Here it is folks, the final chapter. This is one of my favorites that I've written, especially the first and last parts. Thank yawl so much for the wonderful feed back.
"Jo really kicked ass today."
Meredith and Alex were in the locker room getting ready to go on their respective dates for the evening.
"Yeah she did," Alex smiled. "You can deny it all you want but even you have to agree she's more like you when we were interns then you care to admit."
"I never denied it, it's actually kind of flattering." Meredith conceded. "But if you ever tell her I said that they will be able to fit what's left of you in a scrub cap."
Alex chuckled. "Did the board make a decision on the Collins kid?"
Meredith nodded. After Robby's arrhythmia was corrected, Mer had somehow managed to get all the board members into the same room for just long enough for Jo to make an impassioned speech on the boys behalf. "It was unanimous, part of the Daniels donation will be used to cover his hospital expenses."
"Great, at least she managed to do something for her kid, even if it was through her husband."
She nodded the turned to Alex. "Jo can be pretty damn convincing. At one point she got so worked up that she actually started crying. It's hard to say no to a woman's tears."
Alex smiled, remembering his girlfriends hidden talent for crying on cue. He then looked around to make sure the two of them were alone in the room before moving in close to Meredith. "Can I show you something?"
"Depends, is it dirty?"
"I'm serious Mer, the only reason I'm showing you this is because you are practically my sister and if I don't show this to someone I'll explode."
Alex slowly reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a little blue box with the word 'Tiffany's' embossed across the top. Mer's eyes lit up as she gave a little gasp. "Is that what I think it is?" Alex only nodded. "Oh Alex!" She gushed.
He laughed, what was it about chicks and rings? He looked at her. "Am I crazy for doing this?"
"Well that depends, do you love her? I don't mean 'screwing like kinky bunnies in a closet' love her. I mean a no holds barred, standing in front of a bullet, clutching her hand as she's lying under a plane, holding a freaking bomb love her. Because I swear to god Alex, if you go through this again only to screw it up..." She trailed off.
Alex gave her his trademark smirk. "That sounds vaguely reminiscent of something I heard Addison said to you a lifetime ago." This earned him a shove from Meredith.
"I'm serious, I will kick your ass."
He looked down at the box, slowly tracing the letters with his thumb. Finally he looked back at Meredith.
"I love her as much as Mark loved Lexie." It was the most serious and most honest thing he could come up with.
"Good. I like this one, she's good for you."
The moment was interrupted by the opening of the door. Alex scrambled to shove the ring back in his pocket.
"What's going on in here?" Christina asked, eyeing Evil Spawn and her person.
"Nothing." They both stammered unconvincingly.
Christina paused for a moment. "Did he show you the ring he bought for Hobo Jo?"
Alex was stunned. "How the hell do you know about that?" He practically screamed.
"Calm down Evil Spawn, I live in your house remember? I found the receipt in the trash like, three weeks ago. Just be glad it was me who found it and not Hairball or one of the other interns."
Alex groaned. "Just don't say anything to anyone else about it."
"Don't say anything about what?" Jackson asked as he entered the room.
"Alex is proposing to Jo."
"Christina!" Meredith and Alex yelled.
"What? It's just Pretty Boy."
"Gee thanks Yang. Are you seriously proposing dude? That's great!"
"Give you any ideas about a certain someone Avery?" Christina poked as Jackson shot her a dirty look. It was no secret around the hospital that April had broken off her engagement for him but they had decided to try to take it slow, something that was obviously killing the both of them.
"You're a real bitch, you know that?"
Jackson spat.
"You love me." Christina grinned.
"Yeah yeah it's great. Now would you all just please not say anything. I'd like for her to hear it from me first and not from gossiping nurses."
After swearing all three of them to secrecy, Alex took a deep breath. One way or another tonight would change his life, and he desperately hoped it would be for the best.
Even though it was a week night, the little restaurant was packed to bursting with people spilling out the door and onto the sidewalk. As Derek pressed though the throng of people, looking for the hostess stand, Meredith hung back by the door, taking in her surroundings. 'Niro's Fiddle' had only been open a few weeks but already it had gained a reputation as THE new restaurant in Seattle, especially for date night. The reputation seemed to be well eared as Meredith saw at least a dozen couples scattered around, but it was the couple at the corner booth that got her attention. She briefly wondered how Alex had managed to get reservations to this place before she realized that she and Derek really shouldn't be there. They should be close by, just not there. Spotting Derek, she gently laid a hand on his shoulder.
"You know, I don't really feel like Italian tonight." She told him
"You sure? You've been talking about trying this place ever since it opened."
"I know, but I just don't think we should try it tonight."
Derek shrugged, he knew better than to argue with her. "Where too then?"
*Derek and I are at the sushi bar two doors down, lemme know how it goes
Alex smiled as he read Meredith's text.
"Everything alright?" Jo asked as he slid the phone back into his pocket.
"Yeah, Mer was just sending me an update on the Collins kid."
"How's he doing?"
"He's good." Alex smirked. "You know you can't actually leak Mrs Daniels story to the newspapers right?"
"Yeah, but she doesn't need to know that." She giggled, causing Alex's heart to beat a little faster. God she looked beautiful tonight. "I still can't believe you slapped the wife of one of the wealthiest men in Seattle
Jo groaned. "I can not believe that I did that! I thought I'd moved past doing things like that."
"Whatever, she deserved it." Alex grinned as he leaned in close to her. "And it was also kinda hot."
He laughed as she blushed and scooted close to her, silently thanking the waitress for giving them a corner booth. He kissed her. "I love you."
"I love you too Alex." She smiled as he put his arm around her. It felt good to be with someone who loved her so completely, so thoroughly, and whom she loved just as much in return.
He kissed her lips. "I'd be lying if I said I haven't felt like this before, but the main difference between then and now is that before it always seemed forced. Like fitting a square peg into a round hole."
Jo looked at him, where was he going with this?
"I loved Izzie, but I've never known if she loved me. The more I think of it, the more I doubt it. I told myself after she left that from then on, it was just going to be sex. But then I met you." He swallowed. "I don't know if it was because we started out as friends or what, but you changed me. You broke down all the walls and all the barriers and you made me fall head over heals in love with you." He reached into his pocket and pulled out the little blue box. When Jo saw it, her heart stopped. "I'm not gonna get down on one knee, but I want to spent the rest of my life with you. Jo Wilson, marry me?"
Her eyes lit up, her hand flew to her mouth, she couldn't speak. She tried to form words but nothing came out. She nodded.
"Yes?" He asked nervously.
Jo gulped and managed to find her voice. "Yes, oh my god Alex yes!" Tears were streaming down her face.
"Yes?" Alex broke out into a smile.
Jo laughed "Get over here and put that damn ring on my finger!"
Jo leaned up against Alex, passing him the bowl of popcorn. After he popped the question, nether of them wanted to stay very long so they quickly called for the check. They had hardly gotten in the door before they proceeded to rip each other's clothes off and had spent the last hour and a half making all kinds of hot and dirty love. Now they were winding down by watching a movie, Jo's choice.
"You think we should change those sheets?" He smirked. Jo laughed.
"You better or I'm never sleeping in that bed again."
Alex kissed her head. "Remind me again why you're making me watch '27 Dresses'?"
"Because you love me, and Katherine Heigl's in it so there's some eye candy for you."
Alex laughed. "You're all the eye candy I need." He said as he kissed her and pulled her close. "Looks like you got your 'pigging out on the couch in your PJ's' after all.
"I guess I did." She replied as she snuggled up against him, her head resting on his chest.
He kissed her lips, feeling her soft and supple lips brush up against his. "I love you, fiancée."
"I love you too, fiancée." She smiled, god that felt good to say.
They were about half way through the movie when Christina and Meredith came in.
"Hey, what are we watching?" Meredith said from the door.
"27 Dresses." Jo said, shooting Alex a confused glance but he was just as lost as she was. What the hell were the twisted sisters doing here?
"Ugh, if we're watching Katherine Heigl prance around on-screen I'm gonna need booze." Christina remarked as she headed of towards the kitchen. She returned a short while later, tequila bottle in hand and plopped down next to Jo. "Move over hairball."
"What the hell, what are you both doing here?" Alex asked, sounding annoyed.
"I live here." Was Christina's smart aleck reply.
"Remind me to change that later." He said under his breath as he looked at Mer for an explanation.
"You didn't text me to tell me how it went. I tried looking for you at the restaurant but the hostess said you left. How'd it go?"
"There's a ring on her finger!" Christina announced, holding up Jo's hand for Mer to see. Meredith beamed as she made her way over to the couch.
"Ooh, popcorn!" Meredith said, taking a handful as she maneuvered her way into a space between Jo and Christina.
"Sure, help yourself." Alex said, exasperated. "Aren't you supposed to be babysitting Yang?"
"Derek's with them. As soon as they got home she grabbed me and we came right over."
"Gee thanks." Alex rolled his eyes.
Christina took a swig from the tequila bottle. "You know they do it in the kitchen? I found her panties next to the tequila. Same hiding spot." Meredith laughed.
"We do not!" Jo shrieked.
"Oh god the memories," Meredith tried to catch her breath. "Except it was Derrick and I on the counter instead of these two."
"You mean you had sex in the same place where we..." Jo let that thought sink in for a moment. "Oh yuck! Seriously?"
"I think Owen and I did it on the table once or twice." Christina volunteered.
"And the floor." Meredith giggled.
"Up against the wall."
"Twice!"
"Oh my god Alex we are burning the kitchen!" Jo screamed.
As the night wore on and the movie neared its conclusion, the tequila bottle was making its way back and forth along the couch. The only one not drinking was Mer, due to the fact she was still breast-feeding, but that didn't stop her from looking longingly at the bottle each time it passed by. As the credits rolled, the clock chimed 11:30.
"That...that was a great movie." Christina slurred as the bottle was passed back to her.
"You're drunk." Meredith made a half-hearted attempt to take the bottle.
Christina grinned. "Damn straight. I'm getting drunk for the both of us."
Meredith shook her head. "Come on, you're staying with me tonight." She winked at Alex before removing the tequila bottle from Christina's hands and maneuvering her out the door. "Hey Alex," she stopped and looked back at him. "Congratulations, I'm really proud of you."
Alex smiled and looked down at Jo's head softly resting against his chest, her fingers toying with the ring, and her face the picture of pure contentment. "Me too."
The End