A/N: Once again thank you for the overwhelming support of this story. It is just gone 4.00am in Australia right now and I couldn't sleep so thought I would post this chapter. Hope you al have a good weekend! Oh The words in italics are their thoughts, although I am sure you are all smart enough to figure that out!

Chapter 6 – Clarity

For the first time in Alex's life, he felt truly okay. It had been three days since Jo had told him about why she left. He had gone through every emotion he ever thought possible. No question he was still annoyed with her for why she did what she did. However he also understood that four years ago she wasn't as put together as she is now. He had to cut her some slack for that. He also knew everything she did; she believed wholeheartedly it was for him. That still staggered him the most.

Jo had been prepared to give up everything she was working towards for him. Then when she found out she was pregnant, she went it alone, and managed to finish her medical degree. Granted she wasn't a surgeon anymore, she had put Thomas first, but she still managed to become a Doctor. The enormity of what she had sacrificed for him, for their son was still something he couldn't quite reconcile in his mind.

Jo felt such a sense of relief, as if a weight she had been carrying on her shoulders for so long had finally been lifted. She knew Alex was still mad but he didn't seem to hate her as much as she had convinced herself he would. Perhaps everything would work out. Well not everything, but Thomas would get the father he deserved and Alex would get his son. She wasn't naive enough to believe Alex and she would get back to together. Now that notion definitely belonged in the fairy tale category.

Alex had taken Arizona's offer of two weeks leave. As Jo had already started her new job at an outpatient clinic, Alex offered to baby sit. Is it even called babysitting when it's your own kid? Both of them saw it as an opportunity for Alex and Thomas to bond before they told him the truth. He was nervous about it but looked forward to spending time with him each day. Towards the end of the first week Alex bought a car seat so he could take Thomas places.

"Mommy, mommy you will never guess what I did t'day?" Thomas asked as Jo walked in the door.

"Tell me?" Jo said as she picked him up and covered his face in kisses.

"Alex took me to park and 'Donalds for lunch."

Jo looked over at Alex.

"Thomas, you promised if I took you to MacDonald's we wouldn't tell mommy."Alex said pretending to be hurt. He had already asked Jo earlier if that would be okay. Jo did allow him treats, she wasn't always tough on his healthy diet.

"MacDonald's? Was it nice baby?" Jo said with a laugh. "He makes me feel like I deprive him of food." Jo said to Alex. Alex just returned her smile. Even after a nine hour shift he thought she still looked beautiful.

"Yep, I had nuggets."

"Of course you did. They are your favourites. What did you do at the park?"

"I went on the swings, and slip-a-dip. Morrow Alex is taking me to the zoo to see all the an-mals."

"Oh wow! The Zoo. That should be pretty cool."

"Yep." Thomas replied simply.

Jo put Thomas back down and he ran into his room to get some more toys.

"You are spoiling him." Jo said smiling.

"Nah, I'm getting more out of it then him." Alex said quietly. He was completely besotted by his son. "How was work?"

"Okay."

"Just okay."

"Yeah, after I dropped out of the surgical program, I still was committed to doing medicine but didn't quite know what, so I went along with General Practitioner type of stuff. Last year I did my first year of psychiatry. I loved it. I would really like to finish that."

"Psychiatry. Seriously? You wanna get in people's heads and sort their shit out? Haven't you done enough of that?" Alex said surprised.

"No. That is counselling. I want to help diagnose and help people with mental illness."

"Same thing isn't it?" He said with a smirk waiting to get a rise out of her.

"You know full well it isn't. I'm not biting tonight Alex." She said with an almost flirty tone.

"You are serious aren't you?" Alex asked realising she really was.

"Yeah I am." Jo said with a shrug of her shoulders. "One day. You want to stay for dinner?"

"Love to." Alex said as he watched Jo walk past him into the kitchen.

It all felt like a dream. Everything was going so smoothly. He sat at the kitchen table and watched Jo as she moved around the kitchen. He knew he should offer to help but he just loved to watch her. He watched her tie her hair up on top of her head and he stared at the back of her neck wondering if being kissed just under her right earlobe still drove her crazy.

Jo bent over and all he could see was her perfect ass. He could feel himself getting aroused which was really uncomfortable and yet another reason he did not want to get up from the table. Calm down think of something else. QUICK.

Thomas saved the day for Alex. He could now focus his attention on Thomas instead of his son's insanely hot mother. After Alex had himself under control Thomas took him into his room to show him his latest drawing.

Over dinner of Vegetarian Risotto and salad Alex suggested that he speak to the Board of Directors, (his friends) if there would be a position available for Jo at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital.

"I was just thinking if you wanted to, perhaps there is a position for a second year resident in Psychiatry."

"Really? I mean that would be great, but after everything that has happened..." Jo trailed off not wanting to give to many details away in front of Thomas.

"They know you are a good doctor Jo. God knows it's a field not many doctors want to go into so I think they would be happy to have you back. Also that way Tommy could go to day care at the hospital we both work at."

"Would I be at your hos-i-tal Alex?" Thomas asked.

"Yeah if mommy came and worked with me. What do you think?"

"That'd be good. You visit me at lunch." He added like Alex had no-where else to be in the middle of the day.

"Well baby mommy has to get a job there first, so let's not jump ahead."

"Ohhh" Thomas whined. "You always say that."

"Well I don't like getting your hopes up." Jo explained, whilst giving Alex a death stare across the table.

After Thomas said his good nights and went to bed, Alex apologised.

"It's okay. I just don't like him pinning his hopes on things and then they don't happen."

"I get it. But I am pretty sure, if you really want to do this residency, I'm sure we can make it happen."

"Why? Why would you do that for me after everything I did?"

"Call me selfish Jo. It means I get to see Thomas every day, as well as you and I think it's a good idea. We get to co-parent. I can help out. I can pick him up when you can't. I have a lot of making up to do and you are allowing me to do that. It's the least I can do. If he is at the same place we are all day it just makes sense." Alex said shrugging his shoulders.

"Well if you can make it happen, I would love the chance to do it." Jo smiled just slightly. She didn't want to get her hopes up that working together again could lead to something more.

"I will speak to Jackson tomorrow." He said, trying not to look into her eyes too long.

"Thanks. I would really appreciate it." Jo said quietly, not trusting herself to think that Alex might just want to see her everyday too.

"I should get going. What time will you bring Tommy around in the morning?"

"Around 6.30am. I have a 7.00am start tomorrow."

Alex got up from the lounge and walked to the front door, Jo following behind. She loved the way he moved, she could see the muscles in his back, thinking about how she used to love to run her nails down his back. Thinking how much he used to love her doing it. Jo shook her head to get those thoughts out of her head. It is never going to happen again so suck it up. Be grateful he wants to be friends.

They paused at the doorway. He looked into her eyes, and smiled that silly lope sided smile of his, and pushed some hair out of her face that had come loose from her ponytail. The feel of his fingers on her face sent shivers down her whole body.

The way he looked at her, took her breath away and her body reacted to his just by a single touch and standing so close they were almost touching.

"Good night Princess." He whispered huskily. He kissed her on the temple like he had a week or so ago before opening the door.

"Goodnight Alex, see you early tomorrow morning." Jo said quietly.

Jo closed the door and stood with her back to the door, she couldn't breathe and her heart was racing so fast. One look, one touch and his old nickname for her coming from his lips had nearly brought her undone. She took a few deep breaths and made her way to bed. What she wouldn't give to have him in there with her.

Alex drove home. Fuck Fuck Fuck not again. Why does she do this to me? I only have to be close to her and I'm as hard as a seventeen year old boy. I'm forty fucking two for God's sake she shouldn't make me feel this way. What I wouldn't give to be in bed with her now.

A/N: Thanks for reading. Hope you liked it and please leave a review!