A/N: This chapter is a gold mine! You've got Addison/Meredith interactions, Cristina/Alex interactions, Cristina/Meredith interactions, AND Alex/Meredith interactions. Not to mention it's crazy longer than any of the other chapters. I probably could have split it up. Oh, well. Anyway, I hope you enjoy it! Review, review, review!

"How have you been feeling?" Addison asked as she set up the machine for Meredith's ultrasound.

"I've had a little morning sickness, but other than that, fine." Meredith replied.

They'd already had 'the conversation'. The one where they acknowledge how awkward and complicated it is for Addison to be Meredith's doctor. But they've agreed to do it anyway. Because Addison is the best, and it's really the baby that's important, after all.

But Addison doesn't know how complicated it really is. She doesn't know about Alex. All she knows is that Richard called her, told her Meredith was pregnant, and asked if she would please come to Seattle and take the case.

It was almost painful for Meredith to put a smile on her face and say Yes, thank you. when Addison said Congratulations, you and Derek must be so happy.

"Let's get started." Addison said as she squeezed the ultrasound gel onto Meredith's lower abdomen.

Meanwhile, Alex was standing at the nurses station on the surgical wing, nervously tapping his foot.

"What's with you, Spawn?" Cristina asked, as she walked up and dropped a chart on the counter. She hadn't seen Alex this jittery since he found out about Izzie's cancer.

"Mer's at her appointment." He answered, turning to look at her. "With Addison."

"I know." Cristina said, looking at him expectantly.

"I just hope everything's... going okay." Alex shrugged trying to act nonchalant.

"Mhm." Cristina said, obviously not believing that was the only thing bothering him.

"Fine." He sighed. "She's going to find out how far along she is... It might give us more of an idea of who the father is."

"Ah." She said, nodding. "And you're praying to God she was already pregnant when she started sleeping with you."

"What? No" Alex looked up, slightly confused and slightly annoyed. "I want to be the father of this baby. I mean... I don't know how great of a father I would be, I know mine was a piece of shit. And I'm terrified of screwing up and not being good enough. But... if it's that pig's child inside of her... I don't know what'll I do."

Cristina just stared at him. "You're serious aren't you?"

"Yeah." He said solemnly, looking down. "I am.

"Wow." She said after awhile. "If it means anything, I think you're good for her. Meredith, I mean. She seems happy around you. And it helps that you're stepping up. You know, not running away from the whole baby thing." And then she added, "You'd be a good father, Karev."

Alex was shocked. He never heard people say nice things about him, ever. Especially not from Cristina who didn't really like him, and wasn't one to give compliments to begin with. He knew she was being sincere, and he really appreciated it.

"Thanks, Yang."

"Yeah, this moment's over." She said quickly, before turning on her heel and walking away.

Alex laughed softly to himself. Total Cristina.

Back at Meredith's appointment, Addison was saying...

"Alright Meredith, It looks like you're about... 7 weeks along."

Shit. Meredith thought to herself. She was hoping this information was going to help her figure out who the father of the baby was. But as she traveled 7 weeks back in her head, she realized she still had no idea who had gotten her pregnant. That was about the time she first started sleeping with Alex. Which just happened to be right after she'd been having constant sex with Derek. She had been trying anything and everything to get his attention, and she figured jumping him anytime she got the chance might do the trick. Needless to say, it didn't work.

"It's too early to hear a heartbeat, but everything seems normal." Addison was saying.

Meredith had questions she needed to ask. And she knew this meant letting Addison in on her situation. Oh, well. She thought. Here we go.

"You're pretty quiet over there. You doing okay? Have any questions?" Addison asked her.

"Actually, yes I do." Meredith fidgeted with the hem on her shirt, which was laying high above her waist. "I was wondering how far along I have to be to get a paternity test."

Addison's jaw dropped and her mouth formed a perfect "Oh."

That's when Meredith began telling her story. She told Addison all about Derek and the problems they'd been having, about Alex and how he'd been there for her during those times, and how she was there for him too after Izzie left. She told her how Derek had punched Alex and called her a whore, and how stressed and upset she had been. Everything started spilling out, and by the time she was finished she had silent tears streaming down her face.

But, Addison was very reassuring.

"I know we haven't always got along Meredith... But I want you to know that you won't go through this alone. You have a friend in me." She placed her hand over Meredith's with so much care that she started sobbing even harder. "I've been where you are. But I didn't have the guts to go through with it. And I regret my decision to abort everyday. I lost my chance to have children because I was cowardly and selfish. I never made it this far, Meredith... You're a stronger person than I am."

Meredith nodded and mumbled a quiet "Thank you."

"And to answer you're question." Addison leaned back. "You can get a paternity test in another 10 weeks or so. About the same time you can find out the gender of the baby."

Meredith sighed. Another 10 weeks? That was forever. Anything could happen in 10 weeks.

"But you should also know that a prenatal paternity test is somewhat risky to the fetus. So just be very sure you don't want to wait until after the birth..."

"No. I need to find out as soon as possible." Meredith assured her. "Please."

There was no way she would make it through this pregnancy without knowing who the father was. She wouldn't put Derek and Alex through that. She wouldn't put herself through that. She had to know.

"Okay." Addison nodded. "In that case, I'll see you in about a month for your next regular check-up. I'll be in town until tomorrow evening, but after that if you have any problems or complications call me immediately."

"Alright." Meredith had wiped the gel off of her stomach, and was now fixing her shirt and heading towards the door. "And Addison... thank you. For everything."

As Meredith made her way back to the surgical floor she ran into Cristina outside of the elevator

"Hey, how'd it go." The dark-haired resident asked.

Meredith sighed. "I still don't know who the father is. It'll be another 10 weeks until I can find out." She reached over and pushed the elevator button. "I was actually just on my way to find Alex. I'm nervous about telling him... All of this not knowing... it's getting to all of us. I just don't want him to freak out and bail while were waiting to find out."

"Mer, I don't think that's going to happen. I know it's Karev and all, but he really seems to be in this for the long haul. And it's me saying this so you know it's true." Cristina raised her eyebrow. "Don't underestimate him."

When Meredith finally found Alex he was sitting in a conference room, doing paperwork.

"Hey, hi." Alex was startled when the Meredith walked in. "How are you? How did it go?" He trying to act as calm and normal as possible but hey could both see through the facade. He was filled with nerves on the inside.

"Good, it went... good." Meredith nodded as she walked over and took a seat next to her friend, her lover. "I'm actually kind of glad that Addison's my doctor. It's nice to have someone who knows what this is like."

"I'm glad." Alex said softly. And he was. He wanted Meredith to be relaxed and as worry-free as possible throughout this pregnancy. There was a good chance it was his kid in there, after all. "So, did you find out..." The sentence didn't need finishing. It was the one thing on all of their minds.

"I'm 7 weeks. And... no I still don't know... who it is." She glanced at him, gaging his reaction. "It'll be another couple of months until I can find out."

"Okay." He said. He seemed fine, he didn't look angry or upset. Maybe a little disappointed... but that was to be expected. "Just let me know if I can... do anything."

"I will. Thanks, Alex"

"No problem."

"I'm gonna, uh, go find Derek." Meredith said, pointing behind her at the door. "I have to tell him, too."

"Yeah, okay. I'll just, uh, see you later, at home, I guess." Alex stuttered. It pained him every time he heard her say his name. He knew things were really rough, but he still feared that she would end up finding her way back to Derek, just like she always had. God, he hoped that wasn't the case.