New chapter! Sorry for the delay. Thank you so much for all the kind words about this story, I really appreciate it! :)
Almost two months had passed, and April was entering into her third trimester. She was working less, but managing to keep herself busy around the apartment as much as she could. She often found herself trying out new recipes, or reorganizing the closet. She liked to feel productive while at home.
After a morning board meeting, Arizona came up behind Jackson and tapped him on the shoulder. Without even waiting for a response, she jumped right into conversation. "So, I was thinking we could play 'pass the poop', 'guess the tummy size', 'don't say baby game' you know, all of the standards. Plus, a onesie decorating station is a must!"
"What?" Jackson turned towards Arizona in confusion.
"The baby shower! I was thinking we could do it next week? Just to make sure its enough time to set up a registry and get everything assembled before the big day!"
"Okay. Sure."
"Yay! April and I were causally talking about it before, but I really think it would be better to have it at someone's house, you know – your place, our mine just so she's more comfortable. Plus the last gathering at the hospital was a total bust. We all know the nurses just come for the cake. This time, if they want cake they better bring a decent present!"
"Sounds good."
"Okay. Great! I was also thinking… surprise?"
"A surprise party?"
"Yeah! Don't you think it would be great?"
"Um, sure, yeah. It's a total girls thing, so it's up to you."
"Oh, no, no no no. It's boys and girls! I specifically remember April saying she wanted you there. She wants excitement! So. I'll email you the list of things to get, and then we'll have to go the store and open the registry… either today, or tomorrow and we to get the invites out by no later then Tuesday!"
"Yep!" Jackson yelled towards Arizona, as he was already halfway gone down the hallway.
"Hey, what are you doing home?" April questioned as she popped her head up over the sofa.
"Just home for lunch. Then I thought we could drive back in together."
"I just made some egg salad. It's in the fridge." April made her way across the room to the kitchen to greet Jackson. "I'm just going to have a shower and then I'll be ready."
"Sounds good. Take your time."
Their lips met for a quick kiss.
As soon as Jackson heard the door close over, he jumped at the opportunity to look through April's address book. Arizona hadn't stopped texting him all morning requesting the contact information for all of April's family and friends. He spotted a red notebook on her side table and quickly leafed through the pages. While doing so, a piece of paper folded into four dropped at his feet. He bent over to retrieve it, and was shocked by its contents. It was a print out of page 3 of Michael Sinclair's chart. After their not so solid attempt of contacting Judy a couple months back, they hadn't tried again. They had mutually agreed that it wasn't a good time. Their OB had requested that April take things easy and rest as much as possible due to her high blood pressure. They had written it off entirely, for now at least.
Jackson continued to search for the address book, he knew April had one, he had seen her use it just a few weeks ago to send a thank you card to his aunt in Boston after she sent a homemade knitted baby blanket with blue lace. He opened up the drawer to her dresser to find her other ones. He was very thankful for her organization. He glanced over the journals and saw the one on the end with the 'Address Book' label on the spine. The others were yearly journals from the last 5 years; her older ones had a home in the closet. He was going to bring it to the hospital for Arizona to go through, hoping that April wouldn't notice its absence.
Jackson was laying on the bed hands behind his head, feeling pretty successful after texting Arizona about the address book, he told her he would bring it back after lunch. She replied with a wink face emoji and mission successful.
April walked into the bedroom with a pink towel wrapped around her body. "Hey, so I got a text from Libby saying that she's coming next week to spend some time with us. Do you know anything about this?"
"No. Nothing. Why?"
"I don't know I just thought it was out of the blue. I haven't talked to anyone in a couple of months… since…"
"But she's your sister. She probably just wants to come and help you get things done before the baby arrives."
"I really don't need her bossing me around and telling what I'm doing wrong."
"She won't do that."
"You didn't grow up with her…" she playfully joked.
Jackson stood up and walked across the room towards April. "Hey…" He said after admiring her beautiful body from afar.
"Don't look at me – I'm huge." Her long auburn hair was wet, and dripping down her back.
"No you're not. You're perfect. Let me get this." Jackson reached down towards the pink towel that was now lying on the floor to get the drips of water off her back.
"Thank you." She cooed.
"Mmhm"
They still had a few more minutes before they were really needed back at work, and they took advantage of them.
Once back at work, Jackson had made the successful exchange of the red address book to Arizona, warning her to only take what she needed and give it back to him before the end of the day so that April wouldn't notice it's absence.
"Hey, April said she got a text from her sister Libby saying she was coming next week…."
"Well she doesn't quite know how to take instructions does she?" Arizona snarled. "I had her number still in my phone from April's bridal shower and I thought I'd give her the heads up. So much for that."
"April doesn't know anything. She just thinks she's coming for a visit."
"Okay good. She said that she and the others want to help a much as they can, so I guess they are staying at my place."
"Good luck with that."
"Yeah, I have a feeling that I may have more then one inquiry of 'can I try on your leg' by the end of the weekend."
"Is there going to be enough room in your apartment?"
"I hope so. Can't they all share a room?"
They both laughed in unison.
Arizona had rented a two-bedroom apartment down the hall from Jackson and April about a month ago. She was tried of staying in the on call room, or being in an overpriced hotel every night. She was only leasing month by month because she didn't really want to believe that she would never move back home again. The other bedroom was Sofia's but after everything, she didn't get to come over very often anymore. Callie didn't like changing up her routine.
With the day of baby shower fast approaching, Libby was already coming to town. She insisted on taking a cab, but April went to pick her up. Standing there in dark skinny jeans and a flowing blue cardigan April waved down her sister at the arrivals area.
"Duckie!" Libby called out.
Even though April hated when her sisters called her that, she was still overjoyed to see Libby. They hadn't talked in months.
"I've missed you so much."
"Me too baby sis! Look at you." Libby reached out with both hands towards April's growing belly. "How's everything? Are you still working?"
"Yeah. I try to go in for a few hours here and there."
"Atta girl! I'm so excited to see this place of yours. Mom showed me at least 20 minutes on her new digital camera from when she came to visit you – the pictures looks so nice."
"Yeah, it's just perfect for us, and the nursery is very spacious."
"I can't wait." Libby grabbed her small carry on and placed her arm around April as they exited the airport.
Once at home, April was showing off the nursery to her older sister. Very proud of how it was looking so far. Even though there were some random boxes in the corner, and they still hadn't quite found a place for Jackson's golf clubs yet. She was happy.
"You don't have much yet… when are you planning on buying a bassinet, and a swing, you also need one of those –"
"When we have time. I'm sure the baby doesn't need everything at once anyways. I want to make sure Jackson can come along and be apart of everything, he's just been working a lot lately."
"That's your choice. They baby is going to come when it wants. Newborns don't adhere to plans. Remember when Kimmie almost had her first at a shopping mall. Those things just pop out whenever, wherever."
Saturday had finally arrived and it was the the morning of the party. April had plans to do a bit of ER work today to make up for some time she had missed during the week. Jackson felt so bad requesting for her to go in but he knew it would be the only way to get her out for a few hours.
Arizona, April's mom, and her sisters wanted to be able to decorate the apartment and prepare all of the snacks and games while April was at work.
Libby had been staying on a blow up mattress in the nursery for two nights, and this morning while she was deflating it she noticed a large scrapbook lying in the crib. She quickly glanced though to compare her skills to April's. 'Not bad' she thought, there wasn't much in it yet. A few pictures of Jackson and April, and a family tree page. "Duckie! Come in here!"
"What?" April managed to waddle into the room with half of her hair in curlers. "I'm getting ready for work."
"This looks so great. I never thought I'd see the day when you would make a scrapbook as nice as one of mine! Plus. I never thought you'd have a baby either, so I'm kind of emotional."
"Thanks Lib." April laughed.
"But what's this? Why is there a space beside you on this family tree? You got me, Kimmie and Alice… What other sibling don't I know of? Your imaginary friend?"
"Nothing. No one." April shot back. This was the first time in months she was really reminded of that night that they tried to call Judy. "It's nothing." She said as she stormed out of the room.
"Let's get this party started!" Kimmie said, while popping the cork out of a bottle of red wine. April had been gone for all of 10 minutes when Arizona, Alice, Kimmie and Karen had entered the apartment with a spare key that April had given Arizona a few months back when she would stay here over the odd night.
"It's only 11…" Arizona glanced over to the redhead.
"But, I'm thirsty." Kimmie wrinkled her nose at Arizona.
"This is late for her. Just let her. It makes her a lot more civilized." Alice leaned over to whisper to Arizona.
They spent the early afternoon decorating the apartment. Hanging yellow streamers across the living room ceiling, setting up the party games on the kitchen table and making sure all of the snacks and desserts were put out on large platters.
"These balloon bouquets are so precious. The little ducks are perfect for April. What a wonderful idea." Karen looked towards Arizona and smiled. "It's so great to have to here helping April. It's so difficult being across the country at times like this."
"I'm glad to help. April's a great friend. Isn't this what a godmother is supposed to do?"
"A godmother?!" All four Kepner's glared wide-eyed at Arizona.
"Um. Yeah. April asked me a couple weeks ago. She thought it only made sense since I live nearby. You know, incase anything happens I'll be here right away."
"I didn't know you were a Christian." Kimmie questioned.
"Um, well. I'm not. I think April meant, you know – figuratively."
"Wow. You wouldn't even know were related to that girl. We get replaced all the time." Kimmie said with a sour expression.
"Kimberly. Don't act that way. I'm sure April only had positive intentions." Karen put her arm around Kimmie's shoulders.
"I let each of them be godmother to my babies, and nobody even returns the favour!" Kimmie walked out of the living room and returned to the kitchen to refill her wine glass.
"No hard feelings." Alice smiled. "You'll do a great job I'm sure."
"I, I – didn't mean to step on anyone's toes."
"I'm sure you didn't, dear. It's fine. They are just a little competitive. It's a Kepner thing." Karen smiled.
Arizona felt so out of place. She awkwardly continued with the set up the rest of the party games.
"We'll just be in the kitchen." Karen smiled as she exited he room, followed by the two other redheads.
Three o'clock finally arrived, and almost everyone was there. Arizona glanced around the room making sure everything was in place.
"This looks great." She heard a familiar voice behind her.
"Calliope. Hi. Thanks." Arizona was overjoyed. Callie even brought Sofia, much to Arizona's surprise.
"Hi baby girl!" Arizona playful reached down and ruffled Sofia's hair.
"Thank you for coming. I'm sure April will be thrilled to see Sofia here, too."
"Mmhm. We're just going to get some snacks to tide this little girl over. See you in a bit." Callie smiled at Arizona as she walked away.
Family and friends began to gather in their living room, the time was approaching three thirty.
"Where is she? Shouldn't she be home by now?" Alice questioned, with her hands on her hips.
"Sometimes we can't get out right on time. She should be here soon." Arizona said while fidgeting with the food display on the counter.
The room was filled with family, friends and colleagues from Grey-Sloan; April must have noticed that no one she knew was at work this morning.
"Try texting her again." Libby urged Jackson.
"This jell-o cake is going to turn to mush." Added Karen.
Jackson had never heard of a jell-o cake before, but Karen had assured him that it was April's favourite.
Where are you? On your way home?
Hospital.
When are you leaving?
Can't.
Jackson was thoroughly confused as to why April was texting these cryptic one word answers.
"I think I'm just going to call. It might be faster." Jackson looked toward April's sisters and thenwalked down the hallway to their bedroom.
After two rings, April picked up.
"Hey, why can't you leave? You were only supposed to be in for a maximum of three hours to make up for lost time." April was breathing quite heavily into the phone. "April. Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm just. I'm at the hospital. I'm – I'm just. I think I'm in labour." April said breathlessly.
"Oh. Oh my god. Okay. I'll be right there."
"No. No Jackson. I'm – I'm not at Grey Sloan. I'm at St. Ambrose."
"Didn't I tell you that it wasn't a big deal to have a baby where you work? We do everything else there anyways." He tried to make a joke.
"No, Jackson. St. Ambrose. In – In, it's in California."