A/N: Thank you for all the reviews! Since we didn't get any Grey's this week, have another chapter. Might even upload another... I mean, If anyone's interested. Enjoy :)!

"Hello, Dr. Avery. You're early today."

Dr. Avery. It was still strange for April to hear somebody call her that. Technically, she was. Avery was her name now. Her passport said it, her nameplate said it, her bills said it. However, her coat didn't. Her publications didn't. Her heart? Well, even after almost two years of marriage Dr. Avery still was her husband to her. Or his mother. Being confused with both of them felt odd to her.

April smiled at Linda, the receptionist who called her the name she associated first and foremost with her mother-in-law. "I finished early so I thought I'd take this as a chance to watch a little."

"They've got five minutes left, so you can just step up to the gallery", Linda told her gesturing towards the right flight of stairs.

"Thanks, Linda." The redhead threw her a bright smile before disappearing upstairs.

Although Samuel had been in his classes for almost half a year now, April had actually never watched. She only came to play taxi every other week, and when she did she arrived right after class was finished. Even when she'd still been on maternity leave she'd never caught the tiniest glimpse.

In the beginning it felt like she couldn't watch, like it was something she wasn't allowed to see. Too intimate. Too private. Too... much?
It was weird to think about her own family that way. However, they were only getting the hang of being a family very recently. Testing the borders was not a phenomenon restricted to teenagers. As new parents they also had to learn about them. Was it okay for Jackson to watch April nurse Samuel? Was it okay for April to criticise Jackson's burping skills? Was it okay for Jackson to listen to April sing Samuel a lullaby? Was it okay for April to listen to Jackson sing a Samuel a lullaby? Was it okay for Jackson to climb into the bathtub with April and Samuel?
Was it okay for April to watch Jackson engage in a swimming class with Samuel? Until today she'd felt like watching this father-son-experience was a line she should not cross. Today, she was ready. She was excited.

A few familiar faces appeared in front of April as she reached the top level. So far, Tom and Adam were the only ones she'd been formally introduced to already. Given that they were chatting away with a tiny crowd, she could easily assume that the other adults also had children in the class. It also proved Jackson's theory of him being a rare exception in accompanying Samuel. There were only two women, April excluded, up in the gallery.

"April", Adam exclaimed as he saw her. "Didn't think you'd ever make it."

"Wasn't sure I would", she replied sheepishly as she approached the group.

"Everybody", he said, "This is Sam's mom, April."

One after the other gave their name and their kid's name, some a little wave.

"Nice to meet you... all", April murmured, although, honestly, she didn't have a clue about who any of them were. Samuel wasn't at that age where children started forming friendships yet, so he didn't exactly talk about his class mates.
Well. He didn't talk at all, but that was completely fine for his young age of nine months.
Although she prided herself in her name memory, which truly came in handy in the ER, she could hardly remember any of the parents' names - nevermind their children - two minutes later. Maybe that skill was restricted to her workspace after all.

Tom and Adam, fathers of Estella and Fred, were only known to April because they happened to cheer for Boston Celtics. That was all the information Jackson had needed to invite them over for his last viewing party. April would never admit it, but she'd been rather glad they'd come without their children. Sometimes seeing healthy babies could still upset her, no matter how hard she tried to focus on the brighter sides.

The place on the lower podium the group had April take a seat on, although uncomfortable, offered a great view of the class. She immediately spotted her boys in the water.

"It's great of Jackson to put away this time to spend with Sam", one of the two other women gushed, "Putting family first, he's a real gentleman."

"That he is", April agreed as she watched them spin in circles. She was tempted to snap a picture, especially since Jackson had remained so beautifully oblivious of her presence. Maybe she'd send it to Catherine- or even better: threaten Jackson with the possibility of sending it to Catherine. Some leverage might lighten the task of convincing her husband of the necessity of putting bunny ears on Samuel's helmet for Easter. If Jackson had liked the antlers after all - their family and friends all praised their cuteness - he never told her.

"I take the older girls to dance class, so this is completely Lauren", Tom put in. The memory of him talking about his four daughters was still present in April's mind. He appeared to be both absolutely smitten and stretched too thin by his life.

"Well, we've all gotta take turns when it comes to the offspring", the second woman joked.

April snapped a few pictures on her phone. She'd keep them, for now. They were so cute it would be hard not to share them, but having some leverage to help her husband cooperate could prove a greater advantage in the longer run. She would have to consider all her choices.

"Sam's a single child, isn't he?"

"Uh-huh", April nodded, her eyes remaining fixed on the happenings of downstairs. She didn't even register who'd asked her the question. Jackson was currently spinning in a circle his blue-greenish eyes focused on those of his son. In all his, literally, ill luck Samuel had been lucky enough to inherit his father's eye coloring. To April this was just one more feature that made him beautiful. The most beautiful part of her son, though, in her biased opinion was his smile. It was honest, pure. She loved it when he smiled. Currently, he was smiling at his father as he was paddling through the water.

"What's your thing with him? Mommy and me yoga?"

The woman's smile didn't help April with answering her question. Except for the normal range of changing, feeding and playing she didn't really have a "thing" she did with Samuel. She wasn't even sure Jackson would have this swimming class if it wasn't so good for their son's joints. He'd probably prefer taking him to soccer or basketball or one of the other kinds of sport Samuel would likely never be able to participate in.

Personally, she didn't see the point in putting babies in any classes, save for medical reasons, obviously. Why spend money on some supposedly brain stimulating occupation when babies could very well occupy themselves with the wondrous world around them for hours? Her parents always told stories of when they just let them lose around the farm for hours. Even Dr. Catherine Avery, who'd put Jackson on his first pony when he was four, agreed with April on this matter.

Besides Jackson often came along when April went out with Samuel. Grocery shopping didn't count as a hobby (and again, wasn't restricted to her only). She couldn't very well brag about their many hospital trips. So what did she do with her son that Jackson did not participate in and that was kinda special...

"Church", she concluded with a content nod. "Sam and I do church together."

Because technically Jackson did not partake in church. Except if catching sleep in service counts.

Jackson was surprised to see April talking to some of the other parents as he entered the waiting hall after class. She basically didn't know anyone around here as she mostly arrived just in time to pick them up. For her to be so engulfed in a conversation with these people that she didn't notice him approaching her from behind was far from typical.

"Hey Apes", he greeted her as he wrapped his free arm around her waist. "Making friends I see?"

She swirled around with wide eyes. "Jackson!" When her eyes found their son in his arms she beamed. "Hi Sammy! You did so good in class! My little merman." The baby squealed as she showered him in kisses.

"Don't I get one?", Jackson pouted.

The one he received was quick and court. However, the blush on his wife's face totally made up for that. He loved how she was still hesitant concerning PDA. Kind of ironic given the ways they'd made use of on call rooms and supply closets, on numerous occasions.
(Or the one time they collectively crashed a wedding in front of a few dozen of people. Her wedding.)

"Well, we better go", Tom said, "Gotta pick the big girls up from grandma. See you guys soon."

"See ya", the Averys, save Samuel, echoed.

April's attention went back to the baby, who'd babbled something she claimed kind of resembled 'see ya' (it really didn't).
Jackson smiled. He was glad to see her excited like this. Going back to work really had been a good decision for her, even though she constantly cried, literally, over missing Sam the first week back.

Somehow being back in the ER made her less uncertain and more relaxed. Their nanny was a real angel, which helped considerably with returning to work for April. Against her worst fears it made her a better mother in Jackson's eyes. To him, happy mothers were the best mothers and April was happy when she could do her work and be a mother.

He kissed the top of her head. "Ready to go home?"

She nodded, happy.

They went outside with their arms resting around each other.
Well, one of their respective arms. The other two were occupied with their son, entertaining and holding him.

Jackson noticed by-passers' eyes resting on them for a tiny second too long, as if looking at them would get them some of their happiness.

"You two looked so cute." At her husband's raised eyebrow April added: "And handsome. Cute and handsome. I couldn't help snapping a few pictures."

So much for keeping secrets. Not one of April's best qualities.

"Are we doing confession time now? Because I totally mixed colored and white last week and re-bought everything so you wouldn't notice. That's why your jeans were so stiff this morning", he said.

"Jackson!" She swatted his chest, which made their son giggle and also join in in the chest swatting.

"Just kidding." He grinned and watched her round the car to move the baby seat onto the back row. "I totally did that", Jackson admitted to his son, who babbled in response. "No telling mommy, though, Sam, or I won't help you with the deep diving next week."

"Seat's in. What are you two conspiring about?"

"Nothing."

April smiled. Her boys. How wonderful it was to just pick them up from a hobby. Almost normal.