Series: The Sound of White
Title: (1) Untitled
Rating: T
Pairing: Addison/Alex
Summary: She crumbles in the palm of his hand, and he is there to catch her fall. Tears fall from her beautiful, bright eyes, that have always enraptured him. And it makes his chest ache, and he has no idea why.
A/N: My plot bunny likes to screw with me. So I'm chilling, and a plot bunny jumps out of me--Things that never were, things that'll never be for Addex. What is that?! So, this would involve the use of cliches and happy moments--with a hint of reality (the trick). Um, yeah, I don't know why this came to me of all people. So, here's the thing. Tell me if this first one is any good. Tell me if you want this 'cliche' series--and I'll write more. Tell me what cliche you would like used if you want more.


She's at the back entrance of the hospital, at 2 am, and everything's quiet. No birds chirping, no screaming siren of an ambulance, and no staff running around. They're all inside, taking in what has been one of the calmest days at the hospital. Except that this has been one of her more torturous days.

She returned to Seattle Grace after two years, because she missed the hectic, hospital-lifestyle. And when she came back, she smiled at everyone, even him, and he knew she had made amends with her past. The sun had done her good, and maybe she hadn't forgiven him, but when he apologized, she said she got it. That he was scared, that he needed time to grow up. Anyway, it was in the past, but he better not do it to any other girl ever again. He said done, she'd smiled, and everyone was content.

Meredith and Derek were engaged to be married by the time she came back, George and Callie were divorced, but on better terms. Bailey still her little family, and she was good with everyone's happiness. She even accepted mentoring him, because he had chosen to go into neo-natal, and she's always been complete professional. Sure, she keeps her distance more with him, but they're better at pretending not to be interested in each other as friends or anything else.

But after seven months back, Meredith has been keeping an unsuccessfully kept secret--she's two months pregnant, and it takes the entire staff to learn this a minimum of 40 minutes.

He was in the room when she found out, and she kept her professional demeanor. Meredith even said that she had congratulated her, and offered to be her physician. But Meredith has already left the hospital, as has Derek, and he should be gone too. Except that he could always tell when something was wrong with her, and he hasn't seen her for an hour.

So he's gone all around the hospital, until he finds her at the back entrance, and he can tell she's distressed. The moon strikes her at an odd angle, illuminating the dark glisten of her sad eyes.

He walks to her slowly, so as to not frighten her, until he's standing next to her. She acknowledges his presence with a two-second glance, and he leans back on the same wall she's resting on, because if she wants to talk, she'll talk. He wouldn't force it out of her.

And it takes five minutes for her to speak.

"You know why I went to LA the first time?" she asks softly.

"No," he replies casually.

"After getting shot down by you, after accepting that Mark and I would never be, and knowing I was getting old per say, I decided to have a baby. On my own," she admits.

Taken aback, he turns his head to her, but she stills looks ahead of her.

"But it turned out I only had two eggs left. Two lousy eggs, with a timer laughing at me."

"I'm sorry," is the only thing he can think to say.

"Hmm," there's a hint of a small, sadistic chuckle from her.

"It's nobody's fault, really. I only put my career first, only kept putting off getting pregnant, and aborted Mark's baby."

This is news to him, and his blood boils a bit, a tad envious that Mark had impregnated her, a tad angry for her getting an abortion. He pushes these two feelings aside, and turns his body completely to her. Finally, she turns her head to him.

"She's pregnant," she whispers, and her eyes glisten for a second.

"And I'm happy for her, and for Derek, but God, she's pregnant, and I'm practically barren. I mean, the dirty mistress is having a baby, and I'm still all alone."

He takes a comforting hand to her cheek, and cups it softly, stroking his thumb. She's fighting a threatening cry, and he's helping her fight.

"I noticed," he finally says, when she has regained an ounce of composure.

Strangely enough, it is this that makes her break down. She crumbles in the palm of his hand, and he is there to catch her fall. Tears fall from her beautiful, bright eyes, that have always enraptured him. And it makes his chest ache, and he has no idea why.

His arms are tightly wrapped around her, holding her in place, and her hands clench his jacket. A sob or two escape her mouth, until the early morning has returned to a quiet setting. Sensing that she is done crying, and that the momentary relapse of a breakdown has subsided, he moves to let her go, but she remains close.

"Don't," is the soft whisper she recites. He continues holding her firmly in place, until the two simultaneously loosen their grip on one another, and their eyes meet.

He gives her a smirk that is bordering on a smile, and she gives him a small grin, her red, strands of fiery hair stick on her cheeks, and he brushes them off, drying her tears.

When he's done, she says," You know, I got over you. And then I came back, and I started liking you all over again."

"Or maybe," he says with a cocky smile," you never got over me, and you just tricked yourself into believing you had."

"What makes you think that?" she chuckles.

"'Cause that's how it's been for me."

His smirk turns into an unmistakable smile, and she knows she's smiling like a goof.

"I've had time Addison--I don't want to waste anymore."

"You saying you've grown, Karev?" she cocks an eyebrow at him, testing him.

Instead of a worded answer, he places his hand behind her head, and tilts it up. They lock their eyes, Addison keeping in place, and Alex slowly descending on her.

In a second's notice his lips are on hers, moving in a steady, but passionate pace. It's sweet, short, and tender, but nothing short of amazing. He pulls away softly, and she is still obviously caught up in the moment, as it takes her a while to realize he's gone from her lips.

"I kissed you, not the other way around. I think I've grown."

She laughs, realizing that for a fact, she had been the one to initiate their previous kisses those years back.

"And to clarify--you're not alone. You have two eggs, and unless they've decided to skip out on you, you've still got a shot. And even with that, I'm sure there's a dozen or so orphaned babies waiting for the world's foremost neo-natal surgeon to take them in---someday. Because you're not old Addison," his hands are on either side of her face, and he's speaking with that sincerity that's she's always admired.

She inspects him for a moment, looking intently into his eyes, clearing the confusion running amuck in her mind. Then, she says," hold me again, Alex."

He obliges, holding her to his chest, where they both feel the sense of home. It's not in Seattle, not in LA, only where their souls fit. And they may have just found it.

And out of nowhere, a ray from the morning sun that's not supposed to awaken until five am, hits her eyes. Confused at the moon's sudden disappearance, her eyes flare open, and in her hands is not the cloth of a jacket, but rather soft wool.

Blinking, she looks at her surroundings, and the white roof, tan bed sheets, the fluttering curtains, and California house make her realize it was all a dream. The returning to Seattle part, Meredith being preggers, and having a decent Karev in her arms--it was all a dream. Isn't everything?