a/n - Here is the second part of the previous chapter as promised. Hope you enjoy, (it's my favourite so far!) this chapter is def T/M for now. Just to warn you as gets a little hawt! :)

Thanks for reviewing last chapter and please let me know what you think of this one too!


"Great place, Iz," Alex said looking around impressed as he followed her a little tentatively in to the hallway of her house. He wasn't quite sure what he had been expecting, but it certainly hadn't been a place as nice as this. The décor was typically Izzie, bright, fresh and modern. Whilst also managing to be homely and inviting.

Izzie had always wanted a big place for all the kids and animals she had wanted to have, once wanted to have with him, and Alex had always known she would make it perfect. She just seemed to have a knack of being able to make any place, even Derek's dingy old trailer, warm and cosy with her special brand of energy.

As he continued to look around her home, Alex couldn't help but almost feel a twinge of regret, sadness even, as he thought back to the many conversations that they'd had when they had been together about what their future home would be like, after they'd made it and were both rich successful surgeons, living the dream. No matter how hard he'd tried not to, Alex had always felt slightly sad that he had been living the dream without her back in Seattle, once he had finally found success. He had truly meant it when he had told her once that he didn't want to be the future of the hospital without her.

"Thanks, I like it," Izzie said in response to his remarks about her home as she tossed her keys down on to the side and led him through to her kitchen.

...

"Okay, so what do you want?" Izzie said as she opened the fridge. "There is some steak I've been marinating, or I could do us some pasta, or chicken maybe?"

"Steak sounds good," Alex said as he perched up against one of the worktops watching her.

"Great, I can do some mashed potato to go with the steaks marinade," she replied as she rummaged through the fridge some more.

"Perfect, as long as the marinade isn't some crazy fusion experiment," Alex teased with a cheeky grin as he felt his stomach growl. Izzie was right, it had been a long time since he'd had a square meal, as he anticipated the thought of something wholesome and home cooked.

Suddenly, Alex felt as though he'd gone back in time as he remembered only too well how much Izzie used to love to experiment with her cooking and how he always used to love winding her up about it. Sometimes her experiments worked out and sometimes they drastically didn't. He'd tease her repeatedly when they weren't working for having her nose in some cookery book or for being glued to the latest baking shows on television. While he in contrast preferred to unwind by watching a ball game on television, or lying back on the sofa with a beer or two. It was funny he thought how easily they could slip back in to their old roles again as he saw her turn away from the fridge to quickly make a face at him in response to his teasing. Before she turned her back on him again.

With Izzie's attention back to preparing their meal. Alex glanced around the immaculate kitchen, it was pretty big for one as he quickly became hit with a new slightly uneasy feeling as he cleared his throat and worked up the courage to ask the question he had been avoiding for the past couple of days, as he said as casually as he could, "So, you live alone then?"

With her head still in the fridge, Izzie said, "Yeah, for now. I did have a roommate but she moved out."

Alex felt slightly relieved for a second. Before he realized that he hadn't actually expected her to be happily shacked up with some other guy if she was so willing to bring him, her ex-husband back with her for the night. But even given that, it still didn't fully answer his burning question about her relationship status. A topic they hadn't got round to discussing yet, with all the shit currently going on in his life giving them more than enough to talk about.

But Alex knew that he had to know, even if it was going to kill him, as he said again, "I have to say, I thought you'd be settled down by now, Iz. You know, living the dream, married with a couple of kids."

As soon as he had said it Alex instantly regretted it, as she looked up at him and he saw the hurt in her eyes. He knew it had been an inappropriate comment for him to make and he felt like an ass. If she hadn't got cancer, he felt certain that they would still be married now and happy, they'd also more than likely have a couple of kids too. Izzie would have made a fabulous mother.

Right now, Alex was pretty uncertain about whether he wanted to have kids. Having them with Jo hadn't been an option, given how unstable she was. The only person he had ever really got the feeling he wanted to have children with was Izzie. He would never have admitted it to anyone, but there had been no doubt in his mind that that was what they were meant to do, even back when they had first dated and fooled around as interns.

"I am with someone, but he's away at the moment," Izzie eventually responded, catching his eye for a split second as Alex quickly looked away, he didn't want her to notice how much it had effected him to hear that. How it felt as though he had taken another bullet to the chest. He hadn't been prepared for how hard it would be to hear there was another man, sharing her life, sharing her bed. He had always thought that if she was happy, he would be happy, but as much as he knew that was what he should feel. It simply wasn't the case.

This time it was Izzie's turn to feel a little guilty. She knew no matter how much her ex-husband had moved on with his life, it was never gong to be easy for him to hear she had too, just as it had stung her so severely when he had told her about Jo. After everything they had been through together. She also knew she owed him further explanation about Josh as she said, "Actually, it's a little complicated. He's been transferred to DC."

"Oh," was all Alex could reply, unable to hide the slight wobble in his voice, inviting her to continue. He needed to know more, even if he really didn't want to hear more.

"He doesn't work at the hospital. Actually he's not even in the medical profession. He's a cop, he works for the feds now. He's been promoted to work over there," she said calmly, although she was more than aware this conversation was becoming more and more awkward.

"You going to go with him ?" Alex said slowly, this time careful to look her in the eye again.

"I honestly don't know. I love my life here, so as I said it's complicated," Izzie replied giggling nervously and looking back in to the fridge aware of Alex's eyes on her still.

"Sounds it," Alex responded.

"Well, you know me, wouldn't expect anything less," Izzie joked further as she looked back up at him, taking out two bottles of beer and handing him one as she opened the other, raising her eyebrows as she said, "Beer?" More than aware she needed to lighten the atmosphere a little.

"Love one, thanks," Alex grinned as he took the bottle from her, opened it and chinked it with hers, before putting it to his lips and drinking thirstily. Waiting for the alcohol to provide him with the familiar relaxed buzz he knew he was in desperate need of.


"You want to try one of my muffins?" Izzie said a little playfully after they had eaten their main course, offering him a plate of home baked goods.

"When do you find the time to bake these?" Alex said amused as he took one and bit in to it, "Mmmm," he mouthed as he chewed.

"Last night," she replied unfazed as she put the plate down.

"You baked a batch of muffins when you got in last night?" Alex said a little amazed.

"Yeah, well, I couldn't sleep I had a lot on my mind, trying to figure out a way to clear your name. So, I made one batch of muffins, actually two," she added biting her lip.

"So, have my skills improved then?" Izzie went on to say as she watched him stuff the rest in to his mouth.

Swallowing, Alex said with a cheeky glint in his eye, "You can't improve on perfection, Iz," looking back to see her break in to a big giddy smile.


"Okay, so I happen to have heard some rumours that you were rude to my nursing staff and interns whilst you were at the hospital?" Izzie quizzed several beers later with a small smile, after they had finished eating and were both sat back relaxing on the large leather sofas in her front room, the french doors slightly open providing them with a gentle summer breeze.

Alex smirked a little guiltily. He couldn't lie, he knew he had been a bit of an ass, due to his frustration at being a patient, as he said a touch arrogantly, "Nothing that wasn't deserved."

"Alex, nurses never deserve to take any of your crap," Izzie scolded slightly as she remembered how unpopular he had been as an intern with the entire nursing department back in Seattle. If he hadn't slept with them, he was guaranteed to have been a complete jerk to them at some point.

"Maybe, but interns do, they're bottom of the food chain." Alex replied arrogantly again.

Izzie laughed out loud then as Alex looked at her a little suspiciously, his broody dark eyes narrowing a little as he tried to figure out what he'd said to provoke that kind of reaction as he simply said, "What?" Remembering how she always used to laugh at the most inappropriate things.

"Sorry, I just remembered how you thought Meredith was a nurse back when we first stared our internship. She was fuming. She literally wouldn't stop going on about it for weeks, and I mean weeks, no wonder you earned the name evil spawn," Izzie said still laughing.

Alex started to laugh a little then too as he said, "Yeah, well it was an easy mistake to make."

"Yeah, I wouldn't let her catch you saying that, once evil spawn, always evil spawn," Izzie said as she moved a little closer to him, touching his knee playfully. Causing a sudden boost of electricity to rocket through him at the sensation of her touch, and they both gradually stopped laughing as Izzie said more seriously, "God, Alex, I've really missed you."

Alex had wanted to say that to her for the past couple of days but somehow he hadn't been able to find the courage as he now replied, "I've missed you too, Iz."

They just looked at for each other for a moment, Alex studying his ex-wife's' beautiful features as she looked back at him almost as though she was deliberating some kind of internal struggle, before she said quietly in almost a whisper. "It's going to be okay, Alex. Once you've seen the lawyer tomorrow, it's going to be okay."

He didn't say anything at first, he wished he could believe her, but as much as he was enjoying being with her right now, he knew that soon this moment would be gone and he would be right back to where he started, having to face the reality that he had screwed up again. This time possibly irrevocably.

He moved a little closer to her on the sofa, not moving his eyes from hers. There was so much he wanted to say to her, but not now, not here.

Instead he broke in to a genuine smile as he just nodded and said, "Yeah." His face so close to hers he could almost feel her breath on his skin.

She didn't move her eyes from his and in that instant a thousand thoughts flashed through his mind as her lips hovered dangerously over his. He knew there were countless reasons why he should back off. But the stored up sexual tension he had for her was becoming unbearable. Quickly Alex realized that at that moment in time there was only one thing in the world he wanted to do and nothing felt more right, more natural, as he leaned in and brushed her lips with his. Lightly at first before he picked up momentum, gripping the back of her head and urgently pulling her towards him, as he pressed his lips further in to hers. His heart pounding dramatically as he finally tasted her again.

Izzie kissed him back at first, slowly and cautiously, before he quickly realized something was wrong and before he knew it he felt the palms of her hands pushing lightly against his chest as she abruptly broke the kiss off and repositioned herself away from him.

"I'm sorry, Alex. I can't, I just can't," she whispered apologetically as she shot him a look of shock and slight guilt, and he could only watch completely at a loss for anything to say as she hurriedly stood up, running her hand through her hair as she said clumsily, "I think I should go to bed, you know where everything is? So, I guess I'll see you in the morning."

"Yeah," Alex nodded quickly, his cheeks a little red as he forced a weak smile, and just like that the cloud he had been riding on since he had arrived back at Izzie's place that evening, swiftly vanished. Leaving him feeling stupid, disappointed and slightly embarrassed as he immersed himself in darkness again.


Alex sighed as he sat down on the edge of the bed in Izzie's guest room. Suddenly the sight of more scented candles, girly scatter cushions and flowery green and pink bed spreads, did nothing for him, but make him feel physically sick. What the hell had he been thinking? He thought angrily as he pulled his shoes off followed by his shirt, wincing slightly at the pain caused by the injuries to his battered body still.

How could he have got it so wrong? Misread the signals so spectacularly. He'd seen the look in her eyes, he'd been certain she wanted him too. But, how could he have been so stupid? How could he not have realized, Iz loved him only as a friend now.

She didn't feel that way about him anymore, she'd said it herself, she was with some other guy now, a freaking cop of all people. Just the thought of that made Alex feel inferior he knew chicks digged the arrogant, cock sure presence of cops. He'd seen enough of his co-workers gush when they'd been called in to the hospital. Alex on the other hand did not have a lot of time for them at all, even before the SPD had started trying to ruin his life. But even so that didn't give him the excuse to jump in on another mans girl, even if that girl did happen to be his ex-wife and the complete love of his life.

Izzie was right to push him away, he started to think. They could never go back to where they were before. Hadn't they hurt each other enough? What did he hope to achieve, screw her brains out then watch while she told him she was going off to be with someone else?

If he hadn't been so damn impulsive, if he'd thought with his brain for once, they could have become friends again, she could have helped him. But he had wanted her so much, that he'd literally had no control over his actions. She still had that affect on him even now, she drove him crazy and there was nothing he could do about it.

But now he had ruined any chance of having her back in his life as a friend. He would have to leave first thing in the morning. He would have to start returning that jackass of a lawyers calls again. He was back to square one. He had nothing, he thought, dropping his bruised face in to his hand, contemplating just why he always had to go and ruin any good thing that came his way?

Just as he was about to attempt to get some kind of sleep, pondering what his next move should be. Alex stirred slightly as he heard a gentle tapping at the door and he looked up to see the handle slowly turning. His heart instantly starting to beat faster as he felt a jolt of adrenaline violently hit him as he saw the door open to reveal Izzie stood in front of him in nothing but her underwear.

He didn't move at first, he just stared at her, stunned. She was wearing a matching candy pink lingerie set, setting off her light blonde hair and sun kissed skin perfectly. Her panties were edged with lace that fitted her toned body incredibly and they were complimented by a very sexy push up bra accentuating her big perfectly formed breasts. She was still every bit the hot Bethany Whispers model, Alex thought, the girl that he had spent so many nights lusting after when he had first known her as an intern.

As he continued to stare at her, he still didn't say anything, he just watched as she moved slowly towards him their eyes locking together with lust as his body quickly became taken over by a deep rooted arousal. His physical need for her intensifying by the second. Before he knew it her arms were around his neck and her lips were on his, fast, passionate, intense. This time the kiss was all her, she was taking the lead and he was loving every minute of it powerless to make her stop as they tumbled back on to the bed and she straddled him with her long luscious legs.

As he felt her breasts pressing against him, her legs wrapping further around his waist Alex allowed himself to let go slightly as he realized just how much he had missed her body. Realizing just how much over the past few years he had been craving the sex life he had had with her. Nothing else had even come close to how he had felt when he had been making love to her. She had no insecurities, no hang ups, she knew what she wanted and she wasn't afraid to get it and that had turned him on more than anything else.

He reached up and undid the clasp on her bra as he felt her skilled fingers reaching down to undo his jeans and slide in to his boxers, to wrap around him causing him to gasp out with the pleasure at feeling her touch again. He quickly pulled off her bra and pushed his bare muscular torso further against her naked breasts. Moving his mouth down to explore them with his lips.

Before they knew it they were both fully naked. Every sensation fully immersed in the act, every sense engaged. Alex wanted her with powerful urgency as he wore the slightly stunned look of a man who is a slave to lust. She rolled on top of him, causing him to momentarily wince a little with the pain of his broken ribs as Izzie stopped and looked at him for a second her face full of concern as she whispered affectionately, "You okay?"

"Yeah," he whispered back, and he truly meant it. He moved his mouth to plant light feather like kisses up and down her neck. Just how she had always liked it. He knew technically what they were doing was wrong, but he didn't see how it could be that wrong when it felt so damn right.

As they moved he gripped her close and gazed in to her eyes as her heart fluttered and her uncensored gasps urged him on even more as his groans of pleasure sent shivers up and down her spine again and again. The mutual release of the stored up sexual energy that had been growing ever since they had set eyes on each other again. Now both unable to control their delight in being with each other again.

...

Collapsing back on to the bed, both slightly breathless and wildly satisfied, Alex knew they had completed something special as he gently caressed her hair and the side of her cheek with his thumb. Just in that moment, he felt more content than he had felt in years as he felt her body relax in to his arms, and he suddenly thought to himself, "What next?"