Chapter 16

At the end of the week Izzie gets her wish. She's ditched the crutches and only has the cane with her to put Alex's mind at ease. She's off all of her medications and her cast has been exchanged with a walking cast until her leg finishes healing. Bailey has agreed to let her do rounds, but only gives her one patient until she gets a little stronger. The day goes by so quickly. Izzie feels as if a huge weight has been lifted off her shoulders. She's sitting on a stretcher in the hall filling in a patient's file when Alex comes to find her to tell her it's time to go home. Izzie looks up at the clock and shakes her head to clear it.

"Already? I feel like I just got here."

"Sorry babe, we've been here all day. I for on am exhausted and since I've gotten used to sleeping with you at my side I 'm going to be forceful and take you home. And if forceful doesn't work then I will beg, because I have no shame when it comes to you and will do anything to have you." Izzie laughs as she cautiously gets off the stretcher and heads over to the locker-room to gather up her stuff.

When she and Alex get back to his apartment he sends her to the shower to wash off and get changed into comfortable clothes. While Izzie's in the bathroom, Alex rushes around the kitchen trying to gather up everything he needs. When Izzie returns from the bathroom she walks into the kitchen to find Alex boiling pasta and stirring spaghetti sauce.

"Am I in the right apartment?" She asks coming up behind him wrapping her arms around his waist.

"Yes, you're in the right place. Now sit down and get comfortable because dinner will be in ten minutes." Izzie smiles and sits down at the romantically set table. Her smile widens as she takes in the rose petals strewn on the table, the lit candles and the wine glasses. Ten minutes later Alex has joined her at the table and they hold hands as Izzie takes her first bite of his homemade spaghetti sauce.

"Alex this is fantastic! Where did you get the recipe?"

"My mom. She used to make this on the holidays and I remember always being happy when we got to eat it. It seemed appropriate considering when I'm with you I'm happier then I've ever imagined I could be."

"I love you." Izzie says leaning forward to kiss him.

"I love you." He returns.

Later that night Alex and Izzie are sitting together on the couch watching some TV. Alex shuts the television off and looks at Izzie. His kisses her hand before sliding off the couch and kneeling down in front of her.

"When the accident happened I was so afraid I'd never be able to tell you I love you. Now I get to tell you every day. I want to be with you forever. When I asked you this last time you refused because you didn't see yourself as a whole person. But you are a whole person. You are stronger and more whole then any person I have ever known. I love you Izzie and I want to be with you forever. I want to marry you. But that's not what I am asking tonight. Tonight I am asking for a promise. You did everything you could to get yourself out of debt. You are ready to start your life. When I marry you I want us to be able to start a life together with no bills holding us down. But until then I want to make you a promise. I promise that I love you more than life itself. I promise that I will work so hard to make you proud of me. I promise to be yours forever and once I am able to come to a marriage with no debt, just like you, then I will ask for your promise to be mine in marriage. For now will you accept this ring as the promise of my love and plans for our future?"

He pulls the little black box from his pocket, opens it, and takes out the ring. Izzie has tears streaming down her face as she nods.

"Yes." She whispers as Alex slips the ring on her finger. He picks her up off the couch and spins her while kissing her deeply. He slides her down his body as they continue to kiss. He pulls back slightly and gives her an evil grin.

"You are so into me."

"Damn right." She pulls him back to her and kisses him deeply. Alex picks her up and carries her to the bedroom.

Epilogue:

Alex and Izzie enter the surgical floor with smiles on their faces.

"What are you two so happy about?" Christina asks when she sees them.

"Just happy." Izzie replies.

"Well stop it. It's giving me a headache. I hate happy people." Izzie laughs as she and Alex pass Christina on their way to the locker-room. Meredith and George are already in the locker-room getting ready for the day. Meredith smiles at them and then her smile grows as she looks at Izzie's left hand. She doesn't say anything but watches the couple with a knowing, happy smile.

"Why are you smiling like that?" George asks noting Alex's smug look. "Nevermind I don't want to know. It's probably best for me in the long run anyway." Bailey enters the room with Christina right behind her and starts to hand out the assignments for the day.

"Steven's you're back on full time now." Izzie's smiles at Bailey thankfully. She moves her hand to push her hair out of her face as she skims through the files.

"What's that?" George asks catching sight of the ring on her finger. Izzie drops her hand and looks at it and smiles.

"O'Malley you can congratulate Stevens later!" She goes over what she wants the interns to do today before releasing them. After she's finished she looks over at Izzie.

"Just don't procreate. Or check to make sure your genes are dominant. The last thing that is needed is something with his genes running around." She says pointing at Alex who has their back to them.

"It is way too early to even be thinking about that." Izzie mumbles backing away from Bailey.

Bailey just gives her a knowing look as she exits the locker-room. Meredith offers Izzie a soft 'congratulations' before following Bailey out of the room. Christina stops in front of Izzie and shakes her head.

"Don't think I'm going to congratulate you. Dating him was one thing. It's all about the sex I could get that, but this, this is permanent. Don't think I'm going to be nice to him now. Just because I'm your friend doesn't mean I'm going to be his."

"Never expected that."

"Good, cause I won't you know. Be nice to him that is. It would be as if hell froze over. Maybe it has." She smiles slightly at Izzie. "Oh damn. It makes you happy so congratulations. But that's all you're getting out of me." Christina walks out of the locker-room.

George comes up behind Izzie as Alex comes to stand next to her. George grabs Izzie's left hand and pulls it towards him studying the ring.

"Is that? You're not, it's too soon."

"We're not what O'Malley?" Alex cuts in.

"You just started dating it's too soon."

"We're not engaged O'Malley. Don't get your panties in a twist."

"Well then what is it?"

Izzie smiles at Alex and George before looking at the ring. She twists her hands so the light catches the diamonds before returning her gaze to George.

"Just a promise."

The End

Final Note: Well this is the end for this fic. I'm sorry to see it end. It's been a long ride. This fic actually started out as two, the first fiction about the bet being a cover for Alex failing his test, and some kind of car accident that injures Izzie. But instead I combined them and made one long fic which I hope you guys have enjoyed.

I want to thank all of my consistent reviewer's, you guys know who you are. I would list you, but I don't want to forget anyone. But thank you, your words of praise and guidance have meant so much to me and have helped me return to the world of fan fiction. If Alex and Izzie keep it up, it'll give me more ideas to write.

So thanks again for reading the fic. I hope you guys enjoyed it.