too. So much. And I’ll be on the next flight out as soon as I wrap this week. Swear to God. You’re not doing any of this alone”
“You better come back soon, or ill have to go with my appointments with naomi or Amelia,Naomi thinks im a sex addict who keeps getting pregnant and Amelia thinks the same but somehow encourages it”
“Tell them i say thank you for keeping you sane”
“They’re not. They’re absolutely not. Naomi already made a baby name spreadsheet. Cooper started a betting pool. Violet tried to lead a meditation circle.”
“And you love them”
“I tolerate them”” you’re really coming back?
“Soon”