-1Chapter Six

The moonlight had a certain amount of appeal, especially given the still humid temperature. There wasn't even a breeze off the Gulf to cool things down, namely her. Izzie let's out a sigh as she leans back against the chaise lounge. This trip was suppose to be fun. Nothing about it had been fun. First, George had come. That alone ruined it. It wasn't just the sex thing. Yes, they had had sex. Drunken, could have been fun, but she couldn't recall sex. Then there had been the whole embarrassing I Love You incident. She tried not to think about what a fool she had been. A tear slips down her cheek. She had poured her heart out, told him that she loved him, and he had told her thanks but no thanks. He loved Callie. Callie! What did he even see in her?

"Stop dwelling," she mutters, closing her eyes. She wasn't in love with George. Oh sure, she had thought she was, for like five seconds. It had made sleeping a married man easier to stomach. As it was, she wasn't sure she even knew what love was. Whatever it was, she didn't have it. The thought was depressing. Right along with this trip. She should have stayed in Seattle. At least there it wasn't so hot she had to sit outside in her bikini at one o'clock in the morning.

"They're like a bunch of pre-schoolers."

Her eyes open at the sound of Alex's voice. Lovely. The last person, other than George, she wanted to see. Her reasons for not wanting to see him were different, yet they were the same. He made her feel things she didn't want to feel. Like now, staring up at his bare chest made her ache. Aching was bad. Bad, bad, bad. "The sign stealing not going so well?"

Alex plops down on the edge of the chaise. She moves her legs out of the way, letting one drop on either side of the chair. Not the most modest position, but she was just drunk enough to not care. "Sign stealing? What sign stealing? When I left Cristina was razzing O'Malley about making chicks cry in the sack." He quiets for a moment. "Sorry. Shouldn't have said anything."

Izzie lifts one bare shoulder, then lets it drop. She had cried. Meredith had cried as well. Cristina had reason to tease George. Once upon a time she would have marched down there, told Cristina to lay off. Not anymore. She was done being George's champion. "He does seem to have that affect on women," she says lightly. There was no point in being bent out of shape. It didn't get her anywhere. Yes, she was a bit hurt that they were discussing a rather unfortunate experience. There was nothing she could do about.

"That bad?" Alex winces. He shoots her an apologetic smile, shifting around so he faced her. He tucks one leg under the other. "Never mind. I don't want to know."

"Honestly? I don't remember. I think it might have been okay, but only because.." She hesitates. Did she tell him? She bites her lip. This was Alex. It would go one of two ways. He would take it stride or he would get cocky. There was no way to tell which way he would go before hand either.

"Because?" He had one eyebrow raised, giving him that sexy, endearing look she loved. Damn him.

"Because I thought he was you, okay?" There. She had let it out. Her deep, dark secret. The very thing that had ruined her friendship. It hadn't been the drunken sex. It hadn't been the whole I Love You bull shit. It had been her telling him that the only reason she had sex with him was because she had thought he was Alex.

Alex stares at her for a moment. It was clear he was torn on what to say, what to do. The hesitancy in his eyes made her scoot closer. "I don't know why. I think it's because my last coherent memory was being in the kitchen with you. Next thing I know, I'm having sex. Or well, I think I did. I don't know! I was pretty out of it. Anyways, imagine my surprise when I wake up naked with George." Just saying the words left a bad taste in her mouth. "Not exactly a great memory." She frowns a bit. It wasn't a pleasant memory. That night always bothered her. It was the not knowing thing. She was fairly certain they had, but she couldn't be sure. Hell, when was she ever sure of anything? She wasn't. She was in cohesive Izzie.

"I'm sorry," Alex cups her cheek in the palm of his hand, rubbing a tear she hadn't known had fallen from her cheek. "Want me to kick his ass?"

Izzie laughs. "No. Thanks for the offer, though." She leans her face into the comforting touch. Why had she never noticed before that Alex had that affect on her? He always made her feel better. No matter the situation, he made it better. She scoots even closer, their legs touching. They were close enough that she could feel his warm breath on her cheek. She blinks, leaning her face closer to his. She pauses a mere inch from his mouth. It wouldn't take much to seal the deal.

"Iz," Alex breaths before his mouth crushes against her's. If she had been expecting sweetness she would have been disappointed. She hadn't been though. She hadn't expected anything other than what he gave her. A hard kiss full of pent up passion. Her arms slide up his chest to encircle his neck. She can feel his strong hands caressing her thighs before moving up to cup her breasts. They don't stay there long. Soon, he is undoing the top of her bikini, tossing it aside. A small splash behind him tells her it landed in the hot tub. She giggles. He pulls back, a questioning look on his face.

"Don't stop," she gasps, pulling his body against her's. Her eyes flutter closes as he presses her back against the chaise. She lifts her body as he moves to drag the rest of her bath suit off. It was a bit odd, laying naked outside. Exposed for anyone to see. The thought of getting caught only lasts a second. The moment she feels his body enters her's, all rational thought is gone.