all i've got to say is that i think you'll like this one...

-insert generic disclaimer here-

"So, I've got a question," Alex says to Addison, as they sit on the deck in Naomi and Sam's backyard

"So, I've got a question," Alex says to Addison, as they sit on the deck in Naomi and Sam's backyard. The house is empty, both Naomi and Sam are at work.

She looks at him. "What?"

"You never told me. That first night, why were you crying?"

She searches for a way out, and finds none. "It's nothing really," she says. He gives her a look that says he knows she's lying. "Okay, so fine, maybe it was something. But it's nothing now." He doesn't say anything, so she continues. "When we were in Seattle, Mark and I may have tried dating but he cheated, of course, and I might have found out about it a couple of days before we left and there may have been the small, microscopic, insignificant chance that IthoughtIwasinlovewithhim." Her last words slur together to the point that they're incomprehensible.

"What?" Alex laughs.

Addison takes a deep breath. "I thought I was in love with him," she repeats. She watches as his face darkens. "But I'm not! Not anymore! There's just so much history, and I had to believe that I didn't give up my marriage just for sex. I had to see if there was something there! And there was, but Mark is Mark, and anyways, now I can see it wasn't love and it's just… it's been so long since I was really in love with anyone and I had kind of forgotten, and… and… just please believe me?"

He visibly relaxes and smiles at her. "I believe you. But I don't see why you care so much that I do."

She pales. "Because… because we're friends and I don't want you to think that I'm stupid enough to fall in love with the crowned king of manwhores."

"I don't think you're stupid."

She smiles. "Thanks."

"And anyways, you broke up with him, right?"

"Well, that's the thing… I may have just run off without saying anything."

"Addison!"

"I didn't want to have to look at him!" she defends herself. "Besides, I'm never talking to him again, so…"

"Am I on a cross-country trip because Mark Sloan cheated on you and you thought you were in love with him?"

"What?"

"Am I? Did you leave Seattle because Sloan cheated on you?"

"No! I mean, maybe… okay, yeah, pretty much." She winces, waiting for his reaction.

"Okay."

"Okay? You're not mad at me?"

"No. Why would I be? I mean, he's in Seattle and I'm the one with you, so I don't know why I'd be mad you."

"Oh, good."

"I am pissed that he hurt you though."

She smiles and blushes. "Do you study that?"

"What?"

"How to say the right thing at the right time. Because you always know what to say and I'm just curious, is there a book or something?"

"Um, no," he laughs.

"Okay."

"You are so weird," he informs her with a smile.

0ooo0

"I could stay here forever," Addison sighs, looking at Sam and Naomi's house one last time.

"You don't get to say things like that unless you actually mean it," Alex teases, "otherwise someone might take you seriously and then we'll be stuck somewhere that you don't really want to be."

"Right, sorry."

"So did you mean it?"

"I… uh… no, not really," Addison admits. "It's nice and all but I don't think I could take this much sun all the time. I mean, it's got to rain sometime, right?"

"Right. So where to next?"

She smiles at him. "Iowa?"

He smiles back at her. "Okay."

"Do you want to call your family and tell them we're coming?" Addison suggests, offering her cell phone.

He takes the phone as they get into the car and dials. "Hey, Mom… I'm fine, how're you? … That's good… Hey, is Lauren around? … Could you put her on? … Thanks… Hey, Lauren… How's it going? … Good… I know it's been awhile… Okay, almost ten years, I know… hey, actually, are you going to be around? … Um, actually, my friend and I were going to be near there, and we'd thought we'd stop by. I really want you to meet her… No, she's not my girlfriend… You know, it's possible to be friends with members of the opposite sex without having sex." He looks at Addison and rolls his eyes. Addison giggles. "Yeah, that's her… Don't embarrass me." He holds the phone out to Addison. "Lauren wants to talk to you."

"Hello?"

"Hi. This is Lauren Karev, Alex's sister? Who is this?" Addison has to refrain from laughing.

"Um, Addison Montgomery, Alex's friend."

"Nice to meet you. Or rather, talk to you."

"Yeah, same to you."

"So, look, this is going to sound really rude, and I know that and I'm really sorry that I'm making a bad impression, but I have to know. Are you sleeping with my brother? I'm sorry, that's rude. I can't contain myself sometimes. But seriously, are you?"

It takes every bit of Addison's will power not to burst out laughing. "No, I'm not."

"Okay. That's good. Not that you don't seem perfectly nice and all, but… we're all really protective of him and, yeah. So I hear you're going to be in Iowa."

"Um, yeah."

"That's good. I'm looking forward to meeting you. I'm sorry that I come off so rude. I'm much more charming in person. Oh, that sounds vain. Damn. You know what? I'm going to stop talking now. Um, it's been nice talking to you, and I can't wait to meet you."

"Nice talking to you too," Addison replies before hanging up and laughing. "She seems… nice," she tells Alex.

"Yeah, sorry about her. She's kind of weird. But that's her," he shrugs.

"She seems sweet. A little rude, but sweet. I can see why you like her."

"Thanks."

0ooo0

"I can't believe we're spending your birthday in a car," Addison gripes the next day.

"It's fine," he replies, turning his eyes from the road for a second to look at her.

"No, it's not; birthdays are supposed to be special. We should do something. "

"It's okay."

"No. I don't even have anything for you, so I'm going to come up with some way to celebrate, you just wait."

He laughs and rolls his eyes. "Whatever you say, Addison."

0ooo0

That night they check into a nicer hotel than usual, but Addison still hasn't figured out how to celebrate. "Do you want to go out to dinner or just order room service?" she inquires.

"Room service," he answers.

"Okay, what do you want?"

"I don't care."

"A burger sounds really good right now," she says, surveying the menu. "Do you want one?"

"Sure."

An hour later, they're sitting in silence. Something's changed between them. The air between them no longer seems friendly, it's awkward space that either needs to be filled or crossed. "Okay, look," Addison finally says. "I tried the friends thing, I really did. And it was great and all, but I just don't… I don't think that I can… It's just that you…" she stumbles, "I don't know… You make me stumble over words and lose my train of thought and… it really sucks, frankly, because I really hate it. But you do, and I can't control it, and… and yeah. Anyways, just think about it," she finishes and runs out the door into the hallway, mortified. He gets up and chases after her.

"Addison!" he calls after her. "Addie, come on, at least slow down!" She stops and turns around warily. "Come on, let's go back to the room," he says, grabbing her gently by the elbow and guiding her. They get back inside, and he closes the door and looks at her. "The friends thing's not working for me either," he admits.

She looks stunned, then when he smiles at her, her knees go weak, and she throws her arms around his neck. "Happy birthday," she says and kisses him.

"Thanks," he smirks when they separate.

"Oh, you thought I was done," she remarks, raising her eyebrow. "I'm not done. I'm not even close to finished," she tells him before kissing him and pushing him down on the bed.

k, so thanks for reading! hope you enjoyed the chapter! hopefully i'll get the next chapter up soon, but you know that when i promise anything it absolutely never happens, so i'm not going to promise anything.

reviews?

-Juli-