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Disclaimer in Chapter 1


Chapter two:

"It's Always Been You"


Jackson was reluctant to leave April to deal with the mess that he had created, but he understood why it was for the best. He scratched his head with a smile as he walked towards his car, glad to have escaped without anybody noticing him. Well, almost anybody.

"Hey pretty boy, that was a bold move…It's nice to see that you do have balls after all," Cristina smirked, her words dripping with amusement as she leaned against his car, Meredith and Alex grinning at her side.

"Glad you enjoyed the show, Yang" Jackson responded, walking up to the drivers' side door. Alex was blocking the handle, preventing Jackson from making a speedy escape like he'd planned.

"Aren't you forgetting something?" Alex asked, looking conspicuously at the barn behind him.

"Uh, no?" Jackson said. "I've got to head out before anybody decides to kill me."

"And here I was thinking that you had balls," Cristina lamented, earning a nudge from Meredith.

"We mean April," Meredith clarified with a sympathetic smile.

"She decided to stay back," Jackson explained, grimacing as Meredith's eyebrows shot up. "I wanted to handle it, but she said that I've done enough for today-"

"Understatement of the year," chuckled Alex.

"The point is, it's best for everybody if I leave. So, if you would allow me to get into my car…" Jackson trailed off.

"So what does this mean? I mean, are you and April back on, or what?" Meredith asked.

"Well, she didn't choose him." Jackson couldn't keep the pride out of his voice. Despite Mark Sloan's questionable moral compass and tendency to sexually harass his residents, he had some good advice in him after all.

"Look at you, all bright and happy," Cristina smiled. Jackson grinned back- she was right. For the first time in forever, Jackson was truly happy.

"Jackson?"

Stephanie's voice seemed to ring through the air. All four surgeons quickly turned around, greeted by the sight of a sniffling Stephanie and a supportive Jo.

"Can we talk?"

"Well, um, we're just going to head out…" Meredith said awkwardly, pulling Cristina's arm. "You know, to help April."

"What? I want to see this," Cristina protested, craning her head as Meredith dragged her towards the barn.

Alex nodded at Jackson, patting him on the back reassuringly as he walked over to Jo, taking her hand and following Mer and Cristina back to the barn.

"Stephanie, I'm-" Jackson's apology was interrupted by Stephanie's palm coming into contact with his cheek as she slapped him. He rubbed his jaw tenderly. "Ok, so I probably deserved that," he conceded. Jackson hopped back when Stephanie slapped him again.

"Yes, you do!" Stephanie shouted, fury evident in her eyes. "Why the hell did you bring me here? Why the hell did you beg me to believe that it was over between you and April? That you didn't love her anymore? Tell me why, because I would love to know, Jackson, I really would."

"Stephanie, what I did there had nothing to do with you. I'm so sorry that I put you through that, I'm sorry I didn't think of you. I came here to support my best friend when she got married. She wanted me to come, so I did." Jackson's own words felt cheap to his ears. He knew that he was making excuses, and that nothing could help make Stephanie feel better.

"Did you ever think that, hey, I don't know, you didn't want to come because you couldn't watch her get married?" Stephanie spat, irritated with her ex-boyfriends stupidity. "Jackson, how can you not know what you're feeling? Look, at this point, I don't care and I don't want to care. I'll go get my stuff out of your place. Don't come home tonight," she demanded. It was hard for her to believe that less that an hour ago, she was going to tell him that she loved him.

"Yeah, of course." It was the least Jackson could do. He could just check in at the hotel across from the hospital while she moved her belongings.

Stephanie turned away, sniffling before back around and facing him with teary eyes. "It's always been her, right?"

Jackson nodded, his voice barely above a whisper. "Always."

Jackson watched as she walked away, clenching his jaw before getting into his car and getting the hell out of there.


April's hands shook at the thought of facing her family and friends. She felt awful for what she did to them, what she did to Matthew. She knew that no amount of apologies could make up for what she did, but April had to talk to Matthew and tell him how she felt. Taking a deep breath and bracing herself, she walked out of the rectory and headed out to see her guests.

"Duckie!"

April turned around to see Kimmie waiting for her. "What do you want, Kim?" April barked. The last person she wanted to talk to was one of her judgmental sisters.

"I just wanted to see if you were okay," Kimmie said, taken aback by her sister's reaction. "That must've been tough."

April instantly felt bad for snapping at her sister. "Yeah. I, uh, I chose Jackson."

"I think we all got that one figured out," Kimmie said with a giggle. April couldn't help but laugh with her. The whole situation was so ridiculous

"I love him, Kimmie. I mean, I really love him and I have to trust that this is the right thing."

"April, you named a pig after him. If that's not love, I don't know what is," Kimmie responded. April looked down, and Kimmie understood why. "Hey, Apes, I know we're hard on you. But- and you can't tell Libby or Alice that I told you this- it's just our way of dealing with it."

"Dealing with what?" April asked curiously.

"You made it out, April. Sure, you used to be pretty weird, but you made it out. You're a surgeon, for God's sakes. You save lives every day. You're a badass."

April couldn't help but chuckle at her sister's word choice.

Kimmie smiled, placing a hand on April's shoulder. "April, you're beautiful. I mean, a freaking model just interrupted your wedding with a confession of undying love. You're smart, and you're stunning, and you could kick our asses any day." Kimmie was now crying and April wrapped her arms around her younger sister. "I think I am going to get a divorce," Kimmie choked out.

April pulled away in shock. "What?"

"He's cheating on me. I thought I could get over it, but…" Kimmie shook her head and dried her eyes. "Today you did what older sisters are suppose to do. You followed your heart, and even thought it was hard, you did it. So, I'm going to try it too. I'm going to go get my happiness and hopefully I will get as lucky as you."

"I know you will, Kimmie. I love you," April smiled tearily.

Suddenly, the sound of Matthew clearing his throat came from the end of the hall.

Kimmie looked at her sister with wide eyes. "Do you want me to handle that?"

"No, I'm fine. Can you get the family out?" April pleaded. Kimmie nodded, pulling April in for one last hug before going back to find the others.

"Matthew, I'm so sorry-"

"I know," he said calmly.

"I never meant to hurt you," April said, holding back the tears springing to her eyes.

Matthew smiled humorlessly. "See, that's the part that I don't get. April, if he hadn't stood up, I would have been married to someone who loved somebody else. How is that not hurting me?"

They stood facing each other quietly. April was sobbing, her face red as Matthew stared at her.

"I knew. I guess some small part of me just hoped that you would get over him." Matthew shook his head, a tear falling down his cheek as he looked up at her."It's always been him, this whole time, it's been him."

April couldn't do anything but nod. Matthew wiped his eye quickly, fighting to keep his voice even. "The ring."

April slipped the silver band off her finger, depositing it with a thud into his palm. "I love you, Matthew, it's just…"

"You love him more. I get it," Matthew sighed. "Uh, I'm going to go. So… take care," he said as they parted ways.

April felt awful. She had never wanted to hurt Matthew. All she wanted to do was go home, curl up on her couch, and cry. She looked up at the sound of shoes clicking on the floor, greeted by a smiling Arizona Robbins.

"Hey there, you okay?" Arizona asked sympathetically.

"No," she said with a laugh. "But I will be"

"That's the spirit!" Arizona cheered her on.

"How is everyone out there? Is it a mad house?" April asked fearfully.

"Actually, your sister was pretty forceful. Kimmie started screaming at everybody to go. It was pretty easy to see how you two are related," Robbins said, recalling the scene. "It was really entertaining. Hunt said that it seems that all the Kepners have trauma potential."

April giggled at the idea of Kimmie yelling at all of her friends and family. When it came down to it, she and Kimmie had the most in common. "Well, since they took care of that, can you help me take my dress off?" April asked. Arizona nodded, following her into the dressing room. Suddenly, a thought hit April. "Wait, if they're all gone, how will I get home?" April asked, panicked.

"Don't worry about it, Callie and I can drive you," Arizona said as she unzipped her dress, letting it fall to the floor. "Damn, April, look at those underwear," Arizona teased.

"Shut up," April said, reaching for her bag and pulling out the clothes she had been wearing earlier."I had different plans for tonight," she reminded her friend.

An evil grin spread across Arizona's face. "Hey, I don't mind," she teased, knowing that she would get a rise out of April.

"Arizona!" April admonished, dressing quickly. "Just pack up my dress, please!"

Arizona laughed and complied, folding the white silk and placing it into April's bag.

"Alright, let's take you home," Arizona said, wrapping her arm around April's shoulder.

"No, I can't go home!" April exclaimed, stopping dead in her tracks. When Arizona looked at her in confusion, April continued, "Matthew moved into my place a few months ago. I don't think he's there right now, but his stuff…" April trailed off.

Arizona nodded, deep in thought. "Maybe you could stay at Meredith's?"

"I'll just check into that hotel near the hospital. I don't want you and Callie going out of your way to drive me to Mer's."

"April, it's no problem at all. We don't want you to be all alone at a hotel," Arizona assured her.

"It's fine. I probably deserve it," April gave a small smile. She could see that Arizona was about to protest, so she continued, "Arizona, it's fine. It's what I want."

"If you say so," Arizona conceded, unconvinced. April just looped her arm in Arizona's, walking with the blonde to meet Callie.


Jackson sat on the hotel's large bed, absently watching the game. He couldn't help the doubts that crept into his mind- what if Matthew convinced April to marry him after all? Jackson sighed heavily, rolling onto his back. Suddenly, his phone buzzed. Jackson sat up quickly when he saw April's name on the caller ID.

"Hello? Did you marry him?"

Jackson smacked his forehead. He hadn't meant to ask, it just popped out.

"Um, no?" April replied from the other line. "Why would I?"

"Well… You didn't call and I just thought…"Jackson was too embarrassed to keep going.

"You were saying?" Jackson could hear the grin in April's voice.

"I just kept picturing you running off with Matthew. It was driving me a little crazy," he admitted. "I couldn't even watch the game!"

April's melodic laugh at the other end made him smile "What are you doing?" he asked, already feeling better.

"Oh, I was just taking a nap. I felt so emotionally drained and all I wanted to do was sleep. I'm sorry I worried you!"

"No it's fine." Jackson paused. "You don't regret your decision, right?" Jackson could barely recognize himself. Since when did he sound so neurotic and insecure?

"No, of course not! I was just so exhausted by the time I got to the Archfield, so-"

"Wait, you're here too?"

"Wait, what? You're here? What room?"

"1012," he replied, a smile growing on his face at the thought of seeing April again.

"I'll be there in 2," she said quickly before hanging up.

Jackson sprung up quickly, almost sprinting to the bathroom and brushing his teeth. He surveyed himself in the mirror, tugging on his shirt and making sure he looked good. "What am I doing?" he asked his reflection. Jackson never acted like this.

Jackson had to stop himself from running to the door when he heard a soft knocking. He beamed as he opened the door, revealing a sleepy April.

"April," he breathed.

"Jackson," she replied with a smile as she walked into the room.

"Your room is huge!" April exclaimed as she wandered the large suite. "Mine's like a closet compared to this," she teased.

Jackson grinned, following her as she paced around. He couldn't help himself from wrapping his arms around her waist, pulling her close to him and breathing in the scent of her shampoo. "I missed you," he admitted.

"You just saw me a couple of hours ago," April murmured, returning the hug. It had been too long since she had felt his arms around her.

"You know what," he said teasingly, releasing her from his grasp. "Here I am, trying to be sweet, and you're just… cramping on my style."

"Alright, Jackson, I'm sorry I'm… what was it? Cramping on your style?" she laughed, making her way to the bed and sitting down.

"I really, really want to kiss you," Jackson said quietly as he sat next to her.

"I want to kiss you too," April smiled. Jackson took that as a queue to lean in, but April stopped him. "But we can't. I want to do this right this time, you know? I don't want to take any chances with us."

"Okay," he said, pulling back. "What does that mean?"

"That means that you're going to date me."

"That's what people do when they are getting to know each other," Jackson protested. "I already know everything about you."

"I know, but we never got to date. It's romantic. And, it will help us fall in love with each other even more!" April exclaimed.

"But you already love me, right? And I love you."

" I want you to take me on dates, and bring me flowers and surprise me. I want us to have what we never had because we skipped steps, and that's where we went wrong. Jackson, please," April placed her palms on the sides of Jackson's face, her thumbs lightly caressing his cheeks. "I want to do this right. It's important to me, Jackson"

"Alright, whatever you want," he oblige. As antiquated as the idea was, Jackson thought that it would be fun to take her out and show her off. "Can I still kiss you?" he asked innocently.

"Yes, you can still kiss me," she laughed.

Jackson wasted no time and pushed her against the bed, capturing her sweet lips in his. His hands moved to her waist, pulling her tightly against him. Jackson had never before believed in soulmates, but as the beautiful redhead kissed him back, he knew that he had found his.


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