code: @Override
  	public IPAddress getAddress() throws IncompatibleAddressException {
  		if(!addressProvider.isInvalid()) { // Avoid the exception the second time with this check
  			try {
  				return toAddress();
  			} catch(AddressStringException e) { /* note that this exception is cached, it is not lost forever */ }
  		}
  		return null;
  	}
docs: If this represents an ip address, returns that address.  Otherwise, returns null.
  <p>
  This method will return null for invalid formats.  Use {@link #toAddress()} for an equivalent method that throws exceptions for invalid formats.
  <p>
  If you have a prefix address and you wish to get only the host without the prefix, use {@link #getHostAddress()}
  
  @return the address