Author's Note: First, I want to thank everyone for the lovely comments. They mean so much. Probably more than what you realize. Secondly, I apologize for how long it has taken me to get this posted. I wanted it to be perfect. I am not sure that it is but I hope you still enjoy it.

Answers to some questions: Derek is still around but since the story isn't about him and Meredith I haven't had an opportunity to write a scene with him in it. Nor have I had the opportunity to write a scene with Cristina giving someone a piece of her mind. It isn't because I don't want to, I just don't see writing a scene for the sake of writing it. I hope that doesn't offend anyone.

Chapter Ten

"Love is the condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own." Robert Heinlein

The gentle whisper of a breeze caressed Izzie's bare shoulders as she stood on the small balcony that was just off her living room. A shiver rippled through her body, a reminder that it was too cold to be outside in nothing but a tank top and lightweight yoga pants. She barely noticed. Her mind was too busy to think about temperatures dropping. It had been almost eight hours since she had left Alex at Seattle Grace. She hadn't wanted to, had even toyed with the idea of just wandering around until after his meeting with Derek, but in the end logic had won out and she had come home. Alone. Which made eight hours seem like eighty. Eight hours of trying to keep busy so she wouldn't think about how scared Alex had looked. Eight hours of sorting through her conversation with Meredith. Eight hours of debating with herself on whether or not she was ready to take the final step in her reconciliation with Alex. Every time she thought she had her mind made up she would think of a logical reason to swing the other way. Eight hours…and she still had no clue on whether or not she was ready to get physical with her husband.

A soft knocking at the front door jars her from her thoughts. Her lips fall into a small frown only to tilt up into a smile when she realized it was probably Alex. She hurried toward the door, her fingers trembling slightly as she yanked it open. "Hey," she breathed, her mouth stretching into a full blown grin as she threw her arms around her husband. She buried her nose in his neck, breathing in the scent that was distinctly him. Her eyes closed as she stood there, holding him tight. Any doubt she had about fully letting Alex back into her life disappeared. If they were going to stand a chance they had to fully commit; not just emotionally but physically as well.

"I missed you," Izzie murmured, stepping back. Her heart pounded as she brushed her lips across his, hoping he would understand the unspoken invitation. Her body warmed as his tongue slipped past her lips, teasing the recesses of her mouth. It felt as though it were no longer blood rushing through her veins but molten lava. She had almost forgotten how provocative Alex's kiss could be. The gentle thrusting of his tongue in and out of her mouth. The soft caress of his lips upon her lips. The promise of what his body could do to her body.

"Missed you too," chuckled Alex as he broke the kiss long enough to close the front door and lock it. A smirk puckered her lips as she thought about the show her nosy neighbor Mrs. Jones had just witnessed. It would have served the snoopy old woman right if they had carried things a little further.

He reached out, his fingers tucking a lock of hair behind her ear before trailing down her cheek. Izzie felt her eyes drift close as his mouth once again captured her's. She pressed her body closer, an excited fire simmering in her lower stomach. She curled her fingers into the soft fabric of his sweater and let out a low whimper as his mouth moved from her lips to her neck. It had been a long time since she had felt like this. Through the passion induced haze she tried to remember the last time she had felt this turned on. It had to of been before the cancer; before everything became so mixed up and confused. She hadn't realized how much she had missed it.

"Don't stop," she protested when he took a step back. It seemed that was all they had done since his arrival the day before. Start and stop. She was tired of stopping. They had made the decision to get back together, to build a future, and that meant healing their marriage in every way. At least that was what she had thought. Maybe he's no longer interested in you that way, a silent voice whispered. The voice sounded a lot like Lexie Grey. Her stomach clenched. What if that was why he kept stopping? What if he was no longer attracted to her? What if that was the real reason he had cheated?

"Iz?"

Blinking, she forced herself to meet his gaze. Concern shone there, mixed with confusion. He cupped her cheek in the palm of his hand, waiting. She sucked in her breath and fought for control. If she let her thoughts spill out the mood would be ruined even more. "Iz, come on. Talk to me. What's going through that head of your's?"

She blinked again. Was she that easy to read or did he know her that well? A little of both, she decided. "You stopped," she whispered. The tiny voice that came out of her mouth sounded foreign even to her.

"I stopped because it's kinda hard to take your clothes off when we're kissing," Alex answered, bewilderment wrinkling his face. He reached up and scrubbed a hand over his short cropped dark hair. "Why do you think I stopped?"

Heat flooded her cheeks. There was no way she was answering that honestly. Things were cooling off fast and if she wanted to salvage the mood before it completely fizzled out she needed to get a grip on her insecurities. "You slept with someone else," she blurted out before she could stop herself. So much for salvaging the mood, she thought miserably. "And…I…my body isn't like it use to be okay? There are scars and…"

Alex cut her off by pressing his mouth against her's. "Stop it," he whispered hotly in her ear. "You're beautiful, Iz. The most beautiful woman I have ever seen. Before cancer. After cancer. It doesn't matter. To me, you will always be the most beautiful woman in the world." The tears that had burned her eyes moments before slipped down her cheeks. Her lips parted but he silenced her again by placing the tip of his index finger against her lower lip. "As for what happened with Lexie, I wish I could take it back. I wish it had never happened. But it did, Iz. You said you forgave me, that we were going to get through everything that happened. That means letting it go." His forehead touched her's, their breath mingling as they stood there. His fingers sought out her's, entwining their fingers. "It was never her," he murmured. "She was just someone I could pretend was you."

His fingers traveled up her sides and into her hair. Using his new found hold on her, he tilted her head to the left and caught her mouth in another hot, wet kiss that threw gasoline on the fire simmering between them. He was right. She had to let it go. They were moving forward, not looking back. Looking in the rear view mirror was no way to live and damn it Izzie wanted to live; she needed to live. Which meant she had to let it all go once and for all. No more dancing around. No more taking two steps forward, followed by one back.

Reaching between their bodies, Alex found the hem of her tank top and drew it upward, revealing the smooth expanse of her stomach. Her heart tripped when she felt his fingers linger on the tiny scar to the left of her belly button. It was one of twelve scars scattered across her body. Permanent reminders of the ugliness that festered inside her and almost killed her. "I love you," Alex said before yanking her top over her head. He grinned as he tossed it over his shoulder. A giggle teased passed her lips as she shimmied out of her yoga pants. Kicking them aside, she teased him about being over dressed. "Oh yeah? We'll see about that!" The giggled turned into a full blown laugh as he raced to get rid of the sweater, jeans, and boots he had worn. The laughter died as he shucked his boxers as well, leaving him with nothing but a smug smirk on his mouth. "Now whose over dressed."

"You think you're real funny don't you," Izzie chided as she twisted her arms around to unhook her bra. Quirking one brow up she flicked the bit of silver lace in his direction before wiggling out of the matching panties.

"No," he replied, pulling her body flush with his. "I think I'm about to get lucky."

"I think you're right," taunted Izzie. She took a tentative step backward, bringing her closer to the bed. Like a moth drawn to the flame he followed, gathering her close. She twined her arms around his neck, relishing the feel of his skin against her skin. They had always fit together perfectly. Like two pieces of the same puzzle. No awkward grinding of hips or trying to reposition body parts.

Izzie felt her eyes flutter shut as he laid her back on the bed. Her lips parted in a silent oh as Alex parted her legs and settled over her. Part of her wanted to beg for foreplay but most of her just wanted to feel him inside her. A soft moan caught in her throat as the tip of his penis nudged between her slick folds. "Oh God," she whispered as he fully sheathed himself in her body. Her fingers danced over his spine, trailing lower until they came to rest on his buttocks. She dug her nails in, urging him to go harder, faster. It felt like heaven. He was heaven; her heaven.

OOOOOO

It took every ounce of Alex's will power not to come the moment he entered her. She had been made for him. From the first time they made love until now he had always felt that way. He had been foolish thinking he could let her go, that he could feel this way with someone other than her. She was a part of him. She was…his. It had been insanity to think otherwise. His lapse in judgment had passed though and he was back where he belonged.

"I love you," he breathed against her neck, slowing his thrusts. He wanted to enjoy every moment as though it were the last. Life was too short to make the mistakes he had been making. Between the session with Perkins, Lexie saying she forgave him, and Derek recommending that he undergo more therapy before being allowed back in the O.R. he had come to realize he was treating life like it was expendable. It was a shame it had taken being shot for to realize that. Well no more. He was exhausted trying to sort through the muck of his life. He wanted something more than one night stands and alcohol binges meant to drive thoughts of Izzie from his head. Why wake up with a stranger and a hang over when he could wake with the woman he loved?

"I love you too," Izzie moaned, her legs wrapping around his waist. He slid his hands beneath her, tilting her hips enough to give him better access. Each thrust in and out of her body brought him closer to fulfillment. He buried his face in her neck, repeating the words she had just spoken as he lost himself in her body.