Author's Note: I am so sorry to those have been reading. Life has been hectic within the past week or so, and what with Grey's being on spring hiatus, I haven't had much inspiration. Anyway, thanks for reading...leave a review and tell me what you think, please.

Basically, I love this chapter. And I'm not even sure of the reason really. There is some brief Addek interaction, so I thought it was only fair that I warned you, because it's been delayed long enough. And actually, it was kind of needed at this point. Anyways, enjoy!

Alex stared at her, watching as her hands clung to the counter. "Addison?"He asked, worried.

"No. I um...I mean, Yes. But-"She paused, wondering what had suddenly brought his admittance to what he was trying to ask. "Why all of a sudden?"

"It's not all of a sudden."Alex replied, shrugging. "But if you don't want to, I'll understand."

Addison was silent, contemplating. They were having a baby, and after everything they had been through together, she wanted so much to just have him there to hold her, to know that when she returned home from work she would have something to go home to.

"I want to."

"You do?"

"All of my things are over here, anyway."Addison offered with a smile, perhaps a silent invitation to come closer. She linked her hands around his neck as his lips came to hers, an agreement between them that things were going to be okay. She let her tapered fingers rub his hairline, feeling the stubble-like hair stick out towards her. It wasn't his brown hair that she loved. Or his eyes that were so deep it just made her melt. It wasn't even the trademark grin he always seemed to have reserved for her.

Alex Karev was at best a complicated man. One who, months before, she barely knew. There had always been a flirtatious air between them, but as they started talking, as they started sharing elevator rides and drinks, as hugs goodbye turned into kisses, which eventually led to waking up curled together the next morning, they both knew that there was something much bigger there. Something that neither could ignore. They had fallen in love, quite addictingly, and now that there was a child in the mix, it seemed to add a more permanent fix. It made them realize how much they loved the other even more.

The shrill beeping of the microwave told them both that dinner was done. Reluctantly, Alex pulled away, planting a soft kiss on her cheek as he pulled away. He pulled down two plates for them from the cabinet and began to make their plates, all the while knowing that Addison was staring at him.

"So you like the view?"He asked, turning around.

She grinned, taking her plate from him. "I'm not complaining."

He nodded, following her into the living room. He winced after pulling the fork to his lips.

"Hot?"

"Yes?"

She hit him in the arm, leaning against him. It was their thing. Conversations could be so serious one minute, and then the next they could joke around again, lighten things up. It was refreshing in a way.

They continued to eat, talking about the happenings of the day. They talked of surgeries and patients, of conversations.

"So Callie knows now, huh?"Alex asked, the serious tone returning.

Addison set her plate on the table, sighing. "Yeah. And I think by now several other people do, too. But strangely enough...I don't really care who knows."She smiled, shrugging. "We're in the together, and we'll have to work through whatever Seattle Grace has to throw at us."

Alex nodded, settling against the couch with her. Tentatively, he placed a hand protectively over her stomach. "So did you like dinner? Sorry I couldn't..."

"It's fine, Alex. Really, it was great."She replied, staring in his direction. "So you think you can live with me?"

"Yeah."

"Seriously?"

Alex nodded, laughing. "Believe me, I can put up with some pretty crazy stuff."

"Just how crazy do you think I'm going to get?"Addison asked, challenging him.'

He smiled, revealing a his set if dimples. "I really don't know. As long as you don't threaten me, I'd say we're pretty cool."

"Threaten you?...Alex Karev, what would I possibly have to threaten you with?"Addison asked, a smile playing on her lips. It then occured to her something she could say, or do. "I mean, you know..I'm sure I could..think of something to...withold...until, of course...it is safe to do otherwise..."

"You wouldn't."

"Would I?"

Alex leaned in closer, his breath hot on her skin. "I don't know...but if you did-"He said, kissing her neck. "I'm sure I could find a way to convince you..."

The next morning meant work for the both of them, but neither complained. They had decided the night before that work would go as planned, first arriving together, having the morning spent seprately (due to what the Chief has said), and then if possible, lunch together. It didn't matter whether or not they were asked questions. In fact, both Addison and Alex had decided that if anyone were to ask them about what happened, or perhaps hint at it, they would simply tell them. Afterall, it would make things a whole lot easier.

Alex was getting dressed in the locker room, slightly paying attention to the other interns talking when he heard Addison's name.

"Seriously?...She couldn't. I mean the only person other than-"

He heard Izzie's voice, and instantly felt himself freeze. While he had expected the usual specualtion, he wasn't aware that word had spreaded quite so fast. Sensing her gaze, he shut the locker door, trying his best to act normal.

"Alex...hi. Didn't see you there. You've been so...absent lately."

"Is she okay?"Alex asked Cristina, who simply laughed.

"You're asking me?...Because honestly, the way I see it she's just as Izzie and Barbie-like as ever."

"We were just talking. You know, the usual stuff doctors talk about."

"Doctors are supposed to talk about their cases, and discuss consults, and who's going to be working with whom. You three are sitting around talking about people's personal lives. Where is Bambi, anyway?"Alex asked, slipping on his shoes.

Izzie shook her head, pulling her hair back into a ponytail. "Him and Callie are probably going to be late again. Apparently after everything at the house last night, he headed out to spend more time with the McB-"

"Izzie. Seriously?...I mean, yeah, I don't like her that much either, but you know you could atleast try and give her a chance. Sometimes people that don't really look right together actually are."Meredith piped up, watching as Alex stared at her.

Bailey opened the door, realizing the George was again late. "Where is O'Malley? He was late twice last week, the man needs-"

"Right here, Doctor Bailey..."

"Okay then. Yang, you're with Torres. O'Malley...Burke. Stevens, you're working with Montgomery. Grey...same as yesterday, you're with Shepherd, and Karev you're in pit."

"Pit...Why?"

"Did I ask for complaints?...I didn't think so. Now, scoot!..Interns, I swear..."

Derek was walking down the hall when he heard Addison approach him. "Addison... since when did you take onsneaking up on people on hallways?"He asked with a grin.

Adjusting her glasses, Addison cleared her throat. "Could I talk to you?"

"Aren't we talking right now?"Derek asked, partially to annoy her.

"Well, yes of course, but I was referring to more of a-"

"Private sense?...And why is that?"

"Because this is a hospital, and the walls are paper thin. I was just up on the sixth floor and I saw Meredith walk into your patients room, so I know that everything is taken care of. And I know how the nurses like to talk, so..."

Derek reached for her arm, pulling her into the conference room. He sighed, shutting the door. Studying her face, he shrugged. "You said you wanna talk?..Are you planning on giving me a clue as to what about?"

Addison sat down, towards his end of the table and took off her glasses. She stared up at Derek, sighing. "I'm curious."

"You stalk me down in the hallway, and now all you have to say is that you're curious? There really is something going on with you."Derek replied.

"You..don't know?"Addison asked, realizing that approaching him could have been a bad move.

Derek's eyes grew a darker shade of blue. He gripped the chair at the end of the table with one hand, rubbing his other through his hair. "Depends on what we're talking about?"

"I can't take you walking up behind me, or running into me in the elevator and making sidebar comments about me anymore. If you know something, or think you know something...I think that it would be nice, considering, if you would atleast let me know instead of brooding about it."Addison said, staring at him.

"Can I just..I know it's personal, but could I ask you something?"

"It's what we're in here for."She replied.

Derek nodded, taking a breath. The words dangled on his lips, but were momentarily afraid to escape. "You...You and Karev. I mean, the whole hospital knows there's something going on between you two, but...how..how long-"

"Seriously..Derek-"Addison paused, taking a breath. She had to remind herself to stay calm, to keep everything under control. Stress wasn't on her list of things to need. "What makes you think that I would tell you something like that? Because we're friends?...Derek..."

"Right. Of Course."Derek replied sarcastically. "It's just...the Chief was talking to me, and he said that you were pulling out of the race, inadvertantly saying that you were..."Derek paused, his tongue darting out to moisten his lips. "You know what? It doesn't-It doesn't matter. You said it, didn't you? That we aren't friends...I mean, I would think after everything we could come apart from this as-"

"It's true."Addison said, defeated. She looked up at him, expecting to see anger, but instead finding a muffled look of acceptance. "And I'm keeping the baby. I have to. I want to."

Derek nodded, suddeny feeling protective. "Karev..."

"He's in this for the long haul, Derek. Trust me."

Standing by the door, Derek's hand clung to the handle, contemplating. He nodded, clearing his throat. "It's good that we cleared things up."

"We didn't talk about you."Addison nodded. "There isn't anything that I would be interested in, of course. But yeah, it's good."

Derek seemed satisfied, and left the room.

"I've got to talk to Bailey, but then I'll head on home, okay?"Alex said, meeting Addison at the door.

She nodded, the wind starting to pick up. "I'll be there. Oh, and I um..I talked to one of the nurses today. Don't worry...It wasn't Sydney. Anyway, I was going to pick things up. Do you mind if I make dinner tonight?"

Alex smiled, amused. "She cooks?"

Addison laughed, nodding her head. She rested her hand on his arm, smiling. "Among other things, yes. I find it kind of relaxing in a while."

"But wait-"Alex said, frowning. "It's not steaks smothered in cheese, topped with pickles and whipped cream, right?...Because if so, there's a McDonald's about three blocks from the apartment."

Addison nodded, tentatively leaning closely to him. "It has nothing to do with pickles...or whipped cream. But really, I'll see you at the apartment. Don't um...stay out too late."

Alex agreed, laughing as he walked inside.

Spinning on her heels, Addison headed towards the parking lot. It was a chilly night, even for Seattle, and wrapping her coat tighter around herself, Addison picked up her speed en route to her car. As she did, she felt a hand on her back. "You just couldn't stay away, could you?"She asked, expecting to see Alex as she turned around.

The face that greeted her wasn't half as friendly. He grinned, nodding. "Well you're right, Doctor Montgomery...I couldn't stay away. See, they tried to stop me...but I just-I had to come back and talk to you. Everything was left so badly last time we talked. I was carried out in handcuffs, remember?"

The chill hit Addison even harder as her feet instructed her to run. It hit her then that she couldn't go to her car, that he would just follow her. "Wha-How did you..."

"I escaped. You know, for a doctor you aren't that smart. So come on, did you miss me?"

She felt paralyzed, helpless almost. Not knowing what Jason Warden was capable of this time, she prayed someone would come out, someone who could help her, or at least offer a distarction. There was always safety in numbers. It was then that Addison heard the voice of Meredith Grey.