What's in a Name

Maggie was in the ambulance bay waiting for a patient to come in. Jo walked outside putting on gloves staring at the monogram on Maggie's lab coat. She said, "So, you elected to hyphenate your name. What made you decide to hyphenate instead of just taking his name."

Maggie looked at Jo and shrugged saying, "I don't know. I just felt like I wanted to still pay homage to where I came from. I am a Pierce, but I also wanted to pay homage to the man I married. I am an Avery."

Jo asked, "Can I still call you Pierce, or will Avery suffice?"

"Pierce-Avery is my name Jo. That's what I prefer." Maggie said as she walked towards the ambulance as the doors opened.

Maggie and Jo worked on their patient who had a penetrating chest wound that would need surgery to repair. Jo had taking the patient to be prepped for surgery. Maggie was walking down the hall reading notes on another patient's chart.

"Dr. Avery!" A voice called.

Maggie looked around expecting to catch a glimpse of her husband. She saw Carina coming towards her. Carina asked, "Dr. Avery, didn't you hear me calling you?"

Maggie gave Carina a smile. She said, "There is only one Dr. Avery in this hospital, and that's my husband. I'm Dr. Pierce-Avery."

"Umm, ok. I just wanted to ask you if you've been feeling less sick. I noticed you looked a little thin when you came back from your honeymoon." Carina said.

Maggie answered, "I am still getting very sick, but I've been taking Promethazine and it somewhat helps. Catherine wrote me a small script to get through the wedding. I took my last pill right before we returned. I have been meaning to schedule an appointment with you so that you can write me another."

"I'm free right now to do a quick exam if you have time." Carina said looking at her watch.

Maggie replied, "I have surgery in about thirty minutes."

Carina said, "I can get you in and out in 20."

Maggie sent Jackson a text telling him that Carina was going to give her a quick exam and write her a quick script.

Once Carina had Maggie's legs up in the stirrups she asked, "So you prefer to be called by Pierce Avery."

Maggie nodded. She said, "Yes, I don't ever want to lose sight that I'm Pierce."

Carina asked, "What will you call your baby?"

Before Carina could get the question out fully the door opened and a familiar voice said, "Knock Knock. Ladies can I join you?"

Maggie turned her head locking eyes with Jackson. She extended her hand towards him. He walked over taking her hand and placing a kiss on the palm.

Carina said, "Hi, Dr. Avery. I was just asking Dr. Pierce Avery what you were going to call your baby. You're Avery and she's Pierce Avery. What is your bambino?"

Jackson said, "Harriet is actually Kepner-Avery."

Carina said, "So, this baby will be Pierce-Avery?"

Jackson said, "Yes."

Maggie simultaneously said, "No."

Jackson squinted his eyes at his wife. He asked, "What last name is our baby going to have, Maggie?"

Maggie said, "I want our baby to be an Avery. Pierce is a name that is important to me. I want our baby to have your name. I want him or her to be just as proud of being an Avery as I am of being a Pierce."

Jackson looked down into his wife's face. He had tears swimming in his eyes. In this moment Jackson felt extremely loved and cared for. He knew that Maggie loved him. He wouldn't have married her if he had doubts about that. However, Maggie's declaration showed just how much she loved, respected and cherished him as an Avery man.

He thought that her taking his name was something, but her reasoning behind wanting to name their baby Avery made him realize just how much Maggie really loved him.

He heard her ask, "Jackson, why are you tearing up?"

Jackson leaned over placing a kiss on her lips. He said, "I just love you is all."

The checkup with Carina was routine. They listened to their baby's heartbeat and Maggie found herself getting teary-eyed. It was at this moment that she realized exactly where she was in life. She was married to a man who loved her beyond anything she could comprehend. Not only this she had the immense pleasure of helping him raise his daughter. Harriet was beautiful and very intelligent. Maggie had no doubt that she would follow in her grandmother's footsteps and become a surgeon, maybe even run The Catherine Fox Foundation one day. Also, to add a cherry on top of the sundae Maggie was carrying the child that she and Jackson had created from their love and passion below her heart. All of this was overwhelming for Maggie.
However, after she received her prescription from Carina she had to suck in her emotions and head to the OR. There was work to be done.

Later that night Jackson and Maggie had dinner with Harriet and put her to bed. They were lying in bed. Maggie was in his arms and Jackson held open a copy of The Lansing so that they could both read silently. Out of nowhere Maggie said into the quiet, "You've given me everything that I could have wanted in life and everything that I didn't know I needed."

Jackson lowered the medical journal looking down at her. He said, "What?"

Maggie through the magazine on the floor straddling her husband's lap. Before Jackson knew what was happening Maggie quickly removed the t-shirt she was wearing exposing her bare breasts and tiny yellow boy shorts that looked amazing against her brown skin.

Jackson's eyes widened. He squeezed her thighs asking, "What happening?"

Maggie kissed his lips, then his cheeks, then each side of his neck before answering, "Your wife is showing you appreciation for making all of her dreams come true. Not only are you making the dreams that I had come true. You're making dreams I was too fearful to dream come true. Thank you, babe. Now shhhh so that I can show just how appreciative I am."

Jackson didn't say another word. He allowed Maggie to show him just how much she appreciated him, and he enjoyed each and every moment of her demonstration.