Author's Note: This would've been up much sooner but FFN had all of their issues this past week or two. They seem to be fixed now, thankfully.

Also, if the beginning is awkward that's because it's supposed to be. I know this is AU but I still feel like they should address certain issues as well. In a positive way, of course.

"Morning." Addison chimed as she walked into the practice's kitchen the next day. She smiled as Pete looked over his shoulder giving her a nod. "How's Lucas?"

Pete turned to face her, leaning against the counter as he stirred a spoon through his coffee cup. "He finally got back to sleep about an hour after you left and when I took his temperature this morning everything was back to normal. I don't know that it's actually anything more than him teething, but I'm picking him up early to have Cooper check him out just in case."

Addison started moving around him to make her own cup of tea. "You're a great father, you know."

"So I've been told." Pete laughed and shrugged it off like it was nothing. He caught her elbow before she turned to him again, holding her there before kissing her on the cheek. "Thanks for coming by last night."

"Of course." Addison tilted her head and was about to kiss him back until she heard voices coming from down the hall.

"-and he just...let it all out, right there?" Violet laughed and shook her head.

"Yep, right there. All over my new shoes." Cooper replied. "So hey, I was going to ask you-"

"Morning, guys. Any coffee left?" Violet offered as a greeting. Her eyes went from Pete and Addison who were now standing side by side, Addison choosing to focus on her cup rather than anyone else while Pete opened another sugar packet to put in his mug.

"Yeah, it's still good." Pete replied. "So it's okay for later?" he asked Cooper, realizing only moments later that he hadn't directly said what he was referring to. Whether it was because Cooper already knew or Violet was in the room he couldn't be sure. They were civil and he knew eventually she'd probably ask to be a part of their son's life but for the time being he was doing the best he could.

Cooper seemed to pick up on Pete's hesitation and simply nodded. "I'm fine with that. Just um...you know, my schedule's pretty light today. So whenever."

Violet frowned in confusion and was planning to ask what was going on when Addison cut her off.

"I'm glad you're here, Violet. I need your help with a patient. She's coming in later this morning, so do you mind if I send her over to you?" Addison asked, her voice hopeful. She wasn't making it up and in reality was concerned for the woman. If she could get her the help she needed Addison knew she'd be doing her job right. Just as she was lifting her cup to her lips it slipped, accidentally spilling some of her tea on the counter. "Perfect," she mumbled, but before she could reach for a napkin to clean it up Pete already had one in his hand, ready to give it to her. "Thanks."

The exchange lasted only a matter of seconds but it was still long enough for Violet to take note. She smiled and shook her head, fingers curling around the handle of her cup as she offered a nod. "Sure, just let me know the time and I'll try to work her in. It shouldn't be a problem. I'm just...gonna go."

Addison looked up with the intention of giving Violet what time it would probably be, only to find she'd already left. Cooper laughed from across the room. "What?"

He held up his hands in defense. "Don't ask me." he said before leaving for his own office.

"Yep," Addison remarked, sighing as she finally got the chance to take a sip of her tea. "I have a feeling it's going to be a long day."

Everything ran smoothly for the rest of the morning. After referring the patient she and Violet discussed earlier in the day to the therapist's office, Addison was needed a break. More than that she was hungry and made a trip to a small cafe a few blocks away. On a normal day she would've seen if Naomi was free or maybe Pete, but she found herself content in eating alone with only her thoughts as a companion. Until she heard the voice of someone else standing in line behind her.

"Here you go," Alex spoke as he stuck a twenty out to the cashier, his elbow brushing against Addison's until the man took it. "And could I just have a large coffee? Thanks."

Addison shook her head. "Are you following me?"

"No." Alex replied honestly. "I'm being serious. I was over at your place a little while ago trying to talk to Izzie but she wouldn't open the door so I figured I'd get a bite to eat. This just happened to be one of the places you mentioned worth trying out."

Even if she wanted to believe him it was obvious there was something more going on if he was willing to pay for her food. The cashier gave him his change back and they moved down the counter, Addison holding her receipt as she stuck her wallet back into her purse. "You didn't have to do that."

Alex shrugged, nodding at a person behind the counter as they passed him his coffee. "Thanks, man." he said before taking a tentative sip. "I know. I wanted to. It's the least I could do, I guess, considering the circumstances."

Addison closed her eyes with a sigh before offering a shrug. "She's my friend, too. I want to help her."

"I know you do." Alex replied, shuffling awkwardly as she grabbed her plate and started to move away from the counter. While running into her had been pure coincidence he had to admit there was something he wanted to run past her. He didn't want to put anymore pressure on her than she already had between dealing with work and Izzie, though he had to admit she was a great help.

"We could eat outside. There's a few free tables." Addison gestured to the door and watched as he went to open it. They were silent for a few minutes while she started eating her panini and his fingers worried a napkin. "So," she coughed and wiped crumbs from the corner of her mouth. "penny for your thoughts?"

"Not much, actually." he took a large gulp of coffee and set the cup down carefully. "I just don't know how much longer I'll be here. I'm starting to think coming at all was a mistake."

Addison set her sandwich down, unscrewing the cap of her water as she thought through what to say. "I can't make any decisions for either of you, although I admit I'm beginning to think locking you in the same room might be a good idea."

Alex laughed and shook his head, smiling before burying his face in his hands. "You know, you may be right. At this point I don't see any other options aside from going back home."

"With all due respect, giving up doesn't really sound like you." Addison smiled in his direction, recalling the times he'd argue with her over the case of one patient or another. She was proud to see the surgeon he'd become, even in the midst of everything in his life. "Give it time."

"I don't have time, Addison. I have Shep letting me have a couple of sick days and that's it. Maybe..." Alex opened his mouth again to say something but chose otherwise and shut it again, fingers beginning to rip the napkin, tearing it around the edges. Realizing what he was doing, he crumpled it up and shoved it to the side. "I don't know, but maybe this isn't worth it anymore."

Her heart broke a little to see the pain in his eyes. Alex never used to be a man willing to openly show his emotions but now she couldn't help but think that he looked tired and broken. "Maybe you're right. But to just throw in the towel now?" she asked. She sighed and pushed her plate away, resting her elbows on the edge of the table as she began to tell him something she already knew might be a bad idea. "Izzie has another treatment at San Sebastian at two today. If you show up to support her, Izzie could see it as a good thing."

"Or she could have security throw me out." Alex countered, despite that fact he was already plotting out the best way to approach Izzie if he decided to go.

"That's true. But you'll never know unless you try, will you?" Addison asked in return. When he nodded, she hoped telling him would only result in something positive. "Do you mind if I ask you what was so horrible back in Seattle that would make her feel like the only option was to leave? She's told me things but I thought maybe you-"

"I don't know." Alex interrupted. It wasn't entirely a lie because what happened between Izzie and himself was something he thought could've been fixed. "Thanks, Addison." he tipped his cup in her direction before checking the time on his phone. "Well, maybe, I could put your suggestion to good use."

"Alex?" Addison asked, her voice catching a little as he stood to walk away. He looked back expectantly. She smiled in a way she hoped seemed reassuring. "Good luck."

The room was quiet as Izzie began her treatment. She closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath, wishing the day would go by so much faster. While she knew the medicine was helping and that she was fortunate to even get the chance, there was still a reluctance to just let go and let someone else help her.

"Hey."

Her hand froze halfway to the magazine she'd been reaching for on the table. "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to help." Alex replied, not willing to sit until he knew she wasn't going to yell and threaten to have him kicked out.

"There's not much here for you to do, Alex." Izzie cried. She grabbed the magazine from the table, letting it fall in her lap because the moment she heard him sit down there would be no reading it. "What is it that you want? What do you expect to get from just...showing up like this?"

Alex leaned forward and shrugged. "I don't know. I guess I just figured I'd come and talk to you in a place I knew you couldn't run."

Her eyes narrowed as she stared at him. "You're serious? And how exactly do you figure that will help you in your scheme here?"

"There's no scheme, Iz. I just wanted to talk to you." Alex replied. He sighed and stared down at his shoes, noting a scuff on the right one and not remembering how it had gotten there. It was funny, he thought, the things you noticed when you were trying hard not focus on anything else. "But I guess that's not gonna happen."

In the same second he tensed to push the chair back she wondered what it would be like to actually just talk to him. He'd come all the way from Seattle to try and figure everything out and she knew if anything he deserved the chance to say whatever he wanted. "Alex, wait."

He paused halfway out of the chair, his eyes now focusing on her hand laying on top of his. "What?"

"Just...I don't know how to do this, okay?" Izzie cried, the words coming out a little more raspy than intended. "I don't know how to do this, and knowing that scares me. We can talk, I promise. Just not here. Not now. Could you just sit with me until this is finished?"

She was scared and vulnerable and a few more things he couldn't quite place, but it was the closest chance Alex had gotten to spending time with her. Nodding, he linked his fingers through hers as he sat back down. "Okay," he said quietly. "I can do that."