Author's Note: This is strictly a work of Fiction. I do not own any of the rights to the characters, places, ABC or Shondaland. Medical Terms may not be correct, characters may vary from their identity on the show. Read, Review and Enjoy!

JACKSON

"Hey Evans!" I called out. I had seen her through the crowd of people in the lobby. I could tell that she was going running. Her hair was on top of her head in a messy bun and she had on a pair of yoga capris, a tank top and bright pink Nikes. I smiled at the girliness of the outfit. She was super cute in her daily scrubs but she looked drop dead gorgeous right now.

"Hey Avery, what's up?" She had changed directions so that she was walking towards me.

"You going running?" I asked, hoping I had been correct. When she nodded her head yes, I pushed forward before she could dodge out of the conversation. "Mind company?"

Surprise filled her face but luckily, she smiled at me. "Sure, as long as you keep up. I was thinking that I would do 6 miles today before coming back to get Hannah."

"6 miles sound's great. Give me five to change and I'll meet you here. We can drive over together."

I scurried off to the locker room to change before she could refuse.

()()()()()()()()

I've always thought that running with someone is intimate. Matching strides and breathing, while you each did your own thing WAS intimate. Amber and I seemed like we'd been running together our entire lives. At the end of the 6th mile she suggested that we walk another mile lap to cool down. Once our breathing slowed down, I took the chance to start up a conversation.

"So how are you liking it here in Seattle?"

Stretching her arms out in front of her and laughed quietly. "Are you asking as my boss or as…?"

"I'm asking as a friend. Do you?"

She met my gaze but surprisingly didn't look away. "I like it a lot. I love the teaching part of my job and the cases have been unique and challenging. Hannah loves it here and Alex and I have a relationship that I never thought we'd have. I wish that Hannah's Dad didn't live so far away so we could both see her more, but I'm lucky that he is so easy going with everything."

"How did you meet him? Did you guys date for a long time?"

"How long were you and your wife married for?" She shot back, grinning mischievously.

Surprising her, I gave her the short version of April and my rocky relationship. She listened and responded in ways that made me feel like she was truly listening. She smiled when I was finished.

"Well, I'm not going to lie, I didn't expect you to tell me all that but I'm glad that you did. It tells me a lot about you. Hannah's father's name is Cole. We went to high school together and did our residency in Denver. A bunch of us went out to celebrate and one thing led to another. Neither one of us wanted to terminate the pregnancy. We knew we were just friends and we felt like we could do this together. So… we did. He's married now and his wife is amazing. She loves Hannah like she's her own. It's probably the best parental separation situation a child could have."

We had completed the lap and were walking back to the parking lot. Amber got into the passenger's seat of my New Lifted Wrangler Unlimited. I had pulled the doors and the top plates off and I snuck a look over at her as she jumped in and situated herself. She caught my eye and grinned. "Thanks for running with me. You weren't terrible. I'd probably let you come again."

Smiling and Shaking my head I started the engine. She had no idea how much I hoped that was true, in more ways than one.

MEREDITH

"Maggie, get over it. I'm sorry that Jackson dumped you but it was a few months ago. You need to move on." Annoyed at her repetitive narrative about Jackson Avery, I looked over at Amelia for help. Amelia was trying to not make eye contact with me, busying herself with the tea party that Zola was throwing for her and Ellis.

Maggie groaned and fell back on the couch. "I know okay? Okay, but every time I see him at the hospital, it hurts. I feel like I'm not good enough!"

"That's not the case and you know it. You just wanted different things and I think that it was a stand up move for him to not continue to lead you on. And Amelia, why the hell aren't you contributing?"

"HELL!" Ellis Screamed at her me. Sometimes, I forgot that she was still in her repeating everything stage. She was definitely the most vocal and defiant of the three kids. She was definitely an Ellis.

"I'm having a nice tea party with my nieces, butt out." Amelia said, still not looking at me. She knew something and I was going to find out what.

After putting the kids down, I made my way over to Amelia's room. It' s been a lot of people's room over the years and although I'd never admit it, I was glad that Amelia was the occupant now. Knocking quietly so Maggie wouldn't hear, I waited for her okay to come in before opening the door.

I sat down on her bed where she was laying with a book held out in front of her. "What do you know about Jackson that you don't want Maggie to know?"

Concentrating on her book, she didn't answer right away. "Nothing, Mer. Leave it alone. Let her get over it."

"Have you forgotten that you have the same tells that Derek did and I can tell when you're lying?"

Setting her book down and breathing a long sigh out, she finally looked at me. "Look, you cannot tell anyone. Not Maggie, Not Jo and ESPECIALLY NOT ALEX!"

Confused and not understanding I continued looking at her until she went on

"Jackson is interested in Amber."

My eyes completely bugged out of my head. "Seriously?!"

Amelia nodded. "I've seen him around her and I've talked to her. Maggie doesn't need to know. Nothing is going on, but I can't handle her complaining about that now."

"Okay Okay!" I said, letting her know that I wouldn't tell. "And I'm definitely not going to tell Alex. He's going to be livid."

AMBER

I've been feeling pretty crappy lately with Hannah's impending departure weighing on my mind. Jackson running with me felt good. It was nice to have someone there but in their own head. I was surprised he opened up with me about his life, but I definitely appreciated it. Us hooking up could have turned really ugly, but it didn't.

I've always been someone who likes to give gifts. I like to show people that I care or that I'm thankful. I was able to peak at the schedule last night before leaving after our run and I knew he worked this morning. After dropping Hannah off, I headed down to my favorite of the coffee carts and ordered myself one and asked the girl if she knew Dr. Avery's regular. She did so I got one of his and two bananas. After paying I set off inside to find him.

When I found him on the third floor, he was leaning over some charts that were on the counter, fully concentrated. "Hey…" I said, making sure he could hear me walking up behind him. He looked up giving me a puzzled look, which I admit was not exactly what I was hoping to see. "Um…I got you a coffee and a banana. Just to say thanks again for running with me. It was nice."

Jackson looked at the coffee and banana that I had set down on the counter next to his charts and looked back at me. "Thanks! I totally needed this right now." Smiling at him, I touched his arm and turned around. No reason to sit there and make it awkward.

()()()()()()

Hannah leaves tomorrow morning for two months in Denver with her Dad and Allie and I'm super sad. I'll miss her like crazy, but Cole and I arranged a surprise weekend visit for me to come down and that will help the time go quicker.

Today had been super boring. I had a few consults in the OR and a few college football players from the local college who needed their shoulders popped back into place. I had an hour left and then Hannah and I were going to go home and have a picnic on the living room floor and a slumber party with movies and all of her stuffed animals. Generally, I didn't let us do these sort of things, but I was being all mushy today.

I was walking down the hallway, hoping the next hour would fly by when a door I was walking past opened quickly. The person inside grabbed me, yanked me inside and closed the door. I had a glimpse of a storage room before Jackson was pulling my face up to him, kissing me with the same passion he did the day in the scrub room.

Grabbing his back I kissed him back. We had amazing chemistry. I knew from experience that not every man was good at kissing, let alone sex, but he was. I could tell that this time was different from the Scrub room, though. He didn't back me into the door. He didn't make his way down my neck or try to grab my ass. He just kissed me, almost like he was trying to memorize my mouth. After a minute, he broke apart and put his forehead on mine. Breathing heavily with his eyes closed he said, "Thanks for the coffee and banana. It really hit the spot."

Walking out of the storage room without saying anything else, all I could do was stare at the closing door.