Sorry for the slow updates, but I promise I won't leave any of these stories hanging..

Hours later when she's hanging over the toilet, emptying the late dinner that Izzie had made from her stomach, she's surprised to feel hands pull her hair out of the way before a wash cloth appears in her line of vision.

"Iz, I don-" But that is definitely not the blond's hands and there's no way that deep chuckle belongs to her either.

"Not Iz," he clarifies before taking the hair tie from her wrist and pulling her hair up into a loose ponytail.

"Definitely not," she murmurs before hanging over the toilet again, emptying what little was left in her.

"You're pregnant," he states after it's quiet a moment and she starts to wipe her mouth with the cloth. She's not sure that he realizes but his thumb is moving in soft circles just behind her ear, easing the headache beginning there. "Is it..?"

"One hundred percent yours? Yeah. I haven't had sex with Derek in months," she shrugs and folds the cloth in half before covering her eyes with it for a moment. She doesn't want to see his face, doesn't want his reaction etched in her mind forever. After giving him a moment or so to process it, she glances up at him and offers a tight smile. "Don't worry, it doesn't change anything. You don't have to worry about screwing anything up, I don't expect anything from you."

"Damn it, Mer," his eyes draw together as his lips thin and he studies her pale face. "I didn't - when I said that.. Look, you know how I am."

"A complete ass?" She pipes up eagerly, ignoring the dizzy spell that's trying to claim her as she pushes herself up.

"You didn't think I was an ass when you fell into bed with me," he points out with a deliberate smirk, trying not to let memories flood him - he couldn't allow for his mind to get lost in something that was so precious to him, so easily lost if the hands of time could reach it.

"Obviously I was having a lapse in judgment," she deadpans and tries to steady herself against the sink as he flushes the toilet. "Or maybe a midlife crises."

"A lapse in judgment that happened more than twice that night?" He quirks one eyebrow at her, reaching out without thought to grab her elbow when she leans unsteadily towards him. "You need to lay down."

"No, I need to rinse this taste out of my mouth and then I need to lay down." She gives him what she hopes is a threatening look as she pulls her elbow from him and reaches for the mouthwash. "I know how to take care of myself," she murmurs.

"Obviously," he mutters and moves to stand to the side of her, where he can see her in the mirror. "You're keeping it?"

Her eyes flash and she sees red momentarily as she swishes the mouthwash slowly in her mouth, before spitting it out and whirling around to jab her finger in his chest. "Of course, I'm keeping it. Just because you may not want it, doesn't mean I don't. I'm not going to punish this child because we were irresponsible."

"Woman, you are impossible," he sighs and rubs the spot she stabbed as he follows her out of the bathroom, leaving the light on for a guide into her room. "Did I say I didn't want it?"

"You didn't want me," she reasons as she pulls her covers to the side before climbing in, not caring that he's hovering at her side. "Why would you want a child that's part me?"

"That is totally not what I said, Mer, and you know it." He rolls his shoulders as she pulls the covers up close to her chin, his legs unsure as he moves to sit on the bed beside her. "But what I did say, was true. We both have commitment issues and we're a little messed up."

"And obviously I'll screw this kid up," she bites out as she turns on her side away from him, ignoring the hand that comes to rest on her elbow trying to turn her back over.

"You won't screw this kid up," he sighs and turns his body more towards her, scratching behind his ear when she doesn't say anything. "We won't screw this kid up. I may be a complete ass but I'm not going to let you raise our child alone."

"I already told you, I don't want anything from you." She pulls the covers up more, her voice coming out thick.

"Damn it, Mer," he frowns and studies her a moment before taking her by the shoulder and pulling her over towards him. "Why are you crying?"

"I tried being mad first," she huffs out as she jerks the covers back up, trying to block him out. "But my body didn't seem to want to be mad, it wanted to cry."

"Stop crying," Alex murmurs as he brushes the tears from her face with his thumb, eyeing her carefully for a few moments before running his tongue over his teeth. "Look, I'm never the first one to admit that I have problems with being in a committed relationship. Having someone, depending on them, it's never worked out for me before. My family sucks in all kind of wonderful ways that would give Ellis Grey a run for her money. I suck and I get that.. But I want this to work, I do. And that terrifies me."

She's quiet for a few minutes, merely staring up at him with watery eyes as she tries to get the hormones that's swamping her body to chill out. Licking her lips, she swipes at her eyes with the corner of the covers before thumping him on the chest. "You couldn't have said all of that last night? Ass!"

"Ow, abuse," he rubs at the spot with something between a smile and a frown on his lips. "What about that crap 'better late than never'? Don't I get any points at all?"

"Nope," she smirks as his face falls in disbelief before she smiles sweetly. "But if you go get me the jar of olives and some crackers, that will give you some."

"Aye aye, Captain," he says with a roll of his eyes, giving her elbow a quick squeeze before getting up and heading for the door. They could do this. He'd make damn sure of it.