a/n: so judging by your reviews, y'all hate cliffhangers... but they're soo fun to write! and they inspire more reviews... this chapter doesn't really have one though, so never fear! it's a shorter chapter than usual but i've got finals to study for and i wanted to get SOMETHING up if only so people don't throw me off a cliff for not answering the question.

Dr.McHighHeels: sorry, it doesn't start with a yes and it doesn't end with a yes. but read on to find out!

MollybyGolly: kill me dead? that's from A Midsummer Night's Dream, is it not?

Everyone else: i know you want her to say yes, but no need to threaten me! geez!

disclaimer: i don't have enough money -sob- but if i did, they would be mine and alex would chase addison to la!

"I, uh, I," Addison stuttered. Alex was starting to get nervous, thinking that maybe it was too soon. He started to get up but was stopped by Addison throwing herself into his arms and sitting on his knee, crying.

"What? What's wrong?" he asked, kind of scared.

"I just wish I knew where Holli was!" she wailed. "This was not how it was supposed to go! She was supposed to be here!"

"I know. That's how I thought it would be too," he comforted her, not sure if he should tell her where Holli was just yet. (Yes, of course he should, but this is Karev we're talking about here. He can be pretty dumb.) "But you never actually answered," he pointed out.

"Yes!"

"Yes what?" Alex asked teasingly.

She shot him a look and rolled her eyes, but nevertheless said "Yes, I will marry you."

Alex answered by kissing her again and sliding the ring onto her finger. She looked down and gasped. Alex smiled. It was the exact reaction he had been hoping for and the exact reaction Holli had predicted. "I never knew you had such great taste in jewelry!" she exclaimed.

"I don't. Holli does. She picked it out. She said you'd love it."

The mention of Holli brought more tears to Addison's already flooded eyes. "Have you talked to her? Do you know where she is?" she asked anxiously.

"Uh, yeah. She's at my apartment," he answered guiltily.

"What? I've been worried sick this entire time and she's been at your apartment? Why didn't you tell me? What the hell were you thinking?!" she shrieked.

"Addi, chill. She showed up at my door about two hours ago. She told me to come find you. She didn't want to come because she's sure you hate her."

"I don't hate her!"

"She thinks you do. Come on, we'll go back to my place and you can talk to her," he said, getting up and forcing her up with him. When they were standing, he put his arm around her waist to support her and to comfort her.

"What are you doing?" Addison's instincts were still in the 'we don't want anyone to know' stage.

"People are going to notice the ring on your finger. I don't think we can keep this a secret anymore."

"Okay. But I don't want to tell anyone until we tell Holli. She is the reason we're together in the first place."

"Deal. But we have to walk."

"Why?" Addison looked suspicious.

"Because I was too excited by the idea that you might not hate me that I ran all the way here."

Addison laughed and gave him a quick kiss. And then she walked out the door.

-------------------------

During the thirty minutes it took them to walk to Alex's apartment Addison continued to get more and more nervous thinking about what would happen. So when they got to the apartment she had the sudden urge to turn and run. In fact she started to, but then Alex put his hand on the small of her back so she managed with just twisting her ring around nervously on her finger.

Alex unlocked the door and Holli looked up from the couch. "What took you so long? What'd she say?" she accosted him, jumping up.

"I think you should talk to her," he said, pointing over his shoulder to Addison, who up until that point had gone unnoticed. She looked at her warily, not sure what to expect. It was Addison who practically ran across the room and nearly knocked them both over.

And that's when the sobbing started. Again. For the third time in Alex's day. "Girls," he muttered and walked into his room.

"I am so sorry!" Holli sobbed.

"Me too. I shouldn't have yelled at you."

"But I shouldn't have run off."

"But I shouldn't have given you a reason to run off."

"But I-"

Holli was cut off by Alex yelling from the bedroom, "It's both your faults. Get over it and make up already!" which caused the two to start cracking up about the insensitivity of men.

"So what did you say?" Holli asked. Addison just grinned like a maniac and waved her left hand in front of Holli's face, causing Holli to scream, which in turn caused Alex to cover his ears. "Oh my God!"

"I know!"

"Oh my God! You're engaged! Congratulations!" Holli screamed. "Wow! Look at that ring! He has such great taste!" she continued, not sure if Alex wanted it known that he had not picked out the ring.

"Drop the act. He already told me you picked it out. So, thank you. I love it."

"I did do a nice job, didn't I?" Holli commented smugly.

"That you did," Addison answered, just for once, allowing Holli's ego to inflate just a little, before pulling her into another hug.

i told you i didn't start or end with a yes, but there was one in there somewhere! so i have a couple questions

1) should i keep going?

and if i should, then

2) should addison a: stay Forbes Montgomery b: become Addison Karev or c: take some combination of the two?

click the button and tell me!