ALEX AND IZZIE

"Hey, Alex, sorry I'm late. I got stuck in the chief's office, signing papers and everything," Izzie said, walking up to where Alex had sat down to wait for her.

"I was almost ready to give up on you. I thought maybe you forgot about me or something," Alex said.

"No, not at all. What do you want to do then?"

"Well, since bars are out of the picture, how about we go to this restaurant I know."

"I'm not really dressed for anything Fancy."

"You're beautiful the way you are. Come on, let's go," Alex said, grabbing her hand and leading her towards his car.

They arrived twenty minutes later at an expensive Italian restaurant. They walked in, when Izzie stopped him. "Don't we need reservations for a place like this?"

"Trust me for once, will you?" Alex said, smiling deviously.

He walked right up to the hostess. "I need a table for two."

"I'm sorry, sir, but unless you have a reservation, we don't have any room," she replied without looking up.

"Well, maybe you should look again," Alex said, causing the hostess to look up.

"Oh, I'm so sorry Dr. Karev. We've always got room for you. You said a table for two? Right this way," she said, leading the way to a table in a private room.

"Wow, Alex, they know you by name. Either you come here so often with hot dates or you've saved somebody's life," Izzie said, amazed.

"Neither, actually. My cousin, well he's more like my brother, owns this place. He and I are close. Just like when he needs to come to the hospital to get paternity tests and stuff, I'm able to get him discounts," Alex said, causing Izzie to almost spit out the sip of water she had just taken.

"No, I'm kidding. We just have a close relationship, you know?" Alex said, chuckling at Izzie.

"What can I get you to drink tonight Dr. Karev?" the waiter said.

"What would you like, Iz? We can get wine if you promise not to get too drunk," Alex asked.

"That would be nice."

"I would like a bottle of your best wine tonight."

"Which year-"

"I believe the man said the best we've got. You know the best. Now go Charles!" a voice came from behind them.

"Richie! How you doing man?" Alex said, standing up to hug his cousin.

"Not too bad, yet not as good as you," Richie said, looking at Izzie approvingly.

"Richie, I'd like for you to meet Izzie Stevens. We're out celebrating because she had thought she wanted to quit before her internship at Seattle Grace was finished, but decided to stay. Izzie, this is my cousin, Richie. Don't take anything he says personally; he has a wife and three kids."

"We're only married by law and the kids are only mine by blood," Richie said, taking Izzie's hand and kissing it.

"Well, Richie, no offense, but I'd be a little more interested in your cousin. Nothing personal," Izzie said, causing Richie to burst out laughing.

"You chose a good one here, Al. She's quick. Well, whatever you want. You know the drill. It's on the house as long as you keep delivering my children."

"Another one?" Alex asked.

"Yep. She's seven weeks along. Do my boys know how to swim or what?" Richie said, as Charles returned with the bottle of wine.

"Here you are Dr. Karev. Are you two ready to order?"

"I'll have my usual. Do you know what you want Izzie?" Alex asked her.

"Order for me. I trust you."

"Two usuals. And I'd like Chocolate Tortoni for dessert. Two slices please."

"Right away, sir."

"Enjoy your food. It was good meeting you, Dr. Stevens. Hope to see you again sometime," Richie said as both he and Charles left the room.

"He seems nice."

"He is."

"Alex, I just want to thank you."

"For what? This place? I don't even pay to eat here."

"It was sweet of you to take me out to celebrate whether you're paying or not. Not just for that, though. I want to thank you again for everything you've done for me these past few weeks. It means a lot to me."

"Well, I'm just repaying the favor. You helped keep my internship by helping me pass my clinicals," Alex said, sipping his wine.

"That's a little different. You didn't have to. I hurt you. You didn't have to help me get through all of this."

"This is no different than what you did for me, Iz. I hurt you, and you still helped me pass my clinicals. Even though it's what 'Jesus would freakin' do,' you didn't have to. You helped me pass that test to allow me to keep my life; to aspire to what I dreamt of doing since I was 12. I'm just helping you get on with your life after your fiancé passed away."

"Why are you being so nice lately?" Izzie asked, bluntly.

"Well, if you really want me to, I could go back to being an ass."

"No! I like you this way. Can I ask you something?"

"Sure. You can ask me anything," he replied as Charles brought the food to them.

"What is this?"

"You only get one question tonight. Are you sure you want it to be this one?"

"Alex. That's not what I wanted to ask you, but I'm curious. I figured you to be a spaghetti with meatballs type of guy. What is this?"

"This, my dear, is penne with olives and artichokes. It is a family recipe and a popular favorite amongst the tourists."

"Wow, this is really good!"

"Of course it is. It's a Karev family recipe. I can cook like you wouldn't believe either," Alex said, winking at her.

"I bet."

"Now for the question you wanted to ask."

"Okay. Well, when Meredith had her hand on that bomb and almost died, you comforted me. You slept with me then. What I would like to know is why you didn't sleep with me when we first started dating. And why you slept with Olivia."

"You're not ready to hear the answer to that one, Izzie. I'll tell you another time. But not now. Now, we eat."

After dessert, Alex asked for the bill, startling Charles. "I'm just kidding, man. Loosen up! Here, thank you for all your work." Alex set a fifty dollar bill down on the table.

"Alex, that was a lot of money for a tip," Izzie said once they exited the building.

"The meal, if I had had to pay, would have been at least double that. I've got to keep the waiters and waitresses happy so I can continue to be fed without spit in food."

Alex opened the car door for Izzie, and climbed in the driver's side. He drove the two of them to his house.

"Where are we?"

"Well, you told me awhile ago, you've never actually seen my apartment. It wasn't furnished at the time; therefore, I didn't want you to see it. But now, it's completely furnished. And I have a few DVD's we can watch. And if we fall asleep, I have a big enough bed to hold both of us, or just you if you prefer," Alex said, opening the door for her. She entered, completely captivated. The living room was completely furnished with plush, leather furniture, the entertainment center was complete with a wide screen TV, surround sound speakers, DVD player, and 10 CD holding stereo. The walls were filled with pictures of Alex and his family. His kitchen had the latest appliances. She walked towards his bedroom to find a king-sized bed with a plush comforter. On the wall opposite the bed was a wide screen tv hung on the wall with a DVD player beneath it. She stepped into the bathroom and found a whirlpool bath.

"Oh my God, Alex! This place is amazing!"

"Yeah, I like it. So, you pick. Do you want to watch a movie in the living room or bedroom?"

"Bedroom. Your bed makes me want to jump on it," Izzie said, hopping onto the bed.

"Okay, what movie do you want to watch?"

"I don't care."

"What's your favorite movie?"

"I doubt you'd have my favorite movie."

"Try me," Alex said, daringly.

"The Notebook," Izzie said, triumphantly.

"That one's in the living room. I'll be right back."

"What?"

"I have just about every movie known to man. My father manages a video store. Whether I would watch the movie or not, he sends me them every week."

"Wow. You're just full of surprises, aren't you?" Izzie said. "I'm actually getting tired now. I think it's that Italian food."

"It will do that to you. Well if you want to, feel free to fall asleep. I can sleep on the couch."

"You don't need to do that," Izzie said as Alex joined her on the bed, the movie starting.

"Are you sure?"

"This bed is big enough for the both of us," Izzie said, leaning over to kiss him. He didn't object until she reached for his pants.

"Izzie. Izzie!" Alex said, causing her to stop.

"What? Don't you want me to sleep with you? Isn't that why you took me out and brought me here?"

"As much as I would love to make love to you, Iz, you're not ready. If we do progress to the point of having a relationship this time and to the sex portion of that relationship, we'll do it. I don't want to be your rebound man. I don't want to be the man you use to fill the void in your life. You're not ready for us to sleep together again."

"Alex, I'm scared if I wait too long, and I think about it too much, I may never be ready."

"That's okay, Izzie."

"No, it's not. I'm scared I'll be too scared to ever actually love again," Izzie said, crying as Alex pulled her towards him, comforting her in a hug.

"Yes you will, Iz. You just need someone who's patient and willing to help you through this."

"Will you do that for me, Alex?"

"I will do anything for you."

"I may not be ready to sleep with you for awhile."

"That's okay. I can wait."