a/n: ok, so i had this all ready to upload about a week ago. but then things got crazy. and then i was already to update yesterday and my computer decided to be stupid. my apologies, but my computer hates you. sorry!
disclaimer: the answers the same as last time, i don't own it.
anyways, sit back and enjoy the last chapter! oh and heads up, my alex voice wasn't functioning properly, so this chapter is almost all from addison's POV. and this 0oooooo0 is a scene change, but still from the same perspective. new thing in the last chapter. brilliant, i know. but like i said, my alex voice wasn't working and i wanted this to be close to its normal length. okay, now you can sit back and read.
AND NOW, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, THE LAST CHAPTER OF LOOK AFTER YOU...
I try to put off my inevitable return as long as possible, mainly because I don't want to deal with the stares I'm likely to get. And, honestly, I don't want to deal with telling everyone about me and Alex. Because things are going good now and somehow someone's going to say something to mess it up, just because no one likes me there. I manage to delay my return for a couple days, saying that I don't feel well. No one's probably buying my story, but a girl's got to try, right?
I spend three days lounging around Alex's (and now apparently my) apartment while he goes and works. The fourth morning he pulls me out of bed at five in the morning. "What?" I groan.
"You're going in today," he informs me.
I wake up when he tells me that. "I am?"
"Yeah, you are. You need to get off your ass and get back to work."
"Why?" I whine. "Do I have to?"
"Because the Chief is starting to doubt that I really brought you back and yes, you do have to."
"Let me call him," I beg, "I'll talk to him."
"Putting off going in is only going to make it harder," he tells me. And he's right, but I don't want to admit it.
"But-" I protest, but I'm cut off.
"No buts. You're going in. Come on, the first day's the worst, but you'll get through it. And you want to know why?" he asks. I nod, because I honestly need to feel awesome about myself so that I can get through all the Addison-bashing that will probably take place not so quietly behind my back. "Because you're Addison Forbes Montgomery. You made a mistake, flew across the country to admit to that mistake, fought like hell for your husband, and when that didn't work, you stayed in Seattle anyways. You're tough and you don't let anyone bullshit you. You're an amazing surgeon and doctor and nearly everyone respects you, even if they don't like you. You're an incredible woman. You are excellent in the O.R. and even better in bed," he says, and I have to glare at him for that last remark, but he keeps going, "but no one else gets to know that last part, not while I'm around, anyways. Because you are secretly a spaz, because you are dedicated to your work and because Addison Forbes Montgomery does not give up. At least, not the Addison I know and love. And most of all, you're going to get through it because I'll be there too, and I'm not leaving, no matter what anyone says. Is that enough or do I need to keep going? I will, but I'm running out of adjectives here."
"You can stop," I tell him, because I've heard all I need to hear. "And I am not secretly a spaz."
"You're not exactly forthcoming with the fact."
"I'm not a spaz!" I exclaim.
"You're a spaz," he says.
"Am not."
"Are so."
"Am not."
"Are so."
"I am not a spaz!" I say and fling my arms out in frustration, hitting the wall with my right hand in the process. "Ow!" I look a little sheepish and I bring my arms back in quietly.
"You're a spaz." This time I say nothing to contradict him.
0oooooo0
I get on the elevator, Alex following close behind. Meredith gets on as well and she does a double take. "Oh, Dr.- Dr. Montgomery, uh, you're back, um, hi!"
"Dr. Grey," I say with a nod and a small smile. We sit in silence as the elevator rises. Finally it arrives at our destination and I get off alone, since Alex has to go get ready for rounds.
"It- it's nice to have you back, Dr. Montgomery," Meredith calls after me. Suck up.
I walk to the place I know that I'm guaranteed to run into someone, the coffee cart. Hopefully I'll run into the person I want. "Well, well, well, look who's back," a voice says from behind me.
I roll my eyes and turn around to find (surprise, surprise) Mark standing barely three inches away from me. "I am back," I reply. "And back off, Mark."
"Why? Getting you all hot and bothered?" he says, stepping closer. What is it with this guy? Is everything opposite to him? Because, I swear, to Mark Sloan no means yes and back off means come closer.
"Hot, no. Bothered, yes. I'm serious Mark, back away before I call my fiancé to come kick your ass."
He looks like I just punched him in the stomach (although truth be told that would probably hurt my hand more than his stomach). "You're- engaged?"
"I am," I answer. "Bye Mark." Then I turn and walk away. I probably should have been a little nicer, the guy does claim to be in love with me, but I haven't forgiven him for that scene in the bar.
I know that I was going to tell people today but how did he end up being the first to know?
"Manhattan!" Callie calls from behind me.
I whirl around. "Callie!" I give her a hug. "I have such big news!"
"Not to steal your limelight or anything, but so do I!"
"Go ahead."
"No, you."
"Okay," we both say at the same time and laugh.
"You first," I say.
"No you," she replies.
"Talk!" we both order the other.
"I'm engaged!" I say at the same time she says, "I'm pregnant!"
"What? Congratulations!" we both squeal.
"Okay, the floor is all yours," I say.
"No, it's yours! I want to hear how Alex proposed."
"He- wait, how do you know Alex proposed?"
"Please, you wouldn't say yes to anyone else. Plus, I've known you two were going to get married since the day you started dating. Possibly even before that."
"What? How?"
"It's obvious. You two give off very 'we're eventually going to get married' vibes even when you're not a couple. Now, let me see the ring and you're going to tell all about how he proposed. Let's go grab some nearly inedible food."
0oooooo0
"I told Callie. And Mark, but that was an accident," I tell Alex that night as we sit eating Chinese takeout and cuddling on the couch in his, our apartment.
"I told Meredith. Which means that Shepherd knows. And Christina. And probably Burke. And George. And Izzie."
"Great," I sigh, because I do want people to know, but I was kind of hoping I'd have some kind of control over when they found out.
"You don't sound happy," Alex comments.
I turn to face him, "No, it's not that. I'm happy. Beyond happy. I was kind of hoping that we'd be able to tell everyone. You know, not have it flying through the hospital? Because now we're going to have all these rumors spread about us. And I really hate it when people are whispering about me."
"Hey, chill," Alex tells me. "It'll be okay."
"I know," I say and lean and kiss him. He tastes like sweet and sour pork. "As long as you're here, I know." Wow, that was incredibly cheesy, but I meant it.
-----------
Addison and I arrive at the hospital to find Izzie standing there grinning. "I so called it," she announces. She obviously knows. "I knew it. Congratulations, by the way."
Addison smiles tightly. She's not happy that Izzie knows without one of us telling her. I squeeze her hand which makes her look over at me and smile genuinely. "Thanks, Dr. Stevens," she says.
"Izzie," Izzie tells her. "It's Izzie. Oh and by the way, I talked Meredith into letting us throw a party for you guys. If you want that is."
I glance over at Addison. This is totally her call. "That's really sweet of you," she says. "Thanks."
"Okay, great! Oh, and Dr. Montgomery? I'm sorry that I got so mad about the quints. But I worked my ass off to save that kid and it turned out that I did it all for nothing. It sucked."
"Don't worry about it, Izzie," Addison says, with a genuine smile. "The Chief did the same thing to me when I was an intern. I didn't speak to him for almost a year. I feel terrible that I did it to you, but you did learn to distance yourself, at least a little, right?"
"I did, at least a little. So, um, does Friday work for you guys?"
"Friday's great," Addison replies.
"Okay, um, great. Um, got to go, but, um, I'll talk to you guys later? Maybe we could grab a drink?" Izzie asks uncertainly.
"Sounds great, Iz," I answer, the first time I've taken part in this conversation. Izzie smiles and runs off.
"She's really… enthusiastic," Addison comments.
"Yeah. You'll like her. She's more like you than you'll care to admit. Maybe not as hot…" I say and kiss her, because the whole hospital knows about us by now, and if someone is that out of the loop, then this will be a nice surprise for them.
0oooooo0
Addison and I are standing at a nurses' station going over charts. Several nurses have already congratulated us and one nearly had a heart attack when she saw the ring on Addison's finger.
"Hey," Meredith says as she and Derek approach. Shepherd looks uncomfortable. "I, uh, I just wanted to say congrats," she tells Addison.
"Thanks, Dr. Grey."
"Alex is a great guy. You're lucky to have him," Meredith continues.
"Yeah. Yeah I am," Addison says, looking over at me and smiling. I smile back.
"Derek has something he wants to say too."
Addison looks at Shepherd expectantly, but he stays quiet. Then Meredith not so subtly steps on his foot. "Ow!" he exclaims and looks over at Meredith who gives him a very pointed look. "Right. Um, congratulations," he mutters the last word.
"What was that, Derek?" Meredith asks. Addison looks like she's having trouble not laughing, and I can't blame her since I'm having issues too.
"Congratulations," Shepherd says louder.
"Thanks, Derek. That means a lot. And thanks, Dr. Grey," Addison says, obviously realizing that Shepherd wasn't saying this of his own free will.
"No problem," Meredith replies and leads her boyfriend off.
"I wonder what she had to threaten him with to get him to do that," Addison wonders.
--------
I'm called into a meeting with the Chief. I can only assume that by now Richard has heard about my engagement. I enter his office and he motions for me to sit down. "Now normally I don't pay attention to the gossip and rumors flying around, but one rumor has been brought to my attention that I thought I should talk to you about."
"Look, Richard," I interrupt. It's not like me, I know, but I want to get the story straight as soon as possible. "If what you're talking about is my engagement to Alex, then I can tell you it's not a rumor," I say and hold up my left hand to show the ring as proof. "I know that inter-hospital relationships make you uncomfortable and I'm sorry if this is making you feel like that. But I love him and nothing you can say is going to change that or make me change my mind. So if you really have an issue with it, I'm sorry, but I'll seek employment elsewhere."
Richard sits quietly through my entire speech. When I'm finished he looks at me and says, "Addie, all I wanted to do was offer my congratulations." Oh. Oops.
"Oh. I'm sorry." I can feel my face burning.
"It's okay. It's reassuring to know that you care about him that much and that you're really in this relationship."
"Thank you, Richard," I say. "Um, can I go now?"
"Go ahead Addie. And I really am happy for you and Alex."
"Thanks," I say again and smile. And then I get up and leave before I can embarrass myself anymore.
0oooooo0
Miranda and I are standing alone in the elevator. "I hear you're engaged," she says, still facing forward. "Congratulations."
"Thank you."
"But, really, did it have to be one of my interns?" I turn and look at her, wide eyed. I thought she'd be happy for me. Not stuck on the fact that I'm marrying one of her interns. "Of course it did. Well, if you're happy…"
"I am. Happy, I mean."
"Then good. Congratulations. Want my advice?" she asks and I nod. "Don't sleep with this one's best friend." That was cold. That was beyond cold, that was frigid.
"Miranda!"
"It's the truth. And don't let this one ignore you. Remember that you don't deserve to be ignored. You are a strong, independent woman and you deserve better than someone who ignores you.
I tear up. "Thank you, Miranda." I go to hug her but she shoves me off with a gruff "Get off of me". But she smiles and I know that she meant every word and that means more to me than any hug. "Will you at least hug me on my wedding day?" I ask, just to be annoying.
"We'll see, Addison, we'll see."
0oooooo0
At the end of the day Alex and I drive home. He's driving and I'm in the passenger seat. We stop at a red light and I turn to face him. "They know," I say.
"They know," he repeats.
"I'm okay with it," I state, and I mean it. "I was worried that someone would say or do something to screw us up."
"No one will," he tells me, "And even if they do, no one's taking me away. Not again." Okay, this guy can not be for real. Except he is. Damn, I'm lucky. I lean in and I kiss him. The light turns green, but we don't notice until a particularly impatient person honks. Then we jerk back and Alex concentrates on the road again. Whoops.
so, last time i ask for reviews for this story. how sad. you know what would make me happy? reviews!
-Lauren
