CHAPTER 5

Okay, so I might slowly be starting to lean towards one of the couples. But knowing me, that might change. Still - I'm going to base my decision in the end solely on the poll results since I love both couples. BTW do you want me to tell you who the front runner is or what?

"Dr Mont… Addison?"

Addison closes her eyes, sighing when she hears Alex's voice behind her.

"Alex."

"Can we… talk?"

She turns, arching a brow.

"About?"

"About what happened…"

"When, Karev?"

He sighs, taking her hand and dragging her into a supply closet.

"Okay, here's the deal. I don't know you."
"What are you…"

"I don't know what it means when you quirk your brow, okay? I don't know what it means when you're biting down on your lower lip or… putting a strand of hair in behind your ear or… I don't know that and Derek does. But I do know that I will never stop seeing you. I know that you seem so confident all the time, but deep down you're just as scared as any other person out there. I know that you chose neonatal because you want to give babies the chance to start their lives. And I know the way your eyes look when you're sleepy and satiated and in the arms of someone who cares about you. All I want… is a chance to get to know every part of you that I don't know yet."

"I…"
"Derek knew you, Addison. He knew all of you and he stopped seeing you. I don't even know everything yet, and I know that I'll never stop seeing you. Because… because you make me feel alive when I hold you."

"Alex…"

"Look, you don't have to say anything right now. But sooner or later, you're going to have to make a choice. Is it okay for me to ask you to give me a fair chance?"

She leans forward, softly brushing her lips against his.

"Yeah… I'll give you a fair chance."

"So… want to go out to dinner tonight?"

She sighs, resting her hand against his cheek tenderly.

"I'd love to. But I already promised Richard I'd have dinner with him and Adele."

"Okay… lunch then."

Addison smiles brightly, nodding.

"Lunch sounds good."

He grins, brushing his lips against hers again.

"Well… is the hospital cafeteria okay? As much as I'd like to do better at the moment…"
Addison laughs, shaking her head.

"The hospital cafeteria is fine. Come on…"

She casually slips her fingers through his, smiling when his hand curls around hers protectively. Alex holds her back for a second, staring into her eyes sincerely.

"Addison… I meant what I said. I'm not a relationship kind of guy, but you… you're different. I… I don't know, I guess I've just never felt this way before."

"I just…"
He holds his hands up in the air, shaking his head.

"You don't have to… say anything. Not yet anyway."

"Thank you."

She rests her head against his chest for a few seconds, listening to his heartbeat, realising that she could easily love this man.

"Alex?"

"Hmm?"

"For the record… I really hope that some day I can say the same to you. Because nothing would make me more… proud and ecstatic than loving you."

"What are you saying?"

"That I really… want to love you. If that makes sense."
Alex grins, twirling a strand of her hair around his finger.

"It does."

"Thank you."
She leans forward, kissing him tenderly. Alex grins against her lips before slowly pulling her out of the supply closet again.

"Come on, let's go. Before I do something you might regret later."

She looks at him huskily, quirking a brow.

"What makes you think I'll regret it?"

He smiles softly.

"Until you know that you have feelings for me… I'm going to try holding off on… that."

"Wow."

"Yeah…"

She grins, winking at him.

"Well, Karev… that might possibly be the sweetest thing anyone's ever done for me."

Derek looks up when he notices a flash of red, his jaw tightening when he notices Karev holding her hand. And Addison not objecting to it. He glares while they sit down next to each other, Karev playfully stealing one of her fries, Addison taking a sip of his Pepsi and pulling a face at him.

He jumps up, leaving his tray behind and rushing to Richard's office.

Richard frowns when his office door flies open and Derek enters, his eyes blazing.

"You have to do something about Addie and that… that intern."

"What happened?"

"They… they came into the cafeteria together, holding hands and flirting and… staring at each other… it was sickening. You need to do something, Richard… please."

Richard sighs, looking at the jealous man in front of him quietly.

"I've invited Addison over to dinner tonight."
"Oh?"

"At the risk of her… never speaking to me again… would you join us?"

Derek immediately lightens up, grinning ecstatically.

"Seriously?"

"Yes."

"Thanks. I'll be there."

Richard nods, sighing.

"See you at seven."

"Look at them. They look… happy. It's disgusting."

Cristina stares at Addison and Alex, shuddering.

"Satan and Evil Spawn. How original."

Izzie shrugs, her mouth forming a thin line.

"Like it'll last."

George frowns, looking at Izzie reproachfully.

"Izzie!"

"What?"

"He really cares about her. Maybe it could work out between them."

Izzie rolls her eyes, shaking her head.

"Please. She's like a decade older than he is."
"She's not that much older than him. Besides, if she makes him happy, then shouldn't you be happy too?"

"Why would I be happy? She's only going to use him and then throw him away like the spider she is."

George takes his tray, standing up.

"I'm going to sit with Callie."

"Fine."

He walks off and Izzie shrugs, glaring at Addison and Alex. Meredith suddenly sighs, staring at the pair as well.

"I don't get it."

"You don't get what?"
"What's so great about her? I mean… we're both young and… she's older and… why would Alex and Derek both want her? I mean… sure she's nice and kind and smart and gorgeous, but she's not that great. Not really."

"Derek wants her back?"

Izzie looks at Meredith in shock and the latter nods sadly.

"He told me last night. He wants to try again. With her."

"Wow… Mer, I am so sorry."
Meredith smiles sadly, shrugging.

"He promised that it was going to be me this time. But he lied."

"I'm really sorry."
Meredith shrugs, staring out in front of her blankly.

"I'll get over it. Over him."
Izzie sighs, shooting Alex a silent look.

"Yeah. Me too."

"And then the cat ran up the tree and my sister was begging me to get him out, only I wouldn't because my arms were bleeding from the scratches and my face was bleeding from the scratches and still… she kept begging me to get the cat out of the tree before she would ask my mom for something to clean the scratches with."

Addison's eyes widen slightly as she stares at Alex, and she grins.

"So what did you do?"

He shrugs, smirking.

"Well, being my little sister's hero, I climbed up the tree, took off my shirt and covered the cat with it before starting to climb down. And everyone was happy."
Addison grins, shaking her head.

"I wish I could see that."
"Oh? So you could laugh at me?"

"Well maybe."
He pouts slightly and suddenly she's unable to stop staring at his mouth as he starts telling another childhood story. She shakes her head slightly when he reaches over to touch her arm, blushing.

"Sorry, I… spaced out."
"I noticed. Is everything okay?"
"Yeah. Everything is… great, as a matter of fact."
"Really?"

"Yeah. So… about that dinner invitation…"

"Yeah?"

"Are you planning on repeating it for another night? Say… tomorrow."

Alex suddenly grins, nodding enthusiastically.

"I am."

"So…"
"So, I'll invite you. Don't worry your gorgeous head about it."

"Ooh…"
Alex suddenly frowns and Addison looks at him curiously.

"Alex? What's wrong?"
"It's just… Derek… said something…"
She rolls her eyes, sighing.

"What did he say now?"

"That you would never take me seriously."

Addison leans forward, entwining her fingers with his.

"Alex… Just so you know, Derek… doesn't know me as well as he thinks."

"Really?"

"Really."

"So you'd… really take me seriously?"

"I would."