'Alex, I think you should – ' Alex stepped in front of Christina, and turned to face her.

'Christina. I know you're all scary and damaged and dark and in the dark and twisty club with Meredith, and usually I would be afraid of you and run the opposite direction as fast as I could, and I'm still scared of you? OK? You're creepiness has not been compromised. And I know you think I'm an ass, but with whatever integrity you have left in you, you will feel sorry for me and step out of my way right now.'

Christina was too surprised that Alex could even string that many words together to do anything but meekly step out of the way, and close the curtain on the two of them.

'Alex!' Rebecca gasped, a tiny baby clutched in her arms. She went to stand up. But Alex firmly put a hand on her shoulder and gently forced her back down.

'What – are you doing?'

At that moment, the curtain was swept aside and Alex spun on the spot, to reveal Addison, with Christina visibly trying to restrain her by the arm. As the curtain swept across, she let go and sidled out of the way, throwing Alex an 'I tried' expression.

Addison didn't even look at his patient.

'Honey, I'm on call tonight, so do you mind waiting until six?'

'Sure,' muttered Alex. Addison nodded once, and turned to smile down at his patient, recognition flashing across her face.

'Ja – Av – Rebecca. How's your baby doing?'

'Not so good, actually. That's why I'm here, but Al – Dr Karev has got in well under control, right, doctor?' She looked at him pleadingly.

'Right. It's fine. See you at six, then,' Alex offered, leaning forward to kiss her cheeks. Addison smiled and let him, and the swept the curtain back across. What Alex didn't catch was the dark worry that washed over her face as soon as her back was turned.

'What – can I do for your baby, then?' Alex asked, turning back to her.

'That's it? Seriously?'

'What?'

'You ditch me, go to the wedding, hook up with red, and then don't even ask me how I am?' Alex looked down, watching the hands that twisted underneath a bundle of blankets. He knew them so well. He could still see the small white curvy scar that twined around her index finger. He had stitched that himself. Next to it, he noticed a gold wedding band. That hurt him, although he didn't see why it should. He was with Addison, and she was with Jeff – happily married. They were just friends now. That was it.

Instead, Alex said, 'I did come back for you. I ran – through the hospital, into the room. It was empty. I went to the carpark. You were gone. I checked your discharge papers. I missed you by twenty minutes. Twenty – ' His voice cracked. Ava put a hand to his hand, which rested on the blankets.

'Olivia?' The nurse appeared in the gap in the curtain. 'Take – the baby down to PDs, with the chart – ' He mentally thanked Christina for doing the chart before he had assaulted her. Ava or Rebecca handed the baby over, and then Alex sat on the bed next to her, holding her hand.

'So – so you and red?' she managed.

'Rebecca – '

'Ava.'

'Ava – I – I thought you were gone. To your husband. I thought … '

'I am gone to my husband, you don't need to explain. It's none of my business – I just wondered. Since I lay in a bed for over six months opposite the nurses' station listening to how hot you were for each other. I didn't want to miss the updates of the Seattle Grace show …' They both managed to laugh, and Ava tilted her head to one side, looking into his eyes.

Before he quite knew what he was doing, Alex had her lips between his, had his hands on her waist, and then her hips, and then her hair. She was pressing into his chest with her small hands, tongue tracing his lips, running hands through his hair, nudging his leg with hers. Hands roaming, touching, stroking. Lips touching.

Remembering. Alex recalled how he had pulled her out from under the pylon, had though she was dead. Had kept her baby alive during brain surgery. Had delivered that baby a week later, holding it, wrapping it. Had stroked her hair down, taken the photos. Told her to stay with the decent guy.

Ava remembered how she had heard him tell Jeff she was beautiful, how he had held her baby girl and looked at her as if she was his own, how he had laughed as the flash had gone on her camera. How he had held her hand and helped her chose a face. How he had named her Ava.

His hand came to rest on her breast, and she tore her mouth away.

'I'm married – I'm …'

'Stop saying that like it means something.' He regretted saying exactly what he thought the second the words left his mouth. But Ava started kissing him again, hands all over his chest.

But her words got to Alex too. Just this morning he had held Addison and told her he loved her. Was it possible to love two people at once? Or was there two different types of love? On one hand, someone you had a lot in common with, someone with whom the sex was great and there was always plenty to talk about. On the other hand, someone who knew what you were thinking and you knew about them, you knew more about the other then you did about yourself, who you just seemed to connect with, and couldn't stand not to be around.

What would he do? Was there anything to do? Alex had no idea.