A/N: I'm finished and I'm posting, I've read over it twice and I could've included more but I'm happy
with what turned out... Review please:()
"What do you think your doing?"
Addison Montgomery paused in her review of the chart that lay in front of her as she was met face to face with Alex Karev, someone who she could honestly consider now as one of her closest friends.
She closed her chart and turned her nine-month pregnant body towards his with a smile, "What does it look like Karev? I'm working."
Alex scowled as he walked closer to her, "You are supposed to be on maternity leave remember?"
Addison smiled as she folded her glasses and placed them into her lab coat, "Karev, I'm aware that I'm obscenely obstructing your view of the pretty ladies in this place but I never knew it bothered you that much, me working here that is."
Alex rolled his eyes, "Don't be ridiculous, I just don't want to have a repeat of Bailey's labor. Her water broke on O'Malley's shoes and while we may be best friends and all, I'm not willing to waste my new shoes on your water breaking."
Addison smiled, "Don't worry, I only have two or more patients and then I'll be ready to enjoy my maternity leave starting tomorrow in my brand new penthouse that my friend helped me pick out. So the only question is my friend coming over to join?"
Alex grimaced, "Sloan's got me in back to back breast reconstruction surgeries. I'm free for lunch though, I have something for you anyway."
Addison started to answer when her pager went off, "Lunch? You're buying right?"
Alex started running in the opposite directions as he called out over his shoulder, "You're the one with all the last names, your buying."
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As Alex rushed to his surgery and his current mentor's side he mused over the last couple of months. He had been through changes, some good and some not so good but all he had done by Addison's side. She was an amazing woman and at times he sometimes wondered what the hell was going through the minds of Derek Shepherd and Mark Sloan that they would take the chance and ruin what he considered to be the best thing that had ever happened to him.
Take Mark Sloan for example.
God, what an ass. If he wasn't so brilliant at what he did then maybe he would be tempted to return the vagina squad and become a gynecologist or something but his passion was and still remained plastic surgery.
He didn't see that changing anytime soon and after someone had magically, although he knew perfectly well who had put a bug in Richard's ear about how he was being treated Sloan had really begun to teach and he was really learning. It was all he had ever wanted in his world but he didn't know it also came with a price, Mark Sloan wanted his head and not in a good way. He wanted him gone because he considered him a threat to his relationship with Addison. Although to be completely honest, there was no relationship. He made sexist remarks to her and she would roll her eyes and considered him a pig but never took him seriously and he would stare after her longingly but never made any real moves.
He had just about pegged him as an idiot until he saw him in surgery where he always shined.
Shine that was another word he used to describe Derek Shepherd the other headache in his life.
Derek Shepherd was the definition of selfish jerk and he liked to shine that particular fact on everyone whenever he chose to. At one time he actually believed he epitomized the meaning of the word but watching him practically seethe with jealousy over his friendship with Addison made him realize that he was just a selfish jerk. He remembered the first time he was confronted by the headstrong neurosurgeon over his relationship with Addison.
Flashback
"Karev?" Alex spun around, it had been along day and he was just looking forward to a little down time and some peace and quiet and maybe a good laugh with his favorite redhead.
"Yes Dr. Shepherd?" Alex felt the need to keep it professional even though he knew the smug bastard couldn't stand the ground he walked on and he would admit he reveled in that hate. It made him glad to be alive. "I've noticed you've been spending an awful lot of time with my wife." Alex cleared his throat he was hesitant to interrupt what would obviously be another fight, but he felt the need to, "Ex-Wife? She's your ex-wife."
Derek scowled and said, "Regardless of her marriage status she's the mother of my child."
Alex crossed his arms in exasperation, "Yes, I'm well aware of her status as a single mother and in case for those who weren't blind she's also sporting some new maternity clothes, can I have your point please Dr. Shepherd?"
Derek stepped closer to him and Alex wanted to reach out and smack the guy but toned down the need, "My point is that as the father of her child, I don't want you around her as much as you are she doesn't need you. If she needs anything, I'm there." Alex rolled his eyes as he pressed the elevator down button, "All due respect Dr. Shepherd, but your track record dictates otherwise," the elevator doors opened and they stepped in and as he pushed down Derek pressed stop on the elevator turned to him, "My track record."
Alex heard the sounds of the alarm filter through the elevator and he cursed to himself silently, why was he always the one ending up in messes like this? "Look, I'm tired Dr. Shepherd and I want to go home and you probably are ready to go home as well, let's call it a night and discuss this some other time."
He reached for the start button but Derek slapped his hand away. Alex groaned to himself, this bastard was looking to get decked. "Fine, you wanted the truth here it is, your track record with Addison sucks. You drag that woman halfway across the country so you can make moon eyes at Meredith Grey. You let her give up everything, her friends, her family and her career to chase after you because you were too weak to say that you wanted a divorce and now because someone is showing an interest in Addison friendly or otherwise your are ready to become the man that you never were but it's too late…. Let it go and let her go, she won't keep you from your kid."
Derek watched as Alex reached for the button again but Derek stopped his hand again, "What I feel for Addison is incalculable and just because some Mark Sloan wannabe is in her face is not going to make me change my mind that you are just after her for…."
Alex laughed, "For what? Her money? She hasn't offered me a penny and I don't need it, so what else could there be? Sex, yea that's it, I've got the hots for a six month pregnant woman who just happens to be one of my superiors. With the exception of being pregnant, I would actually be describing your relationship with Grey wouldn't I? No, you're jealous and I know what it's about."
Derek spat out, "I love Meredith and I'm committed to her. I have nothing to be jealous about." Alex nodded, "You know I believe that. I believe that you love Meredith in your own way and whether your relationship with her will last or not doesn't concern me what I find interesting is that you are jealous because of my friendship with Addison affects you screwing her with her mind. That is what has you pissed, you want to be friends with her again and since she's not falling over herself to become your friend again, you choose to take it out on me. Well, I'm not the cause for all your mistakes Shepherd, that's you," Alex pushed the start button without interference this time, "If you want to be friends with Addison join the club but what's itching you is that you'll never be the best friends you once were and you're the cause for all of your own problems. That must be nice to sleep with at night." As the doors opened he glanced back at a brooding Derek Shepherd in disgust. End of Flashback
"Any day now Karev."
Alex handed his mentor his cup of coffee as they became engrossed in the women's breasts they were going to be augmenting today.
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"Seriously?"
Alex grinned at Addison from across the table with his fork held in the air, "I'm serious. We are in the middle of a surgery and Sloan asks if I picked up his dry cleaning? When he found out I didn't he started to ream me out and then Richard walks in and asks if everything is okay…I'm feeling particularly cocky at the moment so I ask Sloan is everything okay?"
Addison giggled from across the table as she sipped on her juice, "Oh god, I know that must've pissed off Mark; he's going to have you on grunt duty for the next five weeks. So what did you end up telling Richard anyway?"
Alex stole one of the fries off her plate and munched down, "I told Richard that everything was fine and we were discussing his agenda for the rest of the day. I made Richard believe it was some type of memory technique that Sloan was teaching me it helped me remember something or other."
Addison reached for a sip of his soda, Alex rolled his eyes as she placed the cup back down in front of him, "So Sloan may actually be grateful and let you into his secret lair for more surgeries."
Alex laughed as she adapted her voice maniacally to speak that last phrase. As they were engrossed in conversation, Isobel Stevens approached their table with a plastic bag full of goodies.
Alex eyed the bag suspiciously and checked his watch, "My birthday isn't for another two weeks so what's the occasion?"
Addison smiled and said, "I can always eat sweets, so are you sharing?"
Izzie smirked and looked pointedly at Addison when she spoke her next words, "It's for Derek and Meredith's anniversary I'm surprising them with some sweets."
Addison felt her smile falter. It always hurt to be reminded that she was no longer married to the man that she had spent the majority of her adult years with and that even though she was still hurt over their breakup he had gone on as if nothing had happened.
Alex swore under his breath as he softly mouthed "Excuse me," to Addison and then jerked Izzie into the nearest corner.
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"What the hell is your problem Izzie? You know she still has feelings for that jerk and you go rub it in."
Izzie jerked her arm out of his, "Her feelings obviously don't run as deep as you seem to think if she's always hanging on your every other word. She's practically panting after you Alex and you are just soaking it up aren't you?"
Alex scowled as he looked at her, "Addison is my friend I'm tired of having to explain to everyone. You, Meredith, Derek and George what my relationship is with Addison. We are friends, friends who came together in a time of need. What is so wrong about that? I'm not sleeping with her."
Izzie crossed her arms, "She's pregnant with Derek's child."
Alex rolled his eyes, "That's not really a newsflash Izzie. She's nine months pregnant with the man's child, I kinda knew that."
Izzie grimaced, "You certainly don't act like it. You are always eating lunch with her; you never have anytime for your friends anymore."
Alex looked at her in shock, "Friends? I don't have any friends, they all tolerated me on a case by case basis and Addison is the first real friend I've made beside you and I'm quickly rethinking that option."
He started to walk away when Izzie mumbled something from behind him. He turned around, "What did you say?"
Izzie leaned forward, "I'm sorry okay. I know that there's nothing wrong with a platonic friendship with Addison Montgomery. If I hadn't been such a hard ass about backing Meredith up we would probably be good friends by now. I just don't like that she's always the first one you think about and I'm the last one."
Alex closed his eyes as he realized what the source of her feelings stemmed from, and then opened them slowly and stared into her eyes, "Izzie when I approached you about my feelings you told me that you were still in love with Denny and I respected that. What it sounds like to me is jealousy and if we are just friends than you don't get to be jealous. You don't get to act like I'm cheating on you every time you see me talking to Addison because it's not fair to her and its not fair to me."
Izzie nodded as she felt the tears start to pool in her eyelids as she valiantly struggled to hold them back, "I have no right to ask you to wait for me but I just feel scared…I'm scared that when I finally do get the courage up to be in a relationship with you, that it will be too late and that you will have realized that you want to be in a relationship with Addison and then I'll be left on the outside."
Alex sighed as he pulled his friend into his arms, "Izzie I can't promise you I will wait. I can't promise you that I won't be with Addison or someone else when you finally do decide to start dating again. What I do know is that I care about you and I don't want to see you hurt so I'll stay away….," Izzie gasped in disbelief. She didn't want to lose his friendship no matter what her feelings for him unsolved or otherwise, "No Alex, I'll be okay."
Alex nodded as he pulled back, "Well go apologize to Addison while I go to my locker. You're making me miss my lunch and I have a full schedule with Sloan this afternoon."
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"Did she apologize?"
Addison speared a piece of chicken from her Caesar salad as she looked at Alex who was sitting down and starting on his burger, "You didn't have to do that. I know she was just trying to get at me because she's jealous of my relationship with you."
Alex scowled, "Look, your nickname may have been Satan but you aren't responsible for every problem that exists in this hospital okay, so she needed to apologize and I'm guessing she did?"
Addison nodded as she ate her salad and looked suspiciously at the package that he had placed on the table, "What's in the bag?"
Alex grinned, "A little present for the boy who's coming to join our weird little family."
Addison rolled her eyes as her face lit up at the idea of more presents. Alex had become crazy lately with the amount of presents he bestowed upon her at the most craziest times. Once she received a present during Lamaze class mid pose mind you and she also received another gift right before she entered into a surgery to save triplet's lives. Derek had been a witness to that gift exchange and had scowled about that one for days even while she had secretly been pleased that he was still upset about the gifts she was receiving.
"So what did you get for the girl who's coming into our little family?"
Alex grinned at her, "You know I still don't trust the ob/gyn, my ex-mentor would tell me from the way that your carrying it's a boy."
Addison swiped at him, "As my own ob/gyn, I'm offended by that statement besides, I did the ultrasound and then I had Miranda come behind me and check. It's a girl, Karev get used to it."
Alex handed her the package and said, "Enjoy."
Addison started giggling like a schoolgirl as she ripped into the paper.
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"Oh God, another one." Meredith looked up from her sandwich at her boyfriend whose eyes hadn't left Alex and Addison since he sat down and uttered those words.
She glanced over there nonchalantly, "So it's a gift, what does it matter Derek? Addison told you herself that they were just friends."
Derek scowled, "She doesn't need another friend like that, and what about Bailey she's nice isn't she?"
Meredith decided to let the comment pass and started chewing on her food, "Why can't you just let her alone? She's presented you with papers already…"
Flashback
"Addie?"
Addison stared up at Derek from across the table in Richard's office. She had asked her former mentor for a moment alone with her ex-husband. As she stared into his eyes she felt the familiar pull to be with him but held back.
"You asked to see me Derek?" Derek held out his hands to her but Addison side stepped him, "Was there something you needed Derek?" Derek scowled, "I need you to not look at me like I'm going to break you." Addison snorted in disbelief, "And these last few months have been what a candy walk for me? You hurt me, you broke me but I'm fixing me so if I don't want you to touch me it's for a good reason." Derek felt the tears pool in his eyes, "Addie, we got screwed up somewhere along the way." Addison grabbed onto her purse and left the room with her legs shaking End of Flashback
Addison shook her head, "I'm not listening to this," she grabbed her purse and pulled out some papers and slid them to him across the table, "These are joint custody papers, they say I won't keep you from your daughter. Sign them if you care but if you don't I'll retain full custody and you can have limited visitation rights. Now's your chance, you get to decide if you want to break your child just like you broke me."
Derek nodded, "I didn't sign those papers I told her she could have full custody of our child but I wanted unlimited access."
Meredith smiled, "She granted that didn't she? So why can't she have a friend at the hospital even if it's Alex Karev?"
Izzie came up and placed the carton of cupcakes down as she smiled upon the pair, "Happy Anniversary."
Meredith looked at Derek who looked down, "Anniversary?"
Izzie nodded and said, "You guys started dating almost six months ago and you've been together for longer than that considering Derek was…."
Derek looked down as he felt his gut clenching whenever he was presented with how he had treated his ex-wife, "Considering I was still married to Addison. Look, I lost my appetite, I need to go."
He brushed a kiss against Meredith's mouth and ran out of the cafeteria pausing slightly as he watched the joy on Addison's face as she opened the gift.
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"So what do you think?" Alex peered from across his sandwich at the look on Addison's face as she reviewed her gifts. He didn't have much money but what he did have was enough to purchase the items currently in her hands.
Addison looked up at him with a smile, "You bought the baby CD's?"
Alex nodded as he pulled the gift out of her hands and showed, "And not just any CD's," he showed her the Baby Einstein CD with a grin and said, "See this says you can play this one to the fetus and then to put them to sleep."
Addison nodded, "I already have this set but not this CD, I'm grateful but I'm really confused about this other CD, who's Augustana?"
Alex rolled his eyes, "See? Someone has to be in this kid's life to help him pick the right music, they are the current best band out there. You have to have heard of them."
Addison shrugged, "I'm more of a smooth jazz kinda girl but I'll try it, for her," She looked at Alex pointedly to show her belief that she was carrying a girl.
Alex smiled refusing to be baited back into their infamous fight over what gender baby she was carrying, "That's all I ask, look I gotta go, I'll be by later to make sure you get home safe. I'm buying dinner roasted chicken or baked fish?"
Addison pouted, "I want fried chicken, with mashed potatoes smothered in Adele's cream gravy with rolls that she makes that will make your mouth water followed by a piece of her Apple pie."
Alex stood up, "So roasted chicken it is?"
Addison exhaled on a sigh, "Roasted chicken it is."
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"I want Karev on my watch."
Miranda Bailey looked up from her spot of reviewing the surgery board, "No is there anything else Dr. Shepherd?"
Derek crossed his arms, "I'm your superior," Miranda raised an eyebrow at that and Derek look like he was going to falter in his sermon but he pressed on, "I'm your superior and I gave you a direct order I expect to be followed."
Miranda sighed, she really didn't feel up to kicking Derek's ass today but for some reason he was acting like he couldn't go on without it. "Karev is working under Sloan as his specialty is Plastics. Richard made the call and on what authority do I disobey my boss and yours as well?"
Derek scowled, "I want him to work under me, and anyway he needs to be brought down a peg."
Miranda rolled her eyes, "Oh I get it you want to make him pay for your bad mood. Nice try, it's not happening."
Miranda started to walk away and Derek followed behind her and fell into stride with her, "He has been in Addison's face for the last six months and he doesn't let her breathe. She needs to…"
Miranda put her hand up, "Uhhh, Uhhh," She held out her hand against his face in protest, "What you are upset about is that Addison isn't moping after you like a puppy dog, she's moving on what's the issue? So what if she's friends with Karev, I happen to like the little suck up myself."
Derek groaned, "Not you too."
Miranda stopped in the hall and said, "Be honest with yourself Shepherd. You're one screwed up man, you're a neurosurgeon but I seriously wonder about your brain at times. You can't expect the whole world to wait on your indecisive, wishy-washy butt. If you love Meredith which you claim you do then what does it matter if your ex-wife is friends with Alex Karev, Mark Sloan or the new fine cardiologist that Richard hired? What it comes down to is you don't know what you want. If you want Meredith then act like it but if you want Addison," Derek stared at her as she paused and touched him on the shoulder, "If you want Addison, your out of luck she's not for you anymore, you've hurt her too much."
Miranda removed her arm and walked away leaving Derek with his heart in his mouth.
Addison looked up as Derek walked into the attending's room and sat down across from her. Addison removed her glasses as she was reading the Journal of Neonatology, and said, "Is there something on your mind?"
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Derek exhaled as he looked at his ex-wife. He had watched her go through a lot of physical changes over the last couple of months but whatever the changes she always remained positive and beautiful carrying his child, "I was wondering if you thought anymore to our daughter's godparents?"
It was an in that he always used when he just wanted to be in her presence, she would never refuse to talk to him about their child. It was comforting to say the least that there was a connection that no one could touch.
Addison smiled, "I was thinking about that but do you have any suggestions? We really need to come up with the people so we can ask them."
Derek nodded, "Richard and Adele Webber. Look, they just got remarried and they've always been there for us and I think it would be a nice gesture."
Addison chuckled, "My thoughts exactly, they'll already be honorary grandparents so why not make them godparents but I was wondering about a backup set as well. Richard and Adele are getting up in years even though I would never admit it and I was thinking about Karev for the Godfather and Bailey for the Godmother."
Derek felt the smile fall away from his face, "Yes to Bailey and hell no to Karev. How could you even say that? It's like asking Sloan to watch our teenaged daughter. He will not be around her life that much to make a difference."
Addison exhaled as she pushed the chair away from the table and stood up, "Derek, I really thought we could talk about this like the parents to be that we are but I see that your jealousy is still getting the best of you. Alex is my friend and whether or not he's the godfather of our child, he will play a prominent role in our daughter's life, whether you like it or not."
Addison placed a hand on her back as she started to exit when Derek stood up and placed a hand on her shoulder, "Addie, please let's talk about this." Addison jerked her arm away and said, "We have nothing to talk about," she had her extended to open the door when it opened for her and Alex stuck his head in and met Addison's eyes without addressing Derek, "Addison you ready to go?"
Addison started forward when Alex backed up and started shaking his head, "See this is just what I was saying this morning," Derek looked at him in disbelief and he motioned downwards, "Her water just broke."
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Six Hours Later
Addison sat up in bed with her daughter cradled in her arms. She had never felt so happy in her life, it even surpassed the day that she and Derek had exchanged their vows. Speaking of her ex-husband she looked over to see him asleep in the chair. Whether she wanted to admit it or not, he had been a great help for her during labor. She had wanted her Lamaze coach but after the fight that she and Derek just had she though it wasn't prudent to let Alex continue to remain her coach.
So Derek had held her hand, fed her ice and stroked the sweat from her brow. It had felt like she was still married to the man who was the one she remembered, the one who had always supported her, the one who loved her and doted on her. But at the end of the labor, she had to realize that he was no longer hers to love, her to care for and her to want. He belonged to someone else now. And even though he kissed her on the lips when their daughter had been placed in her arms, she knew it was a feeling of wonder at the life they created and not the love that still united them. It made her sad to remember the times when they had been like that, united in their love of each other. As she focused on her daughter in her arms who just got finished been breastfed by her mother the first time and was settling back into a sleep she heard a knock on the door.
"Come in."
The door opened and Meredith Grey and Alex Karev stuck their hands in. Meredith came in carrying a teddy bear while Alex was carrying a bouquet of yellow roses. She smiled and said, "Hey come in."
Meredith walked in first but felt awkward. She and Derek hadn't really discussed her place in Addison's life and not to mention her place in their daughter's life. She had been acting like the baby wasn't a reality which she knew was not smart but she was big into denial, it had actually become her mantra over the past six months. "How are you and the baby doing?"
Addison smiled as she patted the baby on the bottom to remove the gas that was disturbing her rest, "We are doing just fine. She came through the birth like a pro."
Meredith walked over to the bed and leaned over as she looked at the sleeping baby in Addison's arms, "She's gorgeous Addison she looks just like you."
Alex walked up behind Meredith and peered over her shoulder, "Thank god for small miracles. She does look like you fortunately for both of you."
Meredith backed away and walked over to the chair that Derek was currently sleeping in and patted him on the leg, "Derek, wake up."
Derek moaned as he opened his eyes slowly, he sat up and looked at Addison who was laughing with Alex about the roses that she got. He was watching over her and their daughter with such a fond, protective look that he was tempted to punch his lights out, but he knew he had no right. This was the course he had chosen and come hell or high water he had to live it out.
He nodded and stood up and walked over to Addison and their daughter, "I'm going to go now, if you need anything, anything at all Addison, page me, call me find me. I'll be here within the hour."
Addison nodded as he brushed a kiss onto his fingertips and touched the side of the baby's cheek. He walked out of the room with his arm around Meredith's waist as the weight of what he was leaving behind hit him.
Alex smiled as he looked at the baby girl who was sleeping soundly in Addison's arms, "So I won the pool which means I was able to afford these flowers."
Addison looked at him in question, "Pool? What pool?"
Alex pulled the chair up to the side of the bed and sat down, "We had a bet going on about when you were going to go into labor, there were different days, times and places and I won two out of three. I bet that I would see you go into labor at the hospital with Derek causing you an episode."
Addison rolled her eyes, "That predictable am I?"
Alex shrugged, "Not really, I just know that your first love is this place and your second love is Derek….," Addison exhaled as she looked down, "You know a week ago I would've agreed with you but when the doctor placed her in my arms, I knew that I couldn't be self-centered anymore. Even if I love Derek Shepherd still, he's moved on with his life and I need to move on with mine, I need to find a guy who will make me happy and be a great stepfather to Chloe."
Alex smiled softly, "Chloe? You named her already," Addison nodded, "You interrupted me, I didn't finish her name is Chloe Alexandra Forbes Montgomery Shepherd."
Alex felt the breath leave his lungs, "Addison you didn't have to do that, I don't want you to do that."
Addison smiled, "Alex, it's been a difficult couple of months. You've held me hand through the tears, the rage and the vomiting hell even Lamaze class which even though Derek didn't want you to be my coach you were still there with me in spirit. You have helped me take care of myself and in turn take care of her, so since I can't give you the title of Godfather to Chloe, she at least gets to carry a part of you with her for always."
Alex leaned over and brushed his lips across Addison's forehead and then reached for Chloe. Addison handed her over without hesitation and as Alex held the baby in his arms, he admitted to the truth to himself for the first time. He was in love with Addison Forbes Montgomery and as he gazed upon the baby in his arms he amended that statement to include Chloe. These two women without warning had stolen his heart and he didn't know how he was going to go on if he ever had to let them go.
Fin
Note: You could be kinda upset I left it there; well I wanted to leave it up to everyone's imagination on who ended up with whom. Addison made a statement that she was getting over Derek, Alex admitted he was in love with Addison, Izzie is on her way to being back in love with Alex, Derek doesn't know if he made a mistake in leaving Addison for Meredith or he's just missing his best friend. Either way whatever couple you ship you now have the option to end it your way with Meredith/Derek or Derek/Addison or Alex/Addison or Alex/Izzie or even Meredith/Alex if you like. I don't know but I didn't want that kind of responsibility. Thanks and let me know what you think…Also did you notice that whenever I write a oneshot the second part ends up being kinda long, I don't know why that is…Thanks for reading my rambling.