I am so sorry it has taken me so long. I couldn't make it work for me. Even now it's not exactly perfect. I hope you do like it though. The last chapter won't take me nearly as long so it should be up soon. Now keep in mind I have never had a baby or be present at any birth other than my own so I probably screwed something up. Let's just ignore that though. I probably spelled things wrong, because I don't have a proper spell check on my computer at the moment. I am also sorry Team McStizzie for dissappearing off the face of the earth.

Mark was panicking. It was a miracle they had made it to the hospital in one piece. He had practically carried her out the door and sped off down the road, leaving Derek, Meredith, and Ann to follow. As if that wasn't going to be an extremely awkward situation. Izzie found it humorous that he was the one freaking out when she was the person going into labor four weeks early. They had made it to the hospital at the same time Addison had. Which was good except for that Izzie hadn't called her.

"Izzie? Mark? What are you doing here?"

"I think I might..."

"She's in labor!"

"Oh no. Not you too. And you are both early. It seems I have my work cut out for me."

"Who else's here?"

"Callie."

"You don't say."

"Let's get you up stairs and check on everything."

"All right."

It didn't take long for her to get hooked up to every device imaginable. Meredith and Ann were at her side, while Derek calmed down Mark in his state of dishevelment. Izzie watched them a bit amused while Addison check her heart rate, the babies heart rate, and Mark's just for kicks

"Izzie you are 4 centimeters dilated. The baby seems to be fine. The heart rate is normal and there are no signs of distress. I have no reason to try to stop your labor, so sometime soon you are going to have a baby."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. I am the best you know."

"Ok then."

"Mark how are you doing over there? You're looking a little pale."

"Addison don't taunt him."

"Sorry Derek I couldn't resist. Now I'm off to check on Callie O'Malley"

"Tell her I said hey."

"All right I will."

Hour 6

Addison had came in to check on her ever so often, but it seemed that Callie was reaching the finish line much quicker than she was so it had been an hour since Izzie had seen her. Mark had come to his senses and was now playing the dutiful daddy to be and holding her hand and fetching ice chips. He was sitting next to her and absentmindedly stroking her hair. Meredith had gone off to check on Callie and George and Derek had gone back home to get some sleep. Ann had gone down to get Mark and herself some coffee. Suddenly Addison burst through the door looking pretty tired herself.

"So there's a new O'Malley in the world and he weighs 9 lbs. 10 oz., 20 inches long and did I mention he was two weeks early."

"Wow, poor Callie."

"Oh she had an epidural. She was fine. Now how are you doing Izzie."

"Just hanging out. I have a feeling this is going to take a really long time."

"Well let's see where you are."

"By now I thought this would be less awkward."

"I know how you feel, and you're right. It seems that your labor is stalling. You're at 5 centimeters."

"Please tell me you are kidding."

"Nope I'm not, but if you haven't started to progress in the next little bit I may just break your water for you." Addison was in a playful mood.

"I just may let you." Izzie didn't want to be in the hospital more than was absolutely necessary.

"I'm going to check on Baby O'Malley, and a few of my other patients, but I will be back."

"Bye Addison."

Izzie gave a despondent sigh. Mark smiled at her. He knew she was ready to get this over with, but she wasn't going to say that out loud. No this was Izzie Stevens. She was a trooper. She would deal with the pain and not say a word about it. Sure she complained about little stuff, but when it came to the big stuff that mattered she took it in strides. She was hardcore. It was something that he admired greatly in her. About that time Cristina came bursting through the door.

"Can I hide in here?"

"Why do you need to hide?"

"There's to much happiness in the other room and it's full of people and one of those people keep looking at me expectantly. Like I'm next. I would just like to stay in here where it's safe."

"Sure you can stay. It's going to be a long time before there is joy in here."

"Thank God, but you know... how are you?" Cristina was trying to be compassionate

"I'm fine for now thanks."

"Right."

"Is it really that bad over there?"

"Oh yeah. George tried to get me to watch the baby crowning on video. They were talking about how cute he was and how much hair he had. Burke and McDreamy looked like they could rob the nursery for one of their own. It's scary."

"Why would he want you to watch that? Did they name him?"

"It's still up in the air. By the way, I need you're baby to be cuter than theirs. I have a bet to collect on."

"Cristina! Why would you bet on that?"

"Let's look at this logically. George is cute yes. Callie is hot yes. You are supermodel and he is McSteamy. Supermodel and McSteamy trump Hot and Cute. Logic."

"What if our baby got bad genes."

"Ummm I don't actually think that's genetically possible. Izzie you have to have bad genes in order to pass them on."

"It's still wrong."

"Well it is logical." Mark agreed with Cristina

"Don't encourage her."

"I'm sorry. Ice chips?" Izzie just cocked an eyebrow in a way that said "Seriously?"

"Ok guess not."

Hour 7

"How are we?"

"Are you even human Addison? How can you be so upbeat?"

"Shut up Derek. I wasn't talking to you. Izzie how are you feeling?"

"Honestly not much different."

"That is not what I wanted to hear."

"Sorry?"

"Let's just take a look...Well it looks like your labor has stalled. So what I'm going to do is start you on Pitocin and go ahead and break your water. You look a bit scared Izzie."

"I am. From an I'm a surgeon point of view I'm totally fine. I have seen this done a million times, but from the I'm in labor point of view it's as scary as hell."

"I understand. Ok here we go. It's not going to hurt."

It didn't hurt, but Izzie just wanted to be finished. She just wanted her baby in her arms. This was taking forever. Given a lot of women are in labor longer than 7 hours, but it's an eternity when it's all that stands between you and the rest of your life. She had wanted to do this as natural as possible, but nothing about this pregnancy was going according to plan. She looked at Mark. He looked tired, but he wouldn't leave her for longer than five minutes at a time. God, she loved him. It was crazy to her how much she loved him. He was beautiful. She wanted to get this over with and go home with their baby and him. She was so ready.

"Ok I'm going to check you again in one hour and hopefully we will have progressed."

"Thank you"

"No problem."

Derek was hanging out with them. Meredith had gone to work and so had Cristina. George came in the door for the first time as Addison was leaving.

"Hey Izzie. I'm sorry I haven't been to see you yet."

"It's ok. How's Callie?"

"She's good and the baby is too."

"I heard. Have you named him yet?"

"Harold Matthew O'Malley."

"You named him after your dad."

"Yep. We decided we are going to call him Harry. Have you picked a name yet?"

"No. Which is probably a bad thing."

"You'll pick a good one. I just wanted to check on you. I will come back in a little while."

"Bye George. Tell them hi for me."

"Will do."

Hour 10

It had worked. Izzie was really starting to feel the contractions in that painful way that makes women break bone. The last time Addison had checked she was at 7 centimeters which was a lot better than 4. Mark wished she would just get the epidural, but no she didn't want to. It was almost as if the needle scared her more than the pain of labor hurt her. The look on her face when a contraction hit her was enough for him to want to do it for her. She shouldn't have to be doing all the work all by herself. Sure he was there but he felt helpless. He could get her ice chips and he could rub her back and he could hold her hand, but when it came down to it he could help where it counted most.

"Izzie if your contractions keep up at this pace we should have a baby in a few hours."

"I don't know if I can take a whole lot more of this."

"Eventually the pain plateaus but it could still be a while until that happens. You can get an epidural now if you would like."

"I think I'm going to hold off."

"I don't think you are going to feel that way in a few hours."

"I'll deal with it when it gets here."

"Just don't wait too long."

Hour 13

Izzie was thinking she should have just gotten the epidural. But it was too late and Addison was telling her to start pushing with her next contraction. There was no way this was going to be anything less than the most painful thing she had ever experienced. She felt a contraction and did as she was told.

"That's it. Keep pushing. And relax. That was pretty much a perfect push Izzie. A few more of those and we'll have a baby."

Mark didn't understand how she wasn't breaking his hand. Pain was etched all over her perfect face and she was squeezing pretty hard, but not hard enough for him to wonder if his had was okay or not. He counted the seconds for her and was the best coach he could be. Right now that's all he could do. It was all very surreal.

The pushing didn't take long. Addison was a bit surprised. It wasn't long until she anounced the final push. And with it a little baby girl made her way into the world. She didn't cry right away, but it wasn't long until she made it clear she had inherited her mother's set of lungs. She was a little baby, but that was to be expected when she was four weeks early. She had dark hair and she was as cute as she could be for just having been born. Addison watched on as her mother held her and cried tears of pure joy and her father gently touched her little cheek with the back of his index finger. She had done it. She had given Mark a chance at happily ever after. This one moment made everything okay. They had all made mistakes, but here was their chance at a bright new future.

As soon as Addison was finished and the baby was back from all her tests, the room was full of friends and family. Well their friends were their family. Meredith cried which surprised a few people. Cristina took pictures. Izzie was sure she was doing so in an attempt to collect on her bet. Alex kissed the top of her head and offered his congratulations. Derek and Preston were plotting ways to get a baby of their own. Ann was doting on her daughter and granddaughter as much as a new grandmother could. George brought Harry to see everyone and so the babies could met each other. They both slept through the whole ordeal. Addison was proud of her self, but took the opportunity to talk to Mark.

"Can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Sure." He followed her out into the hallway.

"I'm sorry for everything I ever did."

"Addison..."

"No I need to say this. I am sorry for using you to try to get over Derek. I am sorry for taking the first chance you had to be a father away. And I'm sorry for hurting you again when you came here. I am truly sorry."

"I know. Let's be honest here. We aren't the people we were even just a year and a half ago. I would forgive you, but I don't even remember the man all those things happened to. I got a second chance and you have one too. I suggest we take it."

"Can we be friends?"

"Of course. We have people waiting for us in there."

"Okay. Let's go."

"MARK EZEKIAL SLOAN!"

"Mark run. Your mother's headed this way." She watched his jaw tense.

"Mark, Why didn't you call me."

"Because you don't belong here. Go home."

"It's my grandchild."

"She is my daughter and in the interest of her safety and mental health you we be coming nowhere near her."

"We can take the child with us to New York."

"You are unbelievable."

"We could be happy there."

"Marilyn leave your son alone."

"Addison this is really none of your business."

"He's happy. Why can't you just be happy for him?"

"He doesn't belong here."

"So you want him to go back to New York and do what exactly.:

"It's where he belongs with his family. His practice is there."

"My family is here. You accept that or you can leave."

"But Markie..."

"No. No buts" With that he turned and walked back into the room.

It didn't take long for the room to clear out. Izzie was tired and so was the rest of the gang. They had either been working when Callie and Izzie had come in or they were going to work. The baby was asleep and it didn't take long for Izzie to pretty much pass out from exhaustion. Mark on the other hand couldn't sleep. So much had happened over the last twenty four hours. His mother had shown up, his girlfriend had gone into labor, he had become a father, he had yelled at said mother. All in all it had been a very eventful day. Now he sat across from Izzie's bed where she slept peacefully, holding their tiny baby in his arms. She was so little. He counted her ten itsy fingers, and ten tinsy toes once more. Already she looked so much like the woman that lay in front of him. She had the same button nose and he knew that when she was older she would have adorable freckles sprinkled on it when she was in the sun for too long. Her lips were the same shape and he knew there were high cheekbones hiding under those cherub baby cheeks. He was searching for signs of himself in her small face they had the same chin and she had his eyes. Sure all babies were born with blue eyes, but they were the same shape and maybe they would be the same color. He looked up as he heard the door open. It was Ann. She smiled a tired smile at him. Izzie had never really talked about her mom, but he knew they had a shaky past. He was glad she was here. Wether or not she admitted it Izzie needed her right now. Hell he needed her. Neither one of them knew the first thing about taking care of babies.

"She's beautiful."

"I know. She looks exactly like her mother."

"I see you in there too."

"Maybe. She has my chin."

"Yes she does."

"I've never been responsible for anyone before. It suddenly seems a little overwhelming."

"It is. Learning to be selfless is a hard lesson, but if you have help and the love you feel for her will make it easier."

"I guess I should have been ready to love her so much so quickly. Everyone tells you about it."

"Hearing it and experiencing it are very different."

"I guess so." The last part was a bit indecipherable due to a large yawn.

"You need to get some sleep."

"We all do."

"Yes, but you need to sleep now. You have a new baby to take care of." Mark stood up and carefully placed the sleeping infant in Ann's capable arms. He crawled into the small hospital bed behind a sleeping Izzie. Sure it was the smallest bed in the history of man kind, but he needed to be near her right now. It wasn't long before he fell asleep.

Izzie woke up with a very familiar arm around her waist. For a moment she wondered if the past eight months were just a dream, but her eyes focused on the familiar hospital surroundings. She was wonder where the baby was if Mark was asleep next to her. She began to sit up, but then regretted it. Her body was sore from all the effort it had gone through to bring another life into the world. She managed to sit up despite her protesting muscles and Mark's dead weight. Just before she grabbed the phone a nurse came in rolling the little bed where her baby was fussing ever so slightly.

"I thought you might be up. She wasn't very happy in the nursery." Izzie smiled. Already she was being difficult. She readily took pink bundle from the nurse who's name was Jessica. She instantly stopped voicing her frustration.

"I'm sorry she was causing trouble."

"She was actually perfect until she decided she had had enough of all the other babies. So have you picked a name for her yet?"

"We haven't really had a chance to talk about it." She looked at her sleeping boyfriend; his face still half hidden by a pillow.

"I know it's none of my business, but how did you catch him. I mean he was a bit of a manwhore when he first came to Seattle."

"A bit is an understatement, and I really don't know. I ask myself that often. I guess we just met our match in each other."

"So I guess you believe in soulmates then."

"I have to. Otherwise I would constantly be waiting for him to leave."

"whaphmfehet"

"What?" Izzie had no idea what he had said.

"What time is it?"

"Who knows."

"It's 1:36 in the morning."

"What were you two talking about?"

"Nothing really."

"I'm just going to give you some alone time, but you really should pick a name."

"Thanks Jessica."

"No problem."

Jessica left them alone as a family.

"How did you sleep?"

"As well as you can on a hospital bed."

"How do you feel?"

"Sore, but that's to be expected." She smiled at him. He leaned in slowly and kissed her. It had been a trying day and he needed it just as much as she did.

"I love you."

"I love you, but we need to give our baby a name."

"The list is in your bag."

"Suddenly those names just don't seem to work."

"What did you have in mind."

"I don't know. What do you think?"

"I know that face. You do have something in mind."

"Ok but you aren't going to like it."

"I love everything about you even the things I don't particularly like all the time."

"Oh thanks that makes is so much easier."

"Come on out with it."

"Remember how I was confined to the house for a million years."

"It was more like a month and a half, but yeah."

"I sort of fell in love with the history channel, and there was the special about the history of aviation, and they were talking about Amelia Erheart. I just thought Amelia was such a pretty name and..."

"You think it fits her."

"Yes?"

"Amelia Grace Sloan."

"Woah wait. When did we decide on Grace?"

"Let's face it this hospital owns us. It's where we met and where she was born. It seems fitting to use it."

"I guess you are right. And it does sound really nice."

"So?"

"I think our baby now has a name."

"To bad she is asleep and can't enjoy it."

I'd swim across Lake Michigan
I'd sell my shoes
I'd give my body to be back again
In the rest of the room

To be alone
With you
To be alone
With you
To be alone with you
To be alone with you

To Be Alone With You Sufjan Stevens

So please review. Thanks. I love you and reviews.