"I need a favor," Meredith said after pulling Alex Karev into an on-call room.

"You're hot, you know, but I'm not having sex with you," was the reply.

"I'm not asking you to sleep with me!" Meredith said as she slapped Alex.

"Well, what do you want then?"

"I need you to go on a date with someone."

"Meredith, there is only one person I want to go on a date with. Besides, I don't do blind dates."

"Yeah, but…"

"No! I'm not going out with some friend of yours."

"Alex! I know you're in love with Addison!"

"What…Why would you think it's Addison?" he interrupted.

"You're totally in love with her. It's so obvious. Now listen."

"What?" he crossed his arms, obviously annoyed.

"I need you to go on a date with Addison."

"What?!"

"Seriously. She saved my life. In return, I'd like to see her happy, and I know you love her. Take her out, have a drink, and try to be nice."

"I can be nice."

"I know that, but you may have to prove it to her."

"Okay," he grinned widely, like a little boy on Christmas morning. "I'll be a perfect gentleman."

"Thanks," she started to walk back into the hall, but Alex grabbed her arm. "Yeah?"

"What do I say to her?" he was suddenly nervous.

"That's up to you. Ask her questions about herself so you can get to know her better."

"Where…"

"Just go ask her out already!"

Addison was in the pit preparing to take a young woman up to labor and delivery for an emergency c-section. The twenty four year old had tripped and fallen down some stairs. Addison was giving orders and following the gurney to the elevator when Karev grabbed her elbow.

"What, Karev? Can't you see I'm busy?"

"Can I scrub in?"

"It's just a c-section. You can do it if you want to."

"That would be great!"

They stepped onto the elevator, and Alex's nerves were slowly falling apart. He didn't want to screw anything up, and Addison had just given him a huge responsibility. The only c-section he'd performed on his own was on a dying patient. The mom didn't matter then because she was going to die anyway. This time, he had to be sure to protect them both.

"Dr. Montgomery?"

"What?"

"Thanks for the opportunity."

He watched Addison's face soften when he smiled at her. The small smile she gave him in return gave him all the strength he needed to do the surgery. Throughout the procedure, he made small talk with Addison. She made sure he didn't screw up. When the baby was out and on it's way to the nursery, Alex turned to Addison.

"You're staring, Karev."

"I'm sorry. It's just…Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Well," he cleared his throat. "I was wondering if maybe you would possibly consider…umm…going on a date with me?"

At first, she looked like she was going to start laughing. Alex knew his face was turning many shades of pink and red. Then her expression changed. One part of her wanted to hurt Meredith for setting her up with Alex Karev. This other part of her was secretly very excited that he agreed to go out with her.

"That might be fun," was Addison's reply. "Where are we going?"

"Would it be okay if I surprised you?" he asked nervously and she nodded.

GAGAGAGAGAGAGAGA

The intercom in Addison's penthouse apartment buzzed.

"Yes?"

"Dr. Alex Karev is requesting access to your floor, Dr. Montgomery," the doorman's voice came over the intercom.

"Please let him up. Thank-you."

A few minutes later, there was a knock on Addison's door. She looked out the peephole and saw a bouquet of flowers.

"Alex?"

"Yeah."

She opened the door, and he handed her the bouquet then kissed her cheek. She looked a little surprised, but pleased. She set the flowers on a side table in the foyer and showed Alex into the apartment.

"You have the whole top floor?"

"Yes."

"Wow."

"You sound like Meredith. She was surprised too. So, where are we going?"

"I told you it's a surprise. You look beautiful," he couldn't keep his eyes off the dark purple dress that hugged every curve of Addison's body perfectly.

"Thanks," she blushed slightly.

Curls of hair framed her face in a way that made all her features seem more delicate. Her hair was pulled on top of her head in a mass of shining red curls. Only a few tendrils hung around her face. Alex put his hand under her chin, ready to pull her lips to his.

"Don't. Please."

"I'm sorry," he backed away.

"No, I'm sorry. I just…"

"You don't have to explain. I understand," she reached out her hand, and he took it cautiously.

"I'm hungry. Let's go get something to eat."

"Good plan. Meredith said you like Italian…"

"I do very much."

The pair left the apartment building, and Alex opened the passenger door to his Firebird. They had been driving for only a few minutes when Addison began sniffling.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I smell something."

"Oh. Dinner is in the trunk. That's probably what you're smelling."

"Are we having spaghetti?"

"It's the only Italian food I know how to make."

"You made dinner?"

"Yeah."

She smiled into the dark, wondering if he'd called Izzie Stevens to help with dinner. They continued driving for a while before turning onto a dirt road. Alex drove along the road up the mountain before stopping near a clearing next to a lake. He shut off the engine and came around to open Addison's door before opening the trunk of his car.

"Can I help?"

"Nope. I'm setting everything up."

He pulled out a big picnic blanket and put it over the grass, then he pulled out a wooden crate that held the food. Each item was removed from the crate, which he turned into a table. He draped a table cloth over the crate and pulled plates, silverware, and glasses out of the trunk and set them on the "table". When everything was set up, he pulled a bottle of Merlot from a small cooler in the trunk and served them both.

"This bread is delicious."

"Izzie helped me with that."

"I thought so."

"I'm really glad you agreed to go out with me."

"I'm really glad you asked me to."

"I mean it. You see, I've been wanting to ask you out for a long time."

"Why didn't you?"

"I didn't think you'd say yes. I'm an intern and not a great one at that. And, I was pretty sure you hate me."

"I don't hate you. In fact, I kind of like you," she smiled a little. "You have talent, especially with obstetrics."

They talked for a while then ate dessert. Izzie had also helped Alex with the tiramisu. When they were finished with dinner, Alex cleared the table and put everything back into the trunk except the blanket. He stretched out and was looking up at the stars. It was a clear night. There were no clouds and the full moon was shining brilliantly. He tugged Addison's arm so that she lay down next to him. A shooting star moved across the sky and both of them closed their eyes to make a wish.

"I hope this turns into something more," Alex and Addison made the same wish.