CHAPTER 11

Alex was going to propose. He had the ring; he had bought it not long after they moved to LA. He was nervous all those insecurities he had reared there ugly head again. Alex knew Addison loved him, he did. The only thing now was when and how to ask the question.

The next day Alex asked a co-worker on her view of a marriage proposal.

"Well Alex it depends on the type of girl. You know if she is a sporty type, maybe propose at a football game. If she likes fancy restaurants you could always go to her favourite restaurant. What about a romantic weekend away every girl likes that." Susan supplied helpfully. Susan was a woman in her late forties who had never been married but loved to read romance novels and watch soap operas. Alex and Susan had become good friends and Alex thought she knew more about romance then he did, even if her knowledge came from books and Television.

"Ok well I can scrap the football game; Addie would really not appreciate that. The restaurant, maybe, she likes French food. The weekend away, oh that just seems too obvious doesn't it?'

"Yeah maybe, it worked well for Brooke and Ridge on Bold and the Beautiful" Susan joked

"Sues I really am going to have to help find you a boyfriend, you can't spend your life watching Bold and the Beautiful"

"I know. Good Luck, be sure to let me know when you have plan"

"Will do"

Alex decided the best idea was to just book a table at the French Restaurant not far from their apartment. They had been there a few times and he knew that Addison loved it, even if he didn't.

He rang Addison at work and told her had made dinner plans for tonight to make sure she was ready for 7.00pm. Addison hung up she had agreed to go but wasn't really in the mood for going out. She was getting so tied lately but Alex was trying to be so supportive of all her moods she couldn't say no to him.

They arrived at the restaurant at 7.00pm and were seated straight away. Addison noticed that Alex seemed a little preoccupied, but shrugged it off, she knew it was probably because he had a suit on, something he didn't particularly like to wear.

They were enjoying their Entree's when they heard a girl scream with delight. Addison and Alex both turned their eyes to the direction of the scream to see a girl quickly putting a ring on her finger crying "Yes" to her partner.

"Oh god that is just so cliché. Bringing her to a French restaurant to propose" Addison scoffed

"Ah yeah, I mean who would do that right" Alex agreed Oh FUCK!!!!!! What am I going to do now? Alex absently patted his coat pocket. The engagement ring certainly would not be leaving his pocket tonight.

"So are you a recently engaged man?" Susan asked Alex as they made their way to the cafeteria

"No it was a fucking disaster" He said heatedly

"Alex" Susan admonished his language.

"What it was. God it was so embarrassing" Alex went on to explain what happened.

"Oh Alex I'm sorry. What are you planning to do now?"

"I thought I might go with simple. We go for a walk on the beach after dinner most nights, I might ask her then. What do you think?"

"Stop being so nervous. I think she will love it. Good luck"

After dinner that night, Alex went upstairs got the ring out of the bedside table AGAIN and went back downstairs to get this over with.

"Let's go for a walk?" He said trying to sound casual

"Babe not tonight, I'm tied"

Think quick Karev, you have to get her on that beach NOW

"Come on up you get, you have to do some gentle exercise everyday for the baby Addie you know that"

"Oh god if you weren't an obstetrician you wouldn't know that"

"Well good luck for you that I am"

Addison reluctantly agreed and they made their way onto the beach. He gently took her hand and they walked along in silence.

"Are you OK?" Alex asked

"Yeah, I just had a phone call from Mark today. He always puts me in a bad mood"

Alex could feel himself get tense at hearing the name of Addison's ex-lover. He respected that they had history but he didn't like him calling her.

"What did Sloan want?" he asked irritably

"Oh what does Mark ever want?" Addison said vaguely

"Besides you, I have no idea"

"Alex don't be like that. Today is just an anniversary day for Mark and me that's all. It doesn't mean anything. It's not even worth talking about."

"He obviously thought so if he felt the need to call you. What is so special about today?"

"Alex... I don't want you to get angry, today it's just... three years ago today was the day that Derek caught me and Mark together"

"So what? He wanted to relive that fact did he" Alex said getting annoyed

"I don't know maybe, he wanted to see if I was ok"

"Are you?" Alex asked. As much as he knew Addison loved him, he still felt sometimes that he wasn't good enough for her.

"Of course I'm ok, my god it was 3 years ago. Yes I'm not proud of what I did but I've moved on. I have you and I'm having a baby, I couldn't be happier"

"It seems Mark hasn't moved on"

"No I don't think he has. I feel badly for him I do but I don't want him in my life anymore. I have a new life, a happy life with you"

"Did you tell him that? Addie you have to be blunt with him. He obviously isn't taking the hint"

"Yes I told him today, to stop calling me. I told him that I felt nothing for him anymore"

"He will be OK" Alex said doubtfully

"I hope so, Alex I never wanted to hurt him"

"Ok Ok don't get yourself upset. It's not good for the baby" He said as he placed his hands on her every growing tummy.

They walked back to the apartment. The engagement ring was still in his pocket. Today would be a bad day to propose, given the current turn of events.

Two days later, Alex had just about given up on the idea of proposing. It was a Thursday night and Addison was going to bed early.

"I'm just going to go to bed and watch some television"

"Yeah OK, I'll be up in a little while" He replied looking up from his study notes.

Addison had slipped into bed in a pale blue silk night gown and was flicking through the television channels until she found an old episode of ER to watch.

Alex joined her in bed about an hour later. He snuggled in to her back and wrapped his arms around her.

"This is perfect" She muttered

"What is perfect?" he asked

"This, being here in each other's arms. I'm so happy"

"Yeah it is kinda perfect" Perfect, every woman wants perfect for a marriage proposal.

"Addie"

"Yeah"

"Marry me"

Addison turned around so she could see his face. She smiled at him. "What?"

"Addie I love you, will you marry me"

Addison's smile got even bigger and said "Yes, a thousand times yes"

Alex pulled her into his arms and kissed her. After a few moments, he pulled away and turned to the dreaded bedside table. He took out the engagement ring and handed the red velvet box to Addison.

"Addie if you don't like it, it's ok, we can change it, I made sure of that when I bought it. I know how particular you are" He said smiling

"No, No Alex it's perfect" Addison said as she gazed down at the Princess cut diamond ring set in rose gold. "Oh, I think someone else is happy that we are getting married" Addison grabbed Alex's hands and put them on her tummy. The baby was violently kicking her.

"I can't wait to marry you, and have this little one come into our lives" He said

"Me either. I love you" She said

"I love you too"

"Alex"

"Addison"

"Were you going to propose the other night at the restaurant?"

"Yes, and thank god I didn't because I found out that you would have hated it" He said laughing.

"I'm glad you didn't because this was so much better, this is so much more personal"

"Yeah and we don't have to rush home to have sex, because we are already here" He said as he began to let his hands wander over her body.

A/N: So... what did you think? Was the proposal OK? Please review and let me know!!!