A/N: I cannot believe this is thirty chapters! Hope you enjoy this! A familiar face makes an appearance :D

Chapter Thirty

April rifled through Jackson's closet, a disgruntled noise leaving her mouth as she leafed through the few outfits she kept at his place. Hoping she had missed something, she went through them again but found no hidden gems.

"What are you doing?" Jackson asked from the bed, stretching his arms behind him.

"I need to bring more clothes here," she said. "I've already worn all of these."

"Miss scrubs?" he joked.

"You have no idea," she returned without a trace of humor. As much as she had hated the shapeless scrubs at time, they did cut down on the morning prep time. She felt like it took her twice as long to get ready now that she had to actually put together an outfit and look presentable.

"Why can't you wear what you have here, again?"

"Because I've already worn all of these," she said. "And it's too early in my career there to start repeating outfits."

"I don't understand you," Jackson said, the smile evident in his voice. "You do realize that no one is paying attention to what you're wearing."

"I promise you that if I show up in one of these Michael will make a comment."

"Right," Jackson said, drawing out the word. "And you're still saying this guy isn't gay?"

She shot him a look over her shoulder. "Jackson, come on."
"Hey, you're the one saying he's going to be talking about your outfit!"

"Hey, maybe I can adapt some of your clothes," April said, feeling a spark of inspiration as she began to look through his shirts.

"No way," Jackson said. She could hear him getting out of the bed behind her and as she pulled out a v-neck striped tshirt his hand covered hers and took the hanger from her hand.

"You are not wearing my clothes," he said, giving her a look as he set it back. "Wear what you have here."
"But-"

"I promise you any other choice would be better than dipping into my clothes."

"But-"

He reached over her and grabbed a red shift dress she had worn a few days back. "Wear this. It looks hot with your hair."

"I wore it two days ago."

"So? You're capable of washing a dress in two days. Wear this and stop being ridiculous."

She was going to argue further but she caught sight of the clock on his nightstand, eyes widening when she saw it was already 7:45.

"Shit," she breathed out, grabbing the dress from him. "I need to get going."

"Put on the dress and I'll make coffee for you."

She grinned, rising on her tip toes to give him a quick kiss. "Have I mentioned that you're wonderful?"

"Yeah, you did," he said, arms snaking around her waist. His mouth dropped to her cheek and he murmured, "I believe you were saying it rather emphatically about twenty minutes ago."

She blushed, slapping his arm lightly. "Go make the coffee."

He laughed, kissing her quickly before making his way to the kitchen. She slipped out of her pajamas and pulled the dress on, twisting her arms awkwardly behind her as she struggled to zip the dress. Once the dress was zipped she slipped her feet into her pumps and moved to the bathroom for a quick make-up session. She finished by twisting her hair into a bun at the nape of her neck and then went into the kitchen. Jackson had a pot of coffee already started and she smelled a bagel toasting in the toaster.

"It's a run-and-eat morning, right?" he asked.

"Unfortunately," she said, walking around him to get a glass of water. "That's what you get for distracting me."

He grinned and returned, "The distraction was well worth it."

The bagel popped up out of the toaster and she grabbed it, dropping it on a napkin. As she filled a to-go cup with coffee Jackson smeared cream cheese on the bagel, putting just enough for her liking. Coffee filled, she turned around and took the bagel from him, reaching up for one last kiss before leaving.

Callie stood in the pit, sipping her coffee as she watched Alex watch Izzie. She knew it was sort of voyeuristic to stand there and watch Alex pine, but she couldn't look away. Awkward moments had always been her soft spot, and she found herself powerless to turn away from such a painfully awkward moment. It was clear that Alex wanted Izzie. Even someone who didn't know their history would be able to tell, and it amused her how he did nothing to hide it.

"What are you staring at?" Arizona asked, standing next to her.

"Alex," Callie said. "Look at him pining after Stevens. It would be pathetic if it weren't so damn cute."

"Do you know if they've started anything again?"
Callie shook her head, taking another sip of coffee. "He hasn't manned up yet. Considering their history, you almost can't blame him. But then there's this."

Callie gestured toward him with her coffee and Arizona nodded, making a little noise of agreement. Izzie glanced toward Alex, a smile spreading on her mouth, and Alex reacted so violently that he knocked over a stack of charts next to him.

"Okay, this is ridiculous," Callie said. "We need to help him."

She moved over to Alex and said, "Hey Alex."

"Oh, hi Torres," he said, voice strange. "Uh, do you need something?"

"I need you to stop being ridiculous and just go and ask Stevens out."

He snorted and said, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Yes, yes you do," she held. "And don't even try to deny it, Karev. I saw your five minute stare there."

He shrugged, visibly uncomfortable at the topic. "Yeah, I was looking at her. So what?"

"You should ask her out."

"You don't ask out your ex-wife. It's weird."

"Yeah, well, it probably ups your chances of her saying yes. I mean, she practically agreed to spend eternity with you. Coffee's a cinch after that."

"Yeah, and then she left me. You're conveniently leaving that part out."

"You guys were different people then," Callie provided. "And whatever happened before, you're obviously still into each other."

"I'm done talking about this," Alex said, picking up his chart and walking past them. Callie shook her head and called after him, "That denial won't keep you warm at night!"

Beside her Arizona scrunched her nose. Callie glanced at her and asked, "Too much?"

"A little."

Cristina spotted Owen exiting his office and she quickened her pace to catch up with him as he turned to the right and began walking. He glanced to her once and then returned his gaze to the hallway, his jaw tightening.

"Are you really not going to talk to me?" she asked irritably. "I'm your wife. You can't freeze me out."

"Cristina, I can't do this right now."

"You haven't talked to me in two days. This is getting ridiculous."

Owen shook his head, a tight smile flashing for just a moment, and Cristina knew she was not going to like what she was about to hear. "This is getting ridiculous? You know what I think is ridiculous? Letting a surgeon operate on someone when he is clearly not in the proper shape. Letting a surgeon operate on your husband's mother when-"

"I told you it was under control," Cristina returned vehemently. She was so sick of him throwing that at her face, like she had willingly thrown a shoddy surgeon into the OR with his mother. She had watched him and seen that he would be fine for the surgery. Besides, she was there to step in if anything happened.

"I was keeping an eye on it," she said.

"Oh, you were keeping an eye on it," Owen said. "Well, that makes it so much better."

"Look, I thought it was best to see how bad it was before I went to you."

Owen shook his head again. "That wasn't your call," he said forcefully. "You should have come to me the moment you noticed the tremor. That was the right thing – the professional thing – to do."

"It could have been nothing."

"And I would have seen that," Owen said. He pulled her to the side and repeated, "I would have seen that. I'm Chief, Cristina. It's my decisions that are put on the line, not yours. If his tremor killed someone, do you know who would have been pulled under the bus? Certainly Burke, but me, too. My ability to manage my staff would have been called into question – my ability to do this job."

Cristina hadn't thought of that. She had been so intent on what was happening with work that she hadn't taken a moment to think about how this could affect her husband. At the realization she felt her cheeks flush.

"I didn't think of that," she admitted. "I didn't…I'm sorry."

He nodded, exhaling loudly.

"I didn't mean to shut you out these past two days," he said after a moment. "It's just been hectic. I've been scrambling to find a new head of cardio, and now the legal stuff with Meredith."

"Then talk to me," she said earnestly, laying her hand on his arm. "Don't shut me out."

He laid his hand over hers and squeezed it once.

"Is she in real trouble?" Cristina asked.

Owen knew she was referring to Meredith and said, "I don't know yet. But maybe."

"You wore that two days ago," Michael said, falling into step besides April. "Let me guess, you were shacking with the boyfriend?"

April made a face and said, "I knew you'd say something."

"Don't get me wrong, it's a nice dress," Michael said.

"I need to get more clothes there," she said. "Or, you know, just sleep in my own apartment."

She tipped the coffee cup back, catching the last few drops. It seemed like the coffee always ended too soon.

"So, what's new with you?" April asked, changing the subject away from her dress. "I notice you're dressed a bit nicer than usual."

"Chief's orders," he said, pulling at the cuff of his dress shirt. "We have a visiting attending coming in today."

"Someone to potentially stay?"

He nodded. "Carter left so there's an opening."

"Do you know who it is?"

He shook his head. "No, but she's supposed to be a big deal or something."

"That should be interesting. You're going to have to tell me how she is."

"Probably awful," Michael said immediately. "You know, the big deals always are."

"That's not true," April said. "Dr. Shepard was a pretty big deal – I mean, top five of big deals – and he was great."

"Fair point," Michael said. "But in general, big deals suck. And I'm betting this one does, too."

"Well keep me posted," April said, stopping at the circulation desk to pick up her charts for the day. He gave her a little salute and then continued on his way down the hallway.

"I did the right thing," Meredith said, sitting with Derek in the cafeteria. "There was a history of cancer in the family. She had an irrational fear. I did the right thing."

"And that will come out in the deposition," Derek told her calmly. "Just tell them exactly what happened."

"They're going to twist my words."

"No, they won't."

"They're lawyers. It's what they do."

"Meredith," Derek said slowly, reaching forward and taking a hold of her hand. "You will be fine. You're right; you did nothing wrong. You saw a patient and made a judgment – a sound judgment. The hospital's lawyers will take care of this in no time."

"I just wish I could have one day in this hospital where something isn't happening to me," Meredith said, plucking a French fry from his plate. "Is that too much to ask?"

"For you, yes. I would say so."

She gave him a look and said, "It's not fair. If anyone else did this it would have gone just fine. But because it's me…"

"Okay, we both can agree you don't have the best luck."

"You can say that again."

"But that does not change the fact that you did nothing wrong," he held. "You did nothing wrong."

"You're right," Meredith said, nodding less in agreement and more to try to convince herself that what he was saying was true. "I just need to get through this." "Exactly, and then things will be back to normal – the good normal."

"I miss the good normal."

He squeezed her hand and murmured, "It'll be back before you know it."

Lexie sat in the examining room, Mark stretched out on the examining table while Lexie repeatedly told him to get off it before Arizona showed up.

"I forgot how uncomfortable these tables are," Mark said, wiggling a bit. "Seriously, you think they'd make them more comfortable for patients."

"Mark, would you sit up? You know, I'm the patient here."

Mark grinned wide, getting up from the table and coming to her side. He kissed her cheek and said, "Yes, you are."

"Can I sit on the table now?"

"It's all yours."

She gave him a quick peck and then sat on the table, her feet dangling just off the ground. She laid her hand on her rounded belly and asked, "What do you think it'll be?"

"A boy," Mark said decisively. "I figure, I've already made one girl so it's only natural that a boy would be next." Lexie gave him a look and he said, "What? It makes perfect sense."

"No, it doesn't. It actually makes zero sense. It makes the opposite of sense."

"What do you think it'll be?"

"I don't know actually," she said, thumb absentmindedly making sweeps across her belly. "I guess I haven't had any of those 'feelings' expectant mothers always say they get. I'm feeling-less." She glanced up suddenly, forehead creasing with worry. "I'm feeling-less! Is that a bad thing? I mean, I should be feeling things shouldn't I?"

"It's perfectly fine for you to be feeling-less," Mark said, moving to her side and slipping an arm around her shoulders. She leaned against him, taking comfort in the familiar solidness of his body.

"A boy would be nice," she said after a moment.

"Yeah?"

She grinned, glancing up at him. "Yeah."

The door opened and Arizona walked in, grinning at the scene before her.

"Hey guys," she said, shutting the door behind her. Lexie's chart was in her hands and Mark asked, "How's her blood work looking?"

"Good," Arizona said with a nod, glancing down at the chart. "All the levels are where they're supposed to be. A little low on iron, but that's nothing a little supplement can't help."

"That's great," Lexie said.

"Alright, if you want to lay back we can start the ultrasound," Arizona said, stepping around them to the small table set with the equipment for the procedure. Lexie laid back and Mark moved to the side of the bed, taking her hand and squeezing it lightly. She smiled up at him, her stomach fluttering as Arizona pulled up her shirt and squeezed the cold gel on her belly. Arizona pressed the ultrasound sensor into the gel and then mad methodical sweeps across Lexie's stomach, the image broadcasting on the screen to her right.

"Ah, there it is," Arizona said, steadying the sensor. "There is your baby and there…"

"Is the heartbeat," Lexie finished, voice soft and reverent.

"It's a strong heartbeat," Arizona said, beginning to move the sensor again. "It's…" she trailed off, her brow furrowing.

"What's wrong?" Mark asked, and that's when he heard it. Beating along that one heartbeat was another. It was fainter, but undoubtedly there.

"Is that…" Lexie said, half-sitting up as she stared at the monitor, not fully believing her ears until she saw it verified on the screen.

"Congratulations guys," Arizona said, grin wide. "It looks like you're having twins."

"Twins, we're…" Lexie trailed, off beginning to laugh. Mark squeezed her shoulder and she stopped laughing abruptly, eyes going wide as the reality hit her. "Twins, we're having twins. Mark!" She glanced up at him with worry. "Mark, we're having twins!"

He laughed. "Yeah, babe, I see that."

"But we're not ready," she said, panic creeping into her voice. "I'm-I'm not ready. I'm hardly ready for one baby and now two?"

"A lot of mothers feel this way," Arizona said soothingly, setting the sensor down. "It's very normal. But you two are ready. Believe me, I've seen a lot of couples come in and out here, and you guys can do this."

"I-I think I'm having a panic attack," Lexie said, her breathing shallow. "I've never had a panic attack before, but this sort of feels like one."

"Hey, Arizona, do you think we could have a minute?" Mark asked, glancing toward her.

"Sure, I'll go print the ultrasound for you."

"That would be great, thanks."

Arizona walked out and Mark crouched down in front of Lexie, taking a hold of her hands. Her gaze was everywhere but him, and he murmured, "Lex, look at me."

She forced her gaze to him and found her breathing settling a bit as his eyes met hers. He brought her hands to his lips and kissed them softly.

"You are strong. You are brilliant. You are beautiful. And you are going to make a fantastic mother."

"I don't know how to do this."

"You'll learn," he said, reaching up and laying a hand on her cheek. "And I'll be there with you for all of it."

"What if…" she trailed off, looking away.

"What if what, Lex?"

"Never mind."

"No, say it," he urged softly. "What is it, Lex?"

"What if I'm not good at it? At being a mom?"

He grinned slightly, standing up and enveloping her in his arms. He kissed the side of her head and murmured, "You are going to be a kick ass mom, Lex. I know it. I see how you take care of people. How much you care. You're going to be a natural."

There was a knock on the door and Mark looked down at Lexie to see if she was ready for them to have company again. She nodded and Mark called out, "Come in."

Arizona walked in, the ultrasound photos in her hand. She handed them over and pointed out each baby to Mark and Lexie.

"Those are ours, Lex," Mark said.

She grinned slightly, brushing her fingers over the photo. "Ours."

April left her patient's room and ran into one of the attendings that she had interviewed with. There was a tall woman beside her with red hair wound into a bun similar to hers. The woman was dressed smartly in a grey suit, an ivory satin shell peaking from beneath the suit jacket. There was something familiar about her, but April couldn't place how she knew her.

"Dr. Kepner," the attending said, smile in place. "You have impeccable timing."

"Well, that's good to hear," she said, glancing between the two women.

"I want to introduce you to our newest attending, Addison Montgomery."

The name jogged a memory and April's eyes went wide when she realized who she was standing in front of.

"Dr….Dr. Montgomery," she stammered, trying to get a hold of herself. She heard Chief Owen's voice in her head going, Straighten up, Kepner. "It's very nice to meet you."

Addison caught April's strange reaction to her and slow smile spread on her face as she said, "You're the one that came from Seattle Grace, aren't you?"

April's cheeks flushed. "Uh, yeah, that's me."

"Then I'm sure we'll have a lot to talk about," Addison said, her tone impossible to read. "Anyway, it was very nice meeting you, Dr. Kepner."

"You too, Dr. Montgomery."

The two women walked past her and April let out a breath she wasn't aware she was holding. She turned around and paid them another glance.

"Jackson is not going to believe this," she murmured.

A/N: I love me some Addison Montgomery. Let me know how you liked this!