Another day, another chapter. Sorry this took awhile, I was having difficulty with the beginning, so I decided ot take a short cut and write a really short one. But it's all done now, and you can read it! I think you'll kind of like the middle. The end, maybe not so much, but we'll see.

And I still own nothing.

"I don't want to talk about it, Iz," Alex announces the second Izzie sits next to him. He's sitting in the tunnels, trying to remember that Addison's words weren't true.

"How can she do that?!" Izzie exclaims. "How can she just up and decide that she doesn't want you?!"

He sighs. "I'm sure she has her reasons."

"Yeah, right. Don't you care at all, Alex? She doesn't want you to see your child! You can't be okay with that!"

"Izzie, it's complicated."

"That's it, I'm going to talk to her."

"Don't."

"I'm doing it, Alex. You're not stopping me. If you're not going to fight for your kid, I am. You're not going to know what being separated feels like. I'm not going to let you."

"Izzie," he starts, but she's already storming off in search of his "girlfriend".

0ooo0

Addison is walking down the hallway, finally recovered from the sobs that were an unforeseen consequence, when she is suddenly pulled into a supply closet. She looks up to see Izzie, looking as if she's about ready to explode. "What are you thinking? Izzie asks.

Addison refuses to make eye contact.

"How could… what would make you… why'd you do it?" Izzie stutters. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that she's talking about the break up.

Keeping her eyes on the floor, Addison mumbles, "I couldn't keep lying."

"How could… why… I can't look at you right now, Addison," Izzie admits.

Addison feels tears pool in her eyes again. "I'm sorry," she whispers.

"I know I shouldn't be this mad. I know I'm overreacting, but he was happy. For the first time since I met him, he was really happy. And you just took it all away. How do you do something like that?"

Addison bows her head and just allows the verbal assault to continue.

"I mean, I get if you want to break up with him. Fine. But to—to ban him from seeing his kid, that's just—That just makes me think you're every bit the heartless bitch we used to think you were."

A single tear escapes Addison's already swollen eyes and she bites her lip to keep any others from doing the same. "Izzie," she says quietly. "If I tell you something, would just hear me out?"

Izzie sighs. "And why would I do that?"

"I think… I think you'll understand everything a lot better if you do. You can hate me afterwards, but will you please just listen?"

Izzie crosses her arms. "Okay, fine."

"Promise me you'll hear me out. All the way out."

"Fine, I promise."

Addison takes a deep breath, and, taking care to look anywhere but at Izzie, announces, "The baby isn't Alex's."

"What?!" Izzie shrieks. "You backstabbing, little—"

"You promised you would hear me out," Addison yells over her. Izzie purses her lips, but quiets down. "Alex knows. He always has known it's not his."

"Wait, what?"

"There was never any chance that the baby was his. Ever. I guess I was just freaking out that I was pregnant, and he offered to… help out."

"By pretending it's his kid? Why would he do that?"

"I don't really know."

"Wait, who's the father?"

The floor suddenly becomes very interesting to Addison. "I- I don't know," she admits. "That's why he offered to help."

"So he pretends it's his kid, and…?" Izzie trails off, trying to piece everything together.

"He pretends to be the father, we fake that we're dating for awhile, then a big break up allows him to get out of it all. It was his idea, but I said yes."

"Wow."

"Yeah," Addison sighs.

"Wow," Izzie repeats. "Just wow."

"I wasn't going to tell anyone, but I just felt so bad lying to everyone. Thank you for letting me tell the truth for once. You can hate me now."

"I don't hate you, Addison," Izzie says. "I'm just trying to wrap my head around the fact that he loves you that much."

"What?!" Addison nearly screams. "No! No, he doesn't… he doesn't love me. Not like that."

Izzie raises an eyebrow. "Let's review," she suggests. "You get pregnant (I'm not going to ask about the real father, by the way), freak out, he comes up with the idea to pretend it's his, and risks his career for you. Yeah, you're right, he absolutely hates you."

"No, we're just friends, Izzie," Addison insists. "He's not in love with me. He barely likes me at all. And I'm not in love with him." She pauses for a second before asking, "Am I?"

"I don't know," Izzie shrugs, "That's not really something I would know the answer to. But I think you do."

Addison closes her eyes and sighs. "Crap. How did this happen? I can't be in love with him. I just can't be."

"I don't think you really get a choice," Izzie says sympathetically.

"Oh my God," Addison groans, covering her eyes and sliding down the wall to the floor. "I'm in love with him. Crap. What am I going to do?"

"Tell him?" Izzie suggests.

"No, I can't do that," Addison replies quickly. "I just… I have to wait it out."

Izzie shakes her head. "Whatever, Addison. I have to go now, but thanks. For telling me, I mean. And don't worry, I won't tell anybody."

Addison waves her off, too preoccupied with her revelation to really take notice.

0ooo0

She finds him a couple of hours later, having resolved not to do anything. "Hey," she says quietly after looking around to make sure they're alone. "How are you?"

He doesn't look at her. "Fine."

"That's good," she says.

"Yeah," he replies.

"So, do you… do you want to go grab something to eat?" she suggests.

"We're broken up, Addison. We probably shouldn't do things together."

"Oh. Right."

"I have paperwork," he informs her and then walks off, leaving her with the distinct feeling that she was just given the cold shoulder.

She shakes if off, and goes to get on the elevator. Clearly, it's time to go home. The elevator is crowded, but she squeezes on, pressing up against someone. She thinks nothing of it until she hears him chuckle. She looks up and finds herself looking directly into the eyes of none other than…

"Pete," she groans.

And you thought I wasn't going to include Pete in all the fun. Actually, as far as I know, nobody thought that, but I thought about it anyways. Hope you enjoyed it, and I'll try to get the next chapter up soon, but you know me and updating... I wouldn't count on anything.

-Juli-