Chapter 12

Putting one hand up to her mouth as she yawned, Arizona opened the front door to see Alex stood grinning back at her, against the dreary grey back drop of another Seattle morning.

"Well, someone got laid last night." Arizona said, teasing, as she yawned some more and smiled brightly at him, opening the door a little wider as she went on to say. "Take it, this means you've sorted things out with Izzie? And you're going to finally take the job here and sign the chief's contract?"

"Already signed, I stopped by the hospital on my way over." Alex replied smugly, grinning wider.

"Ooh, that's wonderful news," Arizona said, moving forward to excitedly fling her arms around him, just as Alex's children came bounding out of the house to join them.

Alex took a step back and glanced at his watch as he said hurriedly. "I'd better get going, don't want to be late on my first official day back. But thanks again for having these two little terrors last night, I hope they behaved?"

"Oh, of course, we had a great time, didn't we boys?" Arizona said, looking at Alex's two adorable young sons, as they smiled back at her. It had been fun, but she was glad to be handing them back now. They were definitely their father's son's, great fun, but hard work and full of mischief.

"Well, glad to hear it and I guess I'll see you in surgery later then." Alex replied, raising his eyebrows at Arizona, as he scooped up his youngest son and took the older one by the hand to turn and walk away.

"Can't wait," Arizona said, hurriedly after him. Although, if she was completely honest, now the deal had been sealed and there was no going back, she was starting to wonder if maybe, she had been a little hasty in stepping down for Alex to take over so quickly.

"She shouldn't be much longer." Callie said, as she looked down at her pager and shifted in the chair next to Arizona, as later that morning, they were both sat outside Addison's office.

"Well, I hope not. Because I have a surgery to get to." Arizona replied, as she sipped her drink anxiously.

"I'm sure Alex can manage on his own, he practically ran things back at Hopkins remember." Callie said to her wife.

Arizona sighed and narrowed her eyes, she didn't like Callie's tone, as she replied coldly. "I'm pregnant, but that doesn't make me completely useless you know."

Before Callie had the chance to respond, they were interrupted but the sound of heels cluttering noisily towards them. "Sorry I'm late, emergency c-section last night, out everything back." Addison said, breaking the tension, as she approached Callie and Arizona, looking a little flustered as she swept her long red hair away from her face.

"No problem, Addie. We're not in a rush," Callie said, as both she and Arizona stood up to follow Addison in to her office.

...

Arizona sat down abruptly next to Callie and opposite Addison. She was a little red-faced, still annoyed with Callie about the comments she percieved as implying her presence wasn't needed in surgery. Arizona knew she was probably overreacting a tad, but Callie had hot a raw nerve. Arizona was starting to feel anxious that Alex would be fine to run things on his own and she wouldn't be needed at all.

"Okay, so how are things?" Addison said, as she crossed her legs and leaned back in her chair.

"Good, I mean, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little more tired than usual. But on the whole I feel good." Arizona said, smiling at Addison.

"Great, I'm glad to hear it. But, that's normal for the second trimester, as you approach your third trimester, you will find that you will slow down considerably and that is when we will need to monitor you more closely. Keep an eye on your blood pressure and the baby's position and measurements." Addison said, as she looked from Arizona to Callie and Callie nodded in agreement.

"Well, today we are going to discuss the birth plan and make some arrangements." Addison went on to say, as she looked from Callie to Arizona again. "I don't know what you have discussed. But, if you would like to opt for a c-section, I can make the arrangements for you today."

"Great," Callie said, as Arizona leapt in and said "No," loudly, causing both Callie and Addison to turn and look directly at her.

"I want a natural birth. I don't want to give birth to my baby in an OR somewhere pumped full of drugs. I'm not sure if I even want to have her here at the hospital." Arizona said, as Callie looked across at her, her mouth wide open, as she said "Hang on a minute, we agreed…"

"We agreed, we would discuss each option, which is what we are doing." Arizona replied.

"Doesn't sound, like we're discussing anything. Scheduling a c-section would definitely be the safest option, right Addie?" Callie said, glancing at Addison for reassurance.

Addison clasped her hands together, as she said. "I can't tell you what to do, you know that. I'm only here to give you the relevant information and providing there are no complications there's no reason why you can't have a natural delivery, Arizona. But, I would strongly advise you to have your baby here at the hospital and not to rule at the possibility of a c-section or epidural should it be required." Addison smiled to herself then, as she looked across at Arizona's determined face. This was so typical of a first pregnancy. She had heard the same thing so many times before and she knew that when it came down to it. Arizona would do whatever it took to get her baby out safely.

Ignoring Addison, Callie turned back to her wife and said. "Arizona, have you gone out of your mind? You're a doctor, a paediatric doctor, how could you of all people not want the best possible medical care on stand by for our baby. You've seen first hand, how it can save lives. Would you really want to take that risk with our baby?" Callie's voice shook with emotion as she finished speaking. She really didn't understand where Arizona was coming from at this exact moment in time.

"You're acting as though I have no say in this. Aren't you forgetting, that I'm the one that's going to be giving birth and it's probably the only time I ever will be giving birth. So, I say we'll do things my way." Arizona replied, her tone firm and gaze fixed on Callie.

"Well, nothing has to be set in stone today." Addison replied cheerfully. This wasn't the first time she'd had bickering, expectant parents in her office and she was pretty sure it wouldn't be the last either.

"Well, I'd be willing to compromise on the hospital, but, I don't want any drugs at all. I want to do it naturally." Arizona replied.

"Well, we'll see about that," Callie replied bluntly.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Arizona replied, mirroring Callie's tone.

"Exactly, what I said, we'll see… and you're wrong. Just because you're the one giving birth, doesn't make it all about you. This is my baby too and I'll be your birthing partner, so, I'd say that makes it very much about me too." Callie said.

Arizona's pager suddenly beeped, she looked at it and stood up, saying. "I've go to go, they're waiting for me in surgery." Standing up to walk out of the room as she said a quick. "Thanks Addison."

...

"You'll figure it out" Addison said kindly to Callie, as Callie simply stared at the door her wife had just walked so hastily through.

"Dr Stevens" Addison said, smiling, as later that day, she saw her old intern walking in to her office. "Look at you, still as gorgeous as ever I see." Addison gushed, as she sat down and gestured for Izzie to sit opposite her.

"Speak for yourself, Dr Montgomery" Izzie said, as she looked back at Addison, she wasn't quite sure how Addison always managed to remain so effortlessly glamorous, but she did, even in scrubs. Izzie had been wary of Addison when she'd first arrived in Seattle. But she had quickly grown fond of her for the brief time Addison had been her mentor back in her intern days and right now Izzie had never been so glad to see Addison. She knew if anyone could help her, Addison could.

"Thanks, for seeing me at such short notice, Addison. I was so pleased to hear you were back here." Izzie went on to say, as she twisted her hands anxiously.

"No problem, Izzie. It's such great news that you and Alex are back here." Addison said, taking the lid off a fresh cup of coffee, sat steaming on her desk in front of her, before holding it up and adding, before she sipped it. "Oh, I hope you don't mind, it's been one of those days, non-stop!"

"No, of course not, I know the feeling." Izzie replied. She was exhausted too; she had been rushing around the city on her own all day, to look at three different houses, plus schools and pre-schools, all with her two lively kids causing a trail of destruction after her everywhere she went. Luckily Meredith had finished work early and had offered to look after them for a couple hours while Izzie saw Addison. Otherwise they would be here causing chaos in Addison's office right now too.

"Well, what can I do for you?" Addison said.

Izzie took a deep breath, as she said slowly. "It goes without saying that everything is, you know, completely confidential?"

"It goes without saying." Addison repeated, as an OB/GYN at Seattle Grace, being discreet was her middle name.

"Even?….." Izzie said, as she swallowed and looked away.

"Listen, what goes on between you and your husband is your business, Izzie. I'm not here to pass any judgement." Addison said, as she thought, it was obvious Alex had no idea Izzie was here, but it really was none of her business.

"Okay, well, I've been experiencing some pains and I'm pretty sure there's something wrong. I went to see my OB/GYN back in Baltimore to discuss my current fertility and she ran some tests that indicated things were normal. But since then I've been experiencing a lot more discomfort. So, I need you to run some more tests, I need to know what I'm facing." Izzie said confidently, she was a doctor, she knew the score, she could probably diagnose herself with the right resources.

"Okay," Addison said, well you're a fellow medical professional, Izzie. I don't need to spell things out for you. Let's start with an ultrasound, that will pick up any cysts or abnormalities straight away.

…...

Izzie, pulled the unflattering hospital gown tighter around her, as she laid back on the narrow stiff bed, her arms behind her head. She yawned and smiled to herself, as she had a flash back to the hot sex that had kept her awake all night with her husband. Even now after years of marriage, Alex, still really turned her on.

"Okay, lets get started." Addison said, snapping Izzie back in to reality.

Izzie watched Addison's shiny red hair bobbing up and down, as she moved the wand across her stomach, staring at the screen in front of her, her heels cluttering across the floor as she re-positioned herself to get a better look at the screen.

Sensing Izzie's nerves, Addison said in a friendly tone. "I have to say Izzie, I always knew you and Alex would end up back together. Everyone could see you two were made for each other, right from the start. He was always so different around you. You brought out the best in him and now you're married and have two wonderful kids too, you're very lucky."

"Thanks, I know, and my kids are awesome most of the time that is… So, how about you? You bring any hot guy back from LA to start a family with?" Izzie replied, giggling a little.

"Oh, no. But, you know, I have been tempted to just go out and get a sperm donor, cut out the complications of a relationship." Addison replied, as she continued to examine the screen.

"Well, good for you….. as long as you don't ask Alex." Izzie added, raising her eyebrows. She was joking, but nothing would surprize her these days, especially back at Seattle Grace.

"Don't worry, I think Dr Karev, has done more than his fair share of fathering babies." Addison added, chuckling as she thought back to her challenging meeting with Callie and Arizona earlier that day.

Izzie then paused and rubbed her lips together, as she said more seriously in almost a whisper."Not many people know this, Addison. But when I was sick, Alex and I, we…..froze some embryos to use if I couldn't fall pregnant naturally and…they're still here, being stored in this hospital. So, before I started getting the pains…I was in the process of persuading Alex to agree to us trying to use them, so we could have one more child, because we always wanted a big family. But, he…."

"He wasn't so keen…" Addison said, finishing off Izzie's sentence, as she turned back to look at her old intern. She had always had a soft spot for Izzie Stevens, she had seen a lot of her younger self in her and had felt sure if things had worked out differently, Izzie would be a first class OB/GYN now too.

"That's an understatement. He pretty much forbade it," Izzie muttered.

"Well, I'm not taking sides here, but it's a risky procedure and the odds will be pretty low after all this time, especially for someone with your medical history…." Addison said, as she looked back at the screen.

"I know and I don't want to put you in an awkward position, but as head of Obstetrics here now, it's up to you to sign for their release to a fertility clinic. Where they can be examined to look at their health and starting the IVF process….I've checked and I don't need Alex's signature for that. I only need him to agree to actually start the IVF process. So, what do you say, would you release them?" Izzie said, as she realized she'd been waffling away and Addison had been deadly silent, examining the screen.

"Addison?….." Izzie then said quickly, sounding panicked as she looked at Addison's face, concentrating and frowning at the screen.

"No, I won't release them…" Addison said firmly, turning to look back at Izzie, trying not to smile. As Izzie looked back at her confused and slightly taken aback.

"I won't look in to releasing your frozen embryos, Dr Stevens. Because, you're not going to need them…"

""Wh..what?" Izzie stammered.

"You're not going to need them, because…. you're already pregnant…" Addison said, as she broke in to a wide grin, delivering news like this was the best part of her job.

"I'm what?" Izzie said, unable to stop her surprized face from smiling back.

"Listen, here's the heart beat and look here on the screen, one healthy baby. So, those pains you were experiencing were just normal pregnancy cramps. You must have felt them with your other pregnancies? You're quite far along too. I'd say over twenty weeks. Did you not wonder when you missed your period?"

"Well, to be honest, after my cancer my periods have been so irregular, that I don't really keep track of them. I've felt so awful the past few months and I know I've put on weight. But, it never crossed my mind, that I was actually pregnant again." Izzie said, as a rush of joy spread across her.

"Well, perhaps you should have had more faith in your body...You want me to page Alex?" Addison said, as Izzie sat up and swung her legs over the bed.

"Oh, he'll still be in surgery. I'll go down and wait for him," Izze said, smiling even more.

Izzie was shaking slightly as she stepped out of Dr Montgomery's office. She had gone in, fully expecting to hear at best her child bearing days were over and at worst that she was seriously sick again. Now, as it turned out, it was neither and actually she and Alex were going to be parents again and soon. She felt as thought she wanted to burst with happiness, but she also felt full of nerves, as she anticipated what Alex would say when he found out. Hopefully, it wouldn't be too much of a shock. He wouldn't be expecting it, but he was aware that they hadn't been using birth control for quite some time, he must realize it wasn't completely out of the question that she'd fall pregnant again. Izzie knew that it was more important to her to have another baby than to Alex, but she still felt certain that once he got used to the idea, Alex would be every bit as excited as she was.

Fully emerged in her own little world, day dreaming about the new baby. Izzie turned to walk towards the elevator, just as she walked head on straight in to Callie.

...

Callie had come up to see if Addison was free, she had a few more questions for Addison as their OB, about her and Arizona's birth plans. Callie wanted to arm herself with some facts, before she broached the subject with her wife again later.

Seeing Izzie coming out of Addison's office, Callie froze, as she looked at her swollen red eyes. It looked as though Izzie had been crying and coming out of Addison's office too, that didn't look good.

"Izzie, hey, are you alright?" Callie said, as stopped her and touched her arm gently.

Izzie looked back at Callie, surprisingly she could now say she considered Callie to be a friend and she ran her hand through her hair, she was so excited and she was dying to tell Callie the good news. But, Izzie knew she had to tell Alex first. It was only fair, it was his baby too after all.

But, as Callie's concerned eyes searched her face further, Izzie lost all control, as she burst out. "No, I'm not alright. I'm better than alright, I'm great. I'm pregnant, Callie."

Callie was speechless for a couple of seconds, as she tried to process what Izzie had just said. She'd had no idea Izzie and Alex were even trying for another baby.

"That's great news. Congratulations, you and Alex must be so happy?" Callie eventually said, as she moved forwards to hug Izzie.

"Uh.. Alex doesn't actually know yet. I just found out and he's in surgery, so, you're the first to know. I just had to tell someone." Izzie said a little guiltily, as she stepped away from Callie.

"Oh, okay then," Callie replied awkwardly, thinking how weird it was the she, of all people, was the first person that Izzie had told her exciting news to.

After checking on her young post–op patient one final time, Arizona turned to walk out of his room, pleased with the resultS of the surgery she and Alex had performed on the boy a short while ago. Placing one hand on her lower back and exhaling a little, she felt her baby kick, and she glanced down to see her rounded pregnant stomach, clearly visible now even in her scrubs with her lab coat on.

As she slowly opened the door, not wanting to disturb the young patient, Arizona froze, as she heard someone say her name out in the corridor. It was a couple of the female residents, that had strangely been falling over themselves to work in ped's now that they had heard Dr Karev was back in charge and had also managed to get in on the surgery with Arizona and Alex earlier too. Arizona fidgeted with the door handle, as she eavesdropped further in to their conversation.

"I heard that Robbins had to blackmail him…. her job, in exchange for his best swimmers. Its obvious that she's a little obsessed with him, it's pathetic really, why didn't she just go to a fertility clinic, like any other gay couple….. Hey, I wonder what the kid will end up looking like, it will be funny if it's the spit of him…"

Arizona tried to choke back the tears, she knew she was being stupid and it was her hormones making her more vulnerable than usual. It was inevitable that she would be the subject of gossip and normally she was more thick skinned. But, somehow she hadn't realized how much 'this gossip' would hurt, she was feeling so emotional anyway after her appointment with Addison and fight with Callie earlier and she felt the blood rush around her body, as she tried to work out who the malicious spiteful words were actually coming from. Listening some more, Arizona recognised that it was the resident that Alex had been sleeping with when she had been an intern, right before he'd left for Baltimore and got back together with Izzie. Arizona had never warmed to her, she'd manipulated Alex and came across as superficial and a little bitchy, even back when Alex had been dating her. Arizona waited for them to go, before she wiped her eyes and finally stepped out in to the corridor.

Alex frowned, as still in his surgical gown and cap, he wandered away from the distraught parents of the boy he'd just operated on. He'd tried to explain to them several different ways that the operation had been a success, but given the boy's prognosis that wasn't a huge comfort to them. Alex, had looked at the distraught helpless look's on their faces and he'd imagined how he would be feeling if it was him in their position, if it was one of his own kids they had been talking about. Being a parent to two children, had opened up a whole new set of anxieties and feelings for Alex, that somehow he felt certain he would never fully be ready to deal with.

He was making his way to the nearest available room to change, ready to meet Izzie to go home and relax for the night with his family. Walking past the surgical board, he stopped and looked over it, thinking how good it felt to see his name back on it again. Just as one of the female residents that had scrubbed in on his surgery came across to join him, standing so close to him that her arm was practically brushing his. Alex felt uncomfortable, he'd slept with her several times, years before when she'd been an intern and things hadn't been pretty when she'd figured out he'd been using her.

"You were incredible, Dr Karev. I'm so glad you're back, I'm sure there's still so much I can learn from you," she said, her eyes locking with his suggestively, as she brushed a strand of her dark hair away from her eyes.

"Thanks," Alex said a little awkwardly, amused that she'd still want to flirt with him, even now, as he turned to walk away.

...

Checking there was no-one around, Arizona marched up to the resident she had just witnessed flirting with Alex. The same resident, that had been bitching about her loudly in the corridor earlier too.

"A friendly warning, before you make even more of a fool out of yourself." Arizona said, smiling sweetly at the girl, as she stood in front of her.

"I don't know what you think you're doing and you might have been one of the many women that Alex screwed back in the days, when he was heartbroken over Izzie. Who, by the way happens to be a good friend of mine…. ...But, they're happily married again now and Alex is crazy about Iz and their two kids. So, no offence, but there's no way he would ever look twice at anyone else now… So, I suggest you find another speciality, if you get what I mean." Arizona added, as she stared at the girls shell shocked, sulky face. And Arizona walked away, instantly feeling better. No-one messed with her in this hospital, regardless of whether she was pregnant, or head of department or not.

"Okay, so, Callie thinks I'm being selfish, wanting a natural delivery." Arizona said to Alex, as changed and ready to make their way home for the evening, they were both stood by the nurses station, waiting for Callie and Izzie.

"What?" Alex replied, as he flicked through some patients charts. He could really do without Arizona whining about her marriage problems to him, like he was one of her girlfriend's, especially if it was about the baby. He just didn't want to get involved, it was awkward.

"You're a doctor and a father. What do you think?" Arizona then said more desperately, as Alex ignored her, causing her to add even more urgently "About the birth, what do you think, Alex?"

"I think, that it's between the two of you." Alex replied, as he snapped the patient chart shut and glanced at his watch.

"What's between the two of you?" Callie suddenly said, as she appeared out of no-where beside them and Alex noticed her instantly giving him a slightly peculiar look, causing him to wrinkle his forehead and look away.

"I was just explaining to Alex, your strong views on childbirth." Arizona said, a little coldly.

"Oh, I'm the one with strong views." Callie replied, raising her voice as she placed her hand passionately across her chest.

"I'm the one that will actually be giving birth to this baby, Callie. So, I still think what I say should go. Right, Alex?" Arizona said, turning her head towards Alex.

Alex, held his hands up then, as he willed Izzie to arrive, he really didn't want to get involved in his friend's domestic. "It doesn't matter what I think." He said shyly.

"No, come on. I'd like to hear what you think, Alex." Callie then said, placing her hands on her hips as she glared at him.

Feeling completely backed in to a corner then, with both women staring at him, Alex decided to have some fun and Callie was so easy to wind up too, as he said. "Okay, you really want to know what I think? I think, it's just as hard for the guy…I mean, birthing partner, having to stand there for hours totally useless and helpless, watching the woman you love in unbearable pain. As you're shouted at and sworn at. While the bones in your hand get slowly crushed beyond repair, as they scream at you how they'll never have sex with you again..." Alex paused then for effect as he smirked arrogantly and looking straight at Callie's unimpressed face, added, "I'm just glad, I've done my time and I don't have to go through all that hell again."

This time Callie was the one to smirk, as she just looked back at Alex smugly as she thought 'that's what you think!'

"What?" Alex said, his eyes narrowing with suspicion as he studied Callie's face, he knew there was something she wasn't telling him.

"Oh, nothing, just that maybe one day, you might learn to think before you start shouting off that smart ass mouth of yours, Karev…. Come on, Zona, we can discuss this later, we really need to pick up Sofia now." Callie said, desperate to get away, before she actually laughed out loud at Alex.

"What was all that about, with Alex?" Arizona said, as she stepped out of the hospital entrance with Callie.

"Oh, I guess you'll find out soon enough anyway. Izzie's pregnant again. I saw her earlier." Callie said, grinning mischievously. She wasn't quite sure why she was so happy about this recent turn of events, but she was. Perhaps, because it meant Arizona wouldn't be able to look for excuses to involve Alex so much with their baby, if Alex had another one of his own on the way.

"She's w..what? Pregnant? How did that happen?" Arizona stammered, as she instinctively clutched her own pregnant stomach.

Callie raised her perfectly sculpted eyebrows, as she replied with an edge of sarcasm. "Well, let's just say I don't think he snooched in to a cup, to make this one.."

Arizona hit her wife playfully on the arm then, as she said "I know that, I just didn't think they were even trying. I mean, they're moving across the country, Alex has a new job and they already have two little ones." Arizona felt a little taken aback, she was happy for them of course, but, it had come as one hell of a shock. Alex was now going to be a Dad again. Because her un-born baby, didn't count, he would never be her Dad.

"Does Alex know?" Arizona then said shakily.

Callie smirked "Huh, you really think he would have been shouting his mouth off like that earlier, if he'd known?"

"Well, shouldn't Izzie have told him first?" Arizona said, realizing then how guilty she then felt for not telling Callie first, that she was pregnant.

"I guess." Was all Callie said in response.

They were silent then for a few seconds, before Callie changed the subject and said. "You get, that joking aside, Alex was right earlier, you were being unreasonable, being the birthing partner is every bit as scary as actually being the one giving birth and I do have a say about the safety of our baby."

"Maybe…..But, I'm not backing down, Callie. This baby will be born completely naturally." Arizona replied stubbornly.

"Okay, we can do things your way. On one condition? That if there is any sign of any complications. We do things my way." Callie replied, as she stopped and kissed her wife. Suddenly feeling for the first time truly happy and excited that they were soon going to be having another baby.

Izzie spied her husband laughing with a young boy in a wheel chair as she approached the ped's ward and she felt warm inside. Alex, had such a gift when it came to connecting with kids and she had no doubt that he would be just as great a Dad to their next baby, as he was with their older two children.

Alex looked up to see Izzie walking towards him and he said something to the boy in front of him as he turned to walk away and greet his wife, kissing her on the cheek as she approached him.

"Good first day back?" Izzie said.

"Yep, straight back in to it," Alex replied.

"Well, I have two bits of good news." Izzie said with nervous excitement, as Alex just looked at her expectantly.

"Firstly, I think I've found us a great house. It's near the hospital, has a great yard, double range cooker and a real fireplace…" Izzie gushed, as she paused and went on to say slowly….."And, it has four bedrooms, which we're going to need, because, Alex, I'm pregnant again….."

"You're what?" Alex replied, his jaw dropping.

"I saw Addison earlier, I'm pregnant. We're going to have another baby, Alex." Izzie replied.

"That's so great, Iz." Alex said, grinning, as he drew her towards him and hugged her tightly.

….

A/N - Thanks for reading and reviewing!