Disclaimer: DON'T OWN IT!

Zola slowly opened her eyes. She was completely in a daze, her thoughts jumbled into one big mess.

Why was she in her child bedroom? And why was it so cold in here?

She slowly looked down to see an arm draped over her, but that was about the only thing covering her.

Looking to her left, she noticed that the blankets were completely wrapped around another body. Smiling, she tugged the blankets back over her, rubbing her arms until the goosebumps vanished.

At the movement, Tuck opened his eyes and yawned.

"Hey," he slurred.

Zola giggled. He had morning breath.

"Hey yourself."

Tuck pulled her closer, kissing her softly. "How is it possible that you are even more beautiful first thing in the morning?"

Zola grinned widely and leaned into kiss him again. He deepened the kiss, pulling the blanket around both of them to keep them warm when the door flew open.

"What the-

"Uncle Alex!" Zola gasped.

He covered his eyes. "What are you doing home? And why is he in your bed?"

"I thought you were in a surgery!"

"I'm sorry man," Tuck started. "I-

"Out!" Alex hissed. "Now!"

Tuck quickly yanked on his clothes and slipped past Alex, waving at Zola before disappearing out the door. A moment later, the front door shut.

"Get dressed and come down stares," Alex said and left.

Zola pulled on her robe and wandered to the door, taking a few calming breaths before she went to meet Alex in the kitchen.

...

I had this dream the following day that I was waiting for Derek to return.

In my dream, he hadn't come back the way he really did, with flowers in his hand, a story of how Rose cursed him out, and a warm bed to hold me in.

No in the dream, he didn't come.

In my dream, the candles burned out.

In the dream, the hospital called me, said it was an emergency.

In my dream, I drove as fast as I could and pushed my way into the ER, seeing Cristina and Richard, demanding what happened.

In my dream, Cristina said he swerved to miss a bus and hit a pole.

In my dream, Derek bled and they shocked him, and I saw Bailey say 'time of death' through the window.

In my dream, I screamed and cried and punched the window, and I couldn't breathe.

And then I woke up, and realized it was a nightmare.

Derek and I would have trouble ahead of us in our relationship, but we would love each other through every second of it.

...

"Hey," Zola muttered, sinking into a kitchen chair and grasping the cup that sat before her.

It was coffee, just the way she liked it. She began to chug it down.

"I don't even know... where to begin... why are you even home?" Alex stammered.

"I don't want to be a business woman anymore. I want to do something else."

Alex guffawed. "Like what?"

"I haven't figured that out yet."

"Zola-

"Oh, and I had sex with Tuck last night if you haven't already figured that out."

Alex stared at her for a long moment, as if deciding what to say. "You're washing the sheets," he finally said.

Zola's eyes widened and a smile spread across her face. "You're not mad?"

"Zo, you know I'll support you in anything you do. But please just talk to me first."

"Before I have sex again?" Zola questioned.

"Stop!" Alex begged. "I mean before you make a career changing decision again."

...

George had failed his intern exam, but was eventually allowed to retake it.

I was too busy loving life to notice much of anything else.

Derek was moving in. I then thought, maybe he shouldn't. And then changed my mind... again.

In the end, he moved in, and I found my mother's old diaries, which is what gave me the idea to write this.

Alex wouldn't speak to Izzie because of a misunderstanding. Without him paying attention to her, or myself or George, nobody noticed the drastic change in her.

Nobody really took in the fact that she couldn't locate what was right in front of her face, or that she was keeping to herself.

And then there was the fact that she was talking to herself.

Only she saw more than we did.

She was seeing Denny.

And this was caused by-

"A tumor?" Zola shrieked, stomping into the living room. :Seriously Uncle Alex? Izzie had a tumor and you didn't tell me?"

"Well now you know," Alex said.

"Do you ever catch a break?"

Zola sat down across from him on the sofa.

"No. Not really."

Zola began to pick at her nail polish. "What happened to Jo?"

"What?"

"I said, what happened to Jo? You and I both know that there is a lot you aren't telling me. So I want the truth There was an accident, and I want to know the rest of the story."

Alex's eyes grew narrow and he turned off the sound on the TV.

"We were friends for a while. She was dating this other guy with big arms though. I forget his name. He broke up with her, we both got really drunk, I admitted my feelings to her, and we hooked up. Next thing I know, she's pregnant and scared. We decide we can make it work. She goes for a drive one night, hits a pole, loses the baby, goes into a coma, wakes up, has to be taken to the psyche ward, and moves away to forget about any of this shit. You happy now Zola?"

He stood and began to leave the room, but froze in the doorway when Zola called out for him.

"What?"

"No. I'm not happy. I just wanted to know more about you."

She walked towards him, grabbing his arm, and looking up at him like she used to as a child.

"You are the only good thing that ever stayed in my life," Alex whispered, pulling his arm away, and left the room.

A/N: So there you have it. Sorry for not updating. Stupid writer's block.