Hi everyone! Thanks for all the wonderful feedback and for reading. Right now, it isn't a challenge writing Japril because they are so happy on the show! I just hope Shonda doesn't mess with the happy bubble we are in with these two (finally!).
So anyway, back to it. Enjoy everyone!
I Want You With Me
Chapter 9
April
April heard a light tap on the door of the ladies restroom in the Lake Tahoe courthouse.
"April? Are you okay?" Jackson's muffled voice asked through the door.
April looked herself over in the mirror, running her hands down the front of her simple white dress, smoothing it down. She bit her lip nervously, but as she met her eyes in the mirror, she gave her reflection a small smile. She was nervous, but not about marrying Jackson. She knew she wanted him, she would always want him.
She knew they could do this. It was just...they were getting married. And so soon after getting together. But amazingly, it felt right to her.
"April?" Jackson called again, concern now in his voice. April checked her appearance over once more before leaving the bathroom. Jackson was right outside the door, having changed into a blue button down shirt that matched his eyes and a pair of black slacks. He looked way more beautiful than April felt in her simple white sundress, sparkly flats and small diamond studs. Her hair was pulled up in a simple chignon.
"You look…" Jackson whispered in an awed voice, "Beautiful. Beautiful isn't even the right word, but it's the closest I can get."
April smiled and said, "You too."
Jackson held his hand out for hers and she took it. He squeezed her hand, and asked, "You're ready? You're sure?"
April only nodded and said, "You?"
He smiled and said, "Absolutely."
As doctors, they never worked in absolutes. So April appreciated the sentiment his statement suggested. He was sure about her, about them as she was.
April squeezed his hand back and they walked to the judge's chambers. They had already gotten the marriage license and now all they had to do was say their "I Do's".
Jackson
April was the most beautiful bride he had ever seen. No, it wasn't a typical wedding, but she was glowing and her eyes were sparkling stars. He looked her head to toe slowly a couple of times to take in the vision of her. His bride. He never wanted to forget this moment.
Jackson and April held hands as the judge married them in her chambers, with a court stenographer as their witness. It was actually a very attractive office. It was an old courthouse with mahogany paneled walls, emerald green velvet curtains, deep red leather studded chairs, and a worn oriental rug that tied it all together.
"Do you take this woman, Dr. April Kepner, to be your wife?" the judge asked Jackson, a small smile on her lips.
"I do," Jackson answered, staring into April's smiling face. He had never been surer about anything as he looked into April's shining eyes.
"And do you take this man, Dr. Jackson Avery, to be your husband?" she asked April, who beamed up at Jackson.
April said, "I do," squeezing his hand gently.
"Do you have rings?" the judge asked.
Jackson reached into his pocket and held a thin, platinum diamond encrusted band. Jackson had insisted this was the one stop he wanted to make. They needed rings. Jackson gently gripped April's left hand as he slid the ring onto April's delicate finger, squeezing her hand afterward.
April then took Jackson's hand and slipped on the simple platinum band, kissing it gently after doing so. Jackson smiled at the sweet gesture and cupped her cheek, brushing it gently with his thumb. He looked to the judge who chuckled and nodded and said, "I pronounce you husband and wife, you may kiss your bride, young man."
Jackson looked down at April and gently brushed his lips against hers, in a soft but incredibly sweet kiss. Their first kiss as husband and wife. She smiled up at him and Jackson said, "Let's get out of here."
"Congratulations," the judge said, signing the license with the witness.
After April and Jackson also signed everything, the stenographer snapped their picture together in the judge's office. The judge, losing patience with them, ushered them out of her office, suggesting places to go for breakfast or lunch. Jackson and April were tired and hungry from travelling and the previous day's events.
April had slept some in the car, but it was never a deep sleep.
"How about we find a hotel, then order room service," Jackson suggested, wrapping his arms around his bride as they walked out of the courthouse. April smiled and said, "That sounds perfect."
During the long, thirteen hour drive Jackson had already gotten a room at one of the nicer hotel resorts in Lake Tahoe and he couldn't wait to see it.
Jackson drove to the hotel with the GPS and parked, grabbing April's hand as she got out of the car. He took her small bag from her and carried it with his own and led them inside a beautiful resort with a lodge feel. April gasped as she took it in and Jackson just chuckled and let her take it all in as he checked them into the nicest suite the hotel offered.
He requested champagne and room service menus for their room and then guided April to their suite.
"We didn't have to stay in the nicest hotel you know," April said, wrapping her arm around his waist as they walked. Jackson kissed her temple and said, "This is our wedding night, of course I wanted the best for us," squeezing her hip, causing her to giggle adorably.
Jackson slipped the key card in the door and when the light signaled green, he opened the door and flung the bags in the room.
"Jackson, what-" April asked, a confused look on her face, but Jackson silenced her as he swept her up in his arms and carried her over the threshold to the room.
"Tradition. Apparently if the bride trips over the threshold, the marriage has bad luck. We have already had plenty of that," Jackson teased, a smile on his face.
April laughed and leaned her face towards his and kissed him as he carried her over to the large king bed and set her gently down. April looked up at him and then pulled him down on top of her.
Jackson rested most of his weight on his elbows, but allowed himself to feel April's soft body beneath his.
She cupped his face, and pulled him down to her as she kissed him softly. Jackson sighed against her lips and said, "My wife," he whispered in awe, slowly releasing her hair from the pins that held it up. He gently pulled her hair loosed and ran his fingers through her hair. He was amazed that this woman, this amazing and beautiful woman, was his wife.
"My husband," April said, running her hands down his neck, "You look tired."
Jackson only smiled and kissed her softly.
"Let's eat and then nap," April said, her nails lightly scratching the back of his scalp. She had no idea how much he loved it when she did that. Jackson groaned, wanting to consummate their vows, but couldn't disagree with her. He had been awake for more than a day. He needed to rest. April was about to kiss him when there was a knock on the door.
April pushed Jackson off her and walked to the door and opened it. She reached for her purse, but Jackson stopped her and handed the tip to the man before she could give it over. She shot him a look, but he just gave her one back before taking the champagne and popping the cork off. He filled two glasses of champagne, handing April one.
"To us, to our marriage, to love," Jackson said, holding his glass for April to toast.
"To our love," April said, clinking her glass to his.
Jackson smiled and kissed her before sipping his champagne and settling down to order them something to eat.
April
April and Jackson ordered room service and as soon as their bellies were full, exhaustion took over and they both crashed on the comfortable fluffy bed.
April woke to a full bladder and the realization that they had slept way past dinner and into the early hours of the morning. April sat up and looked down at her husband. Her husband. She still couldn't believe that they were married. April rolled off the bed, trying not to jostle Jackson.
They had both passed out after they had finished eating. 3:24 a.m. flashed on the screen of the clock, but April felt wide awake. April looked around the beautiful room Jackson had gotten them and decided to straighten up a bit while Jackson caught up on sleep. She piled the plates and silverware on the tray and the now empty bottle of champagne and wheeled the cart out into the hall to be picked up later by housekeeping.
Jackson slept soundly, so April decided to freshen up and take a shower. She grabbed her bag and walked into the bathroom, which was almost as beautiful as the bedroom. She walked to the shower, turning it on to warm up and then began brushing her teeth thoroughly.
April sighed as she stepped into the shower, letting the warm spray soothe her. She scrubbed the day off of her and decided to shave, figuring Jackson would be up sooner or later and want to...
April smiled to herself as she thought about her new husband. She was married. And despite the fact the fact they hadn't planned it all out, it hadn't happened like she had expected, their wedding had been perfect. It put the focus back on what marriage was all about. Not the flowers, not the venue, not the cake or the caterers. It wasn't even about the dress. No, it was about each other.
April stepped out of the shower and was surprised to see Jackson there, leaning against the counter, watching her as he brushed his teeth. April blushed and said, "How long have you been there?"
"Long enough," Jackson said around his toothbrush. He rinsed his mouth out and slowly walked towards April as she wrapped herself in a towel.
He had stripped down to his boxers and April realized just how long he had been in there watching her as she looked him over. He smugly smiled as he wrapped his arms around her and whispered against her lips, "Morning, baby."
April inhaled sharply as she felt his hand kneading her ass greedily. "M-morning," she whispered, as she shuddered against him in arousal. Jackson groaned and said, "I think it's time we make it official," he said in a husky whisper, running his hand between her legs and rubbing her.
April moaned as Jackson claimed her mouth in a heated kiss as he worked her. April's legs shook as Jackson's fingers probed her and April ran her hands up his muscled arms and gripped his shoulders so she wouldn't fall to the floor.
Jackson wrapped his arm around her waist to steady her, holding her close to him as he said, "Come for me, baby."
April nodded and with a few sure rubs against her most sensitive nerve, she fell apart against him. Thank God his arm gripped her, because she would have fallen to the floor, a trembling mess.
"Good girl," he whispered against her temple, still holding her tightly to him. April angled her face to his and kissed him, jumping up into his arms and wrapping her legs around his waist.
Jackson wasted no time in rushing into the bedroom.
Jackson
Jackson showered as April ordered them breakfast.
He smiled as he yawned. He had a full night sleep, but he was exhausted. He had woken up around five, and now it was ten...April had kept him very busy this morning. He loved his wife. Loved her…
Jackson turned the shower off and walked out to the bedroom where April was tidying up both of their bags.
"I don't want to leave," Jackson said, wrapping his arm around April's waist as she turned in his arms. "I like our little marriage bubble," he admitted as he pecked her lips. It felt safe and magical here in Lake Tahoe suite.
"Me too," she said, smiling up at him and running her hand along his neck, "But if we are going to move in together and be at our shifts in the morning, then we got to get going."
Jackson nodded, and began getting dressed. It would be nice to move April in. He was actually excited about them making a home… a life together.
A knock sounded at the door signaling their breakfast.
April skipped to the door, and got the cart. She smiled at Jackson and said, "I got you waffles."
He smiled as he finished putting on his socks and walked towards her.
Jackson took his plate and smelled them, "These look good, but...they don't look nearly half as good as yours do."
April smiled and shook her head, "When we get home, I will make you them all the time."
"No, don't," Jackson said, "I will get fat and you will divorce me!"
April laughed as she ate a bite of her waffles and said, "I guess that was something we should have asked the judge to put in our vows...'Do you promise to love this man, even if he gets fat from waffles?'...you're screwed Avery," April teased.
Jackson swatted at her butt and kissed her lovingly, "You're terrible, Avery," he said back.
Jackson watched as April looked down at her waffles then up at him with that look...she wasn't sure about something and she didn't know how to ask. Jackson waited, knowing that she would find a way. Finally she asked, "Do you...want me to….use your last name?"
He was thoughtful for a moment, before asking, "I don't know, do you want to?" He had always thought his wife would take his name, but it didn't really matter to him if she wanted to keep her name.
April shrugged and said, "I never had a chance to think about it."
"Dr. April Avery...I have to admit that I like the way that sounds," Jackson admitted, setting his plate on the dresser before wrapping April in his arms and kissing her neck on that spot. April smiled and said, "Jackson...you better not start or...oh!...we will never get on the road," she said as her skin erupted in gooseflesh under his lips.
Jackson's hands slid up her sides and cupped her breasts, and Jackson knew they wouldn't be getting on the road for at least another half hour. April gripped the back of his neck and kissed him urgently, pulling him back to the bed.
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