CHAPTER 3

The room was deadly silent, as Alex and Izzie both looked at each other in mute astonishment.

Alex, then broke in to a low awkward laugh and catching Arizona's eye, he said "You're kidding right?"

When she didn't reply, he stammered over his words slightly, as he repeated "You are kidding?"

Arizona looked back at him, completely straight faced, as the corners of her mouth winced slightly, and Alex said "You're not kidding?...Wow!"

The room fell silent again, as Alex glanced sideways at Izzie, to see her wide eyes flash him an equally shocked expression. Neither of them had the slightest inclination that this had been coming.

Callie then broke the uncomfortable silence, as she said methodically "All we're asking is a simple sperm donation, nothing else. Obviously, you'd sign away any parental rights and would have no involvement in the child's life."

"Except as a favourite uncle." Arizona suddenly joked quickly, as she smiled and went on to say. "We realize this must have come as quite a shock to you both, so we don't expect you to make a decision tonight. Talk it through and let us know tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" Alex exclaimed.

"We kind of need to know before we fly back to Seattle." Arizona replied awkwardly, as Alex's jaw dropped.

"Right, well, who wants coffee?" Izzie suddenly said light-heartedly, as she stood up and grabbed the few remaining dishes from the table. no-one spoke, as Izzie glanced around at their serious faces and raising her eyebrows, she said "Or maybe something stronger?"

"There's some whiskey in the cabinet." Alex said slowly, as his face still displayed visible signs of shock.

"I'll give you a hand," Callie said, as she quickly stood up to follow Izzie, sensing that Arizona wanted to talk to Alex alone.

"I'm confused. You always made it very clear, you never wanted to have kids. Are you really sure about this? Have you really thought it through?" Alex said, swirling his whisky around in his glass, as he looked across at Arizona's anxious face.

"Honestly, I haven't thought about anything else for months. I guess you could call it my biological clock ticking, or nature's way of trying to trick me with my crazy female hormones, in to reproducing. But, I want to have another baby now, Alex."

"But, you have Sofia, you have a baby?" Alex replied, confused, as he scratched his forehead.

"I know and I love Sofia, more than the world, believe me I do. But, I want to have another baby. I want Sofia to have a brother or sister. Plus, I want to give birth and have my own baby. I, need to have my own baby, a part of me. " Arizona said, as emotion flashed in her bright blue eyes.

"Okay, well I get that part then I guess. But why me? Why not just ask Sloan again? Or use an anonymous? That way you can pick exactly what you want," Alex said gently.

"You of all people know how I felt about Sloan and Callie in the beginning, that's just not an option, and I don't want an anonymous, Alex. I don't want a bunch of credentials on paper. I want someone that I know is a good man."

Alex smirked, as he replied. "You really think I'm a good man? This is 'me' we're talking about here, the guy everyone called 'evil spawn' for years, remember?"

Arizona let out a small laugh, before her voice became more serious again and she said. "Alex, despite what you wanted everyone to think. You couldn't be further from evil spawn. You, are honestly one of the most incredible people I have ever met. What you've achieved, despite the odds against you and the start you had in life. How awesome a surgeon you've become, and how much you care about your patients….. not to mention the way you are with your own kids. You are a good man, Alex."

Alex was silent for a second, as her words hit him. It was true that she had always seen something in him that not many other people had. When he'd been at his lowest, most dark place back in Seattle, when he'd really thought he'd had no-one. Somehow, Arizona had pulled him through it.

He sipped his drink, as he took a deep breath in and said. "My genes, they're not perfect. You know my family history?"

Arizona nodded, as she said "There's a risk with everything. My great Aunt Betty is mad as a fish…..But the odds are still in our favour, I mean, how much of all that is nature versus nurture anyway? Look at your adorable kids."

Alex retreated in to his own little world for a second, as he thought about his and Izzie's, two perfect little boys. He had been more than a little apprehensive throughout both of Izzie's pregnancies, that he would pass on the crazy genes. But Izzie had been totally cool about it, saying that she was sure their children would turn out just fine, and she would be more worried if they took after her eccentric mother anyway.

Arizona then grabbed his hand, snapping him away from his thoughts, as she looked him directly in the eye and said "Alex, I know this is a big ask. But I've never been more certain about anything in my life. You're the one person, I know I can trust. You've always been there for me. You were there for me after what happened…" and unable to finish her sentence, she suddenly trailed off and stared down at her glass, even now she still couldn't bring herself to properly talk about the crash.

From the other side of the table Alex winced, as he recalled the painful memories that he had from the aftermath of the plane crash. How for days after he'd watched the light slowly disappear from her eyes, and the immense guilt he still felt every time he watched her limp slightly with the arthritis she had developed in her right leg after her extensive injuries. The guilt, that Arizona had taken his place on the plane, and it was only when he had started to see the light slowly return to her eyes, that he had felt truly content to go and begin his new life. But Arizona had never been far from his thoughts. The thought that if it hadn't been for him, she would never have to live through the continuing nightmares, that he knew still haunted her even now.

He took another slow swig off his whisky, as he looked at her and said "I'll have to speak to Izzie."

Izzie was stood at the sink rinsing out a glass, as she sensed footsteps behind her. She turned around to see Callie stood in front of her staring at her intensely.

"I just want to say, you don't have to do anything you're not comfortable with. Alex is your husband and this is your decision too," Callie said, slowly and calmly.

Unsure of how to respond, Izzie said suddenly "You don't like me very much."

Callie opened her mouth to protest. As Izzie said "It's okay, you don't have to say anything."

Callie then met Izzie's soft brown eyes straight on, with her dark ones as she said boldly "Why?... I need to know why you did it, why you slept with George?"

Izzie paused for a moment, before she replied. "Because I was jealous and selfish, and because back then I was so caught up in what I was feeling that I didn't stop to think about anyone else." She paused again, as Callie stood motionless in front of her and Izzie sensed she needed more from her, as she said quietly "and because I was scared."

"Scared?" Callie said, sounding confused.

"Scared, because the man I loved….."

"Denny," Callie said, interrupting her.

"No. Denny wasn't the man I loved. I mean I loved Denny in a way, like I loved George. But they were both just my way of running away and protecting myself when I was scared, because the man I was really in love with broke my heart…."

"Alex." Callie said softly.

"Yes. Alex, has always been the love of my life. But for years I was just too scared to admit it," Izzie said, as Callie's eyes continued to search her face. Callie had never seen it like this before, she had always just thought Izzie had been an emotionless, home wrecker. But hearing her talk now, she was just as human as anyone and if she hadn't slept with George, would their marriage really have stood the test of time? Callie seriously doubted it, as she thought of Arizona, the love of her life.

"But, you have to believe me. I am not that person anymore. The person I was back then in Seattle, she's long gone," Izzie said, as her voice trembled with emotion.

"I know," Callie said, and she grabbed Izzie's hand, as she said sincerely "I forgive you," and despite how many times she had told herself she had forgiven Izzie, Callie knew now, that she truly meant it.

"That was Mark, Sofia's fine," Callie said, as Arizona walked out of the bathroom and pulled back the bedsheets, to join her in their luxurious, kingsize, hotel room bed.

"That's great," Arizona replied, as she forced a small smile, and nestled her head against Callie's shoulder, although her mind was clearly elsewhere, as a thought suddenly popped in to her head and she said worridly. "You didn't say anything to him...about you know?"

"No, no, of course not. But we're going to have to tell him at some point. He's Sofia's father, he has a right to know," Callie said hastily.

"I know," Arizona said sighing, as she added wistfully "Although, there might not be anything to tell him anyway."

"Karev's going to say yes," Callie said, as she grabbed Arizona's hand and put it to her lips kissing it gently.

Arizona blinked, as she said "I'm not so sure, he said he needs to discuss it with Izzie..."

"Izzie will be cool," Callie said with confidence, as she turned to gaze at Arizona's apprehensive face staring back at her from where she lay in the bed next to her.

"You really think?" Arizona replied.

"I really think. But you realize, that even he agrees, this is just going to be the start of our journey. It's not going to be easy, but whatever happens, we'll face it together," Callie said gently.

Arizona felt her eyes well with tears, as she brushed a strand of Callie's shiny black hair away from her face, and she leaned in to kiss her, caressing the side of her cheek as she said "I love you."

Alex carefully shut the door to his children's bedroom and slowly crept down the dark hallway, and in to his and Izzie's room.

"Boys are ok," he said, as he found her with her back to him, removing her make up in the mirror.

"Fine," she replied, slightly coldly.

Alex flinched a little and frowned. He recognised that tone of voice, he didn't hear it often but when he did it signalled that she was annoyed about something, and that he was supposed to know exactly what it was. He wrinkled his forehead unsure of how to respond. His communication skills over their years of marriage had improved greatly, but he was still never going to be the kind of guy that went about expressing his feelings willingly.

He didn't say anything as he just settled for moving closer to her. She was wearing a short silk red nightdress and her long blonde hair was falling over her smooth tanned shoulders and down her back. Alex was silent, as he just looked at her for a second, thinking how she was still so damn hot, and how she still never failed to make his blood rush south.

He gently wrapped his arms around her waist and buried his face in to her soft hair. She smelt as delicious as always, he thought, as he exhaled against her, and he sensed her body tense slightly, she didn't relax back in to his arms and meet him with the flirty giggle that she normally did. That was how things usually started between them, and then before they knew it their clothes would be all over the bedroom floor and they would be wrapped up in each other naked in their bed. But not tonight, Alex thought glumly as he sighed slightly and drew away, realizing that it didn't look likely he would be getting 'any' tonight.

So, instead he leapt back on to their bed. He was dressed in a black vest and jeans and he crossed his legs, stretching them out in front of him, as he placed his hands behind his head, and taking a deep breath in, he said "So, what do you think then?"

Izzie turned around to look at him and walking over to their bed, she said sulkily. "I think, they were talking to you not me."

Izzie, wasn't comfortable with the idea at all. It wasn't that she felt threatened by Alex's friendship with Arizona. She knew how much Alex cared about Arizona, and how she would always have a special place in his heart. It was more the thought of Alex fathering someone else's child, that made Izzie feel physically sick.

Alex, tried to catch Izzie's eye, as she looked away and he said "You're my wife Iz, so, this isn't just up to me. As much as I care about Arizona, I'm not going to do anything you're not happy with. You know how much I love you and the boys, and you'll always be my first priority. You know that right? But, Iz, if I do this, it's not going to affect our family."

Izzie sighed, as she got in to bed next to him, and fiddling with the ends of her hair, she looked at her husband's anxious face and her icy eyes warmed. Some days she felt like she was dreaming, that their happiness couldn't possibly be real. But then she remembered the pain and misery that went before it, and it made her appreciate the wonderful life that she now had with Alex even more. They were very happily married, with two healthy children, both board certified surgeons and Alex a top Ped's attending at Hopkins, none the less. Life in Baltimore had been fairly straightforward, a little crazy and chaotic at times, but both being doctors they wouldn't have expected anything less. But, it had still been nothing, compared to the constant dramas that they had both had to face back in Seattle. Izzie then shuddered as she thought of Arizona and all the struggles she had been through.

"Iz, say something?" Alex pleaded, as his soft almond eyes stared at her even more intently.

Eventually, she grabbed his hand and chewing on her lip, she said "Alex, this decision is yours to make and not mine. I can't tell you what to do, and as your wife I'll support you, whatever you decide. But, if you do decide to go ahead with this, do it because you want to help Arizona, to give her a wonderful gift. Don't do it out of a sense of duty, because you feel as though you owe her something. Because you still feel guilty about not being on that plane….."

Alex's eyes were fixed on her face, as she finished speaking and he was lost for words for a second, before he leant in and kissed her on the cheek, as he simply said "I love you."

He then thought how Izzie had told him time and time again, that it wasn't his fault, that there was a reason he didn't get on that plane. That Arizona was ok, she had made it back alive and if he had gone, maybe things would have turned out differently, maybe he and Izzie, wouldn't have found their way back to each other and be living the life they were now. But, despite all that, Alex knew it would haunt him forever, and he had always thought he would do anything for Arizona. But, was that really a reason to consent to creating a life with her?

Alex, slowly rotated his phone over and over in his hand, as he gazed at the tall, steaming cup of coffee on the table in front of him. He was sat on his own in the deserted cafeteria, being first thing it was still the graveyard shift at the hospital so the place was eerily empty. Eventually, he finally worked up the courage to slowly place the phone to his ear, and he instantly felt his heart rate speed up as he heard it ring.

"Alex," Arizona said anxiously, as she picked up straightaway.

There was a brief pause, before Alex eventually said. "I'll do it."

A/N Thanks for the reviews. Your feedback is greatly appreciated.