"Hey, if it isn't my favorite neonatal surgeon."
"Hi, Joe." Addison smiled as she slid into a seat in front of the bar.
"Rum-and-coke?" Joe offered, already reaching for a glass.
"Thanks," Addison had spent more time at the bar then she'd like to admit since moving to Seattle. She had no social-life to speak of, so any of her free time that wasn't spent back at her apartment was spent at Joe's.
Addison glanced at her watch, then the door. It was still early, but she was worried that maybe Alex had decided not to come after all. It was stupid, really. She felt like she always did before she went on a date back when she was an undergrad.
"You waiting for somebody, Addison?" Joe asked.
Addison smiled, "I am, actually."
"It wouldn't happen to be the handsome Doctor Karev I saw you leaving with the other night, would it?"
"You know Alex?" Addison asked.
Joe nodded, "Yeah, the kid practically lives here." He set down Addison's drink in front of her. "Hey, it's not a problem is it? Him being an intern and you being an attending, I mean. It didn't even occur to me until after I saw you to leave, but..."
Addison made a face, "It's certainly frowned upon, but it's not like I'm going to get fired for it. Normally it's not something that I'd even consider. I mean, if I had know that he was an intern, I never would have slept with him."
"But now you know, and you're waiting for him here?"
She shrugged, "What can I say? Alex is a charmingly persistent guy."
"Well, I'm just glad to finally see you with a smile on your face. Practically ever other time you're in here you look like somebody just killed your puppy. And Alex is a good guy. I mean, he buries it pretty deep sometimes, but he really is." Joe looked up, beyond Addison, to the door. "And speaking of good guys..."
Addison turned to see Alex standing in the doorway. He grinned as they made eye contact.
"You want to grab a table?" he asked when he approached.
"Sure." Addison grabbed her drink and headed over to an empty table in the corner, while Alex got a drink of his own.
"What are you smirking about?" Addison asked, as he appeared at the table a few moments later, a glass of beer in hand.
Alex laughed a little as he sat down, "I got the hottest woman at Seattle Grace to come have drinks with me. I think that deserves a smirk or two."
Addison rolled her eyes, but she couldn't help but smile. "You're laying the charm on just a bit thick, don't you think?"
"Well, I've decided I'm going to sweep you off your feet."
Addison raised an eyebrow, "Oh, you did, did you?"
Alex nodded as he took a drink of his beer. "I do have a lot to overcome, don't I? Turning a one-night-stand into an actual relationship isn't something that's done very often. Hell, I've certainly never tried it before. And then there's the fact that you aren't exactly predisposed to dating an intern."
"So, how do you plan to overcome all of my reservations?" Addison questioned.
Alex shrugged, "Getting you here was a good first step. The rest will follow once you get to know me."
Addison through back her head and laughed. "Alex Karev, you are one of the most confident men I've ever met."
"Is that a good thing for a bad thing?"
Addison considered as she took a sip of her drink. "I'm actually not sure yet."
They sat in silence for long moment, just smiling at each other.
"So," Addison said eventually. "Tell me about yourself."
"Where do you want me to start?" He grimaced slightly, "My whole life story isn't exactly first date friendly."
Addison shook her head. "Don't worry," she assured him. "I'm not asking for your deep dark secrets. Start with something easy. Do you know what you want to specialize in?"
"I'm going into plastics."
Addison had to smile at that.
"Are you amused by that?" Alex asked.
"I am, actually."
"Care to share the joke?" Alex asked, a little offended.
"Don't worry. I'm not making fun of you. It's just that you remind of another plastic surgeon I know. Handsome, cocky, full of himself."
"Handsome, huh?"
Addison chuckled again, "You just honed right in on that part, huh? So, why plastics?"
"Money," Alex said simply.
Addison stared at him, shaking her head slightly in disgust.
"How very noble of you."
"Well, I'm sorry that it doesn't live up to your standards. I suppose you'd rather me say I want to join you on the vagina squad?"
Addison threw back the rest of her drink.
"You're sort of letting the charm slip a little there, Karev."
Alex shrugged, "You're the one who accused me of not being noble. And plastic surgery isn't all about boob jobs and liposuctions. It's also fixing cleft-palates on babies and helping burn victims."
"True. But you said yourself that you're after the money."
"Nothing wrong with getting money for helping people. After all," Alex countered, "It's not like you're spending all your time at the free clinic. You're one of the highest paid surgeons at Seattle Grace."
Addison glowered at Alex for a minute, "This has turned quite combative for a first date."
Alex grinned, "Yeah. Fun, isn't it?"
Addison slowly smiled herself. "Yeah. It is, actually."
Alex finished his beer and stood up. "I'm going to go get us a couple more drinks. Why don't you think of more seemingly innocent topics that we can end up fighting about?"
"I'll see what I can do."
-------
The rest of the date actually passed quite pleasantly. They butted heads a few times, but it was always done good-naturedly. Addison hadn't been on an actual date in years. It felt weird, but nice.
Addison had to admit, she was sad to see the night come to an end.
"I've really got to go, Alex. I've got surgery in the morning," Addison said as they stood outside of Joe's."
"You want some company?" Alex suggested.
Addison groaned. She had been dreading this moment. "Alex, despite what our first meeting might suggest, I normally don't hop into bed with guys when I first meet them."
"I thought it was a long-shot," Alex said with a sigh. "But you can't blame a guy for trying."
"Well, you can always try again next time," Addison said with a grin.
"So, there is going to be a next time?"
"I certainly hope so."
"Do I at least get a good night kiss?" Alex asked hopefully.
"I certainly hope so," Addison repeated.
When their lips met, Addison felt a spark of electricity run up her spine. She couldn't remember the last time she had a kiss like that. In fact, she wasn't sure if she had ever had a kiss like that.
"Goodnight, Addison," Alex said with a soft smile.
"Goodnight, Alex."
A/N: Derek appears next chapter. And I'm thinking of doing a Mark/Izzie pairing. That's right boys and girls: Mark is coming to Seattle Grace. I'm not sure when, yet. But I've got most of the details worked out.
As always, thank you to all that take the time to review. It means a lot to me.