Author's Note: Ever have one of those days where everything that could go wrong, did go wrong? I just had an entire update delete itself right before my eyes. I have no idea why it disappeared or where it went. I do know that I am rather ticked off at my piece of crap laptop that is less than a year old! It has spent more time in the shop than it has on my desk. Okay, okay. That isn't entirely true. It feels that way though! This is the icing on a great, big, things going wrong cake! I quite literally can do nothing right. It is a feeling that I am a little too acquainted with. I try not to bring up religion out of respect for others but right now I feel so down trodden I am begging prayer. I am exhausted from trying to please others but falling short. I feel like such a failure. I can't even properly save a document. THAT is where my self esteem is at the moment. I don't know if this version of the update is nearly as good as the one that disappeared but I do hope you enjoy it.
Few things to remember: This is an alternate universe story and some of the characters will seem off kilter. I fully admit that Addison is off kilter in this chapter. That was done on purpose. I need her relationship with Izzie to be rocky at first and then grow into something solid. I hope all you Addison lovers can forgive me for that. Does knowing that she will be reunited with Izzie's father help? Does it also help that Izzie's father is…Wait. I can't give that away! It's pretty crucial! I will give you this hint: sheep.
Chapter Five
How To: Control The Fire When Sparks Fly
A mind, numbing exhaustion wrapped itself around Izzie as she struggled to pay attention to the words coming out of her mother's mouth. It was difficult to feign interest where Addison Stevens Forbes Montgomery was concerned. The woman only had one topic: herself. Izzie liked to think it was because Addie had lost out on her childhood by becoming a mother at the tender age of fifteen, but her grandma Robbie assured her Addie had been born selfish. Everything had to revolve around Addison or there was hell to pay. Having experienced that hell first hand several times, Izzie was in no hurry to go there again. Which meant admitting she wasn't in a place where she could attentively listen. "Mama," she whispered, "I know you're really excited about your new car but I'm exhausted."
"I was always tired when I was pregnant with you." The revelation was a startling one. They never spoke about when Addison was pregnant or even who Izzie's father was. Just some boy was all Izzie was ever able to get from her mother or grandmother. Just some boy wasn't good enough. She had a whole other part of herself missing. Who knew, maybe she had siblings out there. Not that she was in a hurry to have any brothers or sisters. Maybe before her little get together with Alex's family, but definitely not after. His mother had been polite, if not kind, and Arizona had been her cheerful self. Even the younger sisters, Meredith and Lexie had been great. The cousin was another story. Cristina Yang had quizzed her up one wall and down another.
"I wish I could tell you it gets easier but as I recall it just gets worse. You'll start perking back up around the time the baby starts moving around. Of course, if this baby is anything like you were they won't move an inch until you lay down to go to sleep. And then they will spend the whole night kicking, stretching, and rolling." The annoyance in Addison's voice was comical. It wasn't hard to imagine fifteen year old Addison trying to get comfortable and growing agitated when she couldn't. The agitation had probably escalated to a toddler worthy fit when she realized she couldn't yell at the person responsible. Or maybe she had yelled. Izzie wouldn't put it pass Addison to yell at an unborn baby for disrupting her sleep. The image brought a giggle to Izzie's lips. "Really, Izzie, I don't see what's so funny! I guarantee you will not be laughing in a couple months."
"You're probably right," Izzie agreed, another giggle forming in her throat as she watched her mother rise from the sofa. Addison muttered some excuse about being late for a date. Figured. There were times when she needed Addison to be a mother. A real mother. Tonight was one of those times. Dinner with Alex's family had been hard. For every inch she gained with his mother and sisters, she lost two with his bitch of a cousin. She didn't know why she cared so much what Cristina Yang thought of her. It wasn't like she had to deal with the woman very often. The woman was a lawyer, that was what bothered her. That was why she cared. Cristina had the capabilities of talking Alex and his family into suing for custody and winning.
"Stop it. Stop thinking like that." The whispered command did nothing to ease Izzie's mind. All she could think about was Cristina quizzing her up on whether or not she had found another job, was she going to continue living with her mother, and were there any men in her life? It had felt like an inquisition. Only Callie, Alex, and Arizona had come to her rescue. Callie by constantly changing the subject, Alex by trying to turn the tables on Cristina by asking invasive questions, and Arizona by point blank telling Cristina to shut up. They shouldn't have had to, Izzie thought miserably. George had sat by and let a barracuda in red Prada heels rip her to shreds. So much for their years of unwavering friendship. So much for all the times she had stood up for him.
The peel of the doorbell cut through her gloomy thoughts. With a wistful sigh, she rose to her feet, wondering if she could get by with ignoring whoever was at the door. A quick peek through the eye-hole revealed a rather frustrated looking Alex. Wrinkling her brow, Izzie quickly opened the door. "What are you doing here?" The question came out snippier than intended but she didn't bother apologizing for her sour mood. She had every right to know what he was doing on her mother's door step at ten o'clock at night. In gym clothes no less.
"Cristina's a bitch. I should have told her to shut up way before Meredith did." The off handed apology did nothing to sooth the hurt that stung Izzie's heart. Nothing Alex said could fix that pain. He hadn't been the one to inflict it. George and his silence had. It was rather nice of him to make the effort, a small voice in the back of her mind scolded. It had been nice of him. It showed what sort of man he was.
"It's fine. She's just looking out for you." The words tasted bitter on her tongue. Truth was never an easy pill to swallow and much as it pained her, Cristina's questions hadn't been a personal attack.
"Maybe. Maybe not. Never know with her." There was a hardness in Alex's tone that suggested at things not being what they seemed where his dear cousin was concerned. "Think I could come in for a minute?"
Izzie hesitated for a moment before stepping back to let Alex inside. Another giggle formed in her throat as she recalled the last time she had let a boy inside her mother's house. She had been seventeen and the boy had been Denny Duquette, her date to the senior prom. Back then she had thought he hung the moon. They'd danced the night away and then made love for the first time in the back of his father's BMW. The next week he had dumped her for some silly twit named Rose. It had hurt like hell but opened her eyes to what a fairytale love really was. Like Cinderella and Prince Charming, love didn't exist. Alex wasn't there to talk about love though. Any conversation they had would concern their child. That was all any of their conversations consisted of.
"Every year the hospital I work for has this fundraiser. Usually I try to be out of town or volunteer to work the E.R. that night but this year they want me to speak. I'm not real keen on going alone so I was wondering if you might help a guy out and go with me." A lopsided grin tipped the corners of his full lips and brought a pair of dimples out of hiding.
The Springdale Community Hospital Fundraiser was one of the biggest social events of the year. Izzie had never been but Addison always seemed to find some man in need of arm candy for the night. It was all designer gowns and tuxedoes. Designer gowns…Izzie's heart sunk. Any thought she had of saying yes crashed and burned. She owned a total of two evening gowns, both form fitting affairs that were now at least one size too small. "I'm not sure…"
"She'd be happy to!" Addison seemed to reappear from no where. She hooked one arm through Izzie's and held out her other hand to Alex. The introductions were awkward as Alex mentally did the math on their age differences. An uneasy feeling twisted in the pit of Izzie's stomach. Her mother was only seven years older than Alex. In all reality he probably had more in common with Addison than with her. Do not go there, Izzie silently ordered. Do not mentally pair Alex up with your mother. She inhaled deeply, then exhaled, the uneasiness exiting with the whoosh of air. There was no point in imagining things that would never be. Addison was a lot of things but one thing Izzie was sure of: Addison would help her before hurting her.
"I can't go to that fundraiser," hissed Izzie the moment they closed the door behind Alex. "In case you've forgotten I'm pregnant. Nothing fits. And I don't have the money to buy something either."
"Minor details," Addison scoffed. She drew Izzie closer to her side. "Let me worry about the dress, okay?" A moment of disbelief silenced Izzie. This was a side of Addison she had never seen. It took a moment for her to realize her mother was serious. With a lump of emotion in her throat, Izzie nodded. "I have to say, he is one hot piece of ass. Bet he's a lot of fun in the sack. With any luck you'll find out first hand."