a/n: new chapter, yay! ugh my head hurts.. oh well... here's the disclaimer and then you're free to read!

disclaimer: if i owned grey's then my addex dreams would not have been shattered thursday.

"I'm sorry, want to repeat that one more time?" Holli requested, blinking in shock.

"I want to ask Addison to marry me," Alex repeated himself, speaking very slowly and enunciating every letter. Holli just stared at him, gaping. "What?"

"Oh. My. God."

"Are you okay?" Alex looked a little concerned.

"Are you serious?!"

"No, I just wanted to see your face," Alex replied sarcastically, "Of course I'm serious!"

"Shut up. Okay, what do you want me to do?"

"Two things."

"Okay. What?"

"First off, I want you to figure out if she wants it."

"Of course she does!"

"You don't know that, and I don't want to make her feel weird."

"Aw, that's so sweet. But you just don't want to get shot down."

"Well, that too."

"What's the second thing?"

"I want to have a ring for her and I need your help to pick it out. I want her to love it and you know her best."

"Why not Callie?"

"Because you know Addison better. And Callie doesn't know."

Holli looked sheepish.

"Callie knows?!" Alex asked, excited, because that would mean he could tell someone.

"I kinda told her. But now Addison's kind of pissed at me. Don't worry, though. It won't affect anything. I don't think she'd want you to tell anyone though," she added, correctly reading the look on his face.

"Oh."

"I don't know that. You'd have to talk to her."

"I will."

"So… ring shopping? When is this happening?"

"Do you have time today? Of course you have time today, you're on summer break. Now work?"

"Yep. But what do I tell Addison? Cuz I'm assuming that you want to keep this a secret."

"Just make something up; like I'm working late you're going to hang around or something. It doesn't really matter, just that she believes you."

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"So, I was going to go get a drink with Callie. Can you get a ride from Alex?" Addison announced when Holli found her to make her own excuse.

"Oh. Yeah, sure. No prob. We'll probably grab a bite to eat or something, so don't freak if you're home before us."

"Okay. See you later," Addison waved and walked off.

"Well, that was easy," Holli muttered to herself.

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"It's perfect," Holli announced about an hour later. She and Alex were standing in a boutique that specialized in jewelry. She was talking about the ring that she and Alex (but mostly her) had picked out. It was simple and elegant, a platinum band with a circular diamond, which was surrounded by small sapphires. All in all, it was gorgeous, and Holli knew Addison would love it.

"Thanks for the help, Holls."

"Ugh, don't call me that, I hate it."

"Sorry, Holli," he apologized, stressing her name.

"No big. So… when are you going to propose?" she asked bluntly, never subtle.

"I don't know. But I know I want to and that's all that matters right?"

"Aww! That's so cute! Who knew that Karev was such a teddy bear?" Holli teased.

"Don't get used to it."

"Oh, don't worry, I'm far from it."

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"Why didn't you tell me?" Callie asked Addison. They were sitting in Joe's and were just the slightest bit tipsy.

"Tell you what?"

"About you and Karev! You kept it a secret for ten months! How could you do that? I know I couldn't!" Callie was very energetic. She wasn't mad, just curious.

"I want it to work out, and if the hospital knows then it just doesn't work as well. I mean look at poor Derek and Meredith. Everyone knows about them and they always seem miserable."

"That is so depressing. You aren't drunk enough," Callie decided and motioned for more alcohol.

"I am plenty drunk thank you very much."

"No, you're too depressing, which therefore means you need to be drunker."

"Oh, thanks," Addison deadpanned as the drinks arrived.

"Hey, don't look now, but there's a guy over by the door checking you out."

"So?"

"Oh, right, sorry. You're taken now."

"Yep," Addison answered. They sat in an uncomfortable silence for a couple of minutes. "Is he at least good looking?" she finally asked to break the silence.

"Oh yeah," Callie answered. So Addison turned around. And standing by the door, staring at her was none other than Mark Sloane.

insert dramatic music here!

ps i'm sorry if i made it seem like alex was gonna propose in this chapter... don't hurt me