Hi everyone! The past few weeks have been rough for us Japril fans, so I hope this update helps distract you until we get to see our faves again.
"So let me get this straight," Cristina Yang began, biting into her apple. "You're doing your fellowship in New York, and Avery's going to be in New Orleans?"
April nodded in confirmation. She was having lunch with Cristina and Meredith in her office. Since she'd become Chief Resident, her friends had often opted to eat in the office rather than fight the crowds in the cafeteria during the lunch rush. "Why are you looking at me like that? We can make it work." April said, noting the doubtful expressions on both of her friends' faces.
After she interviewed for Mount Sinai in New York City, April and Jackson had discussed the future of their careers and their relationship at length. Both had come to the understanding that neither one of them wanted to hinder the others' career, so they'd agreed to each pick the fellowship that would provide them with the best opportunity, regardless of location. They cared enough about each other that they were willing to work hard to make their relationship work. It may still be new, but it was definitely worth the added effort.
"It's only a three hour flight, so one of us will visit the other at least once a month for a weekend so we can spend time together. I don't think it will be that bad," April explained.
"Oh I'm not worried about how much time you're going to spend together. I'm just wondering how long it'll take for some hot young intern to get her claws into your pretty-boy husband," Cristina suggested.
April crinkled her nose, slightly offended. "What? Why would you say that? Jackson would never cheat on me," she insisted.
"I'm sure he wouldn't mean to," Cristina continued, "but then some cute little intern comes along batting her eyelashes, flirting all day and complimenting his surgical technique and voilà, they're hooking up in an on-call room."
April shook her head in disagreement and looked to Meredith for support. "She's just trying to make me paranoid, right?"
"Don't look to Mer for reassurance," Cristina laughed. "She was the kind of girl you should be worrying about. The intern who slept with an attending, remember?"
"She does have a point," Meredith smirked, gesturing towards Cristina. "And she's no better. She ended up marrying an attending too."
"Guilty," Cristina smiled, giving Meredith a high five.
April quickly put her fork down, eyes widening. "Oh God, you're right. I have to go," she mumbled as she shot up off the sofa and out the door.
"Oops, did I say something wrong?" Cristina asked innocently, taking another bite of her apple.
April found Jackson walking down the hallway towards her office. "Hey, I was just coming to see you," he smiled.
"We need to talk," April said, grabbing his arm abruptly and pulling him in to the nearest on-call room.
"Just talk?" he asked as he pushed her hair off her neck and leaned down to kiss her exposed skin. It was becoming more and more difficult for both of them to keep their hands off each other. They had essentially done everything a couple could possibly do besides sex, but had mutually agreed to delay doing the actual deed until after their board exams, which were in less than a week. They figured they didn't need the extra distraction, but Jackson was beginning to think that the torture of not having sex was becoming and even bigger distraction.
April put her hands on his chest to stop him. His lips felt so good on any part of her body, but now was not the time. "Wait, we really need to talk," she interrupted. "I know I'm the one who said we should follow our set goals wherever that takes us," she continued, pacing back and forth in the small room, "but I don't want you finding a Meredith at Tulane."
Jackson squinted his eyes, perplexed. "Huh? What are you talking about? Why would I find Meredith at Tulane?"
"No, you're not understanding. I don't mean actual Meredith, just a Meredith," she clarified. "You know, some hot intern you hook up with and then end up leaving me behind like the first Dr. Mrs. Shepherd," she rambled. "I don't think I could handle that, Jackson. Maybe you were right. Maybe this was a bad idea and we should try to find fellowships closer together."
Jackson tried to hold back his smile. He had never seen April jealous before, and he found it completely adorable. Though it was jealousy over a non-existent, hot intern, he still thought it was endearing.
He rubbed his hands over her arms in an effort to ease her misgivings. "Babe, you have nothing to worry about. I promise you I won't be looking at any interns, nurses, residents, attendings, or whoever else you could think of. I'm happy. We are happy. I'm not going to do anything to mess that up," he assured her. April let out a breath of relief and a small smile. Jackson kissed her forehead and pulled her into a hug.
A few days prior, it had been April's confidence and reassurance that persuaded him that their relationship was strong enough to handle the long distance of their fellowship locations. He had wanted to bring up the idea that it might be best if they both stayed in Seattle, but he could tell as soon as April arrived back from New York City that she was extremely excited for the opportunity to live and work there. It made sense. Who could blame a small-town girl from the Midwest for wanting to experience life in one of the most exciting cities in the world? Jackson couldn't bring himself to even suggest that maybe she give up that opportunity so that they could be closer together.
And now, given April's sudden paranoia about their relationship, it would have been easy to bring up the option of them both staying at Seattle Grace. Still, though, he didn't want to take advantage of the situation like that. He would feel too guilty knowing that he'd caused her to alter her plans for him. So he held his tongue and kept silent in their current embrace, secretly dreading their inevitable separation in a few short months.
"Kepner, do you have a moment?" Owen Hunt asked as he approached his trauma resident in the E.R.
"Of course, chief," April smiled cheerfully, following him to an unoccupied exam room. She was headed to San Francisco that night for her boards the next day, and was prepared for what she thought would be her mentor's pep talk.
"I know you've accepted the fellowship offer at Mount Sinai," he began, "but I just want you to reconsider the opportunity you'd have here at Seattle Grace."
April was caught off guard by this topic of discussion, but responded quickly nonetheless. "Thank you, sir. I have thoroughly considered all of my options and -"
"What I'm trying to say is..." he paused, considering the correct way to word what he was going to say next. "I've taken on far more duties as the chief of surgery, and eventually I'll need to dial it back as head of the trauma department. Now, I can't guarantee anything this far in advance, but I want you to know that I will be the one who will choose my replacement. If you decide to stay at Seattle Grace and continue to excel in your fellowship as you have as a trauma resident, I don't think I'd find a better candidate than you to take my place," he hinted.
April couldn't believe her ears. Her boss was essentially offering her the keys to the kingdom if she decided to accept the fellowship offer at Seattle Grace. "Thank you sir, that certainly is something to consider," she responded. She would be lying if she said that it wasn't a tempting offer. A near-guarantee to be head of the trauma department in a few years. "Do you need an answer right away, sir?"
"No, take your time and think about it. I don't want to be the one to add any extra pressure on you before the boards. Just let me know your decision when you get back," he said, opening the door and walking back toward the E.R.
It was definitely something April needed time to consider. Her first thought, after the excitement of possibly becoming a department head in the near future, was Jackson. How would this effect their plans, if at all? For one thing, she knew the travel time to New Orleans was at least six hours each way since there were no direct flights. More than twice the travel time as compared to her living in New York. Would that be a big deal? How often would they realistically be able to see each other? What would he think about her taking this opportunity? The one person who could provide her with some much-needed answers and perspective was the one person she didn't want to talk to about it. Not yet. She couldn't drop this distraction on him right before the boards, so for the time being she decided to push the offer to the back burner and concentrate on the big day ahead of her tomorrow. This decision could wait until she could talk to Jackson and see what really would best for her happiness, both professionally and personally.
"Wow, what a cool room," Jackson observed as he pulled his suitcase into the hotel room. April followed close behind.
"It's such a nice view," she commented, taking a peak out at the skyline. They had just checked in to their shared room at the Omni Hotel in San Francisco in preparation for their boards.
After settling in and unpacking, they attempted to study one last time before the exams first thing the next morning.
"I can't do this anymore, my head's going to explode," April proclaimed, tossing her flash cards on the bed in defeat. "I'm going to take a shower and try to get to sleep early."
"Sounds like a good plan," Jackson agreed.
As April headed into the bathroom, Jackson's cell phone rang. He'd assumed it was his mother wishing him luck, but was surprised to see Mark Sloan's name on the caller ID.
"Didn't you just wish me good luck a few hours ago?" Jackson answered.
"I did, but I guess I didn't have all the information at that time, did I?" Mark responded accusatorily.
"What do you mean? Did you hear something about the boards that I should know about?" Jackson asked, confused.
"No, I just got some information from Dr. Hunt that you conveniently forgot to tell me about your wife."
Jackson was puzzled. Why was his mentor being so cryptic?
Taking Jackson's silence as acceptance of his guilt in keeping information from him, Mark continued. "So does this mean the Plastics Posse is going to stay in tact? You didn't tell me that Kepner was going to stay at Seattle Grace."
Jackson paused, processing the words he'd just heard, completely flabbergasted.
"She's what?!"
No sexy times in this chapter (sorry, but they will come...I promise!), but the story is progressing and I hope you liked it. I'd love to hear your opinions, so please leave a review!