Hope you're still enjoying the story. Thank you to those who've reviewed!

"Wh - whoa! H- hold up," stammered Alex pushing as far away from Meredith as he could. Her legs followed him, as he pushed farther away. Pushed himself right on the floor.

"Crap!" he yelled landing on his side.

"What are you doing? Come back up here," commanded Meredith peering over the side of the bed, hair falling slightly in her face. She was smiling at him which only made Alex more afraid.

"No freaking way," said Alex from the floor, scooting to where he could make his escape. Right now wedged between the wall and the bed.

Meredith went to the end of the bed and hung her head over again blocking his way.

"Don't be a big baby and get back up here, Alex."

Alex slowly got back on the bed, not sure what was going on, at a total loss for words. He got on at the very edge and pulled the sheet up to his chin. He avoided looking at his friend. The way that hair was hanging loose and messy, he didn't need Mr. Happy getting happy again.

Who's the damn girl, thought Meredith.

"Alex, it's been two years. Two long years of me being sad, of me completely focused on Zola, of me doing nothing for...me." Meredith hadn't planned any of this, hadn't really thought of telling Alex any of this. But being in this hotel room with just him was stirring up emotions Meredith thought were buried, buried forever. Seeing him out of the shower, so vulnerable on this trip, it was awakening something in her she thought was dead.

"Meredith. You know how I feel about you, but this is crazy, freaking crazy." Alex wasn't moving and definitely not looking at her.

"Why? I love you. You love me. Why can't we do something? Please, Alex."

Oh my God, thought Alex. Meredith Grey is begging me for sex. I've gotta get my ass out of here. Now.

"Alex, say something. You're making me feel, feel...like a fool." Meredith was trying to get Alex to look at her, but he kept his eyes on the ceiling, sheet pulled up to his chin, not moving.

"Mer, you're no fool. You're a hot chick. A hot mom," Alex began turning his head slowly to make eye contact with his best friend. "But you've never had any, well, any interest in me like that. Ever. I mean you've done it with a lot of guys, but never wanted to with me."

"I want to now. And it hasn't been that many. And like you're one to judge me. I feel like you're judging me!"

"You even did it with O'Malley. Freaking George! But never one hint that you wanted to with me. What gives? Why now?"

"You know what? Forget it! Forget I said anything! Forget all of this!" Meredith rolled over feeling a wetness on her face trying to will the tears away. He cannot see me crying, please tears, go away.

"Mer, don't cry. Don't freaking cry, please." Alex rolled closer to his friend pulling on her shoulder, trying to turn her to him. She wouldn't budge. He rubbed her shoulder feeling the up and down motion of her crying.

"Meredith, I just don't want you regretting this later. I feel like you're gonna think it was a huge mistake and then think I'm a huge damn mistake." Alex could feel her cries lessening. "You and Zo are about all I have. You're the best things in my pathetic, freakin' life. I can't lose you! Not to this."

Meredith rolled over, eyes already red and puffy, nose stuffed. "You're so stupid, Alex. You are the best thing in our lives. Zola and I love you. How could someone my daughter loves so much be a mistake?" Meredith felt a new round of tears forming.

Alex thought that may have been the nicest thing anyone had ever said about him. Ever. He could feel his own eyes filling with a little extra wetness. Damn you, Grey, he thought. He had no idea what to say, so instead of talking he did the next best thing.

Alex grabbed Meredith's face and pulled her in roughly for a kiss. It was classic Karev falling into what he was comfortable with, good at. Meredith responded with a passion Alex wasn't expecting. He pulled away slightly, both looking at each other a little shell shocked. She pulled his face in slowly, while moving hers in just as slow. Their lips barely touched this time, She pulled his mouth firmer to hers, this time kissing him with full force, months of attraction unleashing with one movement.

Meredith knew things were finally coming out, way the hell out in the open. Seeing Alex injured, so broken, had shaken her to the core. She'd been slow to admit anything other than friendship, but in the last few days she wasn't denying her feelings to herself.

And now, she wasn't denying anything to Alex. She pressed her lips into his as if her life depended on it. He found his hands in her hair caressing her neck, moving down her back. The deeper the kisses got, the further his hands ventured down the side of her neck moving quickly now down her back. God, the curve of her back was unreal, Alex thought, letting himself go, all doubts thrown to the side with their clothes.

She was on top of him using her mouth in ways that Alex didn't think Meredith had even heard of. He would've been embarrassed if he weren't in such ecstasy. He felt a release he hadn't experienced since... when? It was the complete satisfaction of intertwining bodies, caring for someone else more than yourself, a feeling of love radiating throughout your body. Yes, since Izzie, he thought. It's been a long time.

Alex flipped over on top of Meredith vowing to make her feel like she hasn't felt in years. She wanted this, asked for this. He was going to make her glad she did.

Meredith was very glad. She lay on her back panting heavily, a thin sheen of sweat covering her body, totally spent.

"Tell me were good," said Alex, worry setting in.

"More than good. Now shut up before you ruin it," commanded Mer not wanting to hear one word.

Alex flashed his crooked smile and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before rolling on his back. Meredith could only laugh.

The pair showered and barely made it to lunch with Amber before hopping on a plane to Seattle. Amber was sad to see her brother go and found a kindred spirit in Meredith.

"You are coming to Seattle for Christmas, Amber. Non negotiable. Alex is buying your ticket."

"Yes! I can't wait to meet Zola!" Amber could only laugh at the thought of Alex trying to wrangle in the little girl who sounded part brat and part diva.

Meredith and Alex didn't talk much on the plane. Alex was afraid of "ruining it" whatever IT was. He opted instead to fall asleep on Mer's shoulder again.

Meredith felt a comfort in having him so close, on her really, feeling the rise and fall of his breath. It was a comfort she hadn't felt in two years; it was a comfort in the warmth she could feel emanating from his body. She pulled him in closer and closed her eyes dreaming of things that didn't involve the hospital or her daughter for once.

Once they landed, reality began to set in. What did this mean? Alex didn't know how to act around his friend all of a sudden. He was helping her with her bags, getting doors for her on the way out, acting awkward and goofy in ways he never had before.

"Alex, just stop. You've never gotten a door for me before, don't start now."

"Uh, sorry, Mer. I don't know what to do with you, I mean how to act with you. We need to talk. I'm acting like a freakin' sixth grader," he said exasperated.

"We'll talk. Everything's fine, more than fine. We'll work it out, Alex," Meredith reassured locking her arm in his. She looked at the fear in his eyes and felt certain that nothing had been a mistake. The vulnerable look in his eyes made her more sure that she would never regret what happened.

On the way to the house, they picked up Zola, and she was non-stop talking, telling about all the fun her and Aunt Bay-wee had. Apparently, they watched Yo Gabba Gabba so many times that she could recite the entire episode and was doing so right now...over and over. Of course, Alex thought this showed how brilliant she was, that she could restate all of it from memory. Meredith just rolled her eyes laughing as the two started singing, "Keep your hands to yourself!" She also wished it would sink in and her daughter would actually do that and not get so many visits to the "thinking chair" in her daycare class.

Alex was anxiously waiting for Zo to wind down and go to bed, so he could talk to his best friend, uh, more than friend, whatever they were now. The little girl was not going down anytime soon, so happy to have her mom and uncle back home.

Finally she passed out in the living room. She was running around one minute, reached for her sippy cup of milk, took two sips, laid down on the rug, lifted her head twice, and then was out. Alex carried her to her little toddler bed tucking her in and kissing her on the forehead. Meredith watched from the doorway, feeling a tug at her heart, going in to kiss Zo once Alex came out.

Alex caught her in the hallway bringing her in for a kiss. He'd been wanting to do that all day before he finally gave in to the urge. He felt like he needed one more kiss before they had their talk and Meredith told him they'd made a huge mistake, it couldn't happen again, it was over...before it even started. So yes, stealing a kiss may have been wrong, but he didn't care.

Meredith held Alex's hand and led him to the kitchen table. Alex took a deep breath, here it comes.

"What are you thinking?" Mer asked the nervous doctor sitting before her.

"What do you want me to be thinkin'?" Alex asked nervously.

Meredith laughed loudly. "Okay, I'll start. I don't regret one thing. Not one damn thing."

Alex exhaled finally. How long have I been holding that in, he thought.

"I loved Derek. Love Derek," she continued. Alex held his breath again, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. "But I love you too."

No kidding, he thought. Like a brother. Whatever.

"I love the way you love Zola. I love the way you will do anything for your tiny-human patients. I love the way you rush off to Iowa to help your family. I love the way you will do anything for those you love."

Oh crap. Definitely sounded like someone in the friend zone, he thought. Here comes the part about us being better as friends.

"But I also love the way you look with just a towel. I love the way you look up at me when you're kissing my neck. I love the way you touch every part of my body. I love you, all of you, Alex."

Alex released his breath again, crooked grin spreading across his face. He got up and knelt by Meredith, his face so close to hers. He buried his head in her chest feeling tears forming but not able to stop them. She rubbed his back only making him lose it a little more.

"Why do I turn into a freakin' girl around you, Grey?" he asked finally able to speak. "Love you, Mer," he said softly.

She stood up and led him to her bedroom. It wasn't much of a talk, but it would do for now. Enough talk for the night.

The next day, both were expected at the hospital and the dreamy fog they were both in full of happy smiles and rainbows was lifted. As soon as Alex walked in, he was met by Jo.

Crap. Jo. I am officially the douche. Peckwell hits girls, but I do something as bad. I cheat on them, thought Alex. He knew he had to be straight with her, but it was going to be rough. That damn happy look on her face, the expectant way she wrapped her arms around him. That beautiful face he'd imagined would be in his life for a long time. Forever? He'd wished for something with the intern for so long and now finally had it.

The only thing that made him think he could let her go, that he was capable of that, was the nagging thought of how he didn't even think of Jo when he was in the hotel room with Meredith. He knew that increased his douche status, but he had to be honest with himself. He'd told Mer that she and Zola were the best things in his life. Not Jo. He didn't remember feeling that way, feeling such intense, whatever it was, since...Izzie, not Jo.

"How did it go? Your brother?" asked Jo knowing something was terribly wrong. It was written all over Alex's face. That I just ate a lemon and it's caused severe stomach cramps look he was trying to hide with a fake grin.

"Jo, we've gotta talk. Tonight. When do you get off?" he asked pulling himself free of her grip. She noticed the way he unattached himself from her arms and knew immediately this had something to do with her, not his bat shit crazy family.

"Seven thirty. What is it, Alex? What's going on?" she asked not wanting to wait until tonight. Not thinking she could wait till then.

"Uh, not here. When you get off, we'll talk, okay?" he was officially stammering and his arms were crossed. He never did that.

"No, I don't think I can wait until then. You're scaring me. What is it?" she put her hand on her hip defensively.

"I think we should slow things down, Jo. The tree, Jason, all of it was so fast," Alex muttered looking down, not able to make eye contact. The guilt coming from deep within was making him lose his nerve. He couldn't do this to her. He'd promised to be there for her, take care of her. Crap.

"What the hell happened in Iowa? You and I were becoming an actual couple, and now you're saying we moved too fast? I don't believe this!" Jo felt the tears streaming down her face burning like acid. She didn't want those tears. She wanted them less than she wanted the peds surgeon standing in front of her.

"I'm so sorry Jo. You are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. Any man would kill to..." Alex's words were cut short by the hard slap of Jo's hand meeting his face. Twice.

What do you think? Is this the end of Jo and Alex? Please leave a review before you leave, so much fun to read.