Sorry for not updating sooner. I hope you all enjoy the latest installment. As always, comments and questions are always welcome.

Jolene guided two bellhops who carried Alex and Izzie's luggage into the bustling hotel. The Harbor View Hotel had been bought out by the Walker family for the wedding. The ceremony and reception were to be there, the guests who did not have homes already were staying there – the entire facility was being used for the festivities.

"I have never seen a place like this," Alex said in awe as he went up the staircase.

"Me neither," Izzie murmured, never imagining seeing such grandeur during her years in a trailer with her mother.

Jolene led the way up the stairs. "We've got most of the rooms in the hotel occupied with guests, so I hope that you two don't mind sharing a room."

"Share a room?" Izzie asked in disbelief as she traveled up the marble staircase. If Izzie hadn't been so blown away by the very thought of sharing a room for the weekend with Alex, she would have seen Alex's hidden smile.

"Is that a problem?" Jolene asked as she stood in front of the door. "With some many people coming, we had to fit as many people in the rooms as we can. The two and three bedroom suites were taken months ago."

"No-," Izzie said quickly, not looking at Alex.

"Here it is," Michael said as the bellboy opened the door revealing a spacious bedroom filled with beautiful antique furniture, a desk, a table, a beige sofa, a mini-fridge, microwave, a bathroom, television, and a large king-size bed right in the middle of everything. Izzie couldn't believe the room she was staying in.


"Wow," Alex said. Growing up with his folks, he had never seen anything quite this fancy in all of this life.

"I knew you two would love it," Jolene said. "You do like it don't you, Izzie?"

"I love it," Izzie said with confidence.

"There's even a view of the property from the balcony," Michael added.

Jolene held her hands together. "Well I am going to let you two settle in for a while. Izzie, we'll be picking up your dress for the wedding tonight around seven."

"Gotcha," Izzie said in agreement as Jolene and Michael left the room, closing the door.

Alex took a seat on the bed. "Do you care which side you sleep on?" he asked jokingly.

"I didn't think we'd be sharing a bed," Izzie said.

"Me neither," Alex shrugged. He looked at Izzie. "Is this going to be a problem for you?"

"It doesn't have to be," Izzie said diplomatically. "That's a very big bed, we'll be fine."

Alex nodded in agreement, never dreaming in a million years that he would be able to be this close to Izzie again. "What are you going to do for the afternoon?"

"Unpack," Izzie smiled, always organized.

"I'm going to explore the hotel. You want to come with me?"

"Nah, I'll check everything out later. Have fun." Izzie flopped down onto the bed as she watched Alex leave the room. She was going to be forced to be living in very tight courters for the weekend. She reached under the duvet cover and touched the silky sheets. She hadn't been very intimate with Alex or anyone for a very long time. Denny's death have prevented her from taking the romantic jump with anyone, and after her run-in with George, Izzie became almost 

afraid to go all the way again. What am I worrying about, she silently scolded. We're sharing a bed that's all, nothing more, no reason to read anything into it.

At 6:45 that night Jolene knocked on Izzie's door, ready to take her down to the bridal shop for her gown.

"I talked to the seamstress," Jolene began. "And I gave her your measurements, she's been working night and day on the gown for a while now, and I think you are going to like what you see." Izzie followed along, saying nothing. "All the bridesmaids will be wearing a rose-colored strapless, floor length gown, with matching shoes. You're size 8 ½ right?"

"Yes," Izzie said quickly as she got into Jolene's car.

"Fantastic. Tomorrow you and Alex will be joining the rest of the bridal party for dancing lessons. Everyone has been taking them for a few weeks now. How are you with dancing?"

"I'll be fine," Izzie assured her.

"And Alex?"

Izzie quietly laughed as she tried to picture Alex formal dancing. "We'll see tomorrow."

"Right," Jolene said as she drove on, ignoring the beautiful view. "You'll be meeting everyone late tonight after the fitting and the day after tomorrow will be the rehearsal dinner and run through, and then the day after that is the wedding."

"That's a lot for four days," Izzie said out loud.

"I know. As much as I love the preparation married and being engaged, I just want all of to end this weekend so I can just be happy with Michael. Did I tell you where we're honeymooning?"

"The French Riviera," Izzie replied.

"I've never been to France," Jolene gushed as she pulled the car in. "Let's get you dressed."

The ladies were promptly greeted by the owner of the store and Izzie was rushed into the back room to try on an exquisite rose-colored gown that surprising fit her perfectly.

"Amazing," Jolene said as Izzie came out from behind the curtain.

"It really is," the owner agreed, pleased with her work.

Izzie caressed the soft fabric. "Jolene it's the most beautiful gown I've ever seen."

Jolene nodded her head approvingly, taking Izzie's hand. "I was so worried about the dress not fitting or you not liking the style or…."

"Jo," Izzie laughed, cutting her off, "You need to stop worrying. In four days you will be Mrs. Michael Walker and you will have nothing to worry about. "

"Except being married," Jolene said with a smirk.

"Can't help you there," Izzie laughed. "Just think of it as a partnership – now you'll always have someone to talk to you when you've had a bad day."

"Like you and Alex."

Izzie crinkled her nose, wondering when the best time to tell Jolene about Alex would be.

The owner of the shop approached the women. "It seems there's a bit of a delay on the shoes, it will only take about an hour," she said apologetically.

"We can grab dinner," Jolene said, pulling Izzie into the street and into a nearby restaurant.

The two sat at a booth near a window, and Jolene pressed Izzie for details about Alex. "He seems incredible."


"He has his moments," Izzie said quickly, without thinking.

"How long have you two been seeing each other," Jolene said, sipping her water.

Izzie folded her hands together. "Well – the thing is – we aren't a couple."

Jolene leaned forward and opened her eyes wide. "Wow."

Alex Karev walked through the wide halls of the Harbor View Hotel. The carpet was a brilliant red color. He reached out and touched the walls. The man from Ohio never imagined staying in a place like this.

"It's nice isn't it?" Michael said, coming up behind him.

"Yeah. You come here often?"

"Sometimes. My family loves the location; we come here for events, functions, to get away from everything."

"I'm surprised you don't have your own place out here," Alex laughed.

"We do," Michael said. "On the island outside of the Vineyard."

"Impressive," Alex nodded.

"Why don't I introduce you to the other guests," Michael said as Alex followed him to a crowded room filled with people.

Michael commanded the floor with a cough. "Everyone, this is Alex Karev, he's with Jolene's maid of honor Izzie Stevens."

Alex was greeted with a plethora of hellos and waves, and he nodded his head, still feeling out of place. Alex walked over to the open balcony and gazed at the ocean, inhaling the sea breeze air. Turning to his side, he came face to face with a beautiful blonde holding two champagne glasses. The woman handed one to Alex, and he gratefully thanked her.

"I'm Maddie," she said with a smile. "Bridesmaid number three."

Alex stuck out his hand. "Alex. I'm with bridesmaid number one."

"So I've heard," Maddie laughed. "I hope you don't mind me coming over to you like this, but you were just standing here, and I wanted to enjoy the view too."

"I don't mind," Alex said a smile forming on his mouth.

"You and Alex aren't a couple?" Jolene asked again.

"Not anymore," Izzie said.

Jolene let out a heavy sigh. "I am so sorry Izzie. Here I am expecting you two to share a room and he's your ex-boyfriend."

"Don't worry about it," Izzie said. "Alex and I will be fine. We've lived in close quarters for over a year now."

"When I saw you two together – I thought he was your boyfriend, and you never said that you weren't seeing anyone on the phone…"

"It's fine," Izzie smiled. "I am completely confident with my relationship with Alex." Izzie took a bite of her bread, pondering her last statement.

"Good," Jolene smiled. After taking several bites, she asked, "What is your relationship with Alex?"

Izzie crinkled her nose.

"I'm only asking because, the idea of living with a guy seems so unusual, I'm just wondering if there is more to it."

"We went out a couple times," Izzie said. "It was a couple years ago, during our 1st intern year. He wasn't living with us at the time. Meredith and I were living with another guy – 

George." Izzie stopped to take a bite of her dinner. She wasn't about to go into detail about George O'Malley, she had done enough thinking about him. "Also platonic. Anyway, Alex and I went out a couple times, but it didn't work out." Izzie left it at that, not wanting to bring up the affair, or the countless of other occasions that Izzie weakened herself to his advances and slept with him.

"And you can still live with each other?"

"Alex and I grew closure when we split up," Izzie said honestly. "He's got this side to him that people don't always see."

Jolene nodded her head.

"Anyway, when George moved out, Meredith let Alex move in, and he hasn't left yet."

Jolene ran her fingers over the table. "So why did you ask Alex to go with you?"

Izzie's head shot up. Why did I ask Alex to go with me? "I wasn't seeing anyone at the time, and Alex, well he's like one of my best friends, the one person that I knew I could to go."

Jolene smiled and paid the check for the dinner. "So you two really are just good friends."

"That's all," Izzie said as they stood to leave.

Alex and Maddie joined the rest of the group and Alex found himself becoming more comfortable with the crowd as he continued to drink. The groups were getting ready to depart and Maddie cornered Alex by the wall. She had come to the wedding with her husband of two years, and she wasn't looking for an affair in particular, but there was something about Alex that drew her towards him. It was as if she knew him.

Maddie cocked her head and grinned. "I hope you don't mind me telling you this, but I feel like I know you from somewhere."

"We've never met," Alex laughed, "I would remember you."

"No – we've never met, it's just this feeling that I can't shake. Where did you say you worked again?"

"Seattle Grace Hospital in Washington."

Maddie did a double take. She knew the name Seattle Grace, she had a family member admitted there not very long ago.

"Are you alright?" Alex asked concerned.

"I'll be fine. I should probably be going. It was nice to meet you Dr. Alex," she said with a small smile, running to her room.

"You too," Alex said as he joined the rest of the men by the bar.

Jolene and Izzie stumbled into the hotel late that night.

"This reminds me of the all-nighters we pulled back at school," Jolene laughed. "Up all hours of the night."

"The good old days," Izzie laughed as she walked up the stairs. Jolene stopped her in front of the room.

"You sure you're going to be okay with Alex tonight?"

"It's not like I have much of a choice," Izzie smiled. Jolene frowned. "I am kidding," Izzie joked. "I will see you in the morning."

"See you."

Izzie opened the bedroom door, finding Alex on the bed wearing an undershirt and boxers. "How's the bride to be?"

"Fine," Izzie said, taking off her earrings and shoes. "The dress is all set for the big day." Izzie ducked into the bathroom to change.

"Do you have any preferences over which side of the bed you want?"

"What?" Izzie asked, now standing in a large white towel.

Alex took a step back from Izzie, awed by her beauty. "I was wondering if you needed a particular side of the bed to sleep on?"

"No preference," Izzie said casually, trying to keep her nerves in check. She turned on the shower water. "I'll be out in a couple minutes."

"Okay," Alex called, sitting on one of the love seats. He still couldn't believe he was sharing a room with Izzie, in a hotel with dozens of rooms. Staring at the ceiling, Alex took a deep breath. There were very few people that could get under Alex's skin, make him lose that cool demeanor that he had spent years perfecting. His general philosophy was to never really care what people thought, he lived his life the way he wanted to. But Izzie – Izzie made him stop and think about what he was doing, made him aspire to be better than he was.

"Hey," Izzie said, exiting in a short pink nightgown, very different from the usual shorts and top she used for sleepwear.

"Hey," Alex said. "You look…great."

"Really?" Izzie asked surprised. "I wanted to splurge for something special for the trip. I figured fancy hotel, why not wear something nice."

"You do – look nice," Alex said.

"Thanks," Izzie said uncomfortably, sitting on the edge of the bed.

"You going to be okay?" Alex asked concerned. "If this is a problem, I can probably get a mattress from the hotel desk and sleep on the floor."

"No," Izzie said as she crawled into her side of the bed. "I really do appreciate you coming with me. I know I've said it a lot but –"

"I'm happy to be here," Alex promised. "It's like a little vacation." What's on the agenda for tomorrow?"

"Dance lessons," Izzie smiled, propping on her side so she could look at Alex. "Can you dance?"

Alex smirked at Izzie, edging closer to her on the bed. "I had to learn to dance before I wrestled. It's all about the movement."

"I guess I'll see your moves tomorrow," Izzie teased.

"You'll be impressed – most people are," he winked.

"You're very sure of yourself," Izzie commented.

"Just confident in my abilities. I own what I do," he said simply. "If I didn't feel confident, I couldn't be in medicine."

"I guess," Izzie said quietly. "I remember an Alex that wasn't so confident though."

"Oh?"

Izzie smiled a brilliant smile. "When we met, it took you weeks to ask me out for a cup of coffee."

"I was dealing with my board exams," Alex reminded her.

Izzie nodded her head. "I remember."

"But when I finally kissed you, that night at Joe's – you loved it, I know you did."

Izzie shifted uncomfortably. "Well so did you."

Alex nodded his head. "We had some good times together Izzie. Great times."

"Until Olivia," Izzie said quietly.

Alex reached for Izzie's hand. "You don't know how sorry I am for what happened."

Izzie cleared her throat, but didn't pull away from Alex. "I know. It was the board exams. But I can't help but think…"

"Iz?"

"That if it wouldn't have been Olivia…."

"It would have been someone else," Alex finished.

Izzie nodded her head, feeling an overwhelming chill.

Alex instinctively pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her.

"Alex," Izzie said warily, but there was something keeping her from moving away. "Do you believe in second chances?" she asked him quietly.

"If it's with the right person, than yes I do," Alex said.

Izzie inhaled Alex's scent. "So do I."

Alex lowered his head next to Izzie. Everything felt so right, so good. It was the moment that he had been waiting for. He gently kissed her on the mouth.

Izzie raised her arms to Alex's face, wanting to push him away – but she didn't. It had been a long time since she had kissed another man, allowed another person to hold her. It felt too good to fight, to resist. And so Izzie decided for one night only, that she and Alex were still a couple.