A/N: Thank you all for the reviews-both the encouraging and the entertaining. They have kept me going :)

I know this story has been a little slow because there's so much background needed to set things up. Please bear with me.

The rest of morning rounds had gone relatively smoothly and since his day was so light, Alex made his way down to the hospital lobby coffee cart for a break. He had found it hard to avoid Jo given Mattie's room was right across from the nurses' station with the blinds completely open. He decided this was most likely done on purpose so that Hayes could observe more frequently as it was hard to go anywhere on the floor without seeing that particular room. As he turned the corner, he almost stopped in his tracks upon seeing her at the coffee cart, deep in conversation with the barista. He cursed his luck, feeling as if she was everywhere as a punishment to him. Alex quickly decided to go ahead and get his coffee as if nothing was out of the ordinary, knowing they would have to see each other often now that he was her daughter's surgeon.

"I still hate she's having to go through that. And you and Dr. Hayes as well. I hope it's okay, but I added her name to the church prayer list."

Alex listened to the end of the conversation and watched with wonder as Jo reached out and placed her hand on the lady's arm, a tear threatening to escape, "Thank you, that means the world to us."

"Can I get a decaf?"

Jo looked up in surprise before smirking at him, "Decaf? Wuss. What happened to the triple expressos?"

Earlier when he had seen her, she was in an oversized t-shirt and sweatpants, but now that she was dressed in her navy scrubs he noticed she had lost a good bit of weight since he had seen her. And the circles under her eyes seemed darker now that she was in the bright lights of the main lobby. He found himself worrying more and more about her, but unsure what to do. He decided to take on a light teasing tone, "I'm not operating today. Plus I got sleep last night unlike some people." Jo smiled in amusement as the barista pushed the drink at him and turned without a word. Alex looked on confused before throwing some bills on the counter and rushing to catch up with Jo, who had started to walk towards the elevators, "I thought she always liked me."

Jo turned, giving a confused look, "You may want to get used to that, most people are still upset with what you did to me." When Alex's frowned deepened, Jo shrugged with a sarcastic smile, "People like me."

Alex sighed, deciding there would be no better time to start making amends, "Well on that note, I guess it is time for a face to face apology."

Jo turned sharply and put her hand up, "I didn't mean I was still angry. In fact, I never really was."

Alex narrowed his eyes, completely shocked by her words, "Excuse me?"

Jo shrugged, "I was sad, yes. Rejected, broken, melancholy, humiliated, terrified, yes. But those have faded with time. I never was able to really be angry. I tried, but it didn't work." She allowed her eyes to roam over his body for a moment, "Of course, actually seeing you now, I kinda want to punch your face."

"I'd let you."

Jo felt herself melting at his soft tone and almost flirty attitude. She quickly turned to leave, "So how are the missus and the kids?"

Alex narrowed his eyes, confused if she honestly didn't know or was just blatantly rubbing his nose in his failures, "Mer didn't tell you?"

Jo laughed slightly as she punched the button to head back up to Peds to check on Mattie, "You're not exactly a point of conversation with us. I see the Christmas cards on her fridge, that's about it."

Alex nodded, "I guess that's why I was so shocked this morning, I never saw signs of your family when I'd visit. And Mer has never mentioned anything."

She sat her coffee on the floor of the elevator so she could pull her hair into a messy ponytail, "Please, I am a busy surgeon with four kids I'm responsible for. I have more research projects than I can adequately keep up with. Professional family portraits with matching outfits for hand-written holiday greetings are at the bottom of my to-do list. I send them out in email like the non-superhuman mom that I am."

Alex tried to ignore the sharp tone she had taken on, "Four kids?"

"You don't get to ask me questions until you answer mine. Mer didn't tell me what?"

Alex sighed, "Iz and I divorced a couple of years ago. I stayed in Kansas to be close to the kids, but Izzie's mom got sick a couple of months ago and she wanted to come back here to take care of Robbie, so here I am." He shrugged, "That's the gist of it anyway."

She cut her eyes at him, seemingly less defensive, "You all did Christmas cards together and sent them out to everyone even though you were broken up?" When Alex nodded in affirmation, Jo laughed slightly, "Weird."

He shrugged, "Izzie has this thought that the kids will want them later on…I dunno."

"Well you all seem very happy in them."

He looked at her curiously, wondering if the sadness he heard in her voice was real or something he had imagined. Before Alex could respond, the elevator dinged alerting them they had arrived back on the fifth floor. Alex followed Jo to Mattie's room almost without realizing it, feeling something pulling him towards her, pausing when he saw two young men on either side of Mattie playing go fish on her table, "So are these Hayes' brothers? Nephews?"

"Sons." Jo stated simply as she watched the siblings interact, so overjoyed in seeing her daughter smile that she seemed to have forgotten about everything else, remarking almost absentmindedly, "The pump seems to be working well, she's a lot more herself now."

Alex nodded, wanting the conversation to continue, not ready to lose the connection they had made, "So are they two of the four?"

Jo turned back to him, slightly perturbed, "Yes. Why are you asking me so many personal questions?"

Alex stammered, not expecting her question, "To get to know my patient better."

"You haven't asked one question directly related to Mattie. Not one. Cut the crap, Alex." She looked down the hall to see if anyone was watching them, "If you can't handle this, I need to know so I can request another surgeon for my daughter."

Alex closed his eyes and looked back to watch the young girl. Even without her hair that he was sure had been chestnut brown like Jo's, she looked just like her. Especially in the eyes. He thought of how badly he wanted to save her for Jo and how he wouldn't be able to stand being on the sidelines for this case, "Look, it's a little weird. Just….give me a little time to get used to it okay? If in a couple of days you still have concerns, I'll happily step aside."

Jo nodded, considering his words, "Okay. Thanks." Alex watched as she stepped back into the room, the oldest child smiling brightly at her and dealing her into their game. She reached out and affectionately rubbed the other boy's hair while saying something to them he could not hear, all four of them laughing joyfully. He quickly turned away, deciding to find another case to occupy his time.