Author's Note: Um. So I don't really have an excuse for why this one took me so long other than school took over my life. I fail, I know. I'm on spring break now though so I wanted to get this one out.

I should also tell you there's only one left. I'm sad to see it end but it feels like ends have been tied and there's not much more of the story to tell. If only it could have happened in ShondaLand, eh? Anyway, I'll close this by asking you to please leave a review if you read. Thanks so much!

"Hey."

Izzie shook her head defiantly, burying herself further in the blankets. "No, it's too early."

Alex laughed as he pulled her close, craning his neck so he could read the numbers on the clock. "Actually, according to the alarm clock we're late. Come on, it's time to get up."

Izzie groaned, rolling over onto her back when he pulled the blankets away. "Do we both have to go to work today? I mean, I have so many things to take care of. I've gotta call the caterer to make sure the platters will be ready for tonight, finalize the set list for tomorrow, and-" her words were halted due to Alex leaning over and planting a kiss on her lips.

"Iz? Breathe. It's okay; we can do this. Besides, I know you and you'll be sneaking phone calls on your lunch break and in empty on call rooms about all that stuff anyway, right?" Alex asked, his face planted in the pillow under her head. He kissed her neck softly before pushing himself off the bed. "Admit it, I'm right."

Izzie sighed in defeat. She didn't like the idea of letting go of any control; her original idea had been to cook everything herself, but Alex had said she'd be spreading herself too thin and so she conceded, choosing instead to make only the cake. "Fine. But if any of this messes up, I'm blaming you." she said, eying him as she slipped on a robe, tying it at the waist before walking to him. "I love you." she said with a smile. She kissed him quickly before gathering some clothes from a drawer and slipping out of the room, in search of a quick shower before leaving.

Alex stared at the open doorway after she left for a second before shaking his head and getting ready himself. He stopped downstairs, happy to find there was just enough coffee left for them both-in the back of his mind it registered there had been more coffee left than normal, but he left that to dissect for later-and almost as an afterthought he grabbed a pen and slip of paper from a drawer nearby. He scrawled a quick note and stuck it on her travel mug before grabbing his keys and slipping out the door. Knowing they were going to separate hospitals had been hard to deal with in the beginning but through the weeks and months since Izzie came back it was something he'd grown used to.

Tying her hair up in a ponytail as she ran down the stairs, Izzie walked into the kitchen just a few minutes later. Her hand hovered near the coffee pot when the note Alex left caught her eye.

"Iz-

Take care of yourself today. Don't work too hard, okay? Everything will be fine.

See you tonight.

Alex"

A soft smile swept across her features before she folded the note and put it in her pocket. After filling her mug she gathered her things before heading for her car. Mentally, she ran through the list of things she had planned for the day. There was the matter of a surgery scheduled for mid-morning and a follow-up meeting with another patient but other than those she had time to double-check on everything for that weekend. Of course, that was barring any difficulties on the job, as often happened, but without any of those she would be out in plenty of time to set up for the party that night. Meredith and Lexie both offered to pitch in, as well as Alex of course, and she was grateful for their help.

With nothing left to do but get through the day, she turned up the radio and hoped the hours would go by quickly.

"Is everything okay? Are people eating the quiches? I told the lady at-"

"Easy, Izzie. Everything's fine. Where've you been, by the way?" Meredith asked. She'd been climbing upstairs when Izzie caught her. With purse slung over her shoulder and hair thrown up in a bun Izzie looked the part of a worried hostess, and a late one at that. "Is everything okay?"

She nodded with a smile. "There was this patient at work, I would've been here earlier but-"

"Don't worry about it. Go, have fun. It's your party, after all." Meredith shoved her in the direction of the living room.

She was watching the party from the window when she felt hands on her waist. "Oh, hey. I'm sorry I'm late. I-"

Alex hushed her with a kiss before pulling her to the door. "What are you doing in there? Come out here. Join the party."

Izzie opened her mouth to refuse before closing it again. He was right.

The night carried on without a hitch. She laughed watching the guys throw a football around and smiled as she watched all of her friends-family, she corrected herself-interact. They had all been a part of helping her and Alex get to the moment they were at in some way and for that she was thankful. The following day started simply enough. While Izzie intended to make breakfast Alex insisted that she didn't. In all technicality they probably should have spent the previous night apart but considering they were in fact already married that tradition didn't really matter.

The rest of the day leading up to the moment was a flurry of calling people, confirming times and of course she had secured a sufficient amount of time in the kitchen to bake the cake.

She was in her room making last minute preparations with Cristina and Meredith when the knock came at the door. "Who is it?"

Addison poked her head in, opening the door just slightly. "Sorry if I'm interrupting. I was asked to come and tell you that everyone is downstairs ready to go."

Izzie nodded in response before turning to the mirror and securing her earring in place. "Thanks, Addison. I'll be right there." she said before putting the other earring in. "Actually, could I talk to you for a second?"

Addison was just about to shut the door but opened in again in curiosity. "Sure, what do you need?"

Izzie glanced back at Meredith and Cristina. "Tell Alex I'll be right down."

Addison watched as the two women left, wondering what possibly could have been so important she'd have them leave.

"I wanted to give you something. I know it's not much and it's not even a real present but just...here." Izzie said anxiously before reaching over to her dresser and handing Addison a package wrapped neatly in gold paper. "I don't know. I just felt like I should give you something. For everything, you know."

"You really didn't have to." Addison replied. She peeled back the paper and set it aside before opening the box. Inside was a silver frame, intricately woven, with a picture of herself with Lucas and Pete. They were standing on the beach, Lucas on top of Pete's shoulders with Addison standing by their side. It was candid and yet so completey in place. "Did you take this?"

"Yes. I'm sorry, I wasn't trying to spy or anything. I just thought it was a really great moment. Then once I was back here I was in this one shop and I saw the frame. It just seemed right. Do you like it?"

Addison smiled before offering a hug. "I love it. Thank you."

"I'm sorry for all the trouble. It was the least I could do." Izzie replied as she pulled back. "Congratulations, by the way."

"How did you-" Addison started in surprise before changing her mind. "No, you know what? Today is about you. You need to get downstairs."

"Thanks, Addison. I'll just be a minute." Izzie replied before taking one last look in the mirror. This was it. She shouldn't be nervous and she really wasn't, so with a final deep breath for strength she made her way down the stairs.

Friends and family were gathered in the living room with furniture pushed further against the walls. She made a mental note to thank Meredith for being so forgiving about the whole thing. They may have all lived there but it was stil technically just her house.

"You okay?" Alex asked when she reached his side.

Izzie nodded and pulled his hand into hers. "Never been better. Can we get started?"

Knowing better than to keep her waiting any longer, Alex nodded in confirmation.

"I don't really have anything planned to say. I've never really been good at this sort of thing and I think you know that, so..." Alex started to trail off only to look at her, finding whatever strength he needed there. "I'm just gonna say it. A part of me kind of can't believe we're standing here, Iz. I mean, if someone would've told me what was going to happen between when we first got married and now I probably would've ran in the opposite direction." he spoke quickly, holding her hand tight as he stifled a laugh. "I don't know what it is about this. About us, I mean. But I just…I just want you to know that I'm here. That I'm committed. I'm not goin' anywhere, because Isobel Stevens, you have got to be the most stubborn, strong willed, competitive, emotional, beautiful…amazing woman I have ever known."

"Alex." Izzie whispered, blinking back the tears she felt welling up in her eyes.

"I'm serious."

Izzie smiled and gripped his hand tightly. "I love you too. Even if I haven't always done the best job of showing you that. I thought leaving would make things easier for you. For us. The last thing I wanted to put you through was pain. Alex-"she drew in a shaky breath before speaking again. "You never gave up. You followed me to California and for that I am grateful. I don't know where I'd be without you. I don't know where we'll be a month from now or a year for now, but what I do know is that we'll be there to face it. Together."

They spoke a little bit longer before kissing and turning to face their friends. Meredith and Derek. Cristina and Owen. Addison and Pete. They were all there standing in solidarity and support and as Izzie felt Alex wrap his arms around her shoulders she knew she wouldn't want to have it any other way.