Author's Notes: Happy Grey's week everyone! Whoohoo! I'm going to try with everything in me to get all of this story posted by the end of the week.

I never did get this chapter quite where I wanted it, but I'm kind of tired of looking at it :)

Izzie Stevens entered the NICU hesitantly and immediately spotted Alex at an isolette on the far wall. She had really hoped to not run into him or Jo, at least not right now. Alex had a bright smile on his face and was talking to an older woman who then reached up to pat his cheek while kissing the other side of his face. They then hugged and were embracing tightly when Alex looked up and noticed Izzie. He pulled away from the woman and said something else to her while at the same time motioning in Izzie's direction.

The older woman turned and walked towards Izzie with a large smile on her face, "Alex says you are one of the doctors that saved Jo."

"Not exactly, I was there, but I..." Izzie started not sure how to explain.

The woman quickly enveloped Izzie in a tight hug as she whispered "Thank you." She then pulled back, "I don't know what I'd do if I lost any of them." She then motioned back towards Alex, who was focused solely on the baby, "And I have no idea what I would have done with this one if something had happened to Jo. Bless you, Dr. Stevens." She then squeezed Izzie's hand and exited the NICU.

Izzie hesitantly walked towards Alex, who glanced up warily at her as she approached, "Was that your mother?"

Alex gave a snort, "My mother? My mom has never even dreamed of being that stable. That was Mrs. Schmitt, she's the closest thing Jo has to a mother."

"Oh," Izzie replied before adding, "Why hasn't she been here before?"

Alex smiled at the newborn, "Because Jo being Jo hadn't told her anything was going on. I called her after this sweetheart was born and she jumped on the first flight she could."

Izzie stood in awe for a minute watching Alex stare at the sleeping infant. "She's beautiful Alex. And strong. I'm pretty sure she gets that part from you."

Alex smiled widely as he looked at the baby proudly, "Are you kidding? That's all Jo, she's so much stronger than I am."

Izzie smiled softly at this, "Where is Jo? Haven't they let her come down yet?"

Alex sighed, "She did last night and stayed for a while, but she had a slight fever this morning so she's been banned until it comes back down." Alex grinned, "I stayed with her a while this morning until she told me to get my sorry ass back down here."

"You really are okay with her calling you names," Izzie stated surprised.

Alex looked at her in confusion, "Why wouldn't I be? She doesn't do it with contempt the way others may. With Jo, I know I'm really in trouble when she's not calling me names."

Izzie nodded understandingly, "Have you guys named her yet?"

Alex smiled again at the baby, "We're working on it."

"Well she needs a beautiful name to go with those looks. Another thing she gets from her incredible mother," Izzie said staring at the baby.

Alex narrowed his eyes as he looked at her questioningly, "What is this?"

"Call it an epiphany. I've had some time to think over the past two days and I've realized some things. Hearing you and Jo talk about each other over the past few weeks and seeing the look you get in your eyes when she's mentioned...I'm not sure you ever quite felt that way for me." Izzie noticed a flash of anger in his eyes and quickly pushed forward, "Maybe you would have if I had stayed around longer, I get that. But more than that, I now see what you mean when you say she loves you in a way that I never could. I didn't fully understand you Alex and I didn't accept your more caveman ways." Izzie smiled playfully causing Alex to give a reserved laugh. She then became serious again, "She loves all of you Alex, like you said, and I...I didn't. At least not the way I should have. Not the way a wife should love her husband. And definitely not as you deserve."

Alex looked at her wordlessly, his mouth struggling to form words that weren't coming, "Izzie, I..."

"No, it's okay. It's mostly my fault. I wanted you to be something you're not. You are a good man Alex, I didn't see that fully. I wish I had've, but... You're a wonderful man, but not the best match for me. Jo on the other hand..." She trailed off and watched as he stroked his daughter's cheek through the isolette window. "I would have hated that wedding. I would never have agreed to a courthouse or backyard ceremony. I would have fussed at you about messing up your vows with that word. I wouldn't have risked ruining my dress in the rain no matter what I was feeling and I would have taken you up on your offer to propose again in a more romantic way." She sighed and looked at the ceiling collecting her thoughts. She looked back at Alex, who was staring at her with a baffled look on his face before he turned his attention back to the newborn. She pursed her lips and smiled, "I so want a marriage like the two of you have with someone that's right for me."

Alex looked up and met her eyes, holding her gaze, "I hope you find it Izzie. I really hope you do."

Izzie felt her eyes burn with tears and nodded while biting her lips. She then smiled and met Alex's eyes, "So like I said she needs a beautiful name to go with these beautiful looks. I mean I've never seen eyes that gorgeous on a newborn before."

Alex looked back down into the isolette and smiled proudly at the tiny girl, "It's funny, the whole pregnancy...well even before, I would look at Jo's eyes and wish that if we had a daughter she would have those eyes. Now the thought that it may actually happen is freaking me out."

"Freaking you out?"

"The dog face," he said as he glanced up. "At least that's what I call it whenever Jo uses those beautiful eyes to get her way. Now it's going to be two against one. How am I ever going to be able to say no to them? And dear God, what about when she starts dating? I can't handle this."

Izzie smiled encouragingly, "You will. Besides you have a little while yet to worry about teenage boys and I think you'll have the upper hand since you know most of the tricks."

Alex groaned, "Jo said the same thing. Along with Meredith and Cristina and Arizona and Webber. I still can't stand the thought of someone disrespecting my child like I used to be with women. I'm not sure I'll be able to restrain myself if that ever happens to her."

Izzie paused and stared at Alex, "Jo was right. You are different."

Alex laughed uncomfortably at her scrutiny, "Like I said, I've grown up. I've changed, and now this little princess will make me change even more," Alex said as he rubbed the tiny girl's cheek and made faces at the now awake baby. He began to mumble softly to the infant, "Isn't that right little miss? Gonna make me a crazy softy aren't you?"

Izzie laughed and shook her head in wonder, "Evil Spawn is now a sap."

Alex laughed and gave the biggest smile Izzie had ever seen from him, "Nah, Evil Spawn just learned that it would be okay for him to be happy."