Author's Note: Just to let you all know, I have been trying to think of another story to replace this one when it's over and done with, and yesterday, an excellent (well, I rather like it, but whether or not it is "excellent" will be up to you) idea struck me. However, I'm going to keep it as a surprise – much more fun that way! I may be persuaded to leak small, tantalising details in return for much begging and many compliments – only joking. Although I may feed you spoilers from time to time just to tease you! By the way, an oyster card is a travel card for public transport in London – you can put credit on it, and swipe it when you use the tube, bus etc.

Disclaimer: As before

Just as they emerged from the underground, Alex received a text from Steve which he read surreptitiously while Addison rummaged around in her bag for her oyster card.

Take her straight through to the dining room. And don't worry, I accept all major credit cards.

Seeing the words, he felt a definite sense of trepidation that was not entirely down to first date nerves.

They walked from the station to the hotel – it was only a few minutes and after a day spent in the overly sterile corridors of the hospital it was refreshing to get some actual fresh air into their lungs. They held hands but a comfortable silence had fallen between them, and it made Alex think; they had never needed words. An almost kiss over an incubator, an actual, beautiful kiss at Joe's; they'd said it all. In fact, words had always been what screwed them up; his admittedly, but still. This – when they simply let themselves be – was perfect.

She sounded mildly impressed when he pointed out the hotel to her, but he knew she was used to much more palatial surroundings.

'Well, it's all right,' he said. 'Nothing grand, but it's friendly, I like it. I know I should get a place of my own, but what's not to love about living in a hotel? Invisible people make my bed and cook my dinner and wash my towels. It's actually kind of perfect.'

Addison laughed lightly. 'Oh, you're preaching to the converted, believe me. I spent months living in a hotel in Seattle, I definitely wouldn't knock it.'

He squeezed her hand, knowing that she was speaking flippantly. Those last months, in fact, all those months, in Seattle, had been little better than a living Hell for her. 'Long time ago,' he said simply.

She looked at him gratefully. Although he had been pretty adept in the past at using words to wound her, he also had the most incredible ability at he same time to come out with just the right thing when she really needed to hear it. Seattle was a long time ago, and although it had given them their history, in just three words he'd managed to draw them back into the present, remind her that tonight was about starting over.

They walked up the steps to the hotel entrance and Alex held the door open for her with a charming smile. 'Welcome to my humble abode.'

She smiled back at him. 'Thank you.'

'My pleasure.' He guided her through the door with a hand resting firmly in the small of her back, and revelled in the feeling of being allowed to put it there. He continued to steer her through the reception (he could see Steve, dressed suspiciously smart, lurking behind a small potted tree of some kind and giving him a thumbs up signal) to the dining room.

When he saw what Steve had done though, he stopped dead in his tracks, all irritation gone. It wasn't even ten o'clock, but all the other diners had been cleared out and a single table for two had been laid right by the patio doors out to the terrace. There was a bottle of champagne chilling in a silver bucket on a stand by the table, and there were candles everywhere, on every table in the room, along the windowsills, every available surface. It was stunning.

But Steve had followed his instructions to the letter – no roses (a single gerbera daisy somehow, miraculously, the exact shade of Addison's hair – surely a coincidence? – but no roses) and no violins.

Before he could fully take in the scene, he heard Addison exclaim beside him, 'Alex, oh Alex, this is beautiful. How on earth did you manage to organise all this?'

'I…' he stumbled.

He was saved from having to decide whether or not to own up that it might not have been entirely his handiwork by a voice behind them. 'Good evening Sir, Madam, and welcome to the Thames House Hotel. My name is Steve, and I'll be your waiter for this evening.' He deftly removed Addison's coat from her shoulders and hung it on the peg by the door.

Alex gave him a warning look and he dropped the persona. 'It's okay, don't worry dude, I'm going to make myself scarce. I'm just going to bring your meal out then see you in the bar later.'

Steve extended his hand to Addison, smiling warmly. 'Steve Bennett, very pleased to meet you at last. '

'Addison Montgomery. Likewise,' she replied.

'Now if you two would like to sit down and open the champagne, I'll be back in a minute. Dinner's nothing special I'm afraid, but,' he grinned at them, 'I daresay you won't really notice what you're eating anyway.'

When Steve disappeared into the kitchen, they sat down and Alex started to peel the foil off the top of the champagne bottle, carefully easing out the cork.

'Well, I think I know how you managed to lay on a romantic dinner for two having been at work at day,' Addison said.

He looked repentant. 'Sorry if it makes it less personal. I wanted to take you to some fancy restaurant, but it was too late, and Steve –'

Addison reached across the table and caressed his cheek, rough with a day's worth of stubble. 'I love it. I love this. It couldn't be better if you'd taken me to the poshest, fanciest, most upmarket, expensive restaurant in London. This is perfect. Thank you.'

'Believe me, it's my pleasure.'

They didn't say anything else until after Steve had set two plates of delicate, feather light grilled lemon sole fillets and a dish of steamed spring vegetables, completely belying his statement that the food wasn't going to be anything special. He quickly made a tactful retreat, promising to see them in the bar later.

For the first time, the silence between them had become a little awkward. Alex could think of a thousand things he wanted to say, but he wanted to keep this evening light, fun. Hopefully they would have weeks and months and even years to talk about all the serious things, he didn't want to weigh them down with it all now. But on the other hand, until they were said, he didn't really know how to begin.

'This fish is good,' he said awkwardly.

'It's lovely.' He could see the corners of her mouth turned up slightly in a smirk and he realised what a pathetic effort his words had been. Surely he could come up with something better than that?

'So, umm…'

Addison decided to make things a little easier. She felt the tickling of butterflies in the pit of her stomach, and she had a feeling Alex wasn't much better off. He looked as if the fish, excellent though it was, was getting stuck in his throat.

'This is a date Alex, we're meant to be having fun, not staring at each other across a table.'

His face was absolutely deadpan, but his dark eyes were glinting in the candlelight. 'Addison, staring across a table at you is fun.'

She smiled like a girl. 'Well, when you put it like that…'

He laughed, the tension broken. 'Sorry if I'm a bit… nervous or whatever,' he said, slightly embarrassed. 'I'm trying not to be, but I can't really believe we're finally doing this. Seven years,' he added with a tone of wonderment.

Addison tilted her head a little to the side, looking at Alex pensively. She looked as if she was weighing something up. 'Not that I want to ruin the moment or anything,' she began, 'but I can't help myself, I have to ask, what is "this"? What are we doing here?'

Part of Alex wished she hadn't brought up the realities so soon, that they could have continued in their little London bubble, but he supposed it was as well to get it out of the way. At the moment, it was circling around them, lit up by the dancing flames of the candles as clearly as if it was an actual object.

'Honestly, I'm not sure. I know I love you Addison. To say all those years without you were miserable wouldn't be quite right, but they were empty.'

'Meaning?'

'Meaning,' he shrugged, not sure how to verbalise what he was trying to get across. 'Meaning, no more excuses I guess. Meaning…' He reached across the table and took her hand, playing with her fingers like he had the night by the fountain. 'I want to be with you. I want this to work. I can't promise that I won't screw up, but –' he gave her his most charming smirk – 'I can promise that every time I do, I'm going to make it up to you like you've never been made up to before.'

'How can a girl refuse an offer like that?'

'I'm being serious as well, you know.'

'So am I Alex.' He felt an intangible warmth emanate out from somewhere deep inside his chest at her words, at the glow of happiness in her eyes. 'I love you,' she said seriously.

Then on impulse, he stood up and leaned over the lemon sole, around the gerbera daisy and the candles and champagne flutes, and kissed her.

Startled, Addison laughed into his mouth and kissed him back, running her long fingers through his short hair, pulling him closer. God, he was good at this. His lips seemed to heal the hurt and pain, all the years of uncertainty and loneliness. She realised suddenly that the Addison Montgomery she had been searching for ever since her divorce hadn't been lost as she'd feared, but inside her all along.

She'd just needed Alex to show her.